A17183:744
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 many there are which will have the magistrate to be of two sorts, to wit, either good or bad. The good 1magistrate is he, who being lawfully ordained, doth lawfully execute his office & duty. The evil magistrate is he, which when he hath by evil means got the authority, doth turn & dispose it as he himself lusteth. And hereupon, the question is wont to be demanded: Whether an evil, that is, a tyrannical magistrate be of God 2or no? To this I answer, that God is the author of good and not of evil: For God by nature is good, and all his purposes are good, being directed to y• health and preservation, not to the destruction, of us men. Therefore the good and healthful ordaining of the magistrate without all doubt is of god himself, who is the author of all goodness.
Now many there are which will haue ye magistrate to be of two sorts, to wit, either good or badde. The good 1magistrate is hée, who being lawfully ordeyned, doth lawfully execute his office & duetie. The euill magistrate is he, which whē he hath by euil meanes got the authoritie, doth tourne & dispose it as hée himselfe lusteth. And herevpon, the question is wont to be demaunded: Whether an euill, that is, a tyrannicall magistrate be of God 2or no? To this I aunsweare, yt God is the author of good and not of euill: For God by nature is good, and all his purposes are good, being directed to y• health and preseruation, not to the destruction, of vs men. Therefore the good and healthfull ordeyning of the magistrate without al doubt is of god himselfe, who is the author of all goodnesse.
- 1A good Magistrate and a bad.A good Magistrate and a badde.
- 2Wheth•• an […] be of […].