A17183:826
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 measure and discretion must be 1used of the judges in punishing offenders, so ye heinous faults may be plagued with grievous punishment, lesser crimes may be nipped with smaller penalties, and the smallest & light offences punished more lightly. That sentence in Gods law ought to be remē bred: According to the fault so shall the punishment be. Where also the judge must have a consideration of his clemency & pity. Oftentimes y• kind and age excuseth the party accused. The circumstances being rightly weighed do sometime excuse the deeds, that otherwise are of themselves not all of the best. The judge also must inquire after, & diligently consider the former life of the man accused, for which, if it fall out to have been good and honest, than doth he deserve some favour and mercy, unless the offence, for which be is troubled, be so heinous y• it can admit no sparkle of pity. But godliness or y• fear of god, with pouring out of prayers unto the Lord, and a diligent and lawful examination of y• deed or word, that is, of the fault committed, is the best rule for the judge to follow in choosing his time when to use pity, and when to deal with extreme rigour. For otherwise decent clemency is most praise worthy before God and men.
But measure and discretion must be 1vsed of the iudges in punishing offenders, so ye heynous faults may be plagued with greuous punishmēt, lesser crimes may be nipped wt smaller penalties, and the smallest & light offences punished more lightly. That sentence in Gods law ought to be remē bred: According to the fault so shall the punishment bee. Where also the iudge must haue a consideration of his clemencie & pitie. Oftentimes y• kinde and age excuseth the partie accused. The circūstances being rightly weighed do somtime excuse the déedes, that otherwise are of themselues not all of the best. The iudge also must inquire after, & diligentlie consider the former life of ye man accused, for which, if it fal out to haue bene good and honest, than doth he deserue some fauour and mercie, vnlesse the offence, for which be is troubled, be so heynous y• it can admit no sparkle of pitie. But godlines or y feare of god, with powring out of prayers vnto the Lord, and a diligent and lawful examinatiō of y déede or word, that is, of the fault committed, is the best rule for the iudge to followe in choosing his time when to vse pitie, and when to deale with extreme rigour. For otherwise decent clemēcie is most praise worthie before God and men.