A17183:839
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 at this day we see it so greatly to detest the naughtiness of your heretical stomachs, that it is thought verily that your heresy was never within it. And many more places by name were reckoned up unto me, that by the effect of the thing it self, I might confess, ⟨p. 205⟩that in such a case as this, that may be rightly understood where it is written: Give a wise man occasion and he will be the wiser. And again, not every one that spareth, is a friend: nor every one that striketh is an enemy. Better are the stripes of a friend, than the voluntary kisses of an enemy. It is better to love with severity, than to deceive with lenity. He that bindeth a frenzy man, and waketh him that is sick of the lethargy, doth trouble them both, & yet he loveth them both. Who can love us more than God himself doth? and yet as he teacheth us mildly, so he ceaseth not to terrify us to our health. Thinkest thou that no man ought to be compelled to righteousness, when thou readest that the goodman of the house said to his servants: Whomsoever ye find, compel them to come in? When thou readest that he, that was first called Saul and afterward Paul, was constrained by the violent force of Christ, which compelled him to know and keep fast the trueth of the Gospel? And the same Augustine again, In Epist ad Bonifacium comitem 59. saith: Where is that now that they were wont to cry and say, that it is at every ones free choice to believe or not to believe? Whom did Christ constrain? whom did he compel? Lo here they have the Apostle Paul for an example, let them confess in him that Christ first compelled him, than taught him: first struck him and afterward comforted him. And it is wonderful, how he, which by the punishment of his body was compelled to the Gospel, did after his entering in, labour more in the Gospel, than all they that were called by word alone: and whom the greater fear compelled to charity, his charity once perfect, did caste out all fear. Why then should not the Church therefore compel her lost children to return, since the lost children have compelled other to their destruction?
and at this day we see it so greatly to detest the naughtinesse of your her•ticall stomaches, that it is thought verilie that your heresie was neuer within it. And many more places by name were reckoned vppe vnto mee, that by the effect of the thing it selfe, I might confesse, ⟨p. 205⟩