law, and what is the case concerning which he is to give judgment; but it is also necessary, that he let no worldly consideration take possession of his heart. The text saith, YE SHALL NOT BE AFRAID OF THE FACE OF MAN; and the truth is, that magistrate who fears or hopes for any thing more than the approving himself to God, has a bias upon his judgment that will certainly lead him to be unjust. We have a remarkable instance of this sin and weakness, in the person of Pilate. He was very desirous to release Jesus, finding no fault in Him which could deserve death. The chief priests, perceiving this, and knowing His weak side, cried out, "If thou let this man go, thou art not [John 19. 12, 13; Cæsar's friend;" that is, in other words, though you find Luke 23. no fault in Him, yet if you do not condemn Him, you shall 24.] be represented as an enemy to Cæsar. Well, what followed? Why, the most execrable piece of wickedness that ever judge was guilty of. The Evangelist tells us, that when Pilate heard that saying,—that is, that he was in danger of losing his master's favour, by following his conscience, and doing justice, he gave sentence, that it should be as they desired; not as justice required, or as his own conscience suggested. And as all wickedness is folly, this was so in the highest degree. For, first, he owned by this act, that he was capable of being frightened out of his duty, than which there could not be fixed upon him a greater reproach; and secondly, he most egregiously affronted that master whose displeasure he feared, by supposing that he could be pleased with a wicked action, the death of an innocent person. And the providence of God very soon convinced him of his sin and mistake; for, notwithstanding all his care not to lose Cæsar's favour, he fell under his displeasure, was banished, and, wanting the comfort of a good conscience, he made away with himself. And thus it will ever be, when men forget THAT THE JUDGMENT IS GOD's, and that to God they are accountable. When they forget this, interest will prevail with them; friendship will gain upon them; passion will hurry them into error; bribes will blind their eyes; or, what the world will say will influence them. I set God always before me, was the maxim of the best [Ps. 16. & LI. SERM. of kings. And every man, and every magistrate especially, must do so too, who would never do any thing unworthy of God; and the neglect of doing so is the occasion of all the mischiefs committed and complained of. Ecclus. 7. 6. How seasonable, therefore, is the advice of the Wise Man, "Seek not to be judge, being not able to take away iniquity, lest thou fear the person of the mighty, and lay a stumblingblock in the way of thy uprightness." But that the magistrate's judgment be worthy of God, it is necessary that he do not only mean uprightly himself, but that he take especial care that he be not imposed upon by designing men. The generality of those that take upon them to manage causes, have nothing so much in view as their own gain. Let a cause be never so unrighteous, they will undertake it. Let the law be never so plain, they will endeavour to pervert it. Let a jury be never so well disposed to follow the truth, they will endeavour to lead them astray. A magistrate, therefore, has need to be very patient, and very resolute; patient in finding out the truth, which such managers endeavour to hide from him, and resolute in following it, in spite of all their clamours. The complaints of those that suffer by these sort of people, both in their peace and in their rights, should, one would hope, awaken the government to regulate at least, if not to silence them; and to bring us back to our old constitution, WHERE EVERY MAN PLEADED HIS OWN CAUSE; the simplest man being as able to tell his own story to a magistrate as to an attorney; and a magistrate will be better able to judge where the truth lies, when facts are laid nakedly before him without design of imposing upon him. We have hitherto considered the magistrate's duty with respect to his fellow-creatures: but there is another branch of his duty, and a very important one, which regards the honour and the laws of God. Every magistrate, whether ecclesiastical or civil, stands charged with this-to consult, to promote, to countenance, the cause of GOD, and RELIGION; for this reason, because their authority is from God, and the obedience they claim is not from any right of their own but as they are God's substitutes. And the will of God is, that wickedness be punished; that sin be made uneasy to men; and that such as are not to be restrained by reason, or by the terrors of the world to come, should feel the pain, the shame, and the punishment, which their sins deserve in this world. And if magistrates shall be remiss in this, they will soon see their authority undermined. For, if men be once permitted to trample upon the laws of God, they will at last trample upon that authority which should have put a stop to their wickedness. It is their duty, therefore, and it is their interest,—To execute wrath against them that do evil, as they are God's ministers (so saith the Apostle;) to take care Rom. 13. 4. of growing vices, to root them out betimes, lest they become too many and too strong to be cured by any authority or power but that of God's judgments upon the land, which will certainly fall upon us, when the magistrate either will not, or cannot, do his duty. 12.] "The king's throne," saith Solomon, "is established by [Prov. 16. righteousness;" that is, by doing justice, by suppressing vice, by protecting the innocent, and by succouring the distressed. This is the only true way of serving the prince, and bringing a blessing upon the whole community; and to neglect these things is the ready way to ruin. 7. When the case is with any people as it was with the people of Laish; "who dwelt careless and secure; and there Judges 18. was no magistrate that might put them to shame in any thing;" their destruction (as theirs was) is near at hand; that is, when there is no prospect of a cure for the sin but by the death of the sinner. If these things were well considered, and for that reason I leave them last upon your minds, what an influence would they have upon us all? For instance : If magistrates would often consider, that they are in the place of a Judge who is infinitely powerful, just, and holy, they would endeavour so to conduct themselves, as that they might not bring contempt on Him whose place they supply; they would be very careful never to be guilty of those vices themselves, which they are obliged to discountenance and punish in others; they would be afraid of discovering the least indifference for religion and the laws of God, or for any SERM. thing that relates to God,-the fear of God being the best support of their own authority and government. LI. And then, if the magistrate considered, that the judgment is God's, he would make the study of justice his great concern; would desire, and take pains, to find out the truth, and follow it religiously; in doing of which he would fear no man's face, nor make any man's will his law; knowing that God can protect His own faithful servants, as well as punish those that betray the trust reposed in them. In one word, such a magistrate will accept no man's person, court no man's favour at the price of his conscience, nor fear any man's frowns. He will consider that the judgment is God's; that is, what God Himself would pronounce. He will be convinced, that justice is something antecedent to his sentence, and that his duty is, not to make, but to declare, the law, and what is right or wrong. And he will never expect to be obeyed, if he should require any thing contrary to the will of God, by whose authority he acts, and in whose place he stands. And being in the place of God, and invested with His power, he will suffer no man to be oppressed by a powerful adversary; no advantage to be taken of men's weakness, poverty, want of help, or want of friends. And then, if the people would consider, that the judgment is God's, and that they that pronounce it are God's ministers, how cheerful would their obedience be; how peaceable their behaviour; and how thankful for the blessing of a regular government. And if both magistrates and people are not thus disposed and thus affected, woe be to them that are in fault! May God, the Judge of all the world, give all His substitutes a spirit to discern, and courage to execute, true judgment; and grant, that all their sentences may be such as He will approve of at the great day, to the glory of His name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. To Whom, &c. SERMON LII. THE TEMPTATIONS THAT LEAD TO THEFT AND ROBBERY CON- EXODUS XX. 15. Thou shalt not steal. See Eph. 4. 28; 1 Thess. THIS which follows is the express account which the histo- 4. 6. rians give of the Isle of Man more than one hundred years ago." The inhabitants in general of this Island have a very good character, not inclined either to lewdness, cheating, or thieving, so that every man possesseth his own in peace and safety, none living in fear of losing what he hath." Were this still our case and character, I should have made choice of another subject for your edification. But necessity is laid upon us, to preach against the growing sins of this land, in which more people, we fear, are concerned, than are willing to believe it of themselves. We shall consider, at present, those sins only that are forbidden by the eighth commandment; the temptations and causes that lead to such crimes; and the way, through God's grace and blessing, to put a stop to them, and to restore this Isle to its former good character, which of late (every body sees it) is much altered for the worse. And one would hope that every christian, who has any concern either for himself, his country, or his religion, will put his helping hand to so good a work. The first and great cause of these, and all other vices, is the neglect of parents, in not bringing up their children in the fear of God, and in not setting before them the dreadful • Preached on occasion of the execution of some, and the banishment of others, for theft and robbery. |