A17183:783
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.
Good laws therefore are for the health and preservation of the people, and necessary for the peace and safeguard of common weals and kingdoms. Wherefore it is a wonder to see the folly of •ome Christians, since the very Heathens have given so honest report of laws and lawgivers. They took their lawgivers for Gods, confessing thereby that good laws are the gift of God. But the gift of God cannot be superfluous and unprofitable. Plutarch called laws the life of cities. Demosthenes did expressly confess that laws are the gifts of God. Cicero named laws the bonds of the city (because without laws it is loosed & dispersed) the foundation of liberty, and the wellspring of justice and perfect honesty. For laws undoubtedly are the strongest sinews of the common weal, & life of the magistrates: so that neither the magistrates can without the laws conveniently live and rule the weal public, nor the laws without the magistrates show forth their strength and lively force. The magistrate therefore is the living 1law, and the law is the dumb magistrate. By executing and applying the law, the law is made to live and speak. Which those Princes do not consider that are wont to say, Wir sind das racht: we are the right, we are the law. For they suppose that they at their pleasure may command what they list, and that all men by and by must take it for law. But that kind of ruling without all doubt is extreme tyranny. The saying of the Poet is very well known, which representeth the very words of a tyrant.
Good lawes therefore are for the health and preseruation of the people, and necessarie for the peace and safegard of common weales and kingdomes. Wherefore it is a wonder to see the follie of •ome Christians, since the verie Heathens haue giuen so honest report of lawes and lawegiuers. They tooke their lawegiuers for Gods, confessing therby that good lawes are ye gift of God. But the gift of God cannot be superfluous and vnprofitable. Plutarch called lawes the life of cities. Demosthenes did expressely confesse that lawes are the giftes of God. Cicero named lawes the bondes of the citie (because without lawes it is loosed & dispersed) the foundation of libertie, and the wellspring of iustice and perfect honestie. For lawes vndoubtedly are the strongest sinewes of the cō mon weale, & life of the magistrates: so that neither the magistrates can without the lawes conueniently liue and rule the weale publique, nor the lawes without the magistrates shew forth their strength and liuely force. The magistrate therefore is the liuing