







 
   
     
       
         A motion against imprisonment, vvherein is proved that imprisonment for debt is against the Gospel, against the good of Church, and Commonwealth / by Thomas Grantham, Master in Arts; curate of Eston, neere Tocester in Northampton-sheire..
         Grantham, Thomas, d. 1664.
      
       
         This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A85539 of text R14833 in the  English Short Title Catalog (Thomason E151_4). Textual changes  and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more  computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life.  The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with  MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish.  This text has not been fully proofread 
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         ESTC R14833
         99859740
         99859740
         156763
         
           
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             A motion against imprisonment, vvherein is proved that imprisonment for debt is against the Gospel, against the good of Church, and Commonwealth / by Thomas Grantham, Master in Arts; curate of Eston, neere Tocester in Northampton-sheire..
             Grantham, Thomas, d. 1664.
          
           8 p.
           
             for Francis Coules,
             Printed at London :
             1642..
          
           
             Reproduction of the original in the British Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Debt, Imprisonment for -- England -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
       A85539  R14833  (Thomason E151_4).  civilwar no A motion against imprisonment,:  vvherein is proved that imprisonment for debt is against the Gospel, against the good of Church, and Common Grantham, Thomas 1642    1999 15 0 0 0 0 0 75 D  The  rate of 75 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the D category of texts with between 35 and 100 defects per 10,000 words. 
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           A
           MOTION
           AGAINST
           Imprisonment
           ,
           Wherein
           is
           proved
           that
           Imprisonment
           for
           debt
           is
           against
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           against
           the
           good
           of
           Church
           ,
           and
           Common-wealth
        
         
           MATTHEVV
           18.
           29.
           
        
         
           Have
           patience
           and
           I
           will
           pay
           thee
           all
           .
        
         
           By
           
             Thomas
             Grantham
             ,
          
           Master
           in
           Arts
           ;
           Curate
           of
           
             Eston
             ,
          
           neere
           
             Tocester
          
           in
           
             Northampton-sheire
             .
          
        
         
           PRINTED
           at
           London
           for
           
             Francis
             Coules
          
           1642.
           
        
      
    
     
       
       
       
         
           A
           Motion
           against
           Imprisonment
           .
        
         
           AMongst
           the
           great
           abuses
           of
           this
           age
           ,
           I
           have
           taken
           into
           Consideration
           ,
           that
           cruell
           ,
           and
           inhuman
           act
           of
           imprisoning
           men
           for
           debt
           :
           and
           my
           harty
           wishes
           are
           :
           that
           this
           Tyrany
           may
           no
           longer
           raigne
           ,
           for
           these
           reasons
           .
        
         
           First
           it
           is
           against
           the
           law
           of
           God
           
             Deu
             :
          
           24.
           12
           if
           the
           man
           be
           poore
           thou
           shalt
           not
           sleepe
           with
           his
           pledge
           ,
           in
           any
           case
           thou
           shalt
           deliver
           him
           the
           pledg
           againe
           ,
           when
           the
           sunne
           goeth
           downe
           ,
           but
           imprisonment
           is
           a
           farr
           greater
           affliction
           ,
           or
           torment
           ,
           then
           keeping
           of
           a
           pledge
           ,
           therfore
           if
           I
           ought
           not
           to
           doe
           the
           lesser
           ,
           I
           ought
           not
           to
           doe
           the
           greater
           ,
           a
           man
           was
           bound
           by
           the
           l●w
           of
           God
           to
           lend
           his
           brother
           sufficient
           for
           his
           need
           ,
           although
           he
           was
           sure
           to
           loose
           it
           Deut
           :
           15.
           7.
           8.
           and
           in
           the
           9
           verse
           ,
           It
           was
           sinn
           unto
           him
           ,
           if
           he
           did
           it
           not
           then
           how
           great
           sinne
           shall
           it
           be
           :
           to
           deprive
           his
           Brother
           of
           all
           wayes
           to
           live
           by
           imprisoning
           of
           him
           ?
        
         
           Then
           every
           seaventh
           yeare
           was
           a
           yeare
           of
           rel●ase
           a
           free
           forgivenesse
           of
           all
           debts
           
             Deu.
          
           15.
           1.
           then
           every
           fifteth
           yeare
           was
           a
           Iubile
           ,
           every
           mans
           posse●si●n
           returned
           to
           him
           againe
           
             Leviticus
          
           25.
           10.
           
           Gods
           law
           was
           full
           of
           mercy
           to
           the
           very
           strangers
           that
           dwelt
           amongst
           them
           
             Deu
             :
          
           24.
           19.
           the
           lost
           sheafe
           was
           for
           the
           stranger
           ,
           Fatherlesse
           and
           widdow
           ,
           then
           verse
           the
           
           20.
           of
           that
           Chapter
           the
           Olive
           tree
           was
           to
           be
           beaten
           but
           once
           ,
           &
           the
           remnant
           to
           be
           left
           for
           the
           stranger
           ,
           Fatherlesse
           and
           widdow
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           next
           verse
           he
           was
           to
           do
           so
           when
           he
           gathred
           the
           grapes
           of
           his
           vinyard
           He
           that
           takes
           the
           nether
           milston
           ,
           takes
           a
           mans
           life
           to
           pledge
           
             Deut
             :
          
           24.
           6.
           but
           he
           that
           imprisons
           a
           man
           takes
           not
           only
           the
           nether
           milstone
           ,
           but
           the
           upper
           ,
           he
           takes
           away
           all
           courses
           of
           liveing
           for
           a
           man
           ,
           hath
           no
           wayes
           to
           grind
           or
           labour
           for
           his
           living
           then
           he
           was
           not
           to
           take
           the
           widdows
           rayment
           to
           pledge
           much
           lesse
           her
           body
           
             Deut
             :
          
           24.
           27.
           
           Gods
           law
           is
           full
           of
           mercy
           ,
           
             Exodus
          
           22.
           25.
           29
           27.
           and
           
             Deut.
          
           15.
           13.
           14
           15.
           and
           many
           other
           places
           .
        
         
           Then
           this
           Tyrany
           of
           imprisonment
           is
           against
           the
           Gospell
           ,
           our
           saviour
           tels
           you
           
             Mat
             :
          
           8.
           32.
           how
           hee
           was
           vsed
           that
           tooke
           his
           fellow
           servant
           by
           the
           throat
           and
           cast
           him
           into
           prison
           ,
           and
           in
           this
           last
           verse
           he
           tells
           you
           his
           heavenly
           father
           will
           do
           so
           to
           those
           who
           will
           not
           forgive
           their
           debtors
           ,
           the
           Apostle
           saith
           
             Romans
          
           13.
           10.
           that
           love
           is
           the
           fulfilling
           of
           the
           law
           ,
           and
           he
           gives
           there
           the
           reason
           because
           it
           workes
           not
           ill
           to
           his
           neighbour
           ,
           now
           how
           farr
           is
           that
           man
           from
           obeying
           Gods
           law
           that
           doth
           so
           great
           a
           hurt
           to
           his
           neighbour
           as
           to
           imprison
           him
           ,
           Saint
           
             Iohn
          
           saith
           ,
           
             Iohn
          
           1.
           3.
           17.
           how
           can
           the
           love
           of
           God
           dwell
           in
           that
           man
           who
           shutts
           vp
           his
           bowels
           of
           compassion
           from
           his
           needy
           Brother
           ?
           but
           what
           shall
           we
           say
           of
           that
           man
           who
           is
           not
           only
           farr
           from
           reliveing
           his
           brother
           ,
           but
           imprisons
           him
           and
           forces
           him
           to
           all
           neede
           and
           affliction
           ,
           where
           hunger
           withers
           him
           ,
           diseases
           lick
           up
           his
           blood
           ,
           and
           swarmes
           of
           care
           and
           trouble
           sting
           him
           and
           torment
           him
           ;
           Saint
           
             Ambrose
          
           saith
           of
           the
           coveteous
           
           rich
           man
           ,
           
             est
             panis
             famelici
             quem
             tu
             ●enes
             ,
             quem
             nos
             parer●s
             ,
             occidisti
             :
          
           and
           
             Cyprian
          
           saith
           the
           like
           in
           his
           sermon
           
             de
             Elemosin●y
          
           if
           any
           man
           starve
           at
           thy
           dore
           ,
           or
           by
           thy
           means
           that
           is
           for
           want
           of
           thy
           assistance
           thou
           shalt
           answer
           for
           it
           ,
           &
           the
           Digddi●n●es
           Theologi
           (
           as
           Bishop
           
             Davenant
          
           calls
           them
           in
           his
           book
           
             de
             pace
             ecclesiae
          
           )
           the
           
             p●l●mi●●ll
          
           divines
           say
           ,
           the
           altitude
           of
           a
           sinne
           is
           taken
           as
           it
           doth
           depart
           or
           is
           distant
           from
           Charity
           ,
           the
           further
           a
           sinne
           is
           from
           Charity
           ,
           the
           greater
           it
           is
           ,
           and
           what
           greater
           uncharitablenes
           can
           there
           be
           then
           to
           lay
           a
           man
           in
           prison
           ,
           where
           he
           is
           deprived
           of
           wife
           ,
           Children
           ,
           Freinds
           ,
           Trade
           ,
           profession
           ,
           where
           he
           is
           deprived
           of
           all
           manner
           of
           helpe
           or
           comfort
           .
        
         
           Then
           it
           is
           against
           the
           good
           of
           Church
           and
           common-wealth
           ,
           one
           man
           may
           be
           worth
           ten
           Thousand
           men
           ,
           as
           the
           people
           said
           to
           
             David
             2
             ▪
             Samuel
          
           18.
           3.
           such
           an
           one
           as
           
             Ioseph
          
           may
           be
           a
           Steward
           for
           a
           Kingdome
           ,
           as
           
             Eliah
          
           whose
           fiery
           spirit
           ,
           consumes
           the
           false
           prophets
           ,
           why
           should
           that
           fiery
           ▪
           spirit
           be
           smothered
           and
           buried
           in
           a
           Cave
           .
           God
           himselfe
           calls
           him
           out
           twice
           1.
           
           
             Kings
          
           19.
           10.
           14.
           what
           dost
           thou
           heare
           
             Eliah
             ?
          
           what
           should
           
             Iohn
             Baptist
          
           to
           whom
           all
           
             Iudea
          
           came
           out
           and
           they
           of
           
             Ierusalem
          
           doe
           in
           a
           prison
           ?
           what
           should
           
             M●chaiah
          
           do
           in
           a
           prison
           who
           opposes
           all
           the
           fals
           Prophets
           ?
           
             Paule
          
           spake
           many
           languages
           ,
           was
           effectuall
           in
           his
           preaching
           ,
           he
           could
           make
           
             Felix
          
           tremble
           and
           
             Agrippa
          
           become
           halfe
           a
           Christian
           ,
           but
           this
           man
           could
           beget
           but
           one
           
             Onesimus
          
           in
           his
           bonds
           ,
           
             Philemon
          
           10.
           whereas
           it
           he
           had
           beene
           at
           liberty
           ,
           he
           might
           have
           begot
           Thousands
           as
           
             Peter
          
           did
           at
           one
           sermon
           .
        
         
           Then
           it
           is
           against
           the
           good
           of
           a
           private
           family
           for
           how
           are
           the
           members
           greived
           ,
           if
           the
           head
           ake
           .
        
         
         
           It
           is
           against
           the
           nature
           of
           man
           to
           be
           imprisoned
           his
           soule
           is
           
             actus
             Corporis
             ,
          
           his
           mind
           is
           continually
           in
           action
           all
           wayes
           thinking
           of
           somthing
           never
           idle
           ,
           his
           thoughts
           run
           swifter
           then
           the
           sun
           in
           a
           superior
           or
           be
           ready
           to
           overtake
           Eternity
           ,
           some
           translations
           reade
           that
           5.
           verse
           in
           8.
           
           
             Psalme
          
           thou
           hast
           made
           him
           little
           lower
           then
           God
           ,
           not
           little
           lower
           then
           the
           Angels
           ,
           but
           little
           lower
           then
           God
           ,
           and
           
             Estius
          
           maintaines
           this
           translation
           in
           his
           second
           booke
           of
           his
           sentences
           ,
           the
           first
           distinction
           ,
           the
           verses
           following
           (
           saith
           hee
           )
           proue
           this
           translation
           ,
           thou
           hast
           made
           him
           to
           have
           dominion
           of
           the
           workes
           of
           thy
           hands
           ,
           thou
           hast
           put
           all
           thinges
           in
           subiection
           under
           his
           feet
           the
           fowles
           of
           the
           Aire
           ,
           Fishes
           of
           the
           Sea
           ,
           for
           that
           he
           is
           saith
           
             Estius
             Microtheos
          
           a
           divine
           God
           ,
           a
           little
           God
           ,
           I
           have
           said
           ye
           are
           Gods
           
             Psalme
             .
          
           82.
           6
           ▪
           and
           although
           man
           be
           not
           the
           highest
           God
           ,
           yet
           he
           is
           the
           Image
           of
           the
           highest
           God
           and
           will
           any
           man
           fetter
           him
           that
           carries
           such
           an
           Image
           livery
           .
        
         
           In
           som
           cases
           the
           scripture
           doth
           approve
           a
           Prison
           as
           for
           blasphemy
           
             Leviticus
          
           24.
           12
           for
           Sabath
           breaking
           
             Numbers
          
           15.
           14.
           for
           Davids
           Concubines
           that
           were
           defiled
           by
           
             Absolom
             2.
             
             Samuel
          
           20.
           3.
           and
           so
           we
           grant
           it
           for
           a
           seditious
           man
           for
           ,
           a
           man
           that
           will
           make
           away
           him selfe
           ,
           for
           a
           quarrellar
           ,
           a
           prodigall
           ,
           a
           Rover
           but
           for
           debt
           altogether
           unlawfull
           .
        
         
           A
           good
           action
           produces
           a
           good
           effect
           .
           
             Aquinas
             in
             prima
             secundae
             questione
             18.
             
             Articulo
             1.
             in
             corpore
             .
          
           but
           this
           hath
           an
           ill
           effect
           as
           the
           starving
           ,
           pining
           ,
           griving
           of
           his
           Neighbour
           .
        
         
           And
           as
           in
           nature
           saith
           he
           whatsoever
           is
           deficient
           in
           generation
           is
           a
           fault
           ,
           so
           in
           morality
           whatsoever
           causes
           thy
           Neighbour
           to
           be
           deficient
           is
           a
           fault
           .
        
         
         
           
             Aquinas
          
           in
           his
           Secund
           :
           
             Secunda
             questione
             ●●
             .
             Articulo
          
           3.
           saith
           every
           imprisonment
           must
           be
           in
           
             Penamuel
          
           in
           
             Cantelum
             ,
          
           either
           for
           punishment
           or
           to
           make
           a
           man
           an
           example
           .
           Now
           for
           a
           man
           to
           say
           he
           will
           punish
           his
           debt
           or
           because
           he
           is
           not
           able
           to
           pay
           him
           and
           that
           he
           will
           make
           dice
           of
           his
           bones
           ,
           is
           not
           Christianity
           .
        
         
           Then
           it
           cannot
           be
           for
           a
           warning
           ,
           or
           to
           make
           a
           man
           an
           example
           to
           others
           frō
           runing
           into
           debt
           ,
           for
           what
           tradsman
           will
           say
           I
           will
           make
           this
           man
           an
           example
           for
           running
           into
           debt
           ,
           I
           will
           make
           men
           take
           heed
           how
           they
           runn
           into
           my
           debt
           ,
           that
           man
           would
           have
           little
           custom
           that
           should
           say
           thus
           ,
           they
           rather
           protest
           they
           never
           arrested
           man
           ,
           they
           will
           not
           doe
           a
           Gentleman
           that
           wrong
           ,
           and
           thus
           they
           flatter
           men
           into
           their
           debts
           ,
           if
           any
           man
           shall
           say
           I
           neither
           arrest
           him
           to
           punish
           him
           ,
           nor
           to
           make
           him
           an
           example
           ,
           but
           for
           my
           money
           I
           confesse
           that
           's
           allowed
           of
           ,
           if
           he
           have
           money
           to
           pay
           ,
           but
           if
           he
           have
           it
           not
           ,
           t
           is
           Diabolicall
           ,
           for
           divines
           doe
           hold
           that
           whatsoever
           is
           a
           mans
           owne
           is
           his
           neighbours
           in
           case
           of
           necessitie
           ,
           
             quo
             az
             proprietatem
          
           thine
           ,
           
             quo
             ad
             usum
          
           thy
           Neighbours
           ,
           if
           he
           want
           it
           t
           is
           his
           as
           well
           as
           thine
           ,
           but
           he
           that
           imprisons
           instead
           of
           releife
           adds
           affliction
           .
        
         
           Who
           can
           but
           greive
           to
           see
           a
           mans
           cattle
           looke
           leane
           like
           Pharoahs
           leane
           Kine
           ,
           his
           Carts
           drive
           heavily
           like
           Pharoahs
           troopes
           ,
           follow
           fast
           after
           him
           ,
           and
           he
           ready
           to
           be
           drowned
           in
           a
           Sea
           of
           misery
           .
        
         
           And
           if
           the
           voyce
           of
           Neighbours
           ,
           a
           miserable
           and
           beggarly
           living
           ,
           the
           want
           of
           meanes
           to
           put
           forth
           his
           children
           ,
           proclaime
           a
           man
           insuffitiant
           I
           say
           and
           have
           proved
           ,
           it
           is
           super-Diabolicall
           to
           imprison
           this
           man
           .
        
         
         
           But
           will
           some
           reply
           you
           dispute
           against
           the
           law
           ,
           the
           law
           allowes
           imprisonment
           .
        
         
           I
           answer
           the
           law
           supposes
           a
           man
           is
           able
           to
           pay
           and
           upon
           that
           ground
           does
           admit
           an
           imprisonment
           ,
           but
           when
           a
           man
           is
           not
           able
           and
           hath
           neither
           able
           ,
           nor
           willing
           freinds
           ,
           he
           ought
           not
           to
           be
           imprisoned
           ,
           for
           
             Ra●io
             stanima
             legis
          
           saith
           Sir
           
             Francis
             Bacon
          
           reason
           is
           the
           soule
           of
           the
           law
           ,
           and
           there
           is
           no
           reason
           ,
           to
           imprison
           a
           man
           because
           he
           payed
           not
           when
           he
           is
           unable
           .
        
         
           Then
           reason
           tells
           us
           
             bona
             Corporis
          
           are
           better
           then
           
             bona
             fortunae
             ,
          
           a
           mans
           body
           is
           of
           more
           value
           then
           his
           estate
           ,
           and
           why
           should
           the
           better
           suffer
           for
           the
           worse
           ,
           there
           is
           no
           Corrispondency
           .
        
         
           I
           conclude
           all
           with
           this
           .
           Christ
           bids
           some
           goe
           into
           everlasting
           torments
           because
           they
           did
           not
           feed
           him
           ,
           when
           he
           was
           hungry
           ,
           nor
           visit
           him
           in
           prison
           ,
           and
           if
           this
           be
           the
           doome
           of
           those
           that
           would
           not
           give
           releife
           ,
           what
           shall
           be
           the
           doome
           of
           those
           that
           have
           beene
           the
           cause
           of
           their
           brothers
           hungring
           ,
           and
           starveing
           ,
           and
           if
           he
           shall
           becast
           into
           everlasting
           torments
           ,
           who
           did
           not
           visit
           ,
           surely
           his
           torments
           shall
           be
           great
           ,
           who
           was
           the
           cause
           of
           casting
           men
           into
           prison
           .
        
         
           And
           thus
           will
           I
           end
           this
           little
           treatise
           ,
           which
           because
           of
           my
           great
           occasions
           ,
           I
           have
           writ
           
             Currente
             calamo
             ,
          
           for
           he
           that
           knowes
           me
           ,
           knowes
           ,
           it
           was
           as
           much
           for
           me
           to
           spare
           this
           little
           time
           ,
           as
           it
           was
           for
           the
           Widdow
           of
           
             Zar●pta
             ,
          
           to
           spare
           
             Elias
          
           a
           Cake
           out
           of
           her
           little
           barrell
           of
           oyle
           1.
           
           
             Kinges
          
           17.
           12.
           but
           rather
           then
           
             Elias
          
           should
           want
           ,
           I
           have
           cast
           in
           this
           little
           mite
           .
        
         
           FINIS
        
      
    
    

