A29375:45
The truth of the times vindicated whereby the lawfulness of Parliamentary proceedings in taking…The truth of the times vindicated whereby the lawfulnesse of Parliamentary procedings in taking…
The truth of the times vindicated whereby the lawfulness of Parliamentary proceedings in taking up of arms, is justified, Doctor Ferns reply answered, and the case in question more fully resolved / by William Bridge ...The truth of the times vindicated whereby the lawfulnesse of Parliamentary procedings in taking up of arms, is justified, Doctor Fernes reply answered, and the case in question more fully resolved / by William Bridge ...
London: printed by T.P. and M.S. for Ben. Allen, 1643
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
And now secondly, for the reflux of authority, so it is, that in case there have been a supreme Magistrate in a State, and all particulars cease, and the Royal line be spent▪ and justice to be executed, it returns to the whole body to see to it. As when Joshua and divers Judges had ruled in Israel yet we read that after them, Judg. 19 1. There was no King in Israel, and then was the great sin committed by the men of Gibeah with the Levites Concubine: whereupon all Israel did take the sword of justice, and they said Judg. 20. 13. to the men of Gibea, Deliver us the men the children of Belial, which are in Gibea, that we may put them to death; which Gibea refusing, they did all as one man, go up in Arms against them, God himself approving their act. And what had all Israel to do to execute justice, if the power of the Sword did not return to the people, vacant magistratu supremo: Neither can it be objected, that though Israel had no King and supreme Magistrate amongst them, yet they had several heads of the Tribes, by whose power they did come together for the execution of justice, as it might seem to be Judges. 20. 2. For sometimes the chief of the Tribes doth in Scripture phrase signify those that are chief in age, wisdom and riches, not such as were chief in authority. Besides, this action is imputed to all the people, there being four hundred thousand men that came together upon this design, vers. 2, unto whom the Levite made his complaint, vers 7. Ye are all children of Israel, give here your advice and counsel And all the people arose as one man, vers 8 saying vers. 9. Now this shall be the thing we will do to Gibea, and vers 11 So all the men of Israel were gathered against Gibea. And least that any should think that this work was done by the power of some remains of regal authority amongst them, it is not only said before this work begun, that there was no King in Israel in those days▪ Judg. 19 1. But after all was done▪ i is said further chap. 21. 25. In those days there was no King in Israel, and every man did that which was right in his own eyes; so that Jus gladii, the right of the sword, in case of defection, returneth to them again, so far as to see that justice be duly executed: