men both the Righteous and the Wicked both the Living and the Dead stand before the Face of the Judge by his Sentence to be separated one from another to receive their Reward or Punishment in their proper Place from whence they shall never return to meet again or see one anothers Faces more This was represented in Vision to St. John who thus reports what he saw Rev. 20.11 12. I saw saith he a Great white Throne and Him that sate on it from whose Face the Earth and the Heaven fled away and there was found no Place for them And I saw the Dead small and great stand before GOD. And the Books were open'd and another Book was open'd which is the Book of Life And the Dead were judg'd out of those Things which were written in the Books according to their Works What was thus represented in Vision shall at length be executed in Reality and we who are here present this Day shall make a Part of that great Appearance It infinitely concerns us all to prepare for it for our everlasting State whether of Happiness or Misery will be determin'd by that Sentence or Doom that shall be pass'd on us at that Day We shall then either with unspeakable Joy hear the Judge say to us Come ye Blessed inherit the Kingdom Mat. 25.34 41. or with unutterable Horrour and Anguish hear those dismall mall Words Depart ye Cursed into everlasting Fire Happy are we this Day that we have yet Time allow'd us thro' GOD's indulgent Mercy to prepare for that Appearance Happy are we if we have any of us hitherto walked in sinfull Waies that GOD is pleased this Day to call to us from Heaven in His Holy Word Ezck. 18.23 32. saying Return and Live Let 's remember all our Words and Actions are recorded in those Books which shall be lay'd open at that Day Let us then so speak and do now that we may not be asraid or asham'd that our Words and Deeds should be openly declar'd before all the World then Let 's then look upon the Court of Justice the Congregation of the Mighty this Day wherein GOD stands and judges amongst the Gods as a lively Image of that Great Assise wherein we shall all stand before the Tribunall of GOD whom tho' we now see not we shall then behold manifesting Himself to us in the Humane Nature but with Great Majesty and Glory in the Person of CHRIST 2 Cor. 5.10 For we must all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his Body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad Then as in the Court of Justice we see the Judge sitting on the Bench attended on either Hand with severall Persons of Prime Quality vested with Judiciary Power we shall see the Son of man the Lord Jesus Christ sitting in the Throne of his Glory Mat. 19.28 Luk. 22.30 and with Him his Twelve Apostles 1 Cor. 6.2 3. sitting upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Then shall the Saints by their Association to Christ and Approbation of his Sentence have the Honour to judge Angels to judge the World How glorious a Day will that be to the Just For when Christ Col. 3.4 the Judge appears they shall also appear with Him in Glory But how terrible how dreadfull will it be to the Wicked When we see a Guilty man looking pale at the Bar while the Judge is pronouncing the Sentence of Death upon him let 's think with our selves with what Horrour and Trembling will Guilty Sinners appear at the Great Day before the Tribunall of Christ when the irrevocable Sentence shall be passed upon them whereby they shall be adjudg'd to the Suffering of the bitter Pains of eternal Death Oh how will they wring their Hands for Sorrow and Anguish of Heart wishing they had never never bene born rather than by a Life of Sin which was but for a Moment have plung'd themselves into those unutterable Sorrows those intolerable Torments which shall last to Eternity Now what considering man would for the Gain of the whole World nay for a Thousand Worlds be in the wofull State of a Guilty Sinner at the Judgment-Day If a Picture of the Day of Judgment as it is said became the Means of the Conversion of a barbarous * Bogaris King of Bulgaria King to true Christianity how much more powerfull and efficacious should so lively an Image and Representation thereof as is a Court of Justice wherein the Judge sits upon Life and Death be for the Conversion of men to GOD for the Persuasion of those who have hitherto liv'd in Sin and Wickedness to break off their evil Courses and lead a New Life Yea let the Consideration of the Coming of the Great and Dreadfull Day of the LORD Mal. 4.5 awake us all to a speedy and serious Care for the Salvation of our immortal Souls Let 's make our Peace with GOD by a hearty Repentance for our past Offences and earnestly implore the Aids of His Grace that we may honour Him for the Time to come by a better Obedience Let the Fear of a deserved Punishment restrain us from Vice and Sin and the Hope of a Glorious Reward quicken us to an unwearied Diligence in well doing Let 's so manage every Action and Affair of Importance as if we should be immediately summon'd to Judgment Let 's demean our selves every Day of our Lives with such a Holy Circumspection as if we look'd every Day every Night when this Great Day should begin 2 Pet. 2.10 11 12. For the Day of the LORD will come as a Thief in the Night in the which the Heavens shall pass away with a great Noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent Heat the Earth also and the Works that are therein shall be burnt up Seeing then that all these Things shall be dissolv'd What manner of Persons ought we to be in all Holy Conversation and Godliness Heb. 12.28 29. Let 's then have Grace that we may serve GOD acceptably with Reverence and Godly Fear For our GOD is a consuming Fire And then when that Great Day is come we shall appear before GOD our Judge with exceeding Joy 1 Pet. 4.13 and being there openly honour'd before men and Angels by His gracious Acknowledgement of our Services and Sufferings for His Name and Glory we shall ascend in Triumph into His eternall Kingdom where we shall for ever live and reign with our Blessed Lord and Saviour JESVS CHRIST To whom be Majesty Dominion and Glory now and for evermore AMEN FINIS
Divine Vengeance against the Guilty Then shall a severe Sentence a dreadfull Doom be pass'd upon all corrupt Magistrates and unjust Judges The Sentence shall be irrevocable the Judgment inevitable the Punishment intolerable and everlasting But good Magistrates and just Judges shall at that Day appear with great Joy and as they have bene exalted above others in the Honour of their Places here so shall they out-shine them in the Lustre of their Persons and have those Eminent Services they have done for GOD for their King for their Country rewarded with a super-excellent Glory in Heaven Psal 97.7 Angels are sliled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ELOHIM Gods as it is said Worship Him all ye Gods and Judges who are called Gods on Earth having saithfully discharg'd their Duty shall share in the Glory of Angels and shine as Gods in Heaven for ever and ever Such is the Honour such shall be the Glory of good Magistrates of just Judges But now Magistrates and Judges are either Supreme or subordinate The Supreme Magistrate and Judge in a Kingdom is the KING Himself 1 Pet. 2.13 14. as it is said Submit your selves to every Ordinance of man for the LORD's sake whether it be to the King as Supreme or unto Governours as unto them that are sent by him for the Punishment of evil-Doers and the Praise of them that do well that is subordinate Judges and Magistrates Judges and Magistrates then are but as Delegates of the King who as his Representatives sustain his Person in Acts of Government and Administration of Justice to the People The Honour of these thâ—n in being stiled the Mighty the Gods is but a reflected Ray of that Glory which with a far brighter Lustre shines in Him The King does primarily and immediately represent the Person of GOD and Judges and Magistrates secondarily and mediately as they represent the Person of the King The Glory then of these Great Names the Mighty the Gods does primarily pertain to Sovereign Princes as may plainly appear by the Words of the Scripture where they are so stiled Psal 82.6 7. I have said Ye are Gods and all of you Children of the most High but ye shall dye like men and fall like one of the Princes like David Solomon Hezekiah that sometimes shone in this Glory and now are fallen into the Dust Yea and in our Publick Service we thus read the Words of the Text GOD standeth in the Congregation of Princes He is Judge among Gods So that the Gods here mention'd according to this Reading of the Words are Princes and what Princes can so properly be stiled Gods as Kings who have a Sovereign Power over the People The Glory and Majesty of GOD then shines in its brightest Lustre in the Face of the King His Glory is great saith the Psalmist in thy Salvation Psal 21.5 Honour and Majesty hast thou laid upon him 'T is the King then who by reason of his Supereminency in Power and Authority is indeed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 EL 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ELOHIM a Mighty God ruling and judging amongst men 'T is the King who as Joseph to Pharaoh Daniel to Darius is a Ruler and a Judge next and immediately under the most High GOD the Supreme LORD and Judge of the whole World With what Reverence and Veneration then ought men to look upon his Person With what Readiness and Alacrity ought they to submit to his Rule and Government Hereby also we may plainly perceive how great the Sin of Disobedience is how heinous the Crime of Rebellion 'T is in Effect to contemn GOD to sight against GOD Acts 5.39 who visibly governs the World by Sovereign Princes as his Substitutes and Vicegerents And upon the same Account how great is the Sin of speaking Evil of the King How monstrous the Crime of making a murderous Attempt against his Sacred Person 'T is said in the Law Exo. 22.28 Thou shalt not revile the Gods 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ELOHIM the Judges much less the King nor curse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 NASI the Prince or Ruler of the People The speaking Evil of an ordinary Person is a Reproach of a King 't is as the speaking Evil of GOD a Blasphemy The Charge drawn up against Naboth was this 1 Kin. 21.13 Naboth did blaspheme GOD and the King With this Crime the bold and daring Sectaries of the Primitive Times the proud and impure Gnosticks are charg'd by the Apostles themselves by whom they are thus characteriz'd 2 Pet. 2.10 Jude v. 8. They despise Government and Dominion presumptuous are they and self-will'd they are not afraid to speak evil of Dignities 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they tremble not when they blaspheme the Glories Sovereign Princes in whom the Majesty and Glory of GOD shines and who therefore as Gods among men are the Glories of Mankind When GOD has put so much Majesty and Glory on them given so much Authority and Power to them on purpose to cast an Awe upon those who are to be subject to them it must needs be strange that men should arrive to such an Height of Insolence as not to tremble when they blaspheme them But desperate is the Boldness of Wicked men especially when a Multitude of them is combined in a Traiterous Conspiracy against the Life and Honour of their lawfull Sovereign Of such David Psal 31.15 Old Transtation one of the best of Kings complains I have heard the Blasphemy of the Multitude and Fear is on every side while they conspire together against me and take their Counsel to take away my Life Audacious Villany Desperate Impiety How horrible a Wickedness is a bloudy Attempt against the Life of the King Surely as the Speaking Evil of a King is Blasphemy so the Killing of a King is the Murder of GOD in Effigie and the Slaughter of a whole Kingdom at a Stroke Lam. 4.20 For the Anointed of the LORD is the Breath of our Nostrills Our Lives are in a sort bound up in the Life of our Sovereign Lord the King seeing under his Government and Protection we draw our vitall Breath How equall and reasonable is it that we should not only earnestly pray to Almighty GOD for the Preservation of the Person of the King from Deceit and Violence Psal 72.14 but also with the Hazard of our Lives and Estates endeavour to do what lies in us for his Defence and Security seeing we owe our own Peace and Safety our Lives and Liberties with the quiet and comfortable Fruition of all our Priviledges and Possessions to his Sword and Scepter And be we well assured the hearty Loyalty and Obedience of the Subjects is the best Security for the Life of the King and the greatest Glory of his Kingdom Having pay'd this small Tribute which the Words of the Text demand to the King as Supreme return we to the subordinate Rulers and Judges And having considered them in their Personall Capacity both
he should be favour'd by one he may fall by the rest and there will be no Hope for him to prevail with all and escape in Judgment It is therefore very agreeable to right Reason that a Court of Justice which is to determine of weighty Matters should consist of many Judges For so will the Authority be more August and the Judgment more tremendous But that which should procure the greatest Reverence and Veneration to a Court of Justice is a firm Persuasion of the Divine Presence This comes in the last Place to be consider'd as it is here by the Psalmist plainly exprest GOD standeth in the Congregation of the Mighty He judgeth among the Gods GOD then even the most High GOD is in a speciall manner present in a Court of Judicature where Judges and Magistrates are assembled for the Administration of Justice and Judgment and He not only sees and observes all Things that are there transacted but by approving and ratifying every right Sentence pronounc't by the Judge He judges among the Gods Now as this puts a great Honour upon the Court casts a great Glory upon the Judges there assembled so it layes a mighty Obligation both upon them and all other Persons who have any Concern in the Court or bear any Part in the Administration of Justice to have a very great Care of their Demeanour to take very great heed what they speak what they do as remembring and considering that they are in the speciall Presence of Almighty GOD. When the Judges with attendant Magistrates are set upon the Bench to hear Causes and to do Justice if the King should cause his Royall Throne to be set in the Court and should in his own Person come in his Royall Robes with his Crown glittering on his Head and the Majesty of GOD shining in his Face and sit down amongst them would not this be a great Honour to the Judges Would not his Presence and Appearing in Royall State cast a great Lustre upon the Court Now it is the Glory of the King that he is the Image of GOD and his Vicegerent among men If then the Great GOD Himself Prov 8.15 by whom Kings reign and Princes decree Justice shall be pleased to vouchsafe His Presence in a Court of Judicature in a Convention of Judges and Magistrates if He shall stand amongst the Mighty judge amongst the Gods how great an Honour is this to the Judges How great a Glory is this to the Court Well may a man that enters into the Court say with Jacob Gen. 28.16 17. after his Vision at Bethel Surely the LORD is in this Place and I knew it not How dreadful is this Place This is none other but the Court of GOD His House of Judgment wherein He stands and judges amongst men And then what a mighty Awe should the Presence of GOD east both upon the Judges themselves and the whole Assembly With what a Reverentiall Regard to the Divine Majesty should all Matters be transacted All things should be done as under the Eye of a GOD infinite in Wisdom in Power in Justice a GOD and Judge who infinitely hates Iniquity Acts 17.31 and who has appointed a Day wherein He will judge the World in Righteousness and call all men both Great and Small Eccl. 12.14 Mat. 12.37 to a strict Account for all their Words and Actions Amongst the Arabians there was this ancient Custome In the Court of Justice adjoining to the Chambers of the King there hung a Chain from the Cazement of a Window into the Court. If any man thought himself to be wrong'd by the Judges he drew the Chain and opened the Cazement Hereupon the King took Cognizance of the Cause and if the Judges were found faulty they were presently slain if the Party complaining was found guilty he was put to Death In some Proportion and Correspondency hereunto shall I say there is a Window open in Heaven over the Court of Justice and there is nothing there done by the Judges or others but under the Eye of GOD the Great King and Supreme Judge who from his High Throne looks down upon them This Consideration might be just Ground of great Care and Caution But behold 't is more which is here asserted by the Psalmist The Great GOD does not only look down from Heaven his Holy Habitation upon the Judges of the Court and observe their Proceedings but He is really present with them and stands amongst them For GOD standeth in the Congregation of the Mighty He judgeth among the Gods In a lively Apprehension of the speciall Presence and Superintendency of the Great GOD how well does it become how much does it concern the Judges themselves to manage their great Trust and Power with all Fidelity and Circumspection What can be more fitly and properly spoken to them than what Jehoshaphat spake to the Judges whom he set in the Cities of Judah or what can more concern them in this Case than to attend to the Charge which the King then gave them 2 Chron. 19.5 6 7 9. saying Take heed what ye do for ye judge not for man but for the LORD who is with you in the Judgment Wherefore now let the Fear of the LORD be upon you Take heed and do it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Observe and Do Act with all Circumspection for there is no Iniquity with the LORD our GOD nor Respect of Persons nor taking of Gifts Thus whatever ye do shall ye do in the Pear of the LORD faithfully and with a perfect Heart For let me add from the Psalmist tho' as Gods ye judge men there stands one amongst you whom ye see not who will judge you even the most High GOD * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phocyl For GOD standeth in the Congregation of the Mighty and he that is in the midst of them as we may render it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will judge the Judges 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the LXX render it will judge the Gods So act then in the Administration of Justice that when ye shall stand before the Judgment Seat of GOD ye may stand approved and receive that Crown of Righteousness 2 Tim. 4.8 which GOD the Righteous Judge shall then give to all just and good men even to all them who love His Appearing In a Word so act as ye believe GOD Himself would do were He in your Place in the Nature of man So shall ye reallize that Great Name which GOD hath given you and be indeed as you are stiled Gods whom Justice as an immortal Soul animates to a Divine Life and intitles to an eternal Crown And how well does it become all others who attend the Court of Justice to bear upon their Souls a lively Apprehension of the Divine Presence and so to demean themselves in all Concerns as in the Sight of GOD All those especially who shall be bound by the Religion of an Oath to declare and testify the Truth