Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 2 · Part 75
Now to the outward things that tend to the maintenance of the life of the body of another or others.
Quest. VVhat are the outward things that tend to the maintenance and preseruation of the life of the body of another or others, and to the welfare and safetie of the body of another or others?
Answ. They are of two sorts: either such as serue to avert and to turne away euill, wrong, hurt, or danger from the body of another or others, or such as serue for the good, helpe and comfort of the body of another or others.
Quest. What are the outward things that serue to avert and to turne away euill, wrong, hurt, or danger from the body of another or others?
Answ. They are either in speech, or in action: in word, or in act or deed.
Quest. What are the outward things in speech or in word that serue to avert and to turne away euill, wrong, hurt or danger from the body of another or others?
Answ. Such words and speeches vttered and spoken as are for the defence and helpe of innocent persons that are helplesse, being either vnderunder the hands of oppressors,Pro: 12.6 Pro: 24.11.12▪ or followed by oppressors seeking to hurt and to wrong them either in their bodies or liues. Men are, as they are able, and according to their place and calling, to open their mouthes, and to speake for the defence and helpe of them that are knowne to them to bee oppressed in their bodies or liues, being innocent and helplesse, especially being such as they are bound to by some neere and speciall bond.
Quest. How are men to speake for the defence and helpe of such as are knowne to them to be wronged and oppressed in their bodies or liues, being innocent and harmelesse persons, and helpelesse?
Answ. Three wayes.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; by speaking for them as they are able, and according to their place and calling,…en: 37, 21.22. Sam: 20.32. Hest. 7.3.4.5.6. in priuate to the face of their oppressor or oppressors, to disswade him or them from offering or doing wrong vntounto them in respect of their body or liues. Thus did Reuben, Gen. 37.21, 22. Thus did Ionathan, 1 Sam. 20.32. Hest. 7.3, 4, 5, 6.
Quest. What is the second way by which men are to speake for the defence and helpe of such as are knowne to them to be wronged and oppressed in their bodies or liues, being innocent and harmelesse persons, and helplesse?
Hest. 4.8. Iob. 29.12 to 19. Pro. 31.8.9. Iere. 38.7.8.9 Luk. 23.13.14. to 22.Answ. This; by speaking and pleading for them as they are able, and according to their place and calling, either as Witnesses, or as Aduocates, or as Iudges publikely in some open Court, for the freeing of them from wrong done or offered to be done to them in respect of their bodies or liues, especially they being poore fatherlesse, widowes, or strāgers, or being religious, and yet such as either cannot or dare not plead for themselues.
Quest. What is the third way by which men are to speake for the defence and helpe of such, as are knowne to them to be wronged and oppressed in their bodies or liues, being innocent and harmeles persons, and helplesse?
Act. 12.4.5. Rom. 15.30.31 2 Thess. 3.1.2Answ. This; by speaking for them as they are able to God in prayer, by commending their case to the Lord, and calling on him in prayer for their succour and reliefe.
Quest. What are the outward things in act or deed that serue to avert and to turne away euill, wrong, hurt or danger from the body of another or others?
Answ. Such acts and deeds done, as are for the helpe and succour of innocent persons that are helplesse, being either vnderunder oppression and wrong, or pursued by oppressors, seeking to hurt and wrong them in their bodies or liues. Men are, as they are able,Exod. 2.17.18.19. Iudg. 2.10 Iudg. 3.9.15.31 and according to their place and calling, to doe such things as serue▪ for the helpe and succour of innocent persons that are helplesse, especially of such as they are bound to by some speciall relatiō, against the known euils and wrongs either already done to them, or in doing or intended to be done to them in respect of their bodies or liues.
Quest. What are men to doe for the helpe and succour of innocent persons that are helplesse, especially to such hauing knowne euils and wrongs already done to them, and being vnderunder oppression and wrong in respect of their bodies or liues?
Answ. They are as they are able, and according to their place and calling,Iob 29.12.17 Prou. 24.11. to vse their power and strength for the rescuing and deliuering them from vnderunder their oppressions and wrongs. Thus did Abraham, Gen. 14.14.15.16 Thus Dauid 1 Sam. 30.17, 18.
Quest. What are men to doe for the helpe and succour of innocent persons that are helplesse, especially of such as they are bound to by some neere and speciall bond, when knowne euils and wrongs are in doing, or intended to bee done to them in their bodies or liues?
Answ. They are then, as they are able, to interpose their power and strength to defend and to saue them from those euils and wrongs, either as they be priuate persons, or as they be Magistrates.
Quest. How are men as they bee priuate persons to interpose their power and strength, to defend and to saue innocent persons that are helplesse, especially such as they are bound to by some neere and speciall bond, from knowne euills and wrongs that are in doing or intended to bee done to them in their bod es or liues?
Answ. Thus; by vsing their hands, their purses,Iosh. 2.4.6. 1. Kings 18.4. their paines so farre as they are able, to protect and to saue them from violence or spoyle, especially when violence or spoyle intended is sudden, and the Magistrate absent, and it is dangerous to stay for his comming.
Quest. How f…rre are priuate persons to interpose their power and strength to defend and to saue innocent persons that are helplesse, especially such as they are bound vntounto by some neere and speciall bond, from knowne euils and wrongs that are in doing or intended to be done to them in their bodies or liues?
Sam. 21.15.6.17. …om. 16.4. … Iohn. 3.16.Answ. Sometimes to the hazard and aduenturing their owne liues; as when it is to the defending and sauing of the bodies and liues of such as are speciall instruments of Gods glory, and of common good, either in the Church or Common wealth.
Quest. How are men as they bee Magistrates to interpose their power and strength to defend, and to saue innocent persons that are helplesse, especially such as they are bound to by some neere and speciall bond, from knowne euills and wrongs that are in doing, or intended to bee done to them in their bodies or liues?
Exod. 18.21. Rom. 13.4. Exod. 2.11.12 Act. 7.24.Answ. Thus; by drawing out, and vsing the sword, according to their place and power to protect and to saue them from violence or hurt, whether it bee in doing or intended to bee done, either to their owne Subiects or Forreiners.