A17223:39
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.
For what things so ever be ordained of God to the health and safety of man, they be so seeming to a Christian man using theme well & applying him self thereafter ⟨image 25⟩that if he refuse them, he is no true christian. For the greatest charge of a christian. is to set forward with all industry the safeguard & wealth of men,1 Now the magistrate is ordained of no man but of god him self to the safeguard & protection of men. As expressly it is witnessed by the prophets and apostles and paule especiallye Ad rom. xiii who so doth not see than but a christian may laudably bear the office of a magistrate. Furthermore no man will deny I think that belongeth to every christen man to declare his faith not only with words, but with the works of justice and mercy, to see for the public peace & tranquillity to follow justice & equity, to defend widows, the fatherless, & expressed. Neither ought he to ⟨image 25⟩neglect occasion, place, or any such mean, whereby he may exercise such benefits upon his brethren Therefore it is not unknown that a christian may be a magistrate. For the office of a magistrate is to execute judgement, and justice, and to maintain public peace.
For what thynges so euer be ordeyned of God to the healthe and saffety of man, they be so seyming to a chrstiane man vsyng theme wel & appleyng him selfe thera•ter ⟨image 25⟩that if he refuse them, he is no tru christian. For the greatest charge of a christiane. is to set forwarde with al industry the sauegarde & welth of men,1 Now the magistrat is ordeined of no man but of god him selfe to the sauegarde & protection of men. As expressely it is witnessed by the prophetes and apostles and paule especiallye Ad rom. xiii who so doth not see than but a christiane maye laudably• beare the office of a magistrate. Forthermore no man wyl deny I thinke that belōgeth to euery christen man to declare his faythe not only with woordes, but wyth the workes of iustice and mercy, to see for the publicke peace & tranquilite to folow iustice & equite, to defend wydowes, the fatherles, & expressed. Neyther oughte he to