A17183:909
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 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 ⟨p. 234⟩allege the example of David in defence of their naughtiness. Our saviour did not come into the world to be a judge but a Saviour, neither did 2he in any place usurp & take to himself the right of the sword. Who therefore will make any marvel at it, to see the adulteress not to be condemned by him, to be stoned to death? Yet he said: Hath no man condemned thee? as if he minded not to have resisted the law, if judgement had once passed upon her. For he came not to be a patron to adulterers, nor to break the law, but to fulfil it. But if it like adulterers well, that the adulteress was not condemned of the Lord, then let them also like that sentence wherewith the History is ended, when the Lord saith: Go thy ways, and sin no more. Let them therefore leave off to defile and destroy themselves with filthy adultery.
But some iollie fellowes there are forsooth, that of adulterie do make but 1