A17183:905
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.
I am now come to speak of adultery, which is a sin whereby the 1husband goeth to an other woman, or the wife turneth a side after an other man, to whom they make common the use of their bodies, which are not their own bodies now, but their mates in wedlock. Some there are that flatter themselves, and are of opinion that they are not culpable of adultery, if they have the company of any unbetrouthed maiden, or one that is unmarried: or if a woman play the harlot with an unwedded man. They will have it (in Gods name) to be fornication and not adultery. But the Scripture teacheth the contrary. Thou goest to an other woman, thou art an adulterer: Thou breakest thy faith, thou art forsworn: Thy body is not thine but thy wives, when therefore thou bestowest this body on an other, thou committest adultery. If thou being wedded doest lye with a married wife, thou doublest the sin of thine adultery. This offence was plagued with most sharp punishment even in the beginning almost, and as soon as the world was created. Pharaoh the king of Egypt commanded Sara Abraham's wife to be taken away and carried to his Palace, that he might use her as his wife, thinking verily that she had been Abraham's sister.
I am now come to speake of adulterie, which is a sinne whereby the 1husband goeth to an other woman, or the wyfe tourneth a side after an other man, to whom they make common the vse of their bodies, which are not their owne bodies nowe, but their mates in wedlocke. Some there are that flatter themselues, and are of opinion that they are not culpable of adulterie, if they haue the companie of any vnbetrouthed mayden, or one that is vnmarried: or if a woman play the harlotte with an vnwedded man. They will haue it (in Gods name) to be fornication and not adulterie. But the Scripture teacheth the contrary. Thou goest to an other woman, thou arte an adulterer: Thou breakeste thy faith, thou art forsworne: Thy bodie is not thine but thy wiues, when therefore thou bestowest this bodie on an other, thou committest adulterie. If thou being wedded doest lye with a married wife, thou doubleste the sinne of thine adulterie. This offēce was plagued with most sharpe punishmente euen in the beginninge almost, and as soone as ye world was created. Pharao the kinge of Aegypt commaunded Sara Abrahams wife to be taken away and carried to his Palace, that hée mighte vse her as his wyfe, thinckinge verily that shée had bene Abrahams sister.