with God before you judge and teach the people To the Law and to the Testimony these will informe you the will of God which is the highest law and perfectest rule to examine truth to measure justice and to maintaine peace which though they flow from that pure and eternall fountaine of essentiall truth justice and peace most clearly and plentifully in the conduit of his Word yet are ready to contract much soil and dregs in the vessels of mens hearts and course of humane actions so that the best have need often to refine and renew their minds by a fresh information of their judgements concerning the will of God and resolution of their wills to doe it His Word no doubt teacheth the best politicks his precept and example shew the happiest platforme of government whose almighty power is so tempered with wisedome and goodnesse That as he made at first the state and frame of all things full of beauty order and harmony by number weight and measure so he still preserves and governes the great Common-wealth of all creatures in heaven and earth with that just proportion of power and goodnesse as keeps the generall peace of things and keepes off that confusion to which the variety and contrariety of particular natures seeme to tend So that who so will judge and governe aright shall not need to use those Machiavellian engines lying fraud simulation and injustice mysteries indeed not of true policy but of iniquity unreasonable reasons of state which the impotency and folly of wicked men pretend as necessary when indeed â—â—ey tend not to the establishing but undermining of States and ruine both of governours and governed We need goe no further than this Text to see what God requires and teacheth us as best and necessary for the well ordering of humane societies both for private and publi ke or judiciary proceedings 1 In private that every one speake the truth to his neighbour this would stop many injuries and complaints with which the publike courts are pestred 2 In publike and judiciary proceedings every one promote the execution of truth and peace in the gates 1 The people and governed By their presence obedience assistance by their testimony and evidence of word and oath for the search and finding out of truth By their hands and power for the maintaining of peace both in the safety of the person of the Magistrate and execution of that â—ust sentence which they give 2 The Magistrate and persons governing 1 by their knowledge of what is judgement and justice 2. By their authority and power to execute what they know is just 3. By their integrity in the execution according to truth and peace For these three things are you know necessary in Magistrates and those minores Dii inferiour mortall gods 1. Skill to governe power 2. Power to arme their skill 3. Willâ—â— actuate both uprightly That neither ignorance breed error and so injustice nor weaknesse contempt and opposition nor corruptnesse injury and oppression What is knowledge of truth and equity if there be not courage and conscience to speak it What is skill courage and conscience if destitute of power to execute what they know and decree Fundamentum pacis veritas stabilimentum utriusque potestas Truth is the foundation of peace and power the support of both truth and peace which without authority grow feeble and despised as authority not grounded upon equity and guided by truth proves violence tyranny and oppression and becommeth not a file sive and schreene to separate the rust from the metall the bran from the flowre the chaffe from the graine the vile and refuse from the choice and precious but mola malleus plebis the maul and mill that violently and promiscuously grindes and beats to peices all that comes under its rigour and weight Your Honours and wisedomes I presume are provided with all three Power and authority I am sure you have the highest and amplest from the King of Heaven by the mediate appointment of our gracious King on earth Skill and knowledge you have through Gods blessing by the study and experience in the lawes Vprightnesse and integrity we charitably pray and hope you have from the grace of God and the tendernesse of your owne consciences Indeed you have all from God whose word hath ordained your power and regulated this by just law and exacts a conscience in executing these lawes So that by attending to Gods word you may confirme your authority encrease your knowledge and incite your consciences The judgement in all points is the Lords as power justice and truth in your judgements flow from him so will they as rivers returne back to him in your reckonings and accounts Happy is it when every one of these as so many rivulets contribute their strength to the publick current of justice that so judgement may runne downe as a noble and mighty streame and know no stop or resistance That every one being a lover of truth and peace the first and severest censurer and judge of himselfe and his owne actions you may with the more patience and cheerfulnesse attend to what I shall out of Gods word with all modesty and due observance but yet truth and faithfulnesse endeavour by the discharge of my owne conscience to informe some to reforme others and at least to confirme yours by stirring up your prudent mindes by way of remembrance of what is just and true and tends to your owne and others peace Which since you know and have authority to doe happy are you if you doe them These are the things you shall doe c. Two things are considerable in the words 1. The forme of the charge or command These are the things yee shall doe 2. The duty or matter 1. Private personall and universall to all men speak every man the truth to his neighbour 2. Publick politicall and speciall to Magistrates Execute the judgement of truth and peace in your gates We will begin with the duties themselves and reserve the forme of the command to the last place when wee shall apply the duties to every one as they concerne them 1. The first branch of the duty and command is private personall and universall to all men Veriloquentia Speak yee the truth every man to his neighbour 1. What we must doe speak the truth 2. Who every man 3. To whom to his neighbour 1. Speak the truth Man is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a sociable creature Speech is the meanes of society and commerce The common change and coyne The mine of truth is Gods the mint and coynage of it Speech must have his Image and superscription the stamp and impression of truth It is capitall offence of the highest Majesty to counterfeit or falsifie this by a lie By Reason we come neere the Angels by reason and speech both wee exceed the beasts by truth speaking we come neerest to God and get farthest from the Devill the father of lies
reservation and to the forme of words in which the Oath is administred but also to the meaning and purpose of the Magistrate that requires him to sweare so farre as hee doth conceive it Which is S. Augustines determination in his Epist. 224. But I may not insist on this theame of Swearing I have done with the first part of the duty Veracity so farre as concernes all men in a private or publike way so as may further the execution of truth and peace in the gates to which wee are in a good forwardnesse if the first be learned and practised 2. The Magistrates duty in speciall Execute the judgement of Truth and Peace c. THis although it bee for every mans good yet is not every mans worke but chosen men appointed by lawfull authority as Moses at first did No man may arrogate this vice-gerency of God except hee bee called by God immediately or his vice-gerent Power on earth That was Lucifer's pride forwardnesse and fall that hee would bee similis Altissimo exalt himselfe Christ refuseth this employment because hee had no Commission from humane power Who made me a Iudge Absalom's ambition was not growne so violent and past all bounds of modesty and respect to his Parent Prince and Countrey as to assume this Office to himselfe but wisheth O that I were made a Iudge In places of Ecclesiasticall and Civill judicature the forwardest are seldome the fittest Wise grave and conscientious men who best understand the weight and charge of publike execution of Justice are willing enough to wave it as seeing no lesse burden than honour in it But Those that are called must not bee wanting to God the King their Countrey their owne Consciences but must execute c. 1 It must be Iudgement Not what their owne or others passion will power or pleasure suggests but what Reason sees secundûm normam legis agreeable to the rule of the Law which is the common vote and consent of men to Reason Iudex non jus dat sed docet Iudges doe not give Lawes but teach declare and execute them Plato saith That State will flourish where Magistrates serve the Lawes not Lawes the turne of the Magisrate who may not change licet into libet The Magistrate is but {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} as hee sayes of Moses the mouth by which the Law doth breath Iudicium à judicando Iudgement must proceed from a serious and deliberate examining of matters secundùm allegata probata It is but the product or just account which ariseth from the witnesse of persons presumption of circumstances and evidence of things which must bee weighed in the ballance of Iustice In the one scale whereof is laid the weight of the Law pondus legis in the other pondus causae the merit of the case fact or person Though Justice must bee coeca in exequendo impartially blinde in executing yet it must bee oculata in dijudicando most eagle-ey'd and acute-sighted in searching out a matter The matter I knew not I searched out As I heare I judge and my judgement is just Descendam ut videam God himselfe who is omniscient and {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} teacheth us by his slownesse not to proceed to execution till wee have a manifest cognoisance of things by a faire free and calme hearing of matters on both sides else you know Though a Iudge may in his sentence hit on the right yet hee merits the brand of an unrighteous Judge Though the decision be just yet the Decider is not Doth our law condemne any man before it heare him There must bee {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} before {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} before {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} A hearing with patience and judgement before the executing of judgement Judges must bee scrutatores indagatores viri decretorii men of piercing judicious and discerning spirits for Veritas in profundo dicti facti cordis Truth doth seldome swim and float in the surface but is hidden and sunke in the bottome of the words actions and hearts of men They had need to bee urinatores men of profound and diving mindes that get this Pearle Judge not according to the appearance but judge righteous judgement Truth indeed as God is but One yet falsities and pretentions like Penelopes sutors are many and shape themselves into diverse formes and semblances of Truth As Omne malum fundatur in aliquo bono so all falsity and injustice pretends a shew of truth and pleads for the protection of justice and may easily impose upon a carelesse drowsie and oscitant Judge that hath not his understanding and conscience vigilant and intentive A Judge saith Basil must have {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} needs bee a Critick of sharp and exact understanding to discerne betweene man and man cause and cause just and unjust true and veresimilous false and specious betweene the confidence of accusing or denying and the truth or falsity of the accusation betweene the modesty or rudenesse of the defendant and the innocency of his cause betweene the weight of the complaint and the malice or envie of the plaintiffe For if it suffice to accuse boldly who shall be innocent If to deny roundly who shall be guilty Aspice quantâ Voce negat quanta est ficti constantia vultus Oft times the false confidence of the worser part and that prostitutae vocis venalis audacia as Cyprian hired impudence of voluble tongues which are Lenones injustitiae the Bauds and Pandars to injustice are ready to carry it with a brasen forehead and Stentorian voyce On the other side Right and Innocence is ready to betray it selfe through a rudenesse simplicity and diffidence of minde carriage and expression Quibus honestior conscientia iis plerumque frons imbecillior Innocence is often timorous uneloquent unexpert in termes and formalities to explaine it selfe when Dishonesty like Tamar is oft vailed with a mask of faire words and a smooth tongue gilds over a rotten cause A Judge here must bee eyes to the blinde and shew himselfe judicious to have studied men as well as bookes and like Solomon by his wisedome represse the impudent guiltinesse of the one part and relieve the diffident innocence of the other Hee must not bee {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} carried away with a streame of words or like Pigmalion preferre an adorned statue before a naked yet true and living man A Judge must be as Christ with his fan in his hand throughly to purge his floor where chaffe and wheat injury and innocence justice and injustice truth and falsity promiscuously lye before him His just clemency must gather the wheat to a safety his just severity must scatter and consume the chaffe with condigne punishment
turpiter audes How many hast thou knowne cut off in their youth and strength and confidence of living and it may be in their purposes and essayes of amendng Many of us have one foot in the grave through the course of age and infirmities that attend it nay even of the strongest of us we may say as David said to Ionathan As the Lord liveth and as thy soule liveth there is but a step betweene thee and death yea and hell too and yet many of us not yet gone one step of serious resolutions to follow Holinesse and forsake our old sins O dally not with thy life with thy soule with hell and eternall death delaies are extreame dangerous where the opportunity is short and the omission is irreparable Remember on this moment depends eternity Death followes us and sin followes us and our owne evill consciences and hell and the Devill too will follow and overtake us if we flie not from them by following Christ where ever he goes in the waies of Holinesse O learne of David Psalme 119.60 I made haste and prolonged not the time to turne my feete into thy wayes 6 Follow it sincerely Simulata Sanctitas duplex iniquitas Hypocrisie is a double and twisted impiety It s not only a not serving God but a mocking of him and it shall have a double condemnation for the want of holinesse which should be and for the ly and pretension of what was not nothing is more contrary to the simplicity of Gods Nature and the truth and integrity of his Word and intentions to men than simulation and hypocrisie Nothing hath more clouded ecclipsed and deformed the beauty of holinesse than the impudent pretentions of some to it who like Apes and Monkies are the more deformed and ridiculous because in some things they resemble the shape and imitate the actions of men but want their reason Galat. 6.7 Be not deceived God is not mocked what a man sowes that he shall reape He that sowes only shadowes and shewes and formalities of holinesse shall reape only shadowes and shewes and dreames of peace comfort and happinesse The deceiver will at last be most deceived O be good in good earnest or not at all Lose not so much time and paines to act a part of holinesse which will but improve thy misery what is it to be applauded of men and abhorred of God What is the hope of the hypocrite saith he in Iob when God shall take away his soule 7 And lastly follow holinesse constantly not desultoriè lamely brokenly and abruptly by fits only but with a steddy and resolute course as the Sun moves neither going backe nor standing still Perseverance is the crowne of graces and gets the crowne of Glory thou expectest God should make thee incessantly happy in his Eternity O be thou holy in tua aeternitate as Saint Bernard in thy limited and short eternity Consider how noble a patterne thou hast in Christ thy Saviour who deferred his owne glory till he had finished thy salvation Consider how great encouragements thou hast how sweet comforts for the present how ample reward and expectation for the future O let no difficulties take thee off nor errors divert thee let them rather whet and exasperate thy resolutions and endeavours let no superstition deceive thee nor persecution deterre thee having begunne in the spirit doe not end in the flesh Remember thou hast alwaies a viaticum means of refreshing neere thee The holy word and promises and Sacraments to relieve thee the holy Spirit to assist thee and helpe thy infirmities Thou hast Gods holy day wherein to be specially vacant to holy duties and the soules improvement by the carefull sanctifying whereof there is no doubt but the pious soule is better enabled to see God here in his Word and workes and hereafter in his glory and presence we have also praeclara exempla of holy men and women Saints in all ages which have gone before us in the waies of holinesse to that state of happinesse through all the oppositions of men and devills Heroick and invincible followers of holinesse now glorious and immortall possessors of happinesse Praeclara spectantibus mediocria praestare pudori esse debet having so noble and inviting examples set before us it is a shame for us either to follow them not at all or with weake and slender imitations 4 Wherefore must we thus follow Holinesse This brings me to the last point the second generall the motive or inducement without which no man shall see God Holinesse is that alone which makes us capable of the beatifick vision But this is a point of so high speculation of so serious consideration for the obtaining or loosing of it of so infinite comfort is the vision and fruition of God of so infinite honour the separation from him that it would farre exceed the time and my speech to set it forth to you as it deserves Onely this short glimpse we may take of it That there are many intervenient fruits of holinesse worth our ambition here by which we see God though dimly at distance in his Word and promises in his Sacraments in his Son our Saviour in his workes in his servants in the motions of his Spirit in the wayes of his providence mercies and judgements To all which Holinesse only cleares and enlightens and enables the soule so as to see God to enjoy and admire him This makes oculatam animam an eyed and seeing minde which otherwaies is blinde and dead Mat. 5. Blessed are the pure in heart for they and they onely do and shall see God But O when we come to see not his footsteps or back parts or shadow or hands but his face by an immediate intuition of his Majesty how shall we be filled with glory and happinesse O praeclarum invidendum spectaculum In this life indeed as God told Moses no man can see his face and live Scrutator Majestatis opprimetur à gloriâ But in heaven we shall live by the sight and light of God Sectator sanctitatis perficietur à gloriâ If then it be any comfort to see the light of the Sun the beauty of Heaven and earth or the face of an indulgent Father an excellent friend or a gracious Prince who is as an Angell of God what is it to see God himselfe O What a Sea and inundation of unspeakeable joy and happinesse must flow in upon the soule to behold the brightnesse of Gods presence the glory of his Majesty the beauty of his goodnesse the treasures of his wisedome the immensity of his power the amplitude of his mercy the perfection of his holinesse and infinite happinesse And last of all the eternall wonder of his free and unchangeable love to us so much below him so as nothing in comparison of him In thy light saith the Psalmist wee shall see light the way is by the light of grace to come to the light of glory by the beauty of holinesse to come to the
Speech is the peculiar glory of men and veracity of good men and Christians It is the glory of God that his word is truth agreeing with his eternall minde and intention The glory of man is to come neerest God Speech is the glasse and reflection of our soules words are the characters Ambassadors and Interpreters of our mindes which must give by a true reflection a true information of our meaning to others The soule of words is truth separated from that they are {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} cadaverosa verba rotten corrupt and unsavory words To commend Truth in knowing or speaking is to commend the Sun Sol est lux mundi veritas mentis As the Sun seated in the heaven from thence derives his beames to all things so truth is placed in the heaven of man the understanding from thence it must shine forth into our words As light is to our eyes for guiding our steps so is truth to our tongues for ordering our speech Solem e mundo tollunt qui veritatem e verbis Veritas caeleste mentis pabulum Truth is that pure heavenly and immortall food of the reasonable soule A Liar feeds on the dust as the Serpents curse nay on the ashes of hell He that is in an error is in an ecclipse or mist through the common imbecillity of humane understanding but he that is in a way of lying is in a night of utter darknesse in the chaines of everlasting darknesse with the Devill and his Angels He carries his Devill and lying spirit about him as Ahabs false Prophets and his Hell within him in his conscience Giving the lie is in point of honour an offense of the highest nature to ingenuous mindes because it reproacheth a man either of Athiesme or extreme basenesse and cowardize that either he ownes no God or which is worse feares more to offend man than God not daring to speak the truth Synesius de Regno most elegantly {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Truth is the honour and noblenesse of words and it argues a generous minde to speak it though alone yet truth as the Sun is faire though displeasing odium parit though dangerous grande praesagium mali as Lactant. though desperate vitamque impendere vero Nec propter vitam vivendi perdere causam It is folly to preferre life before the end of life which is the knowing love and manifesting of truth Speak it therefore and feare not Veritas nihil erubescit nisi solum abscondi Truth is ashamed of nothing but to be hidden But let it be Verum not verisimile not probabile but certum compertum {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a cleere pregnant and well assured truth not what is taken upon flying rumors suspitions or envious disaffections For to affirme as certaine what is dubious and only probable is out of doubt a lie Wee must not like Balaams Asse speak what wee understand not nor affirme what wee know not Therefore our speech must not be rash precipitant tumultuary and passionate but calme and deliberate issuing from a heart without prejudice partiality or injust interests as silver streames from a chrystall fountaine flowing without any mud or tincture of malice or oblique and sinister designes Our mindes also must be prudent steddy and reserved not {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} credulous like soft wax taking easily any impressions That of Epicharmus is safe {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Keep alwayes the reines and curb of diffidence and sobriety in thy minde and tongue {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the way to truth hath many turnings and needs a capacious minde to finde out the right Speak not what the shew and superficies or skin presents but what the inside substance and marrow of things discover to our judgements There is veritas entis quae est mentis quae videtur The first we must alwayes seek to attaine The second we must not faile to affirme else it is a lie which Lactant. defines mendacium est cum linguae animi interpres a sensu cogitatione discordat When the tongue agrees not with the thoughts S. Austin tels us non vera fideliter vera infideliter dici possunt A man may speak what is truth yet falsly and what is false yet truly such a one is not mendax but temerarius nec tam fallit quam fallitur hee is not a lyar but a rash speaker The rule is Cum cogitare secundùm veritatem semper non possumus at loquamur secundùm cogitata Our first happinesse and care is to conforme our thoughts to the truth of things our second to conforme our words to the truth of our thoughts Multi taedio investigandae veritatis ad proximos divertunt errores Many out of a lazy or credulous disposition think it tedious to search out the way of truth and so turne to the next and easiest path of error and probabilities {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} as Thucidides speaks What wee know uncertainly speak not as certaine what wee know assuredly speak not as dubious and with suspence and by halfes For as wee must speak truth only so the whole truth when expected and required Quantum supprimitur quaesitae veritatis supplet mendacium As much as wee defalk or smother of an inquired Truth which wee pretend fully to discover wee make up by a tacit Lye Which is an interpretative denyall of Truth When thou knowest and believest a truth in ordinary converse it is enough to speak it no more is required of thee Therefore not sweare the truth Truth hath native strength sufficient and needs not the volleys or barricadoes of oaths and imprecations Swearing is more than God requires or truth needs or ingenuous mindes will exact or will consist with thy peace and a good conscience Let your yea be yea and your nay nay what is more than these is sinne That is the simplicity and plainnesse of our Saviours prescripts and bounds of speaking even Truth it selfe Sweare not at all no not to the truth in ordinary and familiar converse except in weighty matters of great concernment in private or in publike and judiciary attestations when called to it Ne jurandi facilitate in perjurium prolabamur praeceptum est ne juremus omnino Hee is in the confines and next step to false-swearing and perjury who accustomes himselfe to sweare though truly in triviall matters Bono viro constans vita loco juramenti est The credit and faithfulnesse of an honest man hath the force of an oath Lyars only neede to sweare and for the most part doe whose vanity or falsity hath bred them this just unhappinesse that when they speak the truth they think they shall not be believed unlesse they sweare it Though hee that deserves to bee disbelieved in his truth speaking merits not beliefe though he sweare For if hee feare
nor a lye hee will not an oath This customary swearing is not more vaine and needlesse than a spreading and epidemicall evill such as the Land mournes under being growne to that which Salvian complaines of in his time Non criminis sed sermonis genus per Deum per Christum jurare consuetudine jurandi videtur Swearing seemes to most not a hainous and weighty sin but a formality and complement of speech through the custome and commonnesse of swearing {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Truth is of it selfe cleere enough and needs not the vehemence and asseveration of an oath Which renders it more suspected and the hearer more diffident when he sees one fears not an oath nor makes conscience of vaine swearing which is a sin as well as lying As wee need but speak it so speak it plainly and cleerly Truth like the Sun joyes most in it selfe it s owne opennesse simplicity and cleerenesse as wee ought not to sweare it so wee must not with multitude of words clog and cumber it studying rather to cloud and involve it than to cleere and explaine it which is the end of speech The contrary is but the cunning and artifice of many who though they dare not {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} flatly and with open forehead fight against Truth yet with their {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} as Socrates speaks fetches dresses ambages circles labarynths perplexed and purposely intricate termes and discourses they obliquely fight against the Truth with its owne armes Eloquence studying to confound and lose the capacities of simpler minds by using a sea of words to a drop of truth Such tongues and men like Ignes fatui intend not to give light to a matter but only to amuse and lead out of the right way ignorant and well meaning minds Which is indeed but a more subtill fine and sophisticall way of lying An injury of justice and truth with applause and ostentation which they hope to steale away in that mist and obscurity of words which by their voluble and jugling tongues they cast upon them The practice and fault not so much of private men as of those Tertullusses many publike Orators whose profession cals them to the barre and pleas to be Vindices veritatis Advocates of truth and justice whose unhappy tongues and pernicious eloquence oft times so darken and entangle truth and a just cause which they know to be such that they gaine it with as much injustice as eloquence whose mercenary and venall soules and tongues count their greatest fee and reward to come from the purses of their clyents not from the conscience of asserting a truth and vindicating a just cause Certainly it had been a blessing to these men to have been dumbe better not speak at all than not the truth or with applause and vaine glory to speak nothing but specious and plausible lies These are not Pleaders but Seducers as Bernard Bonorum ingeniorum insignis est indoles in verbis verum amare non verba It argues a minde not lesse ingenuous than pious to make words subservient to truth not to subdue and captivate truth to words To count the clearing and prevailing of truth the noblest reward of speaking not to make truth the booty and prey of speech Veritas saepe offuscatur eloquentia That power and prevalency of speaking that some men have should be as bellowes {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} to blow up and resuscitate to a flame and splendor the sparks of an obscured truth not to damp and oppresse them by casting the ashes and soot of dry and empty words upon them This then is our common duty to speak the truth a knowne at least a beleeved truth freely and sully without feare or partiality Simply and nakedly without swearing and imprecations Candidly and ingenuously without artifice or studied obscurity 2 Who Every man No man hath a Patent or priviledge to lie or a dispensation for truth speaking in any cause whatsoever Not for himselfe or any advantage may accrew to him Mendacium semper inutile A lyar is alwayes a loser for he sels the truth and his soule into the bargaine when the whole world cannot countervaile either of them Not for his friend which is as his owne soule Nemo potest esse veraciter amicus hominis nisi qui fuerit primitus veritatis Hee will easily prove a false friend that will falsifie the truth for his friend Magis amica veritas must bee a good mans Maxime Hee that is false to God cannot bee firme to mee as Constantine the Great said That friend that will bee lost by truth speaking or not lying is not worth the keeping Hee values his friendship far too deare that will have mee purchase it with the waste of my conscience and hazard of the love of God and losse of my soule Not for Parents or kindred Our neerest alliance and cognation is to God {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} whose essence and will is Truth His off-spring wee are we must not break our respects to Him to pleasure any relations which are infinitely below Him Not for the Magistrate or his Prince A good Prince will not require it an evill doth not deserve that a man should so far injure his soule by rebelling against the most High whose Kingdome is over all even Kings themselves Not for his Countrey By lying to banish a mans selfe from heaven which is a Christian soules true dearest and eternall Countrey Not for his Religion A lye cannot advance true religion no more than water enflame fire or darknesse illustrate light or hell promote heaven It is a lame religion or a halting heart at least which professeth it so as to stand in need of the crutches of lying and equivocation Not for God himselfe and his glory Whereof hee is so vigilant and powerfull a maintainer that hee needs not the Devils ayde Will yee accept the person of the Almighty or lye for him Doe you think to serve him by sinning against him or please him by offering an abomination This is as if one would pretend to secure a Prince by treason or defend him by striking at him For every lyar doth strike at the face of God which is Truth by which hee appeares to us and is seene by us Nay not for Truth it selfe which cannot be strengthened but enfeebled and hindered by the addition of a lye as a strong and sound arme or leg by needlesse splinters and bands or wholesome meat by mixture and infusion of poyson Mendaciorum natura est ut cohaerere non possunt Lies cannot easily bee so glued or sodered together but their flawes and gapings will bee detected much lesse Truth and Lies which are more heterogeneall than iron and clay old bottles and new wine a new piece and an old garment What agreement hath light and darknesse God and Beliall So that it is every mans
Iudgement thus carried will have the Two qualities in the Text of Truth and Peace 1 Of Truth that is a True and just Judgement For Truth and Justice are equivalent and inseparably twisted together in foro in Courts and decisions of right What is false must needs bee unjust what is just must bee true Truth is the foundation of Equity Truth in Iudgement is The conformity or agreement of the sentence and decision with the minde of the Law understood by the Iudge {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} The intent of the Law is Suum cuique tribuere a Iudge must faithfully assigne to every one that portion which the Law doth give them in the true and literall sense and meaning of it without warping or straining the words by witty conceits and curiosity of interpretation beyond the intent of the Law or analogy of Justice which is Reason neither girding too strait by rigour nor slackning too loosly by indulgence the words which are but vestitus legis the clothing of the Law Pessima tyrannis lex in equuleo Lawes by the tyranny of wit may be so rack'd and tortured to such forced constructions that they may seeme to speak that which they never intended Obscure and ambiguous Lawes are the snares of a people and the dens or refuge of tyranny like Ancipites gladii two-edged swords that cut on both sides having no back whereon Innocence may safely rely Therefore Enacters of Lawes have endeavoured in plaine and perspicuous words to set downe their meaning according to which Iudgement must be executed if it be true Judgement The highest honour and most soveraigne employment and neerest to the supreame glory and majesty of God the great King and universall Iudge of the world is this to give true Iudgement to search finde declare vindicate Truth though darkned oppressed prejudiced with injuries and calumnies though prescribed and proscribed by power will time and custome Nullum tempus satis longum est quod possit aut debeat errori patrocinari injustitiae No might should bee and no time or usage is sufficient to patronize falsity and injustice against Truth and equity which out of doubt are most ancient and should bee most prevalent for falsity and injury presuppose them first and are but the superstructure a kinde of mosse and accrescency to them For this end saith our blessed Saviour was I born to this end came I into the world that I should beare witnesse of the Truth I can doe nothing against the Truth To this end Judges have reason learning experience conscience publike authority and trust from the King and Countrey that their judgement may bee true and just not false and unjust condemning the righteous or absolving the wicked both which are an abomination to God It is the prerogative of divine and omnipotent mercy to justifie an unrighteous person yet still with the safety of truth and integrity of justice for hee doth it not sine interventu mortis meriti Christi God so loved mercy that hee would magnifie it in justifying and saving of sinners yet so loves truth and justice that hee would not doe it without the death of his Son that just One to satisfie his justice That so hee might with infinite Mercy and Justice apply his righteousnesse to justifie the unrighteous By this meanes Righteousnesse and Peace kisse each other Your Judgement will bee not only just and true but a Iudgement of Peace the second quality required in the Text {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Peace is the daughter of true Judgement Truth and justice the mother and nurse of Peace The God of truth and justice is the Father of order and peace The Devill and father of lies is the autor and fautor of disorder and confusion It was not the true mother that required the division of the childe nor is it true and upright judgement that dissolveth peace 1 It must be judgement of Private Peace betweene a man and his neighbour which can never be maintained except each party by the light of the Law cleerely sees the truth of the judgement for or against them Endlesse and interminate suits and dissentions like Hydra's heads must needs grow up where the seeds of falsity and injustice are sowne in Judgement Of this great care must bee had that though men lose their Cause yet they may not lose their Peace and charity A man makes an ill bargaine that gaines his Processe and loseth the love and good-wil of his neighbour which is the greatest Dammages Proximorum odia sunt acerbissima Wine makes the sowrest vinegar The quarrels of neighbours and brethren set their hearts at the greatest distance and defiance 2 Where the coales of private dissentions are scattered in every corner the whole house will soone bee on fire and Publike Peace cannot long continue For where there are great divisions of hearts and Private grievances arise like swellings and distemper of parts to affect the whole body with the feaver of discontent what can be expected but Publike mutinies and combustions Lex est corporis politici nervus The great bodies of States must needs bee paralitick and vehemently shaken if not dissolved when the sinewes of justice faile An unjust Judge like a Comet portends warres and commotions and scatters so malignant an influence to mens mindes that they had rather venture the injustice of warre than suffer the injustice of peace This Principle is in most mens mindes Pax est omni bello tristior quae justitiae veritatis ruinâ constat That peace is more deplorable than warre it selfe which only maintaines power to waste and oppresse innocence and truth Isidore Pelusiot tels us truly {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} It is but the name and shadow of a false and lying peace where is not true justice Iustitiae debetur quod homo homini non sit lupus It is true judgement only that can secure peace and hinder men from degenerating to wolves and tygers which they doe when by injustice some are exasperated others are animated to sin and injurious insolencies One untrue and unjust judgement like the winde scatters and sheds the seeds of ill weeds and manners about the whole field which should by truth and justice have beene cut up by the roote and its contagious spreading hindred Besides nothing more slackens the reins of government and the stability of peace which is upheld by the reverent awe and respect which the people and subjects give to the Magistrate than when by injustice and unworthinesse they bring their persons and authority under contempt and dislike that they seeme to them not as Gods but Idols which have eares but heare not eyes but see not mouths but speak not true judgement Against such Magistrates people are prone to think it not only just but meritorious to rebell The Kings strength or throne loveth judgement and by righteousnesse it shall bee eshablished with abundance
of peace David in his prayer and blessing to his son King Solomon joynes these two Give the King thy judgements O Lord and thy righteousnesse to the Kings Son and that Hee shall rule the people with equity and the poore with judgement Then the Mountaines subordinate Magistrates and Judges and the little Hils inferiour Officers shall bring peace to the people by righteousnesse Hee must bee Melchisedec King of righteousnesse that will bee Melchisalem King of peace 3 There is a third Peace that results from the judgement of Truth as the crowne and greatest reward of the Iudge That is the inward peace and serenity of his owne conscience witnessing to him that as hee is in the stead of God so hee judgeth as God would judge according to his will and law which is the rule of Truth and Justice and the way of peace and happinesse This Peace is so pretious to a good man that hee will choose to lose all rather than this which is the soules immediate and inward enjoyment of it selfe and God The fruition of which as it passeth all understanding so the losse of it passeth all the skill and favour of the world to repaire or recompence it An Vnjust Iudge cannot but condemne himselfe Prima est haec ultio quod se Iudice nemo nocens absolvitur Hee becomes his owne Accuser Witnesse Judge and Executioner For where Astraea Justice dwels not in the conscience Nemesis Revenge will Occultum quatiente animo tortore flagellum His soule must needs be filled with a fearfull expectation of vengeance and the judgement to come 3 Execute it when you have judiciously considered what is Truth and tending to Peace Declare it pronounce it publikely Magistratus est lex loquens Judges are ora linguae publicae Plebis Regis Legis Dei the publike Oracles to declare the will of the State the Law the King and God To what purpose is finding out of true judgement if you doe not dare not speake out or speak otherwise than you judge in your selves Procaciùs peccant qui maturiùs quasi ex consilio Knowing and not declaring and doing justice is the aggravation of injustice It is a calamitous time as Hezekiah said When children are come to the birth and there is not strength to bring them forth There must not bee only a Conception of what is true and just and then {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} an abortive judgement smothered and stifled in the breast of the Judge by silencing or suspending the sentence nor yet must it bee strangled and oppressed unnaturally as the Egyptian Tyrant did the Israelites infants after it is pronounced by diverting or perverting the sentence but there must bee an execution of it which is the soule and life of Justice and gives a quickening and animation to the Lawes Law as our learned Hooker tels us is a directive rule to the goodnesse of operation both in nature polity and religion What are Lawes in your books or brests if not put in execution The not executing the penalty of the Lawes upon offenders is the execution of the Lawes themselves and renders them cadaverosae Leges dead and breathlesse carcases It is the breath of the Iudge in a right and powerfull sentence which must blast the wicked and unjust and revive and renew the face and force of the Lawes of Justice and of good men Potentia est legis asylum Law and Justice hath its last recourse to Power for the executing Forcibly as Ioh and David pulling the prey out of the teeth of the lyon and breaking the jawes of the oppressor Restoring the oppressed and molested to his liberty right and quiet Commanding and inflicting condigne punishment on the purse or person of offenders If need bee and the publike good require it not only pruning and lopping off the branches and armes of luxuriant and spreading wickednesse by restraining the liberty by withdrawing the sap and nutriment of estate and meanes but cutting off those noxious weeds and thornes from the land of the living and utter extirpation of those that are Telluris inutile pondus Why cumber they the ground And this ne pars sincera trabatur not with more justice than mercy and gentlenesse lest connivence remissenesse and impunity spread the contagion to parts as yet found and untainted Quid enim tam iniquum quà m ut desertori boni bene sit What is more unjust than that it should bee well with him who hath left off to doe well What more just than that evill of suffering should light on evill doers But how must it bee executed 1 Couragiously and resolutely Iethro in the character of a Judge requires this in the first place That hee bee a man of Truth and Courage That feares God and none besides Not the face of man whose breath is in his nostrils The feare of man is a snare Qui fortis non est facilè ad injustè faciendum vincitur qui justus non est facilè ad imbecillitatem cogitur Iustice and fortitude as Twins grow together A weak and timorous man will easily bee unjust and like a Kite scared from the prey which the law hath justly seised on A just generous minded Judge will no more remit his judgement and the execution of it where the Law hath laid hold on a malefactor than the Lyon which the Prophet speaks of will quit his prey or abase himselfe for the multitude of shepherds gathered against him For this would bee as fatall to him as Ahabs letting Benhadad goe in peace or the Prophet not smiting when hee was commanded by the word of the Lord The blow and judgement as well as the crime and offense will light on himselfe for hee becomes guilty of what hee leaves unpunished The malefactor escapes lives continues to sin at the charge and hazard of the Judges soule 2 Freely For love of justice truth God and the publike good Parum est justitiam facere nisi diligas The motions of Justice must bee like the Heavens {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} by inward principles not like mils and mechanick Engines that stir not but by force of winds waters and weight and hands by hopes promises or gifts In execution of justice it must not bee as in scenes of masques and pageants where things seeme of themselves gently to slide from heaven when indeed there are secret devices and inventions of Art that violently though cunningly move them The light of the Sun the liberty of heaven the day and ayre should not bee more cheap and free than justice Though an Advocate may sell his pleading and a Counsellor his counsell yet a Judge may not the execution of Iudgement Justice is a debt they owe to men Hee cannot bee just that must bee hired to pay his debts A purchased sentence though just is unjustly sold Gifts doe blinde the eyes of the wise Hee that
and judgement which were anciently the Gates of Cities and Townes 1 For the ease and convenience of the people who might follow their actions and suits without going farre out of the way of their other affaires 2 To shew the equality and indifferency of justice from which none was excluded Tros Tyriusve fuat but as the Gates of Cities are open and free to all to goe in and out so was the course of Judgement 3 To intimate that the chiefest strength of Cities and safety of States doth consist in the due execution of the judgement of truth and peace which is as the gates and barrs the strongest batteries against sin and wickednesse the firmest defense for virtue and peace Take away the free execution of Justice and not gates of brasse nor barrs of iron will hold out either the dissolution of manners by vitiousnesse or of the Common-wealth by dissentions I have done with the substance and matter of the Charge I need no further weight to Christian minds for the applying of what concernes you joyntly or severally than the authority in the Text which enjoynes these duties Dominante stylo in a soveraign and commanding style These things yee shall doe It is the will and word of God Where the word of a King is there is power But this is the King of Kings Higher than the highest Omne sub regno graviore regnum est Whose Majesty is above all to be adored whose Law and will to be observed and done 1 Because most wise and good commanding nothing but what tends to his owne glory and our happinesse 2 Most precisely and immutably just and not to bee changed or swerved in his will 3 Most irresistibly and unavoydably powerfull in executing vengeance on them that obey not his will and lawes 4 Hee is most graciously bountifull in rewarding those that take heed to doe them It is their life peace and happinesse both here and hereafter On the otherside The not doing them is a mans undoing There is no dispensing with the duties or no avoyding of the punishment These things yee must doe cheerfully resolutely zealously constantly necessarily Nihil magis justum gratum necessarium The omission of them will bee unexcusable to you since the Law and Charge is so plaine so short so just and reasonable no man can plead ignorance mistake forgetfulnesse or rigour and hardnesse since every mans reason dictates it to him every mans heart desires it in his owne particular cause and interest and every mans conscience will condemne him if hee doe them not to others in his degree and calling 1 Speak every man the truth to his neighbour in private converse In publike witnessing swearing and pleading so farre as you are called to it It is indiscretion and folly to let all truth thou knowest flow from thy tongue when it is not expected or required But where it is so and thou pretendest to reveale the truth it is damnable not to doe it and to lie against the truth Lyars are put among the damned crew By thy words thou shalt be justified or condemned Account must be given for idle words how much more for impious lying and pernicious Let then thy speech bee neither rash and unadvised nor profuse and overflowing from inconsiderate speaking wee come to much from much to vaine from vaine to false from false-speaking to false-swearing Exundans amnis facilè lutum contrahit The streame that keeps not its banks contracts soyle and trash Lingua modicum membrum ingens malum in udo lubrico posita majori cautelâ servanda The tongue hath a naturall lubricity and is set in a moist and slippery place and needs the greater staydnesse of minde and strictnesse of conscience to direct and keep it in the wayes of Truth and Peace 2 For You Honourable and Reverend whom God and the King command to execute the Judgement of Truth and Peace I perswade my selfe your piety and conscience answers with the Psalmist It is required of us to doe thy will O God wee are content to doe it Else what need all this state solemnity expense and trouble like Iezebels fast to doe injustice to decree unrighteous decrees to pervert judgement and turne away the cause and right of the poore and innocent I know your wisedomes and piety consider and need not to bee reminded That it is a double and crying injustice which is committed under the sacred name and protection of justice Vbi inter ipsas leges delinquitur inter jura peccatur nec illic reservatur innocentia ubi defenditur Injustice in a Judge is like a pestilent feaver which seises the vitals and spirits and is deadly to the Common-weale A lye in judgement is a loud lye hath a report that cals to heaven for vengeance Besides that it is publicum perjurii exemplum contrary to the oath of integrity which is taken by Judges when called to publike judicature A Judge is and should bee the publike Physitian to cure the distempers of others Iustitia imperii sanitas aequissimo libramine tuenda Peace and tranquility which is the health of the body politick must bee preserved by an equall temper and proportion of justice Salus populi suprema lex is the great and renowned Theoreme of just and good Magistrates A Judge as every Magistrate must bee {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} A lover of God his King his Countrey of Truth of Justice Industrious and Humane a Candid and good man that is a publike and diffusive blessing or universall good Not {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Not a lover of himselfe of his ease of his honour of filthy lucre Farre bee it from you and us That the Judges circuiting should bee like Satans round who goes about seeking what and whom hee may devoure but like Samuels course or the Suns constancy which goes from one end of the heaven to the other and nothing is hid from the benigne light heat and influence of it Looking upon earthly and many sordid things but contracting nothing of their natures and qualities {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} A Judge and Magistrate must bee higher in his minde and vertues than his place and office above all feare love hatred flattery passion gain preferment One that esteemes his owne conscience and Gods spirit there witnessing his integrity the only reward worthy the discharge of so great and honourable a trust and employment Remember I beseech you as I know you doe how farre Peace depends on your integrity 1 The private peace betweene neighbours one of the greatest sweetners of this present life 2 The publike peace wherein you are highly concerned which is greatly shaken for our sins and needs pious prudent and faithfull minds as well as valiant hands to re-establish it 3 The inward peace of your owne consciences with God One unjust act at an Assizes or Circuit or in your life will torment more than all
duty in all the course and turnings of life to steere his speech by the Compasse of Truth which by a heavenly sympathy tends it selfe and must alwayes carry us to that Cynosure the first and immoveable Pole of Truth which is in God Lying and falsity is the rich and Noble mans shame and dishonour Truth and veracity is the meanest mans riches and glory The greatnesse of the one will not beare him out in lying nor the necessity of the other excuse him Veritas animae sponsa Every reasonable creature should bee affianced and wedded to truth by so firme and indissoluble a band as will suffer no estrangement much lesse divorce It is the adultery of the soule to embrace an error and of the lips to speak a lie Every man must speak truth So much as wee lie wee are not men that is the sons of God and Truth but devils the children of him who is the father of lies and liars 3 To whom To his Neighbour But who is my Neighbour Whomsoever the affaires of life and civill conversation doe joyne us unto Indeed wee are all Proximi naturâ neere Neighbours by the proximity of common nature of the same stock and extraction More neerly wee are Neighbours by the consent and fruition of the same Lawes Countrey Government Common-wealth and publike good Many are neighbours by a vicinity of place and cohabitation many by community of businesse and employment As wee are Christians wee are all Proximi Religione Fide Numine Redemptore and should bee affectu charitate wee have a neerenesse nay samenesse of Religion God Saviour Faith Hope And affection one to another These are obligations enough of neernesse and vicinity to tye us each to other under the relation of Neighbours when the least of them may not bee violated with a lie without a great sin and unworthinesse Wee may not lie to a stranger an enimy a heathen a Turk an Infidel a Lyar nor to the Devill himselfe wee may not pay him in his owne coyne no more than the Archangel Michael durst give him railing accusation though hee bee {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a rayler and false accuser Certainly nothing is lesse neighbourly than lying for what trust affiance or security can one have in another if one cannot believe what another promises affirmes or denyes Commune vinculum indigentia The common tye of society is the mutuall want of each other and The common enterchange of good offices is in the way of truth-speaking Else every neighbour is Insidiator hostis an enimy and the more dangerous because neere and treacherous Better dwell in a Wildernesse than such a vicinity The knot and summe that folds up all the second Table is this To love thy neighbour as thy selfe Now nemo libenter dicipitur Falli nolunt qui fallere amant adeo rationalis natura errorem refugit Every man hates a lye in another so much as he loves himselfe No man loves you should lye to him though himselfe lies never so frequently no more than a thiefe will like you should steale from himselfe Doe then as wee would bee done to that is well and justly And speak as you would bee spoken to that is Every man the truth to his neighbour {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} The Standard of equity and vertue God hath set in every mans owne reason and conscience to measure by it to others so as hee would they should mete to him If but this one branch of it in truth speaking were conscientiously observed wee should not have so many contentions which call for publike examination and execution of truth for lying breeds injuries Hee that feares not to offend God by lying will not feare to offend man by defrauding whence spring so many suits and quarrels Every man though hee cannot judge what is aequum just in mine and thine yet hee may of what is verum in regard of his owne thoughts which needs no other Court Witnesse or Judge than his owne conscience for the speaking of it Neither private nor publike good can flourish if this commerce of Truth-speaking to our neighbour faile and decay Which if in daily and domestick converse it must bee maintained how much more in publike attestations when by word or oath wee are called forth as Witnesses or Iurors to speak the truth not only to our neighbour but to the face of our Countrey to our Prince to the law to justice it selfe and in a high degree to the glory of God as Ioshua perswades Achan to give glory to God by telling the truth by which the execution of the judgement of Truth and Peace may be promoted and the common good advanced by a just punishment of the wicked and absolving of the innocent Publike lies are impudent and enormous lies when death and life justice and injustice are in the power of the tongue But a lie upon oath is beyond expression abominable to God and man In this if in any sin men exceed the devils whom wee read of notorious for lying but not for perjury as never having the honour to bee called to witnesse a truth with the invocation of the Name and Majesty of God Perjurium est mendacium sacrilegum That 's the definition of perjury it is a sacrilegious lie Which besides the falsity seeks to rob his neighbour of his right and innocency the law and justice of a due debt of punishment which every malefactor owes robs the King Countrey and Common-weale of safety and God of his glory who is justified in his providence when sin is detected condemned and punished A sin out of measure sinfull while a man openly deliberately solemnely upon the word of God pretends to call God to witnesse of his truth speaking when hee meanes nothing lesse St. Augustine tels us It is a lesse sin to sweare by a false God truly than by the true God falsly Hee is neerer piety who ownes and feares a false God than hee that denyes the only true and so all Gods yet hee that denyes the true God is lesse wicked than hee that despiseth and blasphemeth him as a perjured person doth while hee endeavours so much as lies in him to make the true God his omniscience and power an abettor and maintainer of his lye and falsity Quantò magis sanctum est per quod juratur tantò magis poenale perjurium So that as Truth speaking is required of every man to his neighbour in private so much more in publike speaking and most of all in solemne and publike swearing before the Magistrate Where one false witnesse and false swearer may so plunder a truth and snarle a cause that it will bee hard for the Judge to finde the true method to unwinde it The truth and religion of an Oath is then fulfilled when he that is lawfully called to sweare doth so swear as is not only agreeable to his owne knowledge without equivocation or