A17183:937
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.
Apollinus, a certain ancient and Ecclesiastical writer, disputing against Montanus the heretic saith: This is he which taught that marriages are undone, & which first of all hath appointed laws for men to fast by. And verily to go about to set down to all men, and nations, one manner of fasting in one appointed time, one prescribed order, and choice of meat is a mere folly, & a brainsick kind of madness, For according to the choice of air, so are mens bodies of sundry temperatures, and one kind of meat doth not stir men of sundry complexions, to one kind of affection. The most godly way therefore, & profitable order for the Church ⟨p. 246⟩is, that all pastors in every congregation should teach sobriety, temperance, and the true fast in deed: not presuming to prescribe any laws for the choice of meats or times, but leaving that free to every man and nation, who undoubtedly will have an especial eye to temper themselves from the things, by which they perceive that their health will be endangered, but most of all in the time when the flesh beginneth to wax overwanton, or when some great peril hangeth over their head. For the time of fasting is not prorogued till an appointed number of years or days be expired, but till the looseness or wan tonnesse of the flesh, temptations, or motions be utterly bridled. Fastings being so ordered, as they be the exercises of godliness, obtain great praise in deed in the Church of the Lord.
Apollinus, a certaine auncient and Ecclesiasticall writer, disputing against Montanus the heretique saith: This is hee which taught that marriages are vndone, & which first of all hath appointed lawes for men to faste by. And verilie to goe about to set downe to all men, and nations, one maner of fasting in one appointed time, one prescribed order, and choice of meate is a méere follie, & a brainesicke kinde of madnesse, For according to the choice of ayre, so are mens bodies of sondrie temperatures, and one kinde of meate doth not stirre men of sondrie complexions, to one kinde of affection. The most godly way therefore, & profitable order for the Church ⟨p. 246⟩is, that all pastors in euerie congregation should teach sobrietie, temperancie, and the true faste in déede: not presuming to prescribe any lawes for the choice of meats or times, but leauing that frée to euery man and natiō, who vndoubtedly wil haue an especial eye to temper themselues from ye things, by which they perceiue yt their health wilbe indaungered, but most of all in the time when the flesh beginneth to waxe ouerwāton, or when some great peril hangeth ouer their head. For the time of fastinge is not proroged til an appointed number of yeares or dayes be expired, but till the loosenes or wā tonnesse of the fleash, temptations, or motions be vtterly brideled. Fastings being so ordered, as they be the exercises of godlines, obteine great praise in déede in the Church of the Lord.