THE NEW EARTH OR The True MAGNA CHARTA OF The past AGES and of the AGES or World to come CALLED The JEWS COMMONWEAL Written by an unworthy witness of the truth of the great God JOHN BRAYNE Isa 42.21 The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness sake he will magnifie the law and make it honourable Richard in Paules Church Yard Att The London Printed for Richard Moon at the seven stars in Paul's Church-yard neer the great North-door 1653. To the Supreme Authority THE PARLIAMENT OF THE Commonwealth of ENGLAND Right Honourable THe men without law that is the Nations to whom God had not given the knowledge thereof were a law unto themselves and made laws of their own wherein one man became as a God to another but we which have the law of God and use it not as a law are indeed in a kind as those Gentiles were altogether without it or worse who by our traditions for so indeed are humane laws have made voide the laws of God Mat. 15.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thus the Pharisees had unauthorized the law of God before us Concerning the ceremonial law Mar. 7.8 and the moral law v. 10 11 12. by which then as now the word of God was made of none effect v. 13. and was committed in many things besides these particulars that are set down and expressed when man and not God reigneth nor doth God whiles his laws judge us not judge but man the law of the Nation and not of God untill men are judged by Gods law judgement is not the Lords but Justinians Gratians or other mens upon which the people imploy their time and study but if Gods laws were set up among us by his Bible or Statute book every man would easily become a lawyer where no acts are ever to be repealed but out-last those of the Medes and Persians No word must be added or diminished there is therein no more or less then should be so full hath God made it to govern by Deut. 4.1 2 6 8. the Ruler of the people was to have it alway by him and not to turn from the right hand or the left Deut. 17.18 19 20. It was the excuse of the Heathens they knew not the law to make use thereof it was the wickedness of the Papacy that it was not used therein though they knew it they well seeing that both they and their practice were under the condemnation thereof and that they had no authority thence to set up themselves and Lord it over the world putting themselves in the place of God without God But yee O yee Princes of the people into whose hearts God put it to give assurances to the nation that your desire is to make it happy which the Lord tells you consists in setting up Gods law Rom. 9.4 Deut. 4.6 7 8. God hath laid ingagements on you as on his people of old Deut. 4.24 though other alterations in the State were troublesome God will prosper you in this and in your undertakings for this remember ye have the ingagements of men upon you and of God on you and of vows made to God on your own souls O what shall or can hinder you need not fit a day to do it it is done for you to a word in the word untill when nationally we are not the people of God Iam. 4.12 tells us there is but one law-giver consider then what it is to give a law that is not according to Gods especially when we have the law by us and are not to go to heaven or beyond the Seas for it and I pray consider that the Gentiles Rom. 2. though they had laws of their own to judge by yet not having Gods law they are said to be without law and observe well thence what God may say of us our law and judgement Do O do as Iosiah did 2 Kings 23.2 3. bring forth the law do you and your people make a covenant and all the people with God to restore and obey the law in the commands the statutes and judgements thereof so shall no injustice nor oppression be used in the land this is the New Earth which the Saints even in the Apostles dayes dayes looked for in which dwelleth righteousness 2 Pet. 3.13 the Romans having destroyed that government before and hath laine hid to this day in the word untill which the foundations of judgement and justice being out of course though you are never so wise just and willing to do the nation good ye cannot for the foundations are out of course and what can the righteous do saith David And let not the cry of the Prophet take hold of you Psal 119.16 Vp Lord for men have made void thy law Examine I pray if your laws have not in some kinde made void Gods laws which is the greatest guilt of a nation that may be under which we have layn ever since we had the knowledge of it amongst us Give me leave to tell you It is not enough you have put down the power and authority but you must put down the rule of the fourth Monarchy also as the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 15.24 O that ye might be honoured of God to put down that and set up the Lord and not your own when indeed ye shall be healers of the nation and restorers of the paths to walk in on which I beseech you to look as on that is Gods work and your chiefest duty to set up judges in the right place of judgement that they judge according to the law that judgement may be indeed the Lords and they called gods in which you shall do more for the nation then all the Parliaments ever were and deliver your own souls make prosperous the people establish authority and rule compose the differences in being among us and make the people one for it must be God that must make those of one house much more those of one nation to agree whereby ye may onely do it to which I leave you and pray the Lord to help you and direct you therein and remaine A faithful servant and well-wisher of you all in the Lord John Brayne THE foundation of all the gracious dealings of God with men hath alwayes been laid and began in or with Covenants in which God takes a people as a man a woman and espouseth them to himself Exod. 19.8 24.3 7. where in stead of the blood of the sacrifice we have Christ to make it in 1. There is the first covenant the Mediator or Minister thereof was Moses which was legal and made with all the people That they should keep the commandments the Statutes and Judgements set down in the books of Moses Deut. 5.1 2 3 5. vers 27. The blessings of this covenant were temporal for this life when it was broken temporal blessings were withdrawn The Kings of Israel as Josiah 2 Kin. 23.2 3. renewed it Deut. 29.10 11 12 13. 2 Kings 11.17 And another then this legal covenant
was not made with the Nation or people of the Jews by Moses Jer. 7.22 23 24. Josh 8. ult 2 Cor. 3.14.15 2. There was a new covenant in which not Moses but Christ is the Mediator which is a better covenant having not the law written in tables of stone but in the heart Heb. 8.10 which had better promises vers 6. and Christ said to be a Priest of good things to come which was only made with believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in whom the law is kept only and indeed in shadow of which God after covenanting with him in the Mosaical covenant he gave Aarons Priesthood from Exod. 25. to the end Note As a Nation cannot subsist without rule and government in any order nor be without food and raiment nor continue or remaine if God curse them and bless them not so it is necessary for these that a National Covenant be made with God by us for the binding our selves to God to keep his commandments Statutes and Judgements and is as necessary for us as ever it was for the Jews by which God becomes engagedly the God of a Nation and they again his people and not nationally as before for by the new covenant God is not the God of a nation but of believers onely in a nation joyned to Christ in the way of the Gospel Object The New covenant implyes God hath made the first Old and that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish Heb. 8.13 Resp As Christ and Moses destroyed not one another nor the Gospel destroyes not the law so nor doth one covenant destroy another nor is the first covenant old but to those only that are in the second in which the first is as it were swallowed up or received into But to those that are onely under the first To them the first is so as if there were not a second and those under the second are so under that as if the first were not Note Men are to be first under the first or Sinai and thence come to Sion Heb. 12.18 22. and so Moses is a Schoolmaster to bring us to Christ Gal. 4.24 Rom. 9.4 Heb. 9.15 12.18 24. Illust As in the beginning of the goverment of the Jews Commonweal there was a rule set up for Judgement among the people called judicial laws to govern them by in which was the Kingly goverment of God and the law called the Royal and there was likewise the Levitical Law which appertained to the service of the tabernal in which Christs Priesthood was set out in things appertaining to God for the people which distinct estates are in a kind reserved among us this day in the Church and State As in Moses and Aaron so now should it be Moses and Christ But the Romans conquering Judea according to the prophecie Gen. 49.10 they put down their rule and government that they could put no man to death Judgement was now altered into the customs of the heathens and there ever since it hath continued and no nation in the world ever since taking God or God taking them to be his people as of old though lately we in a wrong way seemed to do it for at the renewing of the covenant the law and the statutes and judgements were only read and the people ingaging themselves to keep them a never did any Gospel-Church do any such thing nor shall ever do it nor were they the Church-paterns Antichrists mark is set down to be 2 Thes 2.8 one that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 without law that is he exerciseth not the law of God 〈…〉 up the covenant of the law but brings all the world and 〈…〉 to one estate which if he had not done or if we do not do we shall finde the one is as necessary among men in the world as the other in the Church And hence Antichrists workings are called the mystery 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of lawlesness by whom the laws administrations are destroyed Object If we have this covenant we must have circumcision Resp The Apostle clears it Gal. 3.17 The covenant that was confirmed in circumcision before of God in Christ the law which was four hundred and thirty yeers after cannot disannul Now this covenant I speak of is distinguished from that by Moses thus Deut. 5.3 The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers but with us in Horeb even us who are all of us alive this day John 7.22 Moses gave you you circumcision not because it is of Moses but of the fathers Quest If this covenant be not sufficient to make men capable of baptism and whether men were not circumcised by this Resp Men were not circumcised by this but that other covenant spoke of Deut. 5.3 and was long before this 2. Baptism belongs to the second not first covenant in which God becomes our God not by doing but believing not by works but grace not in Moses but Christ Object The Apostles required not this in their time Resp 2 Pet. 3.13 They looked for a New Earth that is a restoration of that administration of the law to be but not untill the fall of Antichrists rule and government being of the fourth Monarchy 2. The law was for the worlds government that that they did concerned the Church and the new covenant onely and not the world 2 Chron. 15.12 13 14 15 Nehem. 8.1 2 3 4. Note Both covenants are necessary when they may be had and without the covenants is no promise Eph. 2.12 the heathens were Aliens from the civil estate of Israel Beza and strangers from the covenant of promise speaking of them both And thus it is with us this day Of Judges Note The Lord hath promised he will restore Judges as at the first Isa 1.26 and in them judgement and it was the great wrath of God that they were taken away out of the middest of the people Amos 2.3 and would it not be a mercy if this people might have them that never had them as at the first The first were of Gods institution and best those of other forms since of men and far worse O let our Judges be as at the first Moses the first of Judges by Jethro's advice Exod. 18.16 dissolved Monarchy in rule laying it down for his own and the peoples ease God consenting thereunto gave the people laws to be governed and Judges to govern them by who are described to the people Exod. 18.22 that they chuse not amiss who in the beginning of the government and after were chosen of the people Deut. 1.13 16.18 for which service men may be easily fitted in that the law was daily read in the Synagogues which was expounded by the Prophets and wise men sent of God to them which cannot be done in our law it was the Sabbath-work and service of God to teach it daily in publike and private and shall this law be thus laid aside neglected and not studied for the bramble-rule of the world and was subverted 1
that blasphemed God his house shall be destroyed and himself cut in pieces Zech. 5.4 The flying roul entred into the house of him that sweareth falsly by my name and it shall remaine in the midst of his house and it shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof Jezabel swore by her gods and is eaten by dogs and her familly cut off 1 Kin. 19. 2 Kin. 9. III. On a person Levit. 24.15 Whoever curseth his God and he blasphemeth the name of God shall surely dye as well the stranger as he that is born in the land all the Congregation shall stone him Levit. 24.11 The son of an Israelitish woman blasphemed the name of God and cursed and they brought him to Moses and put him in ward until the minde of the Lord were known Verse 14. He is brought out of the Camp and stoned Illustr Davids child dyed because he made the enemy blaspheme 2 Sam. 12. Statute Levit. 19.31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits neither seek after wizards to be defiled by them I am the Lord. Vers 26. Ye shall not use inchantments nor observe times Deut. 18.10 There shall not be found amongst you any that useth divination or any observer of times or an enchanter or a witch or a charmer or a consulter with familiar spirits a wizard or a Necromancer all these are an abomination before the Lord. Judgements Exod. 22.18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live Levit. 20.27 A man or woman that hath a familiar spirit or is a wizard shall surely be put to death they shall stone them with stones their blood shall be upon them Vers 6. The soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits and after wizards to go a whoring after them I will even set my face against that soul and will cut him off from among his people Note God will cut him off by some judgement this was not to be done by the Magistrate but left to God himself 1 Sam. 28.31 in Saul Statute Levit. 20.22 Ye shall keep all my Statutes and my judgements to do them Verse 23. Ye shall not walk in the manners of the Nations Levit. 18.3 After the doings of the land of Egypt shall ye not do after the doings of the land of Canaan where I bring you shall ye not do neither shall ye walk in their ordinances Verse 4. Ye shall do my judgements and keep mine ordinances Levit. 19.27 Thou shalt not round the corners of thy head nor war the corners of thy beard nor make cuttings in thy flesh for the dead nor print any markes on you Deut. 18.9 Ye shall not do after the abominations of the heathen Observation The Lord bindes the people that have his Statutes to make use of his and not any other ordinances laws or manners Statute Numb 15.30 31. The soul that doth ought presumptuously whether he be born in the land or a stranger the same reproacheth the Lord and that soul shall be cut off from among his people because he hath despised the word of the Lord and hath broken his commandment that soul shall utterly be cut off his iniquity shall be upon him O ye Princes and Judges of the people if men judge by other judgements then Gods and have Gods judgements by them to judge by judge ye if they do not presumptuously what they do in so doing that they were to dye for it Note The Jews mixed first heathenish customes in sacrifices in the law the Jews believers in the time of the Gospel mixed Jewish rites and the Gospel-adminstrations together the heathens their rites and the Gospel we now Antichristian superstitions and the way of Gods worship in the Gospel whose manners and customs we ought to abstaine from as the Jews from the heathens Rev. 14.9.10 11. 18.4.8 They being a like abomination before the Lord. 1. The excellency of setting up of the commands and statutes and the government of God by making a covenant with God doth appear most eminently in the national preservation of the Jews from the witchcraft of Balaam who cryeth out to Balack and saith There is no divination against Israel nor enchantment against Jacob Numb 23.23 and the reason is the Lord is his God by covenant and he is with him and vers 8. How shall I curse whom God hath not cursed Chap. 24.9 Blessed is he that blesseth thee and cursed is he that curseth thee which shews had not God been his God witchcrafts inchantments and curses had consumed them 2. Balaam farther saith Numb 23.9 The people shall dwell alone and not be reckoned among the Nations When a people make a covenant with God they are then a people which before were not O that in England might be fulfilled that of Rom. 10.19 2. They shall dwell alone being a peculiar people to God 3. Not reckoned among the Nations but separated from them in their laws goverment worship of God c. God blessing them when other nations are accursed 3. Then when we covenant rightly into the Lord he sets his name upon us and we called the people of God and not before And to these and not others is the name of God a strong tower the righteous fly unto it and are safe they coming unto the Lord as to their God and refuge God being their refuge and hiding place which he is not to any other nation but these Treason called crimen laesae majestatis against God is contained in these three commands and many traitors there are amongst us 1 Sam. 2.25 Concerning the Treatise of the Sabbath 1. From Adam to Moses the authority was by tradition and the first-born was priest 2. By tradition Christ was discovered in the promise to Adam to many nations 2. The authority was from Scripture in the ten commands and other judicial precepts 1. Under it the traditional authority ceased 2. The priesthood of the first-born ceased and was given Aaron 3. Now sacrifices of other were offered to devils 4. This was only for the seventh-day-Sabbath 5. This Sabbath was a part of and sign to the first covenant 3. Christ comming was the Angel of and Mediator to a better covenant 1. The sign whereof is the first-day-Sabbath 2. As this is of the second covenant so it cannot be mixt with the first but are to be reserved distinct and not confounded for as the two covenants cannot be one so nor can the Sabbaths Appl. Hence then to force obedience of one on all is to destroy the other 2. To force the world to observe the first-day-Sabbath is to destroy the use of the day and make void the grace of God 3. In destroying any of the Sabbaths is to destroy the covenant and to take away the very signe thereof as at this day it is done by and amongst us Command the Fourth Exod. 20.8 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy Statute EXod 23.12 Thou shalt rest the seventh day that thy Ox and Ass may rest
widdow every such man and woman convict of such offence 1. Shall be committed to common goale three moneths 2. Shall give security to be of the good bahaviour for one whole yeer Note 1. If the man be a young man or widdower then he was to marry the maid or unmarryed woman or widdow by the law of God and not to be prisoned bound c. 2. If he be a marryed man then the case is adultery as in the womans before that was marryed to another man and the judgement death 3. If you had put them to death by Gods law ye would not have said it should be death after such a day Gods law not taking beginning then nor establishment from us or at least until then we were not under Gods law nor was it declared to the nation in the name of Gods law but mans as an Act of Parliament onely Statute Levit. 19.20 Whoever lyeth carnally with a woman that is a bondmaid or apprentice betrothed to an husband and not at all redeemed nor freedom given her Judgement 1. She shall be scourged 2. They shall not be put to death because she was not free This nor many other cases are not excepted in the late Act. Statute Levit. 20.11 12. The man that lieth with his fathers wife or daughter-law Judgement They are to be put to death their blood shall be upon them In this law only adulterers dye the man because he humbled his neighbours wife whether betrothed onely or marryed the woman because she broke the covenant of her God In which is much justice In this law ravishments of such as are unmarryed and neither of them betrothed are freed from death either by marriage or corporal or penal punishments which is of exceeding mercy Who shall do more in one or less in the other and be innocent before God O where is law or justice or mercy or righteousness but in this law of the Lord how then shall we yet justifie and set up our own and condemne and suppress the law of the Lord This command is broken by intemperance or insobriety in meat drink and apparel the evil whereof especially that of drunkenness abounds in this Nation and is very great before the Lord. Command Wo to him that giveth his neighbour drink that puttest thy bottle to him and makest him drunken that thou mayest look on their nakedness Habac. 2.15 16. deprived of his place in Church and world as a master an owner c. Esth 1.8 In Ahasuerus great feast the drinking was according to the law none did compel for the king had appointed to all the officers of his house that they should do according to every mans pleasure It is emphatical God distinguisheth his law from the statutes of Kings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so Ezra 8.36 Yet this is to be observed though it serves for a law with us being sanctified and become part of the word of God in which it excells other kings laws though it come short of Gods By this word the other commands of the King are set forth Isa 5.11 Wo to them rise up early in the morning that they may follow strong drink that continue until night that wine inflame them and the harp and pipe and viol are in their feasts c. Vers 22. Wo to them are mighty to drink wine and men of strength to mingle strong drink Isa 56.12 Come ye say they we will fetch wine and will fill our selves with strong drink Mat. 24.49 He was the evil servant eat and drank with the drunken Judgement Quer. Whether the violence of Lebanon a holy violence Hab. 2.17 be not of Habakkuks drunkenness that his estate be taken from him and bestowed on those are to inherit to preven the evil on his family the land and City Thus in Abigail 1 Sam. 2 5.18.19 Gal. 5. Shall not inherit the kingdome of God 1 Cor. 11.21 the Church-drunkards had the plague among them Hos 4.11 Wine and drunkenness take away the heart Deut 29.19 20. Isa 28.3 The crown of pride the drunkards of Ephraim shall be troden under foot have no imployment nor honor among men but be as that vessel in whom is no delight Vers 4. Their beauty and glory which consists in riches and greatness shall be as a fading flower and hasty fruit before summer Joel 1.5 God would have one generation tell another that the plagues of palmer canker locust were for drunkenness Vers 7. The priest and prophet err through wine and strong drink they err in vision and stumble in judgement and are out of the way Vers 8. All tables are full of vomit and filthiness so that there is no place clean 1 Sam. 25.36.37 Prov. 23.20 21 29 30. Hab. 2.16 Thou art filled with shame for glory drink thou also and let thy foreskin be uncovered The word in the original signifieth the taking away of one out of his place The cup of the Lords right hand shall be turned to thee and shameful spewing shall be one thy glory Vers 17. The violence of Lebanon shall cover thee and the spoile of heasts which made them afraid because of mens blood and for the violence of the land and the City and all that dwell therein Gen. 9.23 Jer. 13.13 This drunkenness brought forth that in which King Priests Prophets inhabitants fathers and sons became drunk spiritually and dash one against another Deut. 21.18 The son on his fathers exhortation would not leave his drunkenness was stoned as in vers 20. by all the men of his City Command the Eighth Exod. 20.15 Thou shalt not steal Statute Levit. 27.28 29. PSalm 76.12 Vow and pay to the Lord all ye that are round about him Deut. 12.17 Thou shalt not eat thy vows thou vowest to God Numb 30. The case of vows is handled when lawful when not in a man vers 2. a maid vers 3. 5. a wife vers 6 7 8. a widdow vers 9. to the end Judgement Jephthah Judges 11.31 36 39. 1. Not to pay is sacriledge or theft from God 2. The punishment exemplary in Ananias and Sapphira Acts 5. vers 1. to the 10. Appl. To Parliament people c. to remember the vows of God on your souls they are not paid God requires them Statute Exod. 21.16 He that stealeth a man and selleth him or if he be found in his hand c. Deut. 24.7 If he be found making merchandise of an Israelite or stealing of him or selling of him Judgement He shall surely be put to death Prov. 28.24 Statute Levit. 19.11 Ye shall not steal nor deal falsly one with another Exod. 22.1 If he steal an oxe and kill or sell it He shall restore five oxen If he steal a sheep and kill or sell it He shall restore four sheep Vers 4. If the theef be found in his hand certainly and alive whether it be oxe ass or sheep He shall restore double Statute Vers 7. If a man shall deliver money or scuff to keep and it
of God hath 3. It is not the least evil against God to say of the law It is not sufficient of it self to judge us by 1. If the law is not perfect God would not have said Add not to nor diminish a word from it 2. This is indeed to despise the law Heb. 10.28 which was death without mercy 3. The law was the moral law a law for all Nations that would be Gods people as well as Jews to be governed by 4. David saith Thy law is exceeding broad and large but thou that knowest not the law and art rude and ignorant of Gods wisdome therein which is a great deep dishonourest God and sayest it is onely for a foundation of a law but it will not serve for a law At the last day it shall judge thee and all else for all their acts words and thoughts against God and yet is it a narrow law 5. Say what you can a Nation untill it hath covenanted with God in this law they are not the people of God nor is God the God of that nation more then other heathens whatever he may be by faith to them that believe 6. This would be a means to call in the Jews to acknowledge Christ in the Gospel with believers when they see we acknowledge God in the law with them Object These are but few cases in compare of the Statute-book that is more full and large and plaine this is obscure Resp 1. I have deduced but part of what is in the law I having not spent a weeks time in meditation thereon to this end 2. This hath more in one line then the wit of men laid down for law in an hundred 3. That they have more then is in the law of God must be destroyed and not acknowledged law but traditions only 4. Much lyeth hid thereof to us as yet being not searched out 5. Judges in special were ordained to judge the difficult causes and that by the word also which appeared not to the common judges to be in the word clearly 6. The laws being reduced to the command we are to judge of cases according to the nature of the fact and the command against which the sin is committed 1. The law is clear plaine and full of light and clearness and so better then our corrupted intricate unknown law which the Judges of the land know not themselves This needs no counsel 2. It is brief and needs not seven yeers study to come to be able to speak law 3. It is so easie a man needs no sollicitors it shews plainly what every man is to do or suffer 4. It cannot be corrupted by demurs nor delayed in proceedings 5. It is so just no man shall have wrong that is innocent nor no man shall escape that is guilty Deut. 29.19 20. 6. It is so free it puts no man to a peny cost 7. It is so holy it condems all evil in every man alike 8. It is so good that he is accursed that obeys it not and he is blessed that observes it 9. It is free from oppression it imprisons none O ye men and lawyers of the world bring forth that law that is like this law of the Lord as Moses rod eat up the sorcerers so shall this devour yours Your law is as darkness this as light it will make it vanish In a word all Rule and Government compared to Gods in the law for a Nation is but bramble-rule Judg. 9.14 and who would call for that rule Conclusion PSalm 144.15 Happy is the people whose God is the Lord that is that people onely who are in covenant with and under the government of the Lord and his law and thus with Moses Deut. 4.5 Behold I have taught you statutes and judgements even as the Lord my God commanded me Vers 6. Keep therefore and do them for this is your wisdome and understanding in the sight of the Nations which shall hear all these statutes and say Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people Vers 7. for what nation is there so great that hath God so neer unto them as the Lord our God is in all things we call upon him for Vers 8. and what nation is there so great that hath statutes and judgements so righteous as all this law which I set before you this day Who can speak evil of that I have here written and not speak evil of the law who can despise it and not despise that law shall judge him at the last day God judgeth by it let therefore the Gods judge by it In a word who are they if any that shall condemne me for what I have written God is he that will justifie me when he shall arise and plead my cause with them In a word if I have erred the law erreth not let me be judged by that to that I plead and make my appeal unto professing before the most high God My aime onely is Gods glory the restoration of Gods rule and government the peoples freedome and happiness Judges freedom of conscience from blood guiltiness the deliverance of the Nation from the now wrath of God the Parliaments eternal honour in advancing truth and righteousness with these and onely these desires of soul with Esther though she knew the law of the king to put to death any shall come within the inner who is not called except such to whom the king holds out the golden Scepter that he may live But I have not been called to come in unto the king Esther 4.11 Vers 16. I will go in unto the king which is not according to the law if I perish I perish And as Mordecai my soul tells me If I altogether hold my peace at this time deliverance shall arise to this people from another place and I and my fathers house shall be destroyed The fear of God and his law that drove me and the hope I had in you as in men loving God Justice Righteousness and vowing to God and the people the same with hands lifted up to have your and the peoples freedome being bound up in one drew me to this service in which my hearts desire is to serve you all and be Your affectionately well-wishing servant in the service of the Lord John Brayne The Postscript contains Objections and Resolutions of what is said against the Rule of the Law Quer. DOth not the Apostle say Those without law shall be judged without law Rom. 2.12 then what need the laws government Resp 1. Some are without the letter and true sence of the law and the rule of it as those heathens Rom. 2.14 Who became a law unto themselves 2. Others are without the true sence only and not the letter as Paul Rom. 7.9 3. Others without the rule but not without the letter and thus we are without the law this day If Paul only without the true inward sence of the law a Minori ad Maius though not without the rule and government out-outwardly and
and Thummim will tell them and shew the judgement to them when they have a cause to require thereat Object The Law saith men must not turn from the right hand or left thereof Resp True Those that know the law in the known causes thereof are not to decline from that nor are the Judges concerning the obscure cases to decline that sentence of the law that doth accord therewith in the book of God though it be not particularly set downe and nominally expressed and added to that iniquity particular Object David committed Adultery and Murther and was not slain which was a type of more mercy to be ministred under the Gospel then under the Law Resp 1. Some will say David being King and supream Magistrate there was none under that government then would judge him but God did judge him in his house his wife his children as in the Story is set forth abundantly after 2. And more truly Davids Adultery and Murther was so hid that there were no witnesses appeared to accuse him and though God knew it few in the world else did 2 Sam. 12.12 but these consented thereunto 3. David marryed Bathsheba after which indeed did seem to be according to the law but being a Whore it was not 2 Sam. 12.9 10. 4. David was a type of Christ in many things 5. God might dispence with his law for wonderful sweet ends and good for us though by such wayes as we understand not the justness of them 1. If men writing the Scriptures had not had our fallings and been subject to our temptations we could not have had that comfort now we may have in the Scriptures 2. God suffering them to fall would not with their fall take them away that had not been a support but terror 3. By this God would shew that though the bodies of those for such like sins suffer yet they believing and repenting their souls may be saved in the day of the Lord. So that the use hereof is good exceeding good to those that do suffer 4. Many of the Saints as David are guilty secretly of these fins and were it not for David would have sorrow without hope as it were 5. By Nathan God having discovered his sin and he repenting God is said to put away his sin that he should not dye 2 Sam. 12.13 1. Here is the putting away of his sin which upon repentance many others may do and yet not be freed from death 2. Here expresly is not onely one but the other also by the Prophet from God revealed that it should be made good to him 3. God punished him in his house his wives his children as before Object Gen. 49.10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah nor the Law-giver from between his feet c. so there was a Law-giver Resp 1. This was spoken before the Law was given where men made Laws 2. The word for Law-giver signifies a Scribe If any should give the Law he had the Scepter and not him between his feet 3. This he between the Kings Feet was but an assistant to him to shew him what the Law was in cases brought before him out of the Law of God which was to be alwaies by the King Conclusion O that when the Covenant was sent to the Nation it had been done according to the minde of God! that is as Covenants were when nationally by Kings and People made with God viz. by taking the law the Statutes and Judgements of God to be our law and to be ruled and judged by it onely and take God with the law to be our God and all other law to be laid aside and known no more of us so had we done the work of God and a heavenly blessing would have followed it Since which the effects of that ignorant blinde Covenant have been nothing but confusion division war and trouble to our selves and others O ye Princes and People though ye are in all these yet if you will obey and receive the Lord and his law this day ye shall be healed of all your confused distempers and be saved 1 King 8.57 The Lord our God be with us as he was with our Fathers let him not leave us nor forsake us vers 58. That he may incline our hearts unto him to walk in all his ways and to keep his Commandments and his Statutes and his judgements which he commanded our Fathers Deut. 5.29 That it may be well with us and our children after us for ever Amen And ye O ye Universities of Oxford and Cambridge a visitation from above is drawing near to visit you and the most just God the visitor who will judge you according to the judgement of the great Where Ye can now no longer delude nor captivate men with specious pretences for God will take you away and set up wayes of learning of his own 1. Your rise was from the Pope even Celestine the Emperour Theodosious twelve Cardinals and multitudes of Arch-Bishops Bishops c. about the year 423. 2. You by being governed and advanced and educated by his adherents and set up to accomplish his ends came to be the onely means to make void the order of the Church who first chose her Ministry out of her owne societies and members but now are taken out of the University be they what they will and put on them whether they will or not to the utter extirpation of the Churches priviledge by which encourgement to learning and knowledge in all the Church-members was taken away to encourage such as made a trade of it in the University the Church-members resting on their teaching onely and never respected any power of teaching to be obtained by themselves in the now Church-way the Church being robbed of it 3. You plead for your practice the Scripture as if it were your pattern 2 King 2.3 there were sons of the Prophets at Bethel and ver 4. there were more at Iericho 1 Sam. 19.20 a company of Prophets are standing and Samuel standing as appointed over them 1. These Sons of the Prophets were such as were educated in the writings of the Prophets and read them and did more eactly discuss the Mystereis thereof then in the Synagogues Those bred in these houses were immediately fitted for the Synagouge-xe hortation and reading 2. The first of their education was reading and well understanding of the word as writing and this fitted him as a Scribe 3. After this they were taught the sence and meaning of the word either in the literal or historical the prophetical or typical part of it and then they came to be disputers of the law or Pharisees in which order Paul was 4. God usually raysed up of these that faithfully gave themselves to the study of the Law and taught it Prophets to foretell things to come as Elias and Samuel And those other hundred Prophets mentioned 1 Kings 18.13 in which places those that were Prophets for confirmation of their prophesies and call did usually teach as appears
is not left to any to take away the life of any but as God hath appointed which for idolatry is generally stoning by the hands of all the people 4. It is observed by some that when it is said His blood be on him then stoning is meant or otherwise when the death is not expressed then strangling but usually though the death be not set down in one place it is in another 5. In stoning the people were to shew their hatred of the evil committed that they and theirs might be free of the curse and judgement threatned against them for the same one man not being able to do the same by that or any other way of putting to death Judgement 1. Jezebel and the Priests of Baal slaine 1 Kings 18.22 and 2 Kings 10. 2. Ahazia sends to Baal-zebub and dyeth 2 Kings 1. 3. Belshazzar slaine praising his gods Dan. 5.4 5 30. Numb 25.2 The Moabites called the people to the sacrifices of their gods and the people did eat and bowed down to their gods in which vers 3. they were said to be joyned to Baal-peor Statute Levit. 17.7 They shall no more offer their sacrifices to devils after whom they have gone a whoring Judgement Verse 9. Shall be cut off from among the people The command binds affirmatively Thou shalt have me to thy God Now the way of Gods calling a people and becoming a God to them nationally is by giving them laws and they taking them from him and professing subjection to them as to their Gods commands whom they ought to serve To the keeping whereof God adds by promise many blessings as David Psal 19.11 In keeping thereof is great reward To the breach whereof are added many curses of body soul goods name family earth and heaven all are shut up to men for it The which giving of laws royally to his people is the only work and prerogative royal of God and therefore is the law moral called the Royal law Jam. 2.8 and thus the Scripture saith There is hut one law-giver who is able to save and destroy who art thou that judgest another Jam. 4.12 And hence are all laws of heathens said to be no laws and they without law and all the ordinances and the corrupt expositions of the law made by ancient expositors and received by their children among the Jews called traditions and they were such as made voide the law among them that had it In which it appears there is no law but Gods nor no true law-maker but God law government and judgement among Gods people especially being his Lastly As we must not have another God so we must not have other laws then Gods God will not govern by any other then his own laws Behold I pray by mens deelining Gods laws what laws have been brought out since the reforming times as in the 6 Articles in Hen. 8. time the book of Sports and many laws since repealed What is become of the Judges Justices and men made and executed those laws so contrary to the Lord and his law Solomon brings in wisdom Prov. 8.15 saying By me kings raigne and the princes that is those of the supreme councel do describe Justice that is to those judges consult with them about difficult cases without whom the difficult cases would as well be hid to them as others Now if justice be so hard a thing to be executed by men who not only have the law but use the law and the help thereof to do justice by that without wisdom or Christs help they cannot describe it how shall those describe it that use not the law to help them which ought to be their help and so tempt God not to help them extraordinarily for not using the ordinary help of God And that he speaks here of the great councel is clear they being next to the king and then he speaks of the ordinary Juges in the verse following to whom justice was to be described which is significantly set down Deut. 17.11 From Jeremiah 35.6 some there are contend to maintaine the law and customes we have in this Nation received from our fathers because the Rechabites stuck so close to theirs To which I answer 1. That the Rechabites were subject to the judicial law as the other Jews were 2. These traditions of theirs were not forbid nor commanded of God that the magistrate could not forbid the doing what they did 3. Nor were there any judiciary proceedings against such as should not have observed those traditions they being indifferent things only it had been no sin to them if they had drunk wine or dwelt in houses or planted fields with seed 4. So that these not standing in competition with the law of God they were not disabled from observing one and doing the other also 5. The father of a family may ingage his sons and servants to such-like duties as depending immediately on his rule but it may be unlawful to a Magistrate to impose the like ordinances on a whole Nation Command the Second Exod. 20.4 Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven image c. Statutes against idolatry HAbac 2.18 The idol is a teacher of lyes Deut. 4.16 17 18. Is forbid any graven image or similitude of any figure or likeness of male or female of beast fowl creeping thing or fish Sun Moon or hoast of heaven Exod. 20.23 Ye shall not make with me gods of silver nor shall ye make unto you gods of gold Levit. 26.1 Ye shall make no idols nor graven images nor rear up any standing image nor shall ye set up any image of stone to bow down Exod. 34.17 Ye shall make no molten gods Levit. 19.4 Turn ye not to idols nor make to your selves molten Gods Dout. 4.23 Take heed to your selves lost ye forget the Covenant of the Lord which he made with you and make you a graven image or the likeness of any thing which the Lord thy God hath for bidden thee Levit. 18.21 Thy seed shall not pass the fire to Moloch Judgements on Idolatry I. On the Nation or people Deut. 9.12 They have made them a molten calf vers 14. let me alone that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven Exod. 32.27 Deut. 4.16 If ye corrupt your selves and make a graven image or likeness of any thing Vers 26. I call heaven and earth to witness ye shall soon utterly perish Vers 27. ye shall be scattered among the nations Vers 28. and serve gods of wood and stone II. On a person Deut. 17.4 Man or woman worshipping the Sun Moon or host of heaven Vers 5. was to be brought to the gates and stoned to death Lev. 20.2 If an Israelite or stranger who ever he be giveth any of his seed to Moloch he shall surely dye the people of the land not of the City only shall stone him with stones Note Vers 4. If the people of the land any way hide their eyes from that man and kill him not vers 5.