A84352:90
The Christian CommonwealthThe Christian Commonvvealth
The Christian Commonwealth: or, The civil policy of the rising kingdom of Jesus Christ. Written before the interruption of the government, by Mr. John Eliot, teacher of the Church of Christ at Roxbury in New-England. And now published (after his consent given) by a server of the season.The Christian Commonvvealth: or, The civil policy of the rising kingdom of Jesus Christ. Written before the interruption of the government, by Mr. John Eliot, teacher of the Church of Christ at Roxbury in New-England. And now published (after his consent given) by a server of the season.
London: printed for Livewell Chapman, 1659
THE CHRISTIAN COMMONWEALTH: OR, The Civil Polity of the Rising King… › Chapter 4
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.
Whosoever shall trouble the free passage of Justice in the ending of Causes, through a perverse will, or base ends, or captious and quarrelsome ⟨p. 17⟩wit, besides the charges of such agitations, he is worthy of some other medicine, as may most effectually do him good, and warn others.
In all Courts, he that hath power to call the Court, hath a double Vote: as for example, in the Court of Three, if the Ruler of an hundred differ from the two Rulers of fifty, the Court is equally divided: if there be three Rulers of fifty, and one of them concur with the Ruler of an hundred, their sentence standeth.
When the Court is equally divided, it is a difficult Case, and must ascend to the Court next above them by Transmission; or if the lesser part of the Court oppose the sentence of the Court, as judging it sinful, then it must ascend by Transmission.
If a Judge of any Court shall oppose the rest in point of sin, without weighty and considerable grounds, in the judgement of the Court whither it ascends or is transmitted; his first offence shall be corrected with the charge of such transmission, and admonition from the higher Court: after, offences in like kind are to be considered and judged, by proportion to the process of Christ in the Church, even unto rejection from his Place and Office.