present_a and_o justify_v this_o plea._n in_o the_o oath_n which_o the_o justice_n take_v for_o the_o execute_v his_o office_n the_o word_n run_v thus_o you_o shall_v do_v equal_a right_n to_o rich_a and_o poor_a after_o your_o cunning_n wit_n and_o power_n by_o which_o word_n cunning_a continue_v from_o ancient_a use_n i_o understand_v not_o so_o much_o according_a to_o the_o best_a of_o a_o man_n skill_n and_o knowledge_n of_o the_o law_n which_o be_v comprise_v rather_o in_o the_o word_n wit_n but_o according_a to_o the_o best_a of_o his_o discretion_n wisdom_n and_o prudence_n which_o include_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d i.e._n candour_n moderation_n in_o case_n that_o require_v it_o that_o be_v you_o shall_v well_o and_o true_o do_v trary_a to_o the_o law_n of_o nature_n and_o reason_n lose_v their_o force_n and_o be_v no_o law_n at_o all_o finch_n law_n p._n 75._o the_o law_n of_o nature_n and_o reason_n be_v unchangeable_a and_o perpetual_a and_o no_o statute_n can_v prevail_v against_o it_o doctor_n and_o student_n p._n 4._o constat_fw-la profecto_fw-la ad_fw-la salutem_fw-la civium_fw-la vitamque_fw-la omnium_fw-la beatam_fw-la conditas_fw-la esse_fw-la leges_fw-la say_v cicero_n exit_fw-la quo_fw-la intelligi_fw-la par_fw-fr est_fw-la eos_fw-la qui_fw-la perniciosa_fw-la populis_fw-la jussa_fw-la descripserint_fw-la quodvis_fw-la potius_fw-la tulisse_fw-la quam_fw-la leges_fw-la in_o his_o two_o excellent_a book_n de_fw-fr legibus_fw-la which_o have_v indeed_o give_v the_o first_o light_n to_o all_o thing_n almost_o which_o our_o divine_n and_o lawyer_n have_v say_v well_o on_o this_o subject_a i_o will_v add_v st._n augustine_n and_o turn_v to_o no_o more_o mihi_fw-la lex_fw-la esse_fw-la non_fw-la videtur_fw-la quae_fw-la justa_fw-la non_fw-la fuerit_fw-la de_fw-fr lib._n arb._n l._n 1._o c._n 5._o after_o these_o testimony_n it_o be_v yet_o needful_a i_o explain_v the_o thing_n a_o little_a more_o for_o which_o i_o bring_v they_o when_o i_o say_v therefore_o that_o a_o command_n or_o law_n make_v against_o charity_n righteousness_n the_o public_a good_a be_v no_o law_n i_o understand_v not_o but_o that_o any_o bill_n which_o pass_v the_o house_n and_o the_o king_n be_v a_o law_n or_o statute_n of_o the_o realm_n that_o be_v a_o law_n in_o foro_n humano_fw-la in_o man_n court_n or_o at_o the_o bar_n in_o westminster_n and_o if_o any_o justice_n will_v execute_v it_o the_o outward_a publicum_fw-la and_o consequent_o if_o a_o law_n prove_v otherwise_o or_o be_v against_o the_o common_a good_a it_o must_v be_v suppose_v also_o that_o such_o a_o law_n be_v devoid_a of_o their_o intention_n or_o be_v not_o according_a to_o their_o will_n and_o so_o do_v not_o bind_v the_o conscience_n even_o upon_o a_o double_a ground_n both_o because_o it_o be_v destitute_a of_o the_o authority_n it_o shall_v have_v from_o god_n and_o its_o authority_n from_o the_o will_n of_o man_n also_o upon_o the_o account_n already_o give_v if_o any_o 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that_o there_o be_v some_o of_o another_o make_v who_o either_o out_o of_o hatred_n to_o the_o conventicler_n or_o zeal_n for_o the_o church_n or_o sense_n of_o their_o office_n or_o instigation_n of_o other_o or_o put_v upon_o it_o by_o some_o informer_n be_v still_o for_o the_o execute_v the_o law_n against_o the_o dissent_v meeter_n i_o must_v therefore_o take_v upon_o i_o to_o argue_v a_o little_a with_o the_o justice_n of_o this_o sort_n and_o ask_v he_o two_o question_n what_o a_o conventicle_n be_v and_o in_o what_o manner_n he_o will_v proceed_v for_o the_o former_a the_o act_n against_o conventicle_n declare_v against_o all_o assemble_v under_o colour_n or_o pretence_n of_o any_o exercise_n of_o religion_n in_o other_o manner_n than_o according_a to_o the_o liturgy_n and_o practice_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n and_o the_o oxford_n act_n describe_v such_o meeting_n as_o under_o colour_n of_o any_o exercise_n of_o religion_n be_v contrary_a to_o the_o law_n and_o 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day_n not_o only_o by_o public_a but_o private_a prayer_n confess_v their_o sin_n reconcile_a themselves_o charitable_o to_o their_o neighbour_n and_o use_v all_o godly_a conversation_n queen_n elizabeth_n injunction_n 1559._o allow_v a_o minister_n at_o all_o time_n when_o necessity_n require_v to_o comfort_v his_o flock_n with_o the_o lively_a word_n of_o god_n which_o be_v the_o stay_n of_o man_n conscience_n moreover_o the_o church_n have_v appoint_v the_o psalm_n in_o metre_n for_o private_a house_n form_n of_o prayer_n bind_v up_o with_o the_o bible_n the_o practice_n of_o piety_n nowel_n catechism_n jewel_n work_n to_o be_v keep_v in_o every_o parish_n where_o more_o than_o four_o may_v read_v they_o if_o more_o than_o four_o or_o forty_o meet_a to_o feast_n together_o the_o church_n and_o liturgy_n forbid_v they_o not_o to_o give_v thanks_o for_o their_o meat_n no_o nor_o to_o pray_v
the_o great_a case_n of_o the_o justice_n state_v and_o determine_v touch_v their_o duty_n of_o put_v the_o law_n in_o execution_n whether_o dissenter_n be_v indulge_v or_o not._n or_o a_o discourse_n concern_v the_o oath_n of_o the_o justice_n of_o peace_n explain_v the_o extent_n of_o its_o obligation_n be_v a_o case_n universal_o seasonable_a in_o regard_n to_o righteousness_n peace_n and_o the_o prosperity_n of_o this_o nation_n publish_a with_o allowance_n london_n print_v by_o w._n d.â—nd_n â—nd_z be_v to_o be_v sell_v by_o randal_n taylor_n 1688._o ligation_n upon_o they_o to_o the_o execution_n of_o the_o statute_n of_o the_o realm_n have_v once_o swear_v thereunto_o notwithstanding_o the_o king_n declaration_n for_o indulgence_n be_v short_a of_o a_o law_n so_o that_o upon_o supposition_n a_o information_n be_v legal_o bring_v they_o can_v not_o forbear_v do_v as_o they_o do_v former_o without_o have_v a_o ill_a conscience_n and_o if_o there_o be_v no_o volubility_n in_o 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likely_a to_o be_v more_o tender_a in_o a_o point_n of_o conscience_n than_o they_o then_o must_v this_o discourse_n be_v absolute_o necessary_a at_o present_a in_o regard_n to_o such_o and_o if_o the_o fire_n that_o be_v pen_v up_o do_v but_o burn_v more_o vehement_o so_o that_o when_o the_o indignation_n break_v out_o it_o be_v likely_a to_o rage_v more_o furious_o for_o the_o restraint_n and_o if_o the_o live_v of_o prince_n especial_o when_o they_o be_v benign_a and_o good_a be_v not_o certain_a to_o be_v long_o than_o other_o mortal_n beside_o a_o multitude_n of_o other_o accident_n of_o life_n that_o go_v to_o the_o turn_n about_o that_o wheel_n which_o make_v those_o person_n and_o thing_n that_o be_v at_o the_o top_n now_o to_o be_v like_a to_o be_v at_o the_o bottom_n again_o at_o another_o season_n then_o do_v it_o seem_v convenient_a also_o for_o other_o that_o we_o imitate_v the_o provident_a housholder_n who_o set_v down_o a_o profitable_a receipt_n in_o his_o book_n for_o a_o occasion_n hereafter_o though_o at_o present_a never_o a_o one_o of_o his_o family_n have_v need_n of_o it_o this_o case_n reader_n be_v a_o case_n of_o very_o great_a moment_n and_o difficulty_n and_o the_o determination_n singular_a for_o so_o will_v it_o have_v be_v judge_v undoubted_o if_o it_o bid_v come_v out_o at_o another_o time_n but_o the_o author_n have_v so_o manage_v it_o lay_v his_o foundation_n so_o sure_a as_o he_o go_v and_o then_o raise_v his_o structure_n so_o even_o upon_o it_o that_o what_o be_v difficult_a he_o have_v make_v appear_v easie_n and_o that_o which_o be_v peculiar_a he_o have_v make_v appear_v as_o common_a so_o that_o every_o body_n will_v be_v ready_a to_o say_v he_o will_v have_v determine_v the_o point_n just_a so_o himself_o when_o there_o be_v a_o great_a deal_n more_o study_n learning_n and_o judgement_n go_v into_o the_o matter_n than_o come_v to_o another_o share_n to_o be_v master_n of_o i_o will_v note_v a_o few_o thing_n there_o be_v 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with_o out_o hurt_v to_o any_o who_o be_v there_o will_v not_o justify_v the_o king_n assume_v power_n over_o law_n and_o justice_n both_o in_o that_o matter_n to_o usurp_v authority_n over_o the_o law_n only_o for_o the_o sake_n of_o a_o man_n self_n as_o to_o take_v our_o money_n without_o a_o parliament_n be_v the_o great_a latrociny_n and_o which_o our_o king_n do_v abhor_v who_o have_v declare_v for_o his_o subject_n property_n as_o well_o as_o liberty_n but_o for_o a_o king_n to_o declare_v his_o pleasure_n that_o he_o will_v have_v all_o his_o subject_n be_v happy_a and_o enjoy_v their_o conscience_n so_o long_o as_o the_o public_a receive_v no_o detriment_n by_o it_o and_o to_o that_o end_n will_v forbear_v to_o execute_v such_o and_o such_o a_o particular_a law_n or_o law_n which_o appear_v to_o he_o prejudicial_a thereunto_o i_o must_v say_v after_o this_o grave_a author_n that_o this_o be_v a_o thing_n altogether_o for_o the_o welfare_n of_o his_o people_n and_o not_o for_o his_o personal_a benefit_n he_o must_v be_v say_v to_o govern_v still_o according_a to_o law_n see_v he_o do_v act_n by_o the_o supreme_a law_n to_o which_o all_o other_o be_v subordinate_a according_a to_o the_o profound_a determination_n of_o that_o paragraph_n another_o thing_n i_o will_v note_v in_o regard_n to_o the_o candour_n of_o this_o gentleman_n who_o no_o doubt_n do_v write_v in_o favour_n of_o the_o dissenter_n &_o can_v not_o be_v please_v with_o any_o cause_n or_o party_n who_o be_v for_o persecution_n yet_o do_v he_o very_o purposely_o vindicate_v the_o church_n of_o england_n her_o liturgy_n and_o the_o law_n from_o the_o abuse_n of_o such_o justice_n and_o curse_a informer_n who_o as_o they_o deal_v with_o many_o people_n do_v make_v they_o worse_o than_o mahumatism_n while_o they_o press_v they_o only_o to_o militate_v against_o the_o sober_a exercise_n of_o the_o the_o unquestionable_a duty_n of_o christianity_n this_o author_n will_v not_o have_v that_o which_o be_v bare_o the_o fault_n of_o the_o one_o to_o be_v impute_v to_o the_o other_o reader_n i_o have_v no_o room_n to_o proceed_v to_o any_o further_a note_n but_o commit_v this_o piece_n to_o thy_o hand_n as_o a_o jewel_n in_o my_o opinion_n the_o justice_n case_n there_o be_v a_o book_n i_o can_v tell_v just_a how_o many_o year_n ago_o but_o it_o be_v at_o a_o time_n i_o remember_v when_o the_o fanatic_n be_v not_o trouble_v which_o together_o with_o some_o other_o book_n be_v put_v out_o de_fw-fr industria_fw-la towards_o the_o raise_n a_o storm_n upon_o such_o people_n the_o content_n whereof_o come_v to_o this_o that_o the_o oath_n of_o the_o late_a time_n the_o covenant_n the_o negative_a oath_n the_o engagement_n be_v unlawful_a and_o not_o to_o be_v keep_v but_o the_o oath_n which_o the_o justice_n of_o peace_n take_v be_v unquestionable_a and_o must_v oblige_v and_o if_o they_o do_v not_o therefore_o execute_v the_o law_n to_o their_o utmost_a upon_o the_o dissenter_n they_o 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or_o read_v the_o scripture_n or_o a_o license_v book_n or_o sing_v a_o psalm_n if_o they_o will_v at_o the_o end_n of_o their_o supper_n if_o any_o one_o than_o shall_v go_v to_o turn_v the_o law_n and_o church_n against_o god_n by_o threaten_v godly_a person_n for_o do_v these_o thing_n and_o will_v seduce_v the_o justice_n to_o prosecute_v they_o for_o it_o with_o mulct_n and_o imprisonment_n let_v the_o accusation_n be_v hear_v be_v it_o for_o the_o mere_a number_n of_o such_o that_o meet_v that_o they_o must_v be_v make_v criminal_a or_o for_o the_o faultiness_n of_o the_o thing_n that_o they_o meet_v about_o it_o can_v be_v for_o the_o mere_a number_n because_o there_o be_v more_o allow_v to_o meet_v at_o a_o playhouse_n a_o sessions-house_n a_o exchange_n at_o a_o horse-race_n a_o cock-match_n a_o bull-baiting_a a_o a_o bearbaiting_a a_o hunt_a a_o execution_n in_o the_o street_n in_o a_o ship._n it_o must_v be_v the_o unlawful_a exercise_n then_o must_v make_v it_o a_o crime_n 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jesus_n christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n have_v not_o so_o much_o justice_n these_o be_v thing_n that_o the_o justice_n who_o be_v of_o the_o prosecute_a persuasion_n be_v to_o think_v upon_o and_o if_o he_o be_v a_o london_n justice_n there_o be_v one_o thing_n more_o to_o be_v put_v to_o he_o there_o be_v at_o least_o a_o hundred_o or_o two_o hundred_o thousand_o soul_n in_o the_o great_a parish_n in_o and_o about_o london_n more_o than_o can_v hear_v in_o the_o church_n i_o ask_v he_o now_o will_v you_o have_v all_o or_o half_o these_o person_n to_o live_v as_o atheist_n and_o worship_n god_n in_o no_o manner_n at_o all_o in_o any_o congregation_n or_o will_v you_o not_o if_o you_o will_v not_o why_o do_v you_o prosecute_v they_o for_o go_v to_o private_a meeting_n when_o they_o can_v come_v to_o the_o public_a in_o their_o own_o church_n which_o will_v not_o hold_v they_o if_o you_o will_v i_o desire_v sir_n than_o very_o fair_o to_o have_v do_v with_o you_o for_o it_o be_v better_a 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the_o most_o part_n therefore_o the_o chief_a point_n to_o be_v inquire_v into_o as_o to_o the_o obligation_n of_o conscience_n in_o these_o matter_n any_o man_n may_v be_v make_v to_o do_v the_o thing_n for_o fear_n of_o wrath_n whether_o justice_n or_o people_n so_o that_o if_o the_o supreme_a power_n will_v have_v it_o they_o must_v do_v it_o or_o suffer_v all_o resistance_n be_v forbid_v and_o as_o for_o the_o law_n it_o be_v all_o one_o whether_o a_o man_n act_n out_o of_o conscience_n or_o not_o so_o long_o as_o it_o make_v he_o do_v it_o but_o if_o a_o man_n real_o in_o his_o soul_n do_v judge_v the_o thing_n command_v to_o be_v against_o the_o common_a good_a the_o justice_n that_o execute_v not_o that_o law_n and_o the_o man_n that_o obey_v it_o not_o if_o they_o can_v escape_v with_o man_n be_v not_o oblige_v for_o conscience-sake_n even_o as_o when_o they_o think_v it_o against_o god_n will_n for_o god_n will_n indeed_o be_v that_o man_n shall_v rule_v only_o for_o our_o good_a so_o as_o they_o need_v think_v by_o that_o omission_n they_o sin_n against_o god._n i_o pray_v note_v all_o the_o way_n i_o speak_v still_o not_o of_o what_o be_v safe_a in_o point_n of_o law_n but_o of_o what_o be_v innocent_a in_o point_n of_o conscience_n and_o when_o i_o allow_v a_o private_a man_n to_o judge_v of_o a_o law_n whether_o it_o be_v for_o the_o public_a good_a or_o not_o this_o be_v not_o to_o have_v a_o hand_n in_o determine_v the_o question_n whether_o i_o be_o oblige_v or_o not_o to_o obey_v it_o under_o the_o penalty_n of_o the_o law_n but_o under_o the_o gild_n of_o sin_n and_o god_n judgement_n neither_o must_v i_o forget_v to_o distinguish_v from_o that_o well_o study_a divine_a dr._n field_n upon_o the_o church_n between_o subjection_n and_o obedience_n and_o consequent_o between_o the_o not_o obey_v a_o law_n and_o resist_v of_o authority_n the_o latter_a whereof_o be_v make_v always_o damnable_a by_o the_o apostle_n and_o the_o former_a be_v good_a 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supreme_a executive_a power_n which_o god_n have_v commit_v into_o his_o hand_n according_a to_o the_o constitution_n of_o this_o realm_n whether_o as_o reside_v in_o his_o person_n or_o issue_v out_o from_o he_o to_o any_o other_o person_n or_o person_n by_o his_o commission_n upon_o any_o pretence_n whatsoever_o which_o i_o do_v declare_v the_o rather_o because_o i_o be_o out_o of_o doubt_n that_o those_o they_o call_v nonconformist_n as_o well_o as_o the_o conformist_n who_o understand_v themselves_o on_o both_o side_n however_o it_o come_v to_o pass_v that_o one_o party_n of_o they_o be_v scruple_v for_o want_n of_o but_o so_o little_a explication_n as_o this_o be_v be_v perfect_o reconcileable_a on_o that_o point_n to_o conclude_v the_o law_n in_o such_o or_o such_o a_o particular_a case_n require_v the_o justice_n to_o act_v against_o the_o common_a good_a what_o must_v he_o do_v then_o i_o speak_v not_o of_o what_o he_o may_v choose_v to_o do_v in_o point_n of_o prudence_n which_o in_o case_n a_o law_n be_v direct_o against_o god_n or_o so_o extreme_o to_o public_a hurt_n as_o quite_o over-ballance_n our_o suffering_n be_v not_o to_o be_v consult_v but_o of_o what_o he_o be_v bind_v to_o in_o point_n of_o conscience_n and_o every_o one_o i_o think_v will_v give_v this_o answer_n that_o the_o superior_a law_n must_v have_v still_o the_o pre-eminence_n unless_o there_o be_v something_o particular_o to_o be_v allege_v in_o regard_n to_o that_o matter_n which_o be_v not_o exceptionable_a in_o the_o case_n if_o it_o be_v against_o god_n word_n he_o must_v himself_o judge_v in_o reference_n to_o his_o own_o act_n or_o he_o act_v as_o a_o beast_n and_o punish_v as_o a_o horse_n strike_v and_o he_o be_v also_o the_o minister_n of_o god_n under_o the_o king_n for_o the_o people_n good._n this_o be_v the_o very_a end_n of_o magistracy_n itself_o of_o the_o law_n of_o the_o execution_n consequent_o the_o common_a good_a salus_n populi_n be_v the_o supreme_a law_n whosoever_o he_o be_v that_o sincere_o seek_v that_o whether_o he_o execute_v or_o forbear_v a_o statute_n he_o be_v he_o must_v be_v in_o the_o forbearance_n or_o execution_n thereof_o upon_o that_o account_n the_o best_a minister_n of_o the_o law_n of_o god_n and_o of_o the_o king_n princeps_fw-la est_fw-la dei_fw-la imago_fw-la lex_fw-la principis_fw-la opus_fw-la finis_fw-la legis_fw-la justitia_fw-la exit_fw-la justitia_fw-la communis_fw-la salus_fw-la deo_fw-la gloria_fw-la finis_fw-la errata_fw-la page_n 9_o line_n 8._o for_o fieris_fw-la read_v feceris_fw-la p._n 20._o l._n 7._o for_o prevent_v r._n pervert_n p._n 45._o l._n 3._o for_o be_v r._n may_v be_v p._n 57_o l._n 9_o for_o forbid_v r._n forbid_v