A17183:790
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.
Yea and admit we grant all men are good that are called to be magistrates, yet diversity of opinions that will rise in giving of judgement, will stir up among them endless brawls and continual troubles. If all things therefore be well considered, the best way by a great deal is to put written laws in ure. Let us learn this by the example of our eternal, wise, excellent, and mighty God, who gave to the Jews his peculiar people such laws as at his commandment were set down in writing. The magistrate hath otherwise business enough to judge, that is, to apply, and confer the causes with the laws, to see how far and wherein they agree or disagree, and to judge who hath offended against the law, and who have not transgressed the law.
Yea and admitte wée graunt all men are good that are called to be magistrates, yet diuersitie of opinions that will rise in giuing of iudgement, will stirre vp among them endlesse braules and continuall troubles. If all thinges therefore be well considered, the best way by a great deale is to put written lawes in vre. Let vs learne this by the example of our eternall, wise, excellent, and mightie God, who gaue to the Iewes his peculiar people such lawes as at his cōmaundement were set downe in writing. The magistrate hath otherwise busines enough to iudge, that is, to applie, and conferre the causes with the lawes, to sée how farre and wherein they agrée or disagrée, and to iudge who hath offended against the law, and who haue not transgressed the lawe.
Now it is to be marked that in Moses Judicial law, there are many things proper and peculiar to the Jewish Nation, and so ordained according to the state of the place, time, and persons, that if we should go about to thrust on and apply them to all other nations, we should seem to show our selves more than half mad. And to what end should we bring 1back and set up again among the people of God, the offscourings of the heathen, that were cast out a great while ago? The Apostles of our lord Jesus Christ did bind or burden no man with the laws of Moses, they never condemned good laws of the heathens, nor commended to any man naughty laws of the Gentiles, but