- :hap. 24. An Expofation upon the Book cf J'OB. Verl. a. 489 Thirdly, Note ; To remove Lend marks, whicñ are the meaner ofpreferving the pniftfsrs ofmen diffinti, andfo ofpreferving their right and peace, 4f very ,stnfull. This is a fin condemned by the light ofnsture,aswell as by the light ofScripture; Hiftories report how ftriti the ancient Roman: mK,a rit were ag2inft such offenders ; as theywere accurate in lettingup urilature ft ii- bounds, fo they were severe to punifh thofe, who removed, and ever cunt tan- difturbed the bounds;it was lawful! by their law to take away the pan [oc¡t gú life of himwho took away his neighbours land mark. And if any °loyal°e qur vr- man in tilling the ground, plowed up the landmarke, himfelfe :1aá usfctern° and his oxe were both facred, that is, both were to be Ellin or de- Et;Q;n qui ter- voted to death ; yea the Romans were fo interst,anddevout about mialaa exaraf- this thing, that they had a fpeciall godofthebounds or limitsfot, ip(tt'n flows. And as the old heathens,judging by the rule ofcommon bovern facros reafon, and light ofnature, did abhorre this pra&ice,fo the holy worst@ Fe,re Scripture in theLaw of t.Mofes provides direetlyand by name a- Fefmus, gainft it. ( Dent. 19. 14.) Thoufhalt not remove thy *eight,. sirs myna (aooides land-marks which they ofold timesfet, in thine inheritance, which facrag'it Jove' thou/halt inherit, in the land that the Lordthy Cod giveth thee to re''nintti. poffeffe it. And againe(Dent. 27.17.) Curled be be that remo- veth his neighbours land marke, andall the people/hall fay Amen. A carfe container all penalties, and Amen feals themall upon the personof the offender. Solomon renewed thefe !awes (Prov. 22. 28.) Remove not thy neighbours land marke, which thy fathers have let. And againe (Pro. 23. to.) Remove not the old land- marks, and enter not into thefieldof thefatherlefje. Thus Solomon caution'd ehofe times againft this fin.And the Prophet (Hafts y. io.) makes this finne asthe Standard ofall other fins,oras that by which we are to take the greatneffe and weight ofany finne ; if a finnecomes neere to this, or be like this, 'cis a great fin. The Princes of7: dab were like them that remove the bound, therefore f will powre out my wrath upon them like water ; As if he bad fail, thePrinces of7ndah ore ea+treamelywicked :howwicked?evenas wicked as they which remove the bound. Now if high, growne wickedneffe be but inch a thing as removing the bound, how high is their wickednefTe grown, who remove' the bound ? But it may be detñanded what bounddoth the Prophet meant ? I an- R r r twee,
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