Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

Now whosoever doth confer the laws and constitutions of Princes, kings, Emperors, or Christian magistrates which are to be found either in the Code, in the book of Digests, or Pandects, in the volume of new Constitutions, or else in any other books of good laws of sundry nations, with these Judicial laws of God, he must needs confess that they draw very near in likeness, and do very well agree one with an other. Justinian the Emperor forbade by law either to sell or otherwise to make away the possessions of the church, & things consecrated unto God. For the sincere confessing and pure maintaining of the catholic faith the Emperors Gratian, Valentinian, & Theodosius did make a most excellent & holy law. Constantine the great gave charge to Taurus one of his lieutenants to shut the idol temples, and with the sword to destroy such rebels, as went about to set them open, and to do sacrifice in them. That laws were made for the relief of the poor, and that kings and emperors had a care over them, it is to be seen in more places than one of the Emperors laws and constitutions. It is very certain y• whosoever readeth the Code, lib. 1. tit. 2. he shall find much matter belonging to this argument. For the honest training up of children, and the liberal sustaining of aged parents there are very commē dabble laws in the books of the heathens. Concerning the authority y• parents have over their children, there is m•ch• & many things to be found in writing• likewise of wedlock, of incest & […] marriages, Honorius, A•cadius, & many other ⟨p. 428⟩princes have made very tolerable & laudable decrees: where they speak also very well and wisely of the law of divorcement. But if I go on to add or oppose to every several title of the Judicial laws contained in this sermon, sundry and peculiar laws out of the decrees of Christian Princes, I shall, I know, be too tedious unto your patience. For then would this treatise pass the time of an ordinary sermon.

Now whosoeuer doth conferre the lawes and constitutions of Princes, kings, Emperours, or Christian magistrates which are to be found either in the Code, in the booke of Digestes, or Pandectes, in the volume of newe Constitutions, or else in anye other bookes of good lawes of sundrie nations, with these Iudiciall lawes of God, he must néedes confesse that they drawe verie néere in likenesse, and do verie well agrée one with an other. Iustinian the Emperour forbad by law either to sel or otherwise to make awaye the possessions of the church, & things consecrated vnto God. For the sincere confessing and pure mainteining of the catholique faith the Emperours Gratian, Valentinian, & Theodosius did make a moste excellent & holie law. Constantine the great gaue charge to Taurus one of his lieuetenauntes to shutte the idol temples, and with the sworde to destroye suche rebeiles, as went about to sett them open, and to do sacrifice in them. That lawes were made for the reliefe of the poore, and that kinges and emperours had a care ouer them, it is to be séene in more places than one of the Emperours lawes and constitutions. It is verie certeine y whosoeuer readeth the Code, lib. 1. tit. 2. he shal finde much matter belonging to this argument. For the honest trayning vp of children, and the liberal susteining of aged parents there are verie commē dable lawes in ye bookes of ye heathens. Concerning the authoritie y parentes haue ouer their childrē, there is mch & many things to be found in writing likewise of wedlock, of incst & marriages, Honoriꝰ, Acadiꝰ, & many other