A17183:738
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.
Now there are three kinds of Magistracies 1or governments of common weals, the Monarchy, the Aristocracy, and the Democracy. We may call the Monarchy a kingdom wherein 2one alone doth by just and upright laws rule all things, and causes in the common weal. For if that justice & equity be once neglected, & that this One do against all right and reason rule all the roast, then is he a Tyrant, 3and his power is Tyranny, that is to say wrong and injury, which is a disease of that troubled kingdom, and a vice that is, as it were, set ••posite to be the destruction of yt common weal. The Aristocracy is the superior power 4of a few Peers, where a certain number of holy and upright men are chosen to be the guides and rulers of the people. And this did first begin by the fall of Tyranny. For when men perceived how dangerous it was to commit the rule of their whole state into one mans hand, they altered the order, and gave the charge thereof to an appointed number of chosen men, who did excel the common sort in power & authority. But if these chief or head men use evil means to come to authority, and neglecting the common weal, do hunt after their own advantage, then is their government not to be called an Aristocracy, but 5an Oligarchy, that is, the violent lust of ⟨p. 170⟩a few, and not the good and upright government of chosen Peers. So then these few violent rulers are the contrary to the estate where upright headmen have the preeminence.
Now there are thrée kinds of Magistracies 1or gouernements of cōmon weales, the Monarchie, ye Aristocracie, and the Democracie. We may cal the Monarchie a kingdome wherein 2