A Golden Chain

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: ⟨p. 838⟩now the question is, whether this law for substance be the common equity of nature binding consciences of Christians or no? & the answer is, that without further doubting it is so. For first of all, this law hath been by common consent of wise law-givers enacted in many countries and kingdoms beside the Jews. It was the law of the Egyptians and ^aold Grecians, of Draco, of Numa, and of many of the Roman Emperors. Secondly this law serves directly to maintain obedience to the sixth commandment: and the consideration upon which the law was made is so weighty, that without it a commonwealth cannot stand. The murderers blood must be shed (saith the Lord, Num. 35.33.34.) because the whole land is defiled with blood, and remaineth uncleansed till his blood be shed. Again it was a judicial law among the Jews, that the adulterer and adulteress should die the death; now let the question be whether this law concern other nations as being derived from the common law of nature: and it seems to be so. For first wise men by the light of reason and natural conscience have judged this punishment equal and just.

A iudiciall lawe may be known to be a law of common equitie, if either of these two things be found in it. First, if wise men not onely among the Iewes, but also in other nations haue by naturall reason and conscience iudged the same to be equall, iust, and necessarie: and withall, haue iustified their iudgement by enacting laws for their common wealths, the same in substance with sundrie of the iudicial lawes giuen to the Iewes: and the Romane Emperours among the rest, haue done this most excellently, as will appeare by conferring their lawes with the lawes of God. Secondly a Iudicial hath common equitie, if it serue directly to explane and confirme any of the ten precepts of the Decalogue: or, if it serue directly to maintaine and vpholde any of the three estates of the family, the common wealth, the Church. And whether this be so or no, it will appeare, if we doe but consider the matter of the law, and the reasons or considerations vpon which the Lord was mooued to giue the same vnto the Iewes. Nowe to make the point in hand more plaine, take an example or two. It is a iudiciall lawe of God that murderers must bee put to death: