A17183:934
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.
The Apostle Paul verily doth expressly say, that Meat commendeth us not to God: for neither if we eat 1have we any thing the more, neither if we eat not have we any thing the less. He therefore doth not fast truly, which doth abstain only at a certain appointed time from certain manner of meats, but he which doth therefore refrain from the pleasures of the flesh, that thereby he may make it subject to the spirit, and do the works of faith and charity, which are acceptable in the sight of the Lord. If therefore thou doest desire to fast a true fast, eat, drink, and sleep, and take heed to thy body that it wax not insolent, fast from all sin, eat not the meat of malice, taste not the junkets of lust and pleasure, and be not set on fire with the wine of wantonness. Fast from evil deeds, abstain from evil words, and refrain thee self from naughty thoughts. For Basil also faith: True fasting consisteth in freeness from vices, in continency of tongue, in suppressing of anger, in cutting off concupiscence, backbiting, lying, and perjury, &c. But even as the good works themselves, which are done by faith, do not merit the kingdom of heaven (for that glory is due to the merit of Christ alone) even so fasting, which is an aid and help to good works, doth not meritoriously deserve the kingdom of God.
The Apostle Paul verily doth expressely say, that Meate commendeth vs not to God: for neither if wee eate 1haue wee any thing the more, neither if wee eate not haue we any thing the lesse. Hée therfore doth not fast truly, which doth absteine onely at a certaine appointed time from certaine manner of meates, but hée which doth therfore refraine from the pleasures of the flesh, that therby hée may make it subiect to the spirite, and do ye works of faith and charitie, which are acceptable in the sight of the Lord. If therfore thou doest desire to faste a true fast, eate, drincke, and sleepe, and take héede to thy body that it waxe not insolent, faste from al sinne, eate not the meate of malice, tast not the iuncates of luste and pleasure, and be not set on fire with the wyne of wantonnesse. Faste from euil déedes, absteine from euill woords, and refraine thée selfe from naughtie thoughtes. For Basile also faith: True fasting consisteth in freenesse from vices, in continencie of tongue, in suppressing of anger, in cutting off cōcupiscence, backbiting, lying, and periurie, &c. But euen as the good woorkes themselues, which are done by faith, doe not merite the kingdome of heauen (for that glorie is due to the merite of Christe alone) euen so fastinge, which is an ayde and helpe to good woorkes, doth not meritoriouslye deserue the kingdome of God.