A17183:948
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.
This will I make, as my promise is, in this annexed demonstration both evident to the eyes, and as it were palpable to the very hands, by the examples of most mighty kings, not taken out of Herodotus or any profane author, but out of the infallible history of the most sacred Scriptures. Saul the first king of Israel was both most fortunate & victorious, so long as he did in all things follow the word of God: but when he once gave 1place to his own good intents and meanings, being utterly forsaken of the Lord, he heareth Samuel say to his face: Thou hast refused and cast off the word of the Lord, therefore hath God also cast thee away, that thou shalt not be king of Israel. I will not here stand over largely to declare the miseries and calamities, wherein he was wrapped from that time forward. For as he himself was horribly haunted and vexed with the evil spirit, so did he not cease to vex and torment his people and kingdom, ⟨p. 253⟩until he had brought them all into extreme danger, where he and some of his were slain, & put to the worst by the heathen their enemies, leaving nothing behind him but a perpetual shame and endless ignominy. Next after Saul doth David succeed in the seat and kingdom, who without all controversy was the most happiest of all other kings and Princes. But what store he did set by the word of the Lord, it is evident to be seen by many notable acts of his, and especially in that Alphabetical Psalm which in order and number is the hundred and nineteenth. For therein he setteth forth the praise of Gods word, the wholesome virtue whereof he doth at large wonderfully expound, in teaching what great desire & zeal we ought to have thereto. For he was schooled & had learned before by private mishaps and shameful deeds, & lastly by the unhappy sedition of his graceless son Absalom, what an evil it is to decline from the word of the Lord. Solomon the son of David the wisest & most commended king of all the world, 2did so long enjoy prosperity & praise at the mouth of the Lord, as he did not neglect with reverence to obey his word. But when once he had transgressed the Lords commandment, straight way the Lord did say unto him:
This wil I make, as my promise is, in this annexed demonstration both euident to the eyes, and as it were palpable to the verie handes, by the examples of most mightie kinges, not taken out of Herodotus or any prophane author, but out of the infallible historie of the most sacred Scriptures. Saule the first king of Israell was both most fortunate & victorious, so long as hee did in all things followe the word of God: but when hee once gaue