Henry Bullinger was one of the most widely esteemed leaders of the Reformation Churches. The Decades was the most famous of the 150 treatises and manuscripts that he wrote, deriving its name from being a series of fifty theological addresses divided into five groups of ten. Each address is a helpful, detailed exposition of an important doctrine. Combined, they provide an overview of the Christian faith suitable for the everyday Christian. When first published The Decades outsold Calvin’s Institutes in England, a work that performs a similar function. This edition features introductions to the life of Bullinger and to the work itself by George Ella and Joel R. Beeke.

Table of Contents:

First Decade of Sermons

1. The Word of God
2. The Word of God
3. The Exposition of God’s Word
4. True Faith
5. The Force of Faith
6. Justification by Faith
7. The Apostles’ Creed, Articles 1–4
8. The Apostles’ Creed, Articles 5–8
9. The Apostles’ Creed, Articles 9–12
10. The Love of God and Our Neighbor 

Second Decade of Sermons

1. The Law of Nature and of Men
2. First and Second Commandments
3. Third Commandment
4. Fourth Commandment
5. Fifth Commandment
6. Sixth Commandment
7. Sixth Commandment
8. Sixth Commandment
9. Sixth Commandment
10. Seventh Commandment

Third Decade of Sermons

1. Eighth Commandment
2. Eighth Commandment
3. Eight Commandment
4. Ninth and Tenth Commandments
5. Ceremonial Laws of God
6. Ceremonial Laws of God
7. Judicial Laws of God
8. Use, Fulfilling, and Abrogation of the Law
9. Christian Liberty, Works, and Merits
10. Sin

Fourth Decade of Sermons

1. The Gospel
2. Repentance
3. God
4. Creation, Providence, and Predestination
5. Adoring, Calling Upon, and Serving God
6. The Son of God Our Lord Jesus Christ
7. Christ’s Kingdom and Priesthood
8. The Holy Ghost
9. Angels and Devils
10. The Reasonable Soul of Man

Fifth Decade of Sermons

1. The Holy Catholic Church
2. The Unity of the Church
3. The Ministry of the Word of God
4. The Ministry of the Word of God
5. Prayer to God
6. The Sacraments
7. The Sacraments
8. Holy Baptism
9. The Lord’s Holy Supper
10. The Institutions of the Church

Author

Henry Bullinger (1504–1575) was born in Bremgarten, Switzerland and became the best-known theologian in Britain during the Reformation era. He produced 86 works of Reformed theology at a time prior to Calvin’s first edition of the Institutes of the Christian Religion. His overall writing output was larger than Luther, Calvin, and Melancthon combined. This thorough work was the reason he came to be called the Father and Shepherd of the Reformed churches.

Endorsement

“This reprint of Bullinger’s The Decades makes available a seminal survey of Christian teaching by one of the most significant of the second-generation Reformers. Both in their content and in their homiletical tone, The Decades offered the mid-sixteenth century a basic text from which Christian readers could learn both the content of the faith and the life of Christian obedience. Their importance is evidenced in the numerous printings both in Latin and in the vernacular that mark out the influence of the Decades among English, Dutch, and German-speaking Protestants. May this reprint enhance contemporary recognition of Bullinger’s contribution to the Reformation.” — Richard A. Muller, Calvin Theological Seminary

“What is impressive about The Decades is how contemporary Bullinger sounds on so many issues and how readable he still is more than 450 years after he wrote these sermons. Even today, Bullinger surefootedly guides us intellectually, experientially, and practically through the truths of Reformed doctrine that set us free and enable us to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.” — Joel R. Beeke, president, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary