A17183:1382
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.
Furthermore, murder is either committed willingly or else unwillingly. Of murder unwillingly committed there is an example in the 19 Chapter of Deuteronomy, where the case is put, as followeth: two friends go to the wood to hew wood together, and as the one fetcheth his stroke the head of the are falleth from the helve, and striketh the other so that he dyeth upon it. This deed the Lord doeth neither impute, nor would have it to be imputed to the man, but to him self. And therefore he giveth licence to the man to fly unto the Sanctuary. For his mind was that the sanctuaries 1should be a safeguard to such kind of people as killed men unwillingly, and not to bladders and cutters, not to them that poison, or otherwise kill their neighbours of a set pretence or purpose. Of which there is much to be seen in the 35 of Numeri, the fourth & the nineteenth Chapters of Deuteronomy. To the law for murder unwillingly committed doth the case belong, that is thus put forth. Two men fight together, and in their fight they strike a woman with child, so that either she falleth in travail before her time, or else doth presently die out of hand. In such a case, what is to be done, the Lord did teach in the 21 of Exodus, where the law of like for like is also set down. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand &c. In the same place also is putt an other kind of murder which is committed either by thy beast, as by thine Ox that pusheth with his horns, or by thy Wolfe, or by thy dog that thou keepest in thine house, or else by some instrument, or building that is in thy possession. Now thou diddest either know or not know the fierceness of thy beast, the peril in thine instrument, or the rottenness of thy building. If thou knewest it not, thou wast then excused. But if thou knewest it, and didst not seek a way to prevent the mischief, the Lord gave charge that thou shouldest dye for it. But if of clemency it were granted thee to redeem thy life, thou shouldest not refuse to pay any sum of money, how great so ever it were. Now, wilful murder, committed upon ⟨p. 399⟩pretended malice, is utterly unpardonable in the law of God. Such an one, saith the law, thou shalt pull from mine altar that he may be killed. In this case redemption of life is not permitted, but the blood of the murderer is strictly required.
Furthermore, murther is either committed willingly or else vnwillingly. Of murther vnwillingly cō mitted there is an example in the 19 Chapter of Deuteronomie, where the case is put, as followeth: two friends go to the wood to hewe wood together, and as the one fetcheth his stroke the head of the are falleth from the helue, and striketh the other so that he dyeth vppon it. This déede the Lorde doeth neither impute, nor would haue it to be imputed to the man, but to him selfe. And therefore he giueth licence to the man to flye vnto the Sanctuarie. For his minde was that the sanctuaries