So when David calls together the Great Congregation to declare his Purpose about the Building of the Temple, we read of 1 Chron. the Captains over the Thousands, and the xxviii. I. Captains over the Hundreds, with the Officers, being fummon'd upon that Occafion.

i. 2.

And, afterwards, we are told that Solomon 2 Chron. made a Speech unto all Ifrael, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Ifrael, the chief of the fathers. And thus, when that pious Prince Hezekiah was refolv'd upon a Reformation both of Religion and Manners, throughout his King2 Chron. dom, it is faid; Then Hezekiah the King xxix. 20. rofe early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the

LORD.

As to their judiciary Capacity, they were not, ftrictly speaking, Judges themfelves, but had the Power of admitting what Causes they thought were proper to come before the Judges, and of rejecting what they look'd upon as frivolous or unneceffary to be enquir'd into. By this means they became an obvious Mark for Bribery and Corruption; and, accordingly,

under

under every wicked Administration of the Government, when moft Kinds of Immorality were too fashionable to be accounted Vices, we find thefe Magiftracies of Cities or Towns corporate, loudly complain'd of for their illegal Practices, in this Refpect. How is the faithful city be- Ifa. i. 21. come an barlot! It was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. Thy filver is become dross, thy wine mixt with water. Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: Every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: They judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. Therefore faith the LORD, the LORD of Hofts, the mighty one of Ifrael, Ah, I will cafe me of mine adverfaries, and avenge me of mine enemies.

How lively a Description of a wretched infatuated People, brought just to the Brink of Destruction, by the profligate Behaviour of their corrupt Rulers! And, at the fame time, how ufeful an Example, if rightly confider'd, to awaken and deter all those who may unthinkingly be jogging on in the fame Road; and, unless Hh3 they

unless they make a timely Retreat, when it is too late, find themselves involv'd in as great Difficulties, and given up to an Avengement as grievous, as that which is here denounc'd by the Prophet.

But, to return; The Procefs, in an Action brought against any one at Law feems to have been this. The Plaintiff laid his Cafe before one of these Rulers of Cities; who, if he thought it a Matter, proper to be litigated, fent him to have it tried before the Judges; and, if the Party against whom the Information was laid, happen'd to be caft, the Judge, or Judges committed him to the Charge of a fpecial Officer, who had him away to Prifon, and there detain'd him till he made Satisfaction in all Points. And upon this Method of Proceeding, that kind and charitable. Counsel of our bleffed LORD in Luke xii. the Gofpel, is manifeftly founded. When 58.

thou goeft, with thine adverfary to the magiftrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou may't be delivered from him; (neglect no Opportunity of making it up with him;) left he hale thee to the

judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer caft thee into prison. I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence till thou hast paid the very haft mite.

'

When Ahab King of Ifrael was difpleas'd with Micaiah for prophefying his Overthrow at Ramoth-Gilead, he sent him to Amon the governour of the city, with xviii. 25. Orders to put him in prison, and feed him with bread and water of affliction.

2 Chron.

xxxvi.

II.

Of the judiciary Authority of these Rulers, we read further in the Case of Jeremiah. When (another) Micaiah had heard his Prophetical Denunciations against Ifrael and Judah, he went down into the Jer. king's boufe, into the fcribe's chamber, where all the princes (these Rulers) were fitting, and inform'd them of it. And after, when Jeremiah was going out of the City ib.xxxvii. into the Land of Benjamin, Irijah, who sufpected that he was going to defert to the Army of the Chaldeans, who were lately broken up from befieging the City, took Jeremiah and brought him to the Princes. Wherefore the Princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and fmote him, and put him in prison.

12.

C

And upon his further prophefying that the city fhould be given into the band of the King of Babylon, Therefore the Princes faid unto the king, We befeech thee, let this man be put to death. Then Zedekiah the King faid, Behold he is in your hand; for the King is not be that can do any thing against you. Which shews that they bore a mighty Sway in the Great Council of the Nation; and that when they pray'd Judgment and Execution against any one, even the King thought it moft fafe and prudent to comply with them.

357

The Number of thefe Rulers, in every City, was in Proportion to the Number of its Inhabitants; as many Thousands as it contain'd, fo many Rulers of that Rank and Denomination, belong'd to it; from which Regulation, the Estimation and Confequence of each City was difcernible at one View. And from this Confideration arifes that fine Allufion of one of the Prophets concerning the Place where CHRIST fhould be born; fo understood and applied by the Chief Priests and Mat. ii. 5. Scribes themselves, as the Evangelift inMic. v.2. forms us. But thou, Bethlehem Ephra

tah,