A17183:933
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.
But the end of Christian fastings 1are, that the Church, or sinner should submit and humble themselves before the Lord, that the flesh should be obedient and subject to the spirit, that the flesh should not hinder the sinner to work righteousness, and that the intent and mind of him that prayeth should be the more earnestly bent toward God. For fasting is of the number of those works, which of themselves are not absolute and perfect, but have an other meaning-for which they are ordained to an other end and purpose: therefore fasting is a certain help to the prayers and virtues of godly men. Whereupon in the Prophets we find, that the fastings of the Jews displeased the Lord: for they did naught else but fast alone, that is, they did at ⟨p. 244⟩a certain and appointed time abstain from their usual manner of eating, but they restrained not themselves from sin and wickedness, but let their flesh have the bridle at will, when as in deed, they should have ceased to have pampered it, that thereby it being the weaker, the spirit might be the stronger to do and fulfil all sort of good works. And therefore saith the Lord: I have not chosen such a manner of fasting: and the rest as it followeth in the 58. Chapter of Isaiah, and in the 7. and 8. Chapters of Zacharies Prophecy.
But the end of Christian fastinges 1are, that the Church, or sinner should submitt and humble themselues before the Lord, that the flesh should bée obedient and subiect to the spirit, that the fleshe should not hinder the sinner to woorke righteousnesse, and that the intent and minde of him that prayeth should bée the more earnestly bente towarde God. For fastinge is of the number of those woorkes, which of themselues are not absolute and perfecte, but haue an other meaninge-for which they are ordeyned to an other ende and purpose: therefore fasting is a certaine help to the prayers and vertues of godly men. Wherevppon in the Prophetes wée finde, that the fastinges of the Iewes displeased the Lord: for they did naught else but fast alone, that is, they did at ⟨p. 244⟩a certaine and appointed time abstein from their vsuall maner of eating, but they restrayned not themselues from sinne and wickednesse, but let their flesh haue the bridle at will, when as in déede, they should haue ceassed to haue pampered it, that thereby it being the weaker, the spirite might bée the stronger to doe and fulfill all sorte of good woorkes. And therefore saith the Lord: I haue not chosen such a manner of fasting: and the rest as it foloweth in the 58. Chapiter of Esaie, and in the 7. and 8. Chapiters of Zacharies Prophecie.