Commentary on Judges, Sermon 46
THE FORTIE SIXE SERMON ON THE SEVENTH CHAPTER OF THE BOOKE OF IVDGES.
HEere the Lord ſhewes Gedeon who they were that Verſe 5. 6.ſhould goe with him to the warre, when they were led to the waters, and thoſe were three hundred which lapped water out of their hands: for theſe were induſtrious and fit for their buſineſſe more then the other that drunk kneeling downe, who were like to hauehave been an vnprofitable burden to the reſt by their multitude, and might hauehave giuen aduantage to their enemies by their vnreadineſſe and delay, if occaſion ſhould hauehave been offered. And the thing that the Lord teacheth vsus hereby is this: that although he wil hauehave none to truſt in themſelues, yet he would hauehave them ingenuous and induſtrious men, fit for that which they are imployed about, which thing is requiſite in all callings and buſineſſe for men to bee willing, diligent, and skilfull about that they profeſſe, and take in hand, that with good conſcience all may be performed: ſo the contrary of Chriſtians is to be auoided, whether miniſter, magiſtrate, or priuate perſon, the husband diligent handed, the wife huſwifely: none lazie, idle, careleſſe. But of this I ſpake more in the ſtory of Othoniel and Caleb, before chap. 1.
Here the Lord ſaith, that by thoſe three hundred men, hee would deliuer Verſe 7.Iſrael: which was another ſtrong confirmation of Gedeons faith: for by this he was perſwaded to obtaine that which hee had already begun to belieue. And this ought to bee well marked of vsus, as the thing which wee hauehave great Note.need off. For who can ſo ſtedfaſtly belieue, as he ought, and hold conſtant therein? but by daily and continuall meanes, the Lord doth much reuiue and quicken our faith, to hold on our hope and confidence: which two graces wee muſt hauehave well ſetled in vsus, and as faith is ſtrengthened in vsus, ſo are theſe two. The excellencie of hope is ſeene in the epiſtle to the Corinths in theſe words: God who hath deliuered vsus from ſo great a death, and doth deliuer 2. Cor. 1. 10.vsus, in him we hope alſo, that he will deliuer vsus.
The Price and worthines of the other, is to be ſeene clearely in the Epiſtle to the Hebrewes, thus: Caſt not away your confidence, for it hath great recompence Heb. 10. 32. Note.of reward: theſe two (faith and confidence) make their whole life ſweet and ioyfull, who had them both, as Dauid who ſaid of confidence (which is the fruit of faith, My heart is fixed, I will ſing and giuegive thanks. The vſe hereof, is this, that wee looke well to it, that wee find our part in theſe by oft hearing, and all manner of repetitions and experience of Gods promiſes, concerning his fauour from time to time toward vsus, and therewith to marke our often faintings, doubts and feares, yea, and that about one and the ſame action, that we may ſee cauſe the better to fortifie our ſelues againſt them. But alas few marke any ſuch thing, I meane euen of thoſe, who may take good thereby, (for all are not capable of it) but ſhrinke at the hearing of any hardneſſe comming toward them, and ſo gather no experience of their faith, hope and confidence againſt new trials to come: or of their weaknes, but impatiently Note.goe vnderunder their afflictions, and ſo are more ready to faint vnderunder their burdens afterward.
It was Gods great mercy, that theſe three hundred did ſo willingly and Verſ. 8. The ſenſe.readily follow and obey Gedeon, according to the word of God to him, which they alſo heard, I grant: but yet had not God perſwaded them inwardly beſides, they would hauehave departed with the reſt 31700. and would hauehave both grudged at the liberty of the other, who were diſmiſſed, and hauehave refuſed to beare the burden alone, yea they would hauehave forſaken him, if they had not looked vntounto God. Where we ſhould note, that in doing our duties Doct.required by God, we muſt not regard the forwardneſſe or backwardneſſe of others ſo much, nor what they doe: but what it is that God looketh for at our hands. Thus Caleb and Ioſuah encouraged the people to goe forward againſt the Canaanites, not looking at the backwardneſſe of the other ſpies. For as Gods word and authoritie hauehave inough in them to perſwade vsus, ſo if Numb. 13. 28. 29. 33.we looke any other way, as to mens example, or to the iſſue, or our own conceits and diſcouragements, wee may bee ſure they will eaſily coole and diſmay Note.vsus. Therefore (I ſay) the practiſe of theſe, diſcouers a great ſinne in many: who if they hauehave a burden laid vponupon them, grudge that any other ſhould be free: but in matters of priuiledge and honour, grudge that any ſhould be their partners. Both theſe we ſee exemplified in the Apoſtles of Chriſt and the diſciples of Iohn. The Apoſtles ſeeing one caſting out of diuels, who was none of their Maſters followers: had indignation and complained to our Sauiour. They thought none but Chriſt and themſelues worthy of ſuch an office. So Iohns diſciples grudged at Chriſts, becauſe they faſted often, but Chriſts faſted not. They thought they had wrong in that others were Note.not held to it, as hardly as they. The cauſe of the former is eſpecially pride and vnthankfulneſſe: of the latter either ignorance, or that which is worſe, euen boldneſſe therewith. And we ſee that he is a rare perſon, who can with equanimitie endure that any ſhould excell him in gifts of body, mind, eſtate, or grace, with the bleſſings accompanying them. Nay many, of a melancholike and fooliſh nature, becauſe themſelues are giuen to penſiuenes, ſadneſſe, &c. enuy and cenſure ſuch as take more libertie in mirth, recreation, company or diet: though (as Paul ſaith) they may both pleaſe God, without condemning on another.
This diſeaſe of looking narrowly to other what they doe, and not to God what hee requireth of our ſelues, (for it is a mixture of many humors, ſelfeloue, curioſitie, diſtruſt and others) this diſeaſe (I ſay) wee may ſee to hauehave been in Peter, who looking to Iohn, (to whom Chriſt ſaid nothing when hee had laid an heauie burden vponupon Peter himſelfe, asked Chriſt, ſaying: Master, Iohn 21. 21.what ſhall this man doe? The like is to bee ſeene in them, mentioned in the Goſpell, when they ſaw other more fauourablie dealt with, then themſelues ſaid grudgingly, We hauehave borne the burthen of the day, &c. So the elder brother of the prodigall repined to ſee him ſo well entertained. So that there being many as by theſe we may ſee, ſo ill minded this way, we may boldly ſay, that it is a ſingular grace of God in all our duties throughout our life, to ſhew forth indifferency and charitie: as alſo to regard what God ſaith to vsus, and not to looke to men what they doe.
But where is this to be ſeene? in a very few: as for example in the Miniſters, when Chriſt ſaith to them (in ſpeaking to Peter) If thou louest me feed my Iohn 21. 15.ſheepe and my lambes, and be diligent therein. If here and there one or a few regard it, yet how do the moſt caſt their charge behind them, and looke at them that take their eaſe, whatſoeuer their words be that they louelove him? So that the force of the word is not ſo much to draw them, as example to withdraw: magiſtrates, houſholders, husbands, wiues, and all that profeſſe the Goſpell, ſhould follow the example of theſe three hundred in their ſeuerall eſtates and callings. But it is ſo farre off from that, with the moſt, that if any other, (and ſpecially if he be of their owne condition and degree) ſhal make conſcience of this dutie more then other, he ſhall be readie to bee ſhaken vp and reuiled, as one that cannot be content to doe as other doe, when yet all may ſee in theſe three hundred how their example is ſet forth to their perpetuall commendation, in that they went not after the other their brethren, but obeyed the commandement of the Lord, in following after Gedeon. And whatſoeuer become of ſuch as are led by the examples of men, and follow their owne deuices, leauing the plaine way, wherein God hath ſet them, (whoſe ſinne in due time ſhall find them out) the other ſhall be knowne by this marke, to be the Lords, that they forſake all by-waies, and depart from euil with Iob, to, teſtifie that they feare him. The example of Ioſhua is worthy Iob 2. 3.our imitation in this point, who profeſſed for himſelfe and his, that they would ſerue the Lord, let the reſt do as they liſted. As if he had ſaid, It ſhould Ioſhua 24. 15.be their beſt way to ſerue the Lord as himſelfe did, if they regarded their owne proſperitie and welfare: but if they were ſo wilfull, as to forſake their owne mercy, he and his had learned to follow a better Maſter, and was reſolued Iona 2. 8.to conſult neither with fleſh nor blood, neither cleaue to lying vanities, but make ſtraight ſteppes to the commandement of God. Indeed if we Exodus 23. 2.ſee others readier then wee, in dutie doing, willinger to beare reproofe, forwarder in well doing, in merciemercy, louelove, meekeneſſe, zeale, ſtronger then we, to endure affliction, or any burden which is vnwelcome to fleſh: then doe wee as they doe: yet looke we not ſo much at them, as at Gods will in their obedience. But in euill follow not the multitude: for the moſt are alwaies worſt: and the beſt differ and varie among themſelues: ſo that except men will goe by a leaden rule, the word of God muſt bee the eternall and vnchangeable canon of dutie. Which canon when it ſhall iudge the actions of men either approouing or condemning them, it ſhall bee but follie for them to run into the croud (as we ſay) and ſhroud themſelues vnderunder the couer of others: whoſe company ſhall aggrauate rather then extenuate their puniſhment. But of following examples, I hauehave ſaid before.
The ſecond part of the Chapter.
Verſ. 9. And the ſame night the Lord ſaid to him, Ariſe, get thee downe vntounto the hoaſt: for I hauehave deliuered it into thy hand.
10. But if thou feare to goe downe, then goe thou and Phurah thy ſeruant down to the hoaſt.
11. And thou ſhalt hearken what they ſay, and ſo ſhall thy hands be ſtrong to goe downe vntounto the hoaſt. Then went he downe, and Phurach his ſeruant vntounto the outſide of the ſouldiers that were in the hoaſt.
12. And the Midianites and the Amalekites, and all they of the Eaſt lay in the valley like graſhoppers in multitude, and their Camels were without number, as the ſand which is by the ſea ſide for multitude.
13. And when Gedeon was come, behold a man told a dreame vntounto his neighbour, and ſaid: Behold I dreamed a dreame, and loe, a cake of barly bread tumbled from aboue into the hoaſt of Midian, and came vntounto a tent, and ſmote it that it fell, and ouerturned it, that the tent fell downe.
14. And his fellow anſwered, and ſaid, this is nothing elſe ſaue the ſword of Gedeon the ſonne of Ioaſh a man of Iſrael: for into his hand hath God deliuered Midian and all the hoaſt.
15. When Gedeon heard the dreame told, and the interpretation of the ſame, hee worſhipped, and returned vntounto the hoaſt of Iſrael, and ſaid, Vp: for the Lord hath deliuered into your hand the hoaſt of Midian.
NOw when the Lord had taken away the ſtrength and power of Gedeon The ſumme of theſe verſes.from him, I meane, his whole armie well nigh, hee knew full well that this would worke mightily vponupon his weakneſſe, to diſmay him: and therefore in this ſecond part of the Chapter it is ſhewed, how God after this, incouraged him, and prouided to remedie that his weakneſſe. And that was in a ſtrange manner done, euen by his enemies. For God bidding him goe downe to the Midianites tents, did there, by a dreame of one of them, and the interpreting of it by another, ſhew Gedeon, that hee ſhould hauehave the victorie ouer them. Which when hee heard, hee was anew confirmed in his faith concerning the victorie, notwithſtanding the ſmall number of men which he had with him.
And firſt here let vsus ſee how God bringeth Gedeon neerer and neerer to The ſenſe and doctrine of verſ. 9.the brunt and triall: for now he will hauehave him goe to the very campe of his enemies, which to doe, was to come neerer to danger, then all that had gone before. But ſo did the Lord alſo adde new comfort vntounto him, as his triall Note.was greater. For hee ſaith: I will deliuer them into thy hands, though the danger and feare that might be like to ariſe to thee thereby, may ſeeme greater now, then it was before. And it may appeare by the next verſe, that Gedeons feare was greater, and increaſed: for the Lord ſaith, If thou feare to goe downe, &c. And this ſheweth vsus, that ordinarily the neerer a triall in any ſore affliction that we feele, doth come toward the iſſue, the more it worketh vponupon vsus. The reaſon is, becauſe while affliction is a far off, the ſenſe is not prouoked by the imagination of it ſo much, as whē it draweth neere, and threatens vsus. But then commonly the minde multiplieth the greatneſſe of it, by feare. As the Diſciples were not greatly troubled for their Maſters departure, Iohn 14. 1.till they ſaw there was no remedie, but they muſt needes forgoe him. Which teacheth, that when any ſuch feare hangeth ouer vsus, we ſhould not onelyonly from the firſt hearing of it, frame and ſettle our hearts againſt ſudden diſtemper, and aggrauating of it by our fooliſh conceits, to bee patient and willingly ſubiect to the hand of God therein, and to weigh our owne weaknes, that as wee may wiſely beware of fainting, ſo wee may pray to God for ſtrength: but alſo daily, and oft continue ſuch exerciſe, and the neerer the iſſue, the more feruently, (like to our Sauiour in his agonie and feare, before the comming of Iudas and the reſt to take him) as feare indeed will then be readie moſt of all to aſſault vsus.
And if we faint then, we may know our ſtrength was neuer great. For as Prou 24. 10. Iames 1. 4.patience ſhould hauehave her perfect worke to helpe vsus beare affliction vntounto the end, when it is come vponupon vsus: ſo wee ought to giuegive patience the perfect worke before it come, in keeping downe painful feare of it, till it come. And Note.by all that hath been ſaid of this matter here, and in the former proceſſe of the hiſtorie, we may ſee, that wee muſt oft and much be ſtrengthened both againſt the feare that riſeth before the trouble come, and the ſmart that it cauſeth when it is come, till the danger be paſt and ouer. And it is a good ſigne that affliction when it commeth, ſhall not much diſguiſe and aſtoniſh vsus, when we weaken the terror of it after that manner, and by often meditating of the certaintie of our deliuerance there from, and preparing for our affliction accordingly, before it come: otherwiſe it will come vponupon vsus as an armed man, againſt whom there is no reſiſtance.
And ſeeing God fortified Gedeon with a new promiſe of his helpe, euen when he ſhould goe downe to the armie of his enemies, as hee came neerer Doct. 2. in verſ. 9.the perill: ſo we may learne, that as trouble ſhall ariſe to Gods people, euen ſo ſhall their comforts alſo increaſe. According to that of the Apoſtle, God 1. Cor. 10. 13.is faithfull, who will not ſuffer you to be tempted aboue that ye be able, but as your troubles encreaſe, ſo ſhall your conſolations, and hee will giuegive the iſſue with the temptation, that ye may be able to beare it. And though it be one and the ſame word and promiſe, yet it hath force at one time as well as at another, to ſtrengthen vsus, if wee hauehave faith to lay hold on it. Such is the Lords dealing with vsus, to minſe our meate for vsus, when our diet likes vsus not: this coſt he is willing to be at: So that we neede not complaine in ſuch manner: Oh this trouble is intollerable; it will draw foorth the heart blood, I ſhall ſinke Note.vnderunder it, &c. For it is not required of vsus to ſtand by our owne ſtrength, but to deriue it from Chriſt our head, in whom all the promiſes of God are ratified. And this in the loſſe of friends, goods, or life, or in the likelihood thereof, or in any other affliction, is euer a fit remedie to ſtay vsus vp and comfort vsus. So that I cannot tell what we would looke for at Gods hands more, vnleſſe wee would deſire Angels from heauen to certifie vsus of his minde, which he alloweth vsus not in this age to looke for. But becauſe this hath been oft entreated of before, I ſpare needleſſe repetitions.