their pattern came to receive a stability in their place by it during the time of the fourth or the Roman Monarchy 3. When men destroy Monarchy they must return to Judges againe as at first Isa 1.26 or the power cannot be said as the heathen power had said of it that it was of God God setting up no other publike forme of Rule but that to govern a nation by besides Kings Rom. 4.4.13 He shews what the rule of Monarchy was or was to be in their law Vers 3. He shews what the authority was in the rulers execution of their then law vers 2. how the power during its time of standing by which authority and rule were kept alive and not to be infested until that time 1 Cor. 15 24. when all of the then rule authority and power is to be put down by the stone cut out of the mount without hands Deut. 2.44 45. which is done in part and now doing this day 5. On this onely ground because it was ordained of God and an ordinance of God though they were Gentiles and without law onely being a law to themselves vers 5. The Apostle shews they should be subject not only for wrath but conscience sake even to the laws called ordinances of men 1 Pet. 2.13 6. To these Kings as to the Kings of Israel tribute and custome were paid which was not under the Judges which shows it the freest government and best for the people which concerns you to consider in respect of the trust reposed in you 7. The renewing of the kingdom from Judges to kings is to be done when from Kings to Judges 1 Sam. 11.14 8.10 Prov. 21.17 This law owns not suits about hunting hawking killing of fowl c. nor allows no such game to trespass other men and appoints labour rather to all and condemns such exercises begets idleness and beggery in a Commonweal drunkenness c. so that it is as necessary to destroy those vermin the hawks and hounds as heretofore wolves the one destroyed cattel the other men And in stead of shooting at Pigeons Oh how good were it the houses were shot down Here is no law for Tythes nor offering nor for a mans turning aside occasionally to pass over another mans ground nor about Wills and Testaments nor to satisfie mens revenge to vex their neighbours with Law but as Prov. 25.8 Go not forth hastily to strive lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself c. Matth. 7.12 Do unto all men as you would men should do unto you that is the law and the Prophets So that great men by Law and Prophets are to do no other to the poor then they would the poor should do to them there must be the same law and liberty to the one as to the other or it is not a Common-weal one must not keep any thing to oppress hurt or hinder another man much less many men onely to satisfie their lusts As for the State of Venice 1. As other Gentiles they are a Law to themselves 2. Though the people chuse their Judges yet they judging by Laws of their own their Government is not of God nor is it established of Gods as that of Kings was among Gentiles 3. Bland us sayth that the liberty of the Venetians to govern by their own Laws was granted them by the great and high Bishop of Rome Charles 4. That their Government is not of God appears by their allowance of publike Stews in their Commonweal worse then which the Heathens have not done and the converting of the hire of whores to a publike use a great abomination 5. Nor are their Judges as Judges at the first set up in the gates of every City so that that Government with the rest of the Papal powers will cease and fall The fall of the Romane Monarchy under the seventh Head or feet mixt with Iron and Clay as it was under Pope and Kings 1. The first step began in Henry the eighth's destroying the Supremacie of the Pope and ruling alone anno 1531. 2. In the United Estates of Holland casting down of the Monarchy of the King of Spain but ruling by the States General and Provincial as by Lords and Commons which also will be in its time dissolved 3. In this Nation this Parliament have deposed King and Lords the Commons onely having the power of rule in their hands and so have made a step beyond them therein 4. The fourth is that the Souldier take down the Law Rule or Government that is and set up God's by Judges as at first in which the grand Mutations of the worlds affairs come to centre and receive fixedness under God the Kingdom being the Lords and the earth becomes abundantly blessed with all therein by the same thousand yeers when Tyranny springs again and Time quickly after hath its end The main ground and reason why the four Monarchies are set out by Beasts arising out of a necessity occasioned by the contentions among men Dau. 7. by which the world like another Sea was fill'd full of troubles 1. The Babylonian set out by the Lion vers 4. 2. The Medes and Persian by the Bear vers 5. 3. The Greek by the Leopard vers 6. 4. The Romane is not expressed by its form but by its nature to be a Beast dreadful terrible strong having iron teeth devouring and breaking in pieces and stamping the rest with her feet and being diverse from all beasts lively set out by John Rev. 13.2 like a leopard in colour having feet like a bear the mouth of a lion and the dragon gave him his power from whence he takes the place power authority and name of the dragon Note the name of Beast for Government and Authority is not given them but for the kinde of Rule and Law that they had among themselves which was according to their lusts and not of God they making their lusts a law and so become a law to themselves Rom. 2.14 2. Hence the Heathens without the Law and rule of God are said not to be a people Deut. 32.21 Rom. 10.19 3. The Heathen Empires set out by the Beasts 1. The Kings were the horns the Councels of the kingdoms the heads the Laws and Lawyers the teeth the Executioners the feet the common people the body and the Pope riding on them 4. The best allusion given the four Monarchies was that of Daniel which is likened to a man when that man that had the vision and who represented the golden head Dan. 4.33 was driven from among men lost his reason feeds with beasts c. in which is set forth what the men were while without the rule of God and what would be the end the Monarchs of the world at last would come unto Thus the Psalm Man that is in honour and understands not that is how to rule and govern according to God is like the
government of Judges by the law God had set up was then to God and this day is no less with him 1 Sam. 8.7 5. God had foretold of this by Moses Deut. 17. and the thing occasioned this was considerable 1 Sam. 8.3 which was Samuels age and his sons perverting Judgement and taking bribes and turning after lucre yet Samuel vers 6. is displeased at it when they said Give us a King to which God bids Samuel hearken and do for them under whom arose tribute custome and imperious commands 1 Sam. 8.11 to the end of vers 18. 6. This rule of Kings God in the Gospel established by Paul 13.1 the powers that be even Nero's and his deputies were said to be ordained of God in the Lords setting up of Saul which fourth Monarchies rule was authoritative untill the time God had ordained that it should be taken out of the way for the wickedness thereof 2 Thes 2.7 and the way how it shall be taken away is set down and by whom even by the stone cut out of the mountaine without hands he brake in peeces the iron brass clay silver and gold Dan. 2.44 45. which puts an end to the fourth Monarchy which shall have its end by Jesus Christ So that as the fourth Monarchy or Roman put down the law of God Christ comes now to put down that in the rule yea all the rule authority and power thereof 1 Cor. 15.24 7. After all this comes the ancient of dayes which is not God who is not of time nor dayes but he comes by his law and Judges and judgement to sit and judge againe God having foretold he would restore Judges as at the first Isa 1.26 to whom government shall be given of God God having taken it from the Monarchy that they may rule againe And now as God is said to give so shall it be given by men unto them in which God is also said to give it Dan. 2.27 and that their authority shall not be questioned as Moses once was Exod. 2.14 Who made thee a prince and Judge over us the people making them Statute Exod. 18.21 Judges are said to be placed over the people and are called gods Exod. 21.6 The master was to bring the servant that would not go out free 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unto the Gods that is unto the Judges Exod. 22.18 Thou shalt not revile the Gods nor curse the ruler of thy people Psal 82.1 God standeth in the congregation of the Gods Note Great is the honour set on Judges they judging for and under God I do not remember that it is said of any Judges but these nor any other kind of rulers Nero was not a God in this sence though his authority were of God The saying of Christ clears this John 10.34 It is written in your law I said ye are Gods vers 35. If he called them Gods to whom the word of God came c. so that none are so called but such to whom the word of God came that is such as by the words of God judged men as in the place of God being set up of God to judge thereby that judgement may be the Lords Heb. 10.28 He that despised Moses law was to dye Deut. 17.12 this in the judgement on Core Numb 16.11 they are said to be gathered together against the Lord questioning Moses whom God had set up and his government which God had given as a law to that people Vers 13. they say of Moses he had made not God altogether a prince and not a Judge over the people vers 13. for which they and theirs were destroyed vers 32. Statute Isa 38.1 Command thy house or set it in order for thou shalt dye Note that the law had a rule in it what men and how they were to dispose of their goods and estates in a way of Justice and not according to their lusts according to which rule they were to divide their estates among them 1. There was a dowry of virgins Exod. 22.16 fifty shekels Deut. 22.29 2. The first-born Deut. 21.17 was to have a double portion of all his father had and the reason added was not for any ceremonial cause but that he was the beginning of his strength 3. Numb 36.2 Moses would not make any law in the case of Zelophehad though he were as able as any living but he would inquire of God who should inherit and it was resolved Numb 27.8 If a man dye and have no son then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughters if he have no daughter ye shall give his inheritance to his brethren if he have no brethren ye shall give it to his fathers brethren if his father have no brethren ye shall give it to his kinsman is next unto him of his family he shall possess it and it shall be to the children of Israel a statute Note How contrary are the practices of this people and nation to Gods law Object In doing thus we should wrong the dead and living Resp In doing Gods will ye can do no wrong 2. Those that do justice do not do wrong But those do thus do justice ergo 3. The dead and living do wrong to themselves and consciences and others also in doing that is forbid by Gods law to be done by them 4. Many holds and customs necessarily by this law are to be changed 5. Many other laws do depend on this in civil contracts 6. How would this quench strife and division among brethren and prevent the ruine of many families and establish love this being the righteous Judgement of God! 7. How would this prevent that shame in the nation where one the eldest brother hath all and is a prince and the rest all poor and he onely lords it over all the rest Object These holds are established by law and custome and may not be changed Resp If a law of man be contrary to the law of God it is no law but a tradition and men are bound to alter it when they know Gods mind to be to the contrary in the case 2. If a man keeps from him that hath right to a possession his possession it is no wrong to take it from him and give it to whom it justly pertains but an act of Justice Psal 24.11 The earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof Luk. 12.13 And one of the company said unto him Master speak to my brother that he divide the inheritance with me Vers 14. And he said unto him Man who made me a Judge or a divider over you Numb 34.17 1. It shews that inheritances were to be divided amongst brethren by the law 2. It was the work of the Judge to see it done if complained of That this was not at all or not rightly that is justly done between this man and his brother 3. That there was usually to be a divider they were not to divide it themselves by the law that occasions of injustice and of jealousie and discontent
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
Elias he is sent to Bethel 2 Kings 2.2 at Bethel it is without question he taught in that School and among the rest told the Children of the Prophets ver 3. that the Lord would take him away being Elishas Master from his head that day and the same being sent to Jericho in vers 4.5 where the Jews received that tradition of his teaching in their Schools that Elias shall first come Matth. 17.10 11. That passage of 1 Sam. 19.20 24. was an extraordinary case to preserve David in which Saul and his inessengers were changed as before in Esau when he came against Jacob and that of Sauls meeting the Prophets 1 Sam. 10.3 5. which were given him for signes to confirm him by in Gods electing of him 5. These Schools were in all Towns usually as our Grammar-Schools are having onely the reading of the Law and the Prophets used among them who were according to their several capacities taught and distinguished as in our Schools by forms and places one from the other In which nor Cato nor Virgil nor Homer nor Aristotle were not usually read but the commands of God by the knowledge whereof God was honoured and they sanctified 6. In this study and society God would manifest himself when he would not in the obscene readings of Ovid and the lying fables of the other Poets 7. In this teaching men were not devoted hereunto onely but had other callings to employ themselves in to live by and were taught also in these Schools one part of the day as Paul brought up at the feet of Gamaliel was by his profession a Tent-maker 8. Out of the Word Astrologie and other natural Philosophy may be deduced with Tropes Metaphors and Figures Geographie c. by which men may be better acquainted with the Word then now they are This is the wisdom of a people and not the knowledge of the custom of Heathens which onely tends to make men such and justifies them 9. Lawyers hereby may be made and rightly fitted to judge according to the Lord. 10. Every man is rightly taught to live in their youth according to Gods law as David Psal 11 9.9 98 99. verses 11. Now if they offend they dye more justly being taught the sence and sentence of the law Appl. Ye Universities the wrath of God will break out upon you your dayes are numbred and your time neer come in which you will see that it is not a reformation will serve your turn or save you from the decree 2. Ye princes of the people in Parliament a people are rude without learning O be intreated to convert sufficient maintenance to the maintaining of some freely to teach in all towns 1. To teach the Hebrew reading to some 2. To teach the moral or judicial law to others 3. The prophets to others and their meaning 4. To teach the Greek and in those schools only read the Histories of Jesus Christ written by Matthew Marke c. with the Epistles of the Apostles 1. As for Latine and the long time spent in obtaining thereof the time is coming that the authors and learning laid up in their writings will be of little or no use to the world God will instruct them with better of his own The time is coming knowledge shall cover the earth as water the seas and all those mighty Libraries be but lost matter 2. It is as a bage of the Roman conquest which will cease with that Empire in a maner amongst us the laws and true learning being turned into our own language 3. By this means in the meetings on the seventh day sabbath the gifts and knowledge of every particular person either in his exact reading of the law or understanding of the mystery or prophesie of the prophets comes to be made use of and exercised they being herein a nation of Priests and so would beget much wisdome and emulation for knowledge in every man and comfort in every man by seeing and knowing the gifts and profittings of his children in the law who would come to be spurs and goads to provoke the elder to a more diligent search of the law and knowledge thereof that they may not be under the teaching of children that they shall speak and themselves be dumbe they going beyond the elders in describing the history and in opening the mysteries of the law and prophets In this estate of Moses or mens being under the law was no priesthood at all yet is he preached every seventh day Acts 15.21 when and where the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 teaching did what he could to make men from Moses to Jesus Christ in a right and true way Act. 21.21 whence though many are called few are chosen The priesthood in the time of Moses belonged to the temple and was conferred on Aaron and his sons who taught not the law in the Synagogues those that taught there sate in Moses not Aarons chaire or priestly succession Moses being before Aaron Jer. 7.22 23. The which priesthood ceasing and another even that of Christs being now instituted of God and set up in the place thereof in the Church called from Moses consisting of believers which was given to the Apostles and their true successors to administer under the Lord Jesus which call no man was to take on him but according to the Lords institutions who were to attend on that place of ministry whereas Evangelists pastors or teachers as they were called to minister before the Lord under Jesus Christ who were not to be cumbred about any worldly occasions 2 Tim. 2.4 Luk. 9.33 Let us make three tabernacles one for thee one for Moses one for Elias The tabernacle was the place God first had his worship set up in under Moses and Aaron and here signifieth moveableness 1. The service of God under Moses and under the law is meant under tha◠tabernacle for Moses 2. The service of God under Christ and grace is meant by the tabernacle for thee or Christ 3. Which administrations falling in the hiding of the Church are againe to be restored in our dayes by that Elias in that tabernacle is attributed to him How men came from Moses to Christs administration is most excellently set forth Rom. 7.1 6. Moses disciples were taught the letter of the ten commands Christ taught his disciples the commands in the spiritual part of it as Mat. 5. which are called by Christ my commands in which his disciples were to walk with God in a more holy and more acceptable way which commands the world could not receive In the New Testament three Scriptures respect Magistrates supream and subordinate 1. The which are kings and their deputies 1 Tim. 2.2 Rom. 13.1 The powers that be viz. Nero's and his deputies are ordained of God Thus 1 Pet. 2.13 to kings as supreme vers 14. or to governors as to them that are sent by him 2. God ordained no powers but Kings and Judges and the Kings of the Nations from whom the Jews took
beasts that perish 5. The Jewes were therefore called a People because they had a God and were guided by his laws and sought the good of one another and not the hurt as the afore-mentioned beasts who were such as lived by preying one on another the worst of all which herein was the last of the Roman Monarchy which under the authority rule and power thereof is still the beast fore-spoken of 6. The question is whether a society of men altering that law and setting up any other besides that of Gods under God and set up other authority and power then that of Gods as set downe in the Scripture be not a beast in Gods account still though another beast from that which was before Not that I say there shall be any for there are to be but four beasts or Monarchies the fifth shall be the dominion of Christ when the Saints shall rule the world Que. If the judicial law be not equally a rule to govern a Commonweal by as the Gospel is to rule the Church by on the same grounds and reasons Que. If it be not an abomination before God while men have his law to set up Jus humanum if any such things were in the place of Jus divinum being the act of Antichrist 2 Thes 2. who was without law setting himself in place of God making law of his owne Que. If there can be any safety to judge by our law seeing God will judge all men by his owne that have his law as we say we have Rom. 2.12 13. As for war it was 1. Referred to men chosen therefore and the Judges took no cognizance of it in judgement 2. The laws and directions therefore were particular and distinct from the judicial law 3. This war against Antichrist being Gods as that against Amalek both having their time and fulness of sin expired the rules for the one are rules for the other in an eminent way which ought not by the General and the Councel of the Nation for war be passed by lest it become our sin and we in the end suffer for it 4. Inquire into the reason why the plague is fallen so heavy on the Souldiers in Ireland and ye shall find it is of God for their not fulfilling his judgement This general position is to be concluded on That whatsoever is not properly comprehended under one of the ten Commands belongs not unto the judicial law but the ceremonial as Tythes c. 2 That that is referred to any of the commands must be for judgement and rule Quer. If now there be any ground to us that the sale of lands should be onely for 50 years to the Jubilce or if that were meerly Ceremonial or in a mixt law 1. It did shadow out the restoration of mans fallen estate by Jesus Christ 2. Christ was to begin his ministry then under whom was to be a special freedome of what was under the law or Moses The Morality say some appears of this in that 1. It is under the eighth Command Thou shaltnot steal 2. Or under the tenth Thou shalt not covet Object 1. The equity of this ceaseth in that all had of that land part but few have of this 2. God laid a special claim to that more then any Que. If God layes not the same to the lands of others because judged of God forfeited cast out c. 1. Pro. That Law God Judges by is the fittest law for judgement But this is the law God judgeth by Ergo it is the fittest law for judgement 2. Where Judgement is not Gods it is not true But where the law is not Gods the judgement is not his c. Q. If to make laws when we have the law of God be not against the law and God 1. Against God taking away his prerogative 2. Against the law making that void having but the name of law 3. By this means men are in the place of God and God hath no place among us Pro. When men judge by the law of God judgement is Gods and not else but in this Nation men judge not by the law of God Pro. As the law and judgement should be Gods so the authority should be his Additional Two things I had forgot to clear 1. Whether the Lawyers as Zenas in Titus 3.13 and those others mentioned in Matthew and Luke were of divine institution and serve at all to prove the Lawyers and their now-practice among us Resp 1. Their institution is not in the law as an officer of the court but arose among the rest of corruptions among the Jews 2. They expounded the law in the Synagogues and not plead it in the gate of judicature before the Judge 3. They cleared or interpreted difficulties in the divine law only and serves not to prove a practice of men undertaking to plead the laws of nature or of nations but shews that their law and pleadings make void Gods and its dispensation 4. As for Joseph the counsellor he was a counsellor of the Jews republick one of their seventy that counselled by the law of God and not of men in a way for publike safety not private gaine 5. Or it may be he was a counsellor to the Roman estate because in favour so much with Pilate Second concerns widdows Quest Why in dividing the state they had so little of what was left by their deceased husbands 1. She was to return to her fathers house again as in Tamar Gen. 38.10 Remain a widdow at thy fathers house Levit. 22.13 If the Priests daughter be a widdow or divorced c. and is returned to her fathers house as in her youth she shall eat of her fathers meat Numb 30.10 speaks of the widdows vow and if she vowed it in her husbands house or dayes as appears in the 11 vers and he heard it which shews after his death she left that was his house and went to her fathers yet her children were not to forsake but help her also of she needed 2. If her father was living if dead she had part if her fathers inheritance that that came to her 3. God made special provision for the desolate or widdows by many special laws Deut. 16.14 they had part of the harvest Deut. 24.19 20. 4. The widdows were provided for out of the store of Gods house that is the tythes Deut. 12 26.13 24.19 which was paid once in three yeers only where they came and fetched it and was a reproachful estate Isa 54.4 1. Quest If Ministers be not now so to be maintained Concerning which I leave you to a particular Treatise 2. Quest If widdows and orphans be not that way to be provided for Resp Yea by bringing in a sufficient portion thereof every three yeers into some publike place for relief of the poor widdow and orphans and others and some intrusted to deliver it out to them as need requires Quest Is not other ways as good as this Resp No because this is commanded which man is not to dispence with Quest If in cases of justice as an eye for eye tooth for tooth a man may not take 100 l. satisfaction and free his adversary Resp 1. The Judge is but an executioner of the wrath 2. He is bound to do what the law says that is his rule 3. He is not to Judgo the law and its equity or rigour 4. He is not to decline the will of God for expedients of men 5. The law is for terror to others as well as for doing right to whom wrong is done at present 6. Gods justice is to be satisfyed on the offender as well as the damage of the sufferer satisfyed of which much more may be said but this I conceive to be sufficient to prove care herein must be had that men make not the law of God void by traditions or practices in judgement of their own in which men actually forsake God and come to be forsaken of him to the ruine of the generations of the world which they that are wise will fear and be faithful to God which the Lord make the men of this generation to do and the people will be free and happy in the governors thereof yea and in God to whom be obedience and glory for ever Amen FINIS