A17183:914
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.
Neither is it unknown to any that the kings were expelled out of the city of Rome, and Troy being wearied with ten years war, (which troubled both the East and West) was at the last utterly sacked and clean overthrown, because Tarquinius had perforce ravished Lucretia, and Alexander Paris had stolen out of Greece Menelaus his Helena an other mans wife. Every age almost doth minister an innumerable sort of such like examples. For the most just God hath always by evident examples declared how greatly he is offended with deflowerers of virgins, and ravishers of women. And for that cause are laws and very sharp punishments ordained and appointed for such lascivious knaves. Rapes and such villainies committed perforce the laws do punish with loss of life: but to him that doth deflower a maid not violently yt Lord doth say: Marry & endow her. Other laws appoint other penalties. Touching which more is spoken in the civil law.
Neither is it vnknowen to anye that the kings were expelled out of the citie of Rome, and Troy being wearied with tenne yeares warre, (which troubled both ye East and West) was at the laste vtterly sacked and cleane ouerthrowē, because Tarquinius had perforce rauished Lucrecia, and Alexander Paris had stolne oute of Gréece Menelaus his Helena an other mans wyfe. Euerie age almost doth minister an innumerable sorte of such like examples. For ye most iust God hath alwayes by euidente examples declared how greatly hée is offended with deflowrers of virgines, and rauishers of women. And for that cause are lawes and very sharpe punishments ordeyned and appointed for such lasciuious knaues. Rapes and such villanies committed perforce the lawes do punish with losse of life: but to him that doth defloure a maide not violently yt Lord doth say: Marrie & endowe her. Other lawes appoint other penalties. Touchinge which more is spoken in the ciuil lawe.
Moreover Incest is especially prohibited. 1They call incest an unlawful meddling of a man with a woman against the honour of blood and affinity. For Cestus signifieth the marriage girdle which the bride did wear, to show that the marriage was just and lawful. We Germans call this sin by the name of Blout schand, whereby we signify the sin committed in corrupting or defiling our own blood or kindred. In Leviticus after the degrees of blood, in which we are forbidden to marry, the Lord doth presently add: In all these be not ye defiled: For in all these things are the nations defiled, which I caste out before you. And hereby the land is defiled, and I have visited the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land hath spewed out the inhabitants thereof. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and mine ordinances, and shall not do any of all these abominations. For whosoever shall do so, he shall be cut off from among his people. And in the 20, chapter of Leviticus he hath appointed death to be the punishment of incest, which is not changed by the civil laws or Imperial constitutions.