WNW,. part III. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 7 § 17. The Lawyers ( even the honefteft) are commonly for a more II-retching Expofition. And thofe that fpeakout, fay, That an illegal Commiflioñ is noneat ail. But we our felves go further than this would leads ES; for we judge, That even an illegally commiliioned Perfon, is not to he refifted by Arms, except in filch Cafes as the Law of Nature, or the King himfelf, by his Laws, or by a con- trary Commiflion, alloweth us to refiít him. But if Commifhons fhouldbe contra- diaorv_ to each other, or to the Law, weknownot what to Swear in fach a cafe. § i 8. But, becaufe much of the Cafe may be feen in thefefollowing Queftions, which upon the coming out of that Aft, I pat to an able, worthy, and fincere Friend, with his Anfwers to them. I will here Infect them, (viz, Serjeant Four- tain.) /Queries upon the Oxford Oath. We prefiippofe it commonly refolvedby Cafuifts inTheology, from the Law of Nature,and Scripture, i. 'That Perjury is a Sin, and fo great a Sin, as tendeth to the ruin ofthe Peaceof Kingdmns, the Life of Kings, and the Safety of Ito ens Souls, and to make Menunfitfor Humane Society, Treed, or Convert, till it be repented of. z. That he thatSmeareth contrary to his judgment, is Perjured, though the thing prove true. 3. That me muff take anOath in the Itnpofer's Senfe, as near as we can know it, ifhe be our Lawful Governour. 4. That an Oath is to be taken fenfit ftriaiore, and in the Senfe of the Rulers Im- puting it, ifthat be known; ifnot, by the Words interpreted according to the common uji ofMen of that Profeffion, about that fob)elt: And Vniverfals are not to be interpreted asParticulars, normuff we limit them,and diffinguf, withoutvery goodproof. 5- That where the Senfe is doubtful, we arefill- to ask whichù the probable Senf-, be- fore we ask, which is the belt and charitableft Senfe ; and muffnot take them in the beff Senfe, when another is moreprobable to be the true Senf. Becaufe itis the Truth, andnot tiee Goodnefs, which the Vnderftandingfrft conlidereth. Otherwife, any Oath almoft imaginable might be taken; there beingfew Words fo bad, which arcnotfo ambiguous, as tó bear a good Senf, by a forced Interpretation. AndSubjelbs muff notcheat their Rulers by Teeming todo what theydo not. 6. But when both Stufsare equally doubtful, we ought in Charity to take the befo. . Ifafter all Means faithfully ufed to know our Rulers Senf, ourown Vnderffand. 6ngs mach more incline to think one to be their meaning, than the other, we mutt not go againft ourVwderßandings. 8. That me are to Popte f our Rulers fallible, and that it'spoffhle their decrees may be contrary to the Law-ofGod; but not to fufpeli themwithout plain caufe. Thefe things f ppofcd, we humbly crave the Refolution of thefe Queltions, aboutthe prefect Oath, and theLaw. Ou, i. Whether [upon any pretence whatfoever] refer not to [any Commrfftonated ly LIMA as well as [to the King] himfelf? ?. Whether [rot lawful] extendeth onlyto the Law of the Land ; or alto tothe LawofGod in Nature ? 3. Whether [I Swear that it isnot lawful] do not exprefsmy peremptory certain Determination, and he not more than [ I Swear that in my Opinion it is not law- fAI] 4. What is the [Traytorous Pof:tion] heremeant; (forhere is only a Subjeft oat a Prn:dicate, which is no Pofitem at all, and is capable of various Proodicates ? ) 5. If the King, by Ace ofParliament, committhe Truft ofhis Navy, Garrifon, or Milled, toone ¿orante vita, and fhooldConimiffionate another, byforce, to Meet him, whether both havenot King's Authority? or which ? 6. Ifthe Sheriff raife the PoleCommttatus to fupprefs a Riot, or to execute the Decrees of the Courts of Juftice, and fightwith any Commiffoned torefill him, and hall keep up that Power, while the CommfJìoned Perlons keep up theirs, which of them is tobe judged by the Sobjeas to have the King's Authority? 7. If
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