we put in the Margin, To their arm; That is, they used and improved their arm or power to the utmost length and stretch for the oppression of others. The Prophet Jeremiah chargeth that people with sinning in general at that rate, (Chap. 3.5.) Behold thou hast spoken and done evil things, as thou couldest. Some men sin (as all men should love and serve God) with all their might, with all their strength; they do evil with both hands greedily; that they sin no more, is not for want of will, but ability. As the people were thus set upon all manner of sin, so the Princes upon that special sin oppression. They were to ⟨p. 61⟩their power, for shedding blood; yea many desire to get power into their hand, that they may avenge themselves by their own hand, and be ready to hurt whom and where they do not love. 'Tis not so much ambition which provokes some men to affect power and greatness,1 as malice and a desire of having their ends upon whomsoever stands in their way. These like the great Fishes of the Sea, delight to swallow up and feed upon the lesser; or like the great and strong Beasts of the Forrest, they tare and devour the Lambs or Sheep of the pasture. They use (that is, indeed abuse) their power, not so much for their own good, as in wronging their neighbours, whose hurt they should never seek, and whose good they ought to seek and promote next their own. Power should be used and put forth, for help, not hurt, for protection, not ruin; and therefore Magistrates, who are the chief mighty men of the earth, who are called Powers, (Tit. 3.1.) are also called the Shields of the earth; implying, they are to use their power for the defence (a Shield is for defence) of the oppressed, not to oppress. The Scripture calls Magistrates Shields, but it never calls the Magistrate a Sword. It saith indeed the Magistrate hath a sword, and that he beareth not the sword in vain, (Rom. 13.4.) that is, he doth not bear it so as to bear with evil doers, and never draw it, nor use it. But the Scripture doth not say, the Magistrate is a Sword, as it saith, he is a Shield; hereby intimating, that the Power of the Magistrate should rather be exercised in protecting than in punishing, rather in saving than destroying. What the Apostle saith concerning the design or purpose of his ministerial office, We have this power to edification, and not to destruction, (2 Cor. 13.10.)
we put in the Margin, To their arme; That is, they used and improved their arme or power to the utmost length and stretch for the oppression of others. The Prophet Jeremie chargeth that people with sinning in general at that rate, (Chap. 3.5.) Behold thou hast spoken and done evill things, as thou couldest. Some men sin (as all men should love and serve God) with all their might, with all their strength; they do evil with both hands greedily; that they sin no more, is not for want of will, but ability. As the people were thus set upon all manner of sin, so the Princes upon that special sin oppression. They were to ⟨p. 61⟩their powe•, for shedding blood; yea many desire to get power into their hand, that they may avenge themselves by their own hand, and be ready to hurt whom and where they do not love. 'Tis not so much ambition which provokes some men to affect power and greatness,1 as malice and a desire of having their ends upon whomsoever stands in their way. These like the great Fishes of the Sea, delight to swallow up and feed upon the lesser; or like the great and strong Beasts of the Forrest, they tare and devoure the Lambs or Sheep of the pasture. They use (that is, indeed abuse) their power, not so much for their own good, as in wronging their neighbours, whose hurt they should never seek, and whose good they ought to seek and promote next their own. Power should be used and put forth, for help, not hurt, for protection, not ruine; and therefore Magistrates, who are the chief mighty men of the earth, who are called Powers, (Tit. 3.1.) are also called the Sheilds of the earth; implying, they are to use their power for the defence (a Sheild is for defence) of the oppressed, not to oppress. The Scripture calls Magistrates Sheilds, but it never calls the Magistrate a Sword. It saith indeed the Magistrate hath a sword, and that he beareth not the sword in vaine, (Rom. 13.4.) that is, he doth not bear it so as to bear with evil doers, and never draw it, nor use it. But the Scripture doth not say, the Magistrate is a Sword, as it saith, he is a Shield; hereby intimating, that the Power of the Magistrate should rather be exercised in protecting than in punishing, rather in saving than destroying. What the Apostle saith concerning the designe or purpose of his ministerial office, We have this power to edification, and not to destruction, (2 Cor. 13.10.)
- 1Parati•res ad nocendum.
