Justice Triumphing, Part 1
First Part.
A generall proposition of Gods manifest justice asserted.
The Lord is known by the judgement which he executeth.
The first word though not in order, yet nature, to be explained, is judgement, a word of various significat…on, & large extent, verbum hoc judici utinam nemo transiret sine …udicio; fit it is our judgements should be informed in the nature of Gods judgement, not needlesly to insist on the numerous acceptions of the word, know to our present purpo…e▪ Gods judgements are of two sorts, judicia oris, operis, of his Mou…h and his Hand, of his Words and works.
Psal. …9.9.119.7, 13, 20. v.Judgement is frequently applyed by David to the words of God, and that not without just reason, since by them he commands as a Judge, in them hee requireth nothing but what is just, and according to them he will one day judge us. Most commonly the Scripture applyeth judgement to Gods works. And that generally to the whole administration of his Government of the World, the way of God among men being styled his judgement, Jer. 5.…4. and of these St. Paul affirms they are unsearchable and past finding out, Rom. 11.33. more especially, and that somtimes for his
1 Corrective and medicinall chastisements on the godly; So the Apostle Peter tells us, Judgement begins at the house of God, 1 Pet. 4.17. and they are fitly so called for this reason among others, because God tempers them with judgement, and manageth them with discretion according to the Prophets Prayer, Correct me, O Lord▪ but with judgement, not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing, Jer. 20.22.
2 Somtimes for his vindictive and exitiall punishments of the wicked, begun in this World, consummated in the other; of this Judgement God hath made a due preparation▪ and the wicked have a fearfull expect…tion,Proverb. 19.20· Heb. 10.27. James 2.13. as being a judgement without mercy; and of this sort is the judgement in the Text to be understood. The reason of which appellation is well given by Musculus to be partly,Musv…in locum. because these punishments are inflicted by God as a Judge, chiefly because they are most just and right. There is not lesse verity then severity in all Gods proceedings against sinners; we are sure saith St. Paul, that the judgement of God is according to truth against those which commit such things, Rom. 3.2. it is observable for this purpose that God compares his destruction of Samaria to a line and of the house of Ah…b to a pl…mm…t, 2 King. 21.13. ut ostendat se no… praecipitem f…ri, that he might appear not rash but righteous in his sharpest stroaks on the wicked▪ measuring all his actions by the streight line of justice. The judgements of his Mouth are somtimes obscura, always vera, though difficult, yet true, and the judgements of his Hand are somtime occulta, never injusta, though secret and strange, yet just and equall; nor is it amor vindictae but zelus justitiae, love of righteousnesse, not revenge which makes him to
2 Execute judgement, I form… Light, and I create Darknesse, saith the Lord; Isa. 45.7. Light is put before darknesse, but darknesse joyned with Light, God the Author of both. Mercy is most naturall to God, flowing from him as water from the Fountain, light from the Sunne; but yet Judgement is somtimes squeezed from him as wine out of the Grapes by our sins. Hee calls it indeed his strange Worke, but yet it is his work and he will doe it.Isa. 28.21. It is true the instruments of vengeance are called a razor that is hi…ed as though God had no weapons of his own,Isa. 7.20. but rather then sin shall want its just merit, and justice her due satisfaction, God will hire instruments and command execution to be done. I have read of a Loadstone in Aethiopia which hath two corners; with the one it draweth to, with the other it puts the Iron from it. God (beloved) hath two Armes, of Mercy and Judgement, two Hands, of Love and Wrath, with the one he draweth, the other he driveth, the one stroaketh, the other striketh; and as hee hath a right hand of favour wherewith to lead the Saints, so hee wants not a left Hand of fury, wherewith to dash the wicked in peeces. True it is as Solomon intimateth Judgement is not presently executed against the evill doer,Eccl. 8.11. the cause whereof is not negligentia but clementia, inscitia but tolerantia, a mercifull patience, not an ignorant negligence; and however though he have woollen feet yet his Hands are Iron, his executions may be slow, they will be sure,Exod. 34 7. it is one of his choyce attributes by no means to clear the guilty, and he is no lesse a just Judge, then an indulgent Father. We all like Polyphemus see with one Eye, with Malchus have but one eare, like the Benjamites cast the stone with one hand; we love onelyonly to suck the Dug of compassion; to be fed with the Milke of mercy: but let none flatter themselves, wee must expect judgement should grate our Eares as well as mercy tickle them, knowing that if we will not heare, we shall f…l; for the Lord is known by executing judgement.
3 The Lord is known. According to the Caldee Paraphraze it is translated, manifestum est Deo & cum Deo judicium quod fecit Gods judgements are known to or with him. Lea… ned Muis renders the participle impersonally cognitum est, foreign.it is a known, tryed, experienced truth, God doth judgement. Both these seeme too short of the Psalmi…s meaning, the vulgar Latine reads the words in the future Tense, cognoscetur dominus, referring to that last and great judgement, wherein most eminently and universally the Lord shall be known a just rewarder and avenger.foreign. Innotuit. Trem Participium omnibus temporibus accomodari potest. Lor. in locum. Hugo makes mention of a threefold day, wherein God is known of Tribulation, death, and judgement the last and most dreadfull day of all. The 70 and the generality of Interpreters read it in the present and preterperfect tense, hee is and hath been known, by executing judgement. That the Saints while they live may have a breathing time, and the wicked a taste of misery God executes justice on them now, and when he doth so, he is known to be Jehovah.
God though invisible in himself, is both audible in his Word, and visible in his Acts; and indeed plus oculo quam or aculo, we read him more easily in the Patent of his works, then Charter of his Scriptures; true it is the noblest demonstration of things is from their causes, the neerest from their effects and performances▪ the former cannot be made of God who is the first cause, the latter is made by his actions. Sensus assensus sunt, we soonest assent to what we behold, and we all with Thomas are backward to beleeve till we see with our eyes, feele with our hands, and put our fingers in the print of Gods Workes.
Now there are three sorts of Acts, by which God makes himselfe known.
Omnipotent in working miracles.
Gracious in dispensing favours.
Vindictive in executing judgements.
By his Omnipotent he is known to all the World.
By his gracious to the Church.
By his vindictive to his enemies.
Aliter suis, aliter impiis innotescit Dominus, God is in a diffe…ent manner knowne to his own, and his enemies; to his, in cond…nation of their sins, and donat…on of blessings; to his adversaries, modo non solum mirabili sed miserabili in imputing their sins to them, inflicting his judgements on them; indeed Judicia indicia, every judgment on the wicked is a character, yea Oracle to evidence Gods presence.Musc. in locum. Tunc demum deum cognoscimus cum poenam exigit de impiis, then do all men see the Majesty of a God, when the wicked feele the stripes of his Rod,Ambrose. these are paginae authorem suum nunquam tacentes, lines which cannot conceale the Penman; bookes that ever speake their Author, and the plainest paths wherein we may trace the footsteps of a deity. Oleaster derives the name Jehovah from foreign, that signifieth destruction; I will not assert the naturalnesse of the Etymology; yet thus much is true, when God brings calamity on the wicked, he gains glory to himself, and manifestly appears to be Jehovah. Whilst God is injuriae patiens, suffering wrong from his enemies, he seemes as it were to be asleepe, and the World takes little notice of him: But when he is vindictam agens doing right he showeth himselfe the Judge of the World. What full characters of his attributes doth God write in the bloud of the wicked? to wit,
The infinitenesse of his mercy to the Saints, who are hereby preserved;
The severity of his Justice on the ungodly, which is herein declared;
The integrity of his faithfulnesse in both promises and threatnings, which are herein performed.
By his judgements it is that he is known.
In the perfection of his holinesse hating all sin.
In the Almightinesse of his power subduing his enemies.
In the Sovereignty of his Dominion ruling all Creatures, so that upon just ground the Psalmist asserts, the Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth.
To close up this first Generall.
1 O that you to whom though not the name Jehovah, yet Elohim is given in Scripture,Use. In speciall to Magistrates. Psal. 82.6. Dat veniam corvis vexat censuro Co…umbas, Ovid. Not judgment, but oppression; righteousness, but a cry. of whom this Lord hath said yee are Gods, would be like to God, and make your selves known in your office by executing judgement; be sure it be judgement, according to the rules of Law & Justice; otherwise you do not execute but persecute. To pardon Ravens and censure Doves, to pass by blasphemies against God, & punish misplaced words towards men, to connive at wilful profanations, & condemn ignorant or passionate miscarriages, is no… foreign but foreign bu… foreign, as the elegant Prophet phraseth it, Isa. 5.7. But in a way of right and equity spare not to shew your selves resolute, it was a wise saying of Pythagoras, Qui de malis poenas non sumit, bonos ini urias assicit. Semalle beneficio nullam gratiam report…re quàm maleficio poen… non irrogare Hosea 12.6. Zach. 7.9. Jer. 48.10.he that doth not malefactors right, doth the good wrong, and Cato professeth he had rather be ungratefull then unjust. God bids Magistrates keep judgement, but not as a prisoner; execute it, but not as a Malefactor; keep it▪ that is▪ observe; and execute, that is, performe: Oh remember justice is Gods legacy, and he hath made you his Executors …nd A…ministrators; be carefull to see his Will fulf…lled; Execution …n Policy is like Elocution in Oratory, the prime of all. It was a goo… Speech of one concerning Nerva his Government, malum esse eum imperare sub quo nemmi quicquam liceat, sed longè pe…us esse sub eo vivere sub quo omnia liceant, to English it in few words, Tyranny is better then Anarchy. Saint Augustine pithily sayth of a remisse Magistrate parcendo saevit, he is cruell in shewing mercy, and that not only to others but himself, incurring that curse which belongs to him who doth the work of the Lord negligently; that Apothegme of Lewis the thirteenth of France, being most true, that Prince which can and doth not punish, is no lesse guilty then the offendor.
Oh the… far be that Machiavellian policy from those who have the bridle of authority in their hands, to lay the reynes on every ones neck, and allow the people to do what they list; That grosse Hereticks, obstinate Schismaticks, or open prophaners should passe without due censure for feare of losing a party; no, rather take up that heroick resolution, fiat justitia, & ruat mundus; let Justice be mayntained, though the World be ruined. But what ever carnall reason may suggest, wee shall finde at last no better way to prevent the ruine of the Campe, raging of the Plague, drowning of the Ship, then the stoning of sacrilegious Achans, Josh. 7.21. Num. 25.11. Jonah. 1.15.slaying adulter…u… Z…mries and Cosbyes, and casting froward perverse Jonahs overboard, Obedience is the best sacrifice, punishment of disobedience the next; and were Magistrates more, God would be lesse known in his judgements.
In generall to all.2 Let the Lord be knowne, and acknowledged in his wrathfull ex…cutions. Better indeed were it to know him in his liberall collat…ns as a Donor; but howev…r let us know him in just visitations as an Avenger,Oleaster. since as one well, idcirco à Deo fl…gellamur ut cognoscamus iratum; quem nolumus cognoscere propitium; therefore doth God thunder and lighten in his punishments; that we might own him in th…se, who would not behold him in the shining of his love; the truth is, we are all too loth to know God even in those afflictions he infl…cts on us; how long was it ere Pharaoh is brought to take notice of God? Moses comes with a M…ssage, and he c…yeth out quis dominus? who is the Lord that I should obey his voyce, nay▪ when not only Gods word in his mouth,Exod. 7.23. but a rod in his hand was stretched forth before and against him, he would never set his heart to it till after ren…wed strokes and miraculous effects a confession of Gods finger is extr…cte… from him, and his Magitians; we rather ascribe crosse events to seco…dary then the sepreme cause; Noahs Floud to an extraordina…y concurrence of watry Planets; the drowning of Phar…ohs Host… to an inconsiderate adventure upon too high a…tide, and not to the wrath of God the sole cause of both; but let us remember though we will not, we shall against our will know the righteous Judgement of God, and God in his righteous Judgements. There are two things which Iehovah makes his Enemies know in the day of his indignation, themselves, himselfe, their impotence, his might, their mortality, his eternity, their vilenesse, his Sovereignty, both in the Psalme, and both verses attended with a Selah as most observable; themselves, that they are but men, v. 20. himselfe that he is Iehovah, in this verse. As for us, let our endeavour be, though we cannot comprehend, yet to apprehend God; and that as in the height of his Majesty, lenghth of his patience, breadth of his benefits, so in the depth of his Judgements; and as in all, so especially those which snare the wicked in his owne worke, and so I am fallen on the