138 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SllR. CLXXII.
his client, he was accursed, devoted to slaughter, and any man might kill him. Clientes quasi colentes, patroni quasi patres, saith Servius. So that to deceive a client was as to deceive a son. This was begun by Eomulus, who commended the common people and worser sort to the nobles, leaving every man his liberty to choose whom he would for his patron ; and that defence of them was called patronage ; and the jus pair onatus during this constitution consisted in these duties and offices ; they were to defend the poor in judgment, to answer for them in all points of law ; they were to take care of them that none might wrong them present or absent ; they were omnem accusatoris ■impelum sustinere ; and this jus patronatus was of such authority among the ancients, that Marcus Cato telleth us that first the name of father was most sacred, next that of patron. It were long to say all that might be said of them ; this is enough, that their principal work was to be present at all causes wherein their poor client was concerned, and to appear for him and defend him, as they would their own cause. Advocates were taken in afterwards, when laws were multiplied, to suggest what was law ; they were men skilful in the law. See Hall's lexicon. Now thus it is God pleads the cause of his people as their patron, who hath taken them into his tutelage and clientship ; not as mterceder, but defender. They have betaken themselves to his tui- tion, and desire to honour and serve him ; God will therefore take part with them against their enemies. He doth not only hear pleas and debates on either side, but interposeth as the patron and chief party concerned in the strife, and having withal the power of a judge, will pass sentence on their behalf, and see it executed.
2. The manner of God's pleading. It is not a verbal or vocal, but a real and active plea. God pleadeth not by words, but by deeds, by his judgments, and powerful providence, righting the wrongs done to them. For since, as I said, there concur in God the relations of judex and patronus, he maketh the one serviceable to the other. As their patronus he owneth the cause, taketh it upon himself, as the answer- able party, and then useth his judicial power in defence of his people. Now the property of a judge is to pronounce sentence, and then to put his sentence in execution. Gocl hath pronounced sentence in his word, and he puts the sentence in execution in his providence ; and that is God's pleading. Many times there is sententia lata, but dilata ; long ago was sentence passed, but it is not speedily executed, Eccles. viii. 11. Because sentence is not speedily executed upon an evil-doer, therefore do they vaunt and insult over his people, as if God had forsaken and disclaimed them, and would never more own their cause and quarrel ; but when God seeth fit to appear, and to show himself in this mixed relation of judge and patron, the world will have other thoughts of their cause ; and therefore, Isa, iii. 13, ' The Lord standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge his people.' He will bring matters under a review, and will powerfully show himself against their oppressors. To this pleading Job alludeth when he saith, Job xxiii. 6, ' Will he plead against me with his great power ? ' if he should use his almighty and invincible power against me, he would easily ruin me. So Ezek. xxxviii. 22, ' I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood;' against Gog and Magog, that is, the Scythians, Turks, and Tartars.
VeR. 154.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 139
So that you see that God's pleading is not by speaking, or by word of mouth, but by the vengeance of his providence against those that wrong his people. _ So against Babylon : Jer. li. 36, ' Thus saith the Lord, Behold I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee.' But that this is a mixed act of patron and judge, see 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 : he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.' When God's people provoke him to anger by their sins, he casteth them into troubles ; and then their adversaries are chief, and their cause is much darkened and obscured : all this while God is pleading against them, but it is not the enemies' quarrel, but his own vindica- tion of abused mercy and goodness. But when once the controversy is taken up between. God and them, by their submission, and clearing his justice, and imploring his mercy, then God will plead their cause, and take their part against the instruments of his vengeance (and clear their righteous cause), who only sought their own ends in afflicting them. When God hath exercised their humility and patience, he will thus do. And how, I pray you, will he plead for them ? The text saith there, by executing judgment for them ; that is, by putting his sentence in execution, and then will restore to them their wonted privi- leges, and own them in the public view of all, and make manifest they are his : he will bring them forth to the light, and they shall see his righteousness.