A17183:851
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.
The Moabites as Isaiah witnesseth, were quite overthrown, for cruelty, inhumanity, and contempt of the poor. The men of Nineveh did by war unjustly vex other nations, making havoc of all, to fill their greedy desire: and therefore saith the Prophet Nahum, other men measured to them with the same measure, that they had measured to other before. Micah in his sixth chapter affirmeth flatly, that God sendeth war upon unjust men for their covetousness & false deceit. In Jeremiah, arrogance and pride: in Isaiah, riot and drunkenness are said to be the causes of war: but the evil and misery that war bringeth with it, sticketh so fast to common weals and kingdoms where it once hath hold, that it cannot be removed, taken away or shaken off at our will and pleasure by any worldly wisdom, by any league makings, with any wealth, by any fortifications, by any power or ⟨p. 210⟩manhood, as it is to be seen in the Prophet Obadiah. Our sincere turning to God alone, is the only way to remedy it: as Jeremiah testifieth in his fifth Chapter. Now this turning to the Lord consisteth in free acknowledging, and frank confession of our sins, in true faith for remission of sins through the grace of God and merit of Christ Jesus. Secondarily it consisteth in hatred and renouncing of all unrighteousness, in love of justice, innocency, charity, & all other virtues: and last of all in earnest prayers and continual supplications.
The Moabites as Esai witnesseth, were quite ouerthrowen, for crueltie, inhumanitie, and cōtempt of the poore. The men of Niniuie did by warre vniustly vexe other nations, making hauocke of all, to fil their gréedie desire: and therefore saith the Prophete Nahum, other men measured to them with the same measure, that they had measured to other before. Micheas in his sixt chapiter affirmeth flatly, that God sendeth warre vpon vniuste men for their couetousnes & false deceipt. In Ieremie, arrogancie and pride: in Esaie, riot and dronkēnesse are said to be the causes of warre: but the euill and miserie that warre bringeth with it, sticketh so faste to common weales and kingdoms wher it once hath hold, that it cannot be remoued, taken away or shaken off at our wil and pleasure by any worldly wisedome, by any league makinges, with any wealth, by any fortifications, by any power or ⟨p. 210⟩manhoode, as it is to be seene in the Prophet Abdias. Our sincere tourning to God alone, is the onely waye to remedie it: as Ieremie testifieth in his fifte Chapiter. Nowe this turning to the Lord consisteth in frée acknowledginge, and francke confession of our sinnes, in true fayth for remission of sinnes through the grace of God and merite of Christ Iesus. Secōdarilie it consisteth in hatred and renoūcing of al vnrighteousnesse, in loue of iustice, innocēcie, charitie, & al other vertues: and laste of all in earneste prayers and continuall supplications.