A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 24 (Question 4 cont.)
SERMON XXIV.
4. JUSTICE is the next of the Divine Vertues, offered to our conſideration. Juſtice, as was before obſerved concerning Holineſs, may come under a double conſideration, viz. either as it is eſſential in him, and then it is nothing elſe but the rectitude of his Nature; or as it is relation to the Creature; and becauſe I ſhall ſpeak to it in this laſt ſenſe, we may take this Deſcriptional of it:
JUSTICE is God …hned to render to every one their dae, according to Rule. And this is that which doth eminently ſhine forth in his works of Efficiency; particularly in his Adminiſtration of the Government of the World: and becauſe there are ſome foot-ſteps of this Vertue to be found in ſome Reaſonable Creatures, we may from thence be a little helped in our Conceptions of it.
JUSTICS among Men, is uſually ranked under two heads, viz. Commutative and Diſtributive: It is the latter of theſe which comes neareſt to the diſcovery of the Relative Juſtice of God to us, becauſe the diſpenſation of it belongs properly to his Gubernation. Commutative Juſtice argues ſome equality between Perſons; whereas diſtributive Juſtice is diſpenſed between unequals; or is the Adminiſtration of a Superiour to Inferiours.
THERE is a Juſtice which-God obſerves in the management of the whole World, and every Creature is a ſharer in this; but the moſt radiant beams of this Perfection are refulgent to us in the Tranſactions that paſs between God and his Reaſonable Creatures, Angels & Men; and it is moſt profitable for us to conſider it in reference to the latter. In order to a more particular View of this, I ſhall premiſe in general:
1. THAT the foundation of diſtributive Juſtice is ſome law that is obliging to the ſubject. Humane reaſon can have no conception of this Juſtice, without a pre-conception of a law upon which it is built. It is true, where abſolute Sovereignty hath a prerogative, its Adminiſtrations muſt needs be juſt: and Gods Sovereignty is his Abſolute Juſtice; but we muſt diſtinguiſh between the Attributes of Lordſhip, and Juſtice in God; for he intended the diſplays of this as well as that in his tranſactions with his Creatures Juſtice muſt referr to a Law, and to a Law promulgated; and therefore where there is no Law, there is no Obedience, no tranſgreſſion, no recompenſers, no room for any Juſtice to diſcover it ſelf; Rom. 4.15.—Where no law is, there is no tranſgreſſion.
2. THAT Juſtice may be accordingly diſpenſed, there are three things requiſite.
1. THAT he who makes & …, the I …, have a rigiter lawful Authority ſo to do. It … not belong to every one, either to make Laws, or to put them in Execution; and tho' the … it ſelf were never ſo juſt, yet it were injuſtice in ſuch to take it upon them: giving and purſuing of Laws, are acts of Government, and they that take it upon them, muſt have the power on them, either in themſelves Originally, or by a rightfull Delegation: for a Judge to Sentence a convicted Murderer to Death is Juſtice, for a private Man to do it is Murder and all acts of Uſurpers, have been wont to be reſcinded, tho' poſſibly ſome of them have been for the matter juſt.
2. THAT the Law, which is to be Rule by which this is to proceed, be it ſelf juſt. For tho' there muſt be a Law upon which the Diſtributive Juſtice is built, yet there is a Juſtice which is antecedent rationally to that Law, according to which it ought to be enacted; and all lawgivers ought to have an eye to that as the Rule by which they make their Statutes: nor can all the lawfull Authority in the World make a thing to be juſt, by giving it the ſanction of a law, which in it ſelf or its own nature is unjuſt; for the nature of the thing continues the ſame after, that it was before; hence that Woe, Iſa. 10.1, 2. Wo unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievouſneſs, which they have preſcribed —. And indeed, here lies the greateſt injuſtice of all; for if the Rule be c…oked, they that muſt uſe it, cannot do right.
3. THAT the Judge in all his diſpenſations, keep cloſe to this Law: that he make uſe of it, as his proper directory, in examining of all Caſes, and final determining of every matter that comes under his Cognizance. The Judge, as ſuch, hath nothing elſe to do with the Perſon under Trial, then juſt as the Law preſcribes; and all his Juſtification is in keeping exactly to it: if any thing be, it is the Law that is offended; if that be not broken, the Man is no Criminal: if then the Law be juſt, it is that which muſt prove the Judge to be ſo too; it is not what be ſaith, but what that ſaith, and that in the true genuine ſenſe & intention of it: to vary from this, is in Scripture called perverting of Juſtice, Prov. 17.23. A wicked man taketh a gift out of the boſom to pervert the ways of judgment. Upon theſe things thus premiſed, let us now take a nearer and more particular account of the Juſtice of God, in the following Concluſions:
1. THERE was a Law which God gave to Man at firſt to regulate himſelf by. God having made Man a Reaſonable Creature, and a Cauſe by counſel of his own Actions, and having withal made him for his own Service & Glory, he revealed to him what was his Duty, and wherein he expected his Service, or how he would be glorified by him. That, when God had made Man, he brought him under the Rule of Government, is evident from Scripture, and that he revealed this Rule to him is no leſs apparent; the relicks of this Law in fallen Men's Conſciences, are a witneſs that once there was a fair inſcription … a the records of Scripture to all witneſs alſo that once God did ſhew Man the way. And the very nature of Man pleads for it, for the ſervice of a reaſonable Creature, muſt be a reaſonable Service, which naturally requires, that he muſt know his duty in order to his doing of it.
2. THAT God …d the undoubted Authority of a L…g…ver. That he had an abſ…iu… Sovereignty over the Creature, is beyond any rational ground of diſputation. He had his Authority in himſelf, and …ced…d not to derive it from the Subject. Humane Power is delegated, but God's is Originally is himſelf: In…ble it is to conceive of an Higher and more natural right than that of Creation: If the Potter may claim a liberty over the day, which he made not, but was given him for his uſe, much more may God over the Creature, which had its whole both Eſſence & Exiſtence from him: ſo he argues, Pſal. 100.2, 3. It was his Arbitrary Pleaſure, whether he would ever have given being to a Creature, he therefore ac…d his …ſure, as in making, ſo in the ſpecification of the ſeveral ſorts of ſecond beings. He may therefore without Uſurpation claim of them the Service to which he hath given them a Capacity, and if he requires no more of them, than what he endowed them for, he is juſt: they owe themſelves entirely to him, he that is the firſt Cauſe, is alſo the laſt End; if he be Creator, he muſt needs be Governour.
3. THAT the Law which God gave to Max was a Righteous Law. It is a diſpute among the learned, whether God wills things becauſe they are good, or whether they are good becauſe he wills them; i. e. Whether the will of God commanding, or the goodneſs of the things that are commanded, be the ground of the Righteouſneſs of his Laws. I may not here diſcuſs this at large; but methinks, here is no need of Controverſy, if we conſider, that God's Being, Underſtanding, Will, Wiſdom, Juſtice, Goodneſs, &c. are not diverſe in themſelves, but only diverſified to our Conception, and in the things done by him; theſe being all Eternal, there can be no goodneſs more Ancient which ſhould direct him, and if it be Co-eval, it is himſelf. The Contrivance of the ſuitableneſs between the Creature and its Rule, is the product of his Wiſdom; the determining it to be ſo of his Will, whence the Command it ſelf reſults; and from this fountain all goodneſs derives; and yet the derived goodneſs hath a real goodneſs in it, elſe it would not be a genuine iſſue of God's Wiſdom and Will: and then God both wills the things becauſe they are good, has Wiſdom doth ſo contrive them; and alſo they are good becauſe he wills them, his Active Will put the actual goodneſs into them. We may then argue well for the righteouſneſs of the Law from its Holineſs, and its Goodneſs; and therefore the Apoſtle puts theſe three together. Rom. 7.12. Wherefore the law is holy; and the commandment holy, and juſt, and good. Its Holineſs appears in that it is a Rule of glorifying God by his Creature, and its Goodneſs in that it is ſuited to the nature of the Creature, being a … and …pted to make him happ… … compaſs, and directive of him ….
4. THIS I am had … n…xed …it. A law in a … a Rule to direct the Creature in its A…; requiring a C…nſon…ity to it ſ… the Su…: but in a Political ſenſe, it … Sanction that is put to this Rule, …ld… Men under Obedience, and preſer… the …war and prerogative of the Law it ſelf …w the Sanction of the Law mainly conſiſts in the rec… penſe… determined for Obedience & Diſobedience with which it is ratified; which, that they may take place according to the merit of the Caſe, is that wherein the lawgivers Juſtice is concerned: When therefore God gave this Law to Man at the firſt, he added to the Command, a promiſe of Life to Man, in caſe he ſhould per… perfect Obedience to it, and a threatning of Death, if he ſhould violate it; and as be obliged Man to that part of it, which reſpected his Duty, ſo he no leſs bound his Juſtice, to ſee to that part of it, which referred to the Conditions which were adjoyned to…, Gen. 2.17. But of the gree of the knowledge of good & evi…, thou ſr…i not cat of it: for in the day that then eate… th…reeſ, th…n ſoa…t ſurely die. Rom. 10.7. For Moſes deſcribeth the righteouſneſs which is of …. That the man which death th…ſe things, ſhall …ve by them.
5. FROM the conſideration of theſe Conditions ar…ſeth the diſtinction of God's Juſtice, into Rewarding & Revenging. This diſtinction in clearly aſſerted and expounded, R…m. 2.6, 7, 8. Who will render to every man according to his deeds. To them, who by patient continuance in well-doing, ſeek for glory, and honour, and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteouſneſs, indignation and wrath. Rewarding Juſtice, is God enclined to recompence the Creature's Obedience with a conſtant Life of endleſs happineſs. Revenging Juſtice is God as fully enclined to recompence the Diſobedience of the Sinner with deſtruction; the former is ſummed up in the word Life, the latter in that of Death. Both of them are the ſame Relative Juſtice, bearing a different reſpect to the Creature according as it ſtands related to the Law.
6. THAT theſe recompenſes of rewarding and revenging Juſtice affix'd to the Law, are righteous. A Law cannot be righteous unleſs the Sanction of it be ſo; ſuch are theſe: not only is the Command juſt and good, but the conditions are right. The Recompence of reward is righteous, not that there is as much intrinſecal worth in Man's Obedience, which is but his Duty, as to purchaſe the Glory promiſed; but, as God promiſed no more but what he had a power to do, ſo having paſt his word, and given his promiſe to the Creature, it is right for him to perform it, and he would wrong his own Truth if he ſhould not ſo do. The puniſhment of Sin is juſt, it being a Crime againſt the Supream Majeſty, a rebellion of the Subject againſt his Sovereign; a wrong done to the Glory of the Infinite God, and therefore cannot but deſerve the almoſt p…ty the Creature is capable of.
7. … …ne g…ry of G… Juſt… … …ding to this law. This is that … we make the diſcoveries of this Attri…, juſtice conſidered in him, is his … li… … to do; and upon this account he is … it, Pſal. 45.7. Thou … righteouſneſ.—L…e in us is an Affection engaging of us … cloſure with our Object: the mani… of this is by his ſtanding by his own …, and when he doth ſo, then he makes it appear, that he is a juſt God, Now,
8. GOD always eyes this Law in his diſpenſ… to his Reaſonable creatures, as their Judge. God having fixed this Rule of Government, he now ſtands by it, and ſees to the fulfilment of a: he bears a true reſpect to it in all his proceedance with the children of Men: he aus impartially, and therefore is ſaid to have as reſpect of perſons, Rom 2.11. All the trials of Men are reduced to, and regulated by this Law; the Sentence which he paſſeth is recording to it, and ſuch are the …; (Row. 2. …) and wherever Ye …ers into Judgment with Men, there is no bribe can be put upon him, ſo as to biaſe him … his Sentence, or make him to pervert the Ru… of as Men are found, ſo it ſhall certainly go with …em. Holineſs and Justice run through all his Judicial procedings; Pſal. 1…5.17. The Lord is righteous us all his ways, and holy in all his …. And whilſt he ſtands by a juſt Law, me in muſt he appear to be a juſt God.
9. THERE are Sovereign Acts in God's dealings with the Children of Men, which … whit infringe his Juſtice. There are ther Attributes of God which he deſigns the diſplay of toward… fallen Man; and tho' the effects of them may ſeem different from thoſe of Juſtice, yet they in no wiſe contradict it; though our dim ſight cannot diſcern many times …he Conſonancy, and our prejudiced mind; are ready to make wrong interpretations; and theſe are eſpecially two, the one reſpecting Repre…; … other the Elect. In regard to Repr… … is his bounty or common goodneſs, which bears with them in Patience, and gives them a…dance of the bleſſings of life, Job 21.5, &c. This indeed is not properly Juſtice, but Favour, they have no claim; but his Juſtice is not blemiſhed by its all this is but an indulgence to them as Priſoners, before the day of trial and execution; and this ſatisfied, Job 21.29, 30. Have ye not asked them; that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens? That the wicked is reſerved to the day of destruction; they ſhall he brought forth to the day of wrath. And not only ſo, but he will call them to an account for all this, and the abuſe of it will add to their indictment: abuſed goodneſs turns into treaſures of wrath, Rom. 2.3, 4. In reſpect of the Elect, there is his ſpecial Grace appearing in the pardon of their Sins, and reſtoring them to his ſavour, and beſtowing on them Eternal Life, who were guilty and condemned by the Law: and here Juſtice is not injured, but highly honoured, in that he hath provided its ſatisfaction in Jeſus Chriſt, who hath born the penalty due, and therefore in him Juſtice and … are at Agreement; … that, R…m…. It …, I ſay, is this … that he night be …, and … which be…veth in Jeſus. And indeed, never had Juſtice rode in ſuch ſtately triumph…, had not the Son of God in our nature and ſtead reſigned himſelf up into its hands.
USE 1. LEARN hence that there is no hope for a Sinner that is in …s Sins to eſeaſe the wrath of God, and vengean…e of Hell. A vain thing it is to plead the mercy of God, and think to ſhroud your ſelves under that, whilſt there is guilt lying upon you: Remember, that when God diſplayed all his Goodneſs before Moſes, that he took care to put in a caution againſt ſuch as you. Exod. 34.7, 8. Keeping mercy for thouſ…s, forgiving iniquity, and tranſgreſſion, and ſin, and that will by no means that the guilty; …ing the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the childrens children, unto the third and to the ſourth generation. And Moſes made baſ…, and bewed his bead reward the earth, and worſhipped. Think, God is juſt as well as mercifull, and this Attribute is equally Infinite, Eternal and Unchangable with that; whatever love vain Men may plead that God hath for his Creatures which are the works of his hands; yet know it, he hath an Infinite ſelf-love, which is his Holineſs, which engageth him to ſecure the intereſt of the declarative glory of all his Perfections; and he will not ſuffer any one of them to have the leaſt ſtain or blemiſh upon it: if therefore you cannot reconcile the Immaculate Juſtice of God to your hopes of Salvation, you have little ground of encouragement or comfort: that there is a way to do this, is of God's rich Grace; and if ever you would ſtand in the judgment before a righteous God, it infinitely concerns you to ſeek after and ſecure this title, elſe all your hopes will periſh forever.
USE 2 THIS Attribute ſtands to ſtrengthen the hopes, and confirm the conſolation of tone Be…rs. They that have taken ſanctuary in Chriſt and gotten under the ſhadow of his wings, have not only the rich mercy of God to celebrate, and comfort their Souls withal, but the very Juſtice of God ſtanding on their ſide; and becauſe he is juſt, they can never miſcarry: the Apoſtle therefore intereſts this Attribute in our pardon and ſalvation, 1 Joh. 1.9. If we conſeſs our ſins, he is faithful and juct to forgive us our ſins, and to cleanſe us from all unrighteouſneſs. And Paul's deſign in Rom. 3. lat. end, is to ſhew that his Righteouſneſs is diſplayed in our Juſtification: for having taken the full of his righteous revenge for the Sins of his People upon our Surety & Redeemer, it muſt needs be that there is no more Condemnation to them which are in Chriſt Jeſus, Rom. 8.1. Juſtice ſaith, all its demands are compleatly anſwered, and it haſh no more to ſay. Let Sinners then tremble, but let the Saints rejoice and clap their hands at this, that God is Juſt, Pſal. 36. lat. end.
USE 3. THAT it is very ſafe for us freely to recommend all the In uries or wrongs that are done to us unto God, and to leave them with him. We need not anticipate God, by going about to …venge our ſelves: the Juſtice of God will do …ght; and if we can but leave it with him, … fear but he will in his own time, and in … beſt ſeaſon right our Names, and clear our …ency, however it hath been beſpattered in the World. Let us then bear injuries, and hard cenſures & reproaches with patience, and reward good for evil, praying cordially for them that deſpitefully uſe us, that if it may be, God will give them Repentance in this life, aſluring our ſelves, that if we ſuffer innocently, and for righteouſneſs ſake, God who hath clothed himſelf with Righteouſneſs as with a Robe, will clear up our Integrity before the World, to our Everlaſting Conſolation.
[NOVEMBER 5.1689.]