Many now a days in giving voices, have a pretty wise policy, because it is so evil a1 thing▪ I will give no voice at all, hold you content, such be [Greek or Hebrew], neuter passives, indifferent men, that will do neither good nor evil. These are odious unto the Lord, Zephani, 1. 12▪ If there be any man, that saith, I will neither do good nor bad, or hath set down2 that rule with himself, I will, saith the Lord, seek him out with a lantern to a strange judgement. They will say, as it is Ps 12. Our tongues & lungs are our own, and therefore we may speak, as we list, and when we list. By this they show, that they have neither Logic nor Divinity. The holy Ghost saith, thou shalt not give thy voice. If the precept be affirmative, it bindeth semper not ad semper; but if it be negative, it bindeth but semper and ad semper. The like precept is, thou shalt be no usurer: well, I will not lend at all, but thou must lend, and yet not lend to usury. Thou shalt not take the Name of the LORD thy GOD in vain. Well, I will not swear at all; yea, thou must swear by his Name, & yet not take it in vain. Thou shalt not bear false-witness: well, I will bear no witness at all; yea, thou shalt3 bear a witness, but yet not a false witness. So I will not give my voice at all; yes, thou shalt, and yet not to a Rabbi, or a multitude. The reason hereof is, because we were born to bear witness to the truth. Therefore was I borne saith Christ. Whereupon Augustine saith, this belongeth to all Christians. Fulgentius a good and holy father saith, when Truth is endangered, both he which denieth it, & he which holdeth his peace, do betray the Truth. Well, it is said, thou shalt not answer, and therefore we hold it not needful to give our witness to the Truth, except we be asked and entreated. But is it not often said in the Evangelists, Then JESUS answered & said, when no man spake unto him? Hereupon one said, Truth demanded it in his Conscience. As GOD is said in Isaiah, to hear us, before we call unto him; so will he have us to answer him, before he speak to us. Psal. 5. David tarrieth not to defend the innocent, till he be entreated; taketh no reward to do right, being rea•ie without desiring. As we have two kinds of sins, sins of omission, and commission, and Psal. 128.
Manie now a dayes in giuing voyces, haue a pretie wise policie, because it is so euill a1 thing▪ I will giue no voice at all, hold you content, such be 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, neuterpassiues, indifferent men, that will doe neither good nor euill. These are odious vnto the Lord, Zephani, 1. 12▪ If there be any man, that saith, I will neither do good nor bad, or hath set down2 that rule with himselfe, I will, saith the Lorde, seeke him out with a lanterne to a straunge iudgement. They will say, as it is Ps 12. Our tongues & lungs are our own, and therefore we may speake, as we list, and when we list. By this they shew, that they haue neither Logike nor Diuinitie. The holy Ghost saith, thou shalt not giue thy voice. If the precept be affirmatiue, it bindeth semper not ad semper; but if it bee negatiue, it bindeth but semper and ad semper. The like precept is, thou shalt be no vsurer: well, I will not lend at all, but thou must lend, and yet not lend to vsurie. Thou shalt not take the Name of the LORD thy GOD in vaine. Well, I will not sweare at all; yea, thou must sweare by his Name, & yet not take it in vaine. Thou shalt not beare false-witnes: well, I will beare no witnes at all; yea, thou shalt3 beare a witnes, but yet not a false witnes. So I will not giue my voyce at all; yes, thou shalt, and yet not to a Rabbi, or a multitude. The reason hereof is, because we were born to beare witnes to the truth. Therefore was I borne saith Christ. Whereupon Augustine saith, this belongeth to all Christians. Fulgentius a good and holy father saith, when Truth is indangered, both he which denieth it, & he which holdeth his peace, do betray the Truth. Well, it is said, thou shalt not answere, and therefore wee hold it not needfull to giue our witnes to the Truth, except we be asked and intreated. But is it not often said in the Euargelists, Then IESVS answered & said, whē no man spake vnto him? Hereupon one said, Truth demanded it in his Conscience. As GOD is said in Esay, to heare vs, before we call vnto him; so will he haue vs to answer him, before he speake to vs. Psal. 5. Dauid tarieth not to defend the innocent, till he be intreated; taketh no reward to doe right, being rea•ie without desiring. As we haue two kindes of sinnes, sinnes of omission, and commission, and
- 1Utilius scand• lum nascitr, quàm veritas deseritur.Vtilius scand• lum nascitr, quàm veritas deseritur.
- 2We will either do as we list, or not do any thing at all.We will either doe as we list, or not doe any thing at all.
- 3Of giving voices in civill, or Ecclesiastical assemblies.Of giuing voyces in ciuill, or Ecclesiasticall assemblies.
