A17183:763
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.
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 2the Lord doth largely set down the good prepared for men that are religious, and zealous in deed, & reckoneth up on the other side, the evil appointed for the contemners of true religion. But the good magistrate is commanded to retain and keep prosperity among his people, and to repel all kind of adversity. Let us hear also what the wise man Solomon saith in his Proverbs: Godliness and trueth preserve the king, and in godliness his seat is holden up. When the just are ⟨p. 179⟩multiplied, the people rejoice, and when the wicked ruleth, the people lamenteth. The king by judgement stablisheth his dominion, but a tyrant overthroweth it. When the wicked increase, iniquity is multiplied, & the just shall see their decay. Where the word of God is not preached the people decay, but happy is he that keepeth the law. Whereby we gather that they, which would not have the care of religion to appertain to princes, do seek and bring in the confusion of all things, the dissolution of princes, and their people, & lastly the neglecting & oppression of the poor.