The True Christians T est, Part 2 · Meditation 18
MEDITAT. XVIII. Of Judges and Magiſtrates.
THE Great Judge of the World has deputed here and there ſome amongſt men, to be his Vicegerents in the Adminiſtration of Juſtice. This certainly renders their Employment very Honourable, and he is a very bold and wicked man that dare contemn ſo much as the Reflections of the Authority of God, or the Majeſty of Heaven, at what Rebound ſoever. But as this Relation renders them Honourable, and a ſort of Gods, or Sons of God; ſo it does engage them to the greateſt Purity and Impartiality imaginable, leſt they bring a Reproach upon their Lord, and the ſons of Belial take occaſion to invert the Proverb, and ſay, As are the ſervants, ſuch is their Maſter. The Truth is, They that are Imitators of the Divine Purity, Juſtice and Goodneſs, are in a far better ſenſe the Sons of God, than they that only act in the World by his Commiſſion. For how far ſoever the inferior multitude are bound to obey them, it is evident that the God, whoſe pure Eyes cannot endure to behold Iniquity, does not farther own them for his, than as they act by his Authority, that is agreeably to his holy Nature, and juſt Laws. I wiſh it were generally look'd upon as a Traiterous Poſition againſt the Majeſty of Heaven, that any man may act contrary to his Nature and Laws (which is a taking up Arms againſt him) by his Authority. Nay, the Commiſſion of theſe men is ſo far from Patronizing any of their Iniquity, that I doubt not but that they that pervert juſtice, and act Violence and Cruelty in his Name, ſhall be deſtroyed with a double deſtruction, and be twice condemned; once for being ungodly Sons of Men, and again, for being ungodly Sons of God.
If a Righteous King will hang a Man that commits ſimple Murder, he will not fail to hang and quarter him who commits Murders and Maſſacres, and produces his Commiſſion to juſtifie the ſame.
Now amongſt theſe Grandees of the World, it may be ſuſpected that there are many Lovers of the World more than of God.
What elſe are all they, that either injuriouſly invade the Subjects of other Princes or rigorouſly rule over their own, forgetting that themſelves have a Maſter in Heaven.
They that prefer the Gratification of their own Luſts, the Advancement of their own Names, the Inlargement of their Dominions, or Treaſures, before Truth, and Charity, and the Peace and Wellfare of the People committed to them, are of this Breed.
They that abuſe their Authority, either in Eſtabliſhing Iniquity by Laws (which is a ſetting of Gods Zeal, the Sacred Sanction of a Law, to a thing contrary to his own Nature and Word) or ordaining Severe and Ruining Penalties againſt light offences (which is a proſtituting the Authority of Heaven) or by making Laws on purpoſe to make men offenders, not caring whether they be broke or kept, ſo themſelves may but have either the Pleaſure or Profit of exacting the Penalty; which is utterly unlike the Government of God, all whoſe reſtraints and threatnings do principally aim at the Good and Happineſs of his Creatures, belong to this Head.
And what elſe are all they that accept the perſons of men in Judgment, or in the Execution of Laws; that ſet Juſtice to Sale; that either defer or deſtroy the Cauſe of the Poor, becauſe he is Poor; or acquit the Guilty, becauſe he is Rich, becauſe they fear him, or love him, or are A-Kin to him? Is not this to prefer Worldly Reſpects and Self-Intereſt, before Righteouſneſs; and the World, before God. Let God himſelf be heard ſpeaking to theſe men, who are ſo kind to Benhadad, becauſe he is their Brother forſooth: 1 Kings 20. 42. Becauſe thou hast let go out of thy hands a man whom I appointed to utter deſtruction, &c.
And what elſe are they, who in the Execution of Juſtice, are acted more by private Diſpleaſure, than Zeal for God or Righteouſneſs; who under the cloak of Law, do gratific their own Sentiment, and, like Juſtice Jehu, revenge their own Quarrel, and ſerve their own malicious Inclinations, whil'ſt they pretend to be zealous for the Law, or for the Lord.