xxi. 3. To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. xxix. 14. The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever. Isa. i. 17. Seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Ver. 18. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as snow or as wool. Ivi. 1, 2. Thus saith the Lord, Keep judgment and do justice. Blessed is the man that doeth this. lviii. 6. 8. Loose the bands of wickedness, undo the heavy burdens; let the oppressed go free, break every yoke. Then shall thy light break forth as the morning. Ixi. 8. I the Lord love judgment; I hate robbery. Jer. xxii. 3, 4. Thus saith the Lord, Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, and do no wrong: do no violence to the stranger, to the fatherless, nor to the widow; neither shed innocent blood in this place. (Ch. xxi. 12.) Then shall there enter in by the gates of this house, kings sitting upon the throne of David, &c. Ver. 16. He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him. Ezek. xlv. 9. Thus saith the Lord God,| Remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice; take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord. Hos. xii. 6. Keep mercy and judgment: wait on thy God continually. Isa. xvi. 5. In mercy shall the throne be established. Amos v. 24. Let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. Zech. viii. 16. Execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates. Ch. vii. 9. Exod. xviii. 16.-xxiii. 6, 7, 8. Deut. xvi. See Lev. xix. 15. Amos v. 15. 19. XCVIII. Qualifications of the civil magistrate. Exod. xviii. 21. Thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such to be rulers. Deut. i. 13. Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you. Ver. 15. xvii. 18, 19. The king shall write him a copy of this law in a book. He shall read therein all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, and to keep all the words of this law, and these statutes, to do them. Ver. 15, 16, 17. 20. Josh. i. 8. 2 Sam. xxiii. 3. He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 2 Chron. xix. 6, 7. 9. Neh. v. 9. Ought ye not to walk in the fear of God? Ps. ii. 10, 11. Be wise, ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear. Prov. xxix. 2. When the righteous are in authority the people rejoice. Examples. Jehoshaphat, 2 Chron. xx. 3. Nehemiah, Neh. v. 15. XCIX. The magistrate's concern with religion. Numb. xiv. 17. Moses the chief magistrate prayeth for the people. Deut. ix. 26. He inquireth of God for the people. Exod. xviii. 15. Josh. vii. 6. Joshua prayeth for the people. Ver. 7. xxiv. 1 to 28. His religious exhortation to the people. 2 Sam. vi. 2. David's care of the ark of God. 1 Chron. xxiii. 6. He divides the priests into courses. vii. 2. He resolves to build a house for the worship of God. Ver. 7, 8. 1 Kings viii. 18. 1 Chron. xxii. 3. He prepares materials for building the temple. 2 Sam. vi. 18. He blesses the people in the name of the Lord. xxiv. 17. He prayeth for the people. Ver. 25. 1 Chron. xxix. 19. He prayeth for Solomon. 2 Sam. iii. 1. David waxed stronger and stronger. Ch. v. 10. He grew great, and the Lord established him. Ver. 12. viii. 14. The Lord preserved him whithersoever he went. 1 Kings iii. 3. Solomon loved the Lord.Ver. 9. He prayed to God for qualifications to govern the people.-Ver. 11. His prayer was answered. Ch. iv. 29. vi. 14. He built the house of God. viii. 23. His prayer and exhortation at the dedication of the temple. 2 Chron. viii. 14. He appoints the courses of the priests. 1 Chron. xxix. 25. The Lord magnified Solomon exceedingly. 2 Kings xiii. 4, 5. Jehoahaz besought the Lord, and the Lord hearkened unto him, and gave Israel a saviour. 2 Chron. xiv. 2. 4. Asa reforms abuses in religion.-Ver. 11. He prayeth against the Ethiopian army.-Ver. 12. The Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa. xv. 8. He farther reforms the nation, and takes an oath of the people to reform, and to seek the Lord. Ver. 12, 13, 14. xvii. 7,8,9. Jehoshaphat enjoins the princes and the Levites to teach the law of the Lord. xix. 4. He reforms abuses and gives a religious charge to the judges. See to ver. 11. xx. 3. He appoints a fast, prays against the enemies of the nation, and is heard. See to ver. 24. Xxx. 2. Hezekiah took counsel with the princes to celebrate the passover, which had been long neglected. Ver. 5, 6, 7. He writes letters, and makes proclamation to assemble the people.-Ver. 18. He prays for the people. xxxi. 2. He appoints the courses of the priests. xxxii. 20, 21. He prayed to God against the Assyrian army; and the Lord sent an angel which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. 2 Kings xix. 15. 20. Isa. xxxvi. 1. Ver. 22, 23. God saved Hezekiah; and he was magnified in the sight of all nations. 2 Kings xxii. 3. Josiah's care for the house of God.-Ver. 13. He sends to inquire of the Lord. themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the Lord. Ezek. xlv. 8. Princes shall no more oppress my people. Zech. ix. 8. No oppressor shall pass through them any more. CI. Magistracy is of divine appointment. Deut. xvi. 18. Judges and officers shalt thou make in all thy gates, and they shall judge the people. Ch. xvii. 5. Numb. xi. 16, 17. Prov. viii. 15. By me kings reign and princes decree justice. Rom. xiii. 1. There is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God. xxiii. 2, 3. He reads the law to the people,Ver. 2. The ordinance of God.-Ver. 4. and takes an oath of the people to keep it; The magistrate is the minister of God. and reforms abuses in religion. Jer. xxii. 15. God was with him. Ezra ix. 6. Ezra prays and reforms abuses in religion. Ch. viii. 21. x. 1. 5. He takes an oath of the people to reform. Neh. i. 4 to 11. Nehemiah's prayer and confession; on which deliverance is obtained. See chapters 2d, 3d, 4th. CII. Sins of Magistrates. Perverting of judgment, respect of persons, partiality, &c. Exod. xxiii. 6. Thou shalt not wrest the judg ment of thy poor in his cause. Ver. 2. Ver. 7. The innocent and righteous slay thou not; for I will not justify the wicked. Lev. xix. 15. Thou shalt do no unrighteousness in judgment, thou shalt not respect the v. 6 to 9. He reforms abuses in religion. person of the poor, nor honour the person of Ch. xiii. 10 to 31. viii. 9. He teacheth the people. ix. 1, &c. A remarkable fast is kept, with acknowledgment of mercies, humiliation and confession of sins. x. 29. The people enter into a curse and into an oath, to walk in God's law. Jonah iii. 7. The king of Nineveh appoints a fast.-Ver. 9, 10. God approves thereof, and is entreated, and averts the evil which he had threatened against Nineveh. the mighty. Prov. xxiv. 23. Deut. i. 17. Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's. 2 Chron. xix. 6. The Lord is with you in judgment. Ver. 7. Rom. ii. 11. There is no respect of persons with God. Eph. vi. 9. Col. iii. 25. Prov. xvi. 12. It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness. Zech. vii. 10. Oppress not the widow nor the fatherless, the stranger nor the poor. Job xxxi. 21. Isa. x. 1, 2. Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievous C. Good magistrates, a blessing promised to God's people. Isa. i. 26, 27. I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors the needy from judgment, and to take away ness which they have prescribed; to turn aside as at the beginning. Zion shall be redeemed the right from the poor of my people, that with judgment, and her converts with right-widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless. Jer. xxii. 3. 5. eousness. xxviii. 6. The Lord shall be for a spirit of judgment to them that sit in judgment. xxxii. 16. Judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness in the fruitful field. xxxiii. 5. The Lord hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness. xlix. 23. Kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and queens thy nursing mothers. lx. 16, 17. Thou shalt suck the breast of kings. I will make thine officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness. Jer. xxx. 20, 21. I will punish all that oppress my people. Their nobles shall be of Ver. 3. What will ye do in the day of visitation? See Deut. xix. 15. Job xxxii. 21. Ps. xciv. 20. Eccl. v. 8. Isa. i. 10.—iii. 12 to 15.-xxviii. 14 to 18. Mic. iii. 1 to 4. Acts xxiii. 3. CIII. Perverting of judgment through covetousness, taking gifts, &c. Exod. xxiii. 8. Thou shalt not take a gift; for a gift blindeth the wise and perverteth the words of the righteous. Deut. xvi. 19. Prov. xxix. 4. He that receiveth gifts, overthroweth the land. xvii. 23. A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the ways of judgment. See persons threatened for this sin: 1 Sam. viii. 3. Isa. i. 23, 24.—v. 22, 23. Jer. xxii. 17, 18, 19. Ezek. xxii. 27. 31. Hos. iv. 18. Amos v. 12. Mic. iii. 11, 12.-vii. 3, 4. See persons free from it: 1 Sam. xii. 3. Neh. v. 14, 15. Promises to such. Isa. xxxiii. 15. Ezek. xviii. 17. CIV. Perverting of judgment through drunkenness. Prov. xxxi. 4. It is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes strong drink, lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Isa. xxviii. 1. Woe to the drunkards of Ephraim. Ver. 3. They shall be trodden under foot. Ver. 7. They have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way. Ver. 8. v. 22. Woe to them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink. See Eccl. x. 16, 17. CV. The misery of being governed by weak or wicked rulers. Ps. xii. 8. The wicked walk on every side when the vilest men are exalted. Eccl. x. 5, 6. xciv. 20. Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law? Prov. xxviii. 15. As a roaring lion, and a raging bear, so is a wicked ruler over the poor people. Ver. 16. The prince that wanteth understanding is a great oppressor. xxix. 2. When the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. Ver. 12. If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked. Eccl. iii. 16. I saw the place of judgment, that wickedness was there, and the place of righteousness that iniquity was there. Mic. vii. 3, 4. x. 16. Woe unto thee, O land, when thy king is a child. iv. 13. Better is a poor and wise child, than an old and foolish king, that will no more be admonished. Isa. lix. 14. Judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off, for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Amos vi. 12. Ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock. Hos. x. 4. CVI. Such set over a people, as a punishment for sin. Neh. ix. 37. The kings whom thou hast set over us for our sins have dominion over our bodies, &c. Ps. cvi. 41. They that hated them, ruled over them. Prov. xxviii. 2. For the transgressions of a land many are the princes thereof. Isa. iii. 4. I will give children to their princes, and babes shall rule over them. Ver. 5. The child shall behave himself proudly against the ancients, &c. Ver. 12. Children are their oppressors, women rule over them. Ver. 13, 14. Jer. li. 46. There shall come ruler against ruler. Lam. v. 8. Servants have ruled over us. Neh. v. 15. Hos. xiii. 11. I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath. Joel ii. 17. Give not thy heritage to the heathen, that they should rule over them. Ezra ix. 7. For our iniquities have we, our kings and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the land, to the sword, captivity, spoil and confusion of face. Neh. ix. 24. See 1 Sam. viii. 11 to 19. CVII. Wicked rulers enemies to religion. Ps. ii. 2. The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel against the Lord, and against his anointed. Ver. 9. Acts iv. 26. Luke xxiii. 35. They derided Christ. John vii. 48. Acts iv. 26.-xiii. 27. See also Ezra ix. 2. Neh. v. 7.-xiii. 11. Rev. xvi. 14. CVIII. God's providence over kings and rulers, exalting or abusing them. Job xii. 17. He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools. Isa. xliv. 25. Ver. 18. He looseth the bond of kings and girdeth their loins with a girdle. Ver. 21. He poureth contempt upon princes. Ps. cvii. 40. xxxiv. 19. He accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor. Ver. 24. He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead. Ps. lxxv. 7. He putteth down one and setteth up another. Ps. lxxviii. 70. Dan. ii. 21. lxxvi. 12. He shall cut off the spirit of princes, he shall be terrible to the kings of the earth. lxxxii. 1. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty, he judgeth among the gods. cxxxv. 10. Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings. Isa. xl. 23. He bringeth the princes to nothing. CIX. Particular instances of God's providence in exalting or debasing rulers. Acts xiii. 20. God gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. Ver. 21. Afterward he gave them Saul. and meddle not with them that are given to change. Ver. 22. When he had removed him, he raised up unto them David. 1 Sam. xx. 30. Ps. lxxviii. 70.-lxxxix. 19, 20. 1 Chron. xxix. 1. Solomon whom alone thy thought. God hath chosen. Isa. xix. 13. The princes of Zoan are become fools. Ver. 14. The Lord hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst of Egypt. xxii. 3. All thy rulers are fled together. Ver. 5. for it is a day of trouble and of treading down, and of perplexity from the Lord. xxix. 10. The Lord hath poured upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes, your rulers hath he covered. Eccl. x. 20. Curse not the king, no, not in 1 Pet. ii. 17. Fear God, honour the king. 2 Pet. ii. 9. The Lord knoweth how to reserve the unjust to the day of judgment, to be punished. Ver. 10. But chiefly them that despise government, and are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Jude ver. 8. These filthy dreamers despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Ver. 11. See Prov. xxv. 6, 7. 15. Eccl. viii. 4. Ver. 14. The wisdom of their wise men-x. 4. shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. xlv. 1. Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden to subdue nations before him. Ch. xliv. 28. 2 Chron. xxxvi. 22. Ezra i. 1 to 7. Jer. xxi. 7. Thus saith the Lord, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah and the people into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. Ver. 5, 6. xxvii. 6. I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon my servant. Ver. 7. All nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son. Jer. xxviii. 14. See further, concerning Nebuchadnezzar. Dan. ii. 37.-iv. 17. 30 to 33.-v. 18, 19. 23. 28. Isa. xiv. 12. Ezek. xxviii. 2. Say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord God, Because thy heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a god. Ver. 7. I will bring strangers upon thee, ver. 8, and they shall bring thee down to the pit. CX. Duties toward governors; praying for them. Ps. lxxii. 15. Prayer shall be made for him continually. 1 Tim. ii. 1. I exhort, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men. Ver. 2. For kings, and for all that are in authority, &c. Ver. 3. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God. CXI. Honour and respect to be shown to their persons in words and actions. Exod. xxii. 28. Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people. Acts xxiii. 5. 1 Sam. xxvi. 9. David said, destroy not Saul, the Lord's anointed. Ver. 11. Ch. xxiv. 6, 7, 8. Prov. xx. 2. The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion. xxiv. 21. Fear thou the Lord and the king, See the respectful behaviour of Nathan to David. 1 Kings i. 23, 24. Of Daniel to Darius. Dan. vi. 21. And of Paul to Agrippa. Acts xxvi. 1, 2, 3. Miriam and | Aaron, their disrespectful language to Moses, Numb. xii. 1, 2. Their punishment. Ver. 9. 10, 11. viii. 2. Keep the king's commandment, and CXII. Obedience to magistrates. Eccl. that in regard of the oath of God. See Ezek. xvii. 12 to 20. Ver. 5. He who keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing. Matt. xvii. 26. Jesus said, Then are the children free. Ver. 27. Notwithstanding, lest we offend, give that piece of money for me and thee. xxii. 21. Render unto Cesar the things which are Cesar's. Rom. xiii. 1. Let every soul be subject to the higher powers. Ver. 5. Be subject not only for wrath, but also for conscience' sake. Ver. 7. Render to all their dues, tribute to whom tribute is due, &c. Tit. iii. 1. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magis trates. ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether 1 Pet. ii. 13, 14. Submit yourselves to every it be to the king as supreme, or unto governors that are sent by him, for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. See Deut. xvii. 11. Matt. xxiii. 2, 3. Prov. xxv. 15. Eccl. x. 4. CXIII. Rebellion against magistrates in lawful authority, the sin and punishment thereof. Deut. xvii. 12. The man that will not hearken unto the priest, or unto the judge shall die. Josh. i. 18. Whosoever will not hearken unto thy words, he shall be put to death. Judg. ii. 17. They would not hearken to their judges. Ezra vii. 26. Whosoever will not do the law of God and of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. Ch. x. 6, 7, 8. Rom. xiii. 2. Whosoever resisteth, resisteth the ordinance of God; and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. See the rebellion of Korah and his company, Numb. xvi. 1, &c.-Of the Jews, Ezek. xvii. 12 to 20. See also Prov. xvi. 14, 15.-xix. 12.-xx. 2. CXIV. Disobedience to magistrates a duty, when they abuse their power, by commanding things contrary to God's law. Instances. Exod. i. 15 to 20. The midwives in Egypt. 1 Sam. xiv. 45. Saul's army. Ch. xxii. 17. Saul's footmen. 2 Chron. xi. 16. Those who refused to worship Jeroboam's calves. Esther iii. 1, 2, 3.-Ch. v. 9. Mordecai. Dan. iii. 15 to 18. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. vi. 7 to 10. The prophet Daniel. devils. Ch. vi. 8. See Luke vi. 13.—ix. 1. 6.-x. 1. 16.-xxi. 15. John xiii. 20. He that receiveth whomsoever I send, receiveth me. xvii. 18. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. Ver. 6, 7, 8. 14. 26. xx. 21. As my Father hath sent me, so send I you. Acts i. 24. For filling Judas's place, the apostles prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, that he may take part of this ministry, &c. Ver. 25. ix. 15. The Lord said of Paul, He is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel. Ver. 17. xiii. 2. The Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work whereunto I have called them. xxii. 21. Paul said, Jesus said unto me, I will send thee far hence, unto the Gentiles. xxvi. 16-18. Jesus said to Paul, I have Acts iv. 18, 19, 20.-Ch. v. 27, 28, 29. appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make The Apostles. Heb. xi. 27. Moses. Obeying in such cases a sin: See 1 Sam. xxii. 17. 2 Kings xvii. 7, 8. 19. 1 Kings xii. 28. MINISTERS OF CHRIST. CXV. Ministers of Christ, their duties. The commission given to the apostles. Matt. v. 1. Jesus's disciples came unto him.-Ver. 13. He said, Ye are the salt of the earth, the light of the world. Ver. 14. thee a minister and a witness, both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee, delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles; to whom I now send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God. Rom. i. 1. Paul, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God. x. 14, 15. How shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach except ix. 38. Pray the Lord of the harvest that they be sent ? he will send forth labourers. x. 5. 7, S. These twelve Jesus sent forth; and commanded them, saying, Go preach; heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils.-Ver. 14, 15. Whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city. Ver. 40. xxviii. 18-20. Jesus said, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Mark iii. 14, 15. Jesus ordained twelve apostles, that they should be with him. And that he might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sickness, and to cast out xv. 15, 16. I have written the more boldly unto you, putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, &c. 2 Tim. i. 11.-iv. 17. 1 Cor. i. 17. Paul said, Christ sent me to preach the gospel. Ver. 27. iv. 1, 2. Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. ix. 17. A dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. xi. 23. Paul said, I have received of the Lord that which I delivered unto you. xv. 3. I delivered unto you, that which I received, how that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures. 2 Cor. iii. 5, 6. Our sufficiency is of God, (1 Tim. i. 12;) who hath made us able minis ters of the New Testament. iv. 7. We have this treasure in earthen |