Sir Henry Hobart, 1st Baronet Quotes

Aucupia verborum sunt judice indigna: Catching at words is unworthy of a Judge.

We know well that the Primitive Church in her greatest purity were but voluntary congregations of believers, submitting themselves to the Apostles, and after to other Pastors, to whom they did minister of their Temporals, as God did move them. So as Ecclesiasticus, cap. 17, says, God appointed a Ruler over every people, when he divided nations of the whole Earth. And therefore if a people will refuse all government, it were against the law of God; and yet if a popular State will receive a Monarchy it stands well with the Law of God.

It is the office of Judges to advance laws made for religion, according to their end, though the words be short and imperfect.

I do exceedingly commend the Judges that are curious and almost subtil, Astuti (which is the word used in the Proverbs of Solomon in a good sense, when it is to a good end) to invent reasons and means to make Acts, according to the just intent of the parties, and to avoid wrong and injury which by rigid rules might be wrought out of the Act.

Bind not the new statutes so to the common law, that their words increased for the King's advantage, should be deprived of their force.

That whom he could not by the sword destroy, he might supplant by the law.

Men will not commonly steal women that are nothing worth.

A woman cannot be a pastor by the law of God. I say more, it is against the law of the realm.

I may use mine own as I will.

The laws of the realm do admit nothing against the law of God.

Minister doth not always import an inferior to him to whom he doth minister: for the Psalm saith, God hath made man paulo inferiorem Angelis; and yet in the first chapter to the Hebrews it is said, that the Angels are ministering spirits, sent forth for the good of God's saints.

Fiction is never admitted where truth may work.

Who sees not, that whosoever ministers to the poor, ministers to God? as it appears in that solemn sentence of the last day, Inasmuch as you did feed, clothe, lodge the poor, you did it unto me.

The statute is like a tyrant; where he comes he makes all void; but the common law is like a nursing father, makes only void that part where the fault is, and preserves the rest.

Nothing is more natural than to marry.