The judgements of God may be secrets to us, but they are never injuries to us. Justice is in all the dealings of God, but his justice is not always visible. His judgements are founded upon reason, when upon his will, for his will is the highest reason. God cannot be unjust, and he ever punishes those who are. He is so far from subverting judgement, that he subverteth Kings and Magistrates, yea Nations and Kingdoms for subverting judgement; To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not, Lam. 3.36. The Hebrew is, The Lord seeth not: That is, he doth not see it to approve it; but he doth see it to punish it. He is an avenger of those who will not avenge the oppressed. And as he looks for judgement in all places, so especially among his own people, upon whom he bestows most mercy. (Isa. 5.2.) When the Lord done so much for his vineyard, He looked for judgements, and behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry. God makes privy search through a Nation to find this jewel: Judgement between man and man in commerce, which is, commutative justice; judgement from Magistrates to the people, which is distributive justice: for these God is searching at this day; one of the greatest sins among us, is, the perverting of judgement: And until judgement return to man, how can we expect mercy should return from God? (Jer. 5.1.) Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and seek in the broad places thereof, if you can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgement, that loves the truth, and I will pardon it. A Land is seldom filled with the judgements of God, till it is emptied of judgement among men. What a sad thing is it that there should be so many cries against injustice ⟨p. 19⟩on earth, in a time when there is so much crying out for mercy from heaven! That in such a time when the judgements of God are upon our selves, we should not learn righteousness to act it among our selves! I am persuaded the Sword of war had been rusting in it's sheath to this day, if the Sword of justice had been used as it ought, both to punish offenders, and protect the innocent. And when the sword of justice shall be both ways employed, I doubt not but the sword of war shall be sheathed again, and employed no more, but be beaten into plough-shares, and our spears into pruning hooks.
The judgements of God may be secrets to us, but they are never injuries to us. Justice is in all the dealings of God, but his justice is not alwaies visible. His judgements are founded upon reason, when upon his will, for his will is the highest reason. God cannot be unjust, and he ever punishes those who are. He is so farre from subverting judgement, that he subverteth Kings and Magistrates, yea Nations and Kingdoms for subverting judgement; To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not, Lam. 3.36. The Hebrew is, The Lord seeth not: That is, he doth not see it to approve it; but he doth see it to punish it. He is an avenger of those who will not avenge the oppressed. And as he looks for judgement in all places, so especially among his own people, upon whom he bestows most mercy. (Isa. 5.2.) When the Lord done so much for his vineyard, He looked for judgements, and behold oppression; for righteousnesse, but behold a cry. God makes privy search thorow a Nation to finde this jewell: Judgement between man and man in commerce, which is, commutative justice; judgement from Magistrates to the people, which is distributive justice: for these God is searching at this day; one of the greatest sins among us, is, the perverting of judgement: And untill judgement return to man, how can we expect mercy should return from God? (Jer. 5.1.) Runne to and fro thorow the streets of Jerusalem, and seek in the broad places thereof, if you can finde a man, if there be any that executeth judgement, that loves the truth, and I will pardon it. A Land is seldom fill'd with the judgements of God, till it is emptied of judgement among men. What a sad thing is it that there should be so many cries against injustice ⟨p. 19⟩on earth, in a time when there is so much crying out for mercy from heaven! That in such a time when the judgements of God are upon our selves, we should not learn righteousnesse to act it among our selves! I am perswaded the Sword of warre had been rusting in it's sheath to this day, if the Sword of justice had been used as it ought, both to punish offenders, and protect the innocent. And when the sword of justice shall be both waies imployed, I doubt not but the sword of warre shall be sheathed again, and imployed no more, but be beaten into plow-shares, and our spears into pruning hoks.
