A17183:944
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 THE MOST RENOWNED Prince Edward the sixth King of England and France, Lord of Ireland, Prince of Wales, and Cornwall, defender of the Christian faith. Grace and peace from God the father, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
TO THE MOST RENOVMED Prince Edward the sixt King of England and Fraunce, Lord of Jreland, Prince of Wales, and Cornewall, defender of the Christian faith. Grace and peace from God the father, through our Lord Iesus Christ.
Your majesty would, I know right well, most royal king, admit a stranger to talk with your Grace, if any new guest should come and promise that he would briefly out of the sentences and judgements of the wisest men, declare the very truest causes of the felicity and unhappy state of every king & kingdom: and therefore I hope that I shall not be excluded from the speech of your majesty, because I do assuredly promise, briefly to lay down the very causes of the felicity and lamentable calamities of kings and their kingdoms so clearly and evidently, that the hearer shall not need to trouble himself with over busy diligence to seek out my meaning, but only to give attentive ear to that which is spoken. For by the help of God, I will make this treatise not to be perceived only by the wit and deep judgement of learned heads, but also to be seen as it were with the eyes, and handled as it were with the hands of very idiots & unlearned hearers, & that too, not out of the doubtful decrees and devises of men, but out of the assured word of the most true God. Even the wisest men do very often deceive us with their counsels, and greatly endamage the followers thereof. But God which is the light and eternal wisdom cannot at any time either err, or conceive any false opinions or repugning counsels, much less teach others any thing but trueth, or seduce any man out of the right way. The wisdom of the father doth in the holy Gospel cry out and say: I am the light of the world: he that followeth me, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. This eternal wisdom of God as it doth not disorderedly wrap things up together and make them intricate, but layeth down in order, and teacheth them plainly, so it doth not only minister wholesome counsels, but bringeth them to the effect, which they wish that obey her. Oftentimes verily men do give counsels that are not unwholesome, but yet in their counsels that is altogether omitted, which should have been first and especially mentioned. All the wise men almost of the world, have been of opinion, that kings and kingdoms should be most happy, if the king of the country be a wise man, if he have many wise, aged, faithful, and skilful counsellors: if his Captains be valiant, warlike, and fortunate in battle: