John Trapp on Proverbs 17:26

Verſ. 26. Alſo to puniſh the juſt is not good] The righteous are to be cheriſhed and protected, as thoſe that uphold the ſtate. Semen ſanctum ſtatumen terrae, Iſa. 6.13. What Aeneas, Sylvins ſaid of learning, may bee more properly ſaid of righteouſneſs, Vulgar men ſhould eſteem it as ſilver, Noble-men as gold, Prines prize it as pearls. But they that puniſh it (as perſecutors do) ſhall bee puniſhed to purpoſe, when God makes inquiſition for blood. Pſal. 9.

Nor to ſtrike Princes for equity] Righteous men are Princes in all Lands, Pſa. 45. yea they are Kings in righteouſneſſe, as Melchiſedec. Indeed they are ſomewhat obſcure Kings, as hee was, but Kings they appear to bee, by comparing Mat. 13.17. with Luk. 10.24. Many righteous, ſaith Matthew, many Kings, ſaith Luke. Now to ſtrike a King is high-treaſon: Daniels Hiſt. 198. And although Princes have put up blows, as when one ſtruck our Henry the ſixth, hee onely ſaid, Forſooth you do wrong your ſelf more than mee, to ſtrike the Lords annointed: Another alſo that had drawn blood of him when hee was in priſon, hee freely pardoned, when hee was reſtored to his Kingdome, ſaying; Alaſs, poor ſoul, hee ſtruck mee more to win favour with others, than of any evil will hee bare mee. So when one came to cry Cato mercy, for having ſtruck him once in the Bath, hee anſwered, that hee remembred no ſuch matter. Likewiſe Lycurgus is famous for pardoning him that ſmote out one of his eyes; yet hee that ſhall touch the apple of Gods eye (as every one doth that wrongeth a righteous man for equity eſpecially) ſhall have God for a revenger. And it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, Heb. 10.