JSRAELS' Just JUDGE; OR, THE Maiestrats Breastplate, AGAINST THE Darts of Pride, Envy, & Hypocrisy: being enemies to justice, Mercy, & Humility. Presented to the Impartial Maiestrats of this Nation, Especially in the Western parts, from whence the Author (by God's providence) drew his first breath; wishing them health here, and all happiness hereafter. Written by CHARLES HAMMOND. Bring you men of wisdom and of understanding, and known amongst your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you: and I charged your Judges that same time, saying: hear the controversies between your Brethren, and Judge Righteously between every Man and his Brother, and the stranger that is with him, ye shall have no respect of Persons in Judgement but shall hear the small as well as the great: ye shall not fear the face of Man for the judgement is Gods. Deut. 13.16, 17. blindfolded figure of justice with scales and sword justice. London; Printed by: E. Crouch, in Hosier-lane, for the Author. Seen and allowed of, and Entered according to Order. MY Book being past the Press, may freely go, To serve his Country, I would have it so; Truth being his leader, what Foe needs he fear, His cause being good, besides his Conscience clear: J'll take thy part, if any thee appose? To Justice, and to Truth, they must be Foes. I will not blaze thy Arms, but this J'll say, Truth's Banner on thy Crest thou dost display: A Friend to none, but those that be, Lover's, of Justice, Mercy, and Humility. To his much Respected Friends in Somersetshiere; especially in the town of Taunton. the Author wisheth all Truth, Peace, and Unity, to flourish amongst you. Courteous Reader I Know not into whose hands this my small Book may light into, but I have so much a cofindence in Truth, that heel never shame his Master, nor for my part I will never be ashamed to own him, if there be any thing disliking to the palet of any Man in my Book, let him not unload his stomach openly to the Author, for that will but show he hath a foul inside, though he carries a fair outside, this is but a Cordial gathered from Truth's Garden, the Scripture of such herbs that is relishing to all that loveth the Garden or the Gardener, the Physician of Souls will tell you so, nor do I give it you out of malice to do you harm, but hoping it may work with you for the good of you and yours in this life, and that to come: if you take it any otherwise; the Garters Motto J'll present you with, evil to them that evil thinks: I wish you better than you wish yourselves, that is that you would know yourselves what you have been, what you may be, and what you must be, The first you know, the second God knows, the last all Men knows you must be brought to Judgement, when we all shall hear but two Sentences: come or departed. And whatsoever you own me (being the Author of this little Book) if it be ill will, I will return you by bill of Exchange, this wish from the bottom of my heart, that you may both deserve and have the first sentence of come you Blessed, deserve it through Christ's merits, and receive it from his mouth, which shall be the Prayer of him which desires Mercy and Truth to meet together, and Righteousness and Peace to kiss each other. Charles Hammond. ISRAEL'S Just JUDGE; OR The Maiestrats Breastplate, AGAINST The Darts of Pride, Envy, and Hypocrisy; being Enemies to Justice, Mercy, and Humility. He hath showed the O man what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to wallk; humbly with thy God. Micah. 6.8. MAjestracy, and Minestry, are the two main Pillars that upholds a Nation, ordained of God himself ever since the Isralites bondage in Egypt, to justify the truth of it, if you please to begin from Moses and Aron, which were the first that God gave the Law to, and end with the Revelation, you shall find God owning and maintaing it in the Law. Christ and his Apostles both admonishing others, and submitting to it themselves in the Gospel; the taking away of those Pillars from any Nation or People, you shall find it was a forerunner of God's judgements, as you may read in several places, but especially in the book of Judges; Idolatry, Adultery, Opression, Murder, disdaining one another, was the common sins of the Children of Jsrael, for than did every Man do what seemed good in his own eyes. But the subject of my discourse is bend upon another currant, and with my best endeavours and Gods permission to up hold those Pillars, so far forth as they be not like gilded Sepulchers, make a fair show when there is nothing but rottenness within, such upholders either of City, Burrough, or Corporation, or any other place that hath not a wall of hearts to defend them; which is the Majestrats fort-royal; the judgements of God will soon lay their honour in the dust, if he find once they have gone beyond their Commission: if he summons not them here with his Court Martial which is death, let them look for disgrace and infamy to cease on them, and pull them from their Chair of Justice, and leave them to the censure of envy and malice. Well let us see then what is required of Magistrates, alas, an easy charge that God gives them, his commission may very well be kept, he requires of them to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly before him; and will they not perform it? yes: they'll tell you they do well, their own eyes shall be witnesses, and their own consciences the Juries, and in this book shall they be found guilty or not guilty, of breaking his Commission, when they shall appear before the Judge of all the Earth, who shall render every Man according to his works. Well the first the Lord requires is to do justice. Deut. 10. v. 17, 18. the Lord shows the people of Israel what justice he requires? The Lord your God is God of Gods and Lord of Lords, great mighty and terrible, which accepteth no Persons, nor taketh reward, who doth right to the Fatherless and Widow, and loveth the Stranger, giving him food and raiment, love you therefore the Stranger, for ye were strangers in the Land of Egypt, again Exod. 23. Thou shalt not receive a false tale, neither shalt thou put thy hand with the wicked to be a false witness; thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil, neither agree in a controversy to decline after many to overthrow the truth. Thou shalt not esteem a poor Man in his cause, nor thou shalt not overthrow the right of the Poor in his Suit, thou shalt keep thee far from a false matter, thou shalt take no gift, for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the Righteous, thou shalt not oppress at stranger. Man may wonder why the Lord doth take so much care, and gives such great charge in his Law to Moses concerning the Poor, and strangers: we must needs conjecture that when he delivered the Law to Moses, it should stand for a memorial to all ages, for at that time there was no poor, for they were all going towards Canaan, and till they came there they all fared alike, they had Manna to eat, and the Wilderness for their possession for 40 years together, and when they came to Canaan it was a Land that flowed with Milk and Honey: Truly the Lord know their hearts; great Men would be puffed up so with Pride, Ambition, and Envy, that the Poor shall go to wrack in after Ages: as you shall find in the Prophet's times. I wonder where we shall hear or read in any ages, the Poor and Strangers so little rewarded, and less regarded then in our times, the poor cries, the rich says let them work, will not they work, (cries the Magistrate) let them be whipped; which some perhaps are not able to work, or if they can, their work is not able to maintain their charge; they not giving themselves and stopping the charity of those that would gives? Reflect upon yourselves you great ones of the Earth; you that far deliciously every day and think not of the affliction of Joseph; you that lays out all on your backs and bellies, or hoards up all in your coffers and chests, and knows not who shall enjoy it: But why shall I, or how dare I tell you of these things? yes, I must; if I should not speak, I think ere long the stones would speak to some of you: I speak no more but what I have the word of God for my warrant, He that giveth to the Poor dareth to the Lord, saith our Saviour: Christ owneth the poor, and strangers too, you will find it so at the day of Judgement; the 25 of Matthew will show it you? stranger's cries some of you, why they are vagrants; they hinder us of our Trading, cries the Shopkeeper, doth he come further than he can go home at night, our Magistrates and we will hold together, right or wrong let him not speak for himself, no nor suffer no other to speak for him, our wills shall be our Law; and though we can find neither the Law of God, nor the Laws of the Land to justify our actions, our lips are our own, and who is Lord over us. Psalms, 12.4 Now for the oppression of the needy, and the sighs of the Poor: I will up saith the Lord and will set at liberty whom the wicked hath snared. verse 5. Solomon saith when the Righteous are in authority the People rejoice, but when the wicked bear rule the People sigh, Peou. 29.2, Thou shalt do no injury to a stranger, nor oppress him, ye shall not trouble the Widow nor Fatherless child, if thou vex or trouble such, and so he call and cry unto me, I will surely hear his cry: then shall my wrath be kindled, and I will kill you with the Sword, and your Wives shall be Widows, and your Children Fatherless: Exod. 22. v. 21, 22, 23, 24. The Lord is just in all his Judgements, he tells Man, do as thou wouldst be done by, the same measure you meat, shall be measured to you or yours again. Rob not the Poor because he is poor, neither oppress the afflicted in judgement, for the Lord will defend their cause, and spoil the soul of them that spoil them. Prov. 22, 22. Open thy mouth for the dumb, in the cause of all the Children of destruction, open thy mouth, judge Righteously, and judge the afflicted and the Poor. Prov. 30.8. The Lord would have Men in authority speak for those that either dare not or cannot speak for themselves: many a good cause is overthrown of the poor man's, for want of Men of power and knowledge to speak for them: it hath been an old Proverb, might overcomes right? either his purse or his place overcomes the poor man: how dare you go to Law with a Magistrate cries some, one Magistrate will take another's part; if they do, let them have a care it be in a just cause, if not; the poor man's cause will be pleaded before that Judge that hath no respect of persons, he will panel your own consciences for a Jury to condemn you, if you do not justice? hear you Judges and Magistrates, God standeth in the assembly of Gods, he judgeeh amongst Gods: how long will you judge unjustly, and accept the Persons of the wicked, do right to the poor and fatherless, do justice to the poor and needy, deliver the poor and needy, save them from the hand of the wicked, I have said you are Gods, and you are all Children of the most high, but ye shall die as Men, and ye Princes shall fall as others. Psal. 82. This may strike a terror both to Magistrate and People; doth God term them Gods? it will confute those that would cry down that authority whom God gives such a Title to on Earth. Let every man be subject to the higher powers, for their is no power but of Gods, and the powers that be, are ordained of God; give to all Men therefore their deuce, tribute to whom you own tribute, custom to whom you own custom, ●se are to whom you own fear, honour te whom you own honour: Rom. 13. O you Jndges and Magistrates are you Gods? then let the Law of God be your guide: he that turneth away his ear from hearing the Law, even his Prayer shall be abominable. Pro. 28 9 Hear ye O Kings, and learn you that are judges of the ends of the Earth, for the rule is given you of the Lord, and power from the most high which will try your works and search out your imaginations, because you being Officers of his Kingdom have not judged aright, nor kept the Law, nor walked after the will of God, horriblely and suddenly will he appear unto you, for a hard judgement shall they have that bear rule: for he that is low is worthy of mercy, but the mighty shall be mightily tormented, for he that is Lord over all shall spare no Person, neither shall he fear any greatness, for he hath made the small and the great and careth for all alike, but for the mighty abideth the sorer trial. you may read it in the 6 chap. of the Wisdom of Solomon, though it be in the Apocraphy, yet St. Paul makes it good in the Gospel's, Acts, 10. v. 3, 4. Rom. 2.11. Gal. 2.6. Epbe. 6.9, Col. 3, 25. What Men Majestrats to be then, in whose hand God gives the Sword of Justice, who should represent that invisible God in the visible seat of justice, we find in the 18 of Exod. jethro the Priest of Midian, Moses Father in law admonisheth his Son what Men he should choose; provide thou Men among all the People, Men of courage, fearing God, Men dealing truly, hating covetousness. O! that is a sin I am afraid too much used both by Majestrats and others to in this Narion; now in these time's covetousness is the root of all evil, and 'tis no marvel so much wickedness springs up in most plaecs, where such great roots of covetousness is planted: Moses though chief ruler of the Children of Israel, yet followed the counsel of his Father-in-law jethero, he did not despise him for his age, age is honourable, if they be not grey before they are good: age is a crown of Glory, where it is found in the way of Righteousness. Prov. 16. Happy is that grey head that is crowned with Righteousness, but unhappy is that grey head that is environed with envy and covetousness. Justice is the Mistress of all virtues, and the truest trial of a good Man; but the covetous heart is a very mint of fraud, it can readily coin falsehood upon all occasions. Covetousness is the mother of all sins whatsoever: There is no evil that a covetous man will not put in practice, so goods may come of it: You cannot name that sin but he will swallow it in the sweet broth of commodity. He that is greedy of gain, will sell the truth, sell his friend, his father, his master, his conscience; nay more, with Ahab, sell himself for money. When once men are bewitched with the love of money, as judas was, a small matter would make them sell Christ himself, were he now on the earth to be sold. All vices rule where geld reigns. He that is enslaved to that sin, may be wrought by Satan to any thing. Covetousness is the grave of all goodness; it eatt out the very heart of grace, by eating graces out of the heart. When Avarice gets possession, it turns grace onto doors: No such impediment too conversion and salvation as it isf Ministers may well wonder their Sermons take no better; but. God tells us the reason, Ezek. 33. They sis before thee, and hear thy word, but their hearts go after covetousness. It destroys more souls than all other sins put together, as the Apostle intimates, 1 Tim. 6, 10. You shall sooner hear of a hundred malefactors contrition at the gallows, than of one covetous misers in his bed. Our Saviour expressly affirmeth, that is easier for a Camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man (that is, a covetous Rich man) to enter into the kingdom of heaven, Luke 18.25. And the Apostle that, no covetous man can look for any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ ●nd of God, Ephes 5: 5, 1 Cor. 6, 9, Well may it be accounted good counsel of jethro to cause Moses to choose those men for Officers that hated that sin of Covetousness: for how can he do justice to others, that is so unjust to himself? Or what cares he what affliction he lays upon his neighbour's body when he hath so little mercy on his own soul? There are few Rich men that will not rather offend the divine majesty than the temporal authority: nor do they go to Chuych to serve God but the state, which they use not to save their souls, but charges. There is no Religion in them but the love of money, A covetous man goeth more to the assemblies for fear of the Law than love of the Gospel, and more out of custom than conscience, as Cain offered his sacrifice, and so will God accept of it. He sits down at table, but hath no stomach to eat his ears are at Church, but his heart is at home; and as his hearing is, such is his praying: He may afford God his voice, but his heart is rooted and riveted to the earth. They have not cried to me, saith God, with their hearts when they howled upon their beds; it was but for corn and wine, Hosea 7.14. O that God had the same place in men's affections that riches, honour, and pleasure hath. Charge them that are rich in this world, that they are not high minded and that they trust not in uncertain riches, but in the living God, which giveth us abundantly all things to enjoy. 1 Tim. 6.17. And well doth that man deserve to perish, that so loves the Creature, as that he leaves the Creator. If a covetous man should hear me, all's one with him, an ounce of Gold with him will weigh down whatsoever can be alleged from the Word: He can like Canan well enough, so he may enjoy his fleshpots of Egypt also; and can love the blessing, with Esau, but he will not lose the pottage: And in case he cannot gain by being Religious, his care shall be not to lose by it, and that Religion shall serve him best that is best cheap, and will cost him least. Any doctrine is welcome to him but that that beats upon good works: Nor will he stick with the Sages to fall down and worshiy Christ, but he cannot abide to present him with his gold. The love of money, and coming in of gain, is dearer and sweeter to the muckworm than the saving of his soul. The Scribes and Pharisees, who were covetous men, shut their eyes stopped their ears against all our Saviour did, and said; yea they scoffed at his preaching, Luke 16.14. Of all sorts of sinners that Christ preached unto, he was never scorned and mocked but by them when he preached against Covetousness, and what is the reason but this; Rich worldlings think the nselves so much the wiser as they are the richer, therefore we may all pray that Iethroes counsel which he gave to Moses may be considered by those that sit at the helm of justice to steer this nation in this troublesome sea of these times, that they would provide men of courage, fearing God, men dealing truly, hating covetousness. See what Jehoshaphat did when he brought the people to the Lord God of their fathers, and he set judges in the land, in all the strong cities of judah city by city, and be sa●d to the judges, take heed what ye do, for you execute not the judgement of man but of the Lord, and he will be with you in the cause & judgement wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you, take heed and do it, for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, neither respect of Persons, receiving of reward, 2 Cron. 19.5, 6, 7. He hath showed thee O Man what is good, and what the Lord doth require of thee but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. Must Mercy be joined with justice, yes, Government founded on Justice, and Mercy, doth knit and unite the Commonwealth in love and unity, which is the true upholder of Peace and Plenty: whereas injustice and cruelty brings war, ruin and misery; injustice and cruel oppression was Israel's destruction; shall any think that are guilty of the same to go unpun shed? no; Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. God's mercy is above all his works, for it is of the Lords Mercy we are not consumed, nay;, it is God's mercy we do not consume one another, for we seek the ruin and destruction of one another; may it not be said to England as it was said to Jsrael, hear ye the word of the Lord ye Children of Israel, (or England you may say) for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the Land, because there is no Truth, nor Mercy, nor knowledge of God in the Land, by swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing Adultery; they break out, and blood toubeth blood; I refer it to any rationable Christian if this Prophecy be not fulfilled in England. But stay, the subject of my pen calls so much for justice, that shall forget Mercy: and my desire is to have them go hand in hand together, and always do in those Towns where Pride and Covetousness steps not in to part them; but you may ask what this Mercy is that God requires of Man; of Mercy there is too sorts, there is mercy to the Poor, and mercy to thy Neighbour, or stranger; and all ends in Charity. I was a hungrey and ye ●ave me meat, thirsty and ye gave me drink, I was a stranger and ●e lodged me, I was naked and ye clothed me, I was sick and ye visited me, I was in Prison and ye came unto me. Mat. 25.35, 36, 37. But what may we say now, what will many in these times do to fulfil Christ's word in doing this to the Poor for his sake; for the hungry I have r course Proverb, but it is finely observed by too many, you may break your neck before you break your fast at their houses: or you thirsty, they will make you bleed more than you shall drink; or you a stranger, they'll lodge you but it shall be in the Cage or Bridewell, and there you shall pay for it too; or you naked; they'll clothe you, but it shall be with stripes? or you sick, they'll visit you if you have any thing to give them, or they'll cry God help you, and so leave you (small help or comfort from them) or you in Prison, they'll come t'ye or send t'ye, but it shall be to entrap you, to keep you there the longer, for there you shall stay till you have satisfied their malice, or paid the uttermost farthing: nay; though you own them nothing, yet if they own you ill will: in Prison you shall stay till they have paid you what they own you, without Bail or mainprise, and if they be great ones if you tell them there is Law for them, as well as for others they'll bind you over to that they perhaps want themselves; for threatening of them. 'tis true as Solomon saith, The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. How can that Man look for any mercy from God, that is so merciless to his Brother? do not disdain me for telling thee thy faults whosoevers you be, for taking the poor and stranger's parts; or you rich, you have but an uncertain lease of it, it is neither for years nor life, neither for you nor your heirs, no longer than your Lord pleases, when you have exhausted all your Bowels with the spider to contrive a slender web of an uncertain inheritance here on Earth, one puff of wind blown from the Almighty, carries all away? for riches taketh herself to her wings and flieth away, Prov, 23, 45, All riches are uncertain, but those that are ill gotten are most uncertain; as examples of all ages witnesseth; Persis Son and heir was feign to learn the Black-smiths trade to relieve his necessity. And Henry the fourth that victorious Emperor after he had fought fifty two pitch Battles, became a petitioner for a prepentary to maintain him in his old age, and Geliner that potent King of the Vandals, was brought so low, that he entreated his friend to send him a Harp, a sponge, and a Loaf of bread; a Harp to consort with his misery, a sponge to dry up his tears, and a loaf of bread to satisfy his hunger there is innumerable ways to become poor, Fire, a Thief, a false Servant, Suirtyship, Trusting, of bad Customers, and many the like hath brought many rich men to poverty, and this is the only wind that blows up the bladder of these times: Riches are like Snowballs scrapped up together till the Sun shineth, and God breatheth upon it; and than it consumes to nothing: hear this O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the Land to fail; tell me now why you will not do as you would be done by; are you rich? you may be poor, have you Houses to live in, your Fathers were strangers in the Land of Egypt, your Children may be strangers in the Land of their nativity, for ought you know, the Lord takes care for the poor, Christ takes care for the poor, and will you profess yourselves followers of Christ, and will you grow careless of them, and instead of feeding them, eat up the poor, as the Lord saith; 'tis no wonder the Lord takes so much care for them in the Scriptures: and so little for the rich, for they will take care for themselves; he knows so long as he lets them alone, Soul take thy ease, there is treasure laid up for many a day, But O fool this night thy soul shall be taken from thee, and whose shall all that be then? thou hadst better say as David did, keep me O Lord from those that hath their portions in this life. Then conclude with me, be you merciful as your heaverly Father is mercefull, Luke. 36. Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy, it was never known that God suffered a bountiful and merciful Man to want, if the cruelty of times or other afflictions brought him low, he wanted not a contenied mind to bear it out. He that giveth to the Poor shall never lack. Prov. 28, 27. A rare privilege never to want, yet a bargain of Gods own making; Plenty shall furnish the Table where Charity takes away and gives to the Poor. He that hath pitey on the Poor dareth unto the Lord and that which he hath given will he repay him again. Prov. 16.17. The Lord is content to acknowledge himself the charitable man's debtor, our gracious Redeemer doth acknowledge himself gratified and engaged, as himself doth acknowledge, Mat. 25. The poor man's hand is Christ's treasury; so a man becomes a creditor to his Saviour ● and he will pay him a hundred to one in this world, and a kingdom hereafter. Heaven and earth shall be empty before he shall be empty before he shall want a royal payment. Charity is an act of Christian policy; for we shall receive our own with great interest, as it fared with the widow of Sarepta, whose handful of meal, and cruse of oil that she relieved the Prophet with, the more she spent, the more she had, so shall that precious oil bestowed on the poor for God's sake be returned upon our heads in great measure, which makes Saint Augustine say, the charitable man is the greatest usurer in the world: This will be strange thinks some, that to give away our goods is the way to increase them; it is, if faith be joined with your works. But admit God should not answer thy greedy desire in multiplying thy Estate, he'll do that which is better, give thee a competency with a more contented mind; therefore trust God with Abraham, who above hope believed under hope. Rom. 4 18. For faith is to God as Bathsheba was to Solomon, so in favour, that the King will deny her nothing that good is. Thus you see, if the old test or new test be true, not getting, but giving is the ready way to abundance. And if you will not believe God's word, no man ought to believe you. So much for Justice and Mercy, Humility comes after, as willing to wait upon justice and Mercy, as we would desire truth joined with peace and plenty. He hath showed thee, O man, what is good, and what the Lord doth require of thee, to do justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honour goeth humility. Prov. 15.53. The more God advanceth thee to honour, the more thou oughtest to humble thyself: Thankfulness and humility are the only means to enrich us with God's blessings, but pride and unthankfulness is the only way to make God withdraw from us, and take away from us both himself and his choicest blessings too. Aesop's Crow not content with her own likeness, borrowed a feather of every bird, and she became so proud that she scorned them all, which the birds observing, came and plucked each one their feather back, and so left her naked? even so God deals with all proud ungrateful Persons: I think I may say in these times wherein Pride doth so abound, if every bird had his own feathers, they would be left as bare as Aesop's crow, and then like owls they may walk about by night, for by day they would be despised by all that sees them: but I desire the Peacocks of these times to look down to their feet, for they must needs be very foul when they are treading the paths of destruction, Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty mind before a fall; better it is to be of an humble Spirit with the lowly, then to divide the spoil with the proud. Prov. 16, 18, 19 When Sanl was little in his own eyes, God made him head over all the twelve Tribes of Jsrael, and gave him abundance, but when out of his greatness, he abused his place and gifts, God took them all away; but most remarkable is the example of Nebucadnezzar who ascribing all to himself; said, is not this great Babel which I have built by the might of my power and the Glory of my Majesty? was presently deprived of his Kingdom and all that he had, and sent to graze with the Beasts: and so likewise of Herod when he sat on the Judgement seat and made an orration in royal Apparel, the People cried the voice of God and not of Man; and he never rebuked them, but took that honour upon him, but immediately the Augell smote him because he gave not Glory to God, so that he was eaten with worms? he must know and all that sit on judgement seats, though God calls them Gods they must not be deified by Man like the true God: I have said ye are Gods but ye shall die like Men? they are no more in God's eyes then those that stands before them for justice, nor shall have no more favour shown them at the tribunal feat at the last day? take heed you that sit at the bench of Justice, if Humility leads you not up, at last Pride will throw you down: what man is he that out of the height of pride or envy will term true honest poor Men the scums of the World: He that mocketh the poor reproacheth him that made him, and be that rejoyeth at destruction shall not be unpunished. Prov. 17.5, Before destructions the heart of a Man is haughty, and before Glory goeth Holiness: Prov. 18, 12. if there be a hollow in a valley lower than another, thither the water gathers, and the more lowly we are in our own eyes, the more lowly we are in Gods; Unto him will I look saith the Lord, even to him that is of a nutrit Spirit, and that trembleth at my words. Esay. 57 15. There can nothing make us more accptable to God, than the conscience of our unworthiness, when with jacob we can say. O Lord I am not worthy of the least of all thy ways which thou hast showed unto thy Servant, for with my staff I passed over Jordan. and now I am become thy bonds man. Man should consider from whence he came, and whether he must, what he is, and what he must be: there is as much respect of souls before God, as there is difference in souls in the grave, no; it is the heart that God requires, and it must be a humble heart, to Samuel when he was sent to jesse by the appointment of God to anoint a King amongst his sons: Samuel looked on Liab being a Man; it seemed in his eyes fit for a Crown, by his Person, his deportment and outward behaviour. But the Lord said to Samuel, look not on his countenance, nor on the height of his stature, because I have refused him. 1 Samuel, 16. For God seethe not as Man seethe, for Man looketh one the outward appearance, but the Lord beholdeth the heart, when all his Sons was called that were there, saith Samuel: is there no more Children but these? and Jesse said; there is yet a little one that keepeth sheep, and David was sent for, And the Lord said arise and anoint him for this is he. There is a great deal of difference between Gods choosing and Man's choosing: Man looks upon the outward bravery, God looks upon the inward humility, it is not means but manners that makes a Gentleman; some will take acception if they be not writ Esquires or Gentlemen, in any business that comes to them: indeed there be many by their place may write Esquires, but being turned out perhaps not find a coat of Arms to write Gentleman. Afterwards Colonel Morgan in the low countries' having occasion to send to the Prince of Orange a letter, sent it by an Ensign of his Regiment, delivering his Letter and message, the Prince asked him how long he had been a Soldier under Colonel Morgan? he answered he was no Soldier, he was an Ensign: the Prince returned a Letter to the Colonel, he thought he had been so much a Soldier that he would not make Officers that were no Soldiers and wished him to take from him his colours and give him a pike, and let him first learn to be a Soldier, and then he is the fit to be an Officer, he that hath first been commanded, knows the better how to command, a Man that is proud in his office, is like a fool in a Morice-dance, more looked upon, & laughed at, then respected or regarded. Gentility if it be not flampt in the heart by Humility, it can never be knocked into their head by force or policy, for example; meet you with a true borne Gentleman, his hat in his hand as soon as yours? he'll be as ready to give age the way, as he shall give him: be he poor or rich, and so they bring up their Children: take a new upstart Gentleman which may give for a motto in his scutcheon, of Arms these verses. Means I have got: though breeding I lack, You may blaze my Arms by the coat on my back: This man, Sir, if you meet him either a horseback, or foot, you quickly know him, if on horseback, pride whips on his horse a gallop, and bids him keep his way, though your horse be scarceable to go out, as if he'll over you, or else pride throws his master headlong in the dirt, as many times it falls out to fulfil the Proverb, Pride will have a fall. Meet him in the street, if you fear his great looks, and worship his fools painted coat, he'll look a squint upon you, and russels up his coat or cloak like a Peacock's tail, and think you have done but your due to worship this golden Calf. But if you take no notice of him, he will take no notice of you, and pick a hole in your coat for not idolising his rich coat. But give me leave to stay my pen, and not bestow ink and paper on times painted babies, which if they were to be sold for their virtues, would not yield eight shillings a gross; for some of them have not the wit to act a part in a popet-play, but what must come from another's mouth: But my subject is Justice, Mercy, and Humility, which affords matter enough to treat on for the paper: I intent to write on Mercy, and Humility cannot be hid in honour or gentility. As their hearts by humility opens their eyes of mercy upon the poor, the oppressed, and the needy; they seeing your good works may glorify your father which is in heaven; and their prayers, hearts, and hands shall be a wall of defence for you in the time of trouble. Pray give me leave, as I began let me make an end, which was with justice, which is all I desire for man; and Mercy from God, him have I offended both in thought, word, and deed, from him, and through the merits of my Saviour I look for mercy. My conscience tells me I have broke the laws of God, and so we must all cry guilty: Mercy nor favour look I not from man, but truth; equity, and justice, which I hope that just God shall so guide their hearts that hear my cause, that without respect of persons I shall have justice shown me. justice in ancient times was pictured blind, representing the unpartialness of her heart: She'll hear all, but sees none; her eyes shall not corrupt her heart with the habit or love either of plaintif or defendant, but in her left hand, which is next her heart, she holds the balance of justice weighing rightly the cruse; then gives she judgement by her two Judges, Truth and Equity, then hath she her sword ready drawn in her right hand to execute Judgement upon the offender, so makes she the Law of God perfect with this motto. I hear and see not, yet I understand, And judge aright the cause I take in hand. So I'll conclude with the words that the Lord spoke to the Children of Jsrael by Zack. 7.9. In the time of their Captivity execute true judgemet, and show mercy and compassion every Man to his Brother, and oppress not the Widow and the Fatherless, the stranger nor the poor, and let none of you imagine evil against his Brother in his heart, for this is all the Lord doth require of thee O man; to do justly, love mercy: and walk humbly with thy God: and this thou must perform: be thou high or low, rich or poor, judge or jury, it is a short lesson to read, a heard lesson to learn, and a easy lesson to be forgot, thou must have God for thy schoolmaster, judge or Lawgiver, thou must have Christ for thy merciful tutor, and by thy humility thou shalt have the holy spirit that proceeds from both, repeating this lesson always to thee Every man do seek the face of the Ruler, but every man's judgement cometh from the Lord. Prov. 29.26, FINIS.