A17183:739
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.
The Democracy may be called a common 1weal, wherein all the people together bear the whole sway, and absolute authority. And this Democracy began first by the fall of the Oligarchy. For when the people saw that their head men did abuse their power, & waxed violent rulers, they displaced them, and kept the authority to themselves, meaning that every man should freely give his voice in matters touching the commonweal. This kind of government breaketh out commonly into outrageous tumults, I mean, into seditions and conspiracies: for no man will suffer himself to be corrected, while every man will challenge to himself full & absolute authority to do what he lusteth, because for sooth he is one and a member •• the people, in whose hands the whole authority doth consist.
The Democracie may be called a cō mon 1weale, wherein all the people together beare the whole sway, and absolute authoritie. And this Democracie began first by the fall of the Oligarchie. For when the people saw that their head men did abuse their power, & waxed violent rulers, they displaced them, and kept the authoritie to themselues, meaning that euery man should fréelie giue his voyce in matters touching the commonweale. This kind of gouernement breaketh out commonly into outragious tumultes, I meane, into seditions and conspiracies: for no man will suffer himselfe to be corrected, while euerie man will challenge to himselfe full & absolute authoritie to do what hée lusteth, because for sooth hee is one and a member •• the people, in whose hands the whoale authoritie doth consist.
- 1Democracy.Democracie.
Now touching the excellency of these forms or kinds of government, it maketh not greatly to my purpose to dispute which ought to be preferred before other. Many have preferred the Monarchy before the rest: but therewithal they added: If he which holdeth the Monarchy be a good and