The Scepter of Judah, Title page – Part
THE SCEPTER OF IVDAH: Or, what maner of Government it was, that unto the Common-wealth or Church of Iſrael was by the Law of God appointed.
By Edm. Bunny.
Deut. 4: verſe. 8.
What nation is ſo great, that hath ordinances and lawes ſo righteous, as is al this Law, which I ſet before you this day?
Imprinted at London by N. Newton, and A. Hatfield, for Iohn Wight.
1584.
Gryphus Graienſis.
INTEGRA LEX AEQVI CVSTOS RECTIQVE MAGISTRA NON HABET AFFETVA SED CAVSAS IVRE CVEERNAT
Quo truci es vultu, Gryphe, parce rectis:
In malos totus rapiare ſaevus:
Sic tuis ſemper genuina fies
Iuris imago.
VntoUnto the Right Honorable, Worſhipful, and deerly beloved in the Lord, the Gentlemen and Students of Graies In, Edm. BVNNY wiſheth grace, merciemercy, and peace from God the Father, through Ieſus Chriſt his Son our Lord.
HAving gathered out this Treatiſe of the Iſraelites government, more than ſix yeers ſince, as a part or member of a greater work that before that time I had in hand, & ſhal not be able as yet to finiſh: I had in the mean time no other purpoſe, but to ſtay it with the rest, til I ſhould be able to finiſh the whole, and then to publiſh al togither. But ſince eſpieng, that the whole work is like to grow ſo large, and of ſuch importance withal, that it is not like to be finiſhed, any thing neer within the time that before I conceived (nor convenient it ſhould, but as it may be orderly done) I have now thought good to publiſh this before, not only to the common uſe of others, but for mine own furtherance alſo. For mine opinion is, that wheras the matter is ſuch as craveth good industrie, truly to gather; and iudgement likewiſe, orderly and aptly to diſpoſe: howſoever I have yet but drawn as it were the first lines therof, yet, when I com to place it in the work it ſelfe, then by the help and iudgement of others (by communicating it before unto them, which otherwiſe I could not have ſo wel) I may be able the better to do it. Which help or advantage I have thought good rather to uſe in this part only of al the Bible, for that it is of al the old Testament, the principal part; and not fully inough (me think) as yet digested by others. Which that now I praeſent unto you, the only reaſon is not, for that ſomtime I have been of your companie (which notwithstanding I ſo esteem of, as that I acknowledge it my bounden dutie, ever with reverence to be thankful for it) but much rather bicauſe it doth very wel accord, that ſuch as are occupied in the lawes of the Realm, & now in the way to be in place of government heerafter, have ſom recourſe withal unto the righteous lawes of God, & to the government that he of old to his people ordained. Wherin although I have not attanied to that, which were needful to ſuch a purpoſe, nor may ſo much as hope to com any thing neer it, in the best that I am able to do: yet may it ſuffice to commend unto you this conſideration, that it ſhal be good for you to ioin the one with the other. Wherunto wheras you have alredie an open way in the text it ſelf, & in thoſe that have written theron: if this little travel of mine, by the ſhortnes or plainnes of it may any thing further, it is the thing that I have deſired, howſoever I have praevailed therin. In which reſpect you are much beholding to the goodnes of God, that hath opened your eies ſo far, as that now you ſee it to be your duties, and a ſpecial point of wiſdom withal, to have ordinarie teachers of your own: and that he hath, both framed your harts to do accordingly; and given you ſo rich a bleſſing therin. By means wherof, the leſſe that ſuch weak labors of mine may be to any uſe unto you, though I am, and ſo ought to be the gladder of it; and ſo much the leſſe do need, to buſie my ſelfe to make ſupplie: yet, neither might I of dutie ſhrink from that, which I am (howſoever) enabled to do; neither is it amiſſe for you, to be admoniſhed of others beſides. Whatſoever can be done is little inough: but God I trust wil give ſupplie; and make you able, not only to understand his wil, but in ſom good meaſure alſo to do it. VntoUnto whoſe grace I humbly commend your ſelves, and your ſtudies, to be in ſuch ſort directed by him, as may be most to his glorie, and to the benefit of thoſe his people where your calling ſhal be.
From Bolton-Percie in the ancientie of York, the fift of September, 1584.
To the Reader.
IT may be, thou wilt looke for (gentle Reader) that in this Treatiſe following I ſhould have ſet down not only the ordinances themſelves that unto the Iſraelites were praeſcribed: but alſo the interpretation and meaning of them: both for the better underſtanding therof; and bicauſe that moſt of them are altogither aboliſhed to us, but ſo far as in ſenſe and ſpirit, we are to take inſtruction of them. I have therfore to give thee to underſtand, that it was of purpoſe by me omitted, partly bicauſe that many others have written of it, & the book would ſo have grown to be very great: but cheefly for that it agreeth not with the courſe that I have taken, meaning firſt to ſet down the ſtorie of the church by it ſelfe: and then, under the doctrine of it, to ſhew the ſenſe of thoſe conſtitutions that were given unto it. As for the Table of the ſcriptures that foloweth at the end of the book, I have to this end gathered the ſame, that ſo it may more eaſily be ſeen, what texts of the law are alreadie gathered hither, and unto what place they are ſorted: that ſo it might more eaſily appeer, what they are that are omitted; and how aptly thoſe are applied that alreadie are taken. Which I truſt ſhal be a readie way for others, both to judge better of this which is done: and to amend the ſame to their own private uſe as need ſhal require. Of other things I truſt I ſhal not need to admoniſh thee: neither yet, if thou find any uſe of this, to take it unto thee. So fare thou wel, and give glorie to God: and, to thy power, imploy thy ſelfe to the uſe of thy neighbor.
Errata.
Page. 55. Line. 27.
Fault. any heerin, or
for
Correction. any Herem, or.
The effect and method of the Treatiſe enſuing.
The government of Iſrael (ſo far as is diſcourſed of in this Treatiſe enſuing) conſisteth of two principal ſorts or kinds: viz.
One, that they have common with others: which is the instinct of nature, or that common ſenſe and feeling of aequitie, which God hath imprinted in the nature of al, not only in men, but (after a ſort) in divers other creatures beſides. Section. 1-5.
The other, that which they had proper to themſelves, or ſuch as at that time (and many yeers after) was not beſtowed on any other people in al the world. Which was the ſame that was praeſcribed unto them by the written law of God, under the miniſterie and regiment of Moſes. Of which there be two principal parts.
One concerning their inhabiting of the land that God did give them. Concerning which,
First, there is a deſcription of the land it ſelfe. Sect. 6-10.
Then it is declared how it was allotted unto them: that is,
First, how they ſhould make it theirs, or take it into their hands: to which appertaineth
Both their entrie at the first. Sect. 11, 12.
And in the diviſion or diſtribution therof that afterward they made among them. Sect. 13-16.
Then, in what maner they ſhould poſſeſſe it or hold it. Sect. 17-19.
The other concerning their behavior therin: wherunto belong two principal parts:
Firſt what was the direction they had, for to frame their lives therby:
Firſt as touching their private life at home, towards God and man: which is ſet down by the order of the ten cōmandements. Se. 20-30.
Then as touching the publik exerciſe of their religion: wher unto appertain theſe two:
First their ſacraments. Sect. 31.
Then their ſacrifices. Concerning which,
First there is ſet down matter before (for the better understanding of them:) viz.
First, ſomwhat of the
Place, wherein they ſhuld be offered. Se. 32-33.
Perſons, to whom this ſacrificing belonged. Section. 35-38.
Creatures, that were to be offered Sect. 39.
Then ſomwhat alſo of their ſolemn feasts. Sect. 40, 41.
Then the ſacrifices themſelves …clar…
First thoſe that were ordinary. Sect. 42.
Then extra ordinarie: & therin,
First ſuch as were for the whole congregation. Section. 43-45.
Then ſuch as were for ſeveral perſons. Se. 46-49.
Then in what ſort their falts were to be puniſhed. Wherunto belong:
What authority was erected among them on this behalfe. …, 51
What rules of iudgment were unto them praeſcribed. Which concern
Partly magiſtr themſelves. Section. 52.
But cheefly others: and then,
Either the maner of trial. Sect. 53.
Or the puniſhment it ſelfe du to offenders:
Either whole multitudes Sect. 54, 55.
Or ſeveral perſons, according as they have offended againſt any of the commandements of God. Sect. 56-62.