A17183:917
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.
Furthermore all things else are 1for hidden that do incite or allure us to unlawful lusts, which baits are the over nice pranking and decking the body, evil and wanton company, gluttony, surfeiting, & drunkenness. For Ezekiel among the rest of his Prophecies, saith: This was the iniquity of Sodom, pride, gluttony, abundance of all things, and idleness. Men are provoked to lust either by hearing or reading of dishonest ditties, and bawdy ballads, or by looking on and beholding wanton daū ces, unseemly sights, ribald talk, and filthy examples. They therefore are by this law reproved, which wink at, or cherish, which are the bawds or bringers together of adulterous persons. Unto the wicked the Lord in the Psalms doth say: Why 2doest thou take my covenant in thy mouth, whereas thou hatest to be reformed, and doest cast my words behind thee? when thou sawest a thief, thou consentedst unto him: and hast bin partaker with the adulterers. &c. The just Lord therefore doeth punish all these offences in wicked men, every one according to the greatness of the sin. For some sins are far more heinous than other some are. He is an adulterer that in his mind doeth lust after an other mans wife: but he sinneth more grievously, if he endeavour to finish in deed his wicked thought, he offendeth yet more deeply if he do the deed, and sinneth most of all, if after once, he fall unto it again. Likewise the adulterer sinneth, so doth the bawd, and he also that upholdeth his adultery. The whoremonger sinneth deeply, but he that defileth himself with incest, sinneth more grievously, and he most heinously of all, that in meddling with beasts, committeth filthy Sodomy. So then in this 7. precept charge is given for the maintenance of shamefastness, modesty, sobriety, temperance, chastity, public honesty, and true holiness of soul and body. The next is for me to say somewhat now touching continency.
Furthermore all thinges else are 1for hidden that doe incite or allure vs to vnlawfull lustes, which baites are the ouer nice pranckinge and decking the body, euill and wanton companie, gluttonie, surfetting, & dronkennesse. For Ezechiel amonge the rest of his Prophecies, saith: This was the iniquitie of Sodom, pride, glutonie, aboundaunce of all thinges, and idlenesse. Men are prouoaked to luste eyther by hearing or reading of dishonest ditties, and bawdie ballads, or by looking on and beholding wanton daū ces, vnséemely sightes, ribauld talke, and filthie examples. They therefore are by this lawe reproued, which wincke at, or chearish, which are the bawdes or bringers together of adulterous persons. Vnto the wicked the Lord in the Psalmes doth say: Whie