The e1Jil of tmrigMtoM ;udgements. DlreE/:ions againft Latv.Suitr. Vtut. J• 16, 17• & ~6, 18. Ifa. r. 17) 20, 23· Drut. 24· 17. &'J7· 19• Curfcd be he tbat porvertcth tfJt judgement of the jirangrr, the fatbtrlcfi and widow, and all the ptople fhatl fay Amen, Ezra. 7· 26. Pf;/. 33· 5· & 37· 28. & 72· 2. & 9+· 15· & 106. 3· 30. Prov. 17· '7· & 19· z8. & zo. 8. &29·4· &31·5· Eccltf 5.8. If... 5·7· & 10. z. & 56•.,,,. & 59·1f, '5· Jcr. 5·'· &7. 5·& 9·24· Eztl(, 18.8. &45·9· Ho[.u.6. Am015 7,15,24· &6.12. Mic.3 9· Z"h:7·9, & 8. 1 6. Gc?lio 18. I9· Prov. 2 I· 3, 7, J 5· · I cite not the word5 to avoid prolixity. Scarce any fin is fo oft and vehemently condemned ot God. 9· ~·alfc Judges caufc 1he poor lo appeal la Godagainll 1hem, and <he cryts of the affiicted !hall nOI be forgotren, Lui(.e 18. 5· 6, 7, 8. 10. They call for Gods Judgement upon .rhemfelvcs,.and devolve the Work into his hands; Hvw can that man ex. pEel: any other than a Judgement of damnation, from the righteous God, who harh delib~ratcly condemned Chtill himfe1f in his c:~ufe and fervants, and fate in judgement to condemn the inno· cent' Pfal. 9• 7, 8, 9• The Lord bath prepared hiJ tbrom for judgcmmt, aod ht fhaU judge the worldin righteou[nrfr, he (haUminifter judgement to the people in uprigbtnrji ; he wiU be & refuge for the oppref fed, Pial. 37· 6. He wiU bring farth righteoufnrfr aJ tlu light , and thy ju~l,ement aJ the noon J.1y, P[al. 89. 14· Jujlice antl judgemmt tJre the habitati11n of hir throne, Pfal. 103 . 6. 1he Lord rxecttttth righteoufneji and ju.dgem~nt for aU tbat are opprelfed, Pfil. 146. 7· In a wo.rd, t?e fcntence of an ~njull: 'P Judge is paffcd agamH l11sown foul, and he callc:th to God to condemn h1m rzgiJJeoufly,vvho unnghtc· ou!1y condemn~d others. Of all men, he cannot Oand in juJgcment,nor abide the righteous doom of ~~ I ~· 5· Piw1. 2· When you wtV Hnderftand the grtatne[r of the fin, find oHt and overcotne the root Direa. 2 • and canfi• of it in Y"'" filvu: EJPtciaVy felfifhnefi, covtloufnefi and p•ffion. A feltilh man carethl' not what .another fuflereth, fo that his O\Vn ends and intereH be promoted by it. A covetous man will contend a'!d injure his neighbour when ever his own commodity rcquireth it. He fo mucH tovc:th his money, that it can prevail wirh him to fin againll God, and cat\ aWay his own foul; much more to hurt and wrong his neighbour. A proud and paffionate r:ian is fo thirfly after revenge,to make others fioop to him,that he carcth not what it colt him to accornplifl1 it.Overcome thefc . inward vices, and you may eafily forbear the outward fins. . ·{ §. 6. Direct. 3· Love your neigbba>m aJ your [elver: ~·or that is the univerfal remedy againfl all Dire/1. 3• iojuriou s ~nd uncharitable ~dertakin?s. . . · . . . j 9· 7• Q11cct. 4· Keep a twdrr confmnce, whrch rvtll not mai(.e lrght of fin• It IS thofe that have Direa. 4• ftared their confcicnces by infidelity Qf a cow.rfe of finning, who dare venture with Judar or Gehtzi for the prey, and dare oppre{s the poor and innocent, and feel not, nor fear tlOt, whilft they cafi themfelves · on the rc:venge of God. ~ 8. Direct. 5 Remembtr the d,y when aU thefe cau{u mufl b, heard again, and .the rigbteoU< God Dircll· 5 , wiU Jet aU ftrait, and vindiwe the caufe of the opprefftd. Confider what a dreadful appearance that man is like to have at the Bar of Heaven, wh6 hath falfly accufed, orcondemnt:d the jult, in the Courts of men. What a terrible inditemenr, accu(ation, conviction and fentcnce mull: that man eX· ped:? If the hearing of righteoufneji and the jtidgement to come made frelix tremble, furely it is infide.:. lity or the plague of a ftupified heart, which keepeth contentious perfons, pervertets of jullice, falfe witndft:5 and unjufi Judges, from trembling. . 9· 9· Direet. 6. Remember the prcfence of that God who m•ft he your ji11al Judg•. That he fceih Direa. 6, a\\ your Pride and Covetoufnefs, and all your fecret connivances for revenge, and is privy to all · your deceits and injuries. Youcommit them in his ope11 fight. ~· IC• DireCT. 7· Meddle nut witiJ Law SuitJ titl Y"" h11ve offcretl an equ~l arbitration of indifferent Direl1. 7• men, or ufed aU P"ffible meant of love, to prevent them. L1w S'lits are not the firft, but the lafi re~ medy. Try all others before you ufe them. ~· I I. Direct. 8. TYhen you muft netdJ go t(J L~tw, compofe your mindJ to unfeigned love towtJrdJ him Dire{1. s~ tbat you mH}i contend with, _a11d fr'atcb over yoHr h~artr wiJII jufpicion and the ~riUejl care, l.rJl fecret Jifajfc[lion get advantJgt by 11 : And go to your netghbour, and labpur lo P"ffefi hu heart alfo wztli love, tmd to demulce hi1 mind; that you may 1101 ufe the Cot4rlr of Jrejlice, aJ Souldierr do their weaponr to do the rrorft they can ag<~inft another, ar an entmy: hut aJ loving friendr do u[e aa amicable arbitrtJti· on; refolving conuntetiiy to.Jfand to wbat the Judge drttrminelh, without 11ny alienation of mind, or abate· mmt of brotherly lovt. · ~· 12· Direct. 9· Be"""" confident if the rigbuuufoefi of yourown caufe : but at~ counfol of{omt Dirta. ,. wndtrflanding, godly, and imp11rti11l men; and bear aU that can be {.tid, andpatiently confider of the c.z.fe, 11 nd do aJ you would have other! do by you. ~· I3· Direct. ro. Obferve whatterrorr o{Con{cienct st[e to bunt awak,.enedjinnerr, efpecioL'y 01t a VirtU• 10 , dwb·bead, fiJr fucb fins at faife n>itncfling, and f•ife judging, and opprcffing, •nd inju ing lhe in>IJ· cent, even abuve moft other [tm. Uuuuuuu 2 CHAP. '· ..
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