A17183:612
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.
Be ye holy, for I am holy, be ye perfect, even as your heavenly father is perfect. We read also, that the holiest men of both the Testaments, by calling and taking to witness the name of God in matters of weight, did swear, and that they sware without any sin. An oath therefore in the law of Christ is not forbidden, and it is lawful for a Christian man both to exact, and also to take an oath. I rather verily do not see how that man is worthy to be called a Christian, which being lawfully required to swear, will seem to refuse it. But of this I have more fully disputed in another place against the Anabaptists. Secondarily, we have to consider for what causes we ought to swear. In many common weals, it is an 1usual and received custom to take an oath upon every light occasion, and for that cause, we see that an oath is lightly set by, and very little esteemed. For what is this, but to take the name of God in vain? Let Magistrates therefore learn and know that an oath ought not to be required, but in earnest affairs, as when it standeth for the glory of God, for the safety of our neighbour, and for the public weal We must mark therefore, when and why the people of God have sworn in the scriptures. Abraham sware when he made that league & confederacy with Abimelech. The people of God doth very often swear under their kings, in making a covenant with God, for the keeping of true religion. They of old time did clear themselves of heinous suspicions by taking of an oath. In Exodus we read. If any man shall give to his neighbour a beast to keep, and it shall dye, or be stolen away, no man seeing it, then shall an oath by the Lord go betwixt them twain, that he hath not laid his hand on his neighbours thing: which […] owner of the thing shall take & the other shall not restore it. For Paul in the 6. to the Hebrews, saith: Men verily ⟨p. 132⟩swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation, is to them an end of all strife. To this end therefore let Magistrates apply the use of an oath, and let them have an especial regard, in giving an oath to do it reverently:
Be ye holy, for I am holy, be ye perfect, euen as your heauenly father is perfect. We reade also, that the holiest men of both the Testamentes, by calling and taking to witnesse the name of God in matters of weight, did sweare, and that they sware without any sinne. An othe therfore in the lawe of Christ is not forbidden, and it is lawfull for a Christian man both to exact, and also to take an othe. I rather verily do not sée howe that man is worthy to be called a Christian, which being lawfully required to sweare, wil séeme to refuse it. But of this I haue more fully disputed in another place against ye Anabaptistes. Secondarily, we haue to cō sider for what causes we ought to swere. In many cōmon weals, it is an