A17183:616
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.
Fourthly we have to consider how 1we ought to swear, and what the conditions of a just, a lawful and an honest oath are. Jeremiah therefore saith: Thou shalt swear, The Lord liveth, in trueth, in judgement, •nd righteousness. And the nations shall bless them selves in him, and in him shall they glory. There are therefore four conditions, of a just and a lawful oath. The first is, Thou shalt swear, The Lord liveth. Here now again is repeated that which hath so many times been beaten into our heads, that we ought to swear by the name of the living God. The pattern of our ancestors oath was this, The Lord liveth, as it is evident by the writings of the Prophets. Let us not swear therefore by any other but by God. The second condition is, Thou shalt swear in truth. So then, it is required, that not only the tong, but also the mind should swear, lest haply we say, The tong in deed did swear, but the mind sware not at all. Let us be true and faithful therefore, without deceit or guile, let us not lye, nor go about with subtlety to shift off the oath that once we have made. We Germans express this well when we say, On all gfard. Or else, On gfard. That is, I will not use any double dealing, but will simply and in good faith perform that I promise. There is an excellent pattern of a false and a deceitful oath in Auli Gellij lib. noct. At. 7. cap. 18. The third condition is, Thou shalt swear in, or with judgement, that is, advisedly, with great discretion, not rashly, nor lightly, but with consideration of every thing and circumstance, in great necessity, and cases of public commodity. ⟨p. 134⟩The fourth condition is, thou shalt swear in justice, or righteousness, lest peradventure our oath be against right and equity, that is, lest we sin against righteousness or justice, which attributeth that which is theirs both to God and man, so that our oath do not directly tend against the love of God and our neighbour. Here (dearly beloved) ye have heard me express in few words (which God him self hath also taught us) how we must swear, of what sort and fashion our lawful and allowable oaths ought to be, and under what conditions they are contained. But now if we shall swear against these conditions appointed us by God, then shall our oaths and swearings be altogether unlawful:
Fourthly we haue to consider how