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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Psalms LXXXII].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1710)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>P S A L M S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>PSALM LXXXII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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This psalm is calculated for the meridian of princes' courts and courts
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of justice, not in Israel only, but in other nations; yet it was
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probably penned primarily for the use of the magistrates of Israel, the
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great Sanhedrim, and their other elders who were in places of power,
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and perhaps by David's direction. This psalm is designed to make kings
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wise, and "to instruct the judges of the earth" (as
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+82:2,10">2 and 10</A>),
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to tell them their duty as
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+23:3">2 Sam. xxiii. 3</A>),
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and to tell them of their faults as
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+58:1">Ps. lviii. 1</A>.
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We have here,
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I. The dignity of magistracy and its dependence upon God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+82:1">ver. 1</A>.
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II. The duty of magistrates,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+82:3,4">ver. 3, 4</A>.
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III. The degeneracy of bad magistrates and the mischief they do,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+82:2,5">ver. 2, 5</A>.
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IV. Their doom read,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+82:6,7">ver. 6, 7</A>.
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V. The desire and prayer of all good people that the kingdom of God may
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be set up more and more,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+82:8">ver. 8</A>.
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Though magistrates may most closely apply this psalm to themselves, yet
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we may any of us sing it with understanding when we give glory to God,
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in singing it, as presiding in all public affairs, providing for the
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protection of injured innocency, and ready to punish the most powerful
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injustice, and when we comfort ourselves with a belief of his present
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government and with the hopes of his future judgment.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ps82_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps82_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps82_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps82_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps82_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Duty of Magistrates.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<CENTER>
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<P>A psalm of Asaph.</P>
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</CENTER>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 God standeth in the congregation of the
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mighty; he judgeth among the gods.
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2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of
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the wicked? Selah.
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3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted
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and needy.
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4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid <I>them</I> out of the hand of the
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wicked.
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5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in
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darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here,</P>
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<P>
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I. God's supreme presidency and power in all councils and courts
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asserted and laid down, as a great truth necessary to be believed both
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by princes and subjects
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+82:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>):
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<I>God stands,</I> as chief director, <I>in the congregation of the
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mighty,</I> the mighty One, <I>in coetu fortis--in the councils of the
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prince,</I> the supreme magistrate, and he judges among the gods, the
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inferior magistrates; both the legislative and the executive power of
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princes is under his eye and his hand. Observe here,
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1. The power and honour of magistrates; they are the <I>mighty.</I>
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They are so in authority, for the public good (it is a great power that
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they are entrusted with), and they ought to be so in wisdom and
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courage. They are, in the Hebrew dialect, called <I>gods;</I> the same
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word is used for these subordinate governors that is used for the
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sovereign ruler of the world. They are <I>elohim.</I> Angels are so
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called both because they are great in power and might and because God
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is pleased to make use of their service in the government of this lower
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world; and magistrates in an inferior capacity are likewise the
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ministers of his providence in general, for the keeping up of order and
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peace in human societies, and particularly of his justice and goodness
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in punishing evil-doers and protecting those that do well. Good
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magistrates, who answer the ends of magistracy, are as God; some of his
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honour is put upon them; they are his vicegerents, and great blessings
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to any people. <I>A divine sentence is in the lips of the king,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+16:10">Prov. xvi. 10</A>.
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But, as <I>roaring lions and ranging bears,</I> so are <I>wicked rulers
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over the poor people,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+28:15">Prov. xxviii. 15</A>.
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2. A good form and constitution of government intimated, and that is a
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mixed monarchy like ours; here is the might one, the sovereign, and
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here is his congregation, his privy-council, his parliament, his bench
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of judges, who are called the <I>gods.</I>
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3. God's incontestable sovereignty maintained in and over all the
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congregations of the mighty. <I>God stands,</I> he <I>judges among
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them;</I> they have their power from him and are accountable to him.
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<I>By him kings reign.</I> He is present at all their debates, and
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inspects all they say and do, and what is said and done amiss will be
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called over again, and they reckoned with for their
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mal-administrations. God has their hearts in his hands, and their
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tongues too, and he directs them <I>which way soever he will,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+21:1">Prov. xxi. 1</A>.
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So that he has a negative voice in all their resolves, and his counsels
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shall stand, whatever devices are in men's hearts. He makes what use he
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pleases of them, and serves his own purposes and designs by them;
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though their hearts little think so,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+10:7">Isa. x. 7</A>.
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Let magistrates consider this and be awed by it; God is with them in
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the judgment,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+19:6,De+1:17">2 Chron. xix. 6; Deut. i. 17</A>.
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Let subjects consider this and be comforted with it; for good princes
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and good judges, who mean well, are under a divine direction, and bad
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ones, who mean ever so ill, are under a divine restraint.</P>
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<P>
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II. A charge given to all magistrates to do good with their power, as
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they will answer it to him by whom they are entrusted with it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+82:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>.
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1. They are to be the protectors of those who lie exposed to injury and
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the patrons of those who want advice and assistance: <I>Defend the
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poor,</I> who have no money wherewith to make friends or fee counsel,
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<I>and the fatherless,</I> who, while they are young and unable to help
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themselves, have lost those who would have been the guides of their
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youth. Magistrates, as they must be fathers to their country in
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general, so particularly to those in it who are fatherless. Are they
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called <I>gods?</I> Herein they must be followers of him, they must be
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<I>fathers of the fatherless.</I> Job was so,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+29:12">Job xxix. 12</A>.
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2. They are to administer justice impartially, and do <I>right to the
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afflicted and needy,</I> who, being weak and helpless, have often
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wrongs done them; and will be in danger of losing all if magistrates do
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not, <I>ex officio--officially,</I> interpose for their relief. If a
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poor man has an honest cause, his poverty must be no prejudice to his
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cause, how great and powerful soever those are that contend with him.
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3. They are to rescue those who have already fallen into the hands of
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oppressors and deliver them.
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+82:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
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<I>Rid them out of the hand of the wicked. Avenge them of their
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adversary,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:3">Luke xviii. 3</A>.
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These are clients whom there is nothing to be got by, no pay for
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serving them, no interest by obliging them; yet these are those whom
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judges and magistrates must concern themselves for, whose comfort they
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must consult and whose cause they must espouse.</P>
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<P>
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III. A charge drawn up against bad magistrates, who neglect their duty
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and abuse their power, forgetting that God standeth among them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+82:2,5"><I>v.</I> 2, 5</A>.
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Observe,
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1. What the sin is they are here charged with; they <I>judge
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unjustly,</I> contrary to the rules of equity and the dictates of their
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consciences, giving judgment against those who have right on their
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side, out of malice and ill-will, or for those who have an unrighteous
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cause, out of favour and partial affection. To do unjustly is bad, but
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to judge unjustly is much worse, because it is doing wrong under colour
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of right; against such acts of injustice there is least fence for the
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injured and by them encouragement is given to the injurious. It was as
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great an evil as any Solomon saw under the sun when he observed <I>the
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place of judgment, that iniquity was there,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+3:16,Isa+5:7">Eccl. iii. 16; Isa. v. 7</A>.
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They not only accepted the persons of the rich because they were rich,
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though that is bad enough, but (which is much worse) they <I>accepted
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the persons of the wicked</I> because they were wicked; they not only
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countenanced them in their wickedness, but loved them the better for
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it, and fell in with their interests. Woe unto thee, O land! when thy
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judges are such as these.
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2. What was the cause of this sin. They were told plainly enough that
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it was their office and duty to protect and deliver the poor; it was
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many a time given them in charge; yet they judge unjustly, for <I>they
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know not, neither will they understand.</I> They do not care to hear
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their duty; they will not take pains to study it; they have no desire
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to take things right, but are governed by interest, not by reason or
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justice. <I>A gift in secret blinds their eyes.</I> They know not
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because they will not understand. None so blind as those that will not
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see. They have baffled their own consciences, and so they walk on in
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darkness, not knowing nor caring what they do nor whither they go.
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Those that walk on in darkness are walking on to everlasting darkness.
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3. What were the consequences of this sin: <I>All the foundations of
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the earth</I> (or <I>of the land) are out of course.</I> When justice
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is perverted what good can be expected? <I>The earth and all the
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inhabitants thereof are dissolved,</I> as the psalmist speaks in a like
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case,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+75:3">Ps. lxxv. 3</A>.
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The miscarriages of public persons are public mischiefs.</P>
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<A NAME="Ps82_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps82_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps82_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Duty of Magistrates.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>6 I have said, Ye <I>are</I> gods; and all of you <I>are</I> children of
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the most High.
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7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.
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8 Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all
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nations.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here,</P>
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<P>
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I. Earthly gods abased and brought down,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+82:6,7"><I>v.</I> 6, 7</A>.
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The dignity of their character is acknowledged
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+82:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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<I>I have said, You are gods.</I> They have been honoured with the name
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and title of gods. God himself called them so in the statute against
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treasonable words
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+22:28">Exod. xxii. 28</A>,
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<I>Thou shalt not revile the gods.</I> And, if they have this style
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from the fountain of honour, who can dispute it? But what is man, that
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he should be thus magnified? He called them <I>gods</I> because <I>unto
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them the word of God came,</I> so our Saviour expounds it
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+10:35">John x. 35</A>);
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they had a commission from God, and were delegated and appointed by him
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to be the shields of the earth, the conservators of the public peace,
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and revengers to execute wrath upon those that disturb it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+13:4">Rom. xiii. 4</A>.
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All of them are in this sense <I>children of the Most High.</I> God has
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put some of his honour upon them, and employs them in his providential
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government of the world, as David made his sons chief rulers. Or,
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"Because <I>I said, You are gods,</I> you have carried the honour
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further than was intended and have imagined yourselves to be <I>the
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children of the Most High,</I>" as the king of Babylon
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+14:14">Isa. xiv. 14</A>),
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<I>I will be like the Most High,</I> and the king of Tyre
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+28:2">Ezek. xxviii. 2</A>),
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<I>Thou hast set thy heart as the heart of God.</I> It is a hard thing
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for men to have so much honour put upon them by the hand of God, and so
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much honour paid them, as ought to be by the children of men, and not
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to be proud of it and puffed up with it, and so to think of themselves
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above what is meet. But here follows a mortifying consideration: <I>You
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shall die like men.</I> This may be taken either,
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1. As the punishment of bad magistrates, such as judged unjustly, and
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by their misrule put the <I>foundations of the earth out of course.</I>
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God will reckon with them, and will cut them off in the midst of their
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pomp and prosperity; they shall die like other wicked men, <I>and fall
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like one of the</I> heathen <I>princes</I> (and their being Israelites
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shall not secure them anymore than their being judges) or like one of
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the angels that sinned, or like one of the giants of the old world.
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Compare this with that which Elihu observed concerning the mighty
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oppressors in his time.
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+34:26">Job xxxiv. 26</A>,
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<I>He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others.</I> Let
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those that abuse their power know that God will take both it and their
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lives from them; for wherein they deal proudly he will <I>show himself
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above them.</I> Or,
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2. As the period of the glory of all magistrates in this world. Let
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them not be puffed up with their honour nor neglect their work, but let
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the consideration of their mortality be both mortifying to their pride
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and quickening to their duty. "You are called gods, but you have no
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patent for immortality; <I>you shall die like men,</I> like common men;
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and <I>like one of them, you, O princes! shall fall.</I>" Note, Kings
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and princes, all the judges of the earth, though they are gods to us,
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are men to God, and shall die like men, and all their honour shall be
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laid in the dust. <I>Mors sceptra ligonibus æquat--Death mingles
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sceptres with spades.</I></P>
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<P>
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II. The God of heaven exalted and raised high,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+82:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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The psalmist finds it to little purpose to reason with these proud
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oppressors; they turned a deaf ear to all he said and walked on in
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darkness; and therefore he looks up to God, appeals to him, and begs of
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him <I>to take unto himself his great power: Arise, O God! judge the
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earth;</I> and, when he prays that he would do it, he believes that he
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will do it: <I>Thou shalt inherit all nations.</I> This has respect,
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1. To the kingdom of providence. God governs the world, sets up and
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puts down whom he pleases; he inherits all nations, has an absolute
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dominion over them, to dispose of them as a man does of his
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inheritance. This we are to believe and to comfort ourselves with, that
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the earth is not given so much <I>into the hands of the wicked,</I> the
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wicked rulers, as we are tempted to think it is,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+9:24">Job ix. 24</A>.
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But God has reserved the power to himself and overrules them. In this
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faith we must pray, "<I>Arise, O God! judge the earth,</I> appear
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against those that judge unjustly, and set shepherds over thy people
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after thy own heart." There is a righteous God to whom we may have
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recourse, and on whom we may depend for the effectual relief of all
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that find themselves aggrieved by unjust judges.
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2. To the kingdom of the Messiah. It is a prayer for the hastening of
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that, that Christ would come, who is to judge the earth, and that
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promise is pleaded, that God shall <I>give him the heathen for his
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inheritance.</I> Thou, O Christ! shalt <I>inherit all nations,</I> and
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be the governor over them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+2:8,22:28">Ps. ii. 8; xxii. 28</A>.
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Let the second coming of Christ set to-rights all these disorders.
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There are two words with which we may comfort ourselves and one another
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in reference to the mismanagements of power among men: one is
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+19:6">Rev. xix. 6</A>,
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<I>Hallelujah, the Lord God omnipotent reigneth;</I> the other is
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+22:20">Rev. xxii. 20</A>,
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<I>Surely, I come quickly.</I></P>
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