A17183:792
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 all laws are given for ordering of religion or outward worship of God, or else for the outward conversation of life, and civil behaviour. Touching the laws of religion I have spoken of them before. For 1civil and politic laws I add thus much and say, that those seem to be the best laws, which according to the circumstance of every place, person, state and time, do come nearest unto the precepts of the ten commandments, and the rule of charity, not having in them any spot of iniquity, licentious liberty, or shameless dishonesty. Let them moreover be brief and short, not stretched out beyond measure, and wrapped in with many expositions: let them have a full respect to the matter whereto they are directed, and not be frivolous and of no effect. Now mark, that politic laws do for the most part consist in three especial and principal points, honesty, justice, and peace. Let laws 2therefore tend to this end, that discipline and honesty may be planted and maintained in the common weal, and that no unseemly, licentious, and filthy act be therein committed. Let law forbid all uncleanness, wantonness, lightness, sensuality, and riotousness, in apparel, in building, in bibbing, and banqueting. Let wedlock be commanded by law to be kept holy. Let stews and brothel houses be banished the Realm. Let adulteries, whoredoms, rapes, and incests be put to exile. Let moderate feastings be allowed and admitted. Let thriftiness be used, which is the greatest revenue that a man can enjoy. Briefly, whatsoever is contrary to honesty and seemliness, let it by law be driven out and rejected. Let justice by 3laws be strongly fortified. Let it by laws be provided, that neither citizen nor foreigner be hurt or hindered in fame, in goods, in body, or life. Let upright laws be made for the obtaining of legacies and inheritances, for the performing of contracts & bargains, for covenants & agreements, for suretyships, for buying and selling, for weights and measures, for leases and things let to hire, for lending and borrowing, for pawns in mortgage, for use, commodity, and usury of money. Let order be taken for maintenance of peace between ⟨p. 191⟩the father and his children, betwixt man and wife, betwixt the master and the servant, and to be short, that every man may have his own.