A17183:906
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.
But the scripture saith: The Lord 1vexed Pharaoh and all his house with great plagues, because of Sara Abraham's wife. Lo here yt king of Egypt is punished with grievous plagues for his adultery: and yet he knew not that Sarah was Abraham's wife: how great plagues therefore are prepared for the men that wittingly and willingly without all shame commit adultery? To Abimelech king of the Philistines the Lord doth say: Lo thou shalt die because of the woman, 2which thou hast taken away from her husband. And yet this king also had taken away Sarah, not knowing that she was Abraham's wife. Joseph being 3provoked to adultery by his masters wife, doth simply say: How should I do this great wickedness and sin against God? Every word here doth bear some weight. For adultery is an heinous sin. Whereupon in the book of Job we find these words of Job himself. If mine heart 4have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbours door, then let my wife be an other mans harlot, and let other men have to do with her. For this is a wickedness and sin that is worthy to be judged to death. Yea it is a fire that utterly should consume and root out all mine increase. Job saith that he hath not only not committed adultery, but that he hath not so much at any time as once given the attempt to defile an other mans wife. He confesseth that adultery is a sin, and so grievous an offence, that it doth deserve to have the adulterers wife to be defiled with adultery. He addeth that adultery is a fire that utterly consumeth and devoureth all things, and lastly that it is a sin to be judged and punished by death. Moreover Solomon the wisest of all men saith: May a man take fire in his bosom and his 5clothes not be burnt? Or can one go upon hot coals and his feet not be burnt? Even so he that goeth in to his neighbours wife and toucheth her cannot be unguilty. Men do not utterly despise a thief, that stealeth to satisfy his soul when he is hungry: But if he may be gotten, he restoreth again seven times as much, or else he maketh recompense with all the substance of his house. But whoso committeth adultery with a woman, he lacketh understanding: and he that doth it destroyeth his own soul. He getteth himself a plague and dishonour, and his reproach shall never be put out.