Proverbs 17:26

Also to punish the just [is] not good, [nor] to strike princes for equity.

Ver. 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 Sylvius said of learning, may be more properly said of righteousness, "Vulgar men should esteem it as silver, noble men as gold, princes prize it as pearls," but they that punish it, as persecutors do, shall be punished to purpose, when "God makes inquisition for blood." Psa 9:12

Nor to strike princes for equity.] Righteous men are "princes in all lands," Psa 45:16 yea, they are kings in righteousness, as Melchisedec. Indeed they are somewhat obscure kings, as he was, but kings they appear to be, by comparing Mat 13:17 Luke 10:24; "many righteous," saith Matthew "many kings," saith Luke. Now, to strike a king is high treason; and although princes have put up blows, as when one struck our Henry VI, he only said, ‘Forsooth you do wrong yourself more than me, to strike the Lord's anointed.' Another, also, that had drawn blood of him when he was in prison, he freely pardoned when he was restored to his kingdom, saying, ‘Alas, poor soul, he struck me more to win favour with others, than of any evil will he bare me.' a So when one came to cry Cato mercy, for having struck him once in the bath, he answered, that he remembered no such matter. Likewise, Lycurgus is famous for pardoning him that smote out one of his eyes; yet he that shall touch the apple of God's 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 10:31

a Daniel's Hist., 198.