626 Chap. 34. An Expefïtiou upon the Boom, of ] o B. Verf.18 among men ? Nothing (confidering the corruptions and lofts of men) can be more unequal then that equality which force have vainly contended for amongmen. All men would fall down into eonfufion, if foane were not above. That which keeps allup,i, only that Tome are uppermoll,Kingsand Princes. Secondly,. ( which is here principally aimed at,.,) Note. It it mo.ft uncomly and .fnfral,to revileor givereproachful words to Kings or Princes. Whenwe fay It ùnot ft, we fay Ids then the thing is, or then the Text intendeth ; there is more evil in it then a bare unfitnefs, 'tis indeed a very great wickednefs, and ungodlinefs, to fay to a .King, thouart wicked,and to Princes, ye areungodly. To fay fo, is exprefly againft theRule, (hxod.22.28.) Thou (halt not revile the gads, (or, as we put in the margin, fudges) nor curfe the Ruler of thy people : And the Apoftle Paul quotes this Text (ads 2 3.5.) when himfelf had flipt in that point,: as he flood before the judgement feat,and pleadedhis own integrity; for when Ana- nias the highPrieft commanded them that flood by to finitehim on the mouth ; Paulfaidunto him, god :/hall (mite thee, thouwhited wall : This drew a reproof upon him prefently from them that flood by(v. 4.) Revileîb thou Gods high Prieft? ? And what doth Paul anfwer ? (v. 5.) I wi(í not Brethren, that he was the high Prieft; for it is written, , Thou (halt not fpeak, evil of the Ru- ler of thy people. There bath beenmuch difpute about that anflver, I w;f not that he was 'the high Prieft : Certainly Paul law and knew that he was the highPrieR ; and it is as certain, that he did not tell a lye, when he faid, I wr'ft not that he was thehigh Prieft : His meaning I conceive was only this, as if hehad faid, having received fuch unjuftt ufage in the Court, as to be openly?fmit- ten in time of hearing, I cer. fefsIwas ina palest, anddid not con- is44dinV. filer, as Iought, that it was the high Prieft ; I fpake rafhly and un- advifedly. Iwiftsnot, that is, I deliberated not withmy fell who it was Ifpake to, for I ought not to haveufed fach language ; the Scri- pture alfe'havingforbidden it, which faith, Thou(halt not curfe the ,Ruler ofthy people. It will not bear us out,toufe ill words to Ma- giftrates, though. (as Paul's cafe was) we are ill ufed by them. Aisne; taking the advantage of David's aflli} ion, rofe up to this height
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