A17183:870
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.
They object again, that the Lord 1conveyed himself privily away when the people were minded to have made him a king: which (say they) he would not have done, but because by his example he would commend humility to all Christian people, and as it were thereby to command them, not to suffer the charge to rule any common weal to be laid on their necks. They add moreover these sayings of the Lord: My kingdom is not of this world. Again: Kings of nations have dominion over them, but ye shall not be so. But they understand not that the cause why the Lord conveyed him self away, was for the fond purpose of the foolish people, which went about by making him a king, not to do the will of God, but being blinded with affections to seek to bring those things to pass, that were for the ease and filling of their bellies. For in so much as he had fed them miraculously a little before, therefore they thought that he would be a king for their purpose, who was able to give his subjects meat, without any cost or labour at all. Furthermore, our Lord came not to reign on the earth after the manner of this world, as yt Jews imagined, and as Pilate feared: who dreamt that Messiah should reign as Solomon did: and for that cause the Lord doth rightly say: My kingdom 2is not of this world. For he is ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of his father, having subdued all kings to himself, and all the world beside, wherein he reigneth by his word and his spirit, and which he shall come to judge in the end of the world. And although Christ denieth that his kingdom is of this world, yet notwithstanding he never denied that kings and Princes should come out of the world into the Church, to serve the Lord therein, not as men alone, but as kings and men of authority. But kings cannot otherwise serve the Lord as kings, but by doing the things, for which they are called kings: And unless that Christians, when they are once made kings, should continue in their office and govern kingdoms according to the rule and laws of Christ, how (I beseech you) should Christ be called king of kings, and Lord of Lords? Therefore when he said: Kings of nations have dominion over them, but so shall not ye be, he spake to his Apostles, who strove among themselves for the chief and highest dignity: as if he should have said:
They obiecte againe, that the Lord 1