A17183:802
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.
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.
Judgement and punishment therfore 1are in the magistrate ye most excellent offices, although peraduenture they séeme to be somewhat hard and cruel. But vnlesse this which seemeth to be crueltie bee put in vre, all ages, states and sexes shal féele the smart of crueller thinges, and that which is most cruel in déede. For it is not crueltie but rather iust seueritie, which (as the Lord commaundeth) is put in vre for the safegard of ye guiltlesse, and preseruation of peace, within the realme and common weale. Put case there were a common weale wel furnished with most absolute lawes, for politique manners and matters of religion: suppose also that in the same common weale there were no magistrate to execute and as it were to father those lawes, by his authoritie to bring and reduce all the déedes and sayinges of men to the triall of those lawes: and that therefore euerie man breaketh forth to what kinde of life hée list himselfe, and doth what he will, tell mée I pray you what good do those written lawes to the men of ye countrie? Belieue mée forsooth not one halfpenie worth of good. The best part therfore of the magistrates duetie, consisteth in vpright iudgement & punishing reuengement. And those two points require a man of courage and Princely stomache: whom the Lord in his law deseribeth liuelie, and telleth what kind of man hee would haue him to bee, and what the office is whereto hée is called: which description I will rehearse & expound, because therein the Iudges person is chieflie touched.