A17183:740
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 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 1upright Prince. Which nevertheless is rare to be found. They also which were of that opinion, did themselves live under Princes in Monarchies. But it is dangerous to speak against Jupiter. Among many kings of Judah and Israel thou shalt find a very few good, or at least wise tolerable & indifferent Princes, whereby we may perceive that the Lord did not in vain by the mouth of Samuel, persuade his people to keep their Aristocracy, and to be ruled by their priests and elders, as God by Moses and Jethro the wisest in the world, had ordained long before. And yet none can deny but that great perils and infinite discommodities are in the Aristocracy, but far more many in the Democracy. But such is the condition of mortal men in this corruptible flesh, that nothing among them is absolutely and on every side happy, & therefore that seemeth to them to be most excellent, which, although it be not altogether without inconveniences & some kind of vices, doth nevertheless in comparison of other, bring fewer perils and lesser annoyance. But how 2soever the case doth ••and, the Apostles of Christ do command us to obey the magistrate, whether he be king, or senate of chosen men. For Paul in his Epistle to Titus sayeth: Warn them to 3be subject to rule & power, and to obey magistrates. For to the Romans he saith: Let every soul be subject to the higher powers: For no power is but of god: & those powers that are, are or deined by god. Again to Tim. he saith I exhort you that prayers be made for kings, & for all that are in authority. If therefore any man live in a Monarchy, let him obey the king: if in a cē mon weal of what title soever, let him be ruled by the Consuls, Tribunes, headmen & elders of the people. For we ought rather to obey the ordinance of God, than over euriously to dispute of the kinds of governments, which is the better or worse than other.
Now touching the excellencie of these fourms or kindes of gouernement, it maketh not greatly to my purpose to dispute which ought to be preferred before other. Many haue preferred the Monarchie before the rest: but therewithall they added: If he which holdeth the Monarchie be a good and