A17183:994
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.
There are among men, many and divers occupations. And the state & 1conditions, wherein men are, do stand in need of many and sundry things. There is an occupation or […] ⟨p. 268⟩kind of labour, which is put in practise by force of hand, and strength of body, rather then by art, although it wanteth not altogether wit and discretion. There is also a more fine and subtle labour of the wit, which, although it be not done without the body and strength of man, is yet notwithstanding accomplished by the wit rather then by the bodily force of him which laboureth. Of the first sort are all those occupations or sciences which are commonly called handicrafts, and in that number we reckon also merchandising, husbandry, and grassing of cattle. Of the latter sort are the study of tongues, of Physic, of law, of Divinity especially, and of Philosophy, and lastly the governing of a common weal. The Patriarchs verily, who were most innocent and excellent men, did for the most part either exercise husbandry, or else breed and feed up cattle to increase. There are many examples, of Abel, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Job, and other more. The Levites, and Prophets lived by their study and ecclesiastical ministry. The feat of merchandising is no where condemned throughout the holy Scriptures: but those merchants are condemned which neither fear nor seek after God, but use odd shifts and subtle sleights to deceive and cozen their brethren & neighbours. For James the Apostle of Christ our Lord saith: Go to now ye that say: to day, and to morrow let us go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy, and sell, & win (and yet cannot tell what shall happen on the morrow: for what is your life? it is even a vapour, that continueth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.) For that ye ought to say: If the Lord will, and if we live, let us do this or that: Neither is Lydia the seller of purple found fault withal in the Acts of the Apostles, for that she did sell purple: For Solomon, where he setteth forth the praise of a good housewife, doth commend 2her greatly for exercising merchandise. All notable kings have lived by governing of their common wealths, even as Joseph the preserver of Egypt, and Daniel the chief next to the king in Babylon and Media did in like sort.