AS Epidemick diseases , when Infection hath possessed the ayr , raigns powerfully over the bodies of Mortalls , so sometimes even their Souls seem to be possest with an Universall frensy , when the spirits of the ayr hath infused , as it were a spirituall madness into their mindes , to make them not only believe a lye , ( even from the mouths of the most Infamous ) but like the deprav'd appetites of the body , which longs for all things that are poysonous to themselves ; so they with as much earnestness hunt after all things that may encrease their distemper , and give more disorder to their understandings ; This is one of the greatest punishments that God uses to revenge the greatest sins with , to give them up to the belief of lyes , and put a lye into the mouths of their Prophets , thus punishing sin with sin , makes them run round in a vicious Circulation , and Endless giddiness of Errour ; From thence proceeds all those fears , those jealousies , that thus disturb our quiet , and repose under the government of the best of Princes , and best of Laws : From these suspitions proceed the want of commerce and dearth of trade : From these distractions , Envy and hatred amongst neighbours , Relations , and Kindred : From these fatall feuds false witnesses , Briberies and pensions for perjuries arise : I would it were in my power even with the mixture of my Bloud to make a Salve for these wounds , or give a Cordiall to these distempers so raging at this time amongst us : I shall now only prescribe the Ingredients as I have received them from a Recipe , under his hand , that cannot lye nor deceive us , and consequently I hope the better antidote against lyes , which is one of our present Evils ; I shall not compound nor prescribe the measure of them , but leave every one to take what Dose he thinks his own distemper requires : I shall not paraphrase upon their perfections , because none whose madness is not beyond cure , can doubt them , coming from so perfect a principle ; plainly therefore , and as I finde them , you shall have them .

The first and most Excellent against the multiplicity of vain and false Oaths , and the pernitious frensy of Perjury is , Thou shalt not take the name of thy Lord thy God in vain , and if not vainly , much less falsely .

The second and most particular remedy against the distraction of detraction , is , Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy Neighbour .

The third is , to shew us the danger of this distemper , and the Remedy for it is , If a false witnesse rise up against any man , to testify against him what is not true , The Judges , shall make great Inquisition between them , and if the witnesse be found a false-witnesse , and hath testifyed falsely against his Brother , Then shall he do to him as he thought to have done to his brother , so shall you put away the Evill from amongst you : and then eyes shall not pitty him , but life shall go for life , eye for eye , tooth for tooth , hand for hand , and foot for foot , as Deut . Chap. 19. ver . 16. Neither shalt thou make distinction of persons ; but you shall have one manner of law as well for strangers as your own Countrey-men : Lev . Chap. 24. ver . 22.

This as you see being the law of God is followed by the Civil law , or Jus Gentium , and called Lex Talionis , as the most equall and rationall law of mankinde . This did the most wise of Princes set down as a Maxim amongst his Proverbs : A false witnesse shall not be unpunished , and he that speaks lyes shall not escape , Prov. Chap. 19. ver . 5. And this doth our most equal and excellent Municipall laws of our Land intend , when it says , No Free-man shall be convicted but by the testimony of two sufficient , honest and credible witnesses ; and their evidence ( so called from the composition of E and Video , which is clear and seen ) ought to be , as Judge Cock says , Luce clariores , clearer then the light it self : And for the greater Caution in this important affair , our Law hath ordained that twelve able and understanding men of the visenage or Neighbourhood , where the fact was said to be Committed , should upon their Conscience enquire , as well into the honesty and Integrity of the person accusing , and the person accused , as the clear and evident matter of fact before them .

Now if a common , cheat a pickpocket , a horse-stealer , or they whose Life hath been only conversant in cousenings and falsityes , without any previous appearance of amendment , shall cause an honest upright and just person to all appearance , and without more probabilitys then his particular asseveration , what person think you ( without the prejudice of his Nation ) could believe it ; But if indeed to pick a purse , to steal a horse , to cheat some young ofe of his money , were the designe ; none more proper for that consult , then leud Indigent , and vitious persons ; But to raise a War , to Subvert Governments , and introduce a Religion , to use for the principall contrivers of that , those who can raise nothing but a Regiment of Lice , whose credit would not go for a crackt groat , and whose Religion is worse then honest Atheism , is incredible ; for amongst Barbarians there hath not perhaps been found , so horrid an example of perjury and partiality as is countenanced amongst us ; much less can reason and Conscience look on it without a blush , and not suffer it to be redressed without a blemish to the Justice of our Nation : Let us therefore have recourse not only to our own reasons , but to the Law of God and Man , as well Natural as civill , and you will finde no security too great for innocency , no punishment too severe for perjury .

This , Gentlemen is our safety both as to Law and Conscience ; this is the security of our lives , liberties , and fortunes , against all base , unworthy , and leud ill-livers , who as they have sold their Souls to vice and liberty , so will they sell our lives to maintain their Luxury : If therefore you will free your selves , and others , from this dangerous Infection ; imitate the pious prudence of the Prophet Daniel , where seperating the two false witnesses , he intrapped them in their one lye , and caught them in the same snare their lust and mallice had laid for innocent blood , whose words crying to Heaven , ( much more would her blood , had it been spilt , ) she said , Eternal God , which art the knower of all hidden things before they are come to pass , thou knowest they have born false-witness against me , and lo I dye , whereas I have done none of those things which those Men have maliciously forged against me , and the Lord heard her voice , and returning to judgement because they had given false Testimony , they did with them as they would have done against their Innocent Neighbours , Dan . Chap. 13. This is the best and only way timely to stop this dangerous Infection from spreading farther amongst us , and prevent those ills that may over-take those that think themselves the securest of us .

So long live the King , and all that love him , and let the Enemies of our Lord the King be like the young Man Absolon , as Kings , Chap. 18. Ver . 32.