Oh that I were made Judge in the land, that every man which hath any plea or matter in the law might come to me that I might do him justice, but this is the just reward, of such as before convenient time, and apt occasion to be offered, ⟨p. 85⟩do ambitiously seek the seat of judgment, even untimely and unnatural death,1 for Absalom was hanged by the hair of his head,2 & a woman with a piece of a millstone dashed out Abymelechs brains, though Absalom be absent & Abimilech brained long since, yet it is to be suspected that many men get preferment, by their practises, coming in such sheep skins as are fair words and flattering speeches, but God grant that they prove not like unto those judges whom Zophonie feared not to liken unto Lyons:3 who finding their pray in the evening, chop up all, not leaving so much as the bones until the morning, Solomon said well,4 that many would be accounted good doers, but where shall we find a faithful man: some men have said well with Absalom, before they came to preferment, but they can now be contented to see many men, to sue seven years for their right, and yet suffer them to sustain ⟨p. 86⟩wrong because necessity hath no law forsooth. Go to, go to, some body will answer for that one day. A man would think, that necessity should have the most law, because he hath least money & fewest friends. Magistrates might learn such a lesson of God himself, as it being rightly practised, they could not choose but do justice, & this is it, when almighty God intended to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, before he would do so though their sins were monstrous great, he considered thus of the matter, the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and their sin is exceeding grievous.5 I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to that cry which is come unto me or not, that I may know. Lo let all magistrates learn by the example of God himself, to go down and see (that is) to apply their ears to hear diligently, and their minds to meditate justly of each ⟨p. 87⟩mans matter, if you ask me why, I answer as God himself doth, that they may know vidz. that they may discern betwixt truth and falsehood, right and wrong: this is that question which David demanded of Sauls counsellors, that egged him on to hurt him that never harmed them:
Oh that I were made Iudge in the land, that euerie man whiche hath any plea or matter in the lawe might come to me that I might do him iustice, but this is the iust reward, of such as before conuenient time, and apt occasion to be offered, ⟨p. 85⟩do ambitiously seek the seat of iudgment, euen vntimely and vnnaturall death,1 for Absolon was hanged by the hayre of his head,2 & a woman with a peece of a milstone dashed out Abymelechs brains, though Absalon be absent & Abimilech brained long since, yet it is to be suspected that many mē get preferment, by their practises, cō ming in such sheep skins as are fayre wordes and flattering speeches, but God graunt that they proue not like vnto those iudges whome Zophonie feared not to liken vnto Lyons:3 who finding their praie in the euening, chop vp all, not leauing so muche as the bones vntill the morning, Salomon said wel,4 that many would be accompted good doers, but where shal we finde a faithfull man: some men haue said well with Absolon, before they came to preferment, but they can nowe bee contented to see many men, to sue seuen yeares for their right, and yet suffer them to sustaine ⟨p. 86⟩wrong because necessitie hathe no law forsooth. Go to, go to, some body will answere for that one day. A man woulde thinke, that necessitie should haue the moste lawe, because he hath least money & fewest frends. Magistrates might learne such a lesson of God himself, as it being rightly practised, they could not chuse but do iustice, & this is it, when almigtie God intended to destroy Sodome and Gomora, before he would do so thogh their sins were monstrous great, he considered thus of the matter, the crie of Sodome and Gomorrha is great, and their sinne is exceeding greeuous.5 I will go downe nowe and see whether they haue done altogether according to that crie which is come vnto me or not, that I may know. Lo let all magistrates learne by the example of God himslfe, to go down and see (that is) to apply their eares to heare dilligentlie, and their mindes to meditate iustlie of each ⟨p. 87⟩
- 12. king. 18.
- 2Judges 9.Iudges 9.
- 3Cap. 3. 2. 3.
- 4Prou. 20. •.
- 5Gen. 18.
