A17183:927
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 can I here refrain, but needs must recite unto you (dearly 1beloved) that which S. Martin y• bishop, not of Tours in France, but of Dumia in Germany, who flourished in yt days of Justinian the Emperor, 2did write to Miro king of Galicia touching the ordering and leading a continent life. If (saith he) thou dost love continency, cut off superfluity, and keep under thine appetite. Consider with thee self how much nature requireth, and not how much lust desireth. Bridle thy concupiscence, and cast off the alluring baits that serve to draw on hidden pleasures. Eat without undigested surfeiting, and drink without drunkenness. Neither glut thee self with present delicates, nor long after deintrells hard to be come bye. Let thy diet be of cates good cheap, and sit not down for pleasure but for meat. Let hunger, not sauces provoke thee to eat. Pay but little for pastimes to delight thee, because thy only care should be to leave such pleasures, that thereby thou in fashioning thy self to the example of God, mayest, as much as thou canst, make hast to reduce thee self from the body to the spirit. If thou lovest continency, then choose not a pleasant, but a wholesome dwelling place, and make not the Lord to be known by ⟨p. 241⟩the gorgeous house, but the house by the honest landlord. Boast not thee self of that which thou hast not, nor that which thou hast, neither covet to seem more than thou art. But rather take heed that thy poverty be not uncleanly, nor thy niggishnes filthy, nor thy simplicity contemptible, nor thy lenity fearful: & though thy estate be poor, yet let it not be in extreme misery. Neither be out of love with thine own degree, nor wish after the estate of an other mans life. If thou lovest continency, avoid dishonest things before they happen: and fear no man above thine own conscience. Think that all things are tolerable, dishonesty excepted. Abstain from filthy talk, the liberty whereof doth nourish unshamefastnes. Love rather profitable communication, than merry conceits, or pleasant talk: and set more by the blunt spoken trueth, than by fair soothing speeches. Thou mayest sometime mingle mirth with matters of weight, but it must be done moderately without the hurt or detriment of thine estate and gravity.