The glorious name of God, The Lord of Hosts opened in two sermons, at…

But although the Parliament tells us that what ¹they do is Law, yet they do not show where that Law is; where shall we find it extant?

But although the Parliament tels us that what ¹they doe is Law, yet they doe not shew where that Law is; where shall we finde it extant?

1. 1Ob.

We are to know that our Common-wealth is governed ¹not only by Statute Law, but by the Common Law; now this Common Law is nothing else but recta ratio, right reason, so adjudged by Judges appointed thereunto by Law, and this is various according as cases do occur; so that although some presidents, some general maxims of this ⟨p. 30⟩Law be extant, yet if new cases arise, then there must be determination according to the nature of such a new case, which determination by such as are appointed Judges is now Law, although it were no where written before. And certainly we have now such things fallen out, as no former time can show presidents of: As, That a King should go from his Parliament, so as ours doth: That a King should take up Arms, as now he doth; with many other things of consequence, of a high nature, which our Houses of Parl. in their Declarations publish, which our ears tingle to hear of, and our hearts tremble at the mention of. These things were never heard of since England was a Kingdom, therefore we can expect no presidents of what determinations there can be in these cases; and some determinations of necessity we must have, or else we shall run to confusion.