A17183:885
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 in an other place he testifieth that the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife: he affirmeth also that children borne in wedlock are holy or clean. Moreover the same Paul maketh Christ an example of love betwixt man and wife: and shadoweth the mysteries of Christ and the Church by the colour of wedlock: he figureth (I say) a heavenly thing by an holy type that God doth allow. Whereupon in an other place the same Apostle doth say: That their doctrine is a very doctrine of devils which forbid men to marry. And so consequently it followeth that that is an heavenly doctrine proceeding from God, which permitteth marriage freely to all men, and doth commend and reverence it.
and in an other place he testifieth that the vnbeleuing husband is sanctified by the beléeuing wife: hee affirmeth also that children borne in wedlocke are holy or cleane. Moreouer the same Paule maketh Christ an erāple of loue betwixt man and wife: and shadoweth ye mysteries of Christ and the Church by the colour of wedlocke: he figureth (I say) a heauenly thing by an holy type that God doth allowe. Wherevpon in an other place the same Apostle doth say: That their doctrine is a verie doctrine of diuells which forbid men to marrie. And so consequently it followeth that that is an heauēly doctrine proceeding from God, which permitteth mariage freely to all men, and doth commende and reuerence it.
The excellency and dignity of matrimony 1being thus understood, let us now seek out and look on the causes, for which God hath ordained marriage for men to embrace. God according to his natural goodness directeth all his ordinances to the great good and abundant commodity of mortal men: and therefore it followeth that he ordained matrimony for the preservation of mankind, to the end that mans life might be pleasant, sweet and thoroughly furnished with joys sufficient. But all these causes may be reduced into the number of three. First God himself doth say: It is not good for man to be alone, let us make him an help therefore to be before him, or to dwell with him. So then yt first cause why wedlock was instituted, is mans commodity, that thereby the life of man might be the pleasanter and more commodious. For Adam seemed not to live half happily nor sweetly enough, unless he had a wife to join himself unto: which wife is not in the scriptures called an impediment or necessary evil, as certain Poets and beastly men, who hated women, have foolishly jangled, but she is the help or arm of the man. Antipater