{Book Review} The Decades of Henry Bullinger

Reformation Heritage Books has (wonderfully and thankfully!) reprinted Henry Bullinger’s The Decades in two volumes.

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The Decades of Henry Bullinger

From the outset, I cannot express how great a gift this is for the church. Bullinger, who was a Swiss Reformer who succeeded Zwingli, was one of the most important leaders in the Swiss Reformation. Joel Beeke calls him “one of the greatest unsung heroes of the Reformation” in the preface. Bullinger’s writings are often considered to be some of the finest from the Reformation era, and the church needs to be familiar with these works. 

To provide an introduction on Bullinger’s Decades, I want to highlight some of the text from the back cover of volume 1: “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 tens. 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.” 

Before getting into Bullinger’s Decades, it is worth mentioning that volume one consists of two lengthy introductions to the work. The first is by George Ella, and this introduction is essentially a biography of Bullinger. The second introduction is by Joel Beeke and George Ella on the Decades themselves, along with a chapter on Bullinger as preacher. The reader would do well to not skip over these introductions before diving into the Decades. These introductions make up their own book-length treatment and are excellently written. 

Volume one then dives into the first of five decades. Prior to the first sermon, there is a preface and a chapter on the four general synods or councils (Nicene, 1st Constantinople, Ephesus, and Chalcedon). If you’re a fan of church history, you’ll certainly enjoy this chapter. Following this, you’ll get to the first decade of sermons. The first sermon is on the Word of God, and it is simply phenomenal. I was greatly encouraged by how easily understandable this translation is. This entire 2-volume series reprint is photolithographed from the 4-volume Parker Society Edition from 1849-1852, so I wasn’t sure what to expect as far as the ease of reading. But thankfully, it’s very readable and easy to understand. 

Some of the other topics in the first decade include: true faith, justification by faith (a must-read!), an exposition of the Apostle’s Creed, and a sermon on love of God and neighbor. The second decade of sermons includes: Law, and an exposition of commandments 1-7. The third decade of sermons includes sermons on commandments 8-10, the ceremonial and judicial law of God, the fulfilment of the law, Christian liberty, good works and rewards, and sin. 

Volume 2 then consists of the fourth and fifth decades. The fourth decade consists of sermons on the Gospel, at which point, I must provide a quote in which Bullinger provides the sum of the Gospel:

“Thus hitherto we have heard that God, the Father of mercies, according to his free mercy taking pity upon mankind when it wuck fast and was drowned in the mire of hell, did, as he promised by the prophets, send his only-begotten Son into the world, that he might draw us out of the mud, and fully give us all things requisite to life and salvation. For God the Father was in Christ reconciled unto us, who for us and our salvation was incarnate, dead, raised from death to life, and taken up into heaven again.”

Pure gold! Also included in the fourth decade is sermons on repentance, reforming of churches, of God and the knowledge of Him (YES! Excellent!), God’s providence, Christology (which is superb, as Bullinger discusses the hypostatic union, including the communication of properties from a Reformed perspective), the Holy Spirit, and ecclesiology (many different topics regarding the church, such as sacraments!). In two volumes, you receive a theology that is passed down from the very hands of one of the  Protestant Reformers! Why would anybody not want to read this? 

The books themselves are gorgeous! They are black hardcovers with gold lettering on both the front and spine of the books. For the most part, the book will lay flat and allow you to keep your page. The pages give very nice wide margins (for you notetakers) and excellent marginal headings that provide topics and Scripture passages that are referenced. Do I have any weaknesses to provide? Not really. But if I was forced to do it, I would mention that I don’t love the font. I don’t dislike it either, so even this isn’t much of a weakness. 

Conclusion

I cannot recommend this 2-volume set highly enough! If you are a minister, or if you are a Reformed Christian, or if you are seminary student: there is no excuse; you must have this set. If you don’t fit into any of those descriptions, you still have no excuse; you too should read these excellent works that have contributed so much to Protestant Christianity. Tolle lege, take up and read! 

Disclaimer: My thanks to Reformation Heritage Books for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. The opinions expressed are my own.