Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

Now, that we may plainly and ¹distinctly discourse upon this matter, ye have to mark, that to judge is an ²action: and in this treatise is taken for an action done in the courts of judgement: for it signifieth to take up and determine of matters betwixt such as be at variance, or else upon the bearing of a cause to give sentence or judgement. Finally, to judge doth signify to deliver them that be in danger, to relieve the oppressed, to defend the afflicted, and with punishment to keep under mischievous offenders. Judgement therefore is not the sitting or meeting of Judges in Assizes or Sessions: but is rather the very diligent discussing of causes, the giving of sentence according to right and equity by the laws of God, and also the assertion and defence whereby the good are delivered, and the punishment that is executed upon the ill disposed and wicked offenders. The Judges are the overseers of judgement & justice, I mean, such as do justly according to the laws give sentence be twixt them that are at discord, which do defend and deliver the good, and punish and bridle the wicked. And so the Judicial laws are those which inform the Judges how to determine of controversies and questions, how to Judge justly, how to punish the wicked, and how to defend the good, that peace, honesty, justice, and public tranquillity may be among all men: which is the end and mark alone whereto both the Judge, and all the Judicial laws do tend and are directed. For God our good Lord and lawgiver would have it to go well with man, that we may live happily, civilly, and in tranquillity. And therefore we do not in this treatise exclude the care and defence of pure religion, but do make it one of the especial points, ⟨p. 389⟩which the Judicial laws do look unto.

Nowe, that wee may plainly and ¹distinctly discourse vpon this matter, ye haue to marke, that to iudge is an ²action: and in this treatise is taken for an action done in the courtes of iudgement: for it signifieth to take vp and determine of matters betwixt such as be at variance, or else vppon ye bearing of a cause to giue sētence or iudgement. Finally, to iudge doth signifie to deliuer them that be in daunger, to relieue the oppressed, to defend the afflicted, and with punishement to kéepe vnder mischiefous offendours. Iudgement therefore is not the sitting or méeting of Iudges in Assises or Sessions: but is rather the very diligent discussing of causes, the giuing of sentence accordinge to right and equitie by the lawes of God, and also the assertion and defence whereby the good are deliuered, and the punishmēt that is executed vppon the yll disposed and wicked offendours. The Iudges are the ouerséers of iudgement & iustice, I meane, such as doe iustly according to the lawes giue sentence be twixt them that are at discorde, which do defende and deliuer the good, and punish and brydle the wicked. And so ye Iudicial lawes are those which informe the Iudges howe to determine of controuersies and questions, howe to Iudge iustly, how to punishe the wicked, and howe to defend the good, that peace, honestie, iustice, and publique tranquillitie may be among all men: which is the ende and marke alone whereto both the Iudge, and all the Iudiciall lawes do tende and are directed. For God our good Lord and lawegiuer would haue it to go well wt man, that we may liue happily, ciuilie, and in tranquillitie. And therfore we do not in this treatise exclude the care and defence of pure religion, but do make it one of the especiall poynts,