A17183:722
Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)
Fifty godly and learned sermons divided into five decades, containing the chief and principal points of Christian religion, written in three several tomes or sections, by Henry Bullinger minister of the church of Tigure in Switzerland. Whereunto is adjoined a triple or three-fold table very fruitful and necessary. Translated out of Latin into English by H.I. student in divinity.Fiftie godlie and learned sermons diuided into fiue decades, conteyning the chiefe and principall pointes of Christian religion, written in three seuerall tomes or sections, by Henrie Bullinger minister of the churche of Tigure in Swicerlande. Whereunto is adioyned a triple or three-folde table verie fruitefull and necessarie. Translated out of Latine into English by H.I. student in diuinitie.
London: printed by Henry Middleton for Ralph Newberrie, 1577London: printed by Henry Middleton for Ralphe Newberrie, 1577
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And what pleasure I pray you, do infinite riches bring to man, since with them a man can not likely be without troublesome cares of mind, great turmoils, & lack of a quiet life. This law therefore which tendeth to no other end, but to teach man the way to lead a sweet and pleasant life, doth wholly take from the mind of man such immoderate affections as anger and envy are, two the most pestilent evils that reigns among men.
And what pleasure I pray you, do infinite riches bring to man, since with them a man can not likely be without troublesome cares of mind, great turmoiles, & lack of a quiet life. This law therfore which tēdeth to no other end, but to teach man the way to lead a sweete and plesaunt life, doth wholy take frō the mind of man such immoderate affections as anger and enuie are, two the most pestilent euils that reignes among men.
As concerning anger I mean not at this present to speak over busily, even as also I have determined to be brief touching envy. Of anger many men 1have uttered many profitable sentences. And yet there is an holy kind of anger which the scripture disalloweth not, so that unless a man be angry in that sort, he shall never be a good & godly man. For a good man hath a zeal of God, and in y• godly zeal he is angry at the iniquity and naughtiness of mankind: whereof there are many examples to be seen in the Scriptures: and this anger doth stomach the sin committed, rather than the person who doth commit the sin. For the good servant of God hateth nothing in the wicked mans person but his very sin: so that if the wicked cease once to sin, he will leave to hate or be angry therewithal any longer. This anger is utterly condemned then, when it springeth of evil and corrupt affections, when no just cause is given, but that he which is offended doth in his anger either fulfil his affection, or else hurt or determine to hurt him with whom he is angry. A great evil it is, & a fruit which when it is sown doth yield & bring forth one mischief upon an others neck. And therefore doth the Apostle of Christ coū sell all men not to give any place to anger: and if so be it happen that it enter into our minds & stick there a while, yet that we suffer it not to catch fast hold or take deep root therein, Be angry (saith he) & sin not. Let not the sun set upon your anger, & give no place to the devil. For this is the Apostles meaning, If so it happen that ye be angry, yet sin not, that is, yet bridle your anger. Neither doth the Apostle bid us to be angry, but willeth us not to let our anger to continue long, nor to break out to the working of injury. And [Greek or Hebrew] (which word Paul useth) signifieth anger in deed, but yet more rightly y stirring or provoking to anger, so that thereby we have to understand, that to him which is by injury provoked to anger, although he be somewhat grieved & touched at the quick, that grief ought to be but of short continuance: