A17183:762
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 ordinance of the magistrate is a decree made by him for maintaining of religion, honesty, justice, & public peace: and it consisteth on ij. points, in ordering rightly matters of religion, and making good laws for the preservation of honesty, justice, & common peace. But before I come to the determining and ordering of religion, I will briefly and in few words, handle their question, which demand, whether the care of religion do appertain to the magistrate, as part of his office or no? For I see many that are of opinion, that the care and ordering of religion doth belong to Bishops alone, and that kings, princes, & senators ought not to meddle therewith.
The ordinaunce of the magistrate is a decrée made by him for mainteyning of religion, honestie, iustice, & publique peace: and it consisteth on ij. points, in ordering rightly matters of religion, and making good lawes for ye preseruation of honestie, iustice, & common peace. But before I come to the determining and ordering of religion, I will brieflie and in few words, handle their question, which demaunde, whether the care of religion do apperteine to the magistrate, as part of his office or no? For I see many that are of opinion, that the care and ordering of religion doth belong to Bishops alone, and that kings, princes, & senatours ought not to medle therewith.
But the catholic verity teacheth 1that the care of religion doth especially belong to the magistrate, and that it is not in his power only, but his office & duty also to dispose and advance religion. For among them of old, their kings were priests, I mean masters and overseers of religion. Melchizedek that holy & wise Prince of the Canaanitish people, who bare the type or figure of Christ our Lord, is wonderfully commended in the holy Scriptures: Now he was both king and priest together. Moreover in the book of Numbers, to Joshua newly ordained and lately consecrated, are the laws belonging to religion given up & delivered. The kings of Judah also, and the elect people of God, have for the well ordering of religion (as I will by examples anon declare unto you) obtained very great praise: and again as many as were slack in looking to religion, are noted with the mark of perpetual reproach. Who is ignorant ye the magistrates especial care ought to be to keep the common weal in safeguard & prosperity? which undoubtedly he cannot do, unless he provide to have the word of God preached to his people, and cause them to be taught the true worship of God, by that means making himself as it were the minister of true religion. In Leviticus and Deuteronomy