A17183:921
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 what is allowed or permitted to married folks, I have already declared in this very sermon, so that I need not here again to repeat it unto you. Solomon saith: Be glad with the wife of thy youth: let her be as the beloved Hind and pleasant Roe: let her love always refresh thee, and be thou still delighted therein. &c. In the mean time let every one refrain from all abuse and intemperance: and if necessity at any time require it, let man and wife lye a sunder, as Paul doth counsel them: or else let them give ear to the Prophet Joel, who saith: Proclaim an holy fast, gather the people together: let the bride groom come forth of his chamber, & the bride out of her closet.
For what is allowed or permitted to married folkes, I haue already declared in this very sermon, so that I néede not here againe to repeate it vn to you. Solomon saith: Be glad with the wife of thy youth: let her be as the beloued Hinde and pleasaunt Roe: let her loue alwayes refresh thee, and bee thou still delighted therein. &c. In the meane time let euery one refrain from all abuse and intemperancie: and if necessitie at any time require it, let man and wife lye a sonder, as Paule doth counsell them: or else let them giue eare to the Prophete Ioel, who saith: Proclaime an holy fast, gather the people together: let the bride grome come forth of his chamber, & the bride out of her cloaset.
Our garments must be cleanly 1and honest according to our country fashion to cover and become us, unless our country fashion be too far out of order: there must be in them no hypocritical ⟨p. 239⟩sluttishness, beyond sea gauds, newfangled toys, nor unseemly sights. The chief Apostles of Christ Peter and Paul, were not 2ashamed in their Epistles to write somewhat largely touching the manner and ordering of women's apparel: because that kind of people do most of all bend to that foolish bravery. Let every faithful body think what is seemly for them to wear, not so much by their degree in dignity, or condition of riches, as by their religion. Excess in every thing is discommended in Christians. And to what end do we jag and gash the garments that are sowed together to cover our bodies, but that thereby we may as it were by a most fond and ridiculous anatomy, open and lay forth to the eyes of all men, what kind of people we are in our inward hearts, jagged (God wot) and ragged, vain, light, and nothing sound? And a linen or woollen garment doth as well cover and become the body, as damasks and velvets, the cost whereof doeth overload thy purse with expenses to buy them, and misshape thee like an ill favoured picture, when thou wearest them upon thee.