Commentary on Judges, Sermon 17
THE SEVENTEENTH SERMON ON THE THIRD CHAPTER OF THE BOOKE OF IVDGES.
VERS. 1. Theſe now are the nations which the Lord left, that hee might proue Iſrael by them, euen as many of Iſrael as had not knowne all the warres of Canaan.
2. OnelyOnly to make the generations of the children of Iſrael, to know, and to teach them warre, which doubtleſſe their predeceſſors knew not.
3. Fiue Princes of the Philiſtines, and all the Canaanites, and the Zidonians, and the Hiuites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baal-hermon vntill one come to Hamath.
4. And theſe remained to proue Iſrael by them, to wit, whether they would obey the Commandements of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moſes.
5. And the children of Iſrael dwelt among the Canaanites, the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Heuites, and the Iebuſites.
6. And they tooke their daughters to be their wiues, and gaue their daughters to their ſons, and ſerued their gods.
THe ſumme and parts in generall of this Chapter may The ſumme of the chapter, and parts 2.be fitly ſet downe together: for in the firſt ſixe verſes is ſhewed, why God left the nations in the land, and which thoſe nations were. In the reſt of the Chapter there are three defections or fallings away from God in the people of Iſrael mentioned, and three plagues ſent vponupon them for the ſame, and a threefold deliuerance by three ſeuerall Iudges. And thus the holy ſtory beginneth to ſet downe the ſtate of the people, as was ſaid in the former Chapter.
The firſt part of the Chapter.
ANd firſt why theſe nations were left ſtill in the land, two reaſons are ſet The meaning of the foure firſt verſes.downe: one in the firſt and fourth verſe, and that was to proue them: the other in the firſt and ſecond verſe, and that was, to make them know warre; not meaning thereby to make them skilfull warriours, (though neceſſity draue them to that, when they ſaw they muſt truſt to their skill) but to let them ſee what it was to bee put to their ſhifts, and to fight with weapons, who had neuer been wont to doe ſo, neither their fathers, ſeeing the Lord had in the former warres with their enemies, extraordinarily fought for them without their owne labour and skill.
To come to the firſt reaſon generally ſet downe in the firſt verſe, and particularly Doct. verſ. 1. and 4.in the fourth, I hauehave ſpoken of it in the former chapter, and the laſt two verſes: It is heere repeated to beate it into them deepely; and to make them thoroughly perſwaded thereof, that they might then, (and ſo wee now) bend all the force of our hearts to looke well about vsus, how we beare our troubles meekely and patiently, depending vponupon God for a good iſſue: Pſal. 37. 3. Pſal. 50. 15.which dutie he moſt certainly looketh for at our hands, as throughout the Scripture he teacheth and admoniſheth vsus to doe; and wee cannot but bee much diſquieted by our afflictions, if wee doe otherwiſe, notwithſtanding that our corrupt nature doe carrie vsus much to rebell againſt the ſame. This is that which we hauehave to learne by the repeating of thoſe words in this verſe, namely that it is ſaid, God left the nations in the land to trie the people of Iſrael, and to trie them in this, whether they would keepe his commandements or no.
Moreouer, we muſt marke that which is ſet downe here in this firſt verſe: Doct. 2. in verſ. 1.that the Lord is ſaid to hauehave held theſe nations ſtill in the land, which was to the exceeding ſore vexing of his people: to teach vsus, that the raizing, remaining, or remouing of troubles, they are all of the Lord, and by his appointing; euen by his will, and of his wiſe diſpoſing, whether wee reſpect the whole Church, or any part or member of it: and they come not by chance, or a mans ill fortune, as the ignorant people ſpeake, (neither is there any ſuch thing) but as the Lord himſelfe ſaith in the Prophet Amos, there is no euill in the city, that is, no trouble, but I the Lord hauehave Amos. 3. ….ſent it. And if it were otherwiſe, the beſt people, as the worſt are, ſhould (by their afflictions) be at their wits end. Wee may not therefore reſt our ſelues Note.in the ſecond cauſes, neither vexe our ſelues about them (as we doe too oft) which is a ſpurning againſt the Lord, but patiently beare them: ſeeing that whatſoeuer the inſtrument bee, it is certaine, the Lord is the ouer-ruling cauſe, howſoeuer it is euident, that oft times wee cauſe and bring them our ſelues: and therefore we ought to bend our ſelues in all earneſt manner, to patience: and ſo much the rather, ſeeing hee further certifieth vsus, that hee doth all for the beſt to ſuch as feare him: ſo that wee doe but encreaſe our Note.ſorrow, who by impatience encreaſe our ſinne; and therefore prouoke we not him, from whom all trouble commeth, and who through his Almighty power can caſt into hell alſo, but feare wee to doe euill in his ſight euermore, that wee may auoid both, and aſcribe vntounto him our deliuerances alſo, that ſeeing all ſuch deliuerances are from the Lord, hee may hauehave his due praiſe from vsus.Verſ. 1. 2. The ſenſe.
In the end of this verſe and the ſecond, where it is ſaid, that God left the nations ſtill in the land, that he might teach this generation of Iſrael, warre, which neither they, nor their fathers had in times paſt knowne: which is another reaſon, why thoſe nations were not driuen out; this is the more cleare meaning of it. When the Lord by trying them, had found (though he was neuer ignorant what they would doe) and made manifeſt the impiety and idolatry of the people of Iſrael to themſelues: he tooke away from them their ſtrength in war, and withheld his aide from them, which hee had in times paſt giuen to them, and to their fathers in battell with their enemies, ſo that now when they went to warre by their owne power, the Lord withholding his from them, they knew what warre meant, which before they knew not, when the Lord had fought for them: for then hee gaue them ſtrength, and terrified their enemies and weakened them, and gaue good ſucceſſe to the Iſraelites, but now he left them to ſhift for themſelues: and therefore wee ſee what is meant by this (that they had not knowne warre) when as yet they had not broken their couenant with God, for he had fought for them. They knew not then what it meant to goe to warre, for the Lord had fought for them, but now they did begin to learne.
And heere we may ſee, that when by Gods kindnes and many comforts Doct. ver. 1. and 2.miniſtred by him, we cannot be kept in compaſſe, nor be brought to cleaue to him with all our hearts, hee will take another courſe with vsus to bring vsus thereto: for hee will acquaint vsus with wants, trouble and ſorrow, as hee did this people heere, to ſee if they can bring vsus thereto: and yet ſuch is his louelove to vsus, if they preuaile with vsus, and worke kindly vponupon vsus to bring vsus to repentance, he will returne to vsus againe graciouſly, and continue ſtill his former bounties toward vsus. When Ioſhua, and the good generation in his daies Ioſh. 6. 16. 17.truly ſerued the Lord, they were preſerued from their enemies, and knew not what war meant, the Lord himſelfe fought for thē, while they did little more many times then looke on. And in our firſt parents we may cleerely ſee this to be exemplified: while they yet liued in innocency, and were vpheld with the grace of God, they neither knew nor felt any euill: but when they had diſobeyed by eating of the forbidden fruit, they began to know Gen. 3. 7.what good and euil meant. In like manner, children, while in their younger yeeres they hauehave been ſubiect and obedient to their parents, they are tenderly handled, and hauehave all things with eaſe prouided for them: but when they grow vp rude and ſtout, and for that, are put forth to their ſhifts, they come to know what hardneſſe meanes (who before were not acquainted therewith) by the rough handling of ſtrangers.
And let it be well thought of by vsus, for euen ſo God dealeth with vsus, if we can by his mercies be drawne to dutie, he is ready to beſtow them plentifully Note.vponupon vsus, hee thinketh nothing too good for vsus, ſo as wee need not know the ſorrowes and vexations that are in the world, in compariſon of that which many thouſands doe feele, and ſmart by them. But if we will follow the common courſe of others, to be like to them in euill, we ſhall ſoone know that it was no meane benefit to be ſo ſheltred by the Lord as we were before; and namely, that ſhall be, when wee begin to feele his heauie hand againſt vsus. And wee in this towne, and heereabout hauehave ſeene, while wee Note.hauehave made it our chiefe delight, to follow the Lord, not regarding the examples and multitudes of bad and irreligious perſons (who dwell among vsus) to be withdrawne by them, we that hauehave done ſo, wee hauehave ſeene, I ſay, Gods exceeding goodneſſe toward vsus (I ſpeake to his praiſe) and deſire I may neuer ſee the contrary. And in compariſon of the world, I meane, the ignorant and prophane ſort, who deſire not to be acquainted with the Lord and his waies, it may truly bee ſaid, that wee hauehave ſeene many good daies, when our chiefe care hath been to liue vnderunder his gouernment; and when wee hauehave failed at ſome time more then at others, and through frailty forgotten ourſelues, hee hath mercifully quickened and brought vsus backe againe: ſo that (for the moſt part) wee hauehave not knowne what the ſorrowes of the world meane. And our worſt daies hauehave been, when we hauehave forgot ourſelues, and forſaken the good and right way, and walked or ſtepped aſide into Note.by-waies, then he hath taught vsus (by wofull experience) what ſorrowes and vexations meane. For example: when we hauehave in the ſimplicity of our hearts ioyned in the ſweet doctrine of the Goſpell preached vntounto vsus, and hauehave minded it chiefly as our beſt treaſure; and when wee hauehave as well feared to offend the Lord in thoſe things which hauehave liked vsus beſt, prouoking one another to louelove and to good workes, oh how hath hee made vsus to proſper? and when hath he frowned vponupon vsus, but when we hauehave peruerted our waies.
In this verſe the nations are reckoned whom the Lord would hauehave to remaine in the land, among whom his people the Iſraelites muſt dwell: Verſ. 8. 5.reade them in the text. By this that they muſt dwell with theſe wicked nations, Doct.wee are taught, that it is one of the puniſhments among many other, which our diuers kinds of ſinne draw vponupon vsus, that euen becauſe of them we muſt ſometime dwell with the wicked: for though all muſt hauehave to do with them, (or elſe they muſt goe out of the world) yet this that I now ſpeak 1. Cor. 5. 10.of, is another matter. Dauid dwelt among the haters of peace out of the holy Pſal. 120. 5. 6.land: as for the Church of Pergamus, whoſe habitation was where Satans throne was; that was Gods triall to them. But the dwelling of Iſrael in Babylon, and their fathers before them among the Egyptians: and the dwelling of theſe heere mentioned among the Philiſtims, Canaanites, and Heuites: theſe habitations (I ſay) were Gods puniſhments and curſes, euen the fruit of their deſerts and grieuous ſinnes: who vexed them many waies, as if Hornets ſhould hauehave ſtung them: and becauſe ſuch dwellings are brought vponupon men by their owne prouokings of God, and that ſundry waies; therefore beſide the ſmart that they ſuſtaine by them through outward troubles, they hauehave this added thereunto, that they cannot meekely and quietly beare them, for the wound that they hauehave made in their conſcience by their knowne ſinnes, which is moſt grieuous vntounto them, ſeeing they muſt and cannot but remember, that they iuſtly ſuſtaine them. One example of our time I will alleage of two perſons, a yeoman and his wife (I might bring many) Theſe two dwelling among ſundry good neighbours and religions, becauſe they were not like minded to them, becauſe they diſtaſted the Goſpell, tooke a ſore pritch againſt them, without any iuſt cauſe giuen them, and therupon in wilfulnes remoued their dwelling from them. Their going away was to enioy better neighbours, and to bring in the world, and the commodities thereof the faſter. But (to be ſhort) ſeeing yee will long (no doubt) to heare the end; ſo it was, that they enioyed not that which they ſought and went for; for their wealth waſted, and their neighbours, who had neuer known what it ment, neither had learned to vſe them neighbourly, dealt roughly with them, and ſore vexed and wearied them: vponupon this, the Lord viſited them both, with great ſickneſſe, euen both of them together. And then they had leiſure to bethinke themſelues of the change they had made, and eſpecially with what minde they had done it: and then the crying out of their doings in this behalfe, and that they did (as it fell out) in the preſence of ſome of them, whom they had firſt dwelt among, being ſent for by them vponupon occaſion though they dwelt more then twentie miles diſtant from them; not ſparing to charge themſelues deepely, and to ſhew their great repentance for their raſhneſſe and wilfulneſſe in their remouing euen to them. So the man died there, the woman in a maruellous manner bewailing her offence, which was compounded of many, and this from day to day. In which time it fell out that I was an eye and an eare witneſſe of much more then I ſay: Shee by little recouered ſo farre, as ſhee might bee carried from thence, and ſo ſhee returned to her firſt dwelling (no friend could perſwade her to the contrary) but neuer recouered her health; but within a while after died at her owne houſe, acknowledging and bewailing her ſin to her neighbors that viſited her, bearing the ſhame of it meekely and with contentment. This example I thought not to be out of ſeaſon to make mention of, by ſo good an occaſion; to admoniſh ſome to make better reckoning of good neighbourhood, who are too ready vponupon a tetch taken, to eaſe themſelues with thinking to recouer their dwellings. Beſides, let vsus not be ſecure about this, to dwel we care not where, nor in what places ſoeuer, (becauſe ſome can doe no otherwiſe, but it is laid vponupon them to bee yeelded to of them, by meere neceſſity) for though it bee Gods triall to ſome of them, and other hauehave it, as their iuſt puniſhment, yet make wee account of Chriſtian and peaceable habitation as more then a common benefit. And yet ſuch muſt know alſo, that they muſt keepe themſelues vnſtained among the wicked and ill diſpoſed, and hauehave no fellowſhip with their vnfruitfull workes of darkeneſſe, but groane vnderunder their burthen to God, that he may eaſe them of it in time, and ſeeke to ſupply their want in ſome other place by the publike meanes (if they want them) as they may. But let other if they can, be free from the company and neere dwelling of ſuch as are prophane, noiſome, and ſpitefull, enioy their freedome rather, as Saint Paul ſaith of ſeruants: if it be their lot to be ſo, let them be contented, 1. Cor. 7. 21.but if they can be free, let them vſe it rather. And that not onelyonly for the hurt that they may eaſily get there; but let their delight alſo bee in the ſaints which are on the earth, and their fellowſhip with ſuch as excell in vertue, for the manifold good that they may reape by them. But heere an end of Pſal. 16. 3.this matter.
Now before I goe from the third verſe, which I hauehave ioyned with the Verſ. 3. 5. An Obiect.fifth; to ſhew that Iſrael dwelt among the nations, this doubt is to bee anſwered, namely, how it can bee affirmed, that the cities of the Philiſtims are ſaid not to hauehave been poſſeſſed of the Iſraelites, I meane Ekron, Askelon, and Gaza, but to be at the time heere mentioned, in the Philiſtims hands: ſeeing in the firſt chapter of this booke, verſ. 18. it is ſaid, that they were taken and enioyed with their borders, of Iuda and Simeon in warre made with them. Anſw.To the which it is anſwered, that they were indeed at that time taken by them; but now after that, they were not in the poſſeſſion of them, but for the ſinnes of Iſrael, their ſtrength was abated, and the Philiſtims power was confirmed. Whereby without any difficulty it came to paſſe, that they recouered them againe.
By the which it may bee obſerued, what changes and alterations ſin worketh, (God in his prouidence ſo appointing) for by their ſinne this came to Doct. verſ. 3. 5.paſſe. By eating the forbidden fruit, what an alteration was wrought in the eſtate of our firſt parents, that they loſt their honour, their holines, and their happineſſe in one moment of time, and were brought to the contrary, euen to vtter miſery. And Dauid for that one ſinne with Bathſheba the wife of Vriah, what a breach made he of the moſt ſweet peace of conſcience, which Pſal. 51▪ 8.hee before enioyed, beſide the changes that it wrought in this life, by many puniſhments, and in his poſterity alſo?
The like is wel knowne of Sampſon, Salomon, and many other of the Lords people. That we may ſee that he ſpareth not his owne, if they prouoke him, as he ſaith in the Pſalme; If mine owne children breake my lawes, I will puniſh euen Pſal. 89. 31.their ſin with the rod, &c. And are they exempt in this age who ſin in the like manner? How are many of them plagued for breaking couenant with God, in committing ſome reprochfull ſinne; as adultery, deceit, ſpite, and reuenge, oppreſſion or wrong, groſſe worldlineſſe, forſaking their conſtant courſe in a godly life, and their zealous worſhipping of him? Theſe, I ſay, and ſuch like iniquities (for ſo cunningly can the diuell handle the matter, that they may all poſſibly faſten vponupon them) what changes (thinke wee) doe they bring to paſſe? as ſorrow for ioy, feare in ſtead of godly courage and confidence, ſhame for credit and good report, with many ſuch like? Note.This is foretold in Deuteronomie 28. a chapter to this purpoſe, worthie to Deut. 28. 16. to the end.bee often read ouer, becauſe it containeth a propheſie of all the euils which were inflicted vponupon this people in their times, for their apoſtacy and backſliding from God. If a man be abſent but ſeuen yeeres from his acquaintance, Oh, how will they ſay, hee is changed? But this is nothing to the change that ſinne worketh. Yea and not only the forementioned ſinnes, which are groſſe among men, doe worke theſe great changes in their liues; but alſo thoſe which are groſſe in the eyes of the Lord, euen they do the like: as the minding, delighting in, and attempting the forementioned ſinnes, or the like, though it bee but vnderunder-hand (as they ſay) and not effected nor committed, Note.what alterations doe theſe worke in a man alſo? And beſide their other puniſhments which change and disfigure them, the often buffeting of the conſcience (which is ſome taſte of hell) doth alſo as hornets torment them. What doth idleneſſe of minde worke, and the wandring after other loathſome luſts and deſires? alſo a ſlight following of mens callings, and much more the groſſe neglecting of them (wherein yet faithfully and diligently to be occupied is a piece of Paradiſe) what do theſe (I ſay) and ſuch Note.like bring to paſſe, but vnwelcome changes, decay, and waſting of their eſtate with bondage, and diſguiſedneſſe, which they bring themſelues into, in ſuch wiſe, that they hauehave not the benefit of the Chriſtian life themſelues, and they are afraid through an euill conſcience, to reproue ſinne in other; and if they ſhould, yet are they not regarded in that which they ſay: for they hauehave diſhonoured the Lord, and hee hath taken their honour from them, that their words ſhall not bee ſet by: So that I may truly ſay, their ſin hath brought many changes into their liues, and they neuer almoſt recouer the comfort of their former daies, (for I ſpeake of ſuch as hauehave knowne better) ſince they vnhappily loſt it. I hauehave but ſhewed in ſome ſort what changes ſinne worketh in Gods people.
And ſeeing it is leſſe doubted of, that it doth much more in the liues of them who were neuer well gouerned: I will not make the like diſcourſe of the effects that it worketh in them, but ſhut vp briefly that which I meane to ſay thereof. And to ſpeake the truth, as ſinne ſwarmeth, rageth, and getteth the vpper hand in them, ſo it maketh ſtrip and waſt where it goeth, and hauoke of all that good is, where any apparance was of it in them, as the vnſeaſonable froſt or Eaſt wind doth of the tender bloſſomes in the ſpring: and Note.the like it doth worke in their eſtates and liues that commit it, by bringing in puniſhment and iudgements of God thicke and three-fold. As by whoredome and riot, the waſting of body and goods; by drunkenneſſe, diſeaſes; by quarrelling and vncharitableneſſe, ſutes; and loſſe of their ſweet peace in neighbourhood; by pride, ſtoutneſſe and ſtatelineſſe a fall; yea ruine and vtter miſery. Examples are infinite: as in the deſtruction of Babel for their inſolency againſt God; the ſwallowing vp of Chorah for his rebellion Numb. 16. 31. Exod. 14. 28. Eccleſ. 11. 9. Luk. 16.may be ſeene: alſo in the drowning of Pharaoh for mocking of God ſo oft: to the young man the threatening of iudgement for his iollity: the rich mans going to hell for taking his pleaſure heere: in all theſe (I ſay) with a great number more, this is to bee ſeene, what woe ſinne hath wrought to the committers of it: and it would much more in Scripture and experience at this day appeare, if men were not wittingly blind in beholding it; as alſo but that God hath had a regard to maintaine and preſerue ſociety among men; for which cauſe, many wicked ones are ſpared for a time. And this be ſaid of the changes that ſinne worketh, which I hauehave ſaid by occaſion of the Iſraelites loſing and yeelding againe the cities of the Philiſtims, with the priuiledges thereto belonging, into their hands becauſe of their ſinne.
Whereas it was ſaid before, verſ. 1. and 4. that thoſe nations were left to Verſ 6. The ſenſe.try Iſrael, whether they would obey the commandements of the Lord; here it is ſet downe how they carried themſelues in the triall: namely, that they made marriages with them, and ſerued their gods; they had no power to reſiſt and doe otherwiſe. And by this we may ſee, with what danger wee liue among Idolaters and wicked men: for in that it is ſaid heere, that they ioyned Doct.in marriage together, which was ſpecially forbidden them in Deuteronomie, it is that which the Lord did foreſay would come to paſſe thereby. Deut. 7. 3. 4.And he forbad them ſuch mariages principally for this cauſe, ſeeing he foreſaw and knew that by vnequall matching together, his worſhip would bee greatly impaired, if not turned into the contrary. For godly and religious perſons are often alienated by the parties contrarily minded vntounto them, from the true God; as in Salomons example (ſo wiſe a man) is to bee ſeene: who was exceedingly corrupted, and builded places for ſtrange Gods to worſhip them in, being inticed thereto by ſtrange women, whom he loued. And our age hath ſuſtained moſt grieuous ſhipwracke of conſcience and goodneſſe, in that many therein hauehave ioyned in marriage with Papiſts, and other prophane helliſh Atheiſts: For when they hauehave by their familiarity together, made marriages with them; what remaineth, but that they, as theſe did heere, doe turne to their religion alſo, and ſerue in the manner that they doe? But of this before, chap. 2. verſ. 2.