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and Isaac, when they ** This soiourning was a constant residence there, as in a possession of their owne; although it bee called soiourning or dwelling as strangers, because they neither had the soveraigne government of the whole Countrey in their owne hand, nor yet did incorporate them selves into the Commonvvealth of the Natives, to submit themselves unto their government.sojourned amongst the Philistines, they did not buy that land to feede their cattle, because they said There is roome enough. And so did Iacob pitch his Tent by Sechem, Gen. 34. 21. There was roome enough, as Hamor said, Let them sit downe amongst us. And in this case if the people who were former Inhabitants did disturbe them in their possessions, they complained to the King, as of wrong done unto them: As Abraham did because they tooke away his well, in Gen. 21, 25. For his right whereto he pleaded not his immediate calling from God, (for that would have seemed frivolous among the Heathen) but his owne industry and culture in digging the well, verse 30. Nor doth the King reject his plea, with what had he to doe to digge wells in their soyle? but admitteth it as a Principle in Nature, That in a vacant soyle, hee that taketh possession of it, and bestoweth culture and husbandry upon it, his Right it is. And the ground of this is from the grand Charter given to Adam and his posterity in Paradise, Gen. 1. 28. Multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it. If therefore any sonne of Adam come and finde a place empty, he hath liberty to come, and fill, and subdue the earth there. This Charter was renewed to Noah, Gen. 9. 1. Fulfill the earth and multiply: So that it is free from that common Grant, for any to take possession of vacant Countries. Indeed no Nation is to drive out another without speciall Commission from heaven, such as the Israelites had, unlesse the Natives do unjustly
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