Rome ruin'd by VVhite Hall, or, The papall crown demolisht

SECT. 4.

Obj. BƲt they further object thus: To restore that which is committed to a mans trust is a naturall duty; yet this is dispensed with, when as a man refuseth to restore to a Mad-man his sword or weapon, which he gave one to keep; so the Magistrat•• ordinarily dispenceth with that precept, Thou shalt not kill, when he commandeth Malefactors to be slaine: So also the Maccabees dispenced with the Sabbath, when they resolved to fight with their enemies on the Sabbath day, 1 Mac. ••. Chap. As these precepts then were dispenced withall by men, so may the rest.

Ans. For the first instance, there is in that particular case, no dispensation against the Law of Nature, for then by such dispensa∣tions it would be made lawfull, not to restore that which is com∣mitted to trust, which cannot be made lawfull by any dispensation; for this were to crosse and over-throw the Law of Nature, but not to restore a sword to a furious man, is but a particular inter∣pretation of that generall Law of Nature, wherein the in••ent of

that Law is kept, for it is agreeable to the Law of Nature, to ren∣der whatsoever belongeth unto another; and the reason thereof is, because it is just. So it is lawfull by the same Law, (notwith∣standing) not to give unto a Mad-man his owne sword, because it is just. Also the meaning and reason of the Law is kept, because the furious man would doe some hurt with his weapon, and there∣fore to administer occasion and instrument unto his rage, were unjust.

In the other two particulars, there is no dispensation, but an interpretation rather, or declaration of the Law; as that it is no Murther when one is justly slaine. And in the other, that it is no breach of the Sabbath, when necessity compelleth to breake the rest thereof; but thus to dispence were a dispensation to make it lawfull to kill where one cannot justly be put to death, and to worke upon the Sabbath where there is no necessity. 2. Thus to dispence were to make it lawfull afterward, which was not before such a dispensation; but it was alwayes lawfull for the Magistrate to put to death, and upon like necessity to intermit and suspend the rest of the Sabbath. 3. Besides these interpretations and de∣clarations of these Lawes, they are not devised by man, but war∣ranted in Scripture by the Lord himself, the Maker and Au∣thor of the Law, and therefore they are not to be interposed by any humane authority.