A17183:801
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.
And this is judgment, yea this, (I say) is the execution of justice. But this kind of quieting and setting parties at one, is very mild in comparison of revengement and punishment, which is not executed with words and sentences, but with swords and bitter stripes. And good cause why it should be so, since there be divers causes, whereof some cannot be ended but with the sword, and some more gently with judgement in words. But herein consisteth the health and safeguard of the kingdom or common weal.
And this is iudgmente, yea this, (I say) is the execution of iustice. But this kind of quieting and setting parties at one, is verie myld in comparison of reuengement and punishment, which is not executed with words and sentences, but with swords and bitter stripes. And good cause whie it should bée so, since there be diuers causes, whereof some cannot bée ended but with the sword, and some more gentilie with iudgement in words. But herein consisteth the health and safegard of the kingdom or cōmon weale.
Judgement and punishment therefore 1are in the magistrate the most excellent offices, although peradventure they seem to be somewhat hard and cruel. But unless this which seemeth to be cruelty be put in ure, all ages, states and sexes shall feel the smart of crueller things, and that which is most cruel in deed. For it is not cruelty but rather just severity, which (as the Lord commandeth) is put in ure for the safeguard of the guiltless, and preservation of peace, within the realm and common weal. Put case there were a common weal well furnished with most absolute laws, for politic manners and matters of religion: suppose also that in the same common weal there were no magistrate to execute and as it were to father those laws, by his authority to bring and reduce all the deeds and sayings of men to the trial of those laws: and that therefore every man breaketh forth to what kind of life he list himself, and doth what he will, tell me I pray you what good do those written laws to the men of the country? Believe me forsooth not one halfpenny worth of good. The best part therefore of the magistrates duty, consisteth in upright judgement & punishing revengement. And those two points require a man of courage and Princely stomach: whom the Lord in his law describeth lively, and telleth what kind of man he would have him to be, and what the office is whereto he is called: which description I will rehearse & expound, because therein the Judges person is chiefly touched.