Commentary on Judges, Sermon 14
THE FOVRTEENTH SERMON ON THE SECOND CHAPTER OF THE BOOKE OF IVDGES.
AFter the holy ſtory hath ſpoken of the life and death of Ioſhua, it proceedeth to ſhew what the people did after his death, Verſ. 10. The ſenſe.and makes two ſorts of them. The one were they, who about that time died: the other they who being another and new generation liued after them, when the good elders were dead and thereby tooke occaſion to fall to wickedneſſe. Of the firſt it is ſaid, that they were gathered to their fathers, meaning they died: and thoſe were they that were left aliue, a young ſeminarie in the wilderneſſe, and came into the land of Canaan, with Caleb and Ioſhua; theſe I ſay, who then came luſtie and young into the land, were now full of yeers, and died. The phraſe of ſpeech heere vſed, that they were gathered to their fathers, is oft vſed in the Scriptures, to ſignifie thereby that they died; and the reaſon why they that died were ſaid to be gathered to their fathers was this: ſeeing both their bodies were buried in the earth with theirs, and their ſoules were ioyned to theirs, according as they were good or bad.
And in that theſe were gathered to their fathers, now that they had liued Doct.out the age of men, which euen then was threeſcore and tenne; or at the moſt foureſcore, and that with much wearineſſe, wee ſee that they who liue to the vtmoſt of their yeeres cannot paſſe threeſcore, or a few more, with any fitneſſe to be imployed profitably in any calling (without which, life is but burthemſome) and ſo Moſes ſaith in his time; therefore how neceſſary Pſal. 90. 10.is it that the precious time which is allotted vsus to liue heere ſhould bee employed to the beſt vſes by vsus, who profeſſe that wee liue to that very end eſpecially, conſidering how few attaine euen to theſe yeeres; and how much time is of neceſſity to bee beſtowed in eating, and reſt taking, that I ſay nothing of many other anokements, and beſide both how faſt & ſuddenly our end commeth. The which I ſay, not onelyonly for that I ſee how men lengthen out their liues endleſly, in their owne fooliſh reckoning; ſtretching them on the tenters, and ſaying, they may liue yet 30. 40. 50. yeeres longer: and therupon, how vainely & badly the cōmon ſort do ſpend their time (whom I hauehave little hope to perſwade to do better) but for that many of good report doe nothing carefully redeeme their precious time from either endleſſe and needleſſe buſying their mindes about the commodities of this life, or trifling it out little better then idly (if not as the other doe) ſo that they can giuegive ſmall good account of the well paſſing of it; as that good man Hezekiah did. 2. King. 20. 3. and as the Apoſtle commandeth to the Epheſians, 2 King. 20. 3. Epheſ. 5. 16. Luk. 19. 24.without which the ſo paſſing of it ſhall bee reckoned among their other ſinnes.
This be ſaid of that generation that died; now of that which liued, and Doct. 2.tooke occaſion to doe wickedly when their forefathers were dead. This people it is ſaid heere, knew not the Lord; that is, effectually; neither therefore acknowledged him, nor they knew not his workes; that is, as we heard before, made no vſe of them, neither profited by them, without which the bare knowledge of them was nothing. A deſcription therefore ye ſee heere ſet downe of an euill people, to wit, that they were ſuch as neither knew God, nor his workes. And no maruell; for if they who did both, I meane the former generation, of whom I hauehave ſpoken, did ſee that which they did by the meanes of good teaching and example, it is no ſtrange thing, that theſe did neither of both, who had not theſe good helpes which the other had: It is not poſſible for ſuch comming out of darkeneſſe, to walke before God in reuerence and cheerefulneſſe. For how ſhould men come to vnderſtand myſteries, as the ſauing knowledge of God in Chriſt is, and the effectuall knowledge of his great workes, to bee brought to his feare by them, and ſo to doe more then they that only ſay, Lord, Lord, and do not the will of the Lord; how (I ſay) ſhould they come to ſuch knowledge, vnleſſe they ſhould be plainely taught, and hauehave ſome to breake the ice to them, in following and practiſing it, and ſo in giuing good example to them? Therefore in places where both are wanting, ſuch perſons as I ſpeake of, are not to bee ſought, vnleſſe they enioy both, by the benefit of other places, being deſtitute of them in their owne habitation: which is ſufficient to moue all ſuch of vsus as enioy better helpes, to mourne for the deſolation of thoſe that want them: as we cannot chuſe, if we hauehave the ſpirit of our Sauiour, who pitied Mat. 9. 36.ſuch as they were; and to entreat the Lord to ſupply their wants. And further, this bewraies the vnhappineſſe of all ſuch as doe not heartily ſeeke after both, but are content to liue without them; I meane the getting of the knowledge of God, and Chriſt, to the certainty of ſaluation, Ioh. 17. and alſo Ioh. 17. 3.to liue with ſuch, as neere as may bee, who may bee ſhining lights to them, vntounto ſanctification of life.
This laſt ſort of the people affordeth alſo an other leſſon vntounto vsus, that the Doct. 3.latter generations are for the moſt part backwardeſt in goodneſſe, and more declining from it, then the former. It was no wonder if it were ſo in theſe that wanted the meanes, for it is ſo, euen where they are enioyed. Wee ſee how thoſe plants and flowers that were rare a few yeeres agoe, grow now A ſimile.in eueryevery garden; for one getteth them of another; ſo ſinne growes by tradition and example, and daily encreaſeth, each age adding ſome new, till they come to the full meaſure. And though commonly old things decay and waxe worſe, yet old Adam the older, the ſtronger. Sinne hath his ages of growth for as the world growes older, ſo ſinners multiply who trading in Note.ſinne, doe ſtill exceed the former age in all kind of leaudneſſe; and one conſenting with the other in exalting follie, whether wee conſider number of perſons (equall compariſon being made) or the fouleneſſe, or boldneſſe in ſinne, wee muſt looke that the latter daies will bee worſer. The pride, couetouſneſſe, and drunkenneſſe of our preſentage was not ſeene in our forefathers dayes as now: nay (which is monſtrous) not in the middeſt of Poperie, although this extenuateth not their other ſinne, for euen they in ſubtilty and ill conſcience exceed their former ages alſo. There is now more knowledge indeed where long teaching hath been, but becauſe men receiue not the truth in louelove and ſincerity, God accurſeth it with barrenneſſe. Honeſt ſimplicity, which is not tainted with craft and ſubtilty, and therefore fitter to receiue the print of the Goſpell, is iuſled out, by ſuch as are (for the moſt part) riſen vp more prophane and filthie; more ſcornfull alſo and hardlier perſwaded to goodneſſe then the former generations. And though this may bee found true in the generall eſtate of all (as toward the end of the Mat. 24. 12.world, and in the latter daies our Sauiour foretold it ſhould be ſo) that iniquitie ſhould abound, and hauehave the vpper hand: yet in perticular generations one after another, it may alſo be ſeene to bee ſo; that if the Goſpell bee planted in a nation countrey, or towne, and bee continued from one age to another, though the meanes be like, yet the latter generation ſhall come behinde the forme, in feruencie, diligence, and eueryevery way in yeelding fruit of the Goſpell commendably in reſpect of it; they will verifie the prouerbe, New things are dainty, and old loathſome.
For I cannot tell how it commeth to paſſe, that yee muſt grow glutted with the word, and wearie and aſhamed in ſome ſort of the godly zeale and forwardneſſe that they hauehave ſeene in others of former times. They will receiue the Goſpell, as other hauehave done, but they thinke it more then needeth, to ſtoope to the ſimplicity of it, and to bee zealous patternes to other in practiſing the perticular doctrine of it, in one point, as well as in another; but ſeeke to take more liberty then they are willing to examine vponupon what good grounds they doe it: neither will they bee forward in going one before another in mercifulneſſe, in iuſtice, and in ſeeking to puniſh notorious faults in their families and townes, and in the like good example giuing, and thereby diſcourage them, who elſe were like to come forward, if there were not laid ſuch blocks in their way. So that we had need to ſtirre vp our ſelues by the examples of them that hauehave gone before vsus commendably, rather then to pleaſe our ſelues in that which we doe, and to reſt therein without contending, and ſtriuing to doe better. For who is ignorant that ſuch an eſtate cannot be good? And if wee will bee aduiſed, let vsus know that our reward ſhall bee great, if wee honour the Lord with greateſt forwardneſſe in religious duties, when iniquitie aboundeth in the world, and when the Pſal. 19.louelove of many ſhall waxe cold.
Now I hauehave ſhewed the occaſion of this peoples ſinne, namely, that their good gouernours were dead; their ſinne it ſelfe now followeth in theſe 3. Verſ. 11. The ſenſe.next verſes: and that in this manner: firſt generally, then perticularly. In this verſe thus; that they did euill in the ſight of the Lord, and that they fell to Idolatry. Heere to ſtay a little, till I paſſe to the other two verſes: the euill which they did (moſt certainly) diſpleaſed the Lord in a moſt grieuous manner. As by the ſame word heere vſed, the like is meant in other places, where it is ſaid, that the Kings of Iſrael did that which was euill in the ſight of the Lord. And ſo on the contrary, thoſe things which were good in the eyes of the Lord, as the acts of many of the Kings of Iuda were; they were 1. King. 16. 2. 27.ſaid to pleaſe him highly. But when God hath giuen vsus many encouragements 2. King. 18. 3.to his ſeruice, and yet we regard not to bee the better by them, what maruell if hee abhorre ſuch doings, and make open exclamation againſt them, as he doth heere, when both hee hath ſet hedge and ditch to hold vsus Doct.from committing them, and alſo hath giuen vsus many cauſes of doing better, both by teaching vsus, and by other his manifold benefits, and alſo looketh for it at our hands that we ſhould doe ſo?
So that although the ſinne of this people was manifeſt to the view of the world, as well as before God; yet if it had been ſecret and hid from men, it had been euill in the ſight of the Lord: euen ſo I ſay of our ſelues, if wee minde not Gods matters and ſeruice chiefly, but walke looſely, and hollowly, we ſhall iuſtly be challenged to doe that which he cannot abide, howſoeuer men find no fault in vsus. For though there be degrees in ſinne, and one is more grieuous then another, yet they that ſet not their hearts wholly to ſeeke the Lord, with a great care to pleaſe him in all things, euen they doe that which is euill in his eyes, ſeeing the eyes of the Lord ſearch narrowly, and ſpie that which men ſee not; Therefore what may be ſaid to the liues of the greateſt number, and yet ſome of them, ſuch as reproue others, and are not in many of their doings to be charged iuſtly by any, yet when they bee not vpright in heart, and faithfull to God in one thing as well as in another, yet (while they be not ſo bad as other) they doe euill in his ſight. For ſeeing not they whom man, but whom God approueth are praiſeworthy; they therfore ſhall hauehave this ſtill and euer againſt them, that they did euill in the Rom. 2. laſt. Luk. 1. 6.eyes of the Lord if he commend them not, as he did Iob, ſaying thus, they are vpright, feare God, and depart from euill; which if it were well thought on, there ſhould ſmal cauſe be found, why they who are tender conſcienced, Iob 2. 3.and feare to doe euill, ſhould be ſo ſcornfully and ſpitefully railed vponupon, and diſgraced by the men of the world, for that they dare not be ſo looſe in their liues as other are, ſhewing thereby that they can abide none but ſuch as do euill in the ſight of the Lord. And this of the eleuenth verſe.
For of the word [Baal] I will ſpeake in the next verſe together, with other Verſ 12. The ſenſe.of like ſort. But firſt in this twelfth verſe the holy ſtory ſaith, that they forſooke the Lord, who yet was the God of their fathers, and had brought them out of the bondage of Egypt. This as it was more then to diſpleaſe God in ſome particular actions (for it was a leauing of the true worſhiping of God, which is the fountaine of well doing dutie in our life:) ſo it is aggrauated by the fauour and benefits heere mentioned; to wit, what God had done for them: and further, the greatneſſe of their ſinne may bee laid out more fully by comparing it with Peters anſwere to our Sauiour. For when he ſaw ſome of his hearers to depart from him, vponupon no iuſt cauſe, but onelyonly a bare conceit; and he asked Peter, if they and the reſt of his fellow Apoſtles alſo would depart from him; hee anſwered, ſaying, Lord whither ſhould we goe? thou haſt the words of eternall life. As if hee ſhould ſay, that they Ioh. 6. 68.hauing found them ſo good and bountifull to them already, and hauing ſuch hope ſtill of greater good from him hereafter, as they knew not where to finde the like, it ſhould hauehave been abſurd for them to depart from him as the other Diſciples did.
And to ſpeake the truth, who can ſay any leſſe? And ſo might this people well hauehave anſwered, and ſo they ought to hauehave ſaid alſo, euen as Peter did. But it was farre from them, becauſe ſome of them had neuer cleaued to the Lord in truth before, nor truſted in him, but walked hollowly and vnfaithfully towards him, though now they did much worſe. And by them Doct.we may ſee to what a fearefull eſtate they may grow, to what depth of ſinne they may fall, who embrace not religion conſcionably, euen for the worthineſſe and excellency thereof, and for the good they hauehave, or ought to hauehave gotten by it, and for the louelove they ſhould beare to God, who hath loued them firſt; but rather began to profeſſe in a paſſion, or in ſome other outward and mutable reſpects; ſuch (I ſay) may be like in time to depart from God altogether, and then in what other ſtate are they, but without God in the world? For when mens hearts become hardened once by the deceitfulneſſe of ſinne, they doe next after that grow worſe, and ſo depart from the liuing God, as it is written in the Epiſtle to the Hebrues. Now as I hauehave Heb. 3. 12.ſpoke of theſe who were but outward profeſſors, when they were at the beſt, how they did wickedly in the ſight of the Lord; ſo there being ſome better among them who did ſo likewiſe. We may further note hereby, that though we beginne wel as ſome of theſe did, in the true renouncing of euil, yet we not holding on faithfully and carefully, by conſidering duely Gods goodneſſe toward vsus, and zealouſly embracing good meanes, we may eaſily, and by little and little, yea and ſhall alſo together goe backe, euen as theſe did: but of the reuolting of ſuch I hauehave ſpoken a little before.
Now therefore it followeth. I will ſhew how this people fell to Idolatry, Verſ. 11. 12 13. The ſenſe.euen to worſhip Baal and Aſhtaroth, and ſuch other Idols as the people and nations ſerued, who dwelt about them: but firſt what is ment by theſe names of the Idols heere named. Baal ſignifieth a patrone or helper, as they tooke the Idoll Baal to be. Aſhteroth was the God of the Sidonians, an Idoll which in the forme of a ſheepe was worſhipped. And by the word Baalim heere, is meant all manner of Idols, ſuch as were worſhipped among them. To this point the people of Iſrael were now come, that ſeeing they would not expell thoſe idolatrous nations while they might; neither continued to ſerue the Lord, as they ought to hauehave done; behold, they themſelues now departed from him alſo, and fell to idolatrie with them. Where, beſides that we may learne, that when we auoide not the occaſions of ſinne, we cannot looke to auoide the committing of the ſinne it ſelfe, of the which Doct. verſ. 11. 12. 13. 14.I hauehave ſpoke in the former chapter; we may further ſee, that after men once forſake the Lord, and his waies that hauehave been made knowne vntounto them, they fall to moſt lothſome ſinnes, euen to moſt groſſe and fowle Idolatry: yea and there is no end of ſuch abominations with them, if God reſtraine them not.
Euen ſo the Lord complaineth in Ieremie, ſaying: My people hauehave committed two euils, for they hauehave forſaken me the fountaine of liuing waters, and hauehave diged Ier. 2. 13.to themſelues pits that will hold no water. It would neuer hauehave been thought, that people ſo well prouided to liue happily, as theſe were by their manifold encouragements (euen as wee hauehave ſeene our ſelues in our time many to hauehave been among vsus) it would neuer (I ſay) hauehave been thought that ſuch could grow to be ſo monſtrous and prophane, that none might ſeeme to goe beyond them therein: Euen ſo it may bee ſaid; and to apply this to our ſelues, oh, if men could ſee what God hath done for them in theſe daies, when hee hath granted them to liue in the daies wherein the Goſpell hath ſhewed moſt cleare light, and made manifeſt the way to eternall life, to them who ſat in darkeneſſe, and when heerewith he hath giuen peace and abundance of earthly commodities alſo, &c. Oh (I ſay) that they could in this their time ſee theſe things? how happy might they hauehave been thereby? but they are hidden from them. Now therefore when for all theſe they hauehave yet followed their owne hearts deſire, and the courſe of ſuch as know not God; we may ſay on the other ſide, oh how iuſtly may it bee complained of, to their no leſſe ſhame then miſery?
Now if any deſire to know what Idolatry is, and what is meant by that they were ſaid to commit it; let them know this for anſwere to both: Doct. 2.Idolatrie is a worſhipping of Idols; and hath two parts, outward and and when wee giuegive that to them which is proper to God, in either of theſe inward: wee commit idolatry. The inward, when wee truſt in, pray, giuegive thankes, or ſubiect our ſelues vntounto them, whatſoeuer in heauen or earth, or in the water vnderunder it. The externall is; when wee manifeſt our affections to them by any outward things, as bowing the knee, vailing the cap, proſtrating our ſelues to them, or in vſing any other ceremony appointed by God for his owne ſeruice. Now whereas this being vrged to the Idolaters of our time, I meane the Popes votaries: their anſwere is, that they giuegive not honour or worſhip to the Image, or that which they giuegive reuerence to; be it ſtocke, or whatſoeuer, but onelyonly to God and Chriſt himſelfe in the Image; let them heare to their ſhame what Saint Paul ſaith to the Corinths, the Image or Idoll is nothing ſaith hee: that is to ſay, God 1. Cor. 8. 4.is not in it, or vnderunder it, whom they ſay they ſerue in them, and that hee is repreſented in ſuch images: and what do they worſhip then but the creature? Whereby wee may truly gather, and all that liſt, may cleerely ſee that their bowing to them, and proſtrating themſelues before them, is groſſe Idolatry, whatſoeuer they pretend, as they hauehave been oft and learnedly anſwered. The ſame may be ſaid of their offerings, burning of lights, their going on pilgrimage to the Saints departed, and ſuch like. Now as for their miracles, 2. Theſ. 2. 9.they are falſe and wrought by Satan, which God doth ſuffer for two cauſes: one to try his, whether they will goe from God thereby; the other to puniſh themſelues and other wicked ones, by beleeuing lies. And as for Cornelius bowing to Peter, and Iohn to the Angell, they did not take them for God, and yet becauſe they went too farre, they were forbidden by them.
But yet in theſe verſes, let vsus note a thing or two more. For ſeeing this Doct. 3.people ſaw and heard that God allowed their fathers worſhipping of him; as Abrahams, Iacobs, Moſes and others, and yet they followed nor their example, it made their ſinne greater: For our fathers, ſuch as the holy Ghoſt heere meaneth, are to be followed; namely, Moſes and the Prophets; as Paul Act. 24.in the 24. of the Acts affirmed, that he in ſeruing God, worſhipped the God of Act. 24. 14.his fathers, and followed them therein. Such fathers if the Papiſts would follow, when they boaſt that they hauehave the fathers on their ſide, all controuerſies about matters in queſtion betwixt them and vsus: as tranſubſtantiation, reall preſence, adoration of Sacraments, and ſuch like; would ſoone be at an end. And let vsus ſee that we retaine the true ſeruing of God, that thoſe our holy fathers did, ſeeing with ſuch ſeruice we hauehave heard God to be pleaſed. And further note, in that the miracles of Egypt are repeated, and applyed heere to this generation, which yet were done long before, as though they Doct. 4.had been brought out of Egypt themſelues, being not yet borne: and this was to the end that they ſhould profit and be moued by them as wel as their fathers; note (I ſay) that the miracles and workes of God in times paſt wrought by the Prophets, our Sauiour, and the Apoſtles, ought to ſerue for our benefit, and we ought to hauehave vſe of them, as well as they before vsus, in whoſe daies they were wrought, although we ſaw them not done: whereupon this is ſet downe, that whatſoouer things are written, are written for our learning, both that we ſhould, among all other vſes of them, bee confirmed Rom. 15. 4.in the doctrine of the word, and alſo looke for no more proofe of it by other miracles to be wrought in eueryevery age following. And if we be reſolued of the truth of this, let vsus ſee that we be guided by it alſo. And this be ſaid of the ſinne of the generation that roſe after the death of the good elders: now of their puniſhment.
And the wrath of the Lord was hot againſt Iſrael, and hee deliuered them into the hands of ſpoilers, that ſpoiled them: and he ſold them into the hands of their enemies Verſ. 14.round about them, ſo that they could no longer ſtand before their enemies:
Whitherſoeuer they went out, the hand of the Lord was ſore againſt them, as the Verſ. 15.Lord had ſaid, and as the Lord had ſworne vntounto them; ſo he puniſhed them ſore.
We hauehave heard of the firſt point of the foure, in this ſecond part of the The ſenſe.chapter; namely, of the ſinne of the people. The next point followeth (as I ſaid before,) of the puniſhment, with the which the Lord purſued them for it, which was two fold: the firſt was, the anger of God conceiued againſt them for it, the ſecond the fruit of it. And that is ſet downe heere to be partly the ſpoiling them of their goods, and partly bondage to their enemies; and more generally, that Gods hand was againſt them, ſo that they were not able to ſtand before them; by meanes wherof they were in anguiſh and ſtraits, not knowing what to do. Behold how their eſtate was changed, yea and that ſo ſoone, after they turned away from the Lord: euen ſo ſhall all finde it. But come we to the particulars.
When therefore it is ſaid heere, that God was angry with them, we muſt not ſo take it, as though God were ſubiect to paſſions as men are, as either anger or repentance, &c. but ſuch ſpeeches are vſed, and now this one, of 1. Sam. 15. 30.Gods anger, to the end our faults may appeare the more grieuous, in that they are ſaid to prouoke him who is ſo hardly moued. Againe, to our capacity they are vttered, to giuegive vsus to vnderſtand, that God doth and will doe the ſame things that men, being angry for faults committed againſt them, will doe; that is, be reuenged vponupon the offenders: and yet hee is free from paſſion. What are we then to think, when we heare that God is angry? to ſet light by it, as the moſt do; when yet we heare that he is not led by paſſions? no, but to be troubled for it, becauſe we cannot but feare that God will doe the ſame to vsus, that an angry man, being offended, will doe to ſuch as prouoke Doct. verſ. 14.him. For why? are we ſtronger then he? or thinke we that we ſhall eſchew and decline danger? when yet in his anger he is compared to a Lion, who ſeeketh his prey? No doubtleſſe; for his wrath is aſſiſted with power, and with preſence. And therefore it is ſaid in the Pſalme, If his anger bee kindled, the earth is moued, and the foundations, of the hils are ſhaken. And againe, If Pſal. 18. 8.his anger be kindled but a little, happie are they that truſt in him. Which places, Pſal. 2. laſt.with many other ſuch, doe liuely ſhew the danger of them that prouoke him; and that as he is angry iuſtly, ſo his anger is (without reſpect of perſons) or parciality declared againſt all ſorts without exception, that prouoke him: the greateſt ſhall as well ſmart as the meaneſt, as the text there importeth.
But the vſe of this is, ſeeing God is prouoked by our ſins, that we ſhould beware that we offend him not in the common manner as men doe, in the prophaning of his Sabbaths, his word and Sacraments, in ſlander, lying, diſſembling, incontinency, and vnchaſtneſſe of body and minde, in deceiuing, oppreſſing, and a thouſand waies more: and eſpecially we muſt looke that we liue not in vnbeleefe, which is diſobedience in an high degree, euen to the Goſpell; for which Paul ſaith, the wrath of God is reuealed from heauen. 1. Theſ. 1. 8. Ioh. 3. laſt.But if wee hauehave fallen into any ſuch, the next heed to bee taken of vsus is, not to ſleepe vponupon them, but tremble, for that we know Gods wrath is kindled againſt vsus, and who knoweth whether vengeance may come forth Epheſ. 5. 6.and take hold of vsus, before our hearts relent, and before wee meet him with repentance? When the Lion roreth all the beaſts of the forreſt quake; and is it not time for vsus to doe the like, when the mighty Lion of the tribe of Iudah is moued? And if it be meet that euen the children of God be held in awe, by conſidering that he their God is a iealous God, yea a conſuming fire; and againe, if they cannot but tremble to behold him in diſpleaſure ſometime, with his enemies, as well as they ſee him in his ſmiling countenance toward his owne people; how much more ſhould they tremble, when it is their owne caſe, and when they themſelues are the perſons vponupon whom hee frowneth? And if the Princes wrath be death, as we ſee it is by Ahaſhueroſh, Heſt. 7. 7.when he was inflamed againſt Haman; how dangerous is the eſtate of them who moſt iuſtly hauehave ſtirred vp the Lord againſt them? For which cauſe our Sauiour ſaith; Feare not him who can but deſtroy the body: but feare him that Mat. 10. 28.can caſt body and ſoule into hell: I ſay feare him? So that the man lying in known ſinne, not repenting, is the man of miſery, if hee could ſee it, howſoeuer hee ſooth vp himſelfe, or be ſoothed by other, for the mouth of the Lord hath ſpoken it. And I hauehave wondred oft, that ſo many offending, as are knowne daily to doe, and that willingly and looſely, yea and with boldneſſe; and that they being in ſo great danger thereby of ſundry puniſhments eueryevery Note.day; I hauehave wondred (ſay) that ſo few make haſt to rid themſelues out of that fearefull condition; and eſpecially they ſeeing ſo many to ſmart from time to time for the ſame and the like ſinnes that ſwarme in them: and yet further, to giuegive too apparant tokens by their impenitency, that it will be infinitely worſe with them, when they bee gone hence. Thus much for this time.