A17183:725
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.
For, Envy is anger grown into custom 1by long continuance, which doth for the most part vex, burn, and ⟨p. 165⟩envy, more then the party which is envied: Although the envious doth never cease to devise mischief against the man whom he doth envy. It is an endless evil which doth not admit any remedy to take it away. And therefore did the Gentiles bait & canvass it too and fro with wonderful pretty quips and pithy sentences: Some of which I will not be ashamed here to rehearse, to the intent that counterfeit Christians addicted to envy, may be ashamed of it, if peradventure they will learn to blush, when they find them selves touched by Heathens & Paynims.
For, Enuie is anger growen into custome 1by long continuaunce, which doth for the most part vexe, burne, and ⟨p. 165⟩enuie, more then the partie which is enuied: Although the enuious doth neuer ceasse to deuise mischiefe against the man whom he doth enuie. It is an endlesse euill which doth not admit any remedie to take it away. And therfore did the Gentiles baite & canuase it too and fro with wonderfull preatie quipps and pithie sentences: Some of which I will not be ashamed héere to rehearce, to the intent that counterfeit Christians addicted to enuie, may be ashamed of it, if peraduenture they wil learne to blush, when they finde them selues touched by Heathens & Paynims.
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Virgil saith, In hart where envies seed takes root, there grows a poisoned grain, Which dries & drinks from every lim the blood of every vain, And sucks & soaks the marrow bones until they feeble wax, (Such is th'envenomed poisons force) and yet no bone it cracks. And therefore saith Horace. The Sicily tyrants never found, a more tormenting hell, Than Envy was, &c. Silius Italicus crieth out. Ill-favoured Envy, ugly hag, and dogged end Of mortal men, that never couldst abide to lend One word to praise praiseworthy deeds, but sweltst to see Small things increase, & low things grow to high degree. Ovid speaking of Envy describeth it thus. Within did devilish Envy sit, and eat the flesh of snakes, To feed the humour of her vice, with such kind loathly cates: With face of tallowcaked hue, & body lean like death, With squint eyes turned nine sundry ways, with rusty stinking teeth. Her bitter breast was overspread, with gaide as green as grass, Her tongue that ceased not to say ill, with venom poisoned was: She never laughed, unless it were when grief made others weep, And fretting care within her heart, did keep her eyes from sleep. She sees and pines away to see the good success and state, Of men that prosper on the earth: and so her deadly hate Is to her self a deadly plague. Whereas she goes she mars the corn that grows upon the ground, She makes on trees that blossoms bare, there can no fruit be found, And with her breath she doth infect, whole houses realms & towns.