VII. RESOLUTIONS AND DECISIONS OF DIVERS PRACT

CONSCIENCE, IN CONTINUAL USE AMONG

DECADES.

Address to the Reader .

First Decade. CASES OF PROFIT AND TRAFFIC.

Case 1. Whether is it lawful for me, to rai

loan of money?..

2. Whether I may not sell my wares a

get what I may of every buyer?

3. Whether is the seller bound to make

the faults of that which he is abou

4. Whether may I sell my commodit

giving days of payment? .

5. Whether, and how far, monopolies

6. Whether, and how far, doth a frau

me to performance?.

7. How far, and when, am I bound to

another man's goods remaining in

8. Whether, and how far, doth a promi

though seconded by an oath, bit

performance?

9. Whether those monies or goods, w

may be safely taken and kept by

10. Whether I may lawfully buy those

strongly suspect or know to be st

or, if I have ignorantly bought su

may lawfully, after knowledge of

them as mine

Second Decade.

CASES OF LIFE AND LIBERTY

Case 1. Whether, and in what cases, it may

to take away the life of another.

2. Whether may I lawfully make use of

ciding of my right, or the vindicati

3. Whether may it be lawful, in case

cure the abortion of the child, for

the mother?.

4. Whether a man, adjudged to perpet

death, may, in conscience, endeavo

escape.

5. Whether, and how far, a man may b

6. Whether a judge may, upon alleg

evidences of others, condemn a m

he himself certainly knows to be inn

7. Whether, and in what cases, am I bo

ser of another?.

8. Whether a prisoner, indicted of a f

he hath committed, and interrogat

concerning the same, may stand up

plead, "Not guilty.".

Page

VII. RESOLUTIONS AND DECISIONS OF DIVERS PRACTICAL CASES OF

CONSCIENCE, IN CONTINUAL USE AMONGST MEN.

DECADES.

Address to the Reader .

First Decade. CASES OF PROFIT AND TRAFFIC.

IN FOUR

371

Case 1. Whether is it lawful for me, to raise any profit by the

loan of money?.

2. Whether I may not sell my wares as dear as I can, and

get what I may of every buyer?

372

376

378

379

3. Whether is the seller bound to make known to the buyer

the faults of that which he is about to sell?

4. Whether may I sell my commodities the dearer, for

giving days of payment? .

5. Whether, and how far, monopolies are, or may be lawful 381

6. Whether, and how far, doth a fraudulent bargain bind

me to performance? .

384

7. How far, and when, am I bound to make restitution of

another man's goods remaining in my hand?

8. Whether, and how far, doth a promise, extorted by fear,

though seconded by an oath, bind my conscience to

performance?

9. Whether those monies or goods, which I have found,

may be safely taken and kept by me to my own use 391

10. Whether I may lawfully buy those goods, which I shall

strongly suspect or know to be stolen or plundered;

or, if I have ignorantly bought such goods, whether I

may lawfully, after knowledge of their owner, keep

them as mine.

Case 1. Whether, and in what cases, it may be lawful for a man

to take away the life of another.

2. Whether may I lawfully make use of a duel, for the de-

ciding of my right, or the vindication of mine honour? 398

3. Whether may it be lawful, in case of extremity, to pro-

cure the abortion of the child, for the preservation of

the mother?.

4. Whether a man, adjudged to perpetual imprisonment or

death, may, in conscience, endeavour and practise an

escape.

400

404

5. Whether, and how far, a man may be urged to an oath 406

6. Whether a judge may, upon allegations, proofs, and

evidences of others, condemn a man to death, whom

he himself certainly knows to be innocent.

7. Whether, and in what cases, am I bound to be an accu-

ser of another?.

8. Whether a prisoner, indicted of a felonious act which

he hath committed, and interrogated by the judge

concerning the same, may stand upon the denial, and

plead, "Not guilty.".

CONTENTS.

9. Whether, and how far, a man may take up arms, in the

public quarrel of a war.

.

XV

Page

418

419

10. Whether, and how far, a man may act towards his own

death.

Case 1. Whether, upon the appearance of Evil Spirits, we may

hold discourse with them; and how we may demean

ourselves concerning them.

2. How far a secret pact with Evil Spirits doth extend;

and what actions and events must be referred there-

unto.

3. Whether, reserving my conscience to myself, I may be

present at an idolatrous devotion; or, whether, in the

lawful service of God, I may communicate with

wicked persons.

4. Whether vows be not out of season, now, under the

Gospel of what things they may be made: how far

they oblige us and, whether, and how far, they may

be capable of a release.

. 423

427

430

433

5. Whom may we justly hold a heretic? and what is to be

done in case of heresy?

436

6. Whether the laws of men do bind the conscience; and

how far we are tied to their obedience

439

7. Whether tithes be a lawful maintenance for Ministers

under the Gospel; and whether men be bound to pay

them accordingly.

8. Whether it be lawful for Christians, where they find a

country possessed by savage Pagans and Infidels, to

drive out the native inhabitants; and to sieze and en-

joy their lands, upon any pretence; and, upon what

grounds, it may be lawful so to do.

9. Whether I need, in case of some foul sin, committed by

me, to have recourse to God's Minister for absolution;

and what effect I may expect therefrom.

10. Whether it be lawful, for a man that is not a professed

divine, that is, as we for distinction are wont to call

him, for a laic person to take upon him to interpret

the Scripture.

CASES MATRIMONIAL.

446

451

455

Fourth Decade.

Case 1. Whether the marriage of a son or daughter, without or

against the parent's consent, may be accounted lawful 463

2. Whether marriage, lawfully made, may admit of any

cause of divorce, save only for the violation of the

marriage-bed, by fornication or adultery

466

3. Whether, after a lawful divorce for adultery, the inno-

cent party may marry again.

471

4. Whether the authority of the father may reach so far,

as to command or compel the child, to dispose of

himself in marriage where he shall appoint.

Page

5. Whether the marriage of cousins-german, that is, of

brother's or sister's children, be lawful

6. Whether is it necessary or requisite there should be a

witnessed contract, or espousals of the parties to be

married, before the solemnization of the marriage

7. Whether there ought to be a prohibition and forbear-

ance of marriages and marriage duties, for some times

appointed.

8. Whether it be necessary, that marriages should be cele-

brated by a Minister; and whether they may be va-

lid and lawful without him.

9. Whether there be any necessity or use of thrice pub-

lishing the contract of marriage in the congregation,

before the celebration of it; and whether it be fit,

that any dispensation should be granted for the for-

bearance of it .

478

481

485

487

489

10. Whether marriages, once made, may be annulled and

utterly voided; and, in what cases this may be done. 491

Additionals to the Fourth Decade.

Case 1. Whether a marriage, consummate betwixt the uncle

and niece, be so utterly unlawful, as to merit a sen-

tence of present separation

2. Whether it be lawful, for a man to marry his wife's

brother's widow.

3. Whether an incestuous marriage, contracted in simpli-

city of heart, betwixt two persons ignorant of such a

defilement; and so far consummate, as that children

are born in that wedlock; ought to be made known

and prosecuted to a dissolution.

An Advertisement to the Reader .

.

494

501

. 503

. 507

VIII. THE HOLY ORDER: or, FRATERNITY OF THE MOURNERS IN SION.

HUMBLY AND EARNESTLY TENDERED TO ALL GOD'S FAITHFUL ONES. 509

IX. SONGS IN THE NIGHT: or, CHEERFULNESS UNDER AFFLIC-

TION.

522