A34659:30
An abstract of laws and government wherein as in a mirror may be seen…An abstract of laws and government wherein as in a mirrour may be seen…
An abstract of laws and government wherein as in a mirror may be seen the wisdom & perfection of the government of Christs kingdom accommodable to any state or form of government in the world that is not antichristian or tyrannical / collected and digested ... by John Cotton ... ; and now published after his death by William Aspinall.An abstract of laws and government wherein as in a mirrour may be seen the wisdome & perfection of the government of Christs kingdome accomodable to any state or form of government in the world that is not antichristian or tyrannicall / collected and digested ... by John Cotton ... ; and now published after his death by William Aspinall.
London: printed by M.S. for Livewel Chapman, 1655
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.
1. To consult and provide for the maintenance of the State and people, Numb. 11. from vers. 4. to 16. 2. To direct in all hard matters, wherein appeal is made to them from inferior Courts. Exod. 18. 22. And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every ghard matter they hshall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge themselves: so make it lighter for thee, and they shall bear [the burden] with thee. Deut. 17. 8, 9. If there iarise a matter too hard for thee in judgement between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between ⟨p. 3⟩stroke and stroke, matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up unto the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose for himself. And thou shalt go unto the Priests, the Levites, and unto the Judge that shall be in those days: and thou shalt enquire, and they shall show thee the sentence of the judgement: And thou shalt do according to that sentence, &c. 3. To preserve Religion pure. Exod. 32. 27. And he said unto them, thus saith Jehovah the God of Israel, put every man his sword by khis side, and go in and out from gate to gate, throughout the Camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour, &c. Exod. 25. 40. And llook THOU make them according to their pattern which thou wast caused to see in the mount. 2. Caron. 19. 11. And behold, Amariah the chief Priest is over you in all the matters of the Lord, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the Kings matters, also the Levites shall be Officers before you. 4. To oversee the Forts & munition of the Country, and to take order for the protection of the country from foreign invasions, or intestine sedition, and if need shall require, with consent of the people to enterprise: wars.