An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…

They are not mere usurpers, neither shall they be dealt with as mere usurpers. They have no spiritual title, no title by Christ, they claim not by promise, which the Saints do. They have forfeited their title by sin, all is lapsed and escheated into the hand of the great land-Lord. Their goods are forfeited, and so are their lives into the hand of God, and he gives both back for a while into their hands. He gives them their lives back, and reprieveth them, for which time of their reprieve, he giveth them the earth to live upon, or to maintain their lives: and so far as they use earthly things for the continuance of life, they shall not be accounted or reckoned with as usurpers. They shall not be charged for using the creatur• but for abusing it, for making the earth serve their lusts, not […] making it a support of their lives. And seeing as the Lord hath given them back their forfeited lives, so also their forfeited lands by a deed of gift, sealed with general providence, this is enough to secure them in those worldly possessions (which they have neither got nor hold by injustice) from the brand of usurpation,¹ and from the violence of dispossession. As what God hath joined no man may put asunder; So what God hath given, no man must take away. Neither riches nor rule are founded in grace. He hath given the earth into the hand of the wicked.

They are not meer usurpers, neither shall they be dealt with as meer usurpers. They have no spirituall title, no title by Christ, they claim not by promise, which the Saints doe. They have forfeited their title by sinne, all is lapsed and escheated into the hand of the great land-Lord. Their goods are forfeited, and so are their lives into the hand of God, and he gives both back for a while into their hands. He gives them their lives back, and reprieveth them, for which time of their reprieve, he giveth them the earth to live upon, or to maintain their lives: and so farre as they use earthly things for the continuance of life, they shall not be accounted or reckoned with as usurpers. They shall not be charged for using the creatur• but for abusing it, for making the earth serve their lusts, not 〈…〉 making it a support of their lives. And seeing as the Lord hath given them back their forfeited lives, so also their forfeited lands by a deed of gift, sealed with generall providence, this is enough to secure them in those worldly possessions (which they have neither got nor hold by injustice) from the brand of usurpation,