A17183:828
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 the question hath been and is 1yet at this day in controversy, whether it be lawful for a magistrate to punish any man in his jurisdiction for the contempt of religion, or blaspheming of the same? The Manichees and Donatists were of opinion, that no man ought to be compelled, much less to be killed for any religion, but that every man ought to be left to his own mind and judgement. And yet the Scripture doth expressly command the magistrate not to spare false Prophets: yea, rebels against God, are commanded by holy laws and judges to be killed without mercy. The places are extant to be seen in the holy Scriptures, the one in the 13. of Deut. the other in the 17. of the same book. In Exodus this same is set down for a rule: Whosoever sacrificeth to any God, but to the Lord alone, let him be rooted out. In Leviticus the blasphemer is slain, & overwhelmed with stones. In the book of Numbers the man is slain that did unhallow the Sabbath day. And how many I pray you, did Gods revenging sword destroy of that caluish people that did erect and worship the calf in the wilderness? Elijah at mount Carmel killed whole hundreds of false Prophets in a solemn set and appointed Sacrifice. Elisha at the Lords commandment, anointed Jehu king, to the end that he might root out the house of Ahab, and kill at once all Baals priests. Joiada the priest slue Athalia. And good king Josiah destroyed together the wicked & stubborn priests of all high places. S. Augustine Tractatu in Joan. 11. disputing against the Donatists, doth prove by the example of Nebuchadnezzar, that Christian Princes do justly punish the Donatists, for despising Christ and his Evangelical doctrine. Among other things he saith: If king Nebuchadnezzar did glorify God for delivering three children out of the fy•e, yea and glorified him so much, that he made a decree throughout his kingdom for his honour and worship: why should not the kings of our days be moved so to do, which see not three children saved from the flame alone, but themselves also delivered from the fire of hell, when they behold Christ, by whom they are delivered, burnt up in Christian men, and when to a Christian they hear it said: Say thou that thou art no Christian? This they will do, and yet this they will not suffer. For mark what they do, and see what they suffer. ⟨p. 201⟩They kill souls: