A17183:965
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 the sustaining and nourishing of our lives & families, we men have need of earthly riches. Next therefore after the commandments touching the preservation of mans life, and the holy keeping of wedlock's knot, in this fourth commandment a law is given for the true getting, possessing, using and bestowing of wealth and worldly substance, to the end that we should not get them by theft or evil means, that we should not possess them unjustly, nor use or spend them unlawfully. Justice requireth to use riches well, and to give to every man that which is his: now since the laws of God be the laws of Justice, they do very necessarily by way of commandment say. Thou 1shalt not steal. These words again in number are few, but in sense, of ample signification. For in this precept theft it self is utterly forbidden, all shifting subtleties are flatly prohibited, deceit and guile is banished, all cozening fetches are clean cut off: covetousness, idleness, prodigality, or lavish spending, and all unjust dealing is herein debarred: Moreover, charge is here given for maintaining of justice, and that especially in contracts and bargains. Wonderful turmoils verily are raised up and begun among men of this world, about the getting, possessing, and spē ding of temporal riches: it was expedient therefore that God in his law, which he ordaineth for the health, con meditie, and peace of us men, should appoint a state, and prescribe an order for earthly goods: as in this law he hath most excellently done. And that ye may the better understand it, I will at this present, by the help of Gods holy spirit, discourse upon the proper owning and upright getting of worldly riches: in which treatise the whole consideration of theft in all his kinds shall be plainly declared.
FOR the susteyning and nourishing of oure liues & families, wee men haue néede of earthly riches. Nexte therefore after the comaundements touching the preseruation of mans life, and the holy kéeping of wedlocks knot, in this fourth commaundement a lawe is giuen for the true getting, possessing, vsing and bestowing of wealth and worldly substance, to the ende that wée should not get them by theft or euill meanes, that we should not possesse them vniustly, nor vse or spend them vnlawfully. Iustice requireth to vse riches wel, and to giue to euery man that which is his: now since the lawes of God bee the lawes of Iustice, they do verie necessarilie by way of comaundement say. Thou 1