A17183:819
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.
But here again an other objection is cast in our way by them, which 1say, that according to the doctrine of the Gospel, no man ought either to kill or to be killed▪ because the Lord hath said: Resist not the evil. And again to Peter: Put up thy sword into thy sheath. Every one that taketh the sword doth perish by the sword. Mine answer to this is, that throughout all the Scripture, private revengement is utterly forbidden, but that that is done openly by authority of the public magistrate is never found fault withal. But that was private and extraordinary vengeance that the Apostle Peter was about to have taken, considering that he was called to be a Preacher of the word of God, not to be a Judge, a Captain, or a man of war. And against private and extraordinary revengement is that sentence rightly pronounced, Every one that taketh the sword, shall perish by the sword. ⟨p. 197⟩But that public vengeance, and the ordinary use of the sword, is not prohibited by God in the Church of Christ, I prove by this testimony of the holy Apostle. Paul, in the 12. to the Romans hath taught, what and how much the perfectness of the Gospel requireth of us, and among the rest thus he saith: Dearly beloved revenge not your selves, but rather give place unto wrath. For it is written, vengeance is mine, and I will repay. But because this might be argued against, and this objection caste in his way: Than, by this means the long suffering of Christians shall minister matter enough to murder and manslaughter: he doth therefore immediately after in the next Chapter add: The magistrate is the minister of God to thy wealth, to terrify the evil doers. For he beareth not the sword in vain. For he is Gods minister, revenger of wrath to him that doth evil. We gather therefore by this doctrine of the Apostle, that every one of us must let God alone with taking of vengeance, & that no man is allowed to revenge himself by his own private authority. But public revengement wrought by the ordinary magistrate, is no where forbidden. For that God which said to us, Vengeance is mine I will repay, doth grant to the magistrate authority to exercise and put that vengeance in ure, which he doth claim as due to himself.
But here againe an other obiection is cast in oure way by them, which 1