A17183:953
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.
Again when his son Manasseh a very wicked man did not tread the path, 1and express the deeds of his most holy father, but being made king in the twelfth year of his age did of purpose cross the word of God and brought in again all the superstition, which his father had abolished, he was taken captive and carried away to Babylon: and although by the goodness and mercy of God he was restored to his seat again, yet when he died he left a maimed and a trouble some kingdom unto his son Ammon, who also for his rebellion against the word of God as a most unfortunate man reigned 2but two years only, and was at the last wretchedly slain by his own household servants. In place of his murdered father was his son Josiah settled in the kingdom, being when he was crowned a child but eight years old. Of all the kings of Judah he was 3the flour and especial crown. He reigned quietly and in all points most happily by the space of one and thirty years. Now the Scripture which cannot lye, doth paint out to our eyes the faith and obedience, which he did devoutly show to the word of God, for which that felicity did accompany his kingdom. He was nothing moved with the admonitions of his father Ammon's counsellors. But so soon as he had heard the words of the law read out of the book, which Helkia the high priest found in the temple at Jerusalem, he straight way committed himself wholly to God and his word. Neither stayed he to look for the minds and reformations of other kings and kingdoms, but quickly forecasting the best for his people, he began to reform the corrupted religion, which he did especially in the eighteenth year of his age. And in that reformation he had a regard always to follow the meaning of the holy scripture alone, and not to give ear to the deeds of his predecessors, to the prescribed order of long continuance, no• to the common voices of the greatest multitude. For he assembled his people together, before whom he laid open the book of Gods law•, and appointed all things to be ordered according to the rule of his written word, And thereupon it cometh which we find written that he spared not the ancient temples & long accustomed rites which Solomon and Jeroboam had erected and ordained against the word of God.