A17183:868
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.
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.
Moreover, it is undoubtedly true, (as before we have declared) that Moses, Samuel, Joshua, and David, are not excluded from the name of Christianity: but since they were in authority and bare the names of magistrates, what let is there, I pray you, why a true Christian man may not bear yt office of a magistrate in his common weal? What may be thought of this moreover, that in the new Testament, certain notable men are well reported off, who, when they were in authority, were not put beside their offices, because they were Christians and of a sound religion? Touching Joseph of Arimathea thus we read in Luke: And behold there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor (Mark saith, a noble Senator) who was a 1good man & a just, the same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them, which was of Arimathea a city of the Jews, which waited also for the kingdom of God. Mark here I beseech you how notable a testimony this man hath here. Joseph is a counsellor or Senator, yea and that more is, a noble senator too: he sate in the Senate, and among those Judges which did condemn our saviour christ, but because he consented not to their deed and judgement, he is acquitted as guiltless of that horrible murder. The same is said to have been a good man and a just, and of the number of them that look for the kingdom of God, that is of the number of those, which of Christ are called Christians, and yet nevertheless he was a counsellor or senator, and that too in the City of Jerusalem. A Christian therefore may lawfully bear the office of a magistrate. Hereunto belong the examples of the Ethiopian treasurer, Acts 8. of Cornelius the Centurion,