A17183:929
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.
Be liberal to all men, fawning on no man, familiar with few, and upright to every one. Believe not lightly every rumour, accusation, or conceived suspicion. Despise vain glory, and be no sharp exactor of the goods that thou hast. Use few words thee self, but suffer them that speak. Be grave, not rough, nor contemning the merry nature. Be desirous and appliable to be taught wisdom, impart what thou knowest to him that demandeth without any arrogance, & desire to learn the things that thou knowest not, without hiding thine ignorance. A wise man will not change his common country fashion, nor make the people gaze on him with new found devises. Thus much have I hitherto recited touching continency, out of the writings of the blessed bishop Martin of Dumia. We for our parts must pray to the Lord, that he will vouchsafe to bestow on us his holy spirit, by which the force of continency in all things may take root in our hearts, to the bringing forth of fruit in our deeds, agreeable to the prescript rule of this commanded continency. For unless the holy ghost do quicken and inspire us, we do in vain give ear to so many and so good commandments, and unless we live and lead a temperate and a sober life, we are utterly unworthy to bear the name of Christians.
Bee liberall to all men, fawninge on no man, familiar with fewe, and vpright to euery one. Beleeue not lightly euerie rumour, accusation, or conceyued suspicion. Despise vaine glorie, and bee no sharpe exactor of the goods that thou hast. Vse fewe wordes thee selfe, but suffer them that speake. Bee graue, not roughe, nor contemning the merrie nature. Bee desirous and appliable to bee taughte wisedome, imparte what thou knowest to him that demaundeth without any arrogancie, & desire to learne the thinges that thou knowest not, without hiding thine ignoraunce. A wise manne will not chaunge his common countrie facion, nor make the people gaze on him with newe found deuises. Thus much haue I hetherto recited touchinge continencie, out of the writinges of the blessed bishoppe Martine of Dumia. Wée for oure partes must praye to the Lord, that hée will vouchsa•e to bestowe on vs his holy spirite, by which the force of continencie in all thinges may take roote in oure heartes, to the bringing foorth of fruite in our déeds, agréeable to the prescript rule of this commaunded continencie. For vnlesse the holie ghoste doe quicken and inspire vs, wée doe in vaine giue eare to so many and so good commaundementes, and vnlesse wée liue and lead a temperate and a sober life, wee are vtterly vnwoorthie to beare the name of Christians.