Heinrich Bullinger “The Decades” (Reviewed by B. K. Campbell)
Presented in theological form ‘The Decades’ contain fifty sermons that expound some of the most important doctrinal themes of the Reformation; certainly, Bullinger’s most comprehensive and complete theological work. It holds firm to the conviction that the covenant unity of history is a manifestation of God’s Providential action in time. This work towers in scope and depth. The Decades are the result of years of dedicated research. They contain extensive scripture citations and quotations from early church fathers, such as Augustine and Tertullian.
For Bullinger, the Church did not start at the dawn of Pentecost or birth of Christ (as taught by proponents of dispensationalism) but has been in existence since the promise made in Genesis 3:15. Such is the nature and essence of all true covenant theology.
The Decades are the historical embodiment of Reformed theology. So effective and articulate was their theological influence that Archbishop Whitgift in 1568 “obtained an order in convocation that every clergyman should procure a copy of [The Decades] and read one [sermon] once a week”. At one time these volumes (originally published in five) where required reading for all clergy.
In his essay, Heinrich Bullinger as Theologian, Edward Dowey comments, “Bullinger’s Decades, a major reformation classic, is unchallengeable his most full bodied and comprehensive theological work, containing the richness of his scholarship, gathering together themes of all his major writings up to that time, and exhibiting the churchly purpose of being a theological source book for pastors to aid them in the preparation of sermons.”
Nicolas Elliot (Englishman of law and pupil of Bullinger) has said regarding Bullinger’s work, “Your books are well received, not only by our king, but equally so by the lord Cromwell, who is keeper of the king’s privy seal and vicar of the church of England… May God, therefore, give you the disposition to publish all your writings as speedily as possible, whereby you will not only fill the coffers, of the booksellers, but will gain over very many souls to Christ, and adorn his church with most precious jewels.”
Bullinger survived the plague of 1564 and 1565, but lost his wife and three children (events certain to cause sorrow in the strongest of hearts). However, Bullinger’s resolve in Providence was firm: “We content ourselves in the only word of God; and do therefore simply believe and teach, that God by his providence doth govern all things.” He was a true scholar and pastor of the Reformation; sought out by Calvin, on more than one occasion, for his comfort, counsel and friendship. Calvin called Bullinger an “illustrious… and highly to be revered brother in the Lord”. Hence, he was not just a theologian, but also a man of firm character and godly reputation.
It is a great and mysterious question as to why Bullinger’s writings fell into obscurity, why his works have been neglected; not receiving the wide recognition, as did Calvin’s. Bullinger was born 5 years before Calvin and lived 11 years after Calvin. Calvin’s correspondence consists of roughly 4,300 letters while Bullinger produced some 12,000 letters. His collected works comprise over 119 volumes, of which, The Decades represent the best that those volumes have to offer.
Comparable to ‘Calvin’s Institutes’ in magnitude and comprehensiveness (at one time even outselling them) these volumes are bound to bring theological pleasure to readers for years to come.
So, should you buy Bullinger’s Decades? Yes, buy them. For in buying The Decades, it is no exaggeration to say that we are buying a valuable piece of the Reformation. Perhaps, we will not agree with all his positions, but neither do we agree with every good theologian line upon line. Overall the sermons are sound, theologically precise and delivered straight from the heart of a man properly labeled ‘pastor’s pastor’.
As Jean-Marc Berthoud has said, “Much else could usefully be said on this immensely scholarly doctor of the Church, this incomparable pastor, this man of indomitable faith whose mighty works, though today largely forgotten and sadly neglected, still spread, for whoever takes the trouble to consult them, a truly heavenly light.” When you posses The Decades I am confident they will speak for themselves.
- From Monergism Books at http://www.monergismbooks.com/reviews/decades.html (emphases added)
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