A17183:975
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.
It is easier for a Camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And as the minds of wealthy men are not utterly to be discouraged and driven to desperation, as though it were impossible for them to be saved: so are they to be admonished of the imminent perils, least peradventure they sleep securely over their riches, being seduced by Satan to abuse their wealth, when as in deed they ought rather to use it after the rule of the Apostle, which I did even now recite.
It is easier for a Camel to goe throughe the eye of a needle, than for a rich mā to enter into the kingdome of God. And as the mindes of wealthie men are not vtterly to be discouraged and driuen to desperation, as thoughe it were impossible for them to be saued: so are they to be admonished of the imminente perills, least peraduenture they sléepe securely ouer their riches, beeing seduced by Satan to abuse their wealthe, when as in déede they ought rather to vse it after the rule of the Apostle, which I did euen nowe recite.
The Gangresian Synod, a very ancient Council, verily condemned 1them which taught: That faithful rich men could have no hope to be 2saved by the Lord, unless they did renounce and forsake all the good that they did possess. S. Augustine enrolleth and reckoneth the Apostolics in his Catalogue or bedroll of heretics. They taking arrogantly this name to themselves, did not admit into their company any of them which used the fellowship of their own wives, or had in […] any proper substance▪ […], they therf••e […] ⟨p. 264⟩because separating themselves from the Church, they think that they have no hope to be saved, which use and enjoy the things that they themselves lack. They are like unto the Encratites, and are called also by the name of Apotactites. Touching riches they of themselves verily are not evil, but the good gifts of God: It is the abuse that makes them evil. But for the use of them, I will speak hereafter.