A17183:954
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 be short this king Josiah pulled down and overthrew, whatsoever was set up in the Church or kingdom of Judah against the word of God. And least peradventure any one should cavil and say that he was over hardy and too rough in his dealings, the Scripture giveth this testimony of him and saith: Like unto him was there no king before him, which turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and all his might, according to all the law of Moses: neither after him arose there any such as he. Whereas we read therefore that this so commended and most fortunate king, was overcome and slain in a foughten battle, that death of his is to be counted part of his felicity, & not of his misery. For the Lord himself said to Josiah: I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and in peace shalt thou be buried, that thine eyes may not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. For there is no greater argument that the people and very princes of the kingdom under that most holy king were mere hypocrites and idolaters, than for because next & immediately after his death both his sons and ⟨p. 256⟩Peers rejecting the word of God did bring in again all superstition and blasphemous wickedness. Whereupon we read that for the whole 22. years, wherein the kings of Jud• did reign after the death of Josiah, there was no peace or quietness in Jerusalem, but perpetual seditions and most bloody murders. Next after Josiah reigned his 1son Joachas: but within three months after he was taken, bound, and led captive away into the land of Egypt. After the leading away of Joachas, his brother Joachim ware the crown: whom in the eleventh year of his reign being bound in chains was slain by Nebuchadnezzar, and lastly (as Jeremiah saith) was buried in the sepulchre of an Ass. In Joachim's stead was his son Jeconiah set up, but about three months after he with his Princes and substance was taken captive and led away to Babylon. After him the kingdom was given to Zedechias the son of Josiah: but because he would not obey the word of God preached by the Prophet Jeremiah, he looseth both his life and kingdom in the eleventh year of his reign. In whose time also the temple is set on fire, Jerusalem is sacked, and the people slain for the most part or led away captive. Thus much hitherto touching the kings of Judah.
To be short this king Iosias pulled downe and ouerthrew, whatsoeuer was set vpp in the Church or kingdome of Iuda against the woorde of God. And least peraduenture any one should cauill and say that hee was ouer hardie and too roughe in his dealinges, the Scripture giueth this testimonie of him and sayth: Like vnto him was there no king before him, which turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soule, and all his might, according to all the lawe of Moses: neither after him arose there any such as hee. Whereas wee read therefore that this so commended and most fortunate king, was ouercome and slaine in a foughten battaile, that death of his is to be compted part of his felicitie, & not of his miserie. For the Lord himselfe said to Iosias: I will gather thee vnto thy fathers, and in peace shalte thou bee buried, that thine eyes may not see all the euill which I will bring vppon this place. For there is no greater argument that the people and verie princes of the kingdome vnder that most holie king were meere hypocrites and idolaters, than for beecause next & immediately after his death both his sonnes and