A17183:835
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 cannot here wink at and s•ylie 1pass over the objections, that some men make against that which hitherto I have said touching punishment, to wit: That the Apostle Paul hath not commanded to kill or punish an heretic after the first and second admonition, but to avoid him. Again, That faith is the gift of God which cannot be given or engrafted in any man by rigour of the sword. Also, That no man is to be compelled. He that constraineth, may make an hypocrite, but a devout and; ealous man he cannot make. And lastly, That the Apostles required no aid of kings either to maintain, or set out the religion of Christ, or else to punish blasphemous railers, and enemies of Gods word. To all this I answer thus. Paul, when he writ his Epistle to Titus, did write to an Apostle, in that Epistle therefore he instructeth an Apostle, how to behave himself according to his duty toward an heretic paste all recovery. If he had written to Sergius Paulus or any lieutenant, he would undoubtedly have taught him his office. For the same Paul standing before Sergius Paulus, then Prince of Cyprus, did by his deeds declare unto him the duty of a magistrate. For first he did not only most sharply rebuke the false Prophet Elymas, then forsake his company, eschew & shun him, as the Apostle John did Cerinthus, but strake him also with bodily blindness.
I cannot héere wincke at and s•ylie 1passe ouer the obiections, that some men make against that which hetherto I haue said touching punishment, to witte: That the Apostle Paule hath not commaunded to kill or punishe an heretique after the first and second admonition, but to auoyd him. Againe, That faith is the gift of God which cannot be giuen or ingraffed in any man by rigour of the sword. Also, That no man is to be compelled. Hée that constreineth, may make an hypocrite, but a deuoute and; ealous man hée cannot make. And lastly, That the Apostles required no ayd of kings either to mainteine, or set out the religion of Christe, or else to punishe blasphemous railers, and enimies of Gods word. To all this I aunswere thus. Paule, when hée writte his Epistle to Titus, did write to an Apostle, in that Epistle therefore hée instructeth an Apostle, how to behaue himselfe according to his duetie towarde an heretique paste all recouerie. If he had written to Sergius Paulus or any liefetenaunt, hée would vndoubtedly haue taught him his office. For the same Paule standing before Sergius Paulus, then Prince of Cyprus, did by his déeds declare vnto him the duetie of a magistrate. For first hée did not onely most sharpelie rebuke the false Prophet Elymas, then forsake his companie, eschue & shunne him, as the Apostle Iohn did Cerinthus, but strake him also with bodilie blindnes.