A17223:26
A treatise or sermon of Henry Bullynger
A treatise or sermon of Henry Bullynger: much fruitful and necessary for this time, concerning magistrates and obedience of subjects Also concerning the affairs of war, and what scriptures make mention thereof. whether christen powers may war against their enemies. And whither it be lawful for a christian to bear the office of a magistrate, and of the duty of soldiers with many other wholesome instructions for captains [and] soldiers both. Made in the year of our lord. M. D. xlix.A treatise or sermon of Henry Bullynger: much fruitfull and necessarye for this tyme, concernynge magistrates and obedience of subiectes Also concernyng the affayres of warre, and what scryptures make mension thereof. whether christen powers may war against their ennemies. And whither it be laufull for a christyan to beare the office of a magistrate, and of the duety of souldiers with many other holsom instructions for captaynes [and] souldiers both. Made in the yeare of our lorde. M. D. xlix.
printed for Gwalter Lynne dwelling upon Summers Kaye by Billings gate, 1549printed for Gwalter Lynne dwellynge vpon Somers Kaye by Byllynges gate, 1549
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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 the other towards & sluggish soldiers, wicked, covetous, blasphemers, riotous, & light ruffians and betrayers, which by their sluggishness, riot, lechery, and impiety destroy many noble realms, now a days, and many flourishing cities, to such be continual rebuke, and god him self hath cursed such wicked caitiffs for ever. Therefore no war is lawful except it be against our adversaries ⟨image 18⟩and misordered rebellers. Unjust wars be such as be made against our own fellows or men faultless,1 or in whom we see hope of amen dement. Also unjust wars be they which be not inferred after a dew manner, or for any urgent cause. All manner of ways ought to be assayed tyrste, before we come to war.2 You must not seek to take in other mens bonds or limits nothing pertaining to your right. You must not oppress the liberti•s of other nations neither yet of your own. Such affects which seduce the mind are not here to be followed, as greediness of dominion, avarice desire of bribes envy, or any such other like to these. War is a remedy, but dan gerouse, a help, but pernicious, much like to the cutting of of ⟨image 18⟩members. In case thy hand be on fire, and so thy arm be in dan ger to be burnt and afterward the whole man likewise, yet doest thou not cut away thy hand straight ways onlesse thou see, proving all manner of ways, no other help to be. So nether is war to be set upon but where there is no other remedy, so yet that princes remember, they do nothing which after will be to late. For just wars be not repugning to God's word insomuch that it describeth to us the laws of warfare, and ministereth to us many goodly examples of wars of wise and worthy captains. In deu. xx.3 we have laws of war profitable & necessary. so clear that they need no exposition Many other common rules also we may gather out of scripture as thes Principally & above all things let religion ⟨image 19⟩be most observed in the camp.