Backwoods Presbyterian
Puritanboard Amanuensis
I do not know if any of you have read this before but it is well worth your time.
An Abstract of the Laws of New England,
as They Are Now Established.
printed in London in 1641.
JOHN COTTON
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An Abstract of the Laws of New England,
as They Are Now Established.
printed in London in 1641.
JOHN COTTON
[This model] far surpasseth all the municipal laws and statutes of any of the Gentile nations and corporations under the cope of Heaven. Wherefore I thought it not unmeet to publish it to the view of all, for the common good. . . . Judge equally and impartially, whether there be any laws in any state in the world, so just and equal as these be. Which, were they duly attended unto, would undoubtedly preserve inviolable the liberty of the subject against all tyrannical and usurping powers. . . .
This Abstract may serve for this use principally (which I conceive was the main scope of that good man, who was the author of it) to show the complete sufficiency of the word of God alone, to direct his people in judgment of all causes, both civil and criminal.... But the truth is, both they and we, and other the Gentile nations, are loth to be persuaded to . . . lay aside our old earthly forms of governments, to submit to the government of Christ. Nor shall we Gentiles be willing I fear, to take up his yoke which is easy, and burthen light, until he bath broken us under the hard and heavy yokes of men, and thereby weaned us from all our old forms and customs. . . .
So that there will be a necessity, that the little stone, cut out of the mountain without hands should crush and break these obstacles ere the way can be prepared for erecting his kingdom, wherein dwells righteousness. -- And verily great will be the benefit of this kingdom of Christ, when it shall be submitted unto by the nations . . . [Ps. 95: 10; Isa. 66:12]. All burdens and tyrannical exactions will be removed; God will make their officers peace, and their exactors righteousness, Isa. 60:17.
Capital Crimes in the Massachusetts
Body of Liberties ( 1641 )
1.
If any man after legal conviction shall have or worship any other god, but the Lord God, he shall be put to death.
Deut. 13:6, 10 Deut. 17:2, 6 Ex. 22:20
2.
If any man or woman be a witch (that is, has or consults with a familiar spirit), they shall be put to death.
Ex. 22:18; Lev. 20:27; Deut. 18:10
3.
If any man shall blaspheme the name of God the Father, Son, or Holy Ghost, with direct, express, presumptuous, or high handed blasphemy, or shall curse God in the like manner, he shall be put to death.
Lev. 25:15,16
4.
If any person commits any willful murder, which is manslaughter, committed upon premeditated malice, hatred, or cruelty, not in a man's necessary and just defense, nor by mere casualty against his will, he shall be put to death.
Ex. 21:12; Num. 35:13; 14,30,31
5.
If any person slays another suddenly in his anger or cruelty of passion, he shall be put to death.
Num. 25 [351: 20,21; Lev. 24:17
6.
If any person shall slay another through guile, either by poisoning or other such devilish practice, he shall be put to death.
Ex. 21:14
7.
If any man or woman shall lie with any beast or brute creature by carnal copulation, they shall surely be put to death. And the beast shall be slain and buried, and not eaten.
Lev. 20:15, 16
8.
If any man lies with mankind as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed abomination, they both shall surely be put to death.
Lev. 20:13
9.
If any person commits adultery with a married or espoused wife, the adulterer and adulteress shall surely be put to death.
Lev. 20:19, and 18, 20 Deut. 22:23, 24
10.
If any person steals a man or mankind, he shall surely be put to death.
Ex. 21:16
11.
If any man rises up by false witness, wittingly and of purpose to take away any man's life, he shall be put to death.
Deut. 19:16, 18,19
12.
If any man shall conspire and attempt any invasion, insurrection, or public rebellion against our commonwealth, or shall endeavor to surprise any town or towns, fort or forts therein, or shall treacherously and perfidiously attempt the alteration and subversion of our frame of polity of government fundamentally, be shall be put to death.
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