A17183:854
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.
Hereunto appertain the wars 1that are taken in hand for the defence of true religion against idolaters and enemies of the true and Catholic faith. They err that are of opinion that no wars may be made in defence of religion. The Lord in deed blamed Peter for striking with the sword, because he was an Apostle, but thereby notwithstanding he bad not the magistrate to be negligent in looking to religion, neither forbade he him to defend and maintain the pureness of faith. For if it be lawful for the magistrate to defend with the sword, the things of account, of which sort are liberty, wealth, chastity, and his subjects bodies, why should he not defend and revenge the things of greater account, and those which are of greatest weight? But there is nothing of more and greater weight than sincere & true religion is. There is moreover a manifest and flat commandment of God touching this matter, to be seen in Deuteronomium. For the Lord commandeth that every city (within the jurisdiction of every magistrate) which departeth from God and the worship of God, should be set on with warriors, and utterly raced, if it revolted not from idolatry betimes. The place is extant in the 13. of Deut. But if the magistrate be commanded to punish Apostates by war, then is it lawful for him by war to defend the Church in danger to be drawn by any barbarous Prince from true religion unto false idolatry. Joshua would by war have suppressed the Rubenits with their confederates for building an altar against Gods commandment. Judas Maccabeus fought for the people of God against the people & soldiers of king Autiochus, who purposed to tread down the Jewish religion, which at that time was the true worship of God, and perforce to make all men receive and profess, his heathenish superstition. Likewise also Paul commended greatly those Jewish captains or Judges, which by faith withstood and turned away foreign enemies invasions. And Paul himself did war in Cyprus against Elymas the false prophet and stroke him with blindness: he addeth the reason why he stroke him blind, which he fetcheth from the keeping of religion, and saith: Ceasest thou not to pervert the right ways of the Lord? &c. Act. 13. For the same Paul again 40.
Hereunto appertoyne the warres 1that are taken in hand for the defence of true religiō against idolatrers and enimies of the true and Catholique faith. They erre that are of opinion that no warres may bee made in defence of religion. The Lord in déede blamed Peter for strikinge with the sword, because he was an Apostle, but therby notwithstanding hée badde not the magistrate to be negligent in looking to religion, neither forbad he him to defend and mainteyne ye purenesse of faith. For if it bée lawfull for the magistrate to defend with the sword, the thinges of accompt, of which sorte are libertie, wealth, chastitie, and his subiects bodies, whie should he not defend and reuenge the thinges of greater accompt, and those which are of greatest weight? But there is nothing of more and greater weight than sincere & true religion is. There is moreouer a manifest and flat commaundement of God touching this matter, to be séene in Deuteronomium. For the Lord commaundeth that euerie citie (within the iurisdiction of euerie magistrate) which departeth frō God and the worshippe of God, should be set on with warriours, and vtterlie raced, if it reuolted not frō idolatrie betimes. The place is extant in the 13. of Deut. But if the magistrate be cōmaunded to punish Apostataes by warre, then is it lawful for him by warr to defend the Church in daunger to be drawne by anye barbarous Prince from true religion vnto false idolatrie. Iosue would by warre haue suppressed the Rubenits with their confederates for building an altar against Gods commaundemente. Iudas Machabeus fought for the people of God against ye people & souldiers of king Autiochus, who purposed to tread downe the Iewish religion, which at that time was the true worship of God, and perforce to make all men receiue and professe, his heathenish superstition. Likewise also Paul cōmended greatly those Iewish capitaynes or Iudges, which by faith withstoode and turnd away forreine enimies inuasions. And Paule himselfe did warre in Cyprus against Elymas the false prophet and stroake him with blindnes: he addeth the reason why hée stroak him blinde, which he fetcheth frō the kéeping of religion, and saith: Ceassest thou not to peruert the right wayes of the Lord? &c.