A17183:866
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.
This being thus ended I have now to prove that Christian men may bear 1the office of a magistrate, which treatise I mean therefore to take in hand, because our mad headed Anabaptists, and some other builders of A devised 2common weal, by gainsaying that which hitherto we have alleged do go about to prove that a Christian may not bear the office of a magistrate: their reason is, because Christians (as they say) may not strive in law, nor kill any man, nor recover by war things violently taken away, nor revenge any injury that is done unto them. And although these causes of theirs be answered every one in his fit and several place, yet will I briefly gather here together, a few substantial arguments, by which a politic and Christian man may understand, contrary to the madness and dreams of the Anabaptists, if he be called to bear rule and authority, that then he both may, and of duty ought, to serve the Lord his God, in taking upon him and executing the office of a magistrate. For whereas they feign that the doctrine of the Gospel doth utterly cut off all kind of ⟨p. 217⟩defence, and whatsoever else belongeth to the defence of Christian mens goods and bodies, that is nothing so, and they are deceived as far as heaven is wide: for the truth doth teach us clean contrary.
This being thus ended I haue now to proue that Christiā men may beare 1the office of a magistrate, which treatise I meane therfore to take in hand, because our madde headed Anabaptistes, and some other builders of A deuised 2common weale, by gainsayinge that which hetherto we haue alledged do goe about to proue that a Christian may not beare the office of a magistrate: their reason is, because Christians (as they say) may not striue in lawe, nor kil any man, nor recouer by warre thinges violently taken away, nor reuenge any iniurie that is done vnto them. And although these causes of theirs be aunsweared euerie one in his fitte and seuerall place, yet will I briefely gather héere together, a few substantiall argumentes, by which a politique and Christian man may vnderstand, contrarie to the madnesse and dreames of the Anabaptistes, if hée bée called to beare rule and authoritie, that then he both may, and of dutie ought, to serue the Lord his God, in taking vpon him and executing the office of a magistrate. For whereas they faine that the doctrine of the Gospell doth vtterly cutte off all kinde of