A17183:904
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.
Since therefore that lawful matrimony 1is of so great effect and so available to live well and happily, the faithful do not without cause begin their marriages with religion and religious rites. The Lord verily did presently in the beginning bless the first marriage of our parents Adam and Eve, and did himself couple them in wedlock. Whereupon the Church of God hath received a custom, that they which join in marriage before they dwell together, do come into the temple of the Lord, where after prayer made in the middest of the congregation, they are joined together, and blessed by the minister of God in the name of God himself. Wherefore in wedlock the first and chiefest things that be required, are the earnest and continual prayers of the married folks to God, that he will vouchsafe to make the husbands, wise, religious, modest, gentle, honest, painful, sufferers and lovers of their wives: and that it will please him to make the wives, obedient, meek, chaste, faithful, lovers of their husbands and children, housewives, and fruitful. For no one man is able to declare all the evils that come even of one corrupt & naughty marriage. Through it whole houses are wonderfully disquieted, all wealth and honesty do utterly decay, the children are bastards, God is offended and provoked to anger, and an endless mischief brought to the whole common weal. God therefore must be earnestly beseeched to bless all married people, that both the glory of his holy name, and the common weals prosperity may thereby daily increase more and more.
Since therefore that lawefull matrimonie 1is of so great effect and so auayleable to liue well and happilie, the faithfull doe not withoute cause beginne their marriages with religion and religious rites. The Lord verilie did presently in the beginning blesse the first marriage of oure parentes Adam and Eue, and did himselfe couple them in wedlock. Whervppon the Church of God hath receyued a custome, that they which ioyne in marriage before they dwell together, doe come into the temple of the Lord, where after prayer made in the middest of the congregation, they are ioyned together, and blessed by the minister of God in the name of God himselfe. Wherefore in wedlocke the first and chiefest thinges that bée required, are the earneste and continuall prayers of the married folkes to God, that he wil vouchsafe to make the husbandes, wyse, relligious, modest, gentle, honeste, painefull, sufferers and louers of their wiues: and that it will please him to make the wiues, obedient, méeke, chaste, faithful, louers of theyr husbands and children, housewiues, and fruitefull. For no one man is able to declare all the euills that come euen of one corrupte & naughtie marriage. Through it whoale houses are wonderfullie disquieted, all wealth and honestie do vtterlie decaye, the children are bastards, God is offended and prouoaked to anger, and an endlesse mischiefe brought to the whoale cōmon weale. God therefore must bée earnestly beséeched to blesse all married people, that both the glorie of his holy name, and the common weales prosperitie may thereby dailie increase more and more.