A17183:875
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.
Let the people also obey the good & 1upright laws of their princes or magistrates: yea let subjects obey them holily, reverently, and with a devout mind, not obeying their laws as the laws of men, but as the laws of the ministers and deputies of God himself: for Peter biddeth us obey them for the Lord: and Paul saith: We must not obey them for anger only, but for conscience sake also: that is, we must not obey the magistrate only for fear, least our contempt and disobedience do breed our punishment, but we must obey him, least we sin against God himself, and so our own conscience do argue our wickedness. But in the fifth commandment, I proved by testimonies and examples out of the scriptures, that we ought not to obey godless magistrates, so oft as they command any wicked thing which is flatly contrary to the word of God. The Apostles and faithful men of the primitive Church, did choose rather to be shut up in prison, to be sent in exile, to be spoiled of their substance, to be caste to wild beasts, to be killed with the sword, to be burnt with fire, and to be strangled, than to obey any wicked commandments. That blessed martyr, bishop Polycarpus answered the Roman Proconsul, and said: We are taught to give to Princes and to the powers that are of God, such honour as is not contrary to true religion. And S. John Chrysostom said to Gaina, It is not lawful for a godly Emperor to assay any thing contrary to Gods commandments.
Let the people also obey the good & 1vpright lawes of their princes or magistrates: yea let subiectes obey them holilie, reuerently, and with a deuout minde, not obeying their lawes as the lawes of men, but as the lawes of the ministers and deputies of God himselfe: for Peter biddeth vs obey them for the Lord: and Paule saith: Wée must not obey them for anger onely, but for conscience sake also: that is, we must not obey the magistrate onelie for feare, least our contēpt and disobedience doe bréede our punishment, but wée must obey him, least we sinne against God himself, and so our owne conscience do argue our wickednesse. But in the fifte commaundement, I proued by testimonies and examples out of the scriptures, that wée oughte not to obey godlesse magistrates, so oft as they commaund any wicked thing which is flatly contrarie to the word of God. The Apostles and faithfull mē of the primitiue Church, did choose rather to be shut vppe in prison, to bée sent in exile, to be spoiled of their substaunce, to be caste to wilde beastes, to be killed with the sword, to be burnt with fire, and to be strangled, than to obey any wicked commaundements. That blessed martyr, bishop Polycarpus answeared the Romane Proconsul, and said: Wee are taught to giue to Princes and to the powers that are of God, such honour as is not contrarie to true religiō. And S. Iohn Chrysostom said to Gaina, It is not laweful for a godly Emperour to assaye any thinge contrarie to Gods commaundementes.