A17183:809
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.
To these I will yet add a few places of the holy Scripture more, which shall partly make manifest those that went before, and partly expound and more plainly express the office of the Judge. In Deuteronomy we read: The Judges shall judge the people, with equity and justice. Thou shalt not pervert Judgement, nor have respect of persons, nor take a reward. For a reward doeth blind the eyes of the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous. Thou shalt do Judgement with justice, that thou mayest live and possess the Land.
To these I will yet adde a fewe places of the holie Scripture more, which shall partlie make manifeste those that wente before, and partlie expounde and more plainlie expresse the office of the Iudge. In Deuteronomie wée reade: The Iudges shall iudge the people, with equitie and iustice. Thou shalte not peruerte Iudgemente, nor haue respecte of personnes, nor take a rewarde. For a rewarde doeth blinde the eyes of the wise, and peruerteth the woordes of the righteous. Thou shalte doe Iudgemente with iustice, that thou mayste liue and possesse the Land.
Again in Exodus we find: Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil, neither shalt thou speak in a matter of Justice according to the greater number for to pervert Judgement. 1Neither shalt thou esteem a poor man in his cause: keep thee far from false matters, and the innocent and righteous see thou slay not, for I will not justify the wicked. Thou shalt take no rewards, for rewards blind the seeing, and pervert the words of the righteous. In Leviticus also, we have 2this: Ye shall do no unrighteousness in Judgement, thou shalt not favour the person of the poor, nor honour the mighty, but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour. Again: Ye shall do no unrighteousness in Judgement, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure. True balances, true weights, a true Epha, and a true Hin shall ye have. I am the Lord your God, &c. I suppose verily, and am thus persuaded, that in these few words of the Lord our God, are comprehended all that which profound Philosophers, and Lawyers of great learning, do scarcely absolve in infinite books, and volumes of many leaves.