Proverbs 8:15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. If good laws against ill manners be, as sure they are, decrees of justice, these kings and princes, with inferior magistrates, will be the governing societies, here on earth, for public reformation. Civil rulers should be considered as subordinate to that ever-blessed society of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit above, the one God who, through the one Mediator between God and man, hath graciously vouchsafed to concern Himself for the reformation of a degenerate world, that iniquity might not be, at least so speedily or universally, its ruin. I. THE TENDENCY OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT TO PUBLIC REFORMATION, IN WHICH COMMON SAFETY AND HAPPINESS IS SO MANIFESTLY CONCERNED. The very decreeing of justice, or the justice in good and wholesome laws decreed, has a natural and evident tendency to public reformation, with all its implied and consequent advantages. Ill manners have given the occasion to many good laws, which, though they serve to direct and confirm the good, yet are principally designed to correct and reform the bad. It is wrong and weakness to attempt government by mere compulsion. All fit methods of dealing with men must take hold of some principles, allowed or presumed, if not confessed. The great business of good laws will be more effectually to repress the overt acts of those vicious inclinations which so often lead men, in particular cases, contrary to the general dictums of their own deliberate judgment and conscience. See the matter and measure of some of the principal decrees of justice; as — 1. To God; that He be not openly affronted by the denial of His being, neglect of evident duty, and daring commission of notorious sin. 2. To the community; that private interests give way to that of the public. 3. To the magistrate; that all needful defence be provided, with a power sufficient for the asserting of his just authority. 4. To subjects more generally considered. The saving and securing to them those rights and liberties which are due, whether by common reason or the particular reason and fundamental contract. 5. To the poor; that the disabled and destitute be maintained; that the able and willing want not work, nor the idle a spur to labour. 6. To offenders themselves; that the justly obnoxious go not unpunished, nor yet their punishment outweigh the offence. 7. To persons of merit. Honour and other rewards are surely a point of justice due to such. Surely such decrees of justice are a public testimony for virtuous actions, and against the contrary vices. Whilst the preceptive part of such decrees recommends virtuous actions to the understanding, their sanctions of reward and punishment most fitly serve to press them on the will, as powerfully moving those two great springs of human action — hope and fear. The execution of just decrees gives a standing and open confirmation to them, as being the abiding sense of our rulers. They have evidently been well weighed and wisely resolved. II. THE SON OF GOD, THE REFORMING, SAVING WISDOM, ON WHOM GOVERNMENT DEPENDS. The term "son" is taken from amongst men, and though it cannot exactly agree to Him who is the Son of God, yet certainly intends to lead us to some such apprehensions about Him as may be allowed to our weakness, and will be sufficient for our purpose. The salvation of men is everywhere in Sacred Writ represented as the great design and business of this Wisdom, which well knows that pride, arrogancy, and the evil way will never comport with the peace and welfare of men either in their single or social capacity. The government of the Son as Mediator is to be founded in redemption, and exercised in a way of reformation. Religion in a degenerate world is but another name for reformation: especially the Christian religion, which was to correct not only the irreligion but also the superstitions of the world. It has been the care of our gracious Redeemer to recover the declining reformation under the happy influence of present governments. III. THE MORE IMMEDIATE DEPENDENCE OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT ON THE SON OF GOD. True it is that our Saviour's kingdom is not of a secular but spiritual nature: but His subjects are embodied spirits, and have their temporal as well as eternal concernments. Civil government decrees justice — 1. By our Saviour's purchase and procurement. 2. Providential disposal. 3. Counsel and aid. 4. Appointment and authority. (Joshua Oldfield.) Parallel Verses KJV: By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. |
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