It is a pity but that every one who sues sub formâ pauperis--as a
pauper, should have an honest cause (they are of all others inexcusable
if they have not), because the scripture has so well provided that it
should have a fair hearing, and that the judge himself should be of
counsel, as for the prisoner, so for the pauper. 1. It is here made the
character of a righteous judge that he considers the cause of the poor.
It is every man's duty to consider the poor (Ps. xli. 1), but the
judgment of the poor is to be considered by those that sit in judgment;
they must take as much pains to find out the right in a poor man's
cause as in a rich man's. Sense of justice must make both judge and
advocate as solicitous and industrious in the poor man's cause as if
they hoped for the greatest advantage. 2. It is made the character of a
wicked man that because it is a poor man's cause, which there is
nothing to be got by, he regards not to know it, in the true state of
it, for he cares not which way it goes, right or wrong. See Job xxix.
16.