Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now remaineth, that we come to this Law that a man shall die at the mouth of two or three witnesses, but not upon the evidence of any one witness alone. This Law serveth for order of government. And indeed the very Heathen were taught by nature to follow this order, so as they could well say it was requisite that a matter should be proved by a couple of witnesses. And this was printed in their minds, because our Lords will was to hold mankind continually in some kind of uprightness, and that discretion should be used. But we have this doctrine the better confirmed, in that God speaketh it with his own mouth & sayeth, that a man shall die at the mouth of two or three witnesses, and not upon the report of any one. Then let us bear in mind, that things ought not to be judged at all adventure without lawful proof. Nevertheless, it may be that even the Judge himself may sometimes be a witness in a matter▪ and yet notwithstanding he must judge contrary to that he knoweth. If a man say, he doth amiss: Nay, he could do no otherwise, and he doeth well. For if I be a Judge, and no body but my self doth know a man to be faulty, so as I can have no witness of his doing•: I must let him alone, because I cannot remedy it, & he must be quit by my sentence. And this dealing of mine is no prejudice to my conscience: for I condemn him before god as he deserveth: but yet I let his crime alone still concealed, until God discover it and bring it to light. Now then let us mark that for civill orders sake, we must always observe this rule, that we judge not but upon good proof, so as the matter be known ⟨p. 637⟩and verified.

Now remaineth, that wee come to this Lawe that a man shall die at the mouth of two or three witnesses, but not vpon the euidence of any one wi•nesse alone. This Law serueth for order of gouernment. And indeede the very Heathen were taught by nature to follow this order, so as they could wel say it was requisite that a matter should be proued by a cupple of witnesses. And this was printed in their mindes, because our Lordes will was to holde mankind continually in some kinde of vprightnesse, and that discretion should be vsed. But we haue this doctrine the better confirmed, in that God speaketh it with his owne mouth & saieth, that a man shall die at the mouth of two or three witnesses, and not vpon the report of any one. Then let vs beare in minde, that thinges ought not to be iudged at al aduenture without lawfull proofe. Neuerthelesse, it may bee that euen the Iudge himself may sometimes be a witnesse in a matter and yet notwithstanding hee must iudge contrarie to that he knoweth. If a mā say, he doth amisse: Nay, he could doe no otherwise, and hee doeth well. For if I bee a Iudge, and no bodie but my selfe doth knowe a man to be faulty, so as I cā haue no witnes of his doing: I must let him alone, because I cānot remedy it, & he must be quit by my sentence. And this dealing of mine is no preiudice to my cōsciēce: for I cōdemn him before god as he deserueth: but yet I let his crime alone stil cōcealed, vntil God discouer it and bring it to light. Nowe then let vs marke that for ciuill orders sake, wee must alwayes obserue this rule, that we iudge not but vppon good proofe, so as the matter be knowen