An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…

And as this is a truth in all those cases of judgement, where Magistrates sit in the place of God, so it is as true in all the private judgements and determinations of brethren concerning persons or things, which (by way of distinction from the former) is commonly called the putting or referring of a matter in difference ⟨p. 124⟩to men. We must take heed in private judgements, that we be not swayed according to the condition of persons, nor must we make the fault great or less, the cause better or worse, because the person is greater or less, friend or stranger to us. The Apostle gives this counsel and caution to the Churches (James 2.1, 2, 3, 4, 5.) My Brethren, have not the faith (that is, the doctrine of faith or profession) of our Lord Jesus, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons; For if there come into your assembly a man with a gold ring, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment, and you have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, sit thou here in a good place, and say to the poor, stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: are ye not then partial in your selves, and are become judges of evil thoughts. In administering the things of God which are spiritual, we must observe no civill difference, no distinction among men. Christ hath given himself alike and equally to rich and poor, bond and free, and therefore, as to Church-privileges and enjoyments, they must all be alike, and equal unto us. No man is to be known after the flesh in the things of the Spirit (2 Cor: 5.16.) that is, no man is to be valued merely, upon natural or worldly accounts; if we do, then (as the Apostle James concludes in the place last before mentioned) are we not partial in our selves? that is (as some also translate that reproving question) Have we not made a difference, a groundless difference, or a difference grounded upon carnal respects, rather then upon any solid reason; and so as it follows in the close of the verse, are become judges of evil thoughts, that is, have made our judgement of those persons, according to the dictate of our own evil and corrupt thoughts, not according to the rule of the word.

And as this is a truth in all those cases of judgement, where Magistrates sit in the place of God, so it is as true in all the private judgements and determinations of brethren concerning persons or things, which (by way of distinction from the former) is commonly called the putting or referring of a matter in difference