II. The excellence of it as displayed in the history before us.
To view his conduct aright, we must consider him as performing a magisterial act of piety towards man, and a ministerial act of piety towards God ; in both which points of view it is highly commended to us by God himself.
See it as a magisterial act of justice towards man.
Magistrates are appointed by Almighty God as his vicegerents in the government of the world. They
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are set over their fellow-creatures for the preservation of order, to give protection to the peaceable, and to punish those who, by any evil deeds, would inter- rupt the welfare of the community. They are to exercise authority for him ; being his ministers for good to the people over whom they are placed ; nor are they to bear the sword in vain, but to be " re- vengers in his name to execute wrath upon him that doeth evilc."
Now it is obvious that when iniquity abounds, and is sanctioned and upheld, not only by the multitude, but by persons of distinction and power, it is no easy matter for a magistrate to discharge his duty aright. On the one hand, he is afraid of appearing singular, and of having his interposition ascribed to unworthy motives ; and, on the other hand, he is apprehensive that he shall fail in his efforts to withstand the evils which he deplores. He sees others, perhaps, as willing as himself to lament the reigning corruption, but not willing to incur the odium of standing forth as reformers, and of exerting their power for the correction of it. He knows how much more ready all will be to blame his zeal, than to commend it : and therefore he is disposed rather to wait till he can find others to co-operate with him, than by extra- ordinary and unaided efforts to put to shame those who draw back from their duty, and are destitute of that zeal which he feels it incumbent on him to employ.
This was the state of Phinehas. He was but a young man, and therefore might be condemned as officious, and unbecomingly obtrusive. The offenders too were persons of the highest rank in the nations to which they belonged : and the elder rulers, who, together with him, were witnesses of this horrible impiety, were all either intimidated or stupified; so that not one of them felt disposed to avenge the cause of Israel and of God on these flagrant trans- gressors. But he would not wait for others. He would discharge his duty at all events ; and whatever
c Rom. xiii. 1 — 4.