8 9 10 11. If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy GOD giveth thee thou shalt not harden thy heart nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother But thou shalt open thy hand wide unto him and shalt surely lend him sufficiently for his need in that which he wanteth Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart saying The seventh year the year of release is at hand and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother and thou givest him nought and he cry unto the LORD against thee and it be sin unto thee Vers. 10. Thou shalt surely give him and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him because that for this thing the LORD thy GOD shall bless thee in all thy works and in all that thou puttest thy hands unto For the poor shall never cease out of the land therefore I command thee saying Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother to thy poor and to thy needy in thy land This Scripture is so full and pungent to this purpose that all that fear the LORD will find it more binding than any Act of Parliament or any Humane Law whatsomever for it hath in its bosome both threates to the disobedient and comfortable Promises to the due observers of this Command Wherefore Christian Magistrats should seriously consider upon suitable wayes how the Poor within their gates may be most carefully and discreetly provided for I know in most of the considerable Towns in the Land there are Hospitals some for Men some for Women some for Orphans and Children and there are summs of money have been Mortified and appointed for that end that the Rents thereof might be furthcoming for such uses by Pious and Charitable Citizens Of this the Rulers and all that are in Charge should be carefull lest any part of such summs should be delapidated and that the Revenues thereof should be duely and discreetly destributed to the fit Objects and that care may be had that the wills of the Mortifiers be punctually observed lest others perceiving a negligence herein might be discouraged from such Pious Mortifications and Donations But where these are wanting or comes short to answere the urgent necessities of the numerous Poor people that are in a Town care would needs be had and paines taken that all Poor ones whether elder or younger that are in a capacity to work or go about any profitable employment may be set to work and young ones whether Males or Femals put to learn at Schools and Trades according to their Capacities and Inclinations and for this by the Prudence of Wise Magistrats wayes may be fallen upon and Collections of Moneyes obtained with consent of the Inhabitants that may supply what will be found requisite for such Charitable and Pious Uses as supplying the Aged Decrepit that are not able to work and setting the Young Poor to sutable Callings and Employments Sure I am where this care is Christianly and Charitably minded they have the promise of a Faithfull GOD that for this thing the LORD shall Bless them in all their works and in all they put their hand unto therefore all would need to beware of resting upon a bare formality of making a triffling Offering in Publick upon dayes for Worship but look upon the Duty as seriously recommended by Him who is the Author of all our Mercies and giver of all our Good things see for this Isa. 58 7. when this Hypocriticall formalists were dissatisfied that GOD took no more notice of their fastings and frequenting of Ordinances as vers 2 3. of that chapter holds forth the LORD showes them the Reasons vers 4.5 and shewes them plainly vers 7. that the Fast that he regardes is To deal thy Bread to the hungrie and that thou bring the Poor that are cast out to thy house when thou seest the naked that thou cover him and that thou hid not thy self from thine own flesh Mind that Command Heb. 13.16 But to do good and to communicate forget not for with such Sacrifices GOD is well pleased And they that mind most the pleasing of GOD he will never be behind hand with them for Psal. 41.1 Blessed is he that considereth the Poor the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble It was Jobs Glory and did afford him no small Peace and Comfort in the day of his sad distress that he could say from a Testimony of a Good Conscience Job 31.19 If I have seen any perish for want of cloathing or any poore without covering ver 20. If his loyns have not blessed me and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep This man was a blessed Magistrat and happy were it if all that are in Authority in the Nation could have such a Testimony from their own hearts and that the Powerâ—ull and Rich in the Land could employ their abundance to such commendable yea acceptable uses before GOD they might upon good ground expect Jobs reward and such an outgate from all their troubles as Job 42.10 Yea they have a promise from his mouth who is faithfull and true yea Truth it self that not so much as a Cup of cold water given to a Disciple shall in no wise lose his reward Mat. 10.42 Let all consider this and so I proceed CHAP. XIX Concerning Magistrats in Generall and the Qualifications requyred in them INtending if the LORD will to hold out the Duties of the particular Office-Bearers in our Royal-Burghs in the Chapters following I judge it expedient to set down in the first place the Qualifications of a Magistrat in generall for the happiness of a Town depends very much upon well qualified and faithfull Magistrats And for this it is the duty of all Citizens to endeavour â—o be good men whereby they may be in a capacity to do good service when called to places of Trust in their respective Towns and all that â—ears God should pray fervently to the Lord to â—aise up many such amongst them A Magistrat is an Officer or Office-Bearer who hath power to command in a State or City There be many Office-Bearers that are not Magistrats because they have not power to command nor to punish Offenders Now we shall point out some of their Qualifications and what kind of persons they ought to be A Magistrat or Ruler ought to be carefully chosen after the draught of Scriptur-Magistrats Exod. 18.21 according to these properties First let him be an able man of body and mind to do the Common-wealth service not an ignorant that can do nothing without the Clerk This Ability comprehends three Qualities first he must be a man of understanding and must know the Duties of his Place and know how to discern in all matters that comes before him else he is unfit to be a Magistrat he must distinguish betwixt the weight and justice of the complaint and malice of the Plaintiff
in the Lawes and in so far as the Law is just and praise worthy in it self and is throâ—gh neglect or which is worse willfully slighted and transgressed it leaves a staine of unjustice and baseness upon the guilty Wherefore it is not onely the Reverence which we ow to Authority but the Justice and Equity of the Lawes that should engage all good Men to yeeld Obedience to the Statutes of the Nation 2. It may be asserted without prejudice to Truth as these that are best acquaint with the Lawes at home and abroad knowes there are few Nations if any that can be said to have better Lawes then we of this Nation have had so that if there should be found any neglect it would be the default of care and diligence yea of the fidelity of those to whom the execution of them is committed The best remedy whereof is to have good able and conscientious Office-bearers 3. Yet I shall not desire to be so understood as if I thought it Duty implicitly to obey all Publick Lawes for I know a State may erre and have erred as well as a Church and therefore Parliaments have found cause to repeall and nullifie many Acts and Lawes made by former Parliaments and in caise of errour which a man by his private Judgement of discretion may discern it is sin to obey For though the Authority be lawfull yet it may make wrong Acts which according to the Law of GOD who is the onely Supream Law-giver cannot be lawfully keeped upon this account Israel is threatned Micah 6.16 For the statutes of Omri are kept and all the works of the house of Ahab and ye walk in their counsels that I should make thee a desolation and the Inhabitants thereof an hissing therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people In this caice I say when a Lawfull Authority Acts unlawfully our duty is to suffer rather then to sin It is therefore the duty of all to pray earnestly for Law-givers that they might be Governed of GOD to make no Acts but what are good and observable and what are sinfull may be repealled It is so far from being a duty to obey sinfull ordinances which are contrary to the Commandment of GOD that it argues a people to have no sound Principle of the fear of GOD but to have more fear and respect unto men that shall die and to the sons of men that shall be made as grass then to the living GOD who hath streached forth the Heavens and laid the foundations of the Earth Isa. 51.12 13. And GOD in his Righteous Judgement not onely threatens but oftentimes executs that threatning Hos. 5.11 Ephraim is oppressed and broken iâ— judgement because he willingly walked after the commandment It s no strange thing to see a people oppressed by those whose sinfull commands they have willingly obeyed The other kind of Lawes that are to be punctually observed are Municipall such as are made and enacted in Councill and if expediency require Ratifyed in a Publick Head Court by consent of the whole Town for Lawes of greatest and most common concernment are of greatest Authority when approven by all or most of an Incorporation It is a well Governed Town where Lawes bear the whole sway of the Authority when neither fead nor favour fear nor reward prevails but all men are judged according to the Law impartially Wherefore I shall say no more to this purpose but that it concerns all men in Councill and Magistracie strictly to take notice what Nationall Lawes are most to be observed that may conduce most to the good of the Town and Honour thereof and carefully to see these put in execution And as for Lawes occasionally made be themselves or by their Predecessors for advancing of the Common Good let them be observed with â—hat veneration and executed with that disâ—retion as is most becoming their Honour â—nd Gravity CHAP. XII Some select Acts of Parliament anent Royall-Burghs and the Conservator and anent the Staple BEcause Magistrats and Inhabitants of Burghs may probably not have the Acts of Parliament at hand to make use of at all occasions I have thought it not amiss to extract out of the Abridgment of the Acts of Parliament such as I judged most propper to be known by all with this caution that every discreet and intelligent Person may take heed to distinguish betwixt Times elder and latter That in all Burghs there be eight or twelve Persons after the quantity of the Town chosen of secret Councill and sworn thereto to decide matters of wrong or un-law to the avail of five or eight pounds within eight dayes warning Ja 2. P. 11. c. 46. That no man in Burgh be found in Man-rent nor ride in Rowl in fear of Weir with any but the KING and his Officiars or the Lord of the Burgh and that they purchase no Lordship in Oppression of their Neighbours under pain of Confiscation and their lives to be in the KINGS will Ja. 2. P. 14. c. 77. Ja. 4. P. 3. c. 34. and Ja. 5. P. 4. c. 27 That all Merchants be Freemen indwellers in Burghs Ja. 3. P. 2. c. 11. That Officiars in Burghs be not continued further then a Year that the Old-Councill first choise the New and then both Old and New choise the Officiars and that ilk Craft have Vot in Election of Officiars by one to be chosen be the Craft yearly and that no Captain nor Constable of any Castle may bear Office in the Town Ja. 3. P. 5. c. 30. In all Burghs four of the Old-Council should be chosen Yearly to sit with the New notwithstanding the preceeding Acts. Ja. 3. P. 7. c. 57. That the Election of Officiars of Burghs be without partiality or mastership Ja. 3. P. 14. c. 108. That all Officiars in Burgh be changed yearly and that they be persons useing Merchandise within the Burgh Ja. 4. P. 6. c. 80. Honest and and substantious Burgesses Merchants and In-dwellers thereof under the pain of tinsell of their freedom who does in the contrare Ja. 5. P. 4. c. 26. That none be capable of Magistracy or any any other office within Burgh except Merchants and actuall Traffickers within the said Burgh allennarly and no others And that the said Magistrats and Commissioners of Burghs to Parliaments wear such decent Apparel in all solemn occasions as his MAJESTIE shall prescribe Ja 6. P. 20. c. 8. That the Commissioners of Burrowes conveen yearly in Ennerkeithing the morn after St. James day to treat about the wellfare of Merchandise and their own common profit and the Burgh absent to pay five pounds to the Coast of these present and that letters be direct thereupon Ja. 3. P. 14. c. 111. That all Ships strangers and others come to free Burrowes and there make their Merchandise and that strangers buy no Fish but salted and barrelled and shall make no Merchandise at the Lewes and that no Subject take Ships to fraught in defraud oâ— the KING
under the pain of tinsell of life and goods and strangers contraveening tyne Ship and goods Ja. 4. P. 1. c. 3. This Act ratified and further that none buy from the said strangers but from Free-men at the Ports of the saids Burrowes under the pain of escheat of their Moveables Q. Ma. P. 6. c. 59. But this Act is called an Act anent liberty of Merchants at the West-Sea And these Acts again ratified and that strangers neither buy nor sell any Merchandise but at free Burrowes and with Free-men and that none conduct fraught nor pilote any stranger to the Isles under the pain of tinsell of Life Lands and Goods Ja. 6. P. 7. c. 120. That Strangers-Merchants lodge in the free Burrowes or Principall Towns of the Ports where they arrive and that their Hosts give an account to the KING of their Goods inward and outward Ja. 4. P. 4. c. 41. That the Common-Good of all Burrowes be spent for their Common Profit by the advice of the Town Council and Deacons of Crafts where they are and that the Chamberlane enquire into this yearly and that the Rents of Burrowes be not set but for three years allennarly under pain of nullity Ja. 4. P. 3. c. 36. Ratification of the Priviledges of Burrowes and that none dwell out of Burrowes use Merchandise nor tap nor sell Wine Wax Silk Spycerie Wad nor sicklike Stuff nor Stapple-Goods nor pack nor peil in Leith or other places outwith Burrowes under the pain of escheat of the Goods Ja. 4. P. 6. c. 84. That Commissars or Head-men of Burghs be warned to the giving of Taxes as one of the three Estates Ibid. c 88. That Magistrats of Burghs bring yearly to the Exchequer their Count-Books of their Common Good under the pain of tinsell of their freedom and that fifteen dayes before they warn all that pleases to come and object against their accounts Ja. 5. P. 4. c. 26. That no Earl Lord Barron nor others molest Burrowes their Officiars or Merchants in using their Liberties under the pain of oppression Ibid. c. 27. That no man pack nor peil Wool Skin or Hide or loss nor laid outwith from Burghs and Priviledges thereof Ja. 5. P. 7. c. 107. Item That no persons strangers or inhabitants within the Realm pack or peil any hides or skins in the Isles out free Burghs under the pain of tinsell of the saids hides or skins and the Sheriffs and Over-lords of the Land where the same is done are ordained to put the Act in execution Ja. 6. P. 23. c. 12. He that tines the cause within Burgh payeth the winners expense Ja. 5. P. 7. c. 110. And also 12 pennies per pound to the poor Ja. 6. P. 6. c. 92. That the Officiars of Burghs have the onely power to punish Forstalers within the same Ja 5. P. 7. c. 113. Renewed but the power of accusing because of the negligence of Burrowes given also to the Thesaurer or his MAJESTIES Advocat Ja. 6. P. 12. c. 148. That Burrowes have an universal Weight Ja. 5. P. 7 c. 114. That the Officiars in Burghs search and apprehend all havers of false Money or counterfitters of the KINGS Irons for coynzie Ibid. c. 124. That Magistrats of Burghs cause Deacons Craftsmen and Hostlers set and take reasonable prices for their Work and Victuals or else deprive them of their Office and Priviledge Q. Ma. P. 5. c. 23. Ratification of the Priviledges of Burrowes and Burgesses and that Letters be directed upon their Priviledges and Acts of Parliament made thereupon without calling any Partie Q. Ma. P. 6. c. 49. P. 9. c. 86. Ja. 6. P. 1. c. 26. P. 5. c. 64. P. 6. c. 85. And P. 19. c. 5. That all common high Gates to and from Free-Burrowes and to and from Dry-Burrowes from and to Sea-Ports next adjacent be keept and no stop made thereuntill under the pain of Oppression Q. Ma. P. 6. c. 53. Ratified and ordaining such as shall stop or impede the same to be charged summarily on six dayes before the Lords of Session as onely Judges thereto appointed to be decerned to have done wrong and to desist and find caution for that effect under such pains as shall be modified half to the KING half to the partie grieved and the probation to be by Famous Witnesses and not by an assize Ja. 6. P. 12. c. 156. Act in favours of Burrowes of the West discharging unwarrantable exactions of Fishers in Lochfyne or other Lochs of the Isles by bringing their Fishes within this Realm for serving the countrey allennarly under the pain of oppression Q. Ma. P. 6. c. 54. That none make privy Convention put on Armour display Banners sound Trumpet or Talbron within Burgh without the QUEEN or the Magistrats license under pain of death Q. Ma. P. 9. c. 83. Ratified and that none convocate or assemble within Burgh except they have license of the Magistrats and that they do nothing in their Meeting against the Acts of Parliament and quiet of the Burgh otherwise the saids Meetings are declared seditious Item All the Inhabitants are ordained to assist the Magistrats and their Officiars for suppressing of tumults under the pain to be punished by the Magistrats and Councill of the Burgh as fosterers of the saids tumults Ja. 6. P. 18. c. 17. That the Burrowes may meet four times In the year by a Commissioner for ilk Burgh and two for Edinburgh at what Burgh they please for matters concerning their State Ja. 6. P. 5 c. 64. Ratified and that the Burgh not keeping the Convention when appointed by the most part oâ— by the Burgh of Edinburgh or any six or eight of the rest and warned by a Missive from the Provest and Bailies of the Burgh where the Convention is to be held or otherwise lawfully cited be fined in twenty Pounds towards the Charges of them that meet and that on the Act of Convention Letters of Horning and Poinding be summarily direct at the instance of the Burgh of Edinburgh for payment of this Fine Ja. 6. P. 7. c. 119. That the Taxation of Burrowes be not altered but stand as formerly that is to say that it be the sixth part allennarly of all generall Taxations Ja. 6. P. 11. c. 111. That no Free Burgh sell or annailzie their Freedom in whole or in part to any other Burgh or any other wayes without license of his HIGHNES and three Estates of Parliament under the pain of tinsell of Freedom of the Burgh either buying or selling Ibid. c. 112. Act ratifying all former Acts of new statuting that none exercise Merchandise not being Free Burgesses under the pain of escheat of their whole Moveables half to the KING and half â—o the Burgh whose Commissioner shall apprehend the same but prejudice to Landed-men â—o have some Merchandise to their own use and â—ehoofe provyding they sell not the same again Ja. 6. P. 12. c. 152. That all Inhabitants in Burghs whether they â—e admitted Burgesses or not exercising
requires Also Rulers would guard against all abuses and oppressions committed readily by Tradesmen upon new Intrants whereby they are brought so low in their condition and so plunged in debt before they can be free in their Tradâ— that they are hardly able in many years to recover and get themselves out of burden CHAP. XVII Concerning Planting both for Profit and Pleasure HAving touched severall things that may seem worthy of a Councils consideration for making a Town flowrish in the foregoing Chapters or Partitions I cannot ommit to offer it to their Judgments to deliberat if it be not very expedient both for profit and pleasure to consider how their Cities may be beautified with Planting of usefull Trees in all places in and near the Town where it may be most conveniently had for it is no small reproach upon the generality of our Nation that our People are so negligent and careless in this particular notwithstanding of the great contentment and satisfaction that may be reaped thereby for Planting is not onely delightfull to the eye and in a manner exhilirating the heart of every beholder by its beauty and greeness inviting the cheerfull Birds to chant and express their melodious Notes to the great refreshment of the hearers oft tymes but also in few years due diligence and care being taken to plant them aright and to prune and keep them they are very usefull for publick and private use as need and expediencie shall require We find that the most flowrishing and rich Nations have great abundance of many soâ—ts of Planting and that not onely by Nature but by Art and Industrie of the Inhabitants and Divine Providence hath evidenced her bounty in a liberall measure to us in that matter no less then to others our Neighbours round about us as may be witnessed by the many Woods and Forrests that have been well furnished with Oakes Elmes Firrs Ashes c. and Fruit-Trees which in every generation are much destroyed and cut down and few or none to repair them and how can we but undergo the just reproach of a careless and lazie People in this thing and the rather that no Laws and Acts of Parliament made by our Gracious and Vertuous KINGS and Estates of the Kingdom particularly by K. James the 5 th in his 9. Act of Parl. 4. and our late K. Charles the 2 d. Parliament 1. Act 41. cannot prevail It is obvious to the sence of every beholder what an Ornament Planting is to Great mens houses who are worthie of their due commendation that have taken paines herein I think it worthie the considering that when GOD created Man in his primitive Innocency and Integrity he placed him in a Garden and put that exercise upon him even in a sinless state to dress and keep it Gen. 2.8 15. whence it may be observed that Planting and the care thereof is an exercise not unbecoming the best of Saincts nor the Greatest of men we may see many Proofes oâ— this as First in that Good and Holy Man that found Grace in GODS sight when all the World save a few with him perished Gen. 9.20 And Noah began to be an Husband man and he planted a Vyne-yard Secondly Abraham the Friend of GOD and Father of the Faithfull Planted a Grove in Beersheba and called there on the Name of the LORD Gen 21.33 Next King Solomon a Great and Wise KING Eccles. 2.4 5. I made me great Works I builded me Houses and planted me Vyne-yards I made me Gardens and Orchards and I planted in them all kind of Fruits So Uzziah delighted in this Employment 2. Chron. 26 10. He had Husband-men and dressers of Vynes c. Yea our Blessed LORD JESUS did honour this Industrie by his frequenting the Garden Joh 18.1 When JESUS had spoken these words he went over the brook Cedron where was a Garden into which he entered with his Disciples Ver. 2. And Judas also who betrayed him knew the place for JESUS oftentimes resorted thither with his Disciples I could name many Great men that have taken pleasure in Planting as Cyrus the younger King of Persia who planted Orchards and Gardens with his own hand See Cicero de Senectute p. 210. But I shall forbear to insist onely desiring our Cities and Towns may seriously consider the profit and pleasure and that it will very far counterballance the expense and paines by a constant and yearly recompense I mean a well furnished Garden and Orchard when carefully keept and waited upon Therefore I shall close this purpose with a friendly desire that all Magistrats and Town-Councils may seriously consider how they may in this give best obedience to the laudable Acts and Laws of the Land and with most profit and satisfaction to their respective Incorporations and that it may be remembered when Adam sinned he was sent forth from the Garden of Eden to till the ground which was a more painfull and inferiour employment and not permitted to enjoy that sweet and refreshful mansion of the Garden It was a part of Gods Curse upon a land when Trees were smitten and taken away from it Exod. 9.25 Amos 4.9 Joel 1.12 And it is a promised Blessing To plant Gardens and eat the fruit of them Jer. 29.5 Amos 9.4 Ezek. 34.27 Therefore these Precepts may be pertinently applyed to this purpose Tit. 3.14 Let ours also learn to mantain good Works for necessary uses And that of Philip. 4.8 Whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoevâ—r things are of good report if there be any vertue and if there be any praise think on these things Much of our Corne-fields about some Towns have been improven for Herbs and Roots by common Gardners and why not some of the choisest Soyles and Situations be also made use of for pleasant Gardens and fruitfull Orchards which are to be seen frequently in well ordered and flowrishing Towns abroad to their great profit health and delight without their Towns and few of our Nation have little worse Grounds for such things save that Walls and Dykes may be found expensive and sparing many unnecessary superfluities in other things and bringing home Tyle for ballast in Ships from Holland c may help that and the profit accrewing by a fruitfull and well ordered Orchard in a few years will recompense all expensses with GODS blessing abundantly CHAP. XVIII Concerning Charity and care of the Poor THough there may be many Duties incumbent upon Magistrats and Town-Councils who are Governours of Cities and Burghs which the judicious will understand as their occasions and stations will discover unto them that there is one Dutie which is none of the least that all are bound to consider because the Supream Governour of Heaven and Earth takes speciall notice thereof and hath carefully recommended to all his People and that is a tender care over and a cordiall Charity towards the Poor See for this Deut. 15.7
for qualifying Magistrats and persons in publick trust such as these that treats of Kingdoms and Common-wealths c and Laws thereof and Histories Geographie that treat of the manners of Nations our own Acts of Parliaments Regiam Majestatem and generally all other such like Books that may become Civil Rulers to be acquainted with But it may be there are but few acquainted with the Latin-Tongue or French-Language that afford severall such as Bodin that writs copiously of a Common-Wealth in French So Franciscus Patricius Senensis that writs of the Institution of a Common-Wealth and of the Institution of a Kingdom Wendilini Polititia but these are in Latine and are old but there are many Modern that may be found at London Also books fit for a Dean of Gild and his Assessors as Lex Mercatoria Roberts Map of Commerce the knowledge of the Sea-Laws as the Roll of Oleron or Consolato of Barcellona c. which being keept in some Publick Place where the Magistrats and Counsellours by the persons that had the trust of them under inventour might at all occasions have access unto Sure I am it were a very commendable thing to have such a Liberary in your Council-house which would be at hand and continually under your eye and care and might be made use of at any time convenient Sixthly Ye are with the rest of your Neighbours of the Town once every year to ryde your Land-Marches both outward and inward Marches the outward is that ye see that none of your Neighbour-Heritours encroach upon your Freedom-Land nor upon the properties of your Fewers And the inward Marches is that ye may see none of the Heritors of the Burrow-Roods encroach upon the High-Wayes or beyond the bounds of your March-stones and while I mention this it were fit ye should take some effectuall couâ—se with the High-Wayes or Avenues that come into the Town that horses with loads may come into the Town all the Seasons of the Year in Winter as well as in Summer and the rather that ye have the advantage of the publick Acts and Orders for your assistance therein Seventhly Were it not worth your serious consideration to fall upon some suitable way to stirr up all Magistrats and privat persons to perform notable services to the wellfare of the Town and to bethink your selves what may be of greatest efficacie to encourage all sorts of persons thereto I think amongst many other wayes which ryper judgements may fall upon it might be a good one to imitate the LORDS own way set down in Mal. 3.16 Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another and the LORD hearkened and heard it and a Book of Remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD and thought upon his Name See vers 17. And they shall be mine saith the LORD of Hosts c. This was a bad time for they that wrought wickedness were set up and they that tempted GOD were delivered and the proud were called happy and because it was rare to hear any speaking aright of the Wayes of GOD yet they that feared the LORD did speak often together and GOD hearkened and heard it and insert it in a Book of Remembrance for time to come For they shall be mine saith the LORD of Hosts in that day when I make up my Jewels and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him This was the way the LORD took even to record notable Service that in due time he might reward them So when the LORD blesses any man to do any notable Act for the common Good of the Town either for profit or reputation I think such an Act ought to be recorded even in a Register apart that they and theirs may find the more respect if there fall an opportunity to manifest it in tâ—me to come The puting Mordecai's good Service on record was the occasion of his exaltation the Jews preservation and Hamans destruâ—tion Esther 2.23 And 6.1 2 3. The Romans and Graecians had their own wayes for stirring up their Citizens to all Heroick Acts but they were deeply tainted with vain glory as their Triumph and Lawrel-Crowns as their Corona Ovalis of Myrtle for a victory gotten with little hazard Corona Civica made with leaves of Oake for him that saved a Citizen from the Enemie so also Corona Populea for Young men that were found industrious and studious in the exercise of Vertue which was made of Poplar leaves These were but triviall things but much intended to gratifie vain glorious humours But the puting notable Services and Acts upon record is for the encouragement of the Posterity and others that may be observers thereof and therefore may be done with such solemn circumstances as may be thought fit and most consistent with modesty and sobriety so as the posterity may be influenced to the same or such like exercises Rom. 13.3 4. They that do good are to have Praise and Rewards from Rulers as well as evil doers are to be punished by them who are to be a terrour to such If these had been recorded there had been Honourable mention made of many stately Buildings and Monuments in many of our Royall-Burghs which long ere now or shortly will be quyte forgotten Neither these Artists and privat persons that do good Service or find out good inventions for profit or ornament to the Town should be neglected CHAP. XXVI Concerning Iustice of Peace Courts to be holden within Burgh by the Magistrats thereof IN the foregoing Chapters I have presumed to suggest severall particulars which may conduce to advance the Polilcy good Government and prosperity of a City or Common-wealth as men and in his I am to mind the Rulers more particularly â—ow they shall order it as Christians in eviâ—enceing their zeall against sin for the honour â—nd Glory of Him who is the PRINCE of â—he KINGS of the Earth and upon whose â—houlders the government is laid from whom â—lone all blessings of peace prosperity and preâ—ervation can be expected and without whose â—racious favour no skill power wisdom or â—eans that men shall use can profit according â—o Psal. 127.1 Except the LORD build the â—ouse they labour in vain that build it Except the LORD keep the City the watch-men waketh â—â—t in vain Then seeing all our mercies spring from this fountain it concerns all Magistrats very near to be carefull that no gross sin be indulged amongst them such as Whoring Drunkenness and Swearing these are the most common Scandalls unsuitable to the Gospel and such as profess it that are to be found in Cities and Towns These are sufficient to provock GOD to withdraw his mercies and to send sad Plagues and Rods and to confound all your Counsells and blast your best Endeavours for suppressing whereof I know no better outward mean then a conscientious faithfull and diligent Court of Justice keeped by well principled Magistrats assisted by pious honest and zealous Constables weekly Now I