A17183:853
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 all this admonisheth us, that the magistrate hath need of the great fear of God before his eyes both in making and repelling wars, lest while he goeth about to avoid the smouldering coalpit he hap to fall into the scalding lime kill, or least while he supposeth to ease his shoulders of one evil, he doth by the way whereby he sought ease, heap up either more, or far greater evils. Princes therefore must precisely look into, and throughly examine the causes of wars before they begin or take them in hand. The 1causes are many and of many sorts, but the chief are these that follow. For either the magistrate is compelled to send aid, and raise the siege of his enemy, which doth environ ⟨p. 211⟩the garrisons that he hath appointed for the defence of some of his cities: because it were an offence, and part of parricide to forsake and give over against oath and honesty, his cities and garrisons that are in extremity. Or else the magistrate of duty is compelled to make war upon men which are incurable, whom the very judgement of the Lord condemneth and biddeth to kill without pity or mercy. Such were the wars as Moses had with the Midianites, and Joshua with the Amalekites. Of that sort are the wars wherein such men are oppressed as of invincible malice will both perish themselves, and draw other to destruction as well as themselves, with those also which rejecting all justice and equity, do stubbornly go on to persist in their naughtiness. Such were the Beniamites which were destroyed by sword and fire of the other eleven tribes. Such are at this day those arrogant and seditious rebels, as trouble common weals and kingdoms, as of old, Absalom was in Israel, and Seba the son of Bochri: of whom mention is made in the second book of Samuel.
But all this admonisheth vs, that the magistrate hath néede of the great feare of God before his eyes both in making and repelling warres, leaste while hée goeth aboute to auoyde the smoulthering coasepitte hée happ to fall into the scalding lyme kill, or least while hée supposeth to ease his shoulders of one euill, hée doth by the way whereby hée soughte ease, heape vppe either more, or farre greater euills. Princes therefore must precisely looke into, and throughly examine ye causes of warres before they beginne or take them in hand. The 1