A17183:752
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 for the good election of magistrates, 1the Lord himself declareth whom and what kind of men he will have to be chosen, in these very words. Look over all the people, consider them diligently, and choose from among them men of courage, such as fear God, speakers of truth, and haters of covetousness, & make them rulers over thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens, to judge the people at all seasons. Four things the Lord requireth in a good governor. First that he be a man of courage, of strength or force, that is, which hath ability to do the thing whereunto he is appointed. That ability consisteth in mind rather than in body. For it is required that he be not a fool, but wise & skilful in that which he hath to do: because the office of a Captain is to know how to set his army in order of battle, rather than to fight himself, as also the duty of a Surveyor of works, is to know how buildings must be erected, rather than to work himself, or as a Chariot man ought rather to know how to guide his Cart in driving, than to draw it himself. And therewithal too, there is demanded a boldness of stomach to dare to do the thing, that he already knoweth: For constancy and sufferance, are very needful in every Captain.
Now for the good election of magistrates, 1the Lord himselfe declareth whom and what kind of men hée will haue to be chosē, in these verie words. Looke ouer all the people, consider them diligently, and choose from amonge them men of courage, such as feare God, speakers of truth, and haters of couetousnes, & make them rulers ouer thousandes, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tennes, to iudge the people at all seasons. Foure thinges the Lord requireth in a good gouernour. First that he be a man of courage, of strēgth or force, that is, which hath abilitie to doe the thing whereunto he is appointed. That abilitie consisteth in mind rather than in body. For it is required that hée be not a foole, but wise & skilfull in that which hée hath to doe: because the office of a Capitaine is to know how to set his armie in order of battaile, rather than to fight himself, as also the duetie of a Surueyor of woorkes, is to know how buildinges must be erected, rather than to worke himselfe, or as a Chariot man ought rather to know how to guide his Carte in driuing, than to drawe it himselfe. And therewithal too, there is demaunded a boldnesse of stomach to dare to doe the thing, that hée alreadie knoweth: For constancie and sufferaunce, are very néedefull in euerie Capitaine.