An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…

Secondly, It is the character of a wicked man to bribe a Judge, to put out the eyes, and cover the face of a Judge with gifts. A good cause fears not the eye of the Judge, and a good man had rather lose his cause, then pervert the Judge.

So much of mans covering the faces of the Judges: now see how God covers them. He who opens the eyes and uncovers the faces of the Judges, that they may discern between cause and cause, doth also cover the faces of Judges,¹ that they cannot discern between cause and cause. As the Lord hardens the heart and blinds the eye in spiritual things, so also in civil, not by taking away the sight which man had, but by with-drawing or denying his own light. The Lord covers the faces of the Judges, when he doth not give them light, nor show them the path of justice. If God suspend his light, the greatest lights are presently in darkness. God doth not hood-wink or muffle up the Judges by putting any thing before their eyes, but by hiding his own eyes from them. The Psalmist speaks of Judges thus covered (Psal. 82.5.) They know not, neither will they understand, they walk on in darkness, all the foundations of the earth are out of course. We have here the character of evil Judges, and what the consequents of it are, They know not, neither will they understand, they walk on in darkness (these three expressions explain this text) and what follows? Then all the foundations of the earth are out of course; Law and justice are out of course, no man knoweth where to have right, or by whom to be protected against wrong.

So much of mans covering the faces of the Judges: now see how God covers them. He who opens the eyes and uncovers the faces of the Judges, that they may discern between cause and cause, doth also cover the faces of Judges,¹ that they cannot discern between cause and cause. As the Lord hardens the heart and blindes the eye in spirituall things, so also in civil, not by taking away the sight which man had, but by with-drawing or denying his own light. The Lord covers the faces of the Judges, when he doth not give them light, nor shew them the path of justice. If God suspend his light, the greatest lights are presently in darknesse. God doth not hood-winke or muffle up the Judges by putting any thing before their eyes, but by hiding his own eyes from them. The Psalmist speaks of Judges thus covered (