The spirituall man's directorie guiding a Christian in the path that leads to true blessednesse in his III. maine duties towards God : how [brace] to believe, to obey, to pray [brace] : unfolding the [brace] Creed, X. Command., the Lords prayer / by that reverend and faithfull minister of Gods word Mr. William Fennor ...

Q. 171. Seeing a Souldier may kill his Enemy in a lawfull warre, and yet love him, as farre as the Law binds in such a case; so may a man goe to law with his Brother, without breach of Charity or of the duty of forgiving, when his ends are right: Tell me then what these ends bee, that may stand with love?

A. First, to demand ones right, when one is called to demand it, Luk. 18. 3. Now right is not contrary to love, but agreeable unto true judge∣ment, Isa. 10. 2. Secondly, to amend and hum∣ble the party nocent; and therefore the Magi∣strate is said to be a Minister for good, Rom. 13. 4. Thirdly, that others may heare and feare, and may not doe the like, Deut. 19. 20. Fourthly, that the party damnified, and others too, may live in peace; and this is the reason why we should pray for Magistrates, 1 Tim. 2. 2. but provided; first, That it bee done in love, 1 Cor. 16. 14. and not with recompencing evill for evill, Rom. 12. 17. provided, secondly It bee done without of∣fence, 1 Cor. 6. 1. Provided, thirdly The party wronging be able to make satisfaction, as for ex∣ample in debts; for if the party bee not able, and

yet submitts, it is cruelty to use the law against such a one, 2 King. 4. 1. provided. Fourthly, that going to law, be our last and utmost remedy, when people will presently goe to law refusing to take wrong or to be tryed by private agree∣ments, this is unchristian, 1 Cor. 6. 7. provided Fifthly, that the wrong be not fit to be put up: in this case Paul appeales to Caesar, Act. 25. 11. for as the Apostle say▪ in another case, so we may say in this, the lavv is good if any man use it lawfully, 1 Tim. 1. 8. private revenge is wretched. First, because vengeance is mine says God, Heb. 10. 30. and the Lord is the avenger, 1 Thess 4. 6. Second∣ly wherefore serves the Magistrate? he is ordai∣ned of God to punish evill doers▪ 1 Pet. 2. 14. a∣gaine. First, it is ones excellencie to forgive▪ Mich. 7. 18. Secondly, it is a note of a blessed man, Math. 5. 7. Thirdly, humane society cannot well be without it; for we are apt to wrong others, and have need that they should forgive us, and therefore we should be ready to forgive them, for∣give and yee shall be forgiven▪ Luk 6. 37. Fourth∣ly, it is necessary to resist our wicked heart, now not to forgive, proceeds from the wickednesse of ones heart, Math. 18. 32.