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Bullinger: The Decades, Vol. 1

Heinrich Bullinger · translated by H. I. (1577), edited by Thomas Harding · 1549–1551; Parker Society 1849–1852

Fifty sermons on the whole of Christian doctrine by Zwingli's successor at Zurich, widely read in Elizabethan England (the First and Second Decades).

Edition: Internet Archive · archive.org

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From the opening: To the Ministry of the Church of England, and to Other Well Disposed Readers of God’s Word

Twat just cause there is that all spiritual shepherds, and specially these of our time, should see carefully to the feeding of the flocks committed to their charge, may easily appear to him that shall but a little stay his consideration upon this matter. For first, the commandments of the Almighty touching this thing are very earnest, the authority of which should greatly enforce. Secondly, the rewards which he proposeth to vigilant and careful pastors are large and bountiful, the sweetness of which should much allure. Thirdly, the plagues and heavy judgments, which he denounceth against slothful and careless shepherds, are grievous and importable!, the terror whereof should make afraid. Then the nature and condition of the sheep over whom they watch, the vigilancy of the wolf against whom they watch, the conscience in taking the fleece for which they watch, and this time and age wherein they watch, being rightly considered, will give them to understand sufficiently, that they have good occasion to watch.

How earnestly God commandeth, appeareth, Esay lviii. where he saith, ‘‘ Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, shew my people their transgressions, and the Isai. wii house of Jacob their sins.” And Hsay Ixii. “I have set watchmen upon thy walls, Ὁ Hierusalem, which all the day tsai.1xii and all the night continually shall not cease: ye that are mindful of the Lord, keep not silence.” And John xxi. “Feed my lambs, feed my sheep, and if ye love me, feed.” And John xxi. 2 Tim. iv. “ Preach the word: be instant in season, out of season, improve”, rebuke, exhort, &c.”’ How sweetly with 21m. iv. rewards he allureth, doth appear in the xii. of Daniel; “They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, pan xii.

[1 i.e. unsupportable: “ importable power.”—Spenser. P.] [2 1. 6. reprove. ]

1 Tim. iv.

Ezek. iii.

Jer. i.

1 Cor. ix,

and they that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever.” And 1 Tim, iv. “Take heed to thyself and to doctrine; in them occupy thyself continually. For in so doing thou shalt save thyself and them which hear thee.” How fiercely also he urgeth and driveth on the sluggish and careless shepherds with terrible plagues and whips threatened unto them, appeareth, Ezechiel 111., where he saith, “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word of my mouth,…

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Contents (76 sections)

  1. Opening
  2. Title page
  3. The University Press
  4. Fiftie Godlie and Learned
  5. To the Ministry of the Church of England, and to Other Well Disposed Readers of God’s Word
  6. The Nicene Creed Taken Out of the Ecclesiastical and Tripartite History
  7. The Creed of the Council Held at Constantinople
  8. The Confession of Faith Made by the Synod at Ephesus
  9. A Confession of Faith Made by the Council of Chalcedon, Taken Out of the Book of Isidore
  10. The Creed of the First Council Held at Toledo, When Honorius and Arcadius Were Emperors…
  11. The Creed of the Fourth Council Kept at Toledo, Taken Out of the Book of Isidore
  12. A Rule of Faith, After Tertullian, from His Book “De Praescriptionibus Haereticorum”
  13. The Creed of the Blessed Damasus, Bishop of Rome
  14. The First Sermon
  15. The First Sermon (continued)
  16. The Second Sermon
  17. The Third Sermon
  18. The Third Sermon (continued)
  19. The Third Sermon (continued)
  20. The Third Sermon (continued)
  21. The Third Sermon (continued)
  22. The Fourth Sermon
  23. The Fourth Sermon (continued)
  24. The Fifth Sermon
  25. The Fifth Sermon (continued)
  26. The Sixth Sermon
  27. The Sixth Sermon (continued)
  28. The Seventh Sermon
  29. The Apostles’ Creed
  30. The third article of our belief
  31. The fourth article of our belief
  32. The fourth article of our belief (continued)
  33. The Eighth Sermon
  34. The Eighth Sermon (continued)
  35. The Ninth Sermon
  36. The Ninth Sermon (continued)
  37. The Tenth Sermon
  38. The End of the First Decade of Sermons
  39. Of Laws, and of the Law of Nature, Then of the Laws of Men
  40. The Second Decade. The First Sermon
  41. The Second Decade. The First Sermon (continued)
  42. The Second Decade. The First Sermon (continued)
  43. The Second Decade. The First Sermon (continued)
  44. The Second Decade. The First Sermon (continued)
  45. The Second Decade. The First Sermon (continued)
  46. The Second Decade. The First Sermon (continued)
  47. The Second Decade. The First Sermon (continued)
  48. The Second Sermon
  49. The First and Second Precepts of the Ten Commandments
  50. The second commandment of God
  51. The Third Sermon
  52. The Fourth Sermon
  53. The Fifth Sermon
  54. The Fifth Sermon (continued)
  55. The Sixth Sermon
  56. The Sixth Sermon (continued)
  57. The Seventh Sermon
  58. The Seventh Sermon (continued)
  59. The Eighth Sermon
  60. The Eighth Sermon (continued)
  61. The Ninth Sermon
  62. IX. the Sixth Precept of the Ten Commandments
  63. IX. the Sixth Precept of the Ten Commandments (continued)
  64. The Tenth Sermon
  65. The Tenth Sermon (continued)
  66. The Tenth Sermon (continued)
  67. Eighth Annual Report
  68. Presented to the General Meeting, May the 2181, 1849
  69. 2 the Eighth Report of the Council
  70. Laws of the Parker Society
  71. The Following Names, Among Others, Are in the List of Subscribers to
  72. 6 Members of the Parker Society
  73. The Council and Officers for
  74. Council
  75. Regulations for Delivery of the Books Published by the Society
  76. Already Published by the Parker Society

How to cite it

Chicago
Heinrich Bullinger. Bullinger: The Decades, Vol. 1. Translated by H. I. (1577), edited by Thomas Harding. Internet Archive, 1549–1551; Parker Society 1849–1852. https://archive.org/details/decadesofhenrybu0102bull
MLA
Heinrich Bullinger. Bullinger: The Decades, Vol. 1. Translated by H. I. (1577), edited by Thomas Harding, Internet Archive, 1549–1551; Parker Society 1849–1852. https://archive.org/details/decadesofhenrybu0102bull
APA
Heinrich Bullinger (1549–1551; Parker Society 1849–1852). Bullinger: The Decades, Vol. 1 (H. I. (1577), edited by Thomas Harding, Trans.). Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/decadesofhenrybu0102bull

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