A17183:861
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.
Great and innumerable armies are a let to them selves very greatly: as we do learn by daily experience and as examples of every age do testify to us. Moreover loiterers in camps are always reproved. Let the Christian soldier therefore be idle at no time, let him ever be busy and still doing some thing, let him 1be courageous, faithful to his country, ready to take pains, obedient to his Captains, fit to take time when occasion is offered, and evermore occupied in warlike discipline: no effeminate milksop, but of manly stomach: not cruel and merciless, but severe and pitiful, as time requireth. What he may preserve, that let him not destroy. But above all things let him not forget or think scorn, both in peril and out of peril evermore to make his prayers and supplications to God his saviour. In Gods name let him begin all things, without God let him attempt nothing: In adversity and when he hath the overthrow, let not his courage quail, nor his heart and hope for sake him: in prosperity let him not be puffed up with pride and arrogance, but let him give the thanks to God, and use the conquest like a merciful victor: let him wholly depend upon Gods helping hand, and desire nothing rather than the defence of the common weal, laws, religion, justice, and guiltless people. Many I know will marvel to see me require at the hands of a soldier the things that seem to be enough, as the common saying is, to be looked for of a right good and godly man: as though in deed that none could be soldiers but irreligious and naughty men. Soldiers I confess are for the most part such kind of fellows: but what fruit I pray you reap we at this day of so cevill seed? The Turks overrun and spoil us, we are to all the heathen a jesting stock to laugh at, kingdoms decay and are made subject to devilish Mahometisme, and every day we are wrapped in more miseries than other. But what kind of soldiers they of old were, which went 2to the war from out of the Church or congregation of the Christians, we ⟨p. 215⟩may easily gather, even by that one history worthy the remembrance, 3which Tertullian to Scapula setteth down thus: Marcus Aurelius also in his wars with the Germans, by the prayers which Christian soldiers made unto God, obtained showers of rain in that great drought.