Fortheliteralsenseisthatwhichthelegislatorintendedshouldbytheletterofthelawbesignified。Nowtheintentionofthelegislatorisalwayssupposedtobeequity：foritwereagreatcontumelyforajudgetothinkotherwiseofthesovereign。Heoughttherefore，ifthewordofthelawdonotfullyauthorizeareasonablesentence，tosupplyitwiththelawofnature；orifthecasebedifficult，torespitejudgementtillhehavereceivedmoreampleauthority。Forexample，awrittenlawordaineththathewhichisthrustoutofhishousebyforceshallberestoredbyforce。Ithappensthatamanbynegligenceleaveshishouseempty，andreturningiskeptoutbyforce，inwhichcasethereisnospeciallawordained。Itisevidentthatthiscaseiscontainedinthesamelaw；
forelsethereisnoremedyforhimatall，whichistobesupposedagainsttheintentionofthelegislator。Again，thewordofthelawcommandethtojudgeaccordingtotheevidence。Amanisaccusedfalselyofafactwhichthejudgehimselfsawdonebyanother，andnotbyhimthatisaccused。Inthiscaseneithershalltheletterofthelawbefollowedtothecondemnationoftheinnocent，norshallthejudgegivesentenceagainsttheevidenceofthewitnesses，becausetheletterofthelawistothecontrary；butprocureofthesovereignthatanotherbemadejudge，andhimselfwitness。Sothattheincommoditythatfollowsthebarewordsofawrittenlawmayleadhimtotheintentionofthelaw，wherebytointerpretthesamethebetter；thoughnoincommoditycanwarrantasentenceagainstthelaw。ForeveryjudgeofrightandwrongisnotjudgeofwhatiscommodiousorincommodioustotheCommonwealth。
Theabilitiesrequiredinagoodinterpreterofthelaw，thatistosay，inagoodjudge，arenotthesamewiththoseofanadvocate；
namely，thestudyofthelaws。Forajudge，asheoughttotakenoticeofthefactfromnonebutthewitnesses，soalsoheoughttotakenoticeofthelawfromnothingbutthestatutesandconstitutionsofthesovereign，allegedinthepleading，ordeclaredtohimbysomethathaveauthorityfromthesovereignpowertodeclarethem；andneednottakecarebeforehandwhatheshalljudge；foritshallbegivenhimwhatheshallsayconcerningthefact，bywitnesses；andwhatheshallsayinpointoflaw，fromthosethatshallintheirpleadingsshowit，andbyauthorityinterpretitupontheplace。TheLordsofParliamentinEnglandwerejudges，andmostdifficultcauseshavebeenheardanddeterminedbythem；yetfewofthemweremuchversedinthestudyofthelaws，andfewerhadmadeprofessionofthem；andthoughtheyconsultedwithlawyersthatwereappointedtobepresentthereforthatpurpose，yettheyalonehadtheauthorityofgivingsentence。Inlikemanner，intheordinarytrialsofright，twelvemenofthecommonpeoplearethejudgesandgivesentence，notonlyofthefact，butoftheright；andpronouncesimplyforthecomplainantorforthedefendant；thatistosay，arejudgesnotonlyofthefact，butalsooftheright；andinaquestionofcrime，notonlydeterminewhetherdoneornotdone，butalsowhetheritbemurder，homicide，felony，assault，andthelike，whicharedeterminationsoflaw：butbecausetheyarenotsupposedtoknowthelawofthemselves，thereisonethathathauthoritytoinformthemofitintheparticularcasetheyaretojudgeof。Butyetiftheyjudgenotaccordingtothathetellsthem，theyarenotsubjecttherebytoanypenalty；unlessitbemadeappeartheydiditagainsttheirconsciences，orhadbeencorruptedbyreward。
Thethingsthatmakeagoodjudgeorgoodinterpreterofthelawsare，first，arightunderstandingofthatprincipallawofnaturecalledequity；which，dependingnotonthereadingofothermen’swritings，butonthegoodnessofaman’sownnaturalreasonandmeditation，ispresumedtobeinthosemostthathadmostleisure，andhadthemostinclinationtomeditatethereon。Secondly，contemptofunnecessaryrichesandpreferments。Thirdly，tobeableinjudgementtodivesthimselfofallfear，anger，hatred，love，andcompassion。
Fourthly，andlastly，patiencetohear，diligentattentioninhearing，andmemorytoretain，digest，andapplywhathehathheard。
Thedifferenceanddivisionofthelawshasbeenmadeindiversemanners，accordingtothedifferentmethodsofthosementhathavewrittenofthem。Foritisathingthatdependethonnature，butonthescopeofthewriter，andissubservienttoeveryman’spropermethod。IntheInstitutionsofJustinian，wefindsevensortsofcivillaws：
1。Theedicts，constitutions，andepistlesofprince；thatis，oftheemperor，becausethewholepowerofthepeoplewasinhim。LikethesearetheproclamationsofthekingsofEngland。
2。ThedecreesofthewholepeopleofRome，comprehendingtheSenate，whentheywereputtothequestionbytheSenate。Thesewerelaws，atfirst，bythevirtueofthesovereignpowerresidinginthepeople；andsuchofthemasbytheemperorswerenotabrogatedremainedlawsbytheauthorityimperial。Foralllawsthatbindareunderstoodtobelawsbyhisauthoritythathaspowertorepealthem。SomewhatliketotheselawsaretheActsofParliamentinEngland。
3。Thedecreesofthecommonpeople，excludingtheSenate，whentheywereputtothequestionbythetribuneofthepeople。Forsuchofthemaswerenotabrogatedbytheemperors，remainedlawsbytheauthorityimperial。LiketotheseweretheordersoftheHouseofCommonsinEngland。
4。Senatusconsulta，theordersoftheSenate：becausewhenthepeopleofRomegrewsonumerousasitwasinconvenienttoassemblethem，itwasthoughtfitbytheemperorthatmenshouldconsulttheSenateinsteadofthepeople：andthesehavesomeresemblancewiththeActsofCouncil。
5。Theedictsofpraetors，andinsomecasesoftheaediles：suchasarethechiefjusticesinthecourtsofEngland。
6。Responsaprudentum，whichwerethesentencesandopinionsofthoselawyerstowhomtheemperorgaveauthoritytointerpretthelaw，thelaw，andtogiveanswertosuchasinmatteroflawdemandedtheiradvice；whichanswersthejudgesingivingjudgementwereobligedbytheconstitutionsoftheemperortoobserve：andshouldbelikethereportsofcasesjudged，ifotherjudgesbebythelawofEnglandboundtoobservethem。ForthejudgesofthecommonlawofEnglandarenotproperlyjudges，butjurisconsulti；ofwhomthejudges，whoareeitherthelords，ortwelvemenofthecountry，areinpointoflawtoaskadvice。
7。Also，unwrittencustoms，whichintheirownnatureareanimitationoflaw，bythetacitconsentoftheemperor，incasetheybenotcontrarytothelawofnature，areverylaws。
Anotherdivisionoflawsisintonaturalandpositive。Naturalarethosewhichhavebeenlawsfromalleternity，andarecallednotonlynatural，butalsomorallaws，consistinginthemoralvirtues；asjustice，equity，andallhabitsofthemindthatconducetopeaceandcharity，ofwhichIhavealreadyspokeninthefourteenthandfifteenthChapters。
Positivearethosewhichhavenotbeenfrometernity，buthavebeenmadelawsbythewillofthosethathavehadthesovereignpoweroverothers，andareeitherwrittenormadeknowntomenbysomeotherargumentofthewilloftheirlegislator。
Again，ofpositivelawssomearehuman，somedivine：andofhumanpositivelaws，somearedistributive，somepenal。Distributivearethosethatdeterminetherightsofthesubjects，declaringtoeverymanwhatitisbywhichheacquirethandholdethaproprietyinlandsorgoods，andarightorlibertyofaction：andthesespeaktoallthesubjects。Penalarethosewhichdeclarewhatpenaltyshallbeinflictedonthosethatviolatethelaw；andspeaktotheministersandofficersordainedforexecution。Forthougheveryoneoughttobeinformedofthepunishmentsordainedbeforehandfortheirtransgression；neverthelessthecommandisnotaddressedtothedelinquentwhocannotbesupposedwillfaithfullypunishhimself，buttopublicministersappointedtoseethepenaltyexecuted。Andthesepenallawsareforthemostpartwrittentogetherwiththelawsdistributive，andaresometimescalledjudgements。Foralllawsaregeneraljudgements，orsentencesofthelegislator；asalsoeveryparticularjudgementisalawtohimwhosecaseisjudged。
Divinepositivelawsfornaturallaws，beingeternalanduniversal，arealldivinearethosewhich，beingthecommandmentsofGod，notfromalleternity，noruniversallyaddressedtoallmen，butonlytoacertainpeopleortocertainpersons，aredeclaredforsuchbythosewhomGodhathauthorizedtodeclarethem。ButthisauthorityofmantodeclarewhatbethesepositiveofGod，howcanitbeknown？Godmaycommandaman，byasupernaturalway，todeliverlawstoothermen。
Butbecauseitisoftheessenceoflawthathewhoistobeobligedbeassuredoftheauthorityofhimthatdeclarethit，whichwecannotnaturallytakenoticetobefromGod，howcanamanwithoutsupernaturalrevelationsbeassuredoftherevelationreceivedbythedeclarer？Andhowcanhebeboundtoobeyboundtoobeythem？
Forthefirstquestion，howamancanbeassuredoftherevelationofanotherwithoutarevelationparticularlytohimself，itisevidentlyimpossible：forthoughamanmaybeinducedtobelievesuchrevelation，fromthemiraclestheyseehimdo，orfromseeingtheextraordinarysanctityofhislife，orfromseeingtheextraordinarywisdom，orextraordinaryfelicityofhisactions，allwhicharemarksofGod’sextraordinaryfavour；yettheyarenotassuredevidencesofspecialrevelation。Miraclesaremarvellousworks；butthatwhichismarvelloustoonemaynotbesotoanother。Sanctitymaybefeigned；andthevisiblefelicitiesofthisworldaremostoftentheworkofGodbynaturalandordinarycauses。AndthereforenomancaninfalliblyknowbynaturalreasonthatanotherhashadasupernaturalrevelationofGod’swillbutonlyabelief；everyone，asthesignsthereofshallappeargreaterorlesser，afirmeroraweakerbelief。
Butforthesecond，howhecanbeboundtoobeythem，itisnotsohard。Forifthelawdeclaredbenotagainstthelawofnature，whichisundoubtedlyGod’slaw，andheundertaketoobeyit，heisboundbyhisownact；boundIsaytoobeyit，butnotboundtobelieveit：formen’sbelief，andinteriorcogitations，arenotsubjecttothecommands，butonlytotheoperationofGod，ordinaryorextraordinary。
Faithofsupernaturallawisnotafulfilling，butonlyanassentingtothesame；andnotadutythatweexhibittoGod，butagiftwhichGodfreelygivethtowhomHepleaseth；asalsounbeliefisnotabreachofanyofHislaws，butarejectionofthemall，exceptthelawsnatural。ButthisthatIsaywillbemadeyetclearerby，theexamplesandtestimoniesconcerningthispointinHolyScripture。
ThecovenantGodmadewithAbrahaminasupernaturalmannerwasthus，“Thisisthecovenantwhichthoushaltobservebetweenmeandtheeandthyseedafterthee。“*Abraham’sseedhadnotthisrevelation，norwereyetinbeing；yettheyareapartytothecovenant，andboundtoobeywhatAbrahamshoulddeclaretothemforGod’slaw；whichtheycouldnotbebutinvirtueoftheobediencetheyowedtotheirparents，whoiftheybesubjecttonootherearthlypower，ashereinthecaseofAbrahamhavesovereignpowerovertheirchildrenandservants。Again，whereGodsaithtoAbraham，“Intheeshallallnationsoftheearthbeblessed：forIknowthouwiltcommandthychildrenandthyhouseaftertheetokeepthewayoftheLord，andtoobserverighteousnessandjudgement，“itismanifesttheobedienceofhisfamily，whohadnorevelation，dependedontheirformerobligationtoobeytheirsovereign。AtMountSinaiMosesonlywentuptoGod；thepeoplewereforbiddentoapproachonpainofdeath；yetweretheyboundtoobeyallthatMosesdeclaredtothemforGod’slaw。Uponwhatground，butonthissubmissionoftheirown，“Speakthoutous，andwewillhearthee；butletnotGodspeaktous，lestwedie“？BywhichtwoplacesitsufficientlyappeareththatinaCommonwealthasubjectthathasnocertainandassuredrevelationparticularlytohimselfconcerningthewillofGodistoobeyforsuchthecommandoftheCommonwealth：forifmenwereatlibertytotakeforGod’scommandmentstheirowndreamsandfancies，orthedreamsandfanciesofprivatemen，scarcetwomenwouldagreeuponwhatisGod’scommandment；andyetinrespectofthemeverymanwoulddespisethecommandmentsoftheCommonwealth。I
conclude，therefore，thatinallthingsnotcontrarytothemorallawthatistosay，tothelawofnature，allsubjectsareboundtoobeythatfordivinelawwhichisdeclaredtobesobythelawsoftheCommonwealth。Whichalsoisevidenttoanyman’sreason；forwhatsoeverisnotagainstthelawofnaturemaybemadelawinthenameofthemthathavethesovereignpower；thereisnoreasonmenshouldbethelessobligedbyitwhenitispropoundedinthenameofGod。Besides，thereisnoplaceintheworldwheremenarepermittedtopretendothercommandmentsofGodthanaredeclaredforsuchbytheCommonwealth。ChristianstatespunishthosethatrevoltfromChristianreligion；andallotherstates，thosethatsetupanyreligionbythemforbidden。ForinwhatsoeverisnotregulatedbytheCommonwealth，itisequitywhichisthelawofnature，andthereforeaneternallawofGodthateverymanequallyenjoyhisliberty。