this unjuft judge was moved with the diftrefs of SER M. XV. this fuppliant, there is a great deal of reafon to fuppofe, that distress will be moving in this case alfo; and that the elect will be heard, when they make their cries to heaven, urged by their own diftreffes.

II. THERE appears to have been justice in the one cafe, as we are fure there is justice in the other. This widow's did appear to be a juft caufe. She comes with this requeft to the judge, that he would avenge her of her adverfary. The word * there used, fignifies, Right me of my ad-7 versary. She came to petition a matter of right, and all that fhe defired was to have right done her. And there is a great deal of right in the other cafe alfo. It is a righteous thing with GOD (fays the Apostle) to recompenfe tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you, who are troubled, reft with us, when the Lord Jefus fhall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. And again,

III. THERE was importunity in the one cafe, and there is importunity in the other. Why then should not fuccefs be hoped to correfpond in this cafe, as well as that? This widow was fo urgent, that the judge was fenfible of a grievance in it; and found a neceffity upon himself to do her right, left he should be wearied by her importunity. The elect too are represented as crying night and day; that is, the loud voice of their prayers is not by fits, only now and then, but

Η Εκδίκησόν.

S 3

II.

VOL. but is continued, and inceffant; as night and day. takes in the whole complex of time. And do you think then, faith our Saviour, that GoD will not hear their cry? Befides

IV. THERE is an obligation by office to do right, both in the one cafe, and in the other. The perfon, to whom this woman applied herfelf, was a judge in the city. Now it is known, that in feveral of the more eminent cities of Ifrael there were constituted stated judges; to whom all perfons might have recourse, and bring their grievances, in order to their being redreffed. So that this woman doth not come to a perfon unconcerned. She does not request, that an occafional kindness might be done her; as one might request fuch a thing of any one, when in neceffity but she comes to an appointed person, to one who by his office was obliged to right her. And God hath been pleased to take upon himfelf fuch an office, and to make himself known by the name of the Judge of all the earth; that all might know whither to apply, and to whom they may appeal and addrefs themselves. And why is not right to be expected in this case, as well as in the other? So far this parable gives us ground to argue from a parity of reafon. But,

SECONDLY, It gives us ground also for arguing from a fuperiority of reafon too, in fundry refpects. As,

I. IN refpect of the fupplicants in the one cafe, and the other. In respect,

II.

II. Or the perfons fupplicated in the one cafe, S E R M. and the other. XV.

And

III. IN respect of the fupplication it self in the former cafe, and the latter compared.

I. THERE is very prevailing and much stronger reason in the latter cafe, than in the former; if we confider the fupplicants in both, and compare them. In the former cafe you have a poor woman; and here we are to confider,

J. THAT fhe was a fingle woman, only one person who comes to make her complaint to this judge; but in the other cafe you have a community, the whole body of the elect. How vaft is the difproportion here! This great body joining in one cry, furely that must needs be unspeakably more prevailing! And

2. (FOR we can but fpeak fhortly to so many things as are before us) This was but an ordinary woman, of an inferiour rank, by any thing that appears; that is, fhe is not mentioned here under any remarkable particular character, that might add weight to her caufe and fuit: but this community is a choice community; the elect; a community of very peculiar perfons, that are fever'd from the reft of men, and diftinguished by GOD's own special feal fet upon them. As when GOD's portion in the feveral tribes was spoken of, there were fealed of fuch a tribe, so many thoufands; and of fuch a tribe, fo many thousands". All Go D's elect ones, are fealed ones; they carry a mark of honour upon them. The foundaS 4

tion

Rev. VII. 4, &c.

VOL. tion of GOD ftandeth fure, having this feal, The II. Lord knoweth them that are his. And,

3. THE fupplicant was unrelated to him, to whom the makes her fupplication. We do not find, that fhe pretended to any relation to him at all; only comes to him as the judge of her city. But in the other cafe, the fupplicants are Go D's elect; his own peculiar people that he had taken, and made nigh unto himself: called, and chofen, and faithful, as you have thofe expreflions put together in Scripture. And do not we think then, that a more efpecial regard will be had here. Befides,

II. THERE is a great fuperiority of reafon in arguing from the one cafe to the other, if we confider the perfons fupplicated; or to whom the addreffes are made in each cafe. In the general, in one cafe it is man; in the other, it is GOD. And particularly,

1. In the former cafe it was a wicked pro fane perfon, to whom the address was made; one that did neither fear GoD, nor regard man: good to no one, neither to GoD nor man; a vile wretched creature, wrapt up within himself; who studied, and consulted nothing but his own ease, and peace; having no fear of GOD before his eyes, nor any regard to man. But in the other cafe, you have the holy GoD addreffed tos whofe natural, effential holiness, is a perpetual law and obligation to him, to do always that which is beft. His effential rectitude cannot

but

2 Tim. 11.19.

Rev. xvII. 14.

but do fuch things, as have an agreeable rectitude SER M.

in them to his own very nature.

2. IN the one cafe it was a mercilefs man, that was applied to; in the other, a merciful Go D. How much stronger is the reafon! This judge was a man who had no mercy, no pity to any one, but to himself. He took fome pity of himself indeed, that he might not be wearied out with continual clamours and cries; otherwise, it feems, his heart knew no pity, there were no bowels of compaffion rolling, or working in him. But in the other cafe, it is the Father of mercies who is addreffed, and appealed to. It is he with whom there is so abundant pity, and kindnefs; so strong a propenfion and inclination to do good to the neceffitous and miferable, only because his will inclines and leads him thereunto: the fpring and fountain of all that pity and mercy, that is any where to be found, diffused among his creatures, If parents pity their children; if there be bowels gathering in any towards the afflicted, and distressed; from what fpring, from what fountain did all this proceed? All must come from fome original or other; and they can be derived from no higher, neither are they to be derived from any lower, than this great Father of merAnd what! fhall not he hear his elect? And

cies.

again,

3. It was, in the former cafe, an unjust man that was fupplicated; here it is the juft and righteous GOD. As his holinefs doth oblige him in

general

XV.