And then against wrongs and injuries we meet with here, the just God, who, as he will do us no wrong himself, so he will not suffer others to do us wrong without punishing of them: Ps. ciii, 6, ' The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.' He pities the afflictions of them that suffer unjustly, and will execute judgment for them. Mark, first from his pity, then from his justice. From his pity : Judges x. 16, ' His soul was grieved for the misery of Israel ; ' and 2 Kings xiv. 26, ' And the Lord saw the affliction of Israel, that it was veiy bitter, and he saved them.' But how much more will he pity those that are unjustly oppressed by men's hands ! Acts vii. 33, 34, ' I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people, and I have heard their groaning;' and Isa. Ixiii. 9, 'In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them : in his love and pity he redeemed them.' Therefore, if we look upon the compassions and pities of God, this may comfort us in all wrongs and injuries. Then out of hatred to oppression : Ps. xi. 7, * The righteous Lord lovetli righteousness, his countenance doth behold the upright.' i>o again, Ps. xciv. 15, ' Judgment shall return unto righteousness, and all the upright in heart shall follow it.' Some- times they are asunder. Earthly judges may refuse the justice of righteousness, a judge may suspend the act of his own judgment ; but they shall not long be severed; God will bring forth his righteous judgment : Zech. viii. 17, ' These things I hate, saith the Lord.' And then in regard of his providence, God will not be unmindful of his promise: Ps. ix. 7-9, ' Pie hath prepared his throne for judgment, and he shall judge the world in righteousness; he shall minister judgment to his people in ui)rightness.' Courts of justice among men are not always open, they have term-time ; but God is always ready to hear plaintiffs. They make complaints amongst men, and they are delayed so much and so long that they are discouraged. But we have a
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friend that is always ready to hear : Ps, xlviii. 10, ' Thy right hand is full of righteousness ; ' for defending his people and punishing his enemies.
Use 3. To press us to acknowledge this justice of God, tliat he governeth all things righteously, especially when you are under his mighty hand. The Lord takes it ill when you question any of his providences : Ezek. xviii. 25, * Are not my ways equal ? ' He will be clear when he judgeth, Ps. li. 4. God will be justified in all that ho hath done or shall do for the punishment of sin ; and therefore, when the hand of God is upon you, take heed you do not reproach God. When his hand is smart and heavy upon you, remember affliction opens the eyes of the worst men. Nebuchadnezzar, that knew no God but himself, no happiness but in pleasing his own humour, yet when he was whipped and scourged, hear him speak : Dan. iv. 37, ' Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honour the king of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment, and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.' Pharaoh : Exod ii. 27, ' The Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.' These acknowledgments and confessions come fi-om wicked men, as water out of a still, forced by the fire. But if affliction opens the eyes of wicked men, surely when we are under God's afflicting hand we should give him the glory of his justice, and acknowledge that he is clear in all that he brings upon us. He takes it ill when we murmur and tax his judgment : Micah vii. 9, ' I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me ;' and Lam. i. 18, ' The Lord is righteous, for I have rebelled against his commandment.' And when we submissively stoop and accept of the punishment of our sin after he hath been pro- voked, then God will plead for us. Lev. xxvi. 41. When we stoop humbly under God's correcting hand, and bear it patiently, and say, God is just in all this, then it will succeed well. Observe the justice of God, especially his remarkable judgments upon others. The church is brought in acknowledging of it, Rev. xv. 3, ' Just and true are thy ways, thou king of saints ; ' and Rev. xix. 3, ' True and righteous are his judgments.' Not that we should sit crowners upon other men's souls, and judge their spiritual condition, and misinterpret providence : I look upon it as a great sin of a faction, and perverse humours. But clearly when men's sins are so great that the judg- ments of God have overtaken them, we ought to say, ' Just and true art thou, 0 Lord, and just in all thy judgments.'
I might show here is much to keep the children of God in awe ; the Lord is a righteous God ; though they have found mercy and taken sanctuary at his grace, the Lord is impartial in his justice. God, that did not spare the angels when they sinned, nor his Son when he was a sinner by imputation, will not spare you, though you are the dearly beloved of his soul, Prov. xi. 31. The sinful courses of God's chil- dren occasion bitterness enough ; they never venture upon sin but with great loss. If Paul give way to a little pride, God will humble him. If any give way to sin, their pilgrimage will be made uncomfortable : God's hand may be smart and dismal, Eli for negligence and in- dulgence, there is the ark of God taken, his two sons slain in battle,