A17183:776
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.
Since now that I have declared unto you (dearly beloved) that the care of religion doth belong to the magistrate too, and not to the bishops alone, & that the magistrate may make laws also in cases of religion, it is requisite that I inquire what kind of laws those are that the magistrates may make in matters of religion.
Since now that I haue declared vnto you (déerely beloued) that the care of religion doth belong to the magistrate too, and not to the bishopps alone, & that the magistrate may make lawes also in cases of religion, it is requisite that I inquire what kinde of lawes those are that the magistrates may make in matters of religion.
There is no cause why the king or magistrate should suppose that power 1is given to him to make new laws touching God, the worship of God, or his holy mysteries: or to appoint a new kind of true justice and goodness. For as every magistrate is ordained of God, and is Gods minister, so must he be ruled by God, and be obedient to Gods holy word and commandment, having evermore an eye unto that, and depending still upon that alone. The scripture which is y• word of God, doth abundantly enough set down all that which is proper to true religion: yea the Lord doth flatly forbid to add too, or take any thing from his holy word? The magistrate therefore maketh no new laws touching God, and the honour to be given to God, but doth religiously receive and keep, doth put in ure and publish those ancient laws in that kingdom which God hath allotted him unto. For hereunto appertaineth the giving of the book of Gods law unto the kings of Israel, that they might learn thereby the way to do the things which they of duty ought to see done. To Joshua the Lord doth say: See that thou doest observe & do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded thee. Thou shalt not turn from it, either to the right hand or to the left. Neither shall the book of this law depart out of thy mouth, but occupy thy mind therein day and night, that thou mayest observe and do according to all that is written therein. For then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt do wisely. Devout and holy Princes therefore did do their faithful & diligent endeavour to cause the word of God to be preached to the people, to retain and preserve among the people the laws, ceremonies and statutes of god, yea they did their best to spread it to all men as far as they could, and as place and time required, to apply it holily to the states & persons: on the other side they were not slack to banish & drive away false doctrine, profane worshippings of God, & blasphemies of his name, but settled themselves utterly to overthrow and root it out for ever. In this sort (I say) godly magistrates, did make and ordain devout laws for the maintenance of religion. In this sort they bore a godly and devout care for matters of religion.