PA ti T II. ReverendMr. Richard Baxter. 421- refilled], But this no Man will fay into be tuppòféd, as ifs Event certainly and p- niverfally future. But if the wort} that is poflible might lié fuppofed pofüble, then M thefe feveral Cafes they are doubtful r. In Cafe that aMan pretend to have the King's Commillion, but doth not chew it me, what am I then to do ? 2. In Cafe he Ihewit me under the Privy Seal, and another file* the Broad Seal to aCommiflion to refit} him. 3. In Cafe he 'flew the Broad Seal, and I knownot whether it be counterfeit or furreptitioufly procured. 4. In Cafe that by the fault of Officers, or forgetfulnefs, or anyother caufe, ono Man Ihould have a Commiflion to defend and command a Ship or Fort, or Coun- try, and another Thew a Commiffionof the fame date to command and defend the fame Ship, Fort, or Country, and to refill any that oppofe him; Is it unlawful for both of them here to obey the King's Command ? S. in cafe that any 'hall thew or pretend a Comtniflion for any illegal AEI,, as to take Mens Purfes by the High-way, to break into their Houfes, and take their Mo. ney and Goods, and feize their Eftates, or kill their Families : Or to lay a Tait uponthe Country without the Confentof Parliament ; or to ravifñ Mens Wives, or Daughters, or to burn the City, or if two or three thould thew a Commifiion to come into theHoufeof Lords or Commons, and kill them all in the place,&, -. It is certain that a Sword is Arms, and that to fight in a Man's own Defence is to take up Arms : Or ifany fay it mull be the fighting of many together only that is called the Taking upof Arms, as that is not to be underftood by the words which have no fuck reltriaion, fo no Man knowethhowmany it melt be that by concur- rence mull make the A&to be a Taking up of Arms. We have put force of theft Cafes to Parliament Men, and they tell us, That in any filch Cafe they would ufe their Arms to defend themfelves : But thefe are tingle Members : What the Hou- fes mean, we know not, but by the words : And no words can be more exclulìve of any Exception, than there, That [ir is not lawful on any pretence wbatfoever], Allo, what if Saul gives Commiffson to his Armour bearer to kill him ? Might not a Subject} by Arms defend the King, and refcue his Life, againft his Will and Commit floe? And what if a Court of Juftice decree a Subje& the Poffef'ìon of his Houle and Land , and require the Sheriffof the County to put him in poffeftion, and to rafe the Pot Comiratua to do it, if there be reftftance; And what if the Perfon to be ejected thew a Commifimon from the King to keep poffetfion, contrary to this Judgment ; is it unlawful for the Sheriff to obey the Court ? ( And the Poffe Comi- ratur of'Torkfhire hath been a confiderable Army). 394- The Things which increafe the Doubtof the Non-fubfcribers in this Cafe, are thefe : r. Becaufe if, as it is faid by force, the Laws are theRing's Laws, and the Ads of his Mil, as wellas his Commit iionsare Then ifhis Law and his Commrfion be contradictory, I mull need difobey the King- which foever Idilobey, and retiff the 'King's Will which foever I refill. We have no Laws but what are Ads of the King's Will; and till theyare repealed, they Bill exprefs his Will. 2.Becaufe that the Laws are made purpofely tobe the Subjeds RuleofObedience, being alfo the Rule of Judgment in all Courts ; and being that AdI of the King's Will which the Subjects have publick certain Notice of They know that the Laws are indeed theKing's Laws, and are not counterfeit: And theyare of univerfal. Obligation : But a Seal to a Commiffionmay poflibly becounterfeit, or the Subjea can have no filch certifying notice of ir. ;. And they know that the King is not himfelf every where prefent, to tell his doubtful Subjects, which fignification of his Will he owneth, and which they Mould, prefer ; and that he governeth his Kingdom by his Courts and Officers ; they fit and fend' forththeir Orders in his Name: And a known publick Court of Julisce, feemeth to be a more credible declarer of the King's Will,thana Stranger or particular Perfon, who faith that he path his Commiflíon. It is the Form of the Law, to be the Ad of the Governing Will of the King, and the ale of his Courts, to declare it, and expound ic, and judge by it for his Subjeds : But a private Com- millionwanteth thefe Advantages. 4. Becaufe they think that the Law of Nature, and theConfitution of the Kingdom muff elfe fubmit to this Declaration : For if two or three, or more, thew a Corr- miftion to kill all the Parliament, and fire the City, Nature feemeth to allow them Self- defence ; and Parliaments (which are part of the Conflitstion ) are vain if they have nobetter Security for theirLives, ' They
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