did that which was right in his own eyes Chap. 18. 1. and 19. 1. repeated upon the occasion of the abuse and murder of the Levites Concubine where the Holy Ghost does not meane such a King as Abimelecke or as the Gentiles had to breath life into the Lawes by his Royall assent for such a King the people of Israel never had nor owned in the Land of Canaan not a man that challenged a power unaccomptable to oppresse murder sweare plunder and commit all manner of wickednes without controle such a monster being fitter to carry garbidge to Beares then to live amongst Civill people but there was then no man zealous for Gods glory to fight for Israel and to judge them according to the Law of God therefore the Lord raised up Samuel a singular man for Iustice and mercie 1 Sam. 1. 28. Hanah his Mother lent him the Lord Chap. 3. The Word of the Lord was revealed unto him he dealt faithfully in telling Eli what the Lord commanded thereupon he was established to be a Prophet of the Lord vers 20. Chap. 7. He exhorteth to solemne Repentance then they make him a Iudge vers 6. being so he yet prayed and sacrificed and the Lord discomfited the Philistines by Thunder and Samuel judged Israel all his dayes and went Circuits carrying home Iustice to the peoples houses and built an Altar unto the Lord having ver 12. taken a stone and called the name of it Ebenezer saying hitherto hath the Lord helped us Iudges being to take speciall care that God may be purely worshipped and glorified and that Gods people may not forget the mercie of the Lord in destroying their Enemies Certainly Moses and Samuel were two of the best Iudges that ever were in the world and are to be as patternes and looking-glasses to all Magistrates so that as he is the best Christian that is most like unto Iesus Christ so he is the best Iudge that is most like unto Moses and Samuel Moses Exod. 18. 13. sat to Iudge the people who stood by him from the morning untill the evening he ended the businesse of the day with the day ver 16. sayes he I Iudge betweene one man and another and I make them know the Statutes of God and his Lawes if a Iudge can but teach people the Statutes of God and his Lawes his worke is in a good forwardnes and more then halfe done In that Samuel is commended for telling Eli the destruction of his house it argues that the best part of faithfulnes is to discover the abuses and errors in any profession as being best knowne unto them for the end of the professors and of every ones profession ought to be the same viz. the welfare of the body politique therefore whereas there are many Ieofailes rubs that lie in the Allies of Iustice that poore men are overborne in their righteous causes by full purses which the Reverend Iudges proceeding regularly as they find the course of the Court cannot remedie without the power of Parliament I have seriously thought that oppressions in Courts of Iustice have been spun by the late Courtiers with so fine a threed that few but those that daily meet with it in practise can see it and therefore unlesse it please God to move the hearts of the honorable Iudges in pure love to Iustice to propound fit remedies to the Parliament plaisters that may be large enough for the wound I meane an Act of Retranchement to cut off all unnecessary delayes and expences in matter of Iustice between man and man that poore men may have it for Gods sake the rich for reasonable consideration it will lye very remote from the understandings of many worthy publike spirited men what course to take therein without which all the warres have been but as purgings and vomitings the health of a State consisting in the equallity and harmony of Iustice and all Martiall Iustice is sanctified by the Civill Iustice as for example if one of the Reverend Iudges would make it his suite to the Parliament that a bargaine and sale might be as strong as a fine Recovery that a poore Farmer or Cottager might leave some small portions to his yonger Children without paying one or two yeares purchase for the charge of a fine and recovery what an ease might this be to men of small estates to passe them from one to another and to cut off Intailes by a deed in writing without so much solemnitie and expence if another would set forth the unprofitablenes of Outlawries which are to no purpose but to multiply expence And a third be earnest for an Act to plead the generall Issue in all Actions and at the Assises to insist wholly upon the merit of the Cause whether the money be due or not whether the Plaintiffe have right to the Land or not I am confident it would make sweet musicke in Parliament I do not intend to dispute the lawfulnes of Legall proceedures in point of conscience to them that Iudge them so but in point of comfort at the day of Iudgment let me humbly propound this to those that sit in the seat of Iustice whether it appearing to them that the defendant hath paid the money though it be after the day of payment limited in the Condition or that the money is payd upon a single Bill where payment by Law is no plea or that the Plaintiff in an Ejectment hath a cleere right to the Land but the lease Entry and Ejectment was not proved in due forme of Law or if a wilfull murder be committed and so found by the Iury but there is a word mistaken in the Indictment whereby the murderer escapes for that Assises and so the matter compounded or the prosecutor desists and the Plaintiff in the Ejectment must begin againe having lost his own charges and payd above five pound costs to the defendant who continues the wrong keeps the Lands unjustly from the plaintif the defendant that hath paid the money is forced to fly into Chancery for reliefe where the unjust Plaintiff at Law refuses to appeare or else demurrs because he hath a Iudgement at Law or the witnesses dead and so the poore defendant taken in execution and buried above ground in prison for ten pound where the principle debt was but five pound and that paid though not at the prefixt day and so proved to the Iury I say whether it would not be easier for thē to give an accompt of reforming such errors then otherwise but if by the Parliaments intention in altering the Iudges oathes enjoyning them onely to proceed according to Iustice the Iudge may not of himselfe moderate such like extremities then of what huge concernment must it needs be humbly and earnestly to sollicite for present remedies for what souldier can with comfort fight with a blunt sword it is a great joy to Physicians to cure their Patients but if any dye under their hands when they might by a little
excepted according to the nature or disposition of severall people some requiring a straiter bridle then others for was there ever such wise Kings in the world as Moses David and Solomon whose famous Acts recorded in Scriptures are not onely propounded to us as examples of Pietie but of true Prudence and VVisedom and the Gentills even the wisest amongst them as Solon and Plato acknowledged Moses Lawes to be the best and most learned and travailed into Phaenicia Syria and Egypt to be acquainted with the people of God and their Lawes and because Plato borrowed so much from Moses therefore hee is called Mosen Atticum and Pythagoras spent two and twenty yeares with the Priests and Prophets and then went into Italy where hee instructed six hundred Schollers in the wisedome of Moses and the Egyptian writers called Moses Andra Daumaston ki deion Virum admirandum ac divinum certainly the Platonists were therefore counted the best Phylosophers because they came neerest to Moses Law and had it not been for Monarchicall Goverment all the world had long since been governed by the Lawes of God in matters of Civill Iustice that high commendations which is given of our Lawes that if Adam had not sinned in Paradice all the world should have been governed by the Common Law of England is either Complementall and Poeticall or els must arise from that Maxime that the Law of England is grounded upon the Eternall Law of God right reason and pure naturall principles and that sentence of better it is to go to the fountaine then to follow the streames is very excellent if it be rightly understood of the Law of God which is the fountaine of all true Iustice Iosephus sayes that Ptolomy Phyladelphus the most prudent of the Egyptian Kings when Theoprast had sent him Moses Law in Hebrew he sent Embassadors to the Iewes to intreat them to send men skilfull in Hebrew and Greeke to translate it into Greeke which being done hee made it in force throughout his Dominions but how little doe Christians prize this good Law of God 1 Tim. 1. 8. which place must needs be intended of the Iudiciall Law as my honored friend Mr. Peters hath rightly observed for he speakes of the Law against Murderers and VVhoremongers did Plato and those famous Law givers light their Candle at Moses Law making use of Scripture for Civill wisedome though not for their Religion and shall Christians that have such a Treasure in their hands as the holy Lawes of God make no use of it for the Civill pollicie of States for which the Iudiciall Law was principally intended I never understood any other Reason of Clergy mens sitting in great Councells but that no Law might be enacted till it were examined by the Law of God and the Levites being Iudges amongst the Iewes does not prove that one man may have severall callings for all true reputation consists in the discharge of a mans proper profession but that the Law of God was as their Civill or Common Law Iustice is the end of the Law the Law is the Commonwealths servant the Magistrate is Gods Party and the Image of God therefore the Law must be in substance according to the modell of the Law of God Blessed be God for the many good Lawes that have been made since Ianuary 30. 1648. yet still I heare that the great cry in England is Reformation of Lawes no doubt there may be abuses and errors specially in the practicall part of the Law and I know it is and hath been long in your Honors Breasts to Rectify and Reforme them and to settle an expedient for speedy cheap and sure Iustice to run downe not by drops but like a mighty streame Amos 5. 29. in a quicke constant and invariable way I confesse I am something troubled at the diversitie of honest mens opinions in this particular some looke upon it as a more difficult worke then abolishing the Tirannicall Goverment that Lawyers will struggle asmuch for their interests as Bishops did that many honest men must be disobliged who have been cordiall to the State and must suffer Diminution in point of Fees and so conclude that the worke is not done because it cannot be done though it be the earnest desire of all honest men yet the difficulty of the worke discourages the enterprise as Columbas and others who discovered the westerne Plantations knew that there was Land there but lookt upon the voyage as insuperable whereas to my weake apprehension there will be no such great difficulty in the thing for first as to suites already depending either they are for weight and number like the sands of the Sea in comparison or may be all ended in a few mouthes indeed after Civill warrs what by reason of former obstructions in Courts of Iustice and personall Animosities there must needes be aboundance of suites and therefore in Germany France and other Nations upon the settlement of a Peace they usually passe an Act of Oblivion or grant Commissions for determining them in a summary way dispensing with the solemnities of their Imperiall Constitutions and municipall wayes of proceedings the people having been so exhausted by the warrs being not able to undergoe tedious Circucularities in their Law-matters for the remedy would prove worse then the disease and then for the future men will not be so contentious when they see that it is in vaine to begin or defend unjust or vexatious causes when delatorie and declinatorie pleas and exceptions like the Sea-marks are to be avoyded and will not be allowed for this I observe that no man wages Law but in hopes to cast his adversary if not by the merit of the Cause yet by crosse suites and clapping great Actions upon him who is not able to give Bayle thereunto or by the Defendants wearying out the Plaintiffe and forceing him to become Recreant like the Tryall by battaile if the Defendants Champion can hold out so many houres his innocence is presumed or like the Tyrant that threatned Death to one unlesse he would make his Asse to speake as Balaams did which hee undertooke to doe in three yeares and his friends judging him to be in a desperate condition he said that within that time either he or the Tyrant or the Asse would be dead but when men shall peeceive that it is but an expence of time and of coyne to defend unjust suites or to Comence frivolous or malicious Actions the parties will agree and there will not be one suite of twenty and for difficult matters experience shewes us that speciall verdicts are very rare and not one Exchequer Chamber cause of one hundred As for the time of this Reformation no doubt but the sooner the better matters of safety and security against common Enemies and dangers being in the first place lookt after and throughly provided for otherwayes it is but to looke after the bootie before the victory be wholly obtayned but then with all possible expedition because as
have censured to be an inovation and precipitous Iustice indeed precipitancy is the Stepmother of Iustice and must as carefully be avoided as falling from a Rocke but that is to heare and determine before both parties are ready or had convenient time so to be otherwise when a Cause is ripe for sentence why should not the Court put in the Sickle a speedy tryall is the Plaintiffs joy and just Iudgement delayed may prove worse then an unrighteous sentence speedily pronounced Fourthly There is a great difference between the proceedings in England and the ancient course of this Court in point of payment of debts for debts are payd by instalment as the Defendants are able to pay them a most excellent and admirable composition of a Court for the case of poore Ireland stands thus the poore English who through Gods mercy saved their lives but lost their estates by the Rebells begin now blessed be God to returne to their possessions and the protected Irish make a hard shift to live paying great Contributions and many a poore man hath got a plough of five or six garrons as many cowes forty or fifty sheep all worth about fifty pound this poore man payes for horne and corne and begins to grow warme in his busines but comes an Action of debt like an armed man upon him for fifty or a hundred pound contracted before or for his necessarie subsistance during the Rebellion the Plaintiffe having been long out of his money is very stomack-full blame him not after so long fasting and prosecutes with all rigor Iudgement cannot be denyed him an execution against goods in other Courts Issues of Course and what followes the goods are sold at under rates at 25. or 30. l' for who will buy his neighbours goods so taken from him but will be sure of a good penny-worth and the fees and charges of the execution are so great that the debt if it were but 50. P. is not halfe payd and for the remainder the defendant is taken in execution where he starves to death and his wife and poore children beggs from doore to doore unlesse relieved by the parish but by the course of this Court the defendant comes in and prayes an Instalement and a Iury of indifferent and impartiall neighbours install the debt to be payd by severall gales and dayes of payment as in the Defendant shall be thought able and if the Iury who certainely are the proper Iudges in such cases for it may be their own cases the next day findes any fraude deceit or violence the Defendant is imprisoned as he well deserves by which meanes it is an observation to me very admirable though the people be extremely indigent there not being scarce a tenth part of the money here that is in England debts are I believe ten times better paid here then in England for of 5. or 600 l'debts that have been here sued for in some one Countie scarce know ten of them but are payd or secured whereas if the Reynes of the Law had beene let loose here as in other Courts in all probability there had never been ten debts of a hundred satisfieed for not one Defendant in twenty hath so much money by him and if either his person be restrained or his little flocke taken away his friends leave him and so miserie quickly findes him but give him time he works like a mole to keepe himselfe or his goods from Arrest one friend like one hand helps another he recovers some other debts due to him and in a short space becomes a noune substantive I could instance in many that had Actions against them of 2. or 3000 l' value it would pitie a man to see more load still layd on as if they would be prest to death yet by this way of Instalment the man having a breathing time agrees first with one then with another and in a short space growes into as good credit as any of his neighbours the contrary practize of not instaling debts as men are able to pay hath beene the ruine of many families that might have flourished to this day and by this meanes the Contribution to the Army is payd Agriculture increased with many families would all be quickly ruined if the Farmers should be unstocked by such executions The practise of this Court hath likewise formerly been very profitable and easie to the people in matter of Executorships and Administrations as to end ten or twenty suites upon one bill filed against an executor or administrator the creditors are all called and every mans part proportioned according to the conscionable demerit of the debt and not the whole estate swept away upon a dormant Iudgement to the defrauding of many poore Creditors with some other equitable practises too long for an Epistle As to the second censure that many preach uncalled or that have other businesse to doe wee know that untill there was a standing office of Priesthood Moses who was the chiefe Iudge of all Civill Controversies exercised the Priestly office Psal 99. 6. Moses and Aaron among his Priests and Samuel among them that call upon his name It was Moses that consecrated Aaron but we doe not read that he was consecrated himselfe Magistracie and Ministery are distinct bodyes but in the absence of a Minister every gifted man not onely may but ought to speake to the people as a good steward of the grace of God under penalty not onely to have the Talent taken from him which human prudence would thinke sufficient but the unprofitable servant is to be cast into utter darknes in which sense doeing all that we can I hope we are not unprofitable servants If such an objection should be regarded here wee had long since been Atheists without any face of Religton upon the Sabboth day and without any forme of godlines surely if in Law much more in Religion Necessity makes that not only lawfull but comendable which otherwise would not be so besides there are some that can give an account of their faith Latinaliter and so by the Statute of the 13. Eliz. cap. 12. may preach and so may any other by vertue of that Statute that hath a speciall gift and ability to be a Preacher but there is something of more particular concernement In suites depending betweene the English and Irish when Irish witnesses are produced the English object which indeed is one of the greatest difficulties I meet with that they make no Conscience of swearing upon our Bibles but will speake truth upon a Ladyes Psalter or by St. Patricke now they will not come to our Sermons to heare their grosse Idolatries and superstitious fopperies reproved but are very constant auditors in Courts of Iustice where some of us take occasion to informe them of the nature of Oathes and endeavor to convince them of the ridiculousnes of their bread God in their transubstantiation that they commit adultery with their Images and are so impudent in crossing their foreheads that they cannot
my help in the gate then let mine Arme fall from my shoulder-blade and mine arme be broken from the bone for destruction from God was a terror to me and by reason of his highnes I could not endure if I have made gold my hope or have said to the fine gold thou art my confidence if I rejoyced because my wealth was great and because mine hand had gotten much if I rejoyced at the destruction of him that hated me or lifted up my selfe when evill found him The stranger did not lodge in the street but I opened my dores to the traveller If I used to keep guard at my study-doore that suitors could not speake with me without a fee if I sent a man back with a shamefull deniall if I did not minister speedy justice to the poore for the love of Iustice and to the rich for a small matter when I sate in the City-gate where the Court of Iustice were kept that every man might see and heare the reasons of my proceedings if I were not as tender of Clients and Petitioners as if we had tumbled in one belly together and suckt the same milke if I have not used my power to tame the insolence of proud spirits making them examples by death or other penalties where their wicked lives had given scandales if the wooll of my flocke hath not defended the poore from the stormes and rigor of winter if I have ill treated the Orphants and let one brother feast brave it and the younger children to be all beggars or be fed at the charity of the elder brother if I have confidence in the merit of the person not in the justice of the Cause if I have more esteeme of birth then vertue and preferred greatnes before pietie I then wish that that guiltie part may be torne from my body and that to terrifie all Iudges that abuse their power then let my arme be broken from the bone by the infamous hangman for Mariners are not in so much feare of the Tempest in winter as I stand in awe of the anger of the great Iudge If mine enemies miserie have been any pleasure to me if I have thought my selfe better then my neighbours because I was richer if I were ever overcome by threats or corrupted by presents to pervert Iudgement if my constancy was ever shaken by any bribe or if ever money had more power over my minde then reason if I were ever cruell to any man and made dice of his bones though the men of my tabernacle said ver 3. Oh that we had of his flesh we cannot be satisfied I had servants and officers enough not onely to have hurried any man to prison to have repaired my honor or contented my passion but such as also would have cut them in peeces and devoured them if I have not helpe every man to his Lands that had right to them without drawing teares from their eyes by tedious attendances then I am content not only that heaven should curse my lands that for wheat which I shall sow I may reap but thistles but to be tormented with an eternity of miseries May I crave leave to insert an historicall observation In Holand after they had given a wrtt of Ejectment to Monarchy the Masse the Courts of Iustice for a time went on in their tedious formallities which so discontented the people their Law suites taking them off from their trades with dilatorie and costly attendances that they began to repent themselves of their so deerely purchase liberties Doctor Walaeus professor then at Leiden a grave judicious man having by Scripture and reason satisfied and quieted many exasperated mindes that the chief Magistrates of the Provinces ought in the first place principally to intend securety and laying foundations where the super structures will be easie then applyed himselfe to the Senators in an oration which though I doe not affect the mixing of Latin in an English discourse yet least the liquor should be viciated by powring it out into another vessell I thinke fit to give you his owne words speaking of Iudges and Advocates by way of interrogation or admiration he saith Nos qui sumus Reipublicae Christianae Candidati tales respiciemus retinebimus Iudices ac Legulares quos Cicero vocat praecones Actionum Cantores formularum Aucupes syllabarum ut qui cadat in litera cadit in causa Absit longe absit nos tales habebimus Iudices Advocatos qui Deo noverint dare quod suum est populo quod suum est plana vera immota praescripta Iusticiae Deo placent si aliqua consuetudo fit in contrarium praeferatur antiquus ille dierum nulla debet praescriptio praevalere contra Verbum Dei quia veritas antiquior est falso vera suprema Dei Lex architectonica omnibus Legibus municipalibus est praeferenda quia hec sola omnibus alijs praescribit modum ac formam necesse enim est aut leges vestras praescribere legibus Dei aut leges Dei praescribere vestris si priori modo non estis Dei servi Ejus etenim servi estis cui estis obedientes scitote vero administratores Reipublicae rationem Legum suarum summo moderatori Deo reddere teneri nee valebit argumentum patribus Reipublicae uti invenimus leges statuta sic ea reliquimus quia boni Concilij est aut leges corruptas mutare aut eorum officia deferere quomodo enim pertinet Romana lex ad Christianum nisi à Deo approbetur Pontificij sublevant reformant Leges Civiles per Ius Canonicum non à scripturis sed Paparum decretis Concilijs ac Patrum sentencijs desumptis nos vero nullum agnoscimus Ius Canonicum nisi quod ex sacro Dei Verbo aut ex ejus certa constanti analogia colligatur absurdum est dicere leges priores esse puriores aut antiquiores meliores quomodo enim Mancipij leges salubres condere valeant nolunt Monarchae Cedere populo in materia libertatis quaelibet bona lex est precium sanguinis in Regione Religione Catholica impossibile est Leges Civiles esse puras quia Religio Lex inter tolares fiunt ac in permixtae ubi pura Religio ibi pura Lex Civilis Corrupta Religio Tirannica Lex reformatio Religionis necessario ergo inducit mutationem legum Civilium non quoad fundamentalia vitae membrorum ac proprietatis sed quoad formulas ac solemnitates Iuris quae formulae Legis non suntipsa Lex And much more to the same effect by learned Walaeus which oration of his tooke such impression that within a moneth after the forme of Legall proceedings received such an alteration and abbreviation that whereas before according to Imperiall constitutions a suite in Law continued three or foure yeeres and the best purse at last prevailed causes were ordinarily ended in a moneth and if the Plaintiff cannot
great pestilence and as you like that so continue your Kingly goverment Object But Davids dayes drew to an end therefore he gives a charge to Solomon his son of righteousnes saying there shall not faile thee a man on the Throne of Israel 1 Kings 2. 4. which expressing a stability of Davids Throne some may argue that God approved Kingly goverment As also there is another objection that should have had priority in Deut. 17. 14. to 20. That God gave a Law for chusing a King therefore he approved that government the answer whereunto is easie that the Lord foreseeing that when he had brought them into Canaan they would desire a King like the Pagans being a people deere unto him he would not therefore cast them off but tells them how to make the best of a bad bargaine that if they will play with the Lion or the Beare let them plucke out his teeth all Kings are ravenous creatures in point of their office but some will doe lesse hurt then others and the words of the Text are very perspicuous when thou art come into the land which Iehovah thy God giveth thee and shalt possesse it and shalt dwell therein and shalt say I will set a King over me like as all the nations that are about me c. So that the rise of Monarchy was plainely from the peoples pride the words are not that God will set a King over them but they will have one against his desire If Pride Luxury Rapacity which were called R. 2. daughters and that if he did not marry them they would undoe him be of a divine of spring and originall then Monarchy is but the very constitution of it is Tirannicall Antichristian and diabolicall And now the reason why God chose the seed of David and not the seed of Saul was not his approbation of Monarchy but because he had appointed Iesus Christ to come of Davids race Genes 49. 10. The scepter shall not depart from Iudah nor a Law-giver from between his feet untill Shilo come and to him shall the gathering of the people be therefore a King must be untill Christs time yet onely over the Tribes of Iudah and Benjamin for the ten Tribes were carryed away Captive and who knowes but that the reason thereof was principally because of their great wickednes in casting of Gods goverment by godly righteous Iudges and setting up Monarchy like the Heathens and so Davids posterity did not terminate and end untill Christs time because the Law-giver was not borne before Solomon therefore after Davids death was a most glorious King who preferred wisedome before honor riches and pleasure none before him or after him were ever like unto him 1 Kings 3. 12. 28. For the Wisedome of God was in him to doe Iudgement yet being but a man was drawne away by his wives to Idolatry and did evill in the sight of the Lord 1 Kings 11. 5. hee went after Ashtoreth the goddesse of the Sidoneans And there is seldome any so singular eminent or rare-gifted man but wants his graines of allowance either he is contrited censorious passionate or hath some mixture or tincture of folly which yet must be charged upon the unregenerate part See what it is to be an absolute Monarch onely accomptable to God if Solomons power had been onely to have confirmed such good and wholesome Lawes as Gods people would have propounded to him or if Solomon had onely been a leading man in Parliament in probability Israel had not run a whoreing from the Lord after such Idolls but you shall tast sayes the Lord of those bitter fruits which are of your owne planting It was a web of your owne weaving a King you would have well saith God I will surely rend the Kingome from Solomon 1 Kings 11. 11. Yet not all the Kingdome for the Messiah is not borne and Solomon slept with his fathers and the people came to Rehoboam his son 1 Kings 12. who heard his Senators speake but did as the young men advised him 1 Kings 12. 10. how like unto Rehoboam are the Monarchs of this world they will be content to heare what a Parliament will advise but keep a negative voice and prefer copper heads before silver haires and Court Parasites have distinguisht betweene advice and consent that whereas by ancient fundamentall Lawes Kings could doe nothing without consent of the people in great Counsells and Parliaments they say they may not doe it without advise as if the great Councells of the Law stood only for a Cypher and a Kings pleasure to be the figure but let such as are wise but call to minde who it was that used this speech of Rehoboam that the late Kings little finger should be heavier then his Fathers Ioynes and Adore the Iustice of God in the Tragicall end of such wicked Councellors And in the revolt of the ten Tribes from the house of David see what meanes Rehoboam attempted to reduce them 1 Kings 12. ver 21. to 24. And why so certainly because the government was unjust and tirannicall in it selfe and therefore if the people who in their choice of a King have displeased God when they have well smarted for their folly have wit to cast him off the Scripture sayes it is from the Lord God does not say as in the case of Election they have rejected and cast off me not a word of anger or displeasure which holds forth this divine truth to all that will not willfully shut their eyes against the light that if the people in Turky Persia Russia or any place in the world where one man governes or pretends to rule as he pleases will rise against him and dethrone him it is an action not only justifiable but commendable and if the King cause any of them to be put to death as Traitors it is murder in him and he fights against God Iustice and Reason but it is otherwise where the goverment is just and rationall by godly righteous Magistrates and Iudges chosen by the people if they be affronted and injured it is an offence and high treason against the Majestie of heaven they have not cast off thee but they have rejected me sayes the Lord to a just authority acting for him and giving an accompt to the people of their lawes and administrations in love we may observe in Ionathans case that when the Legislative power is in one mans hand though none of the worst what lawes are unadvisedly enacted 1 Sam. 14. 24. And the men of Israel were distressed that day for Saul had adjured the people saying cursed be the man that eateth any food untill evening that I may be avenged on my enemies so none of the people tasted any food And they came to a wood and there was hony upon the ground ver 26. and when the people were come into the wood behold the hony dropped but no man put his hand to his mouth for the people feared the oath but Ionathan heard not when