A17183:930
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.
To this place also doth the treatise of fasting belong, which I mean to 1handle in as few words, as conveniently can be: Christian fasting is a discipline, ordering, and chastening of the body for the present necessity, which we begin and keep of our own accord without compulsion, and wherewith we humble our selves in the sight of God, by drawing from the body the matter that setteth the flesh on fire, thereby to make it obey the spirit. For so long as we mortal men do live in this body, the flesh doth still resist the spirit, and most of all rebelleth then, when we with delicates do pamper the body. Wherefore fasting doth draw from the body every evil, which stirreth up and strengtheneth it against the good commandments of Gods holy spirit.
To this place also doth the treatise of fastinge belonge, which I meane to 1handle in as fewe woords, as conueniently can bee: Christian fasting is a discipline, ordering, and chastening of the body for the presente necessitie, which wee beginne and kéepe of oure owne accord without compulsion, and wherewith wée humble our selues in the sight of God, by drawing from the body the matter that setteth the flesh on fire, therby to make it obey the spirite. For so longe as wée mortal men doe liue in this body, the flesh doth stil resist the spirite, and most of all rebelleth then, when we with delicates do pamper the body. Wherefore fasting doth drawe from the body euery euil, which stirreth vp and strengtheneth it against the good commaundements of Gods holy spirite.
- 1Of fasting.
Now the necessity, for which we keep this fasting, is of two sorts, 1public and private. We fast for the public or common necessity, when some calamity doeth either oppress or else hang over the head of the Church. Of such a manner of fasting we see examples in the 2. Cap. of Joel, and in the 3. of Jonah his prophecy: which very same order in fasting was used in the time of our Lords Apostles: as it is evidently extant in the Acts of the Apostles. And this kind of fasting doth seem to have differed very little among them of old, from a general mourning: yea it seemeth altogether to have been nothing else but a kind of lamenting. In the scriptures every book is full of examples which teach and instruct us how the holy saints did humble themselves in the sight of God with true repentance for their sins and offences. Private necessity is that for which every particular man doth fast when he feeleth himself to be vexed with bodily concupiscence, that thereby he may take from the flesh the flame and fuel, least the body at last be fired and burned. For the Lord in the Gospel said, that the children of the bridechamber do fast when the bridegroom is taken