A17183:662
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.
Touching the Magistrate and his 1office, I nieane to speak of them in another place: so much as it is necessarily requisite for this present time, Saint Peter uttereth where he saith: Fear God, honour the King. Let us therefore acknowledge and confess, that the Magistrates office is ordained of God for mens commodity, and that GOD by the Magistrate doth frankly bestow on us very many and great commodities.
Touching the Magistrate and his 1office, I nieane to speake of them in another place: so much as it is necessarily requisite for this present time, Saint Peter vttereth where he saith: Feare God, honour the King. Let vs therefore acknowledge and confesse, that the Magistrates office is ordeined of God for mens commoditie, and that GOD by the Magistrate dothe frankly bestowe on vs very many and great commodities.
- 1For the honour due to Magistrates.
The peers do watch for the common ⟨p. 152⟩people, if they do rightly discharge their office, not showing them selves to be detestable tyrants, they judge the people, they take up controversies, they keep justice in punishing the guilty, and defending innocents, and lastly, they fight for the people. And for the excellency of their office, which is both the chefest and the most necessary, God doth attribute to the Magistrate the use of his own name, and calleth the princes and Senators of the people, Gods, to the intent that they by the very name should be put in mind of their duty, and that the subjects might thereby learn to have them in reverence. God is just, good, righteous, and one which hath no respect of persons. And such an one ought the good Judge or Magistrate to be. Monks and Hermits do praise their profession and solitary life, extolling it above the skies: but I think verily, that there is more true virtue in one politic man, who governeth the common weal, and doth his duty truly, than in many thousands of of Monks and Hermits, who have not so much as one word expressed in the holy Scriptures, for the defence of their vocation and vowed order of living: yea, I am ashamed that I have compared the holy office of Magistrates with that kind of people, in whom there is nothing found worthy to be compared with them, in so much, as they flee from the labour and ordinance that God hath made profitable for their people and countrymen. Truly, if the Prince do faithfully discharge his office in the common weal, he heapeth up to him self a number of very good works, and praise that never shall be ended. Therefore the Magistrate must be obeyed, and all his good and upright laws. No sedition or conspiracies ought in any case to be moved against him. We must not curse or speak evil of the Magistrate. For God him self in his law doth charge us, saying: Thou shalt not speak evil of the Gods, nor curse the Prince of the people. If he chance at any time to sin, let us behave ourselves toward him, as to our father. Of whom I have spoken a little before.