Commentary on Judges, Sermon 42
THE FORTIE TWO SERMON ON THE SIXTH CHAPTER OF THE BOOKE OF IVDGES.
WE hauehave heard of Gedeons faith and wiſedome about the Verſ. 28. 29. 30. The ſenſe.caſting downe of the altar of Baal: and wee may ſee a good reaſon why he was faine to vſe the beſt and ſureſt meanes for the effecting of it, and for the ouerthrow of their idolatrie. Firſt, ſeeing it was ſtabliſhed among them, and had taken roote: therefore all that he could do was little enough to throw it downe. And alſo for that the people were ſo ſuperſtitiouſly addicted thereto, and ſo delighted in it. But let vsus now ſee in what outragious manner the people inquire after the man that had done it: and when they with conſent agreed, that it was Gedeon, how furiouſly they ſought to hauehave him put to death.
Here many good points may be noted about idolaters, which I will brieflie Doct. 1.ſet downe. Firſt this, how deepely idolatrie, ſuperſtition, and falſe worſhip is rooted in peoples hearts, and ground faſt; as is to bee ſeene in theſe, and through theſe ſtories, and thoſe in the booke of the Kings; as the Philiſtims blind deuotion to their Dagon, and the peoples fond and mad zeale in maintaining the falſe worſhip of Baal in Ahabs time, their offerings to them, their bowing downe, and praying to them. So that a man might hauehave as eaſily plucked their hearts out of their bellies, as to hauehave diſſwaded and alienated their louelove from them. The reaſons are, firſt, becauſe as ſinne, ſo error is ſtrong, plauſible and deceitfull. Secondly, God accurſeth all that will not hearken to the truth, ſo that they ſhall belieue lies, and be bewitched 2. Theſ. 2. 10.therewith. See and conſider to this end, Eſay 44. 19. Thirdly, the worſt Eſay 44. 19.weeds hauehave deepeſt roots, and corrupt cuſtomes or opinions, becauſe they agree with mans bad nature, are not eaſily rooted out; whereas thoſe which are good and commendable, are like precious plants or flowers, which hardly take any roote at all, and may be pluckt vp with two fingers. As at this day the curſed reliques of heatheniſh and popiſh faſhions, how hardly are they laid downe, looke but to ſome vaine and fooliſh cuſtomes, and the …ond deuotion of the ſuperſtitions all the yeere long, in kneeling before ſtockes and ſtones, and ye may eaſily gueſſe how hard a thing it is to remooue and expel them & the like. Gamaliel ſaid of the doctrine of the Apoſtles; If it be not of Actes 5. 34.God, ye ſhal not need to oppoſe it, it wil fal of it ſelf. But we muſt know that God not working by miracle, as he did then, Satan and his complices will in theſe daies trie the vttermoſt, and vſe all meanes ere that come to paſſe: yea as we may ſee, they grow in experience and pollicie, ſtrength and reſolution alſo, to vphold their rotten building, vntill (as at death (to be ſure) it ſhall) it fall vponupon their ſhoulders. Whereas the true and pure worſhip of God, what authoritie, credit, or heartie louelove doth it find or obtaine at the hands of the moſt of them who profeſſe it? Nay, they hauehave ſoone inough of it, many reuolt and fall from it, and they that retaine it, doe it (for the moſt part) in a moſt dead and cold manner. Inſomuch, as the diligenteſt preaching, and earneſteſt perſwaſions, doe ſcarcely preuaile ſo farre with men as that they get ſo much as a name of a good religion in the places where they dwell: when yet (if it were ſo) their zeale is neither grounded vponupon knowledge, and if it be in ſome, yet are they not ſtabliſhed and ſetled therein; and yet Note.further, euen of them there are very few that hold conſtantly in a good conſcience, the profeſſion of their hope with ioy vntounto their end.
And although this good conſcience bee farre from the idolaters of our time, for it can onelyonly come from ſaith in Chriſt, and aſſurance of his fauour, (whatſoeuer blind zeale and deuotion be in them) yet therein they doe, as I ſaid before, giuegive and aſcribe much to their corrupt religion, and falſe worſhip, in coſt, in time ſpending about the ſame, and feruencie therein, aboue a number of vsus to ours. So that if they went vponupon good grounds, and had any promiſe from God for their ſo doing, they might hauehave to reioyce aboue many of vsus. But they and ſuch of our ſelues, as I compare with them, in comming ſhort of their zeale, ſhal ſpeed both alike, while they (I meane the Papiſts) hauehave this caſt in their teeth, Who required this at your hands? And againe, let him that ſet you on worke, pay you your wages. And to them of our profeſſion, this ſhall be ſaid; This people draweth neere to mee with their bodies, but Matth. 15. 8.their hearts are farre from me, and therefore in vaine doe ſuch worſhip me.
And yet this I will adde, ſeeing I hauehave ioyned theſe popiſh worſhippers with the idolaters of ancient time, affirming them to be like to them in zeale, this I ſay, I will adde concerning them, that this deuotion is but in few of them in theſe our daies, like to that which was in thē of former ages, though (as they blindfold mens eies) it goe for currant, that they bee all zealous that are of that profeſſion, when yet it is manifeſt that numbers of them are moſt ſubtill and hollow hearted diſſemblers and deceiuers. For to grant that ſome of the ignoranter ſort are feruent in their falſe religion and blind deuotion, yet the moſt of the reſt deceiue the world, and are not ſo zealous as they are wilfull, ſpitefull, and malicious, who doe that which they doe, partly for their belly, and partly (though againſt their conſcience) to vphold their religion by tradition, when they cannot by Scripture: and all to this end, that it may, (as much as in them lieth) be receiued for the truth, rather then that of the Proteſtants, whom they deadly hate and abhorre. As for that they hope to merit by their zeale, which doth the more ſet them forward, it is to bee granted, that they are much whetted on thereby, though they be deceiued: but ſhould not the promiſes of God freely made to vsus of all good things, much more animate and harten on vsus?
Another thing note we here, how ſoone and earneſtly they inquired who 2ſhould deface their Baal, and ſtrippe him of his ornaments? whereas Gods word may lie vnpreached by many occaſions, long inough, before it be asked where the fault lieth, and complained of, and bewailed; or before the neglect thereof be ſought to be remedied. In Poperie, if a man ſhall ſpeake againſt the maſſe, or their breaden God, or diſpraiſe any, yea the leaſt part of their traſh and trumperie, he ſhall be more cruelly handled then for blaſpheming in the higheſt degree. Which appeares by ſuch as in the time of perſecution in our owne land, attempted zealouſly to deface that idoll, who of all other were put to moſt exquiſite torments. Euen as Gedeon here was purſued, and as a moſt hereticall and ſeditious diſturbur, was called for to be put to death, for offering that reproch vntounto that baſe idoll Baal. Oh, it were an happie time, if men were as zealouſly bent againſt atheiſme, ſuperſtition, idolatrie, adulterie, and ſuch like, as many are zealous for them: and that holy and heauenly things were in that account and requeſt with many, that open and apparent ſinnes are with them. And thus at this day doe the moſt men ſtorme and rage at the Miniſter of God (who is Gods ordinarie inſtrument, as Gedeon was the extraordinary) when they ſee that he is not content to dally with them, but in good earneſt ſtriueth to pull them from their ignorance, formall, and could worſhip of God, vncleaneneſſe, or whatſoeuer other ſinne they cleaue vntounto; (as theſe did to their idoll Baal) and ſerue. The poore man Gedeon here had not more adoe to ſaue himſelfe from this furious and eager multitude, then the Miniſter hath (in many places where the Goſpell hath not preuailed) to defend himſelfe from a ſwarme of hornets, which flie about his eares, ready to ſting him (I might rather hauehave ſaid wild beaſts to deuoure him) by their curſed reprochfull ſlanders and virulent tongues for his caſting their Baal to the ground.
Alſo it appeareth, that there were not many there that were as Gedeon, vpright hearted men, and ſuch as did openly ſhew their diſlike of idolatrie, becauſe they could ſo eaſily find him out, and light vponupon him, as the guiltie partie, as they counted him, with ſo ſlight inquiry. So that he was as eminent for his pietie, as Saul for his ſtature, who was taler then all the people, and could not lie hidden. And the odious man of many hee was with them, to whom yet if they could hauehave ſeene, they were all beholding, and but for whom alſo they had all grone to wracke and had periſhed. And wee ſee, what eie-ſores, and how odious ſome one or few good profeſſors of the Goſpell are to a companie of prophane hickeſcorners, and what a troubleſome life they leade amongſt them: being baited and vexed by them at their pleaſure, and made their laughing ſtocke, as Sampſon to the Philiſtims: for whoſe ſake (yet) they are ſuffered by the Lord to liue, that they may come to repentance, being neere inough (by all likelihood) to be vtterly deſtroyed and to be brought to naught, but for them; as we may reade in the ſtory Geneſ. 18. 32.of Geneſis, if there had been but ten righteous men in Sodome, the city had not been conſumed. Yet, and though they hauehave ſuch benefit by them, they ſticke not to ſweare, that but for them they might liue merrily, and without diſturbance. Therefore where God hath prouided better for a people, and muzled the mouthes of ſuch tigers and beares as theſe, ſo that they may profeſſe the Goſpell without danger, or feare, purſuit, and ſcorne of their betters) who commonly are the wings to protect the inferiour ſort of baſe and ſpitefull perſons) let ſuch ſee and acknowledge a great libertie and releaſe, and vſe it wiſely while they inioy it, as the Churches of Samaria and Iudea, Actes 9. 31.and Galilee did in the booke of the Acts. leſt God take from them their props, ornaments and protectors of them, and make them to ſay (as many doe full heauily) we would gladly be zealous and fruitfull in our profeſſion, (but (alas) we cannot ſo ſoone peepe out of the doores, but we are pelted in againe, and beaten back with the frownings, diſgraces, and opppoſitions of ſuch as are mightier then our ſelues. But of this point more anon.
Thus farre of the outrage of the people: now of the anſwere of Ioah to Verſe 31. 32. The ſenſe.them, in the next two verſes. For he, as a wiſe Magiſtrate, did at the firſt ſuppreſſe and bridle the rage of the people. Now becauſe it was ſaid before, that the ground with the groue, altar and bullock did pertaine to Ioaſh, and were his: it is cleare, that he had alſo vpheld the idolatrie: how was it then, that he ſhould thus lightly ſuffer the act of his ſonne Gedeon to paſſe vnpuniſhed, (ſome man perhaps will aske,) and that he ſhould find fault with the people, for ſeeking to puniſh the treſpaſſer againſt Baal? I anſwere, that Ioaſh was certified of the will of God, very likely by Gedeon his ſonne, as Sampſons father was by him, that marriage he ſought with the Philiſtion woman was of the Lord. But howſoeuer it was, hee doth ſhew that God ſtirred him vp to be a fauourer of his ſonnes doing, for hee doth with three reaſons driue the people from their hold, and beates them backe from their purpoſe and attempt. Firſt, he reprooues them for their boldneſſe, for that they being priuate men, did without any calling take vponupon them to bee reuengers of Baals quarrell, and that contrary to the will of God. And ſecondly, he threatens them with the feare of Gods iudgement, and that preſently. And thirdly, by an Ironicall ſpeech againſt Baal (ſaying, if he be a God, let him pleade for himſelfe) he ſhameth them, and driues them from their enterprize. And this be ſaid for the layingout of the 31. verſe. In the 32. he giues his ſome a name according to the anſwere hee had made to the people, and that name was Ierrubbaal.
And here in generall occaſion is offered to conſider, how ſtrangely God Doct. in verſe. 22.wrought for Gedeon, and againſt his enemies, beyond al expectation ſtirring vp Ioaſh to aſſiſt and oppoſe the other. Who would not hauehave ſaid, that the people would hauehave borne downe Gedeon, they being backed ſo ſtrongly, and hauing an idolatrous Magiſtrate on their ſide? But behold, the Lord turnes his heart as he pleaſeth, and makes him ſtand out in the defenſe of his ſonnes act, whoſe cruell Iudge he had been more like to bee, to condemne him to death, as theſe mad people required, and looked for. And wee muſt thinke that it was no ſmall courage to him, to doe thus, though a Magiſtrate. For this concourſe of the people was not ordinary, in a iudiciall manner but mutinous, and not vnlike to that of Demetrius in the caſe of Dianaes worſhip. But the ſame God, who (when hee ſaw it meet) cauſed Lyſias, an Heathen Captaine, to become a Protector of Paul againſt the Iewes: and Paul himſelfe to be a Preacher of the Goſpel which he had before perſecuted, did this alſo, and his hand is not yet ſhortned from doing the like for the good of his Church, and incouragement of his people, according to that ſaying of the Wiſe man: When a mans waies pleaſe the Lord, he will make his very enemies Prou. …6. 7.his friends: and by conſequent, thoſe things which were moſt feared, as being like to worke moſt againſt them, he will make them to worke contrarily, euen to their moſt good and furtherance: and beſides, God turnes the hearts of men, as riuers of water. Examples we hauehave in Cyrus the reſtorer of the Iewes, and the worſhip of God. Pilates wife, Achiſth to Dauid, &c. But this by the way onelyonly.
More particularly, we may ſee in Ioaſh, who was before an Idolater, but being inſtructed about the will of God againſt that wickedneſſe, how ſoone hee was able to reſiſt and ſtand againſt it. This teacheth that it is but ignorance and vnbeliefe, that cauſeth many to practiſe and maintaine, either a falſe worſhipping of God, or any like wickedneſſe: though I denie not, but ſome doe worſe, who though they know it to be euill, yet will doe ſo wilfullie. The other are to be better hoped of; who if the Lord vouchſafe them the merciemercy that he did Ioaſh, ſhall ſoone bee changed from their former ill courſe, and abhorre and ſtand againſt that moſt deadly, which before they maintained and practiſed. And therefore a deteſtable ſtate to liue in, is Popery, out of the which they will not ſo much as ſeeke to be brought, by hearing the Goſpell preached, and therefore they lie ſtill therein to their confuſion, with all ſuch as doe like vntounto them. Whereas many in other kinds of ſinne, are brought out of it by preaching, and are turned to God by true repentance. Agreeable whereunto is that of Paul, I was a perſecutor, blaſphemer, 1. Tim. 1. 15.&c. but the Lord had merciemercy vponupon me, becauſe I did it ignorantly. Noting that one cauſe why few of his ſect were conuerted, becauſe, as our Sauiour ſaith, They Ioh. 9. 41.knew they did euill, therefore their ſinne remained. This is not to incourage any to liue in ignorance; for the leaſt puniſhment is condemnation, if men preferre Ioh. 3. 19.darkneſſe to light, whatſoeuer the cauſe be. But as Chriſt ſaith, in Matthew 2. The iudgement of Tyrus and Zidon ſhall bee eaſier then of Corazin Matth. 11. 20.and Bethſaidah at the day of Gods comming, for they had repented, if they had been inſtructed. The vſe is, to comfort ſuch as affect to be ignorant, hoping thereby to eſcape Gods wrath: whereas rather they ſhould conſider that their ignorance wil procure it, yea, is a chiefe cauſe of other ſinne which cauſeth it: yea and becauſe that it is eaſie and no hard matter for ſuch as are ſimplie and not wilfully ignorant, to get knowledge and faith, if they would applie themſelues to hearing; therefore ſeeing they perſiſt in their blindnes, they cauſe an inuincible ignorance to grow vponupon themſelues, which ſhal be as ſeuerely puniſhed as obſtinate diſobedience and contempt. But let ſuch as God hath mercifully enlightned, conſider and pitie the thouſands that lie in darkeneſſe, praying God to preuent them with the light, wondering that Iohn 14. 22.God ſhould reueal himſelfe to them, rather then to the world.
Alſo we may learne from hence, that when God ſheweth merciemercy to one Doct. 2.in a kindred or family, it oft redounds to many of the reſt, as when one is raiſed to promotion, the reſt fare the better. So here God reuealing himſelfe to Gedeon; his father, and ſo his familie were brought to the knowledge of the true God. The reaſon whereof is double. Firſt, Gods bleſſing vponupon the ſeed & ſtock of the righteous. Secondly, becauſe where God hath wrought graciouſlie in ſome one in a kindred or family, there commonly is wrought a great deſire to doe good to the reſt, and that in great tenderneſſe and louelove. As Paul profeſſeth to the Romans, My hearts deſire for Iſrael is, that he may Rom. 10. 1.be ſaued. And although they doe not alway preuaile (becauſe ſaluation followeth Gods election, not nature) yet often it doth: and where it is otherwiſe, the iuſter is their condemnation. For proofe of this, our Sauiour Chriſt himſelfe may bee an example, who brought his diſciples, and ſome of his kindred to be religious. And he hath taught vsus, that the Goſpell is compared to leuin, which ſpreaddeth further and further. And thus by ſome one whom God hath well ſeaſoned with grace, many of the reſt hauehave been in like manner made partakers of the ſame grace with them. A ioyfull ſight to behold. I would it were not ſo in Poperie, that one did draw many: and it were to be wiſhed, that it might be ſeene to be more common in the receiuing of the Goſpell effectually, that the reſt of the familie and affinity did ſo. This, I ſay, is often ſeene; though commonly one of a city, and two of a tribe, as the Prophet ſaith, meaning but a few. Yea, how often is it ſeene, that a godly Abigail is coupled with a Nabal, and Iob with a fooliſh woman? How truly is it ſaid of many good parents, Their children are vngratious, as they tell Samuel to his face? yea and of how many parents alſo, who are badly diſpoſed, 1. Sam. 8. 5.that euen their children ſhall riſe vp againſt them, and condemne them, for that they go before them in knowledge & the feare of God? while they being wedded to their will, take ſcorne to learne of them; nay, it were well, if they would learne of good teachers, and that they abuſed not their authoritie to curbe and diſcourage their children. But as for the third ſort, moſt wofull is their eſtate, when like father like child, as the head is ſo is the foote, all ignorant, brutiſh and vngodly, as Eſay ſaith.
Now further by Ioaſh his anſwer, let vsus conſider ſome thing, and then by the people, as occaſion is offered. In him by the ſpeeches he vſed, note we Doct. 3. Verſ. 31.the properties of a worthie magiſtrate, to wit, to defend Gods true worſhip, and to caſt downe idolatrie, to oppoſe himſelfe againſt the ſeditious and cauillers, and other wicked men, euen vntounto death. His countenance, courage and power, beſide his affection, ought to be manifeſted in Magiſtrates, for the defence and ſtabliſhing of all Gods ſeruice; and ſo ſhould it be alſo in meaner men. But the commonneſſe of euil, and the ſtrength that it hath got in al places, dulleth the edge of the moſt of theſe now a daies. And this ſlackneſſe Matth. 24. 12.and coldneſſe, in Magiſtrates is as truly the cauſe why iniquitie ſo aboundeth, as any other: ſo that if euill hauing the vpper hand doe cauſe both publike officers of iuſtice, and priuate perſons to be more vnable to reſiſt it, and ſo the more vnwilling to goe about to puniſh it, they may thanke themſelues. Dauid profeſſeth of himſelfe, that betimes he would cut off from the Pſalm. 101. 8.houſe of God, the wicked: that is, all ſcorners and maligners of the ſound worſhip and worſhippers of God. Oh it were to be wiſhed (& indeed in that we pray no more earneſtly for ſuch, wee iuſtly complaine) that all gouernours were of Dauid his minde, that ſo the reſt might liue vnderunder their authoritie, an honeſt and quiet life, free from the noiſomnes of ſuch goates as by their hornes and ſtinch peſter the ſheepe, which would faine liue peaceably, and ſerue the Lord by them. For when the common ſort ſee ſwearing, blaſphemie, the contempt of the Sabbath, drunkenneſſe, and other abominations to ſwarme in many places, who ſeeth not that both they dare more boldly doe the ſame, and that they who will not, ſhall be ſcorned and grieued to ſee them?
We may further note here that ſinne ought to be ſo odious, and in ſo vile Doct. 4.account, that we ſhould be much grieued to behold the maintaining of it, and them that will ſtand for it. For now that Ioaſh was himſelf armed againſt idolatry, he demaunds if they, the blind people would ſtand for it, and plead for Baal. And yet they might hauehave replied, we plead no more for him, then thou thy ſelfe haſt done, and that very lately, in whoſe groue Baal was placed. But now the caſe was altered with Ioaſh, euen as it was with Paul, when he preached the Goſpell which he had perſecuted before. It is a notable token of repentance, when mens affections and deſires are quite changed from the euill things, which before they could not be drawne from: yea 2 Cor. 7. 11.and when they breake out into holy indignation at themſelues and other, for the ſins which they committed againſt God, although they know them forgiuen. And ſurely, an vpright hearted man would thinke that all ſhould abhorre the ſin that he hateth, and it grieueth him to ſee another deceiued and held in the ſnare that he himſelf hath bin holden in: & therfore counts it abſurd that any ſhould maintaine and delight in it: whereas the contrary now a daies may bee ſeene, that hee is diligently marked that will ſtand againſt it: and ſo few there be ſo well minded, that they may ſoone be noted.
Their ſhamefull boldnes is likewiſe to be marked by the words of Ioaſh here, ſaying; Will ye plead for Baal? he that doth ſo, let him die before the morning. Who although they ſaw the Magiſtrate againſt them, yet they were ſo blind, that they ſtood in the defence of their idolatrie. And euen ſo we may ſay; Great is the boldnes that is growne vp in this age, while not only they doe the euils openly, which men and women in former ages hauehave bluſhed for the ſecret doing of the ſame [be it the ſinne of Zimri and Cozby or the like]: but alſo ſuch dare reuile and raile vponupon thoſe who ſpeake againſt their lewd doings. But theſe truly verifie the ſaying, The wicked men and deceiuers 2. Tim. 3. 13.waxe worſe. And how ſhould it be that in the laſt daies ſhould be ſo perilous times, if as the day of the world groweth neerer to an end, ſo ſinne waxed not more and more out of meaſure ſinfull? And that, both for the number of ſinnes, (for we ſee new additions and faſhions daily) and for the meaſure alſo, I meane the greedines, impudencie and pertinacie of ſinners, who are not aſhamed of their euils, but with the harlot in the Prouerbs, who wipeth her ſelfe as cleane of all her filthineſſe, as if ſhe had been a virgin. Wee ſee whores were growne, by that time, to a degree of boldnes: for Tamar was iudged an whore by her father, becauſe ſhe had couered her face. But this Gen. 38. 15.maske is long agoe pluckt off, not onelyonly from them that bee of her occupation, but the moſt ſpirituall adulterers now a daies, are ſo farre from being aſhamed to ſhew their faces, that they are not thought maſters of their trade, if they dare not ſpit in the face of modeſtie and all reprouers. And what is to be ſaid of the aged, and men in wealth, (who hauehave ſomewhat to beare them out) when euen youthes (of both ſexes) whoſe honour ſhould be their bluſhing, (which euen heathens called the Colour of vertue) are braſen faced, and inferiours of al ſorts take vp that curſed ſpeech, who is Lord Pſal 12. 4.ouer vsus? But oh, who doth not ſee the Lords marke ſet vponupon them, while by ſhame, and ſorow their belliesful, with other miſeries, they come daily eueryevery one in his courſe, to a wofull end?
Furthermore, it was well anſwered by Ioaſh, Let Baal plead for himſelfe: Doct. 5.meaning, if he can, what need you? if he cannot, it were a ſhame to pleade for ſuch a god, as could not plead his owne cauſe. As Elias alſo, in the like 1. King. 18.caſe, ſaid to the blind people: and ſo it may be ſaid to all maintainers of Idolatrie, and ſuch like abomination; If the Idols be gods, whom they worſhip, let them keepe themſelues from the fire. And they who will needs thinke their doings to be good in maintaining and reaſoning for ſuch ſtockes, let them waite and ſee what will be the end thereof, and what will come of them. They were well ſet a worke to plead for him, who was ſo farre from helping them in their neede, that hee could not reuenge his owne cauſe againſt ſuch as would deface him: and ſo are all that are like them; ſuch a maſter he is whom they ſerue.
Laſtly, out of this verſe 31. and the former, in that Gedeon ſeruing God ſo Doct. 6.commendably, as he was commanded, (for which alſo hee is by name commended as a worthie perſon, and a beleeuer) was yet called ſeditious of Heb. 11. 32.them that were themſelues ſo indeede, and that therefore hee was counted worthie to die, who yet was the meane whereby the other did liue, note that when the wicked are charged neuer ſo iuſtly for their euill doings, yet they euer returne the accuſation vponupon their accuſers. For example, the doctrine of Gods word, and the Preachers thereof, doe by Gods bleſſing, become the meanes and outward inſtruments of much good doing, and ſome turne from their euill waies thereby, but what diſſenting is there among the reſt for this, when they ſee it? In ſuch wiſe, as that they fall commonly to this exclamation, that both teachers and ſuch as follow their doctrine, are troublers of the people, but as for themſelues, they hauehave done no euill. Euen as the Papiſts crie on the other ſide, that they are diſturbed and diſquieted, for that they may not be ſuffered to ſerue God, as they would bee glad to doe, nor their Prieſts to ſet foorth their pedlary ware to ſale, to the ignorant and ſuperſtitious, whom they had ſometime deceiued, and as their fellowes in many places ſtill doe, no leſſe palpably, then Simon Magus did the people of Samaria, whom he had with his ſorceries bewitched.
Theſe will not ſuffer their Idolatrous worſhip at any hand to bee ouerthrowne, but ſay, as the people ſaid to Ieremy, We will worſhip the Queene Ierem. 44. 19.of heauen that is, the Moone and other ſtarres: and as the fooliſh people of Epheſus, who cried out in a mad mood, Great is Diana of the Epheſians, when Acts 19. 34.yet who were more vnlike to make tumults and ſedition, then they whom they accuſed, as Paul and his companie? So (to leaue theſe, and to returne to them whom I began with) thus crie the wicked out when their lewd doings bee reproued iuſtly out of pulpits; Preachers are ſeditious; they make ſtrife and tumults where they come, and draw people after them, whereas they were quiet and well enough before: but who are they whom they draw? euen thoſe who forſake their companie, whom I ſpeake of, and leaue off their curſed manners and behauiour, ſo that they are now depriued of them, therefore now they make their part good againſt them, crying out that they are ſeditious. Thus Elias was charged to trouble the land, when he taught the true ſeruice of God, and reproued Idolatrie, but he ſhewed who were troublers of the land, to all that liſt to know it, euen ſuch as be not obedient to the commandements of the Lord. But that all may ſee, that ſuch are not to be charged as troubleſome perſons, whoſe preaching bewraieth the bad ſort, who are therefore incenſed againſt them, becauſe their euill deedes are brought to light by them; neither they who obey their doctrine, though they bee hated of the greateſt part; that ſaying of our Sauiour teacheth: I came not to ſend peace into the earth, but the ſword, and debate. And againe, Matth. 10. 34.I am come to ſet fire on the earth, and what is my deſire if it be alreadie kindled? Luke 12. 49.So that if ciuill diſtenſion and trouble follow vponupon our preaching, and profeſſing, it is the filthie heart of the rebellious ſort, out of which that ſtinch commeth, as out of a dunghill, who can away with no better ſauour.
Now in that Ioaſh called his ſonne Ierubbaal, [Baal ſhall contend againſt Doct. verſ. 32.him] not in reproch, but for a memoriall he did it; which brought the Idol into contempt. So hee was called Ierubboſheth, 2. Sam. 11. 21. This ſheweth, that he was ſo farre from being aſhamed of his owne or his ſonnes fact, that he reioyced in it that Idolatrie had the foile by his meanes, as all well minded people ſhould doe the like. But I proceed.