A17183:908
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.
For when the adulteress doth make her body common to an other man, then doth she set to sale, defile and mar, not her own, but her husbands body. Thirdly bastards borne in adultery do often times enjoy an equal part of inheritance with yt right begotten children. Which cannot be without great wrong done to the lawful heirs and legitimate offspring. For they are against all right robbed of their due inheritance, where of an equal portion is given to him, to whom by law no parcel is due. Lastly beside all these, innumerable mischiefs do spring of adultery. Since therefore that it is a serpent with so many heads, both the laws of God and men do rightly punish adulterers with loss of life.
For whē the adultresse doth make her body common to an other man, then doth shée set to sale, defile and marre, not her owne, but her husbandes body. Thirdly bastardes borne in adulterie doe often times enioy an equall parte of inheritaunce with yt right begottē children. Which cannot be without great wrong done to the lawfull heyres and legitimate ofspring. For they are against al right robbed of their due inheritance, wher of an equall portion is giuen to him, to whom by lawe no parcel is due. Lastly beside all these, innumerable mischiefes doe spring of adulterie. Since therefore that it is a serpente with so many heades, both the lawes of God and men do rightly punish adulterers with losse of life.
But some jolly fellows there are forsooth, that of adultery do make but 1a sport. They are persuaded that Davids adultery doeth make on their side, and that place of scripture, where we read that the Lord was favourable to the adulteress, that was taken even as the deed was in doing. Why do not these merry conceited men consider how severely the Lord did punish David for that offence? The bloody house of David was immediately after defiled with filthy incest. For Amnon doth perforce deflower his sister Tamar. And straightway upon the neck of it again his house is defamed by most cruel parricide, while Absalom in a banquet murdered his brother Amnon. The very same Absalom also Davids son, defileth or deflowreth his fathers wives, and that openly too, laying all fear of God and shame aside. He driveth his father out of his kingdom, and hasteneth on to shorten his days. Al which calamities David confesseth that he doth worthily sustain for the adultery and murder by him committed. Lastly many thousands of his people are slain in the battle: David himself is hardly and with much ado restored to his kingdom, and afterward being restored he repented his sin all days of his life. Now it is marvel if adulterers (considering these punishments) will go on yet to