A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many useful questions and cases of conscience are…A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many usefull questions and cases of conscience are…

considering withal, that Amasa was not set upon this business by any offence or displeasure at the other party, as Abner was. 4. Even as this example, so far as concerneth the laying aside, and casting off of Joab, and not preferring his brother Abishai in his room (both of them being guilty of Abners blood, 2 Sam. 3. 30. and both of them being too hard for David) helpeth to strengthen that which I have been pleading for.

considering withall, that Amasa was not set upon this business by any offence or displeasure at the other party, as Abner was. 4. Even as this example, so far as concerneth the laying aside, and casting off of Ioab, and not preferring his brother Abishai in his room (both of them being gui•ty of Abners bloud, 2 Sam. 3. 30. and both of them being too hard for David) helpeth to strengthen that which I have been pleading for.

The point being now so fully cleared from Scripture, here is the less reason to argue contrariwise from human examples in Christian States and Common-wealths.¹ The word of God must not stoop to mens practises, but they to it. Yet even among those whose examples is alleged for the contrary opinion, there want not instances for cautiousness and conscientiousness, in choosing or refusing confederates. As namely among the Helvetians or Switzers. They of Zurik and Berne, when once reformed, renounced their League made before with the French King, for assisting him in his Wars, and resolved only to keep peace with him; but would not continue the League of [Greek or Hebrew], or joining with him in his Wars.² And whatsoever were the old Leagues about 300. years ago, mutually binding those Cantons each to other for aid and succour, and for the common defence of their country, and for preservation of their particular rights and liberties, and for a way of deciding controversies and pleas, between men of one Canton and of another (which Leagues are recorded by those that write of that Common-wealth) yet after the Reformation of Religion, there was so much zeal on both sides, that it grew to a war between the Popish and the Protestant Cantons, wherein as the Popish side strengthened themselves