b. Command. vpon the Commandements. 85 Qteft. what if the lawofpledges? A;iJ;v. If thou ta1 eflthr neighboursraiment to pledge, faieth the law thou fhah reflorr rt to him ere thefunxego,downe.Fer that is his cowering on y, &this is hi,.garmér for his sl x Exod. s a. t 8. wherin(hall he fleepe.Therefore when he rrieth vino me I will hearehim, for I ammerrifult. And in another place : No man fhall take the vpp. r or neithermi /one to pledge, for this Deut._ 4.6. gage is his Iiuing..dnd when t box 'halt ask againe of thy neighbour any thin; lent, thou ¡halt t o. Norge vnto his houfe to fetch his pled e,bur thouJh. a/tfland without, and he man which bar- I I. rowed it of thee fhall brtrg the pledge out of the doresOnto thee. Furthermore,if he be apoore body,thouJbalt not fleepe with his p /edge , 6ut fhalt rrflore him is, the Fledgewhen thefunnegoeth downe,that he may fleepe in his rarme,,t,and 6lrffe thee , and t; it fhall t e righteoufneffe to thee before the Lord thy God. The very ende ofall which lawes as you fee is nothing but this mercy and kindenef c of man towardcs man cuen in this matter oftaking pawns. And therefore ifrny dealing herein bc fharpe,hard and cruel,layin g afide as it were all regard of ocher wens needes , fo that my lelfe may be fafe , it is not apparant that I failc in lout towardcs the wealth and good et ate of my brother outward , therefore haue broken this commandement ? It muft needs be granted. ,Quell. What is the law for things co»tmittedto our euflody# e/Infw. If a ma,: delo«rvnt, his neighbour (faith the lawc ) tokeepe,;tlfe, or e. e,or fheepe, or any bruit , and it die or be hurt, or taken away by enemies, arduo manfee st, de. Exod23.1o. oath ofthe Lord flialbe btnvixt them two ;that he hack not put ho hand vnto hit neuhbaurs t good , and the owner ofit/ hell t4e the oeth ', and hefhallnot make itgaod. Bat if it beflame, fit: from him , he Jima make reflitution Onto the owner thereof. If it 6etornein pieces , hefball, ;. brig record, and fhalinot mak it good which isdeuoured. By which !awes thus much we may note, that notwithilanding for things committed to their cuflody, it might fall cut that they might be brought bcford,thc Magiftrate by oath to protell their truth and honefly which corrupt flefhwil lightly grudge at, or cls to their coil to make that good, the keeping whereof neuer gained them penny : yet neucrthelcffc would the Lorde haue man cucn herein to thew his loue, and in no cafe for either of theft refpe f s or any other to deny it. Wherfore it followeth thcn,and both now and euer (hall followe, that whofocuer (hail not willingly,and readily take into his cultody that thing which he may kecpe to the benefice of his neighbour better than he that doch deliucr it him ,;and fo taken truely, kecpeand faithfully rellorc it againc voto them that of right fhould !lane it, that man or womanwant in their hearts affeelion or loue to their neighbours , they withhold the thing which is due vnto them, namely the fruit of their lone; in this par, titular we (land vpon,and therefore guilty they arc before God officalth,thc breach of this Commandement. ;Queft. What is the laweoffinding thisWI? Alfa'. Thou 'halt not (faith the laws) fee thy brothers oxe nor his fbeepego affray, and nettt.s.i.t. withdraw thy felfe from them,bwtJhalt bring them again veto thy brother: f if thy brother be not neere Onto thee,erifthou know himnot,then thou(lialrbring it veto thy houf , and it fhall rensatne with thee vntill thy brother feeke after it , dint Jha /t thoudeliuer it to him a- gain. In like maner limit thou doe with his affe,aud fofbalt than doe with hit raiment , and with all loft t/i-:gs of thy brather which he bath loft, if thou hagfound them , thou fhalt not withdraws thy felfefromthem. See here the loue ooman to the goods of his brother in what fort the Lord requirechit.Now,lcaft the name ofbrothcr vied here in this place fhould decciue vs,to thinke we arebound but to out friéds -in this dtny,it is profitable to note how in another place in fteede ofbrothcr is put enemec,& all thefe particulars neuertheles named If thou meet thine enemies oxe,er afe going aflray,thou/halt bring him again,& fo foorth ofthe rett.So that this being a fruit of lone, which God requircth invs al toward; the goods ofalmen,be they fncds or focs,that we fhould keep thé,& cherifh thé,& in fafety reftorethé,ifwefinde theioft,when once we know the owners ofthc:furely wemuff needs c6feffe that to conceilc,& retairre things found ofvs,aftcr we know who fhould haue them,fsplaine & flat thcft.Yca ii is à breach ofconfcience 1 no
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