er. 21, &c. Men given to change,
false deceitful men, meddle not with such, if thou either fear God or
respect man. For such will be sure to no interest but their own. Then
calamity shall come suddenly. Therefore have nothing to do with them. For
"who knoweth the ruin of them both," of them and all other wicked men, or
of both them and the king, if wicked? Also to the wise and godly this
belongs, "It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment," whether
he be king or nobleman. A righteous state respects not the person of the
prince and mighty, saith Job. But he that says to the righteous, you are
wicked sectaries, and also malignants, because ye will not approve all
their resolutions, and to the wicked, "thou art righteous," to the
malignants, you are the honest men, the blessed of the Lord,--who did ever
to this day fall under Meroz' curse, should the people approve him? No
certainly, "Him shall the people curse, and the nations shall abhor him,"
or them. But a blessing on them that would reprove our sins and search
them out, ver. 25. The malignant party are even speaking so as the
classers and purgers did to us, even so will we do to them. But God will
render to them according to their work, ver. 29.

Chap. xxv. 2. "It is the honour of kings to search out a matter." It is a
king and judge's glory to search out a matter, to try dissemblers before
they trust them. God's glory is to pardon. Man's glory is to administer
justice impartially. Ver. 4, 5, show what need there is of purging places
of trust, especially about the king. Dross cannot be melted. Take what
pains you will, it will not convert into a vessel and become useful. This
mixed in, obstructs all equity, justice, and piety, where it is. The
ruler should be the refiner to purge away this dross, and the army, or
judicatory, or kingdom, is a vessel. You shall never get a fined vessel
for use and service till you purge away the dross, Psal. ci. 4. Then,
(ver. 8) we should follow peace with all men as much as is possible, never
to begin strife or draw the sluice of contention. But if we be wronged,
we should not for all that go out hastily to strife, till, 1. The justice
and equity of the cause appear, 2. That the matter whereabout we contend
be of great moment, a ground to found a war upon, 3. That we first use all
means of peace and agreement possible, 4. That we overmatch not ourselves
with those who are too strong for us, (see chap. xvii.