Book II. · G 0 b EARTHLY JUDGE. Ill. It appertains to a Judge to be a Man of Knowledge, and well– fkilkd in the Laws and Statutes of a Kingdom, becaufe he is to be the Expounder of the Law to the People. A J U D G E. 293 HEAVENLY JUDGE. III. God, the Judge of all the Earth, is a God of Knowledge: Known unto the Lord are all his Works from the Beginning. He gives Knowledge to the Simple, and makes the Foolifh of an un– dedl:and ing Heart ; he makes known unto Men the great Things of his Law; his Spirit fearches into all Myfteries; he aives Skill in all Arts and Sciences, and there is no fearchirig of his U nderftanding: When he undertakes to dif~ pme, none can anfwer him one of a Thoufand. . . IV. It appertams to a Judge td IV; In tlus the Lord, the great Judge, IS bebe a Man of Prudence, not only yond Comparifon ; for he dwells with Prudence, for the fetting of right Methods, and finds ottt Knowledge of witty Inventions; his but to do Juftice in a fit Seafon. Ways are perfect altogether. His Actions are fo fitly timed, that he doth nothing out ofSeafon : It is in due Seaf<m he delivers the Needy, avengetl1 the Caufe of his Elect, and plenti– fully rewards the proud Doers. V. It appertains to a Judge, to have good and right Laws eo judge the Ptople by, that there may be no Caufe of Grievances or Com– plaints. V. The chief Judge of all the Earth hath an ancient Statute-Book, that is fuited to all Times and Seafons, to all Ages, Sexes, Conditions and Conftitunon of Men whatever: Every Part of it is tried and proved, and found to be a perjeftLaw, in which are contained wondrous 'l'hings, Pfal. xix. 7· and clxix. 103. ever free from beteit and Fallhood. It is marvellous, pleafant and re– frefhing, fweeter than Honey, or the Honey-Comq; the Delight of good Men; a fure Guide to them in all their VI[ays ; and none of its Commands are grievous, but all D uties required by it are rea!onable. VI. It appertains to a Judge to be impartial, and judge uprightly; not to know the Faces of any in Judgment, not to be corrupted by flattering Words, nor bialftd by Bribes, nor milled by the Place and Dignity of Perfons, · of what Rank or ~ality foever they be. VI. In this there is none fo holy and upright as the L ord, who is no R efpecter of Perfons, hates flattering Words, and giving of Bribes; willfpare none for the Dignity of their Birth, or Antiquity of their Lineage ; but will do J uftice according to Right and Law, whether it be upon Angels; Empero", Kings, .Princes, Priefts, Prophets l his Church, that are his profelfed Friends, as well as upon the 'World, his profelfed Enem!es. He will deftroy his own anointed Ones, if they ftand in Oppofition to Juftice and Equity. Cities, Kingdoms, Towers, Temples, all l11all fall, rather than Law and Juftice be joftled out of Place. He fpared not Angels, overthrew Kings, mighty K:ings, with Kingdoms and Nations: Pharaoh, King of ./Egypt; Og, King of Bajhan; Nebuchad– mzzar, King of Baby/on; Darius, King of Perjia; Alexander, King of Greece; and Herod, King of Judea; Jerufaletn and Samaria, with both their Kings. When once they come to be laid in the Balance, and the Lord enter into Judgment with them ; when he ties Judgmmt to the Line, and Righteoufnefi to the Plummet: Noah, Daniel, and Job !hall not fave, when Truth, Law, and J uftice call for a cutting off. He wiU by no Means fparc the Guilty, when the Time of Forbearance is expired. VII. It appertains to a Judge, VII. Of this no Man ll1all have wherewith to to be juft and equal in the Properaccufe God, for he wrll not do more than is tight; tions of Punifhment and Severity, that Man lhould enter into Judgment with his not lay any beyond due Defert, M aker; nay, he will rather make Abatement, nor favor, when there is no reafon than overdo. And this hath been owned in his for it. The Reward of Murder, Act of Judgment : 'l'hou haft not dealt with us Treafon, Rebellion, Witchcrafr, according to our Iniquities. Blafphemy, is not to be given to petty Offenders. VIII. It appertains to a Judge, to take nothing upon Truit, bur to be fansfied that Matters are true. A Judge is not to act doubtfully, VIII. In this cafe the Lord our Judge hath fuf– ficiently approved himfelf; firlt, in refpect of the old World; fecondly, in refpeCl: of Sodonz and Gomorrah, where he would take nothing upon 4 F Truft,
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