Also of appointing a judge.
16. St. Paul, writing to the Corinthians (1 Epist. vi), reprehends the Corinthians of that city for going to law one with another before infidel judges, who were their enemies: calling it a fault, that they would not rather take wrong, and suffer themselves to be defrauded; for that is against that law, whereby we are commanded to be helpful to each other. But if it happen the controversy be concerning things necessary, what is to be done? Therefore the Apostle (verse 5) speaks thus: I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not one wise man among you, no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? He therefore, by those words, confirms that law of nature which we called the fifteenth, to wit, where controversies cannot be avoided; there by the consent of parties to appoint some arbiter, and him some third man; so as (which is the sixteenth law) neither of the parties may be judge in his own cause.
Also of the seventeenth law, that the arbiters must receive no reward for their sentence.
17. But that the judge or arbiter must receive no reward for his sentence, which is the seventeenth law appears, Exod. xxiii. 8: Thou shalt take no gift; for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous. Ecclesiasticus xx. 29: Presents and gifts blind the eyes of the wise. Whence it follows, that he must not be more obliged to one part than the other; which is the nineteenth law; and is also confirmed, Deut. i. 17: Ye shall not respect persons in judgment, ye shall hear the small as well as the great; and in all those places which are brought against respect of persons.
Also of the eighteenth, concerning witnesses.
18. That in the judgment of fact witnesses must be had, which is the eighteenth law, the Scripture not only confirms, but requires more than one. Deut. xvii. 6: At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death. The same is repeated Deut. xix. 15.
Also of the twentieth law, against drunkenness.
19. Drunkenness, which we have therefore in the last place numbered among the breaches of the natural law, because it hinders the use of right reason, is also forbid in Sacred Scripture for the same reason. Prov. xx. 1: Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. And Prov. xxxi. 4, 5: It is not for kings to drink wine, lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. But that we might know that the malice of this vice consisted not formally in the quantity of the drink, but in that it destroys judgment and reason, it follows in the next verse: Give strong drink to him that is ready to perish, and wine to those that be heavy of heart. Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. Christ useth the same reason in prohibiting drunkenness (Luke xxi. 34): Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness.
Also in respect of that which hath been said, that the law of nature is eternal.
20. That we said in the foregoing chapter, the law of nature is eternal, is also proved out of Matth. v. 18: Verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law; and Psalm cxix. 160: Every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.