A17183:857
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 to fearful and cowardly soldiers, to wicked, covetous, and blaspheming warriors, to riotous knaves, and unconstant traitors, by whose cowardice, gluttony, lust, and unnatural treason, excellent kingdoms do come to nought, and flourishing common weals are quite overthrown, is reproach and infamy worthily due: for God himself hath cursed such knaves for evermore.
But to fearefull and cowardly souldiers, to wicked, couetous, and blaspheming warrious, to riottous knaues, and vnconstant traytours, by whose cowardise, gluttonie, lust, and vnnaturall treason, excellent kingdomes doe come to nought, and flourishing common weales are quite ouerthrowen, is reproch and infamie worthilie due: for God himself hath cursed such knaues for euermore.
Therefore it is not lawful to make 1any war, unless it be against open enemies, and wicked men that are incurable. The wars are unjust that men do make upon their own fellows, against innocent persons, or people in whom there is hope of amendment. Those wars also are unjust, that are not begun by lawful means for matters of weight. All things must first be assayed, before it come to be tried out by battle. Other mens territories must not be desired: the liberty of other people or thine own subjects must not be repressed: thou must not follow any affection which may withdraw or seduce thy mind, of which sort are desire of rule, covetousness, greediness of gifts, envy, & other affections like unto these. War is to common weals a remedy in deed, but perilous and dangerous, even as lancing, or cutting is to the me••ers. The hand is poisoned, and the arm in danger to be envenomed too, whereby the whole man perhaps may be cast away: but yet thou cuttest not off thy hand, until, when thou hast tried all other medicines, thou doest plainly perceive that no other means can remedy the sore but cutting off alone. Likewise when all helps fail, then at the last let war begin, so yet nevertheless, that the Prince do remember to begin with war, before all help and hope of recovery be utterly paste.