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if they come not； doe they therefore sinne against any Law； but
against prudence onely； neither shall their infidelity be
punisht； but their former sinnes。 Wherefore Saint John saith of
the unbeleever； The wrath of God abideth on him； he saith not；
The wrath of God shall come upon him； And； He that beleeveth not；
is already judged； he saith not； shall be judged； but is already
judged。 Nay it cannot be well conceived； that remission of sinnes
should be a benefit arising from faith； unlesse we understand
also on the other side； that the punishment of sinnes is an hurt
proceeding from infidelity。
X。 From hence； that our Saviour hath prescribed no
distributive Lawes； to the Subjects of Princes； and Citizens of
Cities； that is to say； hath given no rules whereby a Subject may
know； and discerne what is his owne； what another mans； not by
what forms； words； or circumstances； a thing must be given；
delivered； invaded； possest； that it may be known by Right to
belong to the Receiver； Invader； or Possessour； we must
necessarily understand that each single subject （not only with
unbeleevers； among whom CHRIST himselfe denyed himselfe to be a
judge and distributer； but even with Christians） must take those
rules from his City； that is to say； from that Man； or Councell；
which hath the supreme power It。 followes therefore； that by
those Lawes； Thou shalt not kill； Thou shalt not commit adultery；
Thou shalt not steale； Honour thy Father and Mother； nothing else
was commanded； but that Subjects； and Citizens； should absolutely
obey their Princes in all questions concerning Meum & Tuum； their
own and others Right。 For by that Precept； Thou shalt not kill；
all slaughter is not prohibited； for he that said； Thou shalt not
kill； said also； Whosoever doth work uPon the Sabbath； shall be
put to death； Exod 35。 vers。 2。 No； nor yet all slaughter the
cause not being heard； for he said； Slay every man his Brother；
and every man his Companion； and every man his Neighbour； Exo。
32。 v。 27。 And there fell of the People about three thousand men；
v。 28。 Nor yet all slaughter of an innocent Person； for Iephte
vowed； Whosoever cometh forth； &c。 I will offer him up for a
burnt offering unto the Lord； Jud。 11。 vers。 31。 and his vow was
accepted of God。 What then is forbidden？ Onely this： that no man
kill another； who hath not a Right to kill him； that is to say；
that no man kill； unlesse it belong to him to doe so。 The Law of
CHRIST therefore concerning killing； and consequently all manner
of hurt done to any man； and what penalties are to be set；
commands us to obey the City only。 In like manner； by that
Precept； Thou shalt not commit adultery； all manner of Copulation
is not forbidden； but only that of lying with another mans wife；
but the judgment which is another mans wife； belongs to the City；
and is to be determined by the rules which the City prescribes：
This precept therefore commands both male and female to keep that
faith intire which they have mutually given； according to the
statutes of the City。 So also by the precept； Thou shalt not
steal； all manner of invasion； or secret surreption is not
forbidden； but of another mans。 only。 The subject therefore is
commanded this only； that he invade not； nor take away ought
which the City prohibits to be invaded or taken away； and
universally not to call any thing murder； adultery； or t heft；
but what is done contrary to the civill Lawes。 Lastly； seeing
CHRIST hath commanded us to honour our Parents； and hath not
prescribed； with what Rites； what appellations； and what manner
of obedience they are to be honoured； it is to be supposed that
they are to be honoured with the will indeed； and inwardly； as
Kings and Lords over their Children； but outwardly； not beyond
the Cities permission； which shall assign to every man （as all
things else； so also） his honour。 But since the nature of justice
consists in this； that every Man have his own given him； its
manifest； that it also belongs to a Christian City to determin
what is justice； what injustice； or a sinne against justice； Now
what belongs to a City； that must be judg'd to belong to him or
them who have the Soveraigne power of the City。
XI。 Moreover； because our Saviour hath not shewed Subjects
any other Lawes for the government of a City beside those of
nature； that is to say； beside the Command of obedience； no
Subject can privately determine who is a publique friend； who an
enemy； when Warre； when Peace； when Truce is to be made； nor yet
what Subjects； what authority； and of what men； are commodious；
or prejudiciall to the safety of the Common…weale。 These； and all
like matters therefore are to be learned； if need be； from the
City； that is to say； from the Soveraign powers。
XII。 Furthermore； all these things； to build Castles； Houses；
Temples； to move； carry； take away mighty weights； to send
securely over Seas； to contrive engines； serving for all manner
of uses； to be well acquainted with the face of the whole world；
the Courses of the Starres； the seasons of the yeare； the
accounts of the times； and the nature of all things； to
understand perfectly all naturall and civill Rights； and all
manner of Sciences； which （comprehended under the Title of
Philosophy） are necessary partly to live； partly to live well； I
say； the understanding of these （because CHRIST hath not
delivered it） is to be learnt from reasoning； that is to say by
making necessary consequences； having first taken the beginning
from experience。 But mens reasonings are sometimes right；
sometimes wrong； and consequently that which is concluded； and
held for a truth； is sometimes truth； sometimes errour。 Now；
errours even about these Philosophicall points doe sometimes
publique hurt； and give occasions of great seditions； and
injuries： It is needfull therefore； as oft as any controversie
ariseth in these matters contrary to publique good； and common
Peace； that there be some body to judge of the reasoning； that is
to say； whether that which is inferred； be rightly inferred or
not； that so the controversie may be ended。 But there are no
rules given by CHRIST to this purpose； neither came he into the
world to teach Logick。 It remaines therefore that the Iudges of
such controversies be the same with those whom God by nature had
instituted before； namely those who in each City are constituted
by the Soveraign。 Moreover； if a controversie be raised of the
accurate and proper signification （i。e。） the definition of those
names or appellations which are commonly us'd； in so much as it
is needfull for the peace of the City； or the distribution of
right； to be determin'd； the determination will belong to the
City； for men by reasoning doe search out such kind of
definitions in their observation of diverse conceptions； for the
signification whereof； those appellations were us'd at divers
times； and for divers causes。 But the decision of the question
whether a man doe reason rightly； belongs to the City。 For
Example。 If a woman bring forth a Child of an unwonted shape； and
the Law forbid to kill a man； the question is； whether the Childe
be a man。 It is demanded therefore what a man is