John Trapp on Proverbs 17:15

Verſ. 15. Hee that juſtifieth the wicked, and hee that condemneth the juſt, &c.] To wrong a righteous man in word onely is a grievous ſin; how much more to murther him under pretence of Juſtice? as they did innocent Naboth; as the bloody Papiſts do Chriſts faithful witneſſes, and as the Jews did Chriſt himſelf, crying out, Wee have a Law, and by our Law hee ought to dye, &c. This is to play the Theef or Man-ſlayer cum privilegio, this is to frame miſchief by a Law, Pſal. 94.20. The like may bee ſaid of that other branch of in juſtice, the juſtifying of the wicked. Bonis nocet, qui malis parcit. Hee wrongs the good, that ſpares the bad: better turn ſo many wild-Boars, Bears, Wolves, Leopards looſe among them, than theſe monſtrous men of condition, that will either corrupt them, or otherwiſe miſchieve them. For thou knoweſt this people is ſet upon miſchief, Exod. 32.22. They cannot ſleep, unleſſe they have hurt ſome one. Neither pertains this Proverb to Magiſtrates onely, but to private perſons too; who muſt take heed how they precipitate a cenſure: Herein David was to blame in pronouncing the wicked happy, and condemning the Generation of Gods children, Pſal. 73. for the which over-ſight hee afterwards ſhames and ſhents himſelf, yea be fools and be beaſts himſelf, as well hee deſerved, verſ. 22.