A17183:742
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.
For I will not now say that the greater sort of men do rather follow the flesh, than the spirit. And for that cause, God, who loveth man, who keepeth and preserveth civility, peace, & humane society, hath prepared and applied a medicine against those grievous diseases of men, he hath appointed the magistrate, I say, to step betwixt them that strive with the authority of law & equity, to judge and discuss matters betwixt them that are at variance, to bridle & suppress wrong and affections, and lastly to save the guiltless & innocents. Whosoever subverteth this ordinance of God, till such time as men do leave their wayward disposition, he bringeth utter confusion to every state, and aideth wrongful dealers and violent robbers to oppress and root out the best sort of people. By this verily 1which hitherto we have alleged it is manifestly apparent that the magistrate is ordained by God for the safeguard of the good, & punishment of the evil, I mean for the good and quiet state of mortal men. Wherefore we read that from the beginning, there have been magistrates in the world. Hereunto do appertain these testimonies of the holy Scripture. Moses in y• Law calleth, The judges, Gods, and this judgement, saith he, is Gods. From whence also Jehoshaphat borrowed ⟨p. 172⟩that saying which he spake to y• Judges, where he saith: See what ye do: For ye judge not to man, but to the Lord, which is with you in the causes which ye judge: let the fear of God therefore be in your harts. S. Peter saith: That we must obey the magistrates for the Lords sake, by whom he is ordained to the praise of the good, and terrifying of the evil. And Paul the teacher of the Gentiles saith: There is no power but of God, and the powers that are, are ordained by God: and whosoever resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and he that resisteth, shall receive to him self damnation. For rulers are not fearful to them that do well, but to the evil. For he is the minister of God, revenger of wrath on him that doth evil. The magistrate therefore is of God, his office is good, holy, pleasing God, just, profitable, and necessary for men, and the rulers which do rightly execute their office, are the friends and worshippers of God, they are his elect instruments, by whom he worketh mans health and safeguard.