appointed and the bounds of their habitations for he hath divided inheritances unto the Nations when he separated the Sons of Adam at the confusion of Languages and set the bounds of the people according to the number of the Sons of Israel d Deut. 32. 8 Gen. 10 31. Thirdly by Inheritance and Redemption the World and all therein are the Lord Jesus Christs by whom the Father hath reconciled all things unto himself e Col. 1. 20 and whom he hath appointed to be heir of all things f Heb. 1. 2. Therefore whatever Title or Interest or Propriety any man can claim to any part of the earth or the fruit thereof or the Cattel therein or any profit that comes by Sea or Land it must come from God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ who is the grand Landlord and Lord paramount over all other Lords and things g 1 Tim. 1. 17 and 6. 15. Rev. 19. 16. and 17. 14. all which are the godly mans Quoad usum non quoad possessionem h 1 Cor. 3. 21 they shall serve for their good though they be not their servants to command Now there are four wayes whereby Lands or Goods become proper to any man By which he may justly lay claim to them for I omit all unlawful and pretended Titles as his proper Goods or Land First by Gods immediate Donation or Gift for this is most ancient thus God gave to Adam the Earth and all the Creatures in it with the Fruits thereof for him to subdue it and to have dominion over it i Gen. 1. 28. and after Adam his Sons were to enjoy it k Psalm 115. 16. And thus Secondly by Inheritance Children may enjoy their Parents Estates belonging to them as the Land of Canaan was given to Abraham and his Seed for them to inherit the same as Heirs to their Father of the Promise l Heb. 11. 8 9. made Gen. 12. 7 and 15. 18. and 26. 3. and Numb 27. 8. 12 yea the Inheritance was to passe unto the Daughters where heirs Male faild the Twelve Tribes had their Inheritances by Lot assigned them which was by the disposition of the Lord m Prov. 16. 3â— as Solomon sheweth Thirdly By Purchase Land becomes a mans own when he buyes it with his money or Goods Thus Abraham with money bought the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah and the Cave therein and all the Trees that were in the Field and in all the Borders round about for a possession to him and his heirs for ever n Gen. 23. 17 for four hundred sheckles of Silver And so Iacâ—b bought a parcel of a Field for an hundred Lambs or pieces of money on which the Images of Lambs were stamped o Gen. 33. 19 Josh 24. 32. for 't was an ancient custome to buy things by Exchange as among the Greeks p Homers Iliad 8. both these wayes are intimated q 1 Kings 21. 3. Fourthly and lastly Lands or Goods becomes a mans own by conquest or mediate gift of men by Conquest when men by his command or according to his will invade any Land or Nation Thus by Conquest the Israelites at Gods command invaded the Land of Sihâ—n King of the Amorites r Deut. 2. 31. and they conquered them and God is said to give their Cities and Lands to them as Iephthah pâ—eads s Judg. 11 2 2 23. and this seemeth then as wel as afterwards to be the Law of Nations as appears in that following wilt thou not possess that which Cheimosh thy God giveth thee because victory in battle is the Lords t 2 Chron. 14. 11. he gives it to whom he wil and hereby destroyeth utterly sometimes and displanteth Nations as the Zuzims and Emims and Raphaims out of Canaan by Chederlaomer u Gen. 14. 5. The Chorits and others dwelling in Mount Seir by Esau and his Sons w Deeu 2. 21 Or 2ly God immediately by mens wil and disposition giveth unto men Lands and Goods as Abram gave Goods to his Sons by Keturah x Gen. 25. 6. but his Lands and the chief of his Estate he gave to Isaac and his posterity y Gen. 24. 36 so the Eleven Tribes at Gods command gave Cities to the Tribe of Levie z Josh 21. 3 and paid their Tithes and Offerings a Levit. 27. pro totum so those who to acknowledge their homage and thankfulness to God in a singular way to honour him and to maintain his Worship and Ministers and the poor sanctified houses or fields or the prices of them or else devoted persons and redeemed them as in the place before quoted so also Barnabas under the New Testament sold his Land devoted and brought the money and laid it down at the Apostles feet b Acts 4. 3â— so did many others that had possession of Lands and sold them Houses and brought the prizes of the things sold c Acts 4. 34. which also Ananias pretended to do out of vain glory d Acts 5. 1. Now this belonged to the Apostles and poor in the primitive Church verse 35. and they accordingly distributed unto every man as he had need it was before it was sold their own as Peter plainly tells Ananias and after that was sold the money was in his own power to dispose of it as pleased him but after it was devoted then it was not in his power to keep back part of it hereâ—n he betrayed his covetousness and dâ—ffidence his hypocrisie and The application of what was spoken before sacriledge and telling a Lye to the Holy Ghost he became a spectacle of divine vengeance In the times of the Apostles the Brittons were without question the lawful possessors of this Isle God having given the same to them to inhabit as he did Mount Seir to the Edâ—mites Deu. 2. 5. Ar to the Moabites e Deut. 2. 9. having brought the Brittons from Troy as he did the Philistines fâ—om Caphtor and the Syrians from Kir f Amos 9 7. as the Bâ—ittish Chronicles generally agree Brute who was their King having reigned there four and twenty years before Sauls Death g Cnadderions third age of the world Gildas and others This Nation as well as other Gentiles when Christ suffered h Fox Acts and Monum 1 part page 95. printed 1610. worshipped dumb Idols and offered Sacrifice to Devills But about the years of our Lord 68 Joseph of Arimathâ—a after the disperson of the Jews was sent by Philip the Apostle from France into this Island who here remained during his life and He with his companions if Gildas may be credited laid the first foundation of Christian Faith among the Brittons who afterward were confirmed and Beleevers increased by other Preachers Goodwin of Bishops Initio libri and Teachers that came over To him and his Associates was given in the Reign of King Arniragus Glacenbury with 12 Hidelands adjacent
in his room had not only the internal Gifts of the Spirit conferred on him the Spirit of Eliah being redoubled on him but had even a Miracle wrought for him to procure honour and obedience to him from the rest both of the Prophets and People w 2 King 2. 14 15 c. And if this were necessary for the Priests and Prophets under the Law to procure obedience to their word how much more should it be under the Gospel to the Ministers thereof whose ministration is far more glorious than that under the Law x 2 Cor. 3. 11 That the Ministers and Prophets should have honour and glory put on them which can never be so long as they be poor mean and contemptible as before hath been said Therefore that the people may obey and submit unto them that are over them in the Lord and that the Ministers may wait for their souls and so be able to give an account of them with joy and not with grief which wiâ—l be unprofitable for the people either in their Prayers when they give account of them to God or at their Hour of Death or day of Judgment when they are to give an account of their Steward-ship if they have not been honoured both with Reverence and Maintenance or not obeyed and submitted to as his Stewards y Heb 13 7 All the Apostles though Christ freely gave them power and ability immediately from Heaven to Preach the Gospel and work Miracles z Acts 2. yet had they Hire for their labour sufficient to cloath and feed them and to provide all things needful for them so that they lâ—cked nothing by their own confessions a Luke 22 35 nor were they only to be provided for but also their Wives were to be provided for and maintained at the charge of those they taught this power God gave them And St. Paul challengeth it as belonging to other Ministers of the Gospel as well as to Peter and the rest of the Apostles b 1 Cor. 9. 5 and though he and Barnabas had not made use of that power yet he pleads it belonged to him and that he took wages of other Churches to do service to the Church of Corinth c 2 Cor. 11. 7 9 for he was supplied by the Brethren that came from Macedonia which made that Church of Philippi which thus liberally contributed to the Apostles to be more honorable than that of Corinth d Phil. 4. 14 Rationem accepti fecerunt quia spiritualia ex me receperunt rationem dati non fecerunt quia nihil contra mihi pro illis sunt clargit Gagn. in locum scol and this of Corinth to be inferior to other Churches for neglecting this Duty of providing for them e 2 Cor. 12. 13 for they wanted Fruit to abound to their account and did not offer that Incense which gave an odour of sweet smell that Sacrifice which was acceptable and well pleasing to God as the Church of Phillippi had done f Phil. 4. 18 which made the Apostle St. Paul to rejoyce and to be encouraged in his Ministry they being his dearly beloved and long'd for his joy and crown g Phil. 4. 1 and to encourage other Christians to imitate them he praised God for this work of his Spirit in them for it would redound not only ro their spiritual account and to their eternal happiness but also God seeing them faithfully distributing his talents he would encrease these temporal blessings also supplying all their wants according to his Promises h verse 19 Prov. 3. 9. 10 2 Kings 4. 8 Haggai 2. 19 Mal. 3. 10 1â— Mat. 10. 41 42 Mark 9. 41 2 Cor. 9. 6 Gal. 6. 6 7 8 both in the Old and New Testament On the other side If any person or persons though never so great or many shall detain or with-draw or fraudulently keep back any thing Devoted or Consecrated to his Ministers maintenance they will bring a Curse on themselves and all others that partake with them in this sin as its plain in Achans case i Josh 7. 25 it brought a consuming fire on him his Sons and Daughters his Oxen and Asses his Sheâ—p and Tent and all that he had which were burned with fire after they had been stoned This with other sins annezed to it brought sudden death on Ananias and Sapphira k Acts 5. 5 10 it brought severe judgments on the whole Nation of Israel in the Prophet Malachy's dayes l Mal. 3. 19 10 especially on the sacrilegious persons m Hag. 1. 9. 10 compared with Nehem. 13. 10. Sir Henry Spilman sheweth at large how God hath wonderfully plagued this sin in our fore fathers dayes n vide Spilman and of late in the last Three Princes Reigns God who is just and holy in his wayes who is the Fear cutting off the Spriiâ—s of Princes and being terrible to the Kings of the earth o on Psa 76. 12 destroying utterly the Family of Henry the 8th that great Tyrant and Church-robber in the Death of Queen Elizabeth who was the first that sold away openly the Revenues of the Church devoted to Gods service changing the Consecrated Lands for others with divers honourable and generous Families in this Nation only in this Fact degenerating from true Pâ—ety and Charity whose Posterity have felt the smart of Gods justice and they inheriting their Fathers sins with those devoted Lands and not restoring them they have also inherited their plagues Queen Elizabeth her self though I hope a Saint with God yet one of the last and worst works she did by the flattery and perswasion of her Favourites was the passing over the Mannor of Sherbourne belonging to the Cathedral of Sarum of which Revenue Bishop Jewel that great Champion of our Religion had made good use unto Sir Walter Rawleigh who was as I am informed by a Reverend D. of that Church warn'd to desist from that enterprize foretelling him of the sad sequel would follow thereon but his ambitious and Covetous Wife over-swayed the wise man as Solomons Wives did him p 1 Kings 11 4 He was by Dr. Hide Cannon of the Church of Sarum disswaded from desiring the Dean Chapter to ratifie the Gift of the Queens and though that Sir Walter was by the old mans Arguments overcome and contented to surcease the enterprize yet his Wife would not suffer him to be quiet until the business was ended as one of the Walters related to me But the Donor lived not long after but lost her life and Crown together leaving it to a Forraign Prince and though the Gift was sweet to those who for a while enjoyed it yet it fill'd the belly with gravel and raised him such foes that burthen'd him so heavy till they brought him to the block and truly divine Vengeance attended all the owners of it ever since q As the Earle of Sommerset Prince Henry the Earls of Bristol c.
in force still Therefore I humbly conceive that the Ministers of the Gospel ought to live of those things that are given and by devout men consecrated to Gods service according to the Laws of God and man and that their maintenance ought to be according to the greatness of their employment and to the number of Wife and Children in their Families which they are obliged to provide for e Acts 4. 37. 6. 2. 1 Tim. â— 8. Lev. 22. 11 12 as the Priests and Levites did of old with their Families And the Civil Magistrates if there be disorder in the dividing of the Churches Goods or ignorance and slouth in the Ministers or obstinacy and neglect in those that should pay their Tythes and Offerings may command the same to be rightly divided and see it be done as did Hezekias f 2 Chron. 31. 45 c who is said to do that which is good and right and truth before God verse 20. and they may punish or remove those Ministers that are ignorant or prophane even the chiefest of them as David and Solomon did of old g 1 King 2. 26. and 35. and Câ—nstantine the Great and Theodosius other Christian Princes under the New Testament h Theod Eccles Hist lib. 1. c. 20. lib. 5. c. 19 and cause the Tythes to be paid to the Ministers as Nehemiah did i Nehem 13. 10 11 c. who caused the portions of the Levites to be given and so did the pious Magistrates in our Land who made those Laws above specified requiring all sorts of persons to pay their Tythes on penalty as being due to Christs Ministers both by the Law of God and man Well they knew it was not in mans power to detain or take from God that which God required or by the motion of his Spirit was devoted to him and his Service such Houses Lands Goods under the Law was not to be sold or redeemed it was holy to the Lord k Levit. 27. 28. or as it is in the Original t was holiness of holiness that is most holy in respect of them that devoted them and therefore not to be sold detained or denied l God would not suffer them to redeem it to teach them constancy in all good purposes and words that so in them we may be unchangeable as God is Ainsw Annot. in loc no part of it may be held or kept back without theft that I say not Sacriledge the property being altered after it 's devoted as St. Peter told Ananias m Acts 5. 1 4. both before he sold 't was his own and after he had sold and received the mony 't was in his own power to dispose of it but when he had devoted the whole money to the free use and benefit of the Church to be distributed by the Apostles for him then to keep back part of it and to lay down the residue as the whole and to confirm it to be the whole with a wilful lye for this the Apostle sharply reproved him for thereby he tempted God and lyed to the Holy Ghost and therefore God made him a spectacle of divine vengeance for his detaining the truth in unrighteousness and for his Sacriledge for such a sin there is under the Gospel n Rom 2 22. as well as there was under the Law which is theft in the highest degree which St. Austin compares to Judas treachery o Ideoque Ananias Saphira in consâ—etu Ecclesiâ—e mortui sunt ut Apostolica Atthoritas quanta esset ostenderetur quam magnum peccatum esset quod oblatum iterum ab Ecclaesia retraheretur monstraretur caeteri exemplo hujus castigarentur Aug. lib. 3. de Mirab. Sacr. Script for if he be accounted a Thief that steals goods from a private man how much more is a sacrilegious person a thâ—ef who dares to steal from God and his Church Qui aliquid de Ecclesia furatur Jurae perdito comparatur He which steals from the Church is to be compared with cursed Judas p Aug. in Evang John tract p. 50. the Heathens abhord this sin therefore we read that Joseph when in the Famine in Egypt he bought with Corn all the Land of the Egyptians yet the Land of the Priests he bought not for they had a portion assigned them of Pharaoh nor sold they their Land q Gen. 47. 22. whence Theodoret saith if wicked men so much reverenced â—hose gods which were not gods so that their Priests Lands given to them for the worship of those gods were not sold nor taken from them what impiety do those commit under the Gospel who will not suffer the Ministers of the living God to enjoy this liberty r Theodor. quest in Gen cap. 27. that so his service may be preserved and continue with them The Heathen to preserve their gifts devoted from the hands of prophane sacrilegious persons engraved on them these words Sunt bona Decrum ad hâ—c ne quis manum admoliretur s Valcrius max. lib. 1. cap. 2. and the Jews calld their devoted things chosen in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 t Levit. 27. 28. Luke 21. 5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wishing and judging them accursed that turnd them to any other use than to that they were devoted unto and so amongst us Christians the most of the Lands in this Island they were given to God and the Church with an execration on those to be separated from Christ and given to the Devil that should alter them or employ them to any other use than by the Donors they were at fiâ—st devoted unto which in general was the service of God although many in the times of Popery faild in the superstitious observing and requiring of many things which might have been Reformed and the deceased devout persons wills been observed inviolably in the general though not in that specifical service required 'T was so high a crime in the eyes of those that saw only by the light of nature that the Areopagit condemned Aelians boy for this sin u Aelian Hist lib. 5 cap 16. Var Hist God almost miraculously killd King Rufus w See Hoywoods History of the death of King Rufus by an Arrow shot by Sir Walter Tirrel at a Deer He was wont to call that got from the Church sweet-bread but it proved bitter to him at the last when he was slain in his sports in the new Forrest which for his pleasure he had made thereby depriving seventeen Churches of their Revenues and the Ministers of the Churches and also the people of dwellings depopulating those Parishes God had warned him x Prov 20 5. that it was a snare to devour that which was holy and after vows to make enquiry He had at that time also in his hand three greâ—t Bishopricks viz. Canterbury Winchester Sarum and twelve Abbies in Farm his Brothers Son also was slain there y Fox Acts and Mon 1 Part
page 171 and printed 1610. Idolaters of old conferred Lands and Riches yea much of their Goods on their Idols service and Priests witnesse these Scriptures z Hâ—s 218. Ezel 16. and 1 Kings 18 19 and the wisest of them were afraid for fear of death to commit Sacriledge or to take away any Lands or Goods devoted to their gods such they reputed Atheists a Valer Max. lib 1 cap. 2 as Dionysius Senior Nero Julian the Apostate and others and the living God to shew his detestation of his Sin hath accordingly plagued the same As Swanus the first Danish King in England that wasted and spoiled the Land of St. Edmond devoted to Gods service shortly after saith Fox he died suddenly crying and yelling among his Knights some say he was stricken with the Sword of St. Edmond of which he died the third day b Fox ut supra page 145. which caused his Son Canutus after his death to grant them their Freedom and Liberties and to enlarg their Possessions building a Church and Abby there after which it was used that the Kings of England when they were Crowned sent their Crown for an Offering to St. Edmonds shrine and after redeemed the same at a dear rate c Fox ut supra page 146. Julians Uncle Faelix the Kings Treasurer who took d Theod Eccles Hist l. 3. c. 11 12. away the Silver and Gold Constantine had Dedicated by fearful Plagues perished the one Vomited at his mouth his Ordour till he died and the other Blood Many yet alas in these Iron dayes which are mixt with Clay e Dan. 2. 42 without fear or shame have attempted to devour things Consecrated and have effected wicked devices as the Psalmist saith f Psal 37. 7. but they have been cut off and are not what they were Do but diligently consider there where their place stood and they are not I mean the Parliament that first sold the Bishops Lands and those after them that sold the Dean and Chapters Lands and what may be the end of those that have bought these and retain these to their own use without Repentance may be conjectured by what hapned to HENRY the Eighth and his Favourite the Earle of ESSEX who sold and alienated the Land and Revenues of the Monastries i Mal 3. 8 9 10 11 12. Non remittiâ—ur peccatum nisi restituatur ablatum Aug. Circuite totum mundum non reperietis tam effrenem licentiam in gentibus qualis inter vos grassatur Illi enim obsequium aliquod reddunt diis suis sacrilegium illis est ahominabile vos autem me fraudatis Calvin in locum prelect they were cut off and their Posterity is not known And truly I think this was not the least sin that stuck too and devoured like the Eagles feathers the Crown Land Gods Revenues wrung from him by violence or stoln away under any specious pretence proving like the Gold of Tholouse that prejudiced still the owners of it or like Acans Wedge which was indeed devoted Gold that kindled a fire on himself his Family and the rest of his goods which prov'd his utter destruction g Josh 7 And yet though divine vengeance sleepeth not nor spareth the greatest Delinquents in this sin yet such hath been the prophaneness and Atheism of some the ignorance and blind zeal of others to Petition to have all the Chuâ—ches Revenues sold and to have a Law confirmed for the taking away of Tythes h See the Resolution on the Question by the Parl April 29. 1652. and some other competent Maintenance to be setled in lieu of it But what is this but as if men under pretence of Liberty should desire Property to be taken away and that it may be lawful for any man to steal from his Neighbor nay from his God under pretence of given them satisfaction for it another way for so the Lord of Hosts by his Statute Law by which all shall be judg'd accounts it Ye have robbed me in Tythes and Offerings And to terrifie those of that age from this sin he sets down the punishments to be inflâ—cted on them unless they repented of it and restored the Goods taken by making satisfaction for the Sacriâ—edge and forsaking afterward the sin and hereupon he promiseth i Mat. 3. 9. a blessing on them when they should so do God needeth not our Offerings Gifts nor Tythes but his poor Members do and what is done to any of them is done to himself and his Ministers wants these that helped by these they might attend on his Service and Worship and therefore well may he call these his which are destinated for things so dear unto him as are the poor who are his Children as dear to him as the apple of his eye and his Worship and Glory which he will not give to another k Suum Deus meritâ— vocat ac censet quod destinat in cultum suum Ideo sacrilegi sumus quoties non reddimus fratribus nostris quod Deus jubet Calv. ut supra therefore without doubt saith one God is wrong'd of his Right and Sacriledge is committed which the very Heathen abhord when either Christs Ministers or the Poor are defrauded of their due Now God challengeth the Tyth for his due l Leviâ— 27. 30 31. All the Tyth was Jehovahs Holiness to him nor was it to be redeemed or changed and that by the Law of Nations for 't was allowed of and approved and practised long before the Ceremonial Law was given by Moses as m Gen. 14. 20. 28. 21 22. in Abraham and Jacobs dayes who paid their Tythes n Gen. 14. 20. 28. 21 22. Yea this seems to be a positive Law of God given unto Adams Sons from the beginning for both Cain and Abel brought their Oblations o Gen. 4. 3 4. and first Fruits of the Corn and of the Beast and God required of the Souldiers that fought against Midian before the Israelites had any Land to pay their Tythes out of it to pay the Tenth of their Spoyles p Numb 31. 28 c. yea the first City on this side Jordan which the Israelites took in Canaan by War was by Jesus Christ himself devoted to the maintenance of the Priests and to his own Service I mean the Silver Gold vessels of Brass and Iron in Jericho they were all to come in into the Troasâ—â—y of the Lord q Josh 6. 17 19. yea he was so careful for his own portion thâ— Achan having taken of the devoted thing by stealth and dissembling it hiding the 200 sheekles of Silver and the Wedge of Gold in his Tent under the Earth that God is displeased with all Israel for it and would not go forth with their Armies until this accursed thing with Achan and his Family were consumed by fire r Josh 7. 26. And truly we shall find that the Devil who is Gods ape set his Children and
1 Harm of Confes sect 10 Mockets Book of God the King I fidore Beda Dr. Featly Saunderson c. Yea and the very Heathen too c As Menander Plato Cisero Aristotle Seneca Plutarchs Lives c. for not only Gods Name is abused whom they invocate to witnesse which is most fearful and glorious but also men are hereby cheated and deceived and made to beleeve a Lie instead of Truth God much complains of this sin d Jer. 3. 10. 2 Cron. 34 32 and threatens severely to plague it e Ezek. 17 15 Jun. Annot. in locum It provoked the Lord to break forth as a man in passion shall he break the Covenant and be delivered Nay God swears in his wrath as one mightily offended severely to plague Zedekiah though a King for despâ—sing the Oath and breaking the Covenant which God calls his Oath and his Covenant because as Junius observes was sworn in his Name and he was the Author of it by his Prophet f Jer. 34. 11 Aecolam Exp. in loc As also to shew as one saith Tthat he will revenge the breach of Oath and Covenant made o men as much as if it had been made to himself he had prophaned Gods Name and God would not hold him guiltless but his imprecation shall fall on his own head for his perfidiousnesse which indeed was fulfilled on him and his in severity g 2 King 25 6 7 Jer. 52. 1 when his Children and Nobles were slain before his face and then his eyes put out and he himself carried Captive into Babylon and kept there till the day of his death And yet alas our Land is too much guilty of this crying scandalouâ— sin which cryes aloud for vengeance for such were and are for the most part the Oaths that have been taken by Papists and Church-Protestants against the Popes Supremacy the Oath of Abjuration which thousands never intend to keep they having their Dispensations Equivocations mental Reservations and secret Evasions to delude God the Magistrates but chiefly themselves for in their hearts they are still resolved to yield Obedience to the See of Rome and beleeve Transubstantiation and Purgatory use Pilgrimages and Prayers to and for the Dead yea some Protestants are too much Jesuited who took the former Oaths Protestation and Covenant when in the very taking of them I fear they intended not to keep them for generally the Country took one or more of these for fear rather than love by constraint rather than willingly for self-ends and not for Gods glory Generally the whole Nation feared not an Oath but some either ignorantly rashly or presumptuously took them or which is worse resolved prophanely and perfidiously not to keep them like those that took the Covenant in Josias dayes in falshood h Jer. 3. 10 returning unto the Lord feignedly Nor to this day is there any fit means used as I know of to remove the guilt of this crying sin from the Land which in the opinion of an enlightned Jesuite i Emman Sa. Aphâ—r tit de Jurament 26 Perjurium gravius est Homicidio c. is greater than Murther Therefore one long since wished That as the Murtherer in our Land for Murder was hanged by the Neck so the Perjured person for his sin might be by the Tongue k Dr. Mortons Confut of Equivocation câ—p 5. And though we punish not so severely this sin as other Nations have done and God hath out of his patience and goodnesse forbore with us thereby leading us to Repentance yet their Damnation slumbreth not that shall to their lives end persist in the same God will hasten his vengeance and cast such out of his sight as the Prophet speaks l Ier. 14. 11 and if they continue in this sin God will not hear them God hath oft and clearly forbad this sin m Deut. 23 21 Numb 30. â— c. and thâ—eatned such with the losse of Heaven n Psal 15. 4 Revel 22. 15 And the truly godly have kept their Oath though it were to their own hurt as Joshua and the godly Princes Jephtah and others yea 't is the mark of a true Christian that he feareth an Oath o Eccles 9. 2 I have opened my mouth to Jâ—hovah saith Jaepthah and I cannot recal it p Iudg. 11. 35 he was content to put an end to his Posterity rather tâ—en to commit Perjury And so zealous was Joshua and the Princes having sworn to the Gibeonitâ—s that when the Army would have destroyed them they cryed out We have sworn to them by Jehovah God of Israel and we may not touch them No though they were a people of the Hevites who were expresly and by name commanded of God to be rooted out q Exod. 23. 23 though they were Lyars Deceâ—vers and Counterfeits and over-reachâ—d and as it were derided Ioshua and the Princes by feigning themselves Embassadours from a far Country which they avowed by their vynowed Bread and patched Cloaths clouted Shooes and rent Bottles nay though Gods command of destroying them long preceded the Peace they had granted them of sparing them and though the Oath and Promise they made was with a People a far off for so the Israelites had told them r Iosh 9. 7 If they dwelt amongst them they could not make a Peace with them because God had forbidden it Nay though this Peace was made without warrant from the Lord Å¿ Iosh 9. 14 nor could they challenge as our famous Historian speaks the witness of the true God in whom they beleeved not t Rawleighs Hist of the World l. 2. c. 6. sect 3. and therefore if ever any man might have saved himself by Evasion or Delusion Ioshua might have done it without Equivocations or mental Reservations Yet to the end saith he that the faithlesse subtilty of man should borrow nothing in future from his example who knew well that the Promises made in the Name of the living God were made to God and not to the dying man he held his Oath and Promise firm and inviolable though they to whom he swore were worshippers of Devils for 't is not as faithlesse men take it saith he that he which swears to a Man Society State or King and swears by the Name of the living God and in his presence that the Promise if it be broken is broken to a Man Society State or Prince but the Promise made in the Name of God is broken to God 'T is him we neglect herein and professe we fear him not but set him at nought and defie him And not only the godly but the very Heathen abhorred breach of Oath and Covenant to men though they swore by false Gods Marcus Attilius Regulus is famous herein amongst the Romans who being taken by the Carthaginians prisoner in the War had leave to go back to Rome on his Parol taking his Oath That he would return again as their Prisoner if he effected not what