A17183:1337
Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)
Fifty godly and learned sermons divided into five decades, containing the chief and principal points of Christian religion, written in three several tomes or sections, by Henry Bullinger minister of the church of Tigure in Switzerland. Whereunto is adjoined a triple or three-fold table very fruitful and necessary. Translated out of Latin into English by H.I. student in divinity.Fiftie godlie and learned sermons diuided into fiue decades, conteyning the chiefe and principall pointes of Christian religion, written in three seuerall tomes or sections, by Henrie Bullinger minister of the churche of Tigure in Swicerlande. Whereunto is adioyned a triple or three-folde table verie fruitefull and necessarie. Translated out of Latine into English by H.I. student in diuinitie.
London: printed by Henry Middleton for Ralph Newberrie, 1577London: printed by Henry Middleton for Ralphe Newberrie, 1577
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Now, for because the Judicial laws do first of all require Judges, 1such, I mean, as should maintain & put the laws in execution (for the laws without executors seem to be dead, and on the other side are alive under a just magistrate, who is for y• cause called the living law) therefore before all other laws are placed those Judicial laws, which were given by God touching the magistrate or Judges, with their office and election. Of their election thus we read: Bring ye, saith Moses to the people, men of wisdom, and of understanding, and expert, according to your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you. Again, I will make thee rulers and Judges to judge the people according to thy tribes in all thy cities, which the Lord thy God giveth thee. And yet again more plainly: Seek (saith Jethro, being inspired from above, unto Moses) out of all the people, men of courage, and such as fear God, true men, hating covetousness, to wite, such as hate to take money and bribes▪ and make of them over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: and let them judge the people at all seasons. Which if thou doest thou shalt both keep the ordinances of God, and the people in peace and safety. To this doth belong that which we read in the book of Nun bers, where Moses prayed, saying: Let the God of the spirits of all flesh set a man over this congregation, which may go out and in before them: that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep without a shepherd. Herein Moses hath left an example for us to imitate in making our prayers to God for the election of our Judges. For often times our opinions or judgements of men do utterly deceive us. But the God of spirits doth behold the minds and hearts, & knoweth what every one is, in thoughts ⟨p. 390⟩and inward meaning. He therefore must be besought to give and show to us not hypocrites to be our Judges, but men of trueth and virtue. In the same place doth Moses leave to us the description of consecrating new chosen Judges. For they were set before the Lord and hands were laid upon them with making of prayers & supplications. Moreover the office of Judges is very briefly, but yet in most effectual and absolute sentences described of the Lord, by the mouth of Moses, in these words: