2.3 In goodnesse Rom. 2.4 In Grace Ephes 1.7 In Glory Ephes 1.18 And in Mercy also Eph. 2.4 It is a main plain and a momentous Truth I am now to discourse of the execution of justice Justice is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fulcrum anchora civitatis saith the Philosopher in his Politiques It is conservatrix humanae conjunctionis quae ad beatitua tidem via est saith Scaliger I am easily convinced that mercy best becomes a Ministers mouth God loves mercy best and wee need mercy most hee is in Scripture stiled the Father of mercies for hee begets mercies as Fathers beget children and loves mercies as Fathers love children Hee is a Sea of mercy both bottomelesse and boundlesse an over-flowing and an ever flowing fountain of mercy and yet ever full Hee is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rich in mercy not rich in wrath hee delights in mercy not in judgements Isa 7.20 hee hires the raisor wherewith hee shaves his people Isa 7.20 Judgement is his work 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but his strange work hee loves freely but corrects not willingly not from the heart though men do willingly grieve the children of God Lam 3.33 yet God doth not willingly grieve the children of men O Ephraim what what shall I do unto thee and how shall I give thee up O Ephraim Hos 11.8 how shall I deliver thee O Israel how doth the most High debate and project with himself to shew mercy Excellent is that of Vossius upon that Text De Extr. Judicio Thes 3 Go yee cursed it is said come yee blessed of my Father but not go yee cursed of my Father Benedictionis author pater est non item maledictionis c. But bee all this and more granted wee must sing this compound ditty of judgement and mercy Unisons make no good musick Such are his Attributes that hee will not cease to bee just that hee may bee merciful As hee is the Father of mercies so hee is a Lord of wrath Baal chemah 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a possessor of wrath Nahum 1.2 As hee hath a time of reprieving so he hath a time of reproving a time of correcting man for sin as well as a time of conniving at mans sin his patience hath fixed bounds and limits None may leave sin unpunished who are thereto deputed upon pretence that God is merciful it is said that no attribute of God is so often iterated no act of God so often inculcated no work of God so often repeated in sacred story as Justice Judge Judgement c. Two Branches of the Observation 1 Justice must bee executed and Judgement administred 2 And that exactly conscionably deliberately c. First Of the first It is the more common observation and therefore I shall not injure this reverend Auditory by prolixity I come then to clear it by testimonies both divine and humane out of the inspired Prophets and Heathen Poets and Philosophers Consult Jer. 22. 2 2◠12 For Scripture proofs consult Deut. 16.19 Judges and Officers shalt thou make in all thy Gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee throughout the Tribes and they shall judge the people with just judgement Psal 82.3 Thou shalt not wrest Judgement thou shalt not respect persons Deut. 1.16 Et A Lapide in loc nor take a gift that which is altogether just shalt thou follow Deut. 19.21 In the Original it is more emphatical Justice Justice shalt thou follow 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all manner of Justice and nothing but Justice carefully constantly c. Micah 6.8 Calvin conceives that that Prophesy as wee now have it is but the Synopsis or Epitome of certain Sermons collected by him and recorded for the Churches benefit And Gualther thinks this is part of his fourth Sermon the marrow whereof you have in this eighth verse Hee hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee To do justly Vide Guath in locum Kings and Princes Magistrates and Ministers Masters and Servants Judges especially must learn to do judgement justly though your dispositions may incline you to mercy yet his command must praeponderate and over-awe you to justice there can bee no mercie in injustice and nothing but injustice in disobeying the Lords command Exod. 23. Thou shalt not speak no not speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgement Thou shalt not wrest the Judgement of thy poor in his cause Keep thee farre from a false matter the innocent and the righteous slay thou not and verse 13. In all things which I have said unto you bee circumspect Take heed what you do Nor is that time the least considerable though last considered in Zachary 8.16 The Persians were so in love with Justice that this was the first of those five things which they taught their children from their fifth to their tenth year as Zenophon Hist lib. 1. de Institutione Cyri. Execute the Judgement of Truth and peace q. d. It is not sufficient to build the Temple and to have an eye to his ceremonial worship you should mainly minde the moral Law see that the main duties bee performed some particulars are mentioned under which the rest are comprized Execute the Judgement of Truth and Peace judge according to law and the rules thereof and according to true information in matters of fact It is the conclusion of the Philosopher 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the more just any person or action is Arist hic lib. 1. c. 1 lib. 5. c. 1 the more excellent and glorious it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as peace comprizeth all blessings so doth justice all vertues Ubi nec cura juris Senec. de Clem. lib. 1 cap. 2. 4 said Seneca where there is no care of equity and justice Kingdomes must needs bee in a tottering condition P. Parad. 4 this is Civitatum vinculum saith Tully the Ornament the Muniment the Cement that holds Cities and Kingdomes together no society can subsist without it Vide Valer. Maxim lib. 6. cap. 5. Amongst Thieves and Robbers were no justice observed but one take all the society would suddenly and happily dissolve It was Pythagoras his grave advice to his Scholars Aur. Carm. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. both in word and deed inure your selves to equity ever remembring you are mortal and Hipparchus his Motto 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Think on Righteousnesse as thou goest along or practise Righteousnesse in thy life and conversation Vide Phocylidis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Another of them hath his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 first worship God then honour thy Parents in the next place do justice to all men Plato Plotinus Hesiod and others are very full in this who would not blush to hear Pagans pressing this so much and to see Christians practising this so little For Arguments to convince take nine or ten Justice must bee executed
discourse following It is humbly offered and ushered in with that of holy Augustin Attende regis humilitatem non respuit David verba praecipientis non dixit Nathan Audes mihi loqui Regi rex sublimis Prophetam audit Enatrat in Psal 51. mihi p. 583. 1 Labour to improve the afflictions and weaknesses upon you to the glory of God the inflictor and the eternal good of your selves the afflicted indeavour to see Gods hand and end in them corrections are not ever for one and the same end but they are ever from one and the same hand Quid de panarum acerbitate querimur unusquisque nostrum ipse se punit Salv. de Gub dei lib. 3. p. 113. there is no penal evil in Court or Country in Câ—tâ— or Family but God owns it on whomsoever and whensoever the â—od falls it must bee acknowledged God did it man deserved it it is from him providentially from us procuringly There is in the least twig if sanctified a double vertue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a preventive preparative preservative and sanative virtue his design in our corrections is the subduing of our corruptions to make us white Daniel 11.15 Heb. 12.10 not for his pleasure but our profit to make us partakers of his holiness It is to cause us look more Inwards suffering times are searching times â—am 3.40 Amos 9 9. O that the diseases upon us and the distractions without us might have this influence on us to make us search what 's amiss in us and also to minde who and what 's above us Psal 1â—0 1 upwards when wee are at the lowest wee should look highest and last are worst Rev. 22.11 Gen. 6.3 Ambrose being in the house of one who boasted that hee never had any calamity in all his life come saies hee let us make haste out of this house lest some remarkable vengeance of God fall upon us This is the last of all wee read of in his Word which shall seize upon wicked wretches in this world Not to bee corrected is one of the greatest corrections such a permission is the most direful doleful affliction It would bee the saddest day that ever your eyes saw the most dreadful voice that ever your ears heard should the Lord say Let them alone my Spirit shall no more strive with you Never did gracious heart say in cold blood 'T is ill for mee that I have been afflicted Secondly Bee frequent and fervent in those high and holy duties of Praise and Prayer Of Praise It is due to God from every creature in the World and from every corner of the World it waits only for him in Sion True Saints will as soon cease to have a being as a blessing from and for their God Sicknesse is Gods servant as the Centurion said to his souldiers so doth God to sicknesses Matth. 8,9 Go to such a family or person of quality and they go return and they return are your pressures in measure removed Let the mercy of God in this bee remembred and his name which is alone excellent bee praised excellent is that observation of Chrysostome Job foiled Satan more when hee praised God than Satan did Job when hee plundred him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Job was more illustrious when hee sat a upon the Dung-hill with the cross in his hand than when hee sate upon the Throne with a Crown on his head God hath dealt with you in much mercy not in wrath and fury I dare say his dispensations are not According to the fiercenesse of his wrath Nor according to the strictnesse of his Justice Nor according to the greatness of his Power Nor according to the demerits of your sins Nor according to the extensivenesse of your fears Nor according to the malicious desires of Satan What then remains but that you love him and land him as long as you live yea though your daies shall end yet this duty shall never end An endless eternity will but serve the turn for you to praise him when you was at the neediest was not hee nearest Cum duplicantur lateres venit Moses Alsted in Exod cap. 5. Ubi deficit humanum concilium ibi incipit divinum auxilium Alsted in Exod. cap. 14. When Moses came the bricks were doubled and when the bricks were doubled then Moses came 'T is observed by Alsted out of Philo when the help of man faileth then comes help from Heaven in the Mount the Lord is seen God can comfort us by the same Rod where with hee corrects us Thy Rod and thy staffe they comfort mee saith holy David In the midst of his Judgements hee hath remembred to bee merciful It is our duty and discretion at the remembrance of his mercies to bee thankful had God mercy on Paul restoring Epaphroditus to health certainly hee hath shewed no less mercy to us in restoring your worship to health Let us therefore unanimously manifest our thankfulness for this mercy by our dutifulness to his Majesty The Persians so abhor'd ingratitude that as Zenophon tells us Zenoph de Instit Cyri. pag. 4. they had actions against unthankful persons and would call them for this only into the Court 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Blesse wee him with our lips and with our lives Aug. in Psal 145. for thankful hearts and thankful lives they are the life of thankfulnesse 't is excellent advice which the Father gives Noli cantilenae bonae tuae obstrepâ—re malis moribus plus ille attendit quid vivas quam quid sonas you might have suffered seven times more but hee hath punished you less than your iniquities deserved Deo gratias bee that your name and work Augustin writ his 49. Ep. to one called Deo gratias Thou art my praise said weeping Jeremiah Paul in sufferings more than any in doxologies above all Christ under the cross and curse Father I thank thee And comes not help from Heaven to draw our hearts towards Heaven Prayer Prayer is a Christians great ornament and muniment his very aliment and element his great advantage top priviledge fealty and homage Ephes 6.18,19 'T is â—…matura armaturae Christiani And hath a special influence upon all the other peeces of our spiritual Armour it keeps the girdle of Truth upon the loins Vide Aquin. in Ephes 6. Deus bone qualis est haec exhortatioâ— quam plena terroris quam vehemens praesertim si quis ponderet illa per omnem orationem in omnium tempore in omni instantiaâ— tamen plerique nostrum ita se gerunt ac si neque orandum c. Bellarm. de Aeâ— Faelic lib. 5. p. 370. it ties together the breast-plate of Righteousnesse it keeps on the shooes of the preparation of the Gospel upon our feet it keeps the shield of Faith from breaking it inlivens Hope and acuates the Word the sword of the Spirit Certainly mans invocation of God will immediately
offereth praise glorifies mee Psal 50. ult 4 By your Fruitfulness under the dews and droppings of his Word under the whippings of his Rod John 15.8 the more graces are multiplied the more God is glorified 5 By your Faithfulness in sufferings and in services 1 Pet. 4.14.16 To give up your names to Christ and afterwards to make defection and apostatize from Christ is matter of dishonour to him if any man draw back his soul hath no pleasure in him Christus ipse tacite accusatur quasi iniquus but not to stand on these 6 By your contentednesse with him alone and your unsatisfiednesse with any thing you have from him while you are without him This sets the Crown upon his head 7 By your forwardnesse to and uprightnesse in the Administration of Justice and Judgement when the Angels came with power to judge Babylon Vide Rib. in loc Rev. 18.1,2 It is said the earth was lightened with his glory There is so much beauty and brightnesse in works of Justice and Judgement that they are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Glory of the Lord Numb 14.21 God was glorious as well in destroying the Egyptians as delivering the Israelites 8 God himself hath commanded it peruse the Text Do it vers 7. Here is his Sic volo sic jubeo his will is the rule of all reason It is disputed in the Schools whether God doth at any time give out a command which hee himself would not have obeyed and why hee doth so is queried as in Abrahams case Gen. 22. Estius in Sent. lib. 1. Distinct 47. Parag. 3. Lombard produceth another which Estius rejects as impertinent They conclude it with a non modo fatendum est non omnia fieri velle deum quae praecepit sed interdum cum velle non fieri quod praecepit atque ideo praecipere ne fiat Certainly what here concerns the execution of Justice ought conscionably to bee obeyed because by him commanded that was a prerogative command but this is not and his Will is reason sufficient why you should obey Authoritas praecipientis est ratio praecepti Hee said do it who hath authority to command you to do it and ability to consume you if it bee not done hee is resolved Justice shall bee done and highly provoked if Justice bee not done this is the Will of God Et sufficit pro universis rationibus Deus Vult Reason 9. 9 Justice must bee executed that your oathes may not bee violated To fear an oath is the character of a good man The violation of an oath is so hainous a transgression that some of the School-men peremptorily conclude Perjury a greater sin than Homicide Biel. lib. 3. Qu. 39. Dub. 4. or Murther though Biel doth not assent thereto yet hee confesseth it is a sin to bee punished by the Judges especially then in Judges Heathens dare not adventure to infringe or violate their oaths though guided only by the pur-blinde light of natural conscience Attillius Regulus preferred the obligation and observation of his Oath before the safety and preservation of his life hee made choice of that which was indeed more eligible to bee punished than to bee perjured The Carthaginians being ingaged to the Romans chose rather to entombe themselves in flames of fire which they had kindled in the Market-place than to break their sacred vows Notable is that of Pocylides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But once more and then wee shall let this branch passe Reason 10. 10 This is the end for which you are impowred and constituted The Queen of Sheba though an Heathen could tell that therefore God made Solomon King because hee loved Israel and that this was his work to do Justice and Judgement 2 Sam. 8.15 2 Chron. 9.8 shee was convinced that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by him Kings raign and that for this very end Salomon was set on the Throne of Israel to dispose of the affairs of his Kingdome with Judgement wisely and in righteousnesse justly Judges that will not do judgement have nomen inane and are guilty of crimen immane Such sin against the very nature and end of their function Remember then my Lords that Instrumentum eatenus est Instrumentum quatenus est inusu And as the Philosophers speak Frustranea est ea potentia quae non reducitur in actum i.e. quando debet quando potest you have authority put into your hands to do judgement and you have one opportunity more to do judgement up then and bee doing receive not that power and authority in vain 2 Branchâ—… In the Administration of Justice you must TAKE HEED what yee do do it exactly This is the second Branch of the Observation 't is de modo how you are to dispose and dispatch manage and transact the affairs in hand Not to multiply Arguments Take these ten why you should Take heed what you do and do all exactly Reason 1. First Because you are the Deputies the Vice-gerents the Ministers of a most holy just jealous and exact God Hee is exact in all his wayes Vide Tirin in locum works promises as fearful in praises so faithful in promises both in making and in keeping them hee is ever as good as his word sometimes better exact in rewarding in punishing in all his understanding is infinite hee knows what to do when and how to do all things Now then my Lords A Lapide in locum you are his Ministers non tam mei quam Dei est is vicarii a Deo scilicet per me constituti Judices est is populi sui and therefore it highly concerns you to take heed what you do read the seventh verse There is no iniquity in the Lord your God All Righteousnesse is in him nothing at all of unrighteousnesse in him let there bee none in you All his officers shall bee peace and his exactors Righteousnesse it is in the abstract and you know Abstractum est forma concreti it hath more in it and carries more away with it It is his pleasure that all his should bee like him It is your duty to meditate frequently on and to conform your selves to that perfect pattern of your soveraign Lords exemplary Justice This should bee the first step of your care Vasquez disput 116. cap. 4 5. Suarez Metaph 30. Sect. 6. it will bee the last rise of your honour The divine Attributes are neither really distinct from the divine Essence nor one from another his mercy is the same with his Justice and both God himself A man may bee a man and yet bee unjust Justice is not quid constitutivum but should the most high bee unjust hee could not bee God Justice is no quality in him but the very nature of him There is a Maxime of state The King can do no wrong Certainly they may and in some respects did Thom. Bradw lib. 1. de causa dei God can
cruci affigeretur saith Maldonate Audi quomodo amatus es O homo Aug. O quantum dilecta spousa prae qua filius ipse aut non dilectus aut sa'tem neglectus Incomparable was the love which Christ manifested to man in praying for us paying a great price for us dying for us and now making intercession for us his very life was the Jewel hee pawned for us Vide Bolducium in Job 2.4 precious it was to him and so is ours to us Skin for skin and All that a man hath will hee give for his life Now this is in your hands What Seneca said of Nero to Nero in that excellent book of Clemency Lib. 1. cap. 1 so highly prized by Queen Elizabeth Ego vitae necisque arbiter qualem quisque sortem statumque habeat in manu mea positum est quid cuique mortalium c. is true in part of you notable was the answer of Alexander Magnus to his Mother Olympia when shee had a design to take away the life of an innocent man shee remembred him how shee had carried him in her womb nourished him with her blood painfully laboured in his birth therefore hee must not deny her request but his return was grave and serious Life was precious Misera vis est valere ad nocendum there is lesse evil in sparing ten that bee nocent than in sentencing to death two that bee innocent For that there is a plea of mercy This is pure injustice Hee was none of the wisest Judges who solemnly professed as the Italian Oratour speaks to hang many was his Jubile Silesio and a great execution was his great recreation Hee had not the reason of a man but the rage of a Lion the venome of a Serpent the malice of a Daemon And How dear our Civil Interests Immunities Rights and Priviledges are I shall not speak Do not too many make their Gold their God their Bonds and Indentures their Scriptures The world their All in All They would rather part with their part in paradise than in Paris While gracious souls say What is a man profited if hee gain the whole world and lose his own soul The Cry is greater what is a man profited if hee save his own soul and lose his Riches his Rights his Honours his Flax and Wool the great things of this world The Application In which I shall study more brevity I cannot more perspicuity But one thing I must remember your Lordships of and my self of another before I can proceed on safe ground any further Remember you that of Chrysostom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nisi fideliter dixetim vobis crit damno sum mihi periculosium Timeo itaque damnum vestrum damnationem meam si Tacuero The Church is not a Theater where mens ears are tickled but their hearts are touched nor are you come hither I presume to hear what will please but profit It may bee it should bee what is most profitable will bee most delectable and acceptable And I shall remember Bernards Nisi fideliter dixerim hee who hath advanced you to this Authority hath ingaged mee to fidelity The plaister which causeth most smart is most soveraign To proceed then 1 Use And First for Humiliation Is this so Must Justice bee executed and Judgement administred THUS with this deliberation c. Then let us Humble our souls this morning in the presence of the Eternal God for the Male administration of Justice in the Nation This is one burden which England hath too long groaned under it is our sin our shame our judgement a state desolating sinking sin it carries destruction in the very face of it when there is little or no Justice Truth or Knowledge of God in a Land God will enter into controversie with it Hos 4.1,2 Gualther might well call that Text sui an non nostri Temporis speculum It is Englands Looking-glasse who can say wee are free from injustice oppression Aqu. 2. 2. Qu. 57. Ar. 12 c. the Schools say Justice is the chief of Moral vertues sure then Injustice is chief of Mortal vices May it bee spoken My Lords May it bee spoken Nay is it not to bee spoken with tears of blood Judgement hath been turned backwards Justice hath stood afarre off Truth hath fallen in our streets the Widdow and the fatherlesse have been oppressed The Name of God blasphemed his holy day prophaned his Ordinances sleighted and his Laws violated while the Statutes of Omri are observed Quis talia fando Temperet a lachrymis Let Rivers of Waters run down our eyes because men keep not thy Laws O Lord. Seneca unmasking the face of their corrupt state hath this notable passage The news from Rome take thus the walls are ruined the Temples are not visited the Priests are fled the Treasuries rob'd Old men are dead young men are mad Vices are Lords over all The Dictator blames the Consul The Consul checks the Censor the Censor chides the Praetor the Praetor falls foul upon the Aedile and hee casts all the fault upon the Quaestor and because no man will acknowledge himself in fault wee have no hopes of better times I shall not take the boldnesse to apply It was a strange saying yet very true Nic. de Clemang There is more justice and equity in Hell than in France there the oppressor is oppressed there hee that would not give a crumb of bread is denyed a drop of Water there such as shed innocent blood have blood to drink there is no respect had to persons potentes potenter puniuntur Every man hath according to his deserts but in France c. let this never bee true of England Not to travel far In this County which is not the greatest there is too much of Rome and Hell You may behold the tears of such as are oppressed and crushed by Malignant Antichristian Lords but they have no comforters you may behold Seducers and Impostors Vain-talkers and idle persons whose mouthes are not muzled Wee fear the setting of our Sunne at Noon-day the removal of our bright-burning and shining lights out of our territories wee tremble O that wee could tremble to think of Gods striving with us no more by his Spirit and his Word Wee fear not the downfal of Tythes so much as of Truths unless that bee a fore-runner of this Herb. The Gospel upon tip-toe stands And 's ready for the American strands If Justice be not executed Errours suppressed faithful and painful Ministers encouraged and Gods Ordinances frequented and attended on Woe unto us if Judgement bee established Salvation shall come and his Righteousnesse shall be revealed Luther had never any great design on foot for Gods glory and the Churches good but hee was brought very low before by the afflicting hand of God My Lords the work you have in hand is of God and for God humble your selves this day before God the work will go better on Vis
Casmannus Angelograph p. 2. cap. 10. Aq. p. 1. q. 113. Att. 4. Est lib. 2. dist 11 c. this conduceth very much to your present safety and security It is queried in the Schools whether every man hath his particular Tutelar Angel assigned him for his custody Most of them and many of the Fathers they tell you answer it positively Our Orthodox Divines conceive it a platonick conceit no Scripture Truth Camero sufficiently and solidly refutes it Camero prael in Mat. 18.10 This is a very certain Truth the Angels are appointed for the custody of men they have a special charge to safeguard such men as you And as they are invisible so they are invincible Nay the Lord himself is your pavilion he hath ingaged himself to be a Sanctuary an hiding place a shield and refuge To the Oppressed Psal 9.9 The Lord will bee a refuge for the oppressed a refuge in time of trouble To such as walk uprightly Psal 84.11 To such as are exiled and banished Ezek 11.16 Though I have scattered them among the Countries yet I will bee to them as a little Sanctuary or a Sanctuary for a little time To such as trust in him Prov. 30.5 To the meek ones of the earth Zeph. 2.3 To such as keep the word of his patience Rev. 3.10 To such as hide his people in a storm God will hide such people as Rahab c. To the humble person Job 22.29 To such as say not a confederacy with them that say a confederacy Isa 8 12.14 To such as are much in prayer he will not keep such from him in a storm as will not be kept from him in a calm Heaven ever stands open for such it fears no Devils the highest they can go is the air Psal 32.6,7 Ephes 2.2 To such as do Justice and Judgement Hee that walketh or worketh righteously and speaketh uprightly that despiseth the gain of oppression and shakes his hands from holding of bribes doth not this concern you See Isa 33.15,16 My Lords Now mark what follows Hee shall dwell on high he shall be as safe as castled or immured in some invincible Tower or impregnable City Walls and bulwarks shall not be His Salvation but Salvation shall bee for walls and bulwarks Chap. 50.7 Psal 90.1 In Jeremies Prophesy God himself is stiled the Habitation of Justice Justice dwells with him and just men too Such need not lye down nor rise up in fear If there bee one that executeth Justice and I will spare it Jer. 5.1 Will the Lord spare It and not Him will hee shew such favour to the City for the sake or such a man and will hee not be so favourable to one such man if found in the City Fifthly It is a conscience-quieting and soul-solacing act As there is joy in the presence of the Angels when a sinner repents unfainedly so when one by the sword of Justice dies deservedly And this will bee your rejoycing the testimony of your consciences that in simplicity and godly sincerity you have administred Justice exactly amongst us When with Hezekiah you turn your faces to the wall God will in mercy turn his face towards you if you walk before him in truth and with a perfect heart doing that which is Just in his sight Samuel was one of the last and one of the best Judges that ever Israel had hee purged the Church from Idolatry hee restored Religion to its purity hee executed Justice and Judgement impartially and herein hee comforts himself exceedingly I have walked saith hee before you from my child-hood unto this day 1 Sam. 12.2,3,4 In my minority when I was a Levite doing the service of the Sanctuary and since I came to more maturity administring Justice as a Judge Here I am and witnesse against mee who can before the Lord and his anointed your King Saul whose Oxe have I taken or whom have I defrauded or of whose hands have I received any bribe q. d. if any bribery or cruelty any injustice or partiality can be justly charged upon mee let them now speak Beati qui gaudent quando intrant ad cor suum nihil mali ibi inveniunt saith Augustin they are blessed who can come unto their houses Ener in Psal 33 and unto their hearts and finde no guilt there Thus it was with that good man Samuel Augustin pleaseth himself much with the comparison of an evil corroding conscience to a scoulding discontented wife hee hath it often I finde it in his Enarrations upon the 33. Psalm and upon the 35. Psalm c. Qui habent malas uxores quommodo exeunt ad forum gaudent caepit hora esse qua intraturi sunt in domum suam contristantur As they vex men infinitely so doth a guilty conscience but as a good wife so a good conscience is a continual feast Moses solaced himself in the integrity of his heart and Job also Numb 16.15 Job 29.14.15 When other covetous Caitiffs unjust wretches shall have fears falling upon them and anguish of spirit which makes their bones shake and tremble the hairs of their heads stand up their heart strings burst and break when the terrours of Hell shall take hold upon their filthy consciences Then you My Lords who discharge your duties and high trust reposed in you shall have the Honour of it in life and the comfort of it in death Sixthly Not to do Justice and Judgement is a sin most hainous and abominable it is malum complexum it is peccatum complicatum a big-belly'd Evil a land desolating sin that God will bee avenged on It is a sad charge Jer. 5.28 Among my people are found wicked men they over-pass the deeds of the wicked i.e. they are worse than Turks and Pagans they judge not the cause of the Fatherlesse Such as are least able to right themselves should have most help from others but the right of the needy they do not judge Shall not my soul be avenged on such a Nation as this To think any sin little is no little sin yet some are greater than others and this is one of the greatest saith the Lord yea hee will surely visit for these things Amos 5.12 I know saith God your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins peccata vestra valida fortia as Drusius Gravia copiosa saith Vatablus magnopere me irritantia Ribera obstinata enormia scelera vestra vidi saith Lambertus on the Text words are wanting to expresse the sinfulnesse of their sins the Original is more full and emphatical your boney sins but what were they They afflict the just they take a bribe they turn aside the poor in the gate from the right therefore saith the Lord I hate and despise your Feast-daies I will not smell in your solemn assemblies let judgement run down as waters and righteousness as a mighty stream vers 21. to the 25. There hath been much wrestling with God in prayer and soul-afflicting yet prayers are
not answered though they cry and shout yet he shuts out their prayers what may be the cause of this great indignation Is it our Covetousness or Idlenesse that are imployed in the Ministry Is it the peoples impaenitency infidelity barrennesse or non-proficiency under the dews and droppings of the Sanctuary who dare excuse or draw up an Apology for himself or lay the fault at the Judges door but if the want of due execution of Justice through the Nation bee not THE Sin yet sure I am it is a God-provoking sin and of such an influence that if the Lord shall this day call it to remembrance instead of blessings which wee have humbly begged wee may go out with curse upon curse which hee hath threatned and wee have long deserved they who were appointed to stand upon Mount Ebal to curse denounced a curse against such sins and sinners Cursed bee hee that perverteth Judgement Deut. 27.19.25 the Judgement of the stranger fatherlesse and the widdow and all the people shall say Amen Cursed bee hee that taketh a reward to slay an innocent man and all the people shall say Amen In Jeremy 22. two things are observable to my purpose and discourse in hand and with them I shall shut up this Consideration 1 Jehoiakims sin against God Hee shed innocent blood not only his hand but his heart was for oppression and violence to do it vers 17. 2 Gods sentence against and Judgement upon Jehoiakim They shall not lament for him hee shall bee buried with the burial of an Asse drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem non sepelietur Maldon in loc sed projicietur extra urbem in sterquilinium A horrid sin and an heavy Judgement But once more Seventhly You must be responsible and accountable at that great Assize the day of Judgement for what and how you have done The Athenian Magistrates were in authority no longer than a year when that was expired proclamation through Athens was made whoever can justly accuse the Magistrate of any injustice bribery partiality or injury let him come forth for his power and authority is resigned your Lordships can apply The meditation of death and Judgement in your morning thoughts and cold blood will excite and quicken you animate and incourage you to do Justice and Judgement with exactnesse and circumspection I shall produce and presse no more of these Considerations though many offer themselves 3 Use The third Use of Direction If you cordially indeavour a conscientious discharge of this great duty imposed on you and high Trust reposed in you These following particulars may prove helpful and useful I shall summe up all in twelve each of which is reducible to one or both the branches of the Observation now in hand Briefly then 1 Look to your Hearts Vide Photii Epist 31 that they be right Whilst Justice is in your Hands Mercy must be in your Hearts Remember as you are men who smite so they are men who smart It is true of a good Judge Ille doleâ— quoties cogitur esse ferox Basil Ep. 79 It is good obductis velis judicare Avenzoar used to say hee never gave purgation but his heart trembled many daies before With us Butchers may not be Jurors nor Judges because they q. d. wade and trade in blood Augustus never pronounced a Capital sentence without a deep sigh Sic succenseas iniquitati ut consulas humanitati Aug. Ep. 1â—9 Claud. Diis proximus ille est Quem ratio non ira movet justique tenorem Flectere non odium cogit nec gratia suadit Goodw. Ant q. The Jews would have none to bee Magistrates but such as were or had been Fathers of children they supposed their paternal affection would incline them to commiseration Non paena sed justitia delectetur Judex saith Camero well in this the Lord delights not in that Jeremiah 9.24 Ferina rabies est sanguine vulneribus gaudere saith Seneca illos crudeles vocabo De Clem. lib. 1. c. 14 qui pumendi causam habent modum non habent Let your moderation be known to all many are not just enough some over much He that tills his Land overmuch loseth by it A Judge should bee like the Planet Jupiter scituate betwixt hot Mars and cold Saturn ex utroque temperatis est salutaris When Bias Prienaeus adjudged any to death hee would weep bitterly being asked the reason hee replyed Necessarium quidem esse naturae condolore a lege vero justitiae tramite regula discedere magis periculosum Non paena semper saepe paenitentia contentus Aug. Ep. 158 Augustine tells us that Agricola was often contented with the Malefactors repentance Consult Zech. 7.9 Prov. 21.21 Micah 6.8 I proceed Secondly Aqu. 1. 2. qu. 1 Look to your Ends that they bee right Omnibus operationibus nostris caelestis intentio adjungi debet Vos de virtutibus Gentilium The end in all acts of what nature soever they be is mainly to be regarded A sinister end ruined Jehu hee did the work of God but not for God his end was base this turned his Wine into Water his Silver into Drosse Hee did what was right good quoad materiale non quoad finale for the former hee was well enough rewarded for the other hee was severely punished serv'd as hee deserv'd I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu remember Hos 1.4 bonum oritur ex integris malum ex quolibet defectu Thirdly Labour for more wisdome and knowledge Vide Phil. Jud. de officio Judicis p. 144 Ignorantia judicis est calamitas innocentis It is Biels conclusion Judex damnificans per negligentiam sive per ignorantiam tenetur ad damni restitutionem There are three things requisite in such as you Aqu ad Hebr. cap. 1 Lectio 2 My Lords Generis prosapia ne contemnatur judex praecipiendo Virtutis potentia in exequendo sapientia ne erret judicando Aquinas and Becanus Becan sum p. 425 hint them to mee The Calcidenses had a Law that none should bee invested with judicial power and authority till the fiftieth year of their age Lib. 7. cap. 9 As Innocency is the priviledge of Infancy so wisdome of old age as the Philosopher observes in his Politicks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Indoctis Magistratibus tradere magnarum rerum gubernationem Epist ad Joh. 2 Wedâ— Nobilem quid aliud est quam legum tabulas trunco aut parieti affigere It is Melancthons Silesio an Italian Oratour reports of a precious stone Diocletes which though it have many rare and excellent qualities and soveraignties in it yet it loseth them all if put into a dead mans mouth Even so Justice which is the sole ornament and accomplishment of States Corona columna reipublicae though it have many rare and exquisite vertues in it yet doth this soveraignnesse of all Princely vertues lose
who can punish a fault and will not or doth not is no lesse guilty than the offender himself It is true of Judges and Justices Favour these fellows as they are your friends of your Alliance and acquaintance punish them as Drunkards wee have good Laws for the suppressing of this sin Currat lex It is a sin so odious in the eyes of Turks and Pagans that they punish it in whomsoever they finde it with eighty stripes Plutarch reports of Philip King of Macedon that hee built a City called it Poneropolis Drunkards and such like persons were sent thither In Rome there was a street called Vicus Sobrius no tipling house was found there can you finde its parallel Augustin in his Epistle to Aurelius laments this sin Ep 64. contra â—briosos Aphros Tanta est saith hee hujus mali pestilentia ut sanari prorsus quantum mihi videtur nisi consilii authoritate non possit With us are not many playing without while they should bee praying within drinking in the Ale-house while they should bee about the service of God and the salvation of their souls in Gods house The Manichees used to fast on the Lords day was it not proper for them to fast then Aug. Ep. 86. ad Casulanum Senec. Ep. 83 Plin. N. H. l. 24. c. 22 Aelian Var. Hist l. 3. c. 13 14. de Tap. Bizant Sure it is more incongruous to feast and bee drunk then Time will not permit to tell you how the Ancient Fathers yea Heathens have stigmatized and branded this sin and these sinners they will one day say they had been happy if they had been turning spits while they were toffing pots If you can do any thing suppresse this sin Adam Contzenus the Jesuite gave this advice To indeavour the extirpation of our Ministry and then our Religion should surely fall but saith hee do it not all at once but take away some first and disgrace the rest haeresis enim cui patrocinium decrit sine pugâ—a concidit Let not my Lords bee angry and I shall but offer one thing more to your honourable consideration Incourage the faithful painful Ministers about you Take heed what you do in reference to them They are much opposed abused and wronged do not you discountenance them and which speaks more evil to us than all our evils upon us the extirpation of the Ministry is by many indeavoured The falling of the salts of the earth is very ominous wee now fear many are poysoned but then more will bee starved There is nothing more necessary said the Philosopher than the Sun and Salt A soul-saving Ministry may bee added It is necessary for such as are out of the way to bring them in for such as are in the way to bring them on towards Heaven It was a sad time when there was no Smith in Jsrael 1 Sam. 13.19,20 much sadder when Israel was without a teaching Priest 2 Chron. 15.5 Dan. 8.10,11,12 In Rev. 11. You read of two witnesses who were they Quoniam nomina eorum non indicavit saith Ribera relicta est authoribus opinandi libertas A Lapide in 1 Thes 2.4 A Lapide thinks Enoch and Elias Some the two Sacraments others the two Testaments others the two great Ordinances of Magistracy and Ministry and why not faithful Ministers only to determine is no young mans task but if they bee killed they shall bee revived while the God of Heaven hath a Church on earth hee will not shee cannot bee without them It is said by some Nunquam meipsum habui magistrum Hieron wee can do well enough without them wee can teach our selves and have not wee the Oracles of God and of what use is their humane learning c. To which I say in short hee that is a Scholar to himself hath a fool for his Master The Saints in former ages accounted them blessings do you account them burthens it was a misery to them to bee without them is it a mercy to you to want them have you the Spirit of God what will that do without the Word of God Camâ—re or the Word without faithful dispensors Nec verbum quicquam potest sine Spiritu nec Spiritus quicquam vult sine verbo And for humane learning I may say with Tertullian though hee was a professed enemy to Philosophers quomodo repudiamus secularia studia siue quibus divina esse non possunt It is a famous Text though forgotten in this age Psal 77.20 Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hands of Moses and Aaron Observe the necessity usefulnesse and consistency of Magistrates and Ministers the Word is Bejad in the hand not hands not by the hand of Moses without the help of Aaron nor by the hand of Aaron without the help of Moses this was Gods old way of leading his people hee is the same and changes not What God hath joyned together men and Devils shall not put asunder Indeavour then My Lords and Gentlemen to protect them provide for them See they do their duties and have their dues Nehem. 13.10,11 2 Chron. 31.4,5 Aqu. in 1 Tim. 5.17 Nehemiah a godly Magistrate did so Amongst the Romanes there were certain Magistrates whose work it was to provide Fire and Salt for publick Ambassadours shall none provide for Christs Can the outward worship of God or Religion bee continued without a Ministry or a Ministry without Ministers or Ministers without maintenance Leave us not O Lord to their courtesie who think too much for themselves too little Too little for us too much they would have us so to minde the matters of God as wholly to forget the things of the world as if wee were not men but Angels and yet themselves so minde the world as wholly to forget the things of God and live not like men but Devils Wee are commanded to preach the Word in season and out of season Doth this charge nothing concern our people Yes verily If wee must preach in season and out of season then they should hear in season and out of season and pray for us and reward us in season and out of season None honour the Lord with their souls that will not honour the Lord with their substance Wee labour not in the Word and Doctrine that wee may have a liberal reward and recompence but therefore should wee and desire wee to have a liberal reward and recompence that wee may without distraction labour in the Word and Doctrin and give our selves to prayer and the Ministry of the Word To the Lawyers My Text commands you also to Take heed what you do Plead now as you may with comfort and courage stand up at the last and have Christ to bee your advocate and plead for you Remember the day of Judgement is not yet past All your councels and pleadings shall bee scanned Keep yee farre from false matters it was Moseses advice plead not such causes with your tongues as your