He that is first in his own cause [seemeth]
just
As perhaps Tertullus did, before Paul made his defence; and as
Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, before his master detected him:
this often appears true in telling a tale, in private
conversation, in lawsuits before a judge and a court of
judicature, and in theological controversies; but his
neighbour cometh, and searcheth him;
his neighbour comes into the house, where he is telling his tale,
and reports it in another manner, and shows the falsehood of his
relation; or he comes into a court of judicature, and sets the
cause in quite another light; or he comes out into the worm by
public writing, and exposes the errors of a man engaged in a
wrong cause, and refutes his arguments. It is generally
understood of judicial affairs, that the first that opens a cause
is very apt to prejudice the judge and court in his favour, and
they are ready to thing at first hearing that he is in the right;
but it is not proper to be hasty in forming a judgment till the
other side is heard; for his antagonist comes and traverses the
point, unravels the whole affair, shows the weakness of his
cause, the vanity of his pretences, and makes void all his
allegations; and then "he", the judge, so some interpret it,
"searcheth"; inquires more narrowly into the case, in order to
find out truth, and pass a right judgment and sentence.