liberty-第14节
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resist not evill； but whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek； turn to him the other also； &c。 VIII。 Among infinite other places which prove the fifth law； these are some。 Matth。 6。 14。 If you forgive men their trespasses； your heavenly Father will also forgive you： but if you forgive not men their trespasses； neither will your Father forgive your trespasses。 Math。 18。 21。 Lord how oft shall my Brother sinne against me； and I forgive him？ till seven times？ Jesus saith unto him； I say not till seven times； but till seventy times seven times： that is； toties quoties。 IX。 For the confirmation of the sixth law； all those places are pertinent which command us to shew mercy； such as Mat。 5。 7。 Blessed are the mercifull； for they shall obtain mercy。 Levit。 19。 18。 Thou shalt not avenge； nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people。 But there are； who not onely think this law is not proved by Scripture； but plainly disproved from hence； that there is an eternall punishment reserved for the wicked after death； where there is no place either for amendment； or example。 Some resolve this objection by answering； That God； whom no law restrains； refers all to his glory； but that man must not doe so； as if God sought his glory； （that is to say） pleased himselfe in the death of a sinner。 It is more rightly answered； that the institution of eternall punishment was before sin； and had regard to this onely； that men might dread to commit sinne for the time to come。 X。 The words of Christ prove this seventh； Matth。 5。 22。 But I say unto you； That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause； shall be in danger of the judgement； and whosoever shall say unto his Brother Racha； shall be in danger of the Counsell； but whosoever shall say； thou foole； shall be in danger of hell fire。 Prov。 10。 18。 Hee that uttereth a slander is a foole。 Prov。 14。 21。 Hee that despiseth his neighbour； sinneth。 15。 1。 Grievous words stir up anger。 Prov。 22。 10。 Cast out the scorner； and contention shall goe out； and reproach shall cease。 XI。 The eighth law of acknowledging equality of nature； that is； of humility； is established by these places。 Mat。 5。 3。 Blessed are the Poor in spirit； for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven。 Prov。 6。 16； 19。 These six things doth the Lord hate； yea seven are an abomination unto him： A proud look； &c。 Prov。 16。 5。 Every one that is proud is an abomination unto the Lord； though hand joyne in hand； he shall not be unpunished。 11。 2。 When pride cometh； then cometh shame； but with the lowly； is wisdome。 Thus Isay 40。 3。 （where the comming of the Messias is shewed forth； for preparation towards his Kingdome） The voyce of him that cryed in the wildernesse； was this： Prepare ye the way of the Lord； make strait in the desart a high way for our God。 Every valley shall be exalted； and every mountain； and hill； shall be made low； which doubtlesse is spoken to men； and not to mountains。 XII。 But that same Equity which we proved in the ninth place to be a Law of Nature； which commands every man to allow the same Rights to others they would be allowed themselves； and which containes in it all the other Lawes besides； is the same which Moses sets down； Levit。 19。 18。 Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self； and our Saviour calls it the summe of the morall Law； Mat。 22。 36。 Master； which is the great Commandement in the Law？ Jesus said unto him； Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart； and with all thy soul； and with all thy mind； this is the first and great Commandement； and the second is like unto it； Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self。 On these two Commandements hang all the Law and the Prophets。 But to love our neighbor as our selves； is nothing else； but to grant him all we desire to have granted to our selves。 XIII。 By the tenth Law respect of Persons is forbid； as also by these places following； Mat。 5。 45。 That ye may be children of your Father which is in Heaven； for he maketh the sun to rise on the Evill； and on the Good； &c。 Collos。 3。 11。 There is neither Greek； nor Jew； circumcision； nor uncircumcision； Barbarian； or Scythian； bond； or free； but Christ is all； & in all。 Acts 10。 34。 of a truth； I perceive； that God is no respecter of Persons。 2 Chron。 19。 7。 There is no iniquity with the Lord our God； nor respect of Persons； nor taking of gifts。 Ecclus。 35。 12。 The Lord is Judge； and with him is no respect of Persons。 Rom。 2。 11。 For there is no respect of Persons with God。 XIV。 The eleventh Law； which commands those things to be held in common which cannot be divided； I know not whether there be any expresse place in Scripture for it； or not； but the practise appears every where in the common use of Wels； Wayes； Rivers； sacred things； &c。 for else men could not live。 XV。 We said in the twelfth place； that it was a Law of Nature； That where things could neither be divided； nor possess'd in common； they should be dispos'd by lot； which is confirmed as by the example of Moses； who by Gods command； Numb。 34。 divided the severall parts of the land of promise unto the Tribes by Lot： So Acts I。 24。 by the example of the Apostles； who receiv'd Matthias； before Justus； into their number； by casting LotS； and saying； Thou Lord； who knowest the hearts of all men； shew whether of these two thou hast chosen； &c。 Prov。 16。 33。 The lot is cast into the lappe； but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord。 And which is the thirteenth Law； the Succession was due unto Esau； as being the First…born of Isaac； if himself had not sold it； （Gen。 25。 30。） or that the Father had not otherwise appointed。 XVI。 Saint Paul writing to the Corinthians； Epist。 1。 Chap。 6。 reprehends the Corinthians of that City for going to Law one with another before infidell Judges who were their enemies； calling it a fault； that they would not rather take wrong； and suffer themselves to be defrauded； for that is against that Law； whereby we are commanded to be helpful to each other。 But if it happen the Controversie be concerning things necessary； what is to be done？ Therefore the Apostle； Ver。 5。 speaks thus； I speak to your shame。 Is it so that there is not one wise man among you； no； not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren？ He therefore； by those words confirmes that Law of Nature which we call'd the fifteenth； to wit； Where Controversies cannot be avoided； there by the consent of Parties to appoint some Arbiter； and him some third man； so as （which is the 16 Law） neither of the Parties may be judge in his own Cause。 XVII。 But that the Judge； or Arbiter； must receive no reward for his Sentence； （which is the 17。 Law） appears； Exod。 23。 8。 Thou shalt take no gift； for the gift blindeth the wise； and perverteth the words of the righteous。 Ecclus。 20。 29。 Presents and gifts blind the eyes of the wise。 Whence it followes； that he must not be more oblig'd to one part then the other； which is the 19。 Law； and is also confirm'd； Deut。 1。 17。 Ye shall not respect Persons in Judgment； ye shall hear the small as well as the great； and in all those places which are brought against respect of Persons。
XVIII。 That in the judgement of Fact； witnesses must be had； （which is the 18。 Law） the Scripture not only confirmes； but requires more then one； Deut。 17。 6。 At the mouth of two witnesses； or three witnesses； shall he that is worthy of death be put to death。 The same is repeated； Deut。 19。 15。
XIX。 Drunkennesse； which we have therefore in the last place numbred among the breaches of the Naturall Law； because it hinders the use of right Reason； is also forbid in sacred Scripture for the same reason。 Prov。 20。 1。 Wine is a mocker； strong drink is raging； whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise。 And Chap。 31。 4； 5。 It is not for Kings to drink wine； lest they drink； and forget the Law； and pervert the judgement of any of the afflicted： but that we might know that the malice of this vice consisted not formally in the quantity of the drink； but in that it destroyes Judgement and Reason； it followes in the next Verse； Give strong drink to him that is ready to perish； and wine to those that be heavy of heart。 Let him drink； and forget his poverty； and remember his misery no more。 Christ useth the same reason in prohibiting drunkenesse； Luk。 21。 34。 Take heed to your selves； lest at any time your hearts be overcharg'd with surfetting and drunkennesse。
XX。 That we said in the foregoing Chapter； The Law of Nature is eternall； is also prov'd out of the fifth of S。 Matth。 18。 Verily I say unto you； till Heaven and Earth Passe； one jot； or one tittle； shall in no wise Passe from the Law； and Psal。 119。 v。 160。 Every one of thy righteous judgements endureth for ever。
XXI。 We also said； That the Lawes of Nature had regard chiefly unto Conscience； that is； that he is just； who by all possible endeavour strives to fulfill them。 And although a man should order all his actions （so much as belongs to externall obedience） just as the Law commands； but not for the Lawes sake； but by reason of some punishment annext unto it； or out of Vain glory； yet he is unjust。 Both these are proved by the Holy Scriptures。 The first； Esay 55。 7。 Let the wicked forsake his way； and unrighteous man his thoughts； a
