A17183:867
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.
For whatsoever things are ordained by God for a means of mens safe guard, and good estate, they are so far from misbecoming and being unseemly for a Christian man, if he use them and apply himself unto them, that if he refuse and neglect them, he cannot rightly be called a true Christian. For the first and greatest care of every Christian is, by all means that he may to set forward and maintain yt health and safeguard of all sorts of men. But the magistrate is not ordained by any man, but by god himself for the health and wealth of all mankind, as it is expressly witnessed by the Prophets and Apostles, but by Paul especially in the 13. to the Rom who then cannot thereby perceive that a Christian may praiseworthily execute a magistrates office?
For whatsoeuer thinges are ordeined by God for a meanes of mens safe gard, and good estate, they are so farre from misbecōming and being vnsemely for a Christian man, if hée vse them and applie himselfe vnto them, that if hée refuse and neglect them, he cannot rightly be called a true Christian. For the first and greatest care of euerie Christiā is, by all meanes that he may to set forward and mainteine yt health and safegard of all sortes of men. But the magistrate is not ordeined by any man, but by god himself for the health and wealth of all mankinde, as it is expressely witnessed by the Prophets and Apostles, but by Paule especially in the 13. to the Rom who then cannot therby perceiue that a Christian may praiseworthilie execute a magistrates office?
Furthermore no man will deny, I know, that a Christian mans faith is, not in words only, but in deeds also to give a proof of justice and mercy, by all means to care for public peace and tranquillity, to do judgement with justice, to defend the fatherless, widows, and children, and to deliver poor oppressed people. Neither doth he contemn, flee from, nor reject, occasion, places, and means by which he may put those good works in ure. And therefore a Christian refuseth not the place or office of a magistrate. For the magistrates office is to do judgement with justice, and to provide for public peace.
Furthermore no man will denie, I knowe, that a Christian mans faith is, not in wordes onely, but in deedes also to giue a proofe of iustice and mercie, by all meanes to care for publique peace and tranquillitie, to doe iudgemente with iustice, to defend the fatherlesse, widowes, and children, and to deliuer poore oppressed people. Neither doth hée contemne, flée from, nor reiect, occasion, places, and meanes by which hée may put those good woorkes in vre. And therfore a Christian refuseth not the place or office of a magistrate. For the magistrates office is to doe iudgement with iustice, and to prouide for publique peace.