The Divine Right to Occupy the Land by John Cotton (1630) Web Version: http://www.pragmatism.org/american/docs/cotton_divine_right.htm The placing of...

The Divine Right to Occupy the Land by John Cotton (1630) Web Version: http://www.pragmatism.org/american/docs/cotton_divine_right.htm The placing of a people in this or that country is from the appointment of the Lord. . . Quest. Wherein doth this work of God stand in appointing a pla ce for a people? Answ. First, when God espies or discovers a land for a people, as in Ezek. 20:6: "He brought them into a land that He had espied for them." And, that is, when either He gives them to discover it themselves, or hears of it discovered by o thers, and fitting them. Second, after He hath espied it, when He carrieth them along to it, so that they plainly see a providence of God leading them from one country to another, as in Ex. 19. -4; "You have seen how I have borne you as on eagles' wings, an d brought you unto Myself" So that though they met with many difficulties, yet He carried them high above them all, like an eagle, flying over seas and rocks, and all hindrances. Third, when He makes room for a people to dwell there, as in Ps. 80:9: "Thou preparedst room for them. . ." Now, God makes room for a people three ways: First, when He casts out the enemies of a people before them by lawful war with the inhabitants, which God calls them unto, as in Ps. 44:2 - "Thou didst drive out the heathen befo re them." But this course of warring against others and driving them out without provocation depends upon special commission from God, or else it is not imitable. Second, when He gives a foreign people favor in the eyes of any native people to come and sit down with them, either by way of purchase, as Abraham did obtain the field of Achpelah; or else when they give it in courtesy, as Pharaoh did the land of Goshen unto the sons of Jacob. Third, when He makes a country, though not alt ogether void of inhabitants, yet void in that place where they reside. Where there is a vacant place, there is liberty for the sons of Adam or Noah to come and inhabit, though they neither buy it nor ask their leaves. . . . So that it is free from that com mon grant for any to take possession of vacant countries. Indeed, no nation is to drive out another without special commission from Heaven, such as the Israelites had, unless the natives do unjustly wrong them, and will not recompense the wrongs done in a peaceable fort [way]. And then they may right themselves by lawful war and subdue the country unto them - selves. . . This may teach us all, where we now dwell or where after we may dwell: Be sure you look at every place appointed to you from the hand of G od. We may not rush into any place and never say to God, "By Your leave." But we must discern how God appoints us this place. There is poor comfort in sitting down in any place that you cannot say, "This place is appointed me of God." Canst thou say that G od spied out this place for thee, and there hath settled thee above all hindrances? Didst thou find that God made room for the either by lawful descent, or purchase, or gift, or other warrantable right? Why, then, this is the place God hath appointed thee; here He hath made room for thee, He hath placed thee in Rehoboth, in a peaceable place. This we must discern or else we are but intruders upon God. And when we do withal discern that God giveth us these out - ward blessings from His love in Christ, and mak eth comfortable provision as well for our soul as for our bodies by the means of grace, then do we enjoy our present possession as well by gracious promise as by the common, and just, and bountiful providence of the Lord. Or, if a man do remove, he must se e that God hath espied out such a country for him. . .