The time was when a Magistrate came by, the young men that saw him hid themselves (either for reverence of Jobs person, or least they should fail in their respectful behaviour towards him, or least he should spy somewhat amiss in them) and the aged arose and stood up (in token of honour and to show respect to him,) Job 29.8. but now the tide is turned. We are fellow-creatures say some, and therefore we must be fellow-beasts, taking no notice of, nor showing any respect to one more then another. But now saith Job, they that are younger then I, have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flocks, and now I am their Song, yea their by-word: they abhor me, they flee from me, they spit in my face, Job 30.1, 9, 10. So low indeed are they whom God hath set on high, through the pride and profaneness of mens hearts. One observeth of the Persians, 1that when they came into the presence of their Prince they drew their hands into their sleeves in token of reverence and loyalty. But how many Christians come short of heathen, and that which is saddest of all, under the pretence of religion? But such must know that by contemning such men they contemn God. They have not rejected thee, saith God to Samuel, but they have rejected me, 1 Sam. 8.7. not so much thee who art but my Minister as my self, who being their Supreme Lord do rule by thee as my Deputy. As Magistracy is Gods Ordinance, by despising this order which is by divine appointment, they despise its ⟨p. 222⟩author; as Magistrates are the resemblance of his glory, Gods, Glories, by contemning the picture they contemn the person; and they that thus dishonour God, shall be lightly esteemed by him. They they resist the Magistrate, shall receive to themselves damnation, Rom. 13.2.
The time was when a Magistrate came by, the young men that saw him hid themselves (either for reverence of Jobs person, or least they should fail in their respectfull behaviour towards him, or least he should spie somewhat amiss in them) and the aged arose and stood up (in token of honour and to shew respect to him,) Job 29.8. but now the tide is turned. We are fellow-creatures say some, and therefore we must be fellow-beasts, taking no notice of, nor shewing any respect to one more then another. But now saith Job, they that are younger then I, have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flocks, and now I am their Song, yea their by-word: they abhor me, they flee from me, they spit in my face, Job 30.1, 9, 10. So low indeed are they whom God hath set on high, through the pride and prophaneness of mens hearts. One observeth of the Persians, 1that when they came into the presence of their Prince they drew their hands into their sleeves in token of reverence and loyalty. But how many Christians come short of heathen, and that which is saddest of all, under the pretence of religion? But such must know that by contemning such men they contemn God. They have not rejected thee, saith God to Samuel, but they have rejected me, 1 Sam. 8.7. not so much thee who art but my Minister as my self, who being their Supream Lord do rule by thee as my Deputy. As Magistracy is Gods Ordinance, by despising this order which is by divine appointment, they despise its ⟨p. 222⟩author; as Magistrates are the resemblance of his glory, Gods, Glories, by contemning the picture they contemn the person; and they that thus dishonour God, shall belightly esteemed by him. They thae resist the Magistrate, shall receive to themselves damnation, Rom. 13.2.
- 1Xenoph. Hellen. lib. 11.
