A17183:902
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.
It is required therefore at the hands of wedded mates, mutually to bear most ardent and holy love the one to the other. Let them use all things in common: let them be partakers both of the same prosperity, and the same adversity. Let them both draw under one yoke, and bear betwixt them one an others burden. Briefly, let them twain be the members of one and the very same body. I have more at large set down these offices of man and wife in my treatise which is called the Institution of Christian matrimony.
It is required therefore at the handes of wedded mates, mutually to beare most ardente and holy loue the one to the other. Let them vse all thinges in common: let them bee partakers both of the same prosperitie, and the same aduersitie. Let them both draw vnder one yoake, and beare betwixte them one an others burthen. Briefly, let them twaine bee the members of one and the verie same body. I haue more at large set downe these offices of man and wife in my treatise which is called the Institution of Christian matrimonie.
Lastly let them bring up their 1children in holy discipline, & the fear of God, to the health of their own house, and the whole common weal. Paul saith: I would have the younger women marry, to get children and to govern the house, for that is honest and acceptable before God. But touching the bringing up of children. I have already spoken in the fifth sermon of this Decade. Now the very begetting of children alone is very profitable both to every private or particular house, and also to the common weal: for here I will not stand to show that the honour and glory of God, is very greatly augmented, if children be not only begotten, but also brought up in the fear of God, and knowledge of his word. Hierocles saith: I confess that marriage is profitable: especially because it bringeth children forth, which is in deed a goodly fruit, for they, being of our very blood, do while we are in health aid us in all our affairs: and in old age when years come upon us, they succour us well with all that they may: they are familiar companions of our joy in prosperity, and in adversity are our partners in sorrowing with us for our heavy mishaps. And so forth. Antipater also saith: Man which is endued with a civil disposition to maintain society, must augment his country and common wealth with increase of children: for cities could not have been preserved by any means at all, unless the head men of every city, and the sons of noble gentlemen, seeing their ancestors wither and fall away like goodly leaves of a fair tree, had married in time convenient, and left behind them children as worthy plants to succeed in their country, thereby to make it to flourish for ever, doing their best so far as they could, to keep it from the assaults and conquests