Chap. 3r. An Expofitiou upon the Zook: of Jo B. Verf.34. 7Z1 much lefïe feared the maltitude,bat he did. Sometimes (I grant) The voyce ofthe people ú the vaunt ofGod ; That is,God moves the yet popstr multitude by a fecret overpowering influence upon their ',pinks vox do. to cry up and call alowd for that to he done which himfelfe (in his wonderful' providences and according tohis eternal counfels) is about to doe. But in moft cafes, we may fay, The voyce of the people is the voyce ofthe Devil. And if you will pleafe the molt of men, or Themany, you (hall never doe any thing that is pleafing to God,or profitable unto men.Thc multitude is an unruly beaft, hurryed by paillon, not guided by rule or matron. And as force excufe their doing evil) by the urgency of the people, fo others are kept from doing good by the oppofitionof the people. Saal (as was (hewed more largely upon the former verle) would needs excufe the mifcarriage of that fervice which God called him to,by the cryofthe people (r Sam: is. z t.) Thepeople took ofthe (jßoyle &c. As ifSao/ had fayd,Could lturn [ach a torrent, could 'fully execute the Commi lean which Godgave me when the people would not content and cleave to me ? They who (care the peo.ple,or refolve to pleafe the people,fhall at beft,doe the worke ofGod to halves, and ufually they leave it quite undone or doe that which is jafi contrary to it. lob could fay,Did1feare oe great multitude ? This was not fo much a gallant, as a truely gracious refolution ; and thereare but few who have aEled up to it. The ftreameof the multitude doch often carry even Magiflratcs 4nd great ones downwith it, to the doingof unworthy and unrigh. teous things, or flops them from doing thofe things which are honorable and righteous. Every Magiftrate is not cloathed with °ob.r (pirit, tobe above the (way ofa great multitude. Pilate was carried to one of the worfl aftions in the world ( though it had thebelt and moll bleffed iffue) to paffe an unjuft fentence upon Chrift ( who was as innocent as innocency it felfe) meerely be- caufe he feared the multitude ( Math: 27.24.) When 'Pilate taw that hecouldprevaile nothing, but rather a tumult war made, he Cooke water andwalked kú hands before the multitude, jaying, 1 am innscentfrom the bloodcfthe' )uf perfon : feeye to it. It is your cry and your rage that hath prevailed with me, I offered you B:o- rabbatto becrucified and Jefus to be releafed,but nothing (I per- ceave) will content you except Jefus dy, therefore take him. See how this Romane Judge was baff'd and overcome by the multi - Zzza rude
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=