Chap. 3z. An Expofrtion repon the Book,of J o s. Verf. . none ought to be condemned, 'nor are any condemned jualy now but the wicked ; He that juftifieth the wicked , and he that con- demneth the Jul1, even they both are an abomination to the Lord, (Pro.17.15.) There is avery elegant tranfpolitionof the words in the Hebrew ; we may render the text thus ; He that jufl"ifeth the wicked, and wickedeth thejuß, &c. Thelaw of Mofes gave an expreffe rule again(( this perverfionofJudgemenr,in termes quite croife ro thofe in Solomon (Deut: 2 5. i .) If there be any contro- verfa between men, and theycome unto Judgement, that the judges may ridge them, then they (halljufli f e the righteous, and condemne the wicked. Which youmay render thus ; They (hall jxflifie the jufl,and wicleedife thewicked, that is, they than declare She juft man juft, and the wicked man to be wicked. That man either re- ally is, or is accounted wicked, who is call inhis caule and con- demned. That was a dreadful( fentence( the Scripture( Ads r . zo. ) fhewes it fulfilled upon the traytor rudas) when he is 'ra- zed, let him be condemned (Pfal. 109.7. ) we put in the mar gen, let him gee out guilty or wicked. In this fence robs three friends when they condemnedhim, café him as a wicked man, though they had nothing to anfiver the plea which he made for his owne integrity. We muflnot conceive any fuch wickednefíe Demount pro in them, that they were refolved to condemne him right or ineum mane wrong yet they held their conclufion again(} the light and rea- incum aiminá r; y y probate pôn, t fon ofall his premifes , and though they could prove no ill a- quibto fine u. gain(} him, yet vehemently fufpeémg him, they concluded he cm vttem cm- was an illman, and fo condemned him. sormimLent. Mere: Hence -note firfi. Some will proceed tocondemne both perfont andopinions, though they cangive no reafonable account why they condemne either. We read (1fa. 56. 1 o.) of dumbe eleggs, that cannot bark¿!, that is, who knownot what to fpeake or fay to purpofe. There arc many who (in this fence) cannot barke , yet they willbite ; andwhen they have no anfwer, they will condemne ; and ufually dumbe Boggs that cannot barke have the lharpeft teeth, and are befi at biting, or they arebetter at condemning then at anfwer- ing. As force finde an anfwer where there is none ; that is, when fuch reafons are layd before them as are imanfwerable, yet they will not give over anfwering, but 11;111 feek a knott ina ruff), and draw
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