Selected quad for the lemma: master_n
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A62323
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Jethro's character of worthy judges an assise-sermon preached at Northampton, March 22, 1663 / by Antonie Scattergood.
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Scattergood, Antony, 1611-1687.
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1664
(1664)
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Wing S842; ESTC R38218
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23,301
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44
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in a blind horse carrying him on apace toward blocks or downfalls or like a sharp sword in the hand of a fool or a mad-man wounding whom it should not But si non prosunt singula juncta juvant These two a good Head and a great Heart though when apart one from the other they avail little or nothing yea are often dangerous and hurtful both to others and to them that have them yet when they go together in a Magistrate they serve to make him almost complete Like Castor and Pollux who appearing single were counted of old sad omens portending ill luck to mariners but when they were seen both at once simul semel they signified a successeful voyage Beloved the vessel wherein we are all embarked the great Ship of this Kingdom is likely to sail on prosperously so long as we see upon our sails or masts those lucky Gemini those twin-stars the light of Knowledge and the fire of Zele so long as those who sit at the helm and see to the steerage of our course are both skilful in their Compass and careful to observe it Let us therefore pray often to Him that sitttth upon the water-floud Psal 29.10 Isa 11.9 Am. 5.24 that as our Land is full of Knowledge as the waters cover the sea so Judgment may run down in it as waters and Righteousness like a mighty stream And to this end that he would bless all those whose office it is to execute justice amongst us especially the reverend and learned Judges that as he hath given unto them the spirit of Counsel Isa 11.2 so he would also give unto them the spirit of Might 1 Chr. 22.13 that they may still be strong and of good courage that they may not dread 2 Chr. 19.11 nor be dismayed but deal couragiously that they may not respect the persons or letters or promises nor fear the faces or frowns or threats of men but with an undaunted courage do justice to all unpartially maintaining the cause of the innocent Job 29.17 though never so poor and breaking the jaws of the oppressour and plucking the spoil out of his teeth though he be never so great Thus doing they will do God their Prince their Country yea and themselves also good service By obeying the will and imitating the example of that Judge of all the earth Gen 18.25 Psal 9 4. who sitteth in the throne judging right they will deserve those high titles that are given them Psal 82.6 I have said Ye are Gods and all of you are Children of the most High Their Tribunals will prove stays and props unto the King's Throne Prov. 16.12 which is established by righteousness They will uphold the Commonwealth from confusion and ruine and procure the blessings of God upon it They will have the prayers and praises of good people here and receive from the righteous Judge the crown of righteousness hereafter 2 Tim 4.8 But those who being called to the office and dignity of a Judge suffer base unworthy fear to bear sway in them and dare not go on as they ought in the course of justice by reason of some lion they phansie to lie in their way Prov. 26.13 Those who had rather wrong a poor innocent then by doing him right forfeit the favour and incur the displeasure of some great man Those who with Gallio Acts 18.17 out of negligence or love of ease care for none of those things which by vertue of their place they are bound to care for or with Festus Acts 24.27 to do the multitude a pleasure can find in their hearts to leave a righteous man bound or with Pilate John 19.12 c. to avoid Cesar's frown and the loss of their place can dispense with their conscience for once and doom a most innocent person to death Such Judges as these disgrace themselves and their honourable calling by their faint-heartedness and by using unlawful means to save their own stake and to gain the favour of mortal men Hebr. 10 31. 12.29 they fall into the hands of the living God who is a consuming fi e. Beloved let us all both Magistrates and people banish pusillanimous fear out of our bosoms No passion so much disquieteth our minds none so much opposeth Reason and Religion as this It betrayeth the succours which Reason offereth Wisd 17.12 It maketh a man chuse iniquity rather then affliction Job 36.21 prefer a whole skin before a sound conscience trust God with his soul rather then men with his estate as was lately said and practiced by too many In a word he that is basely fearful and cowardly is so far from being a good Magistrate that he cannot be a good man till that aguish distemper be well driven out of him Out with it then in God's name and let us all in this sense become able men men of courage and action Rom. 12.11 not slothful in business fervent in spirit serving the Lord with all our might in the performance of those duties that either our general or our particular calling obligeth us unto Jer. 48.10 that so we may escape the curse that is threatned against those that do the work of the Lord negligently and be commended and rewarded with good and faithful servants at our Master's coming Matth. 25.21 23. I come to the last kind of Ability that should be in Judges They must not only have able Heads and able Hearts but 3. Able Hands I mean They must be able in outward matters The word in the Original besides that Ability of mind ye have heard of signifieth many other things as 1. Ability of body 2. a Multitude of people 3. Power and Authority 4. Riches and Estate All of them fit accoustrements of a Judge Of the three first but a little and of the fourth not much First Judges have need of able Bodies Otherwise Exod 18.13 14. how can they endure to sit day after day from morning till evening as Moses did in Courts of judicature carefully and heedfully attending every transaction Otherwise how can they twice a year ride long circuits as Samuel did and judge the people in several places Otherwise how can they 1 Sam. 7.16 when they are returned to their houses take so great pains as they do in their Studies that by encreasing their knowledge they may encrease their judgment and by learning from the dead may be the better furnished to instruct the living This last is not the least of their labours much reading as well as much riding being a weariness to the flesh Eccl. 12.12 Secondly the word signifieth a Multitude or great Assembly And this it is meet more then meet that my Lords the Judges when they are upon the King 's and Countrey 's service should still see about them that not onely the Sheriff with his train and the Justices and other Gentlemen but also a good part of the body