A17183:791
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.
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 ⟨p. 190⟩left the laws, with the use and free choice of them, for the Saints to use as they thought good. But therewithal they ceased not most diligently to beat into all mens heads, the fear of God, faith, charity, justice and temperance, because they knew that they in whose hearts those virtues were settled, can either easily make good laws themselves, or pick and choose out the best of those which other men make. For it maketh no matter whether the magistrate pick out of Moses Jewish laws, or out of the allowable laws of the heathen, sufficient laws for him and his countrymen, or else do keep still the old and accustomed laws, which have before been used in his country, so that he have an eye to cut off such wicked, unjust, and lawless laws, as are found to be thrust in among the better sort. For I suppose that upright magistrates ought to take off curiosity, 2and new invented novelties. Seldom, (saith the Proverb) is the Crows eye picked out without troublesome stirs: and curious mens new laws are for the most part worse than the old, that are broken by them and utterly abolished.
Now it is to be marked that in Moses Iudiciall lawe, there are many things proper and peculiar to the Iewish Nation, and so ordeyned according to the state of the place, time, and persons, that if wée should goe about to thrust on and applie them to all other nations, we should séeme to shew our selues more than halfe madde. And to what end should wée bring 1backe and set vppe againe among the people of God, the ofscouringes of the heathen, that were cast out a great while agoe? The Aposiles of our lord Iesus Christ did binde or burden no man with the lawes of Moses, they neuer condemned good lawes of the heathens, nor commēded to any man naughtie lawes of the Gentiles, but