A17183:764
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.
Furthermore the Lord commandeth the magistrate to make trial of doctrines, and to kill those that do stubbornly teach against the scriptures & draw the people from the true God. The place is to be seen in the 13, of Deut. God also forbade the magistrate to plant groves or erect images: as is to be seen in the 17. of Deut. And by those particularities he did insinuate things general, forbidding to ordain, to nourish, & set forth superstition or idolatry, wherefore he commanded to advance true religion: & so consequently it followeth that the care of religion belongeth to the magistrate. What may be thought of that moreover, that the most excellent princes and friends of God, among Gods people, did challenge to themselves the care of religion as belonging to themselves, in so much that they exercised & toke the charge thereof, even as if they had been ministers of the holy things? Joshua in the mount Hebal caused an altar to be builded, and fulfilled all the worship of God, as it was commanded of God by the mouth of Moses. David in bringing in and bestowing the ark of God in his place, & in ord•••ng the worship of God, was so diligent, that it is wonder to tell. So likewise was Solomon Davids son. Neither do I think that any man knoweth not how much Abia, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah, laboured in the reformation of religion, which in their times was corrupted and utterly defaced. The very heathen kings and princes are praised, because when they knew the trueth, they gave out edicts for the confirmation of true religion against blasphemous mouths. Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, the most mighty Monarch of all the world, than who I doubt whether any more great and mighty did reign in the world, publisheth a decree that he should be torn in pieces, & his house made a jakes, whosoever spake reproachfully against the true God which made both heaven and earth. The place is extant in the third Chapter of Daniels prophecy. Darius Medus the son of Assuerus king Cyrus his uncle, saith: I have decreed that all men in the whole dominion of my kingdom do fear the God of Daniel: as is to be seen in the sixth of Daniel. Cyrus king of Persia looseth the Jews from bondage, and giveth them in charge to repair the temple, and restore their holy rites again. Darius Persa the son of Hystaspes saith:
Furthermore the Lord commaundeth the magistrate to make triall of doctrines, and to kill those that do stubbornelie teach against the scriptures & draw ye people from the true God. The place is to be séene in ye 13, of Deut. God also forbad ye magistrate to plant groaues or erect images: as is to be séene in the 17. of Deut. And by those particularities he did insinuate things general, forbiding to ordeine, to nourish, & set forth superstitiō or idolatrie, wherfore he commaunded to aduaūce true religion: & so consequently it foloweth that the care of religion belongeth to ye magistrate. What may be thought of that moreouer, that the most excellent princes and friends of God, amōg Gods people, did challeng to themselues the care of religiō as belonging to themselues, in so much that they exercised & toke the charge therof, euē as if they had béene ministers of the holie things? Iosue in ye mount Hebal caused an altar to be builded, and fulfilled all the worship of God, as it was commaunded of God by the mouth of Moses. Dauid in bringing in and bestowing the arke of God in his place, & in ordng the worship of God, was so diligent, that it is wonder to tel. So likewise was Salomon Dauids sonne. Neither doe I thinke that any man knoweth not how much Abia, Iosaphat, Ezechias, and Iosias, laboured in the reformation of religion, which in their times was corrupted and vtterlie defaced. The verie heathen kings and princes are praised, because when they knew the trueth, they gaue out edicts for the confirmation of true religion against blasphemous mouthes. Nabuchodonosor the Chaldean, the most mightie Monarch of all ye world, than who I doubt whether any more greate and mightie did reigne in the world, publisheth a decrée that hée should be torne in péeces, & his house made a iakes, whosoeuer spake reprochfullie against ye true God which made both heauen and earth. The place is extant in the third Chapiter of Daniels prophecie. Darius Medus the sonne of Assuerus king Cyrus his vncle, saith: I haue decreed that all men in the whole dominion of my kingdome doe feare the God ofDaniel: as is to be séene in the sixte of Daniel. Cyrus king of Persia looseth the Iewes from bondage, and giueth them in charge to repaire the temple, and restore their holie rites againe. Darius Persa the sonne of Hystaspes saith: