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were set up among us by his Bible or Statute book every man would easily become a lawyer where no acts are ever to be repealed but out-last those of the Medes and Persians No word must be added or diminished there is therein no more or less then should be so full hath God made it to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
Then will I set my face against that man and his family and will cut him off and all that go a whoring after him I will set my face against that soul c. II. Deut. 27.15 Cursed is that man that puts any graven or molten image in a secret place IV. On the idols Deut. 7.5 Destroy their altars and break down their images their groves shall ye cut down and burn their graven images with fire Numb 33.52 ye shall destroy all their pictures and molten images and pluck down their high places Numb 32.52 and quite pluck down all their high places V. Judgement is on the places of idol-worship Deut. 12.2 Ye shall utterly destroy all the places wherein the nations ye shall possess served their gods upon the high mountains and hills and under every green tree Vers 3. Ye shall overthrow their altars break their pillars and burn their groves with fire ye shall throw down the graven images of their gods Judg. 6.25 2 King 32. 2 Chron. 23.17 VI. Judgements is one the names of the false gods Deut. 7.25 Ye shall destroy the names of them out of that place Zech. 13.2 the same shall be done in time to come VII Judgement is on the idols of gold and silver Deut. 7.25 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire Then shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them nor take it to thee lest thou be snared therein for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God Vers 26. Thou shalt not bring in an abomination into thy house lest thou be an accursed thing like it but shalt utterly detest it and abhor it for it is an accursed thing Vide Joshua 6.18 and Chapter 7.1 15 21. to the end of the Chapter Observations 1. That metals were to be melted with fire stone glass and such-like fragil things were to be broken with the hammer to powder 2. What work hath God to do yet for us were we once joyned by covenant to the Lord names of moneths dayes of the week and those places we call Churches Altars the names of idols false gods c. are daily and hourely in our mouths as in our swearing by the Mass VIII Judgement It defiles a land 1. How this nation by worshipping of idols in the time of Antichrist hath profaned that Scripture is the covenant is clear and in regard he is a jealous God he is no less jealous of our apostatizing then of our fathers especially seeing we have done hitherto the work of the Lord negligently not making our covenant in a right way taking him to be our God but not in his laws to judge and rule over us 2. He visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children you may see without a speedy covenanting with God according to his will what provocation there remaines for God whose hand is yet stretched out to destroy us we having been as idolatrous superstitious and profane a people as any in the world O England remember the bloodshed for the idol of the Mass and its worship and that by Statutes and Acts of Parliament together with the other six bloody Articles made by King and Parliament in the time of Henry the eighth 3. It may be said as those in Jonah 3.9 Who can tell whether the Lord will turn and repent so if the King had made this covenant and set up this law this had been the way for to have restored him but it was hid from his eyes I beseech you O ye Parliament of England be admonished do this great thing that the Lord lay not you aside also and if ye hinder herein see what a command God hath given against all hinderances Esa 57.14 Cast ye up cast ye up prepare the way take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people God hath of late taken up many that were stumbling-b ocks among your selves since ye sate and will spare none that indeed is so this day to his peoples freedom and deliverance And that the judicial law ought to be set up among us as well as the Jews clearly was signified in this that the law was to be one as well to the stranger as to those home-born which should not have been if God had intended it only to have been a law to Jews and nor the Gentiles also there being the same ground for equity justice and for fellowship with God with one as with the other with God there being no respect of persons Levit. 24.10.22 Numb 15.29 33 31. Deut. 1.16 5.14 Objections made by Sir H. V. Object 1. To restore the rule of the law is to Judaize Resp 1. To rule by our own law is to heathenize 2. Having Gods law and yet to rule by that is much worse 3. We now Judaize by making void the law of God by our Traditions 4. To Judaize is properly to continue in Gods worship some ceremony Christ by his death hath put an end unto 1. The law judicial hath nothing ceremonial in it 2. Christ put not an end to it but established it 3. The Law was not made for the Jew only but All and said indefinitely to be made for transgressors thereof of all Nations 1 Tim 1 9 10. 2. Object We look for a better kinde of rule from Christ 1. Resp As there shall never be another Gospel so shall there never be another law God having shut up all 2. As there cannot be a Gospel more full of grace so nor can there be a law more full of justice and righteousness 3. How can we expect that from God which neither by himself his Son nor Prophets in all the book of God was never promised no not by one word 4. If it were supposed a better law for goverment of the republike might be given as can never be Quere 1. Whether we might receive it without warrant expresly given by God whiles we have that of Gods which he gave himself 2. If be that gave it be not accursed as he that should give another Gospel 1 Gal. 4.1 9. 5. Whether it be not exceedingly to derogate from God to esteem of any rule like or above his It s objected by some That the Jews had several Synedries viz. the sevnty and twenty three Resp From Isa 1.26 God will restore councellors as at the beginning not councels that is but one and the Synedrie is but one Mat. 5.22 and not Synedries so that the Jews in setting up more then one Synedrie did a postatize from the rule Command the Third Exod. 20.7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord the God in vaine c. Statute DEut. 6.13 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve him and shalt swear by his name Levit. 19.12 Ye shall not swear by my name falsly nor profane the name of thy God Jer. 5.7 thy children swear by them are no gods Judgements I. Hosea 4. vers 2.3 on a land For oaths the land mourneth II. On a family Dan. 3.29 He
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
dayes rest Vers 5. In this againe of an other rest which is a dayes rest as the seventh day was is clear from vers 7. and the 8. Verse 9. This other day is called Sabbatismos a sabbatisme which is proper onely to the Church or people of God Vers 10. This Sabbath-rest men must strive to enter into in the other all men are compelled in this none but believers in the Kingdome of God injoy into which men are bid to strive to enter Object Here they are said to enter into this sabbatisme which is proper to the state of heaven to be entred into Resp Believers in Christ are said to enter into or be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the law to Christ or one in law 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Christ 1 Cor. 9.21 Object Mark 2.28 Luke 6.5 Christ is said to be Lord of the Sabbath and in what was he so but in putting an end to it Resp That Scripture saith not so and is contrary to many express Scriptures where Christ saith A tittle of the law shall not perish and the Scripture is falsly rendered the word is The Lord is Son of man and of the Sabbath because made of woman and made under the law Gal. 4.4 Command the Fifth Exod. 20.12 Honour thy father and thy mother c. Statute LEvit 19.3 Ye shall fear every man his father and mother Vers 32. Ye shall rise up before the hoary head and honor the face of the old man Mark 7.10 Gen. 22.6 Isaac submitteth to his father to dye Luke 2.51 and thus Jesus Christ the Rechabites obedience Jer. 35. and Gods blessing them Judgements Gen. 9.25 26. Noah curseth Cham with bondage and blesseth Japhet Deut. 27.16 Cursed be he setteth lightly by his father or mother Levit. 20.9 Every one that curseth his father or mother shall surely be put to death his blood shall be upon him Exod. 21.17 Exod. 21.15 He that smiteth his father or mother shall surely be put to death Numb 12.14 If her father had spit in her face should she not have been ashamed seven dayes which was a thing of contempt as in Deut. 25.9 and it may be either for disobeying or contemning of him Mark 7.10 The Gospel confirms it Who curseth father or mother let him dye the death Prov. 30.17 The eye that mocketh at his father and despiseth to obey his mother the ravens of the valley shall pick it out Statute Deut. 4.9 Forget not the things thine eyes have seen c. but teach them thy sons and thy sons sons Vers 10. Especially the day thou stoodest before the Lord in Horeb Vers 13. and he declared to you his covenant which he commanded you to performe even the ten commandments Deut. 6.7 Thou shalt teach them diligently thy children and shalt talk of them when thon sittest in thy house when thou walkest by the way when thou lyest down and when thou risest up Judgement Deut. 21.18 If a man have a stubborn and a rebellious son that will not obey the voice of his father or his mother and that when they have chastened him he will not hearken unto them Vers 19. Then shall his father and mother lay hold of him and bring him out to the Elders of his City and the gate of his place Vers 20. They shall say to the Elders of his City This our son is stubborn and rebellious and will not hear our voice he is a drunkard and a glutton Verse 21. All the men of his City shall stone him with stones that he dye so shalt thou put away evil from amongst you Appl. Why is so much rebellion against parents is not because the law of God is silent this being executed all England would hear and fear 2. Is there another way besides this to put away evil from among us appointed of God Note God saith So shalt thou put away evil and no other way 3. Or is not the Law of God just the judgement true and righteous that it is not set up amongst us or will it ever be well with us or ours until it be set up Statute Parents marriage of their children It was to be confined to such as were in convenant Deut. 7.6 Exod. 34.16 Thou shalt not take of their daughters to thy sons and their daughters go a whoring after their Gods and make thy sons go a whoring after their Gods Deut. 7.3 Thou shalt not make marriages with those nations God will destroy thy daughter shalt thou not give his son nor his daughter shalt thou take to thy son The reason whereof is rendred vers 4. Appl. As men under the law were not to match with those nations were not under the law so men under grace were not at liberty to match with any but such as were in Christ 1 Cor. 7.39 2. Were we under the law this would condemne all marriage with idolaters more strongly then the work of the law in us hath done Numb 25.6 1 Kings 21.25 1 Kings 11. from 1. to verse 9. 3. See here the authority God hath given to men under the law over their childrens marriage they are said to give and take Esau took a daughter of Canaan Jacob obeyed his mother and married Labans daughter Exod. 21.9 If a man betroth his maid-servant to his son he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters Note Betrothing was the fathers work in which he gave his daughter or took the daughter of some other to his son to wife 2. The Magistrate or Elders are not to approve of marriage made with any out of covenant It is to be considered that God under this word Father doth comprehend the Magistrate and obedience and honour hence due to him 1. Because all authority and rule was first in the father Gen. 38.24 2. It came from him to the one Judge Moses 3. To Judges in every City who had laws from God to judge the people by in which administration only 1 Sam. 12.12 the Lord God was said to be their King And now againe when this law is the rule of judgement to the nation then is the Lord Christ said to raigne which shall be a thousand yeers God having committed all judgement and authority to the Son Mat. 28.18 Rev. 20.6 and who would not strive to set up Christs rule Note As Judges were of God before Kings so if Kings be put down ye must return to Judges again God setting up but these two wayes of rule and God himself ruling in that of Judges and therefore best nor doth God rule by Judges as distinct from Kings unless they be set up as in the beginning to rule by the laws of God 4. The government came from Judges to Kings in which the people were said in their asking for a King to have committed great wickedness in the sight of the Lord 1 Sam. 12.17 yea and God himself said herein they had rejected him and not Samuel that he should not raigne over them I beseech you what the
widdow every such man and woman convict of such offence 1. Shall be committed to common goale three moneths 2. Shall give security to be of the good bahaviour for one whole yeer Note 1. If the man be a young man or widdower then he was to marry the maid or unmarryed woman or widdow by the law of God and not to be prisoned bound c. 2. If he be a marryed man then the case is adultery as in the womans before that was marryed to another man and the judgement death 3. If you had put them to death by Gods law ye would not have said it should be death after such a day Gods law not taking beginning then nor establishment from us or at least until then we were not under Gods law nor was it declared to the nation in the name of Gods law but mans as an Act of Parliament onely Statute Levit. 19.20 Whoever lyeth carnally with a woman that is a bondmaid or apprentice betrothed to an husband and not at all redeemed nor freedom given her Judgement 1. She shall be scourged 2. They shall not be put to death because she was not free This nor many other cases are not excepted in the late Act. Statute Levit. 20.11 12. The man that lieth with his fathers wife or daughter-law Judgement They are to be put to death their blood shall be upon them In this law only adulterers dye the man because he humbled his neighbours wife whether betrothed onely or marryed the woman because she broke the covenant of her God In which is much justice In this law ravishments of such as are unmarryed and neither of them betrothed are freed from death either by marriage or corporal or penal punishments which is of exceeding mercy Who shall do more in one or less in the other and be innocent before God O where is law or justice or mercy or righteousness but in this law of the Lord how then shall we yet justifie and set up our own and condemne and suppress the law of the Lord This command is broken by intemperance or insobriety in meat drink and apparel the evil whereof especially that of drunkenness abounds in this Nation and is very great before the Lord. Command Wo to him that giveth his neighbour drink that puttest thy bottle to him and makest him drunken that thou mayest look on their nakedness Habac. 2.15 16. deprived of his place in Church and world as a master an owner c. Esth 1.8 In Ahasuerus great feast the drinking was according to the law none did compel for the king had appointed to all the officers of his house that they should do according to every mans pleasure It is emphatical God distinguisheth his law from the statutes of Kings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so Ezra 8.36 Yet this is to be observed though it serves for a law with us being sanctified and become part of the word of God in which it excells other kings laws though it come short of Gods By this word the other commands of the King are set forth Isa 5.11 Wo to them rise up early in the morning that they may follow strong drink that continue until night that wine inflame them and the harp and pipe and viol are in their feasts c. Vers 22. Wo to them are mighty to drink wine and men of strength to mingle strong drink Isa 56.12 Come ye say they we will fetch wine and will fill our selves with strong drink Mat. 24.49 He was the evil servant eat and drank with the drunken Judgement Quer. Whether the violence of Lebanon a holy violence Hab. 2.17 be not of Habakkuks drunkenness that his estate be taken from him and bestowed on those are to inherit to preven the evil on his family the land and City Thus in Abigail 1 Sam. 2 5.18.19 Gal. 5. Shall not inherit the kingdome of God 1 Cor. 11.21 the Church-drunkards had the plague among them Hos 4.11 Wine and drunkenness take away the heart Deut 29.19 20. Isa 28.3 The crown of pride the drunkards of Ephraim shall be troden under foot have no imployment nor honor among men but be as that vessel in whom is no delight Vers 4. Their beauty and glory which consists in riches and greatness shall be as a fading flower and hasty fruit before summer Joel 1.5 God would have one generation tell another that the plagues of palmer canker locust were for drunkenness Vers 7. The priest and prophet err through wine and strong drink they err in vision and stumble in judgement and are out of the way Vers 8. All tables are full of vomit and filthiness so that there is no place clean 1 Sam. 25.36.37 Prov. 23.20 21 29 30. Hab. 2.16 Thou art filled with shame for glory drink thou also and let thy foreskin be uncovered The word in the original signifieth the taking away of one out of his place The cup of the Lords right hand shall be turned to thee and shameful spewing shall be one thy glory Vers 17. The violence of Lebanon shall cover thee and the spoile of heasts which made them afraid because of mens blood and for the violence of the land and the City and all that dwell therein Gen. 9.23 Jer. 13.13 This drunkenness brought forth that in which King Priests Prophets inhabitants fathers and sons became drunk spiritually and dash one against another Deut. 21.18 The son on his fathers exhortation would not leave his drunkenness was stoned as in vers 20. by all the men of his City Command the Eighth Exod. 20.15 Thou shalt not steal Statute Levit. 27.28 29. PSalm 76.12 Vow and pay to the Lord all ye that are round about him Deut. 12.17 Thou shalt not eat thy vows thou vowest to God Numb 30. The case of vows is handled when lawful when not in a man vers 2. a maid vers 3. 5. a wife vers 6 7 8. a widdow vers 9. to the end Judgement Jephthah Judges 11.31 36 39. 1. Not to pay is sacriledge or theft from God 2. The punishment exemplary in Ananias and Sapphira Acts 5. vers 1. to the 10. Appl. To Parliament people c. to remember the vows of God on your souls they are not paid God requires them Statute Exod. 21.16 He that stealeth a man and selleth him or if he be found in his hand c. Deut. 24.7 If he be found making merchandise of an Israelite or stealing of him or selling of him Judgement He shall surely be put to death Prov. 28.24 Statute Levit. 19.11 Ye shall not steal nor deal falsly one with another Exod. 22.1 If he steal an oxe and kill or sell it He shall restore five oxen If he steal a sheep and kill or sell it He shall restore four sheep Vers 4. If the theef be found in his hand certainly and alive whether it be oxe ass or sheep He shall restore double Statute Vers 7. If a man shall deliver money or scuff to keep and it
is not left to any to take away the life of any but as God hath appointed which for idolatry is generally stoning by the hands of all the people 4. It is observed by some that when it is said His blood be on him then stoning is meant or otherwise when the death is not expressed then strangling but usually though the death be not set down in one place it is in another 5. In stoning the people were to shew their hatred of the evil committed that they and theirs might be free of the curse and judgement threatned against them for the same one man not being able to do the same by that or any other way of putting to death Judgement 1. Jezebel and the Priests of Baal slaine 1 Kings 18.22 and 2 Kings 10. 2. Ahazia sends to Baal-zebub and dyeth 2 Kings 1. 3. Belshazzar slaine praising his gods Dan. 5.4 5 30. Numb 25.2 The Moabites called the people to the sacrifices of their gods and the people did eat and bowed down to their gods in which vers 3. they were said to be joyned to Baal-peor Statute Levit. 17.7 They shall no more offer their sacrifices to devils after whom they have gone a whoring Judgement Verse 9. Shall be cut off from among the people The command binds affirmatively Thou shalt have me to thy God Now the way of Gods calling a people and becoming a God to them nationally is by giving them laws and they taking them from him and professing subjection to them as to their Gods commands whom they ought to serve To the keeping whereof God adds by promise many blessings as David Psal 19.11 In keeping thereof is great reward To the breach whereof are added many curses of body soul goods name family earth and heaven all are shut up to men for it The which giving of laws royally to his people is the only work and prerogative royal of God and therefore is the law moral called the Royal law Jam. 2.8 and thus the Scripture saith There is hut one law-giver who is able to save and destroy who art thou that judgest another Jam. 4.12 And hence are all laws of heathens said to be no laws and they without law and all the ordinances and the corrupt expositions of the law made by ancient expositors and received by their children among the Jews called traditions and they were such as made voide the law among them that had it In which it appears there is no law but Gods nor no true law-maker but God law government and judgement among Gods people especially being his Lastly As we must not have another God so we must not have other laws then Gods God will not govern by any other then his own laws Behold I pray by mens deelining Gods laws what laws have been brought out since the reforming times as in the 6 Articles in Hen. 8. time the book of Sports and many laws since repealed What is become of the Judges Justices and men made and executed those laws so contrary to the Lord and his law Solomon brings in wisdom Prov. 8.15 saying By me kings raigne and the princes that is those of the supreme councel do describe Justice that is to those judges consult with them about difficult cases without whom the difficult cases would as well be hid to them as others Now if justice be so hard a thing to be executed by men who not only have the law but use the law and the help thereof to do justice by that without wisdom or Christs help they cannot describe it how shall those describe it that use not the law to help them which ought to be their help and so tempt God not to help them extraordinarily for not using the ordinary help of God And that he speaks here of the great councel is clear they being next to the king and then he speaks of the ordinary Juges in the verse following to whom justice was to be described which is significantly set down Deut. 17.11 From Jeremiah 35.6 some there are contend to maintaine the law and customes we have in this Nation received from our fathers because the Rechabites stuck so close to theirs To which I answer 1. That the Rechabites were subject to the judicial law as the other Jews were 2. These traditions of theirs were not forbid nor commanded of God that the magistrate could not forbid the doing what they did 3. Nor were there any judiciary proceedings against such as should not have observed those traditions they being indifferent things only it had been no sin to them if they had drunk wine or dwelt in houses or planted fields with seed 4. So that these not standing in competition with the law of God they were not disabled from observing one and doing the other also 5. The father of a family may ingage his sons and servants to such-like duties as depending immediately on his rule but it may be unlawful to a Magistrate to impose the like ordinances on a whole Nation Command the Second Exod. 20.4 Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven image c. Statutes against idolatry HAbac 2.18 The idol is a teacher of lyes Deut. 4.16 17 18. Is forbid any graven image or similitude of any figure or likeness of male or female of beast fowl creeping thing or fish Sun Moon or hoast of heaven Exod. 20.23 Ye shall not make with me gods of silver nor shall ye make unto you gods of gold Levit. 26.1 Ye shall make no idols nor graven images nor rear up any standing image nor shall ye set up any image of stone to bow down Exod. 34.17 Ye shall make no molten gods Levit. 19.4 Turn ye not to idols nor make to your selves molten Gods Dout. 4.23 Take heed to your selves lost ye forget the Covenant of the Lord which he made with you and make you a graven image or the likeness of any thing which the Lord thy God hath for bidden thee Levit. 18.21 Thy seed shall not pass the fire to Moloch Judgements on Idolatry I. On the Nation or people Deut. 9.12 They have made them a molten calf vers 14. let me alone that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven Exod. 32.27 Deut. 4.16 If ye corrupt your selves and make a graven image or likeness of any thing Vers 26. I call heaven and earth to witness ye shall soon utterly perish Vers 27. ye shall be scattered among the nations Vers 28. and serve gods of wood and stone II. On a person Deut. 17.4 Man or woman worshipping the Sun Moon or host of heaven Vers 5. was to be brought to the gates and stoned to death Lev. 20.2 If an Israelite or stranger who ever he be giveth any of his seed to Moloch he shall surely dye the people of the land not of the City only shall stone him with stones Note Vers 4. If the people of the land any way hide their eyes from that man and kill him not vers 5.
of God hath 3. It is not the least evil against God to say of the law It is not sufficient of it self to judge us by 1. If the law is not perfect God would not have said Add not to nor diminish a word from it 2. This is indeed to despise the law Heb. 10.28 which was death without mercy 3. The law was the moral law a law for all Nations that would be Gods people as well as Jews to be governed by 4. David saith Thy law is exceeding broad and large but thou that knowest not the law and art rude and ignorant of Gods wisdome therein which is a great deep dishonourest God and sayest it is onely for a foundation of a law but it will not serve for a law At the last day it shall judge thee and all else for all their acts words and thoughts against God and yet is it a narrow law 5. Say what you can a Nation untill it hath covenanted with God in this law they are not the people of God nor is God the God of that nation more then other heathens whatever he may be by faith to them that believe 6. This would be a means to call in the Jews to acknowledge Christ in the Gospel with believers when they see we acknowledge God in the law with them Object These are but few cases in compare of the Statute-book that is more full and large and plaine this is obscure Resp 1. I have deduced but part of what is in the law I having not spent a weeks time in meditation thereon to this end 2. This hath more in one line then the wit of men laid down for law in an hundred 3. That they have more then is in the law of God must be destroyed and not acknowledged law but traditions only 4. Much lyeth hid thereof to us as yet being not searched out 5. Judges in special were ordained to judge the difficult causes and that by the word also which appeared not to the common judges to be in the word clearly 6. The laws being reduced to the command we are to judge of cases according to the nature of the fact and the command against which the sin is committed 1. The law is clear plaine and full of light and clearness and so better then our corrupted intricate unknown law which the Judges of the land know not themselves This needs no counsel 2. It is brief and needs not seven yeers study to come to be able to speak law 3. It is so easie a man needs no sollicitors it shews plainly what every man is to do or suffer 4. It cannot be corrupted by demurs nor delayed in proceedings 5. It is so just no man shall have wrong that is innocent nor no man shall escape that is guilty Deut. 29.19 20. 6. It is so free it puts no man to a peny cost 7. It is so holy it condems all evil in every man alike 8. It is so good that he is accursed that obeys it not and he is blessed that observes it 9. It is free from oppression it imprisons none O ye men and lawyers of the world bring forth that law that is like this law of the Lord as Moses rod eat up the sorcerers so shall this devour yours Your law is as darkness this as light it will make it vanish In a word all Rule and Government compared to Gods in the law for a Nation is but bramble-rule Judg. 9.14 and who would call for that rule Conclusion PSalm 144.15 Happy is the people whose God is the Lord that is that people onely who are in covenant with and under the government of the Lord and his law and thus with Moses Deut. 4.5 Behold I have taught you statutes and judgements even as the Lord my God commanded me Vers 6. Keep therefore and do them for this is your wisdome and understanding in the sight of the Nations which shall hear all these statutes and say Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people Vers 7. for what nation is there so great that hath God so neer unto them as the Lord our God is in all things we call upon him for Vers 8. and what nation is there so great that hath statutes and judgements so righteous as all this law which I set before you this day Who can speak evil of that I have here written and not speak evil of the law who can despise it and not despise that law shall judge him at the last day God judgeth by it let therefore the Gods judge by it In a word who are they if any that shall condemne me for what I have written God is he that will justifie me when he shall arise and plead my cause with them In a word if I have erred the law erreth not let me be judged by that to that I plead and make my appeal unto professing before the most high God My aime onely is Gods glory the restoration of Gods rule and government the peoples freedome and happiness Judges freedom of conscience from blood guiltiness the deliverance of the Nation from the now wrath of God the Parliaments eternal honour in advancing truth and righteousness with these and onely these desires of soul with Esther though she knew the law of the king to put to death any shall come within the inner who is not called except such to whom the king holds out the golden Scepter that he may live But I have not been called to come in unto the king Esther 4.11 Vers 16. I will go in unto the king which is not according to the law if I perish I perish And as Mordecai my soul tells me If I altogether hold my peace at this time deliverance shall arise to this people from another place and I and my fathers house shall be destroyed The fear of God and his law that drove me and the hope I had in you as in men loving God Justice Righteousness and vowing to God and the people the same with hands lifted up to have your and the peoples freedome being bound up in one drew me to this service in which my hearts desire is to serve you all and be Your affectionately well-wishing servant in the service of the Lord John Brayne The Postscript contains Objections and Resolutions of what is said against the Rule of the Law Quer. DOth not the Apostle say Those without law shall be judged without law Rom. 2.12 then what need the laws government Resp 1. Some are without the letter and true sence of the law and the rule of it as those heathens Rom. 2.14 Who became a law unto themselves 2. Others are without the true sence only and not the letter as Paul Rom. 7.9 3. Others without the rule but not without the letter and thus we are without the law this day If Paul only without the true inward sence of the law a Minori ad Maius though not without the rule and government out-outwardly and
and Thummim will tell them and shew the judgement to them when they have a cause to require thereat Object The Law saith men must not turn from the right hand or left thereof Resp True Those that know the law in the known causes thereof are not to decline from that nor are the Judges concerning the obscure cases to decline that sentence of the law that doth accord therewith in the book of God though it be not particularly set downe and nominally expressed and added to that iniquity particular Object David committed Adultery and Murther and was not slain which was a type of more mercy to be ministred under the Gospel then under the Law Resp 1. Some will say David being King and supream Magistrate there was none under that government then would judge him but God did judge him in his house his wife his children as in the Story is set forth abundantly after 2. And more truly Davids Adultery and Murther was so hid that there were no witnesses appeared to accuse him and though God knew it few in the world else did 2 Sam. 12.12 but these consented thereunto 3. David marryed Bathsheba after which indeed did seem to be according to the law but being a Whore it was not 2 Sam. 12.9 10. 4. David was a type of Christ in many things 5. God might dispence with his law for wonderful sweet ends and good for us though by such wayes as we understand not the justness of them 1. If men writing the Scriptures had not had our fallings and been subject to our temptations we could not have had that comfort now we may have in the Scriptures 2. God suffering them to fall would not with their fall take them away that had not been a support but terror 3. By this God would shew that though the bodies of those for such like sins suffer yet they believing and repenting their souls may be saved in the day of the Lord. So that the use hereof is good exceeding good to those that do suffer 4. Many of the Saints as David are guilty secretly of these fins and were it not for David would have sorrow without hope as it were 5. By Nathan God having discovered his sin and he repenting God is said to put away his sin that he should not dye 2 Sam. 12.13 1. Here is the putting away of his sin which upon repentance many others may do and yet not be freed from death 2. Here expresly is not onely one but the other also by the Prophet from God revealed that it should be made good to him 3. God punished him in his house his wives his children as before Object Gen. 49.10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah nor the Law-giver from between his feet c. so there was a Law-giver Resp 1. This was spoken before the Law was given where men made Laws 2. The word for Law-giver signifies a Scribe If any should give the Law he had the Scepter and not him between his feet 3. This he between the Kings Feet was but an assistant to him to shew him what the Law was in cases brought before him out of the Law of God which was to be alwaies by the King Conclusion O that when the Covenant was sent to the Nation it had been done according to the minde of God! that is as Covenants were when nationally by Kings and People made with God viz. by taking the law the Statutes and Judgements of God to be our law and to be ruled and judged by it onely and take God with the law to be our God and all other law to be laid aside and known no more of us so had we done the work of God and a heavenly blessing would have followed it Since which the effects of that ignorant blinde Covenant have been nothing but confusion division war and trouble to our selves and others O ye Princes and People though ye are in all these yet if you will obey and receive the Lord and his law this day ye shall be healed of all your confused distempers and be saved 1 King 8.57 The Lord our God be with us as he was with our Fathers let him not leave us nor forsake us vers 58. That he may incline our hearts unto him to walk in all his ways and to keep his Commandments and his Statutes and his judgements which he commanded our Fathers Deut. 5.29 That it may be well with us and our children after us for ever Amen And ye O ye Universities of Oxford and Cambridge a visitation from above is drawing near to visit you and the most just God the visitor who will judge you according to the judgement of the great Where Ye can now no longer delude nor captivate men with specious pretences for God will take you away and set up wayes of learning of his own 1. Your rise was from the Pope even Celestine the Emperour Theodosious twelve Cardinals and multitudes of Arch-Bishops Bishops c. about the year 423. 2. You by being governed and advanced and educated by his adherents and set up to accomplish his ends came to be the onely means to make void the order of the Church who first chose her Ministry out of her owne societies and members but now are taken out of the University be they what they will and put on them whether they will or not to the utter extirpation of the Churches priviledge by which encourgement to learning and knowledge in all the Church-members was taken away to encourage such as made a trade of it in the University the Church-members resting on their teaching onely and never respected any power of teaching to be obtained by themselves in the now Church-way the Church being robbed of it 3. You plead for your practice the Scripture as if it were your pattern 2 King 2.3 there were sons of the Prophets at Bethel and ver 4. there were more at Iericho 1 Sam. 19.20 a company of Prophets are standing and Samuel standing as appointed over them 1. These Sons of the Prophets were such as were educated in the writings of the Prophets and read them and did more eactly discuss the Mystereis thereof then in the Synagogues Those bred in these houses were immediately fitted for the Synagouge-xe hortation and reading 2. The first of their education was reading and well understanding of the word as writing and this fitted him as a Scribe 3. After this they were taught the sence and meaning of the word either in the literal or historical the prophetical or typical part of it and then they came to be disputers of the law or Pharisees in which order Paul was 4. God usually raysed up of these that faithfully gave themselves to the study of the Law and taught it Prophets to foretell things to come as Elias and Samuel And those other hundred Prophets mentioned 1 Kings 18.13 in which places those that were Prophets for confirmation of their prophesies and call did usually teach as appears
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
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