A17183:949
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.
For as much as this is done of thee, and that thou hast not kept mine ordinances and my statutes which I commanded thee, I will rent thy kingdom from thee and will give it to thy servant. And now mark that according to that saying, immediately after Solomons death the kingdom was rent into two parts, and that 10. Tribes followed Jeroboam the servant of Solomon. Two tribes clave still to Rehoboam Solomons son. He for neglecting 1the word of the Lord & following after strange Gods, is overwhelmed with an infinite number of woeful miseries. For the Scripture testifieth that the Egyptians came up against Jerusalem, and did destroy the City, Palace, and temple of the Lord. Abia the son of Rehoboam overcame the host of Israel, and bare away a triumphant victory, 2when he had wounded and slain five hundred thousand men of the 10. Tribes of Israel. And of this so great a victory no other cause is mentioned, but because he believed the word of the Lord. Next after Abia, did his son Asa a renowned and most puissant king reign in his stead, of whom the holy Scripture testifieth, that he 3abolished all superstition, and did restore sincere religion according to the word of God: whereby he obtained a most flourishing kingdom in peace and quietness by the space of forty years. Again of Jehoshaphat Asa his son we read: The Lord was with 4Jehoshaphat because he walked in the former ways of his father David & sought not Baalim, but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandment. And therefore for his princelike wealth and famous victories he was renowned through all the world. But to his son Joram who forsook the word of God Elijah the 5Prophet said: Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, and in the ways of king Asa, but hast walked the ways of the kings of Israel, behold with a great plague will the Lord smite thy folk, thy children, thy wives, and all thy goods: And thou shalt suffer great pain, even a disease of the bowels, until thy guts fall out. And whatsoever the Lord threatened to bring upon him by the mouth of the Prophet, that did the unhappy king feel with unspeakable torments to his great reproach: being made an example of wretchedness & misery which doth light on all the pates of them that do forsake the word of God.