Also of the third law, of thankfulness.
6. The third law concerning gratitude, is proved by these places. Deut. xxv. 4: Thou shalt not muzzle the ox, when he treadeth out the corn: which St. Paul (1 Cor. ix. 9) interprets to be spoken of men, not oxen only. Prov. xvii. 13; Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. And Deut. xx. 10, 11: When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it. And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be that all the people that is found therein, shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee. Prov. iii. 29: Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
Also of the fourth law, of rendering ourselves useful.
7. To the fourth law of accommodating ourselves, these precepts are conformable: Exod. xxiii. 4, 5: If thou meet thine enemy’s ox, or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee, lying under his burden, and wouldst forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him. Also (verse 9): Thou shalt not oppress a stranger. Prov. iii. 30: Strive not with a man without a cause, if he have done thee no harm. Prov. xv. 18: A wrathful man stirreth up strife; but he that is slow to anger, appeaseth strife. Prov. xviii. 24: There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. The same is confirmed, Luke x, by the parable of the Samaritan, who had compassion on the Jew that was wounded by thieves; and by Christ’s precept (Matth. v. 39): But I say unto you that ye resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Also of the fifth law, concerning mercy.
8. Among infinite other places which prove the fifth law, these are some: Matth. vi. 14, 15: If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matth. xviii. 21, 22: Lord how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus saith unto him; I say not till seven times, but till seventy times seven times; that is, toties quoties.
Also of the sixth law, that punishment only looks at the future.
9. For the confirmation of the sixth law, all those places are pertinent which command us to shew mercy, such as Matth. v. 7: Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Levit. xix. 18: Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people. But there are, who not only think this law is not proved by Scripture, but plainly disproved from hence; that there is an eternal punishment reserved for the wicked after death, where there is no place either for amendment or example. Some resolve this objection by answering, that God, whom no law restrains, refers all to his glory, but that man must not do so; as if God sought his glory, that is to say, pleased himself in the death of a sinner. It is more rightly answered, that the institution of eternal punishment was before sin, and had regard to this only, that men might dread to commit sin for the time to come.
Also of the seventh law, concerning slander.
10. The words of Christ prove this seventh: (Matth. v. 22): But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say unto his brother Racha, shall be in danger of the council; but whosoever shall say, thou fool, shall be in danger of hell-fire. Prov. x. 18: He that uttereth a slander, is a fool. Prov. xiv. 21: He that despiseth his neighbour, sinneth. Prov. xv. 1: Grievous words stir up anger. Prov. xxii. 10[Prov. xxii. 10]: Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out, and reproach shall cease.