A37046:1281
The law unsealed
The law unsealed: or, A practical exposition of the Ten Commandments With a resolution of several momentous questions and cases of conscience. By the learned, laborious, faithful servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. James Durham, late minister of the Gospel at Glasgow.
Glasgow: printed by Robert Sanders, 1676
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. When Advocates are not faithful; 3. When Partners in trade and bargainings are not faithful one to another; 4. When Servants, Factors, Treasurers, •tc. are not faithful, who, as Joseph, have all committed to them, and like the unjust Steward, can count up or down fifty for eighty, and eighty for fifty; 5. Especially here fail Tutors of Orphans and Fatherless Children, who having these committed to their trust, make it their work to prey upon their estates, if they can but do it handsomely, and without observation, this is theft, robbery, oppression, and deceitful dealing, in the highest degree. 13. There is a breach of it by bribery, when Judges suffer themselves to receive gifts, presents, buds or bribes, whether to the perverting of Judgment, or for doing right in Judgment which they are obliged to do without these. Whoever suffer themselves to be bribed for Judging right, may easily be tempted by a bribe to do wrong in Judgment; all such forget that the Judgment is the Lords, Deut. 1. 17. that they ought not to judge for men but for the Lord, 2 Chorn. 19. 6. that they ought in a special manner to be fearers of God, men of truth, and haters of covetousness, Exod. 18. 21. that they should not respect persons in Judgment, but hear the small as well as the great, Deut. 1. 17. that they should not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty, but judge righteous Judgment, Lev. 19. 15. that they ought not to wrest Judgment, nor to take a gift (which blindeth the eyes even of the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous, Deut. 16. 19. Exod. 23. 8.) and that fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery, Job. 15. 34. the Lord doth highly resent, and will most severely punish the breach of this Command in such, because they do more immediately represent himself, as being placed in Judgment to supply his room. 14.