An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…

Thirdly, To judge is to punish or afflict, and thus often in Scripture, ⟨p. 412⟩when God punisheth any person or people, he is said to judge them (Psal. 51.4. That thou mayest be cleared when thou judgest, that is, when thou afflictest, or layest thine hand upon me (saith David) as God had threatened by Nathan, that the sword should not depart from his house; this moved David to make confession, Against thee, thee only, have I sinned: — that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and cleared when thou judgest. As if he had said, my confession, O Lord, will be thy justification; all may see I have given thee abundant cause to lay thy chastening hand upon me (Heb. 13.4.) Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge; though men let them pass, yet God will not, he will punish them. Again, in that notable place (1 Cor. 11.31, 32.) If we would judge our selves we should not be judged of the Lord. What it is to be judged, the Apostle showeth in the next words; But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord. The Apostle warns the Church to take heed how they came to the solemn assemblies, lest coming rashly and unpreparedly, the hand of God should fall heavy upon them, by weakness, sickness and death. When Elihu saith, By them he judgeth the People. We are to take judging in this third sense; He judgeth, that is, he afflicteth and punisheth men by these things. Thus the Allusion is elegantly followed. The Lord from his tabernacle, or throne in the Clouds, sends forth Edicts, and signs his Warrants, for the punishment both of nations and persons; windy storms, rain and thunder, going forth as executioners of his orders and appointments: By them he judgeth the people.

Thirdly, To judge is to punish or afflict, and thus often in Scripture, ⟨p. 412⟩when God punisheth any person or people, he is said to judge them (Psal. 51.4. That thou mayest be cleared when thou judgest, that is, when thou afflictest, or layest thine hand upon me (saith David) as God had threatened by Nathan, that the sword should not depart from his house; this moved David to make confession, Against thee, thee only, have I sinned: — that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and cleared when thou judgest. As if he had said, my confession, O Lord, will be thy justification; all may see I have given thee abundant cause to lay thy chastening hand upon me (