2g tion ofright, that the words ofthe Lawmay not be drawn further than is meet for the fake or fa,, your of any party ; nor conftrained to ferve any mans fact or commodity. In a word, ftriE Right is not here taken fo as to exclude an interpretation tempered with equity, but to exclude an interpre- tation,of Law(or right)corrupted by favour(or for any ones fake)---The extreamsare ARigid inter- pretation, and AFavourable --4 uft interpreta- tion is the mean between both, which fearcheth after the true and genuine fenfe ofthe Law, with- out refpe& at all to perfons, out ofnatural equity and juftice, and from the words themfelves, as they agree with equity and juftice. And if this may be plainly made out in the words themfelves, that it is in every cafe (imply to be retained.-- See the reif. P. 45. When I fay that an Oath is ofpia rights; it is fo to be underftood, that the meaning of the .Oath, which is plain enough in the words, is al-, wales to be held. But where the fenfe is doubt- ful, every one muff take great heed, left we too much indulge our (elves, and our own affections; and left we grant our lèlves too liberal and lax a licenfe of interpreting, that we may the eafilier get our felves out of the bond of the Oath which we are tyed by ; and left we fafen (or feign) any fenfe on the Oath taken, or on any part of it, for our awn commodity or profits fake, which any o- ther pious and prudent man, of a freer judgment as not intereffed in the caule, would not eafily draw from the very words themfèlves. The Reafon is twofold ; one in refpea to others, for fear of fcandal, left any that is weak, drawn by our example, think he may do that which he feeth tas
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