A17183:825
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.
Now touching the manner and fashion of punishment I think it not best 1over curiously to dispute. Let every nation or city retain still their penalties and order of punishing, unless peradventure their country custom smack somewhat of rigour & extreme cruelty. For no wise man denieth but that the kind of punishment must be tempered according to the rule of justice & equity. The kinds of punishment 2are exile or banishment, bondage, loss of goods, imprisonment & fetters, scourges, marks with burning irons, loss of limbs, & lastly death it self, by killing we the sword, by burning, hanging, drowning, & other such means as every nation useth of custom. Neither is the scripture without a pitiful bedroll of miserable torments. For in y• book of Esdras we read: And who soever will not do the law of thy god (Esdras) and the law of the king, let judgment straightways pass upon him, whether it be to death, or banishment, or loss of goods, or imprisonment. This do I ad not unadvisedly because of them ye are of opinion, y• such torments ought not so much as once to be named among christian people.
Now touching the maner and facion of punishment I think it not best 1ouer curious•ie to dispute. Let euerie nation or citie reteine stil their penalties and order of punishing, vnlesse peraduenture their countrie custome smack somewhat of rigour & extreme crueltie. For no wise man denieth but that the kinde of punishment must be tempered according to the rule of iustice & equitie. The kindes of punishment 2are exile or banishment, bōdage, losse of goods, imprisonment & fetters, scourges, markes with burning irōs, losse of limms, & lastly death it self, by killing we the sword, by burning, hanging, drowning, & other such meanes as euerie natiō vseth of custome. Neither is the scripture without a pitiful beadrowe of miserable torments. For in y• booke of Esdras we read: And who soeuer wil not do the lawe of thy god (Esdras) and the lawe of the king, let iudgment streightwayes passe vppon him, whether it be to death, or banishment, or losse of goods, or imprisonmēt. This do I ad not vnaduisedly because of them ye are of opinion, y such tormentes ought not so much as once to be named amonge christian people.