A17183:736
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.
And now this place and argument ⟨p. 169⟩do require that I speak somewhat 1touching the office or authority of the magistrate: which (by Gods help) I will assay to do, not that I mean or can allege all that may be said thereof, but that which shall seem most properly to declare the meaning of it, and is most necessary for this present treatise.
And now this place and argument ⟨p. 169⟩doe require that I speake somewhat 1touching the office or authoritie of ye magistrate: which (by Gods helpe) I will assay to doe, not that I meane or can alledge all that may be sayd therof, but that which shal séeme most properly to declare the meaning of it, and is most necessarie for this presente treatise.
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Magistratus (which word we use for the room wherein the magistrate 1is) doth take the name A magistris populi designandis, of assigning the masters, guiders, and captains of the people. That room & place is called by the name of power or authority, by reason of the power that is given to it of God. It is called by the name of Domination for the dominion that the Lord doth grant it upon yt earth. They are called Princes that have yt Dominion: for they have a preeminence above the people. They are called Consules of Counselling: And kings of Commanding, ruling, and governing the people: So then the Magistracy (that I may henceforward use this word for the magistrates power and place) is an office, and an action in the executing of the same. Aristotle defineth the magistrate to be a keeper of the laws. Plutarch, in that book wherein he showeth that learning is required to be in a king, among other things saith: Princes are the ministers of god for the oversight and safeguard of mortal men, to the end that they may partly distribute, and partly keep, the good things that he doth liberally give, and frankly bestow upon them. The Magistracy, by the Scriptures, may be defined to be a divine ordinance or action, whereby the good being defended by the Princes […], and the evil suppressed by the same authority, godliness, justice, honesty, peace, and tranquillity both public and private are safely preserved. Whereby we gather, that to govern a common weal, and to execute the office of a magistrate, is a worship and service to God himself: God verily is delighted therein. For the office of a magistrate is a thing most excellent, and abounding with all good works, as in my former sermon I have declared.