A17183:919
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.
First of all it is required of us to keep in our tongue, and not to let it ⟨p. 238⟩loose at random to the blaspheming of Gods, glory, or hurt of our neighbour. Let the talk of a Christian man be honest, profitable, and seasoned with salt, let it be unacquainted with scoffing, lightness, lying, ribaldry, and filthiness. S. James in the third Chapter of his Epistle hath spoken sufficiently of the tongues properties. In his first Chapter also he saith: Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. And Paul saith: Let no filthy communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to edify withal, as oft as need is, that it may minister grace unto the hearers, and grieve not the holy spirit of God, by whom ye are sealed unto the day of Redemption. And again: Let not fornication, or any uncleanness, or covetousness, be once named among you, as it becometh Saints. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nether jesting, which are not seemly, but rather giving of thanks. Let no man deceive you with vain words. For, for such things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. For in another place he citeth this sentence out of Menander and saith: Ill words corrupt good manners. Moreover a mans mind is bewrayed by his talk: for of the hearts abundance the mouth doth speak. If therefore in any thing, than in tongue especially it behoveth Christians to be sober and continent.
First of all it is required of vs to kéepe in oure tongue, and not to let it ⟨p. 238⟩loose at randon to the blaspheming of Gods, glory, or hurt of our neighbour. Let the talke of a Christian man bee honeste, profitable, and seasoned with salte, let it be vnacquainted with scoffinge, lightnesse, lyinge, ribauldrie, and filthinesse. S. Iames in the third Chapiter of his Epistle hath spoken sufficiently of the tongues properties. In his first Chapiter also hee sayth: Let euery manne bee swifte to heare, sloaw to speake, and sloaw to anger. And Paule saith: Let no filthie communication proceede oute of your mouth, but that which is good to edifie withall, as oft as neede is, that it may minister grace vnto the hearers, and greeue not the holie spirite of God, by whom yee are sealed vnto the daye of Redemption. And againe: Let not fornication, or any vncleannesse, or couetousnesse, bee once named amonge you, as it becommeth Sainctes. Neither filthines, nor foolishe talkinge, nether iesting, which are not seemelie, but rather giuinge of thanckes. Let no man deceiue you with vaine words. For, for such thinges commeth the wrath of God vppon the children of disobedience. For in another place he citeth this sentence oute of Meander and saith: Ill woordes corrupt good maners. Moreouer a mans minde is bewrayed by his talke: for of the hartes aboundance the mouth doth speake. If therefore in any thing, than in tongue especially it behoueth Christians to be sober and continent.