A17183:664
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.
It happeneth often times, that 1Magistrates have a good mind to promote Religion, to advance common justice, to defend the laws, and to favour honesty, and yet notwithstanding, they are troubled with their infirmities, yea, sometime with grievous offences: Howbeit, the people ought not therefore to despise them, & thrust them beside their dignity. David had his infirmities, albeit (otherwise) a very good Prince. By his adultery, he endamaged much his people & kingdom: and for to make his trouble the more, Absalom sinned grievously, & went about to put him beside his crown and kingdom. So likewise in other Princes, there are no small number of vices, which nevertheless neither move nor ought to move godly people to rebellious sedition, so long as justice is maintained, & good laws and public peace defended. We ought to pray earnestly and continually for the Magistrates welfare. We must aid him with our help & counsel, so oft as need shall serve & occasion be given. We must not deny him our riches or bodies to assist him with all. The Saints did gather their substance in common, to help the Magistrate, so oft as public safeguard did so require. The Israelites of all ages, did always fight for their Judges, for their Kings, & other Magistrates, ⟨p. 153⟩& so did all other people upon good advice taken: and likewise on the other side, did the Princes fight for the people. I would therefore that those offices of godly naturalness were of force, and did flourish even at this day in all kingdoms, cities, and common weals. Let every nation give to his Magistrate that which by law, or by custom, or by necessity it oweth him. For Paul the Apostle saith: Give to every one that which ye owe, tribute to whom tribute belongeth, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, and honour to whom honour is due. Rom. 13.
It happeneth often times, that 1Magistrates haue a good mynd to promote Religion, to aduaunce common iustice, to defende the lawes, and to fauour honestie, and yet notwithstanding, they are troubled with their infirmities, yea, sometime with grieuous offences: Howbeit, the people ought not therefore to despise them, & thrust thē beside their dignitie. Dauid had his infirmities, albeit (otherwise) a very good Prince. By his adulterie, he indamaged much his people & kingdome: and for to make his trouble the more, Absolon sinned grieuously, & went about to put hym beside his crowne and kingdome. So likewise in other Princes, there are no small number of vices, which neuerthelesse neither moue nor ought to moue godly people to rebellious sedition, so long as iustice is mainteined, & good lawes and publique peace defended. We ought to pray earnestly and continually for the Magistrates welfare. We must ayde him with our helpe & counsell, so oft as néed shal serue & occasiō be giuen. We must not deny him our riches or bodies to assist him with all. The Saints did gather their substance in common, to helpe the Magistrate, so oft as publike safegard did so require. The Israelites of all ages, did alwayes fight for their Iudges, for their Kinges, & other Magistrates,