Eoniau Jud^'i
(1 loin a nniqne esimrle \\ ilton Ilou-e )
Judgments ok God. 1. This expression is of fre- quent occurrence in the Scriptures, and its sense is gen- erally determined by the connection. When (iod's judg- ments arc spoken of, the term may denote either the secret decisions of the divine will (I'sa. x, 5; xxxvi, 6), or the declarations of (Jod's will revealed in the Scrip- tures (lixod. xxi, 1; Deut. vii, 12; Neh. ix, 13; Psa. cxix, 7-175), or the indictions of i)unishmont on the wiL-ked (Exod. vi, G ; xii, 12; Prov. xix, 29; Ezck. xxv, 1 1 ; Rev. xvi, 7). The Scriptures give us many awful instaiu:es of the display of divine justice in the punish- ment of nations, families, and individuals for their in- iquities. See Gen. vii; xix, 25; Exod. xv: Judg. i, 6, 7 ; Acts xii, 23 ; Esther v, 14, with vii, 10 ; 2 Kin'i's xi •' Lev. x, 1, 2; Acts v, 1-10; Isa. xxx, 1-5; 1 Sam. xv] 9; 1 Kingsxii, 25, 33.
2. In a less legitimate application, the strange trials to wliich those sust)ected of guilt were put in the Mid- dle Ages, con.lucte.l -.viih many' devout ceremonies by
the ministers of religion, and pronounced to be the judgments of God! The ordeal consisted of various kinds: walking blindfold amid burning ploughshares, holding in the hand a red-hot bar, and plunging the arm mto boiling water. The popular affirmation, "I will put my hand into the fire to confirm this," appears to be derived from this solemn custom. Challenging the ac- cuser to single combat, when frequently the stoutest champion was allowed to supply their place; swallow- ing a morsel of consecrated bread ; sinking or swimming in a river for witchcraft, or weighing a witch ; stretch- ing out the arms before the cross, till the champion soonest wearied dropped his arms and lost his estate, which was decided by the very short chancery suit call- ed the judicium cruets.
Those who were accused of robbery were put to trial by a piece of barley bread, on which the mass had been said, and, if they could not swallow it, were declared guilty. Probably the saj'ing, " j\lay this piece of bread choke me," comes from this custom. Among the proofs of guilt was that of the bleeding of a corpse. If a person was murdered, it was believed that at the touch or ap- proach of the murderer the blood gushed out of the body in various parts. By the side of the bier, if the slight- est change was observable in the eyes, the mouth, feet, or hands of the corpse, the murderer was conjectured to be present ; and it is probable that many innocent spec- tators have suffered death in consequence.
It is well to mark, in extenuation of these absurd prac- tices of our rude ancestors, that these customs were a substitute for written laws which that barbarous period had not ; and as no community can exist without laws, the ignorance of the people had recourse to these cus- toms, which, bad and absurd as they were, served to close controversies which otherwise might have given birth to more destructive practices. Ordeals are, in truth, the rude laws of a barbarous people who have not yet obtained a written code, and not advanced enough in civilization to enter into refined inquiries, the subtle distinctions and elaborate investigations which a court of law demands.
It is a well-established fact, however, that they were acquainted in those times with secrets to pass unhurt these singular trials. This was especially the case with ordeals of tire and boiling water. Doubtless the more knowing ones possessed those secrets and medicaments which thej' had at hand to pass through these trials in perfect security. See Jortin, Remarks on Eccles. Hist. iii, 246 sq. See Ordeal. (E. de P.)
Judicature, Courts of. See Judge; Court; TiMAL; TuiitixAL; Council, etc.
Judices electi, select judges, is a term applied to a number of judges occasionally selected to hear an appeal from an excommunicated presbyter or deacon against his own bishop. The Council of Sardica allowed an appeal to the metropolitan ; and in such a case the me- tropolitan had three ways of proceeding — either to select a number of judges, generally twelve, to hear the case; or to refer the matter to a provincial sjmod; or to hear the causes himself without a synod. It is, however, doubtful whether a metropolitan had power to depose a bishop. — Farrar, Eccles. Diet. s. v.
Judicial Blindness or Hardness, a term employ- ed to express a state of moral incorrigibility. So we read, Mark iii, 5, "Being grieved for the blindness — hard- ness — of their hearts." So Rom. xi, 25, " Blindness — hardness — in part hath happened to Israel." Eph. iv, 18, " Because of the blindness — hardness — of their hearts." 2 Cor. iii, 14, "Their minds were blinded — hardened ;" and elsewhere. This expression is of special interest to the theologian on account of two questions connected with it.
1. Is it an infliction of God? — From such passages as Isa. vi, 10, some have said that God commands the prophet to do a certain thing to this people, and then piuiishes the people: nay, this appears stronger stiU,