A17183:827
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.
I have showed you (dearly beloved) that the magistrate both may, and of 1duty ought to punish offenders, then for what causes y• Lord will have them to be punished, and lastly how, when, & how much they are to be punished. It remaineth now for me to declare wherefore and for what offences, they are to be punished. Which I mean to lay down in one word and briefly too. All words and deeds which are contrary to the laws of God and the magistrate, that is, all things that are done mischievously against the laws, are to be punished: but laws are made either for religion or politic government: and politic government consisteth in honesty, justice, and peace. Therefore the magistrate must punish and keep under all them which do disturb, afflict, trouble, destroy or overthrow honesty, justice, public peace or private tranquillity betwixt man & man. Let him punish dishonesty, ribaldry, filthy lust, whoredom, fornication, adultery, incest, sodomy, riotousness, drunkenness, gluttony, ⟨p. 200⟩covetousness, cozening, cutting usury, treason, murder, slaughter of parents, sedition, and whatsoever is like to these. The law of the Lord published by the ministry of Moses, doth in the 18. and 20. of Leviticus reckon up a bedroll, long enough of such offences as are to be punished. And least perhaps any man may think, that at this day, that which Moses hath rehearsed, is utterly abolished, let him give ear to S. Paul who saith: To the just the law is not given, but to the unjust, and to sinners, to unholy and unclean, to murderers of fathers, and murderers of mothers, to manslayers, to whoremongers, to them that defile themselves with mankind, to manstealers, to liars, to perjured men, and if there be any other thing contrary to sound doctrine. But Apostates, idolaters, blasphemers, here tics, false teachers, and mockers at religion, do offend against the laws of religion, (and therefore ought they to be punished by the magistrates authority.)
I haue shewed you (déerlie beloued) that the magistrate both may, and of 1duetie ought to punish offenders, then for what causes y• Lord wil haue them to be punished, and lastlie how, when, & how much they are to be punished. It remayneth now for mée to declare wherfore and for what offences, they are to be punished. Which I meane to lay downe in one word and briefly too. All words and déeds which are cōtrarie to the lawes of God and the magistrate, that is, all things that are done mischiefouslie against ye lawes, are to be punished: but lawes are made either for religion or politique gouernment: and politique gouernment consisteth in honestie, iustice, and peace. Therfore the magistrate must punish and kéepe vnder al them which do disturbe, afflict, trouble, destroy or ouerthrow honestie, iustice, publique peace or priuate tranquillite betwixt man & man. Let him punish dishonestie, ribauldrie, filthie lust, whordome, fornication, adulterie, inceste, sodomie, riottousnes, dronkennesse, gluttonie,