Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v8

Chap.. 29. . ' Expofititeattpon tbe Bookof j o 3, Verf425. 627 forteth the mourners ; he laid of his friends, miferable comfor- ters are ye all, but himfelf was, to tall, acomfortable: comforter. Princes muff condefcend to the poor, and mingle the exercife of pity with the exercife of their power..' Tiswell,when rulers, who are a terror to evil doers, are alto a comfort to mourners. How fweet is it to fee Princes defgn the love of their people, as well as their obedience. He fpake more like a monfíer among men, Oderint then a ruler over who Paid of his fubjets, Let thembau me metuanr. ifthy'will,filing they mullfear me; I can over-power them,I care not for their love, The Lord promifethhis people(Ifa. 49. 23.) That Kingsfhap he their nurfngfathers, and . isent their mo- pes mothers ; that is, they (hall provide for them, , proreá them from harmes, anddeal tenderlywith them, as nurfes doe with their children. Woe to thofe Princes who are fo far from fuc- couring their people (as nurfes do their children) when they cry, that theymake them cry, and force themwho lived comfortably to mourn, intlead of comfortingthe mourners. How unlike are they to fob in the text, and how like toPbaroab (Exod.t.to,t 1.) who think they never deal fo wifely with their fubjeás, as in jet- ting Task-Maflers over them to aJtifb them with burdens till they break not only their backs,but,their veryhearts, and caufe them (as Phareab did the afraelites(Exod. 23. 24.) to figh by rcafon of the bondage, and to cry, till their cry come up unto God,byreafon of the bondage. There is a neceffity upon Magifirates fometi mes to ufe feverity; but it fhould be their choice and delight to ufe clemency ; 'cis their work to puni(b the contumacious, but to comfort the mourners is the bell and molt honourable part of their work; God himfelfe beareth this He and title (Rom. 15. 5.) The God ofconfolation ; and (2 Cor. a. 3.) The Godof all com- fort. Then Princes at likeGod, when their Government is fo jufland righteous that theymake no mourners, and when their persons are fo merciful and cornpaflionate, that they comfort mourners. He governs well, that makes no mourneers, but he is the bra Governour who comforts mourners. principert ïé From Jobs whole difcöur fe upon this point, we may take the nerabttemppootï, draft ocpicture of an cxcellaentPrince,and of a happypeople, of us Ire deters' Prince ruling well,of apeople obrying well, and of both pleafed 4uam terribi-. well. What an apeople de fire more in a Magifirate; thenotbat Sot atast ht should be aman fo wife as tochufe out their way,and fotender Lilly as wad

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