A Golden Chain

Judicials of common equity are such as are made according to the law or instinct of nature common to all men: & these, in respect of their substance, bind the consciences not only of the Jews but also of the Gentiles: for they were not given to the Jews as they are Jews, that is, a people received into the Covenant above all other nations, brought from Egypt to the land of Canaan, of whom the Messiah according to the flesh was to come: but they were given to them as they were mortal men subject to the order and laws of nature as all other nations are. Again judicial laws, so far forth as they have in them the general or common equity of the law of nature are moral; and therefore binding in conscience, as the moral law.

Iudicialls of common equitie are such as are made according to the lawe or instinct of nature cōmon to all men: & these, in respect of their substance, bind the consciences not onely of the Iewes but also of the Gentiles: for they were not giuen to the Iewes as they are Iewes, that is, a people receiued into the Couenant aboue all other nations, brought from Egypt to the land of Canaan, of whome the Messias according to the flesh was to come: but they were giuen to them as they were mortall men subiect to the order and lawes of nature as all other nations are. Againe iudiciall lawes, so farre forth as they haue in them the generall or common equitie of the law of nature are moral; and therefore binding in conscience, as the morall lawe.

A judicial law may be known to be a law of common equity, if either of these two things be found in it. First, if wise men not only among the Jews, but also in other nations have by natural reason and conscience judged the same to be equal, just, and necessary: and withal, have justified their judgement by enacting laws for their common wealths, the same in substance with sundry of the judicial laws given to the Jews: and the Roman Emperors among the rest, have done this most excellently, as will appear by conferring their laws with the laws of God. Secondly a Judicial hath common equity, if it serve directly to explain and confirm any of the ten precepts of the Decalogue: or, if it serve directly to maintain and uphold any of the three estates of the family, the common wealth, the Church. And whether this be so or no, it will appear, if we do but consider the matter of the law, and the reasons or considerations upon which the Lord was moved to give the same unto the Jews. Now to make the point in hand more plain, take an example or two. It is a judicial law of God that murderers must be put to death: