A16342:271
Two sermons preached at Northampton at two several assizes there The one in the…Two sermons preached at Northampton at two severall assises there The one in the…
Two sermons preached at Northampton at two several assizes there The one in the time of the shrievalty of Sir Erasmus Dryden Baronet. Anno Domini, 1621. The other in the time of the shrievalty of Sir Henry Robinson Knight, anno Domini, 1629. By Robert Bolton ... Published by E.B.Two sermons preached at Northampton at two severall assises there The one in the time of the shrevalty of Sir Erasmus Dryden Baronet. Anno Domini, 1621. The other in the time of the shrevalty of Sir Henry Robinson Knight, anno Domini, 1629. By Robert Bolton ... Published by E.B.
London: printed by George Miller, 1635
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Judges may be accessary to blood-shed two ways, especially if they do it knowingly, and swayed away by by-respects. 1. By condemning the innocent, which is clear, and 2. By letting the guilty escape, which appears by GODs own words, 1 Kings 20.42. Because thou hast saved him whom I appointed to dye, thy life shall be for his life, &c. And by that Advocates speech to a Judge in Germany, aggravating the fault of a murderer, that had killed six men, No my Lord, saith he, he hath killed but one, you are ⟨p. 100⟩guilty of the blood of the other five, because you let him escape upon the first murder. Now in this case let them take a curb, and restraint from consideration, that the very heathens, to shadow out their torment, did feign hellish furies to follow such heinous offenders with burning firebrands, &c. But especially let the Book of GOD beat them off, from any tainture that way. Amongst many others, that place, Numb. 35.33. is able to pierce an heart of adamant, where the Spirit of GOD tell us, that besides personal guilt, blood involves, even the whole Kingdom in the stain and mischief: for blood, saith he, defileth the Land, and the Land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it. I intend nothing in these last passages, to the prejudice, or offence of any. For my part I honour the reverent Judges, and worthy Lawyers of this Land, at this day, as one of the noblest limbs of the State. And I cannot but look upon the Lords my Judges, with more then ordinary respect, for Justice Nicols sake, my worthy Patron, that reverend and renowned Judge, whom I honour in the dust. And yet for all this, I must tell you the truth, deal plainly I must and will, from this place, in this place, though I should dye in it.
Iudges may be accessary to blood-shed two wayes, especially if they doe it knowingly, and swayed away by by-respects. 1. By condemning the innocent, which is cleare, and 2. By letting the guilty escape, which appeares by GODs owne words, 1 Kings 20.42. Because thou hast saved him whom I appointed to dye, thy life shall be for his life, &c. And by that Advocates speech to a Iudge in Germany, aggravating the fault of a murtherer, that had killed sixe men, No my Lord, saith he, he hath killed but one, you are