N00956:44
Gods frown in the death of useful men. Showed in a sermon preached at…Gods frown in the death of useful men. Shewed in a sermon preached at…
Gods frown in the death of useful men. Showed in a sermon preached at the funeral of the Honourable Col John Pynchon Esq. Who deceased January 17th. 1702[/]3. / By Solomon Stoddard, Pastor of Northampton.Gods frown in the death of useful men. Shewed in a sermon preached at the funeral of the Honourable Col John Pynchon Esq. Who deceased January 17th. 1702[/]3. / By Solomon Stoddard, Pastor of Northampton.
printed by B Green, 1703
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Particularly I entreat you,
Particularly I intreat you,
1. That in all Causes that come before you, you would act in the fear of God. You must not act either with a preposterous zeal, or with a spirit of sinful indulgence. You must have a great care that you do not condemn the Righteous, or justify the Wicked; ⟨p. 25⟩such proceedings are both of them alike abominable unto God: in all Controversies between man and man, you must act impartially: you may not out of love, or pity, or anger be influenced in giving Judgment: if you have a mind to befriend men, befriend them in other ways; but in Judgment have no respect of persons; it is proverbial, That a Friend in the Court is better than a penny in the Purse; but you must be friends to no man, any further than his Cause requireth; you must have a care that you do not countenance any malicious prosecutions, but act in the fear of God. 2 Chron. 19.6. He said to the Judges, take heed what you do, for you judge not for man, but for the Lord: v. 7. Let the fear of God be upon you; take heed and do it, v. 9. Thus shall you do in the fear of God faithfully, and with a perfect heart, 2 Sam. 23.5. He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. You must so act, that when men hear what judgment you give, they may not do as those, Luk. 23.48. They Smote their breasts and returned; but as it was with the people, 1 King. 3.28. They feared the King, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to do judgment.
1. That in all Causes that come before you, you would act in the fear of God. You must not act either with a preposterous zeal, or with a spirit of sinful indulgence. You must have a great care that you do not condemn the Righteous, or justify the Wicked;