Commentary on Judges, Sermon 58

Commentary on Judges · Sermon 58

p. 468THE FIFTIE EIGHT SERMON ON THE NINTH CHAPTER OF THE BOOKE OF IVDGES.

The third part of the Chapter.

Verſ. 22. So Abimelech raigned three yeeres ouer Iſrael.

23 And the Lord ſent an euill ſpirit betwixt Abimelech and the men of Shechem, and the men of Shechem brake their promiſe to Abimelech.

24. That the crueltie toward the ſeuentie ſonnes of Ierubbaal, and their blood might come and be laid vponupon Abimelech their brother which had ſlaine them, and vponupon the men of Shechem who had aided him to kill his brethren.

25. So the men of Shechem ſet men to waite for him in the tops of the mountaines: who robbed all that paſſed that way by them, and it was told Abimelech.

NOw it followeth in this third part of the chapter, how both The ſenſe.Abimelech and the men of Shechem were deſtroyed; with the occaſions and meanes thereof, which were two: firſt the diſcord betwixt them and diſſenſion: ſecondly open warre both which made way thereunto. Theſe are to the 42. verſe: and the deſtroying one the other to the end of the chapter. For the firſt, it is ſaid that the Lord ſent an euill ſpirit betwixt them, euen the ſpirit of Satan, and therefore there muſt needs be diſcord betwixt them, as in theſe verſes appeares, to the 26. And being thus at diſſenſion, they were prouoked to fight, till each ſlew other, as I hauehave ſaid. But before I enter into, and lay open theſe things, this is to be conſidered, firſt, that is ſaid here, that Abimelech ruled ouer Iſrael three yeres. Which words are a preparatiue to that which followeth: for thus they are to be taken; that after theſe words of Iotham, thus vttered, Abimelech raigned three yeeres notwithſtanding, and the men of Shechem and he made a ſhift to hold together ſo long. All which while a man would hauehave thought Iotham his parable had been but a dreame and deluſion: But when three yeeres (a ſhort time to ſpeake of for a King to enioy his crowne) were come about, then the Lords threat began to take effect, (for how ſhould it be otherwiſe?) though a little while it were deferred? Now if the time had been long, men might eaſily hauehave forgotten Iotham, but being within three yeeres thus fulfilled, who might not remember the prophecie, and note the accompliſhment thereof? Thus the Lord will hauehave his iudgements ceaſe vponupon his enemies: ſo that they who ſee them, may ſay, This is no caſuall miſchance which hath befallen them, but the hand of God purſuing them manifeſtly, for ſuch or ſuch a tranſgreſſion.

p. 469It is not ſaid, that hee was Iudge ouer Iſrael, for they were raiſed vp by God, but hee ruled and vſurped, as Tyrants vſe to doe. And to begin firſt Doct. verſ. 22.with his proſperity in that God gaue him this ſhort time to inioy his deſire, and to dominere as he did, it is to teach vsus, that he doth for ſome little time, giuegive wicked men their longed for deſires; and yet not for that he applaudeth them therein, but that they may hauehave time to repent, and to bethinke themſelues what they hauehave done, and how they hauehave gone to worke, and how many waies they hauehave prouoked God; and that if they refuſe ſo to do, they may ſee that they be iuſtly reiected, and that God had no pleaſure in them, in their greateſt floriſh. Zimry and Cozby, Chorah and Haman, with the Rich man in the Goſpell, and others many, a ſhort time they had to worke, and accompliſh their deſires, and take their pleaſure, and enioy the luſt of their hearts. And indeed ſo ſhort a time had need bee well improoued, while it laſts, for when that time was ouer and paſt, what heare yee, euen this, that their folly, nay their ſhame and madneſſe, was manifeſted and ſpoken of in all places. Neither ſhould their reproch and downefall hauehave been ſo notable, if they had not proudly paſſed their bounds, and carried themſelues too loftily before. Many waies, wee ſee, God hath to deſtroy ſuch. Sometime he ſuffers them not to plant themſelues at all, but croſſes them in the enterpriſe, as Abſolon and Adonija: ſometimes hee ſuffers them to take deepe roote, and giues them a long time, but it is with much vexation and vnſetling; as Pharao and Ahab. And otherwhiles he lets them flouriſh but a ſhort time, and puls them vp ere they bee halfe rooted, as this Abimelech. Whether he keepes them from attaining that which they ſeeke, or keepes them vnderunder, or plucks them vp againe, let them learne by them all, that he is wiſe, and knowes how to handle them, and to ſhelter his owne from the annoyance of them. Dauid, Pſal. 37. ſpeaking of this third ſort of flouriſhers, Pſal. 37. 35. 36.Ps 37:35Ps 37:36whom he compares to the greene Bay tree, (which though it be barren, yet keepes the colour both Winter and Sommer) addeth this, that they are ſuddenly and horribly conſumed: and it is the argument of many Pſalmes, and the ſumme of that which Iobs friends ſo much inſiſt vponupon, (though they apply it prepoſterouſly) That the happineſſe of the wicked is ſhort. So that wee muſt not wonder if they plie their worke apace, and take the vttermoſt of their libertie: for the diuell teacheth them ſo to doe; who rageth the more violently, knowing he is tied by a ſhorttether. Doubtleſſe their ſhortiolitie, is the vantage of the Church, which hath many a breathings betwixt whiles, by their diſcontinuance: euen as wee ſee Suſhans perplexitie vnderunder Hamans malice, was turned into ioy, in his ruine. Naturall Philoſophers obſerue, that the creatures which are moſt noiſome and hurtfull, are ſome way or other ſo reſtrained (either by paucity, ſhort life, or the like) that they cannot doe the harme they would. But if God did not reſtraine men as wel as beaſts, they would waxe more monſtrous.

And be we wiſe, though the world bee ſet on wilfulneſſe, and miſchiefe, let not our teeth water after their dainties: the beſt whereof is a ſhort flouriſhing, to tickle fooles with a deſire of the like; but they ſee not their day comming, which vet is at hand, like a whirle-wind and tempeſt to ſcatter their pleaſures and glory; and like a fire to deuoure and conſume all, moſt fearefully: which painted eſtate of theirs, all may ſee to be farre from the p. 470grace which the Lord wiſheth to his people, when he ſaith, Oh, that they were wiſe to conſider their end. And yet the worſt end of the other is not Deut. 32. 29.Deut 32:29ſeene. And Gods mercy is great in cutting them off ſo ſoone: who elſe ſhould liue with them, beſides the preuenting of much iniquitie, which would make their account heauier. For all this, one followes the ſteppes of another, and the child, when he comes into his fathers place, beginneth not at firſt, to weigh the ſhortneſſe of his life, how ſoone he ſhall be, as his father is, that is, cut off from al, that ſo he might apply his heart to wiſdome, but taketh poſſeſſion of his place, as if he were riuited into it for perpetuity, Pſalm. 90. 12.Ps 90:12and will not ſo much as thinke of any change or remouall from thence.

But to goe forward: this euill ſpirit that was ſent betwixt them, being the firſt occaſion of their ouerthrow, was the diuell; by whoſe malice and Verſ. 23.ſubtiltie, ill will and hatred were kindled betwixt them, yea and inflamed: and this, with the breaking their promiſe, doth ſhew vsus clearely, that the Doct.league and friendſhip of the wicked is ſoone broken off: For why? it hath no good ground. And although there be ſome outward things which vphold it, as hope of profit, pleaſure, preferment, and the ſeruing one of anothers turne; although (I ſay) theſe and ſuch like, patch vp an agreement betwixt them for a while, yet their hearts are inconſtant, and many things fall out to breed alienation of affection one from another, and a pritch is ſoone Note.taken, many conceits ariſe, and reports are carried betwixt them, and who can reckon vp all: And yet if there were no other cauſe hereof, (as yet there is, for they daube vp their friendſhip with vntempered morter, which falleth away) this were inough that is ſpoken of here, that God can ſend an ill ſpirit betwixt them, euen then, when they are moſt ſtrongly combined and knit together: and cauſe them to breake their promiſe one to another, and iarre and diſagree. And although it bee a great reproch to them, that their contentions ſhould break out and be knowne, (as if both conſent together to ſmite the righteous) and therefore in wicked policie they doe what they can, to hide them; yet otherwiſe they are diuided, and ſtrongly incenſed one againſt the other, which alſo breaketh out ſometime, and ſo confirmeth this truth, that though they ſeemed to be glued in friendſhip and familiaritie together, and make men belieue, that their louelove is firme, yet their league is rotten, and they grow to bee at defiance one with the other, and that oft times betwixt themſelues ſecretly, before it breake foorth in the ſight of men. The vſe whereof is, that we make no ſuch wicked and curſed leagues. Vſe.Secondly, that we account no otherwiſe of them where they be made, but as of the Spiders web, ſoone ſwept downe: and thirdly, praiſe God highlie when wee ſee them broken. For that turneth to the great benefit of the Church, and the diuers members of it: as we reade that the diuiſion of the Phariſies and Sadduces turned to Pauls deliuerance from their rage. But let Act. 23. 10.Acts 23:10the godly continue their league, that their louelove may be ſtrong, as a threefold cord, that is not eaſily broken. Neither let them neglect their mutuall examples Eccleſ. 4. 12.Eccl 4:12to profit thereby; but rather be aſhamed that heauen ſhould not tie them together faſter, then hell tieth the vngodly: yea, let them bee aſhamed (I ſay) that euen the ſmalleſt trifle and a very conceit of one againſt another, is enough to eſtrange them, as it too often falleth out, and to ſet them at defiance betwixt themſelues, till the wicked laugh them and their profeſſion p. 471to ſcorne: whereas theſe curſed leagues of the malignant hold ſometime longer, though they be bound together with rotten threads, through wicked policie, which out reneweth them, (except the Lord diſioyne and ſeparate them) eſpecially if their concord and agreement be in oppoſing the innocent.

And ſeeing God curſeth and ſcatters theſe combinations of the wicked, as faſt as they vnite and ſtrengthen themſelues, as Pſalm. 2. ſaying of them Pſalm 2. 1.Ps 2:1as Iacoh did of Simeon and Leui, Curſed be their rage, curſed be their counſell: let Geneſ …not the godly ſo much feare their bandings, and faſt knittings of themſelues together, as looke patiently till this curſe, as a moth, conſume them. Iehoſhaphat, 2. Chron. 20. ſeeing Moab, Ammon and Seir confederate to deſtroy …him, feared at the firſt: but when he ſaw the ſword of each againſt other, till they had made a riddance of all, he was comforted; euen as that myſterie of the late matchleſſe treaſon, with what deepe ſecrecie was it carried, how ſtrongly complotted, how firmely were the agents thereof vnited? euen as firmely as oth, vow and the Sacrament (abuſed) might knit them: but the Lord (bleſſed for euer by his name) ſent a ſpirit of diuiſion betweene them, they were detected and diſcouered by each other.

And in that it is ſaid, that the Lord ſent this euill ſpirit betwixt them, wee Doct. 2.may note, that though God be not the author of euill (as ſome would (perhaps) be too ready to gather) yet that ſinne which is in the wicked, hidden in their hearts, and neuer ſo ſecret, he bringeth forth at his pleaſure, and lets it breake out at his commandement, ruling, and ouer-ruling the ſame. And they that nouriſh it in themſelues, and doe not giuegive it a vent by repentance, may euer iuſtly feare, and doe ſometime too truly find, that as water pent in, breakes out violently in ſome place or other: euen ſo the ſinne that is intertained Note.in mens hearts, ſhall one time or other breake out, to their ſhame in their liues. But as the ſtinke of the dunghill riſeth not from the Sunne, no more (aſſure we our ſelues) doth ſinne proceed from God.

Alſo by this diuiſion betwixt them, we may note, that when God ſuffers Doct. 3.diuiſion among the wicked, or an euill ſpirit any way to leade them, it is to puniſh their leaud fellowſhip, and to reuenge the ſinne of both parts, and to make each the others executioner. And yet, Oh what a ſweet libertie it is thought to be, to inioy fellowſhip with ſuch? We ſee that the thatcht houſes A Simile.which ſtand cloſe together, though they fence each other from the violence of weather for a time, yet if one be on fire, it ſerueth but to haſten the conſumption of the other. And ſo there is no knot ſo wickedly knit betwixt men, but (while it laſteth) it bringeth (I grant) ſome benefit to the confederates: but when once the Lord hath diſſolued the band, their greateſt vnion turnes to the moſt deadly enmitie that can be, and is as the diuiſion of brethren, Prou. 18. 19.Prov 18:19ſtronger then the braſen barres of a palace or citie gates. And firſt, grudges ſecretly being conceiued, they are nouriſhed by iealouſies and ſuſpitions exaſperated by daily iniuries, till they breake out into hatred, and end in extremitie. Theſe things are commonly ſeene: but who beholdeth Gods iuſtice therein? or is thereby flayted and feared from hauing any thing to doe with ſuch? or made wiſe to lay a better foundation of their amity and friendſhip?

p. 472Furthermore, by this, that God would hauehave the blood of the innocent Verſ. 24.ſonnes of Gedeon reuenged vponupon Abimelech and the men of Shechem, hee teacheth vsus, that hee will reuenge the innocents cauſe, and ſo he made the blood of Abel cry out for vengeance. The Lord will bleſſe them that bleſſe Geneſ. 12. 3.Gen 12:3his, and curſe them that curſe his. And the greater the perſons are, and the wrong that is done to them, the more God will pay them home, who are guiltie of tranſgreſſion and ſpite againſt them. As when the Lords annointed are ſtricken at, as lawfull Kings, and Gods faithfull miniſters; for which cauſe he ſaith, Touch not mine annointed, and doe my Prophets no harme.Pſalm. 105. 15.Ps 105:15

Therefore thoſe runnagate Ieſuites, that roote out and kil Chriſtian Princes, and ſubuert kingdomes, ſo farre as in them lieth, hath the Lord branded with a mark of perpetual infamy, and of his iuſt diſpleaſure, at the gallowes; though they being brazen faced, and hard-hearted, cannot by any meanes be brought to repentance. Iudas hath left behind him a ſufficient teſtimony of the wofull eſtate of thoſe that hurt the innocent, his words are theſe, out of deſpaire, and a perplexed conſcience; I hauehave ſinned in betraying the innocent Matth. 27. 3.Matt 27:3blood. Therefore he that ſeeth ſo many to ſtudie to hurt ſuch as would liue in peace by them, by murthering, by robbing, or oppreſſing, and vexing the being harmeleſſe, what doe they, but cauſe talke eueryevery where to goe of the Lords threats of reuenging them, and bring them alſo moſt certainely vponupon their owne heads, that I ſay no more. But of this point I hauehave elſewhere entreated.

Alſo, in that it is ſaid, that the men of Shechem did ſtrengthen Abimelechs Doct. 2.hand, by giuing money to hire baſe fellowes to kill his brethren; in that, I ſay, that ſuch as liued in the citie, and ſhould hauehave helped to ſettle, and ſee good order kept, yet were ſuch euill men, euen incouragers and furtherers vntounto murther: we ſee, that there are in cities, and townes, oft-times, vile perſons couered with the vizor of honeſt citizens and inhabitants. For in no worſe account many goe, who bearing office to puniſh and beate downe diſordered perſons and diſturbers, are yet themſelues as bad and noiſome as any other. Which admoniſheth all ſuch, as liue ciuilly in townes, to ſearch themſelues, that they may bee found faithfull alſo, and that they reſt not in the opinion, that is conceiued of them for the place that they are in; who, as we ſee in theſe, may be farre worſe then the baſe ofskourings, which fall into their hands to be puniſhed: but if they keepe from open ſtaines, yet another thing is to bee looked for in them, to wit, that their hearts be good alſo. But of this point I will not here repeate the ſame things which I handled before.

This diſſention was ſo hot betwixt them, that it brake into ciuill warre, by Verſ. 25.meanes whereof, none could paſſe in ſafetie. And wee cannot be ignorant, how dangerous thoſe times be. But by this we may ſee, what troubles and dangers (as robbing one another in the high way) one vile perſon, or a few, may raiſe vp: who may be fitly compared to a firebrand caſt into a barne of corne: euen ſuch miſchiefe wrought this Abimelech. Such a one was Abſolom, and thoſe caitiffes who ſlew the two French Kings: and the ſame may be ſaid of the Authors of the Gun-powder-treaſon. No torture can be too great for ſuch. Such deſperate perſons and diuelliſh ſhould bee cut off at p. 473firſt, when they bee found out, and not ſuffered to liue to doe greater miſchiefe. Touching the benefit of peace, and the like publike bleſſings, ſee chap. 5. and elſe where in this hiſtory.

Verſ. 26. Then Gaal, the ſonne of Ebed came with his brethren, and they went to Shechem, and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.

27. And therefore they went into the field, and gathered in their grapes, and trod them and made merry, and went into the houſe of their gods, and did eate and drinke, and curſed Abimelech.

28. Then Gaal, the ſonne of Ebed ſaid, Who is Abimelech? And who is Shechem, that we ſhould ſerue him? is hee not the ſonne of Ierubbaal, and Zebul is his officer? Serue rather the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for why ſhould wee ſerue him?

29. Now would to God this people were vnderunder my hand, then would I put away Abimelech; and he ſaid to Abimelech, encreaſe thine army and come out.

OF the firſt occaſion of Abimelechs and the Shechemites deſtroying one The ſenſe.another: the next occaſion of the miſchiefes that followed, is here ſet downe, namely this; that they being thus incenſed, one againſt the other, they fall to open warre, and to ſet it forward, there came in the way one Gaal, and the men of Shechem hired him for their Captaine to be for them againſt Abimelech. And by his helpe they went out, and gathered their grapes, which otherwiſe they durſt not hauehave done, and made merry, and curſed Abimelech. And that boaſter Gaal hardned them againſt him, affirming Thraſonically, that he would put him downe. If the men of Shechem knew him not, as the Scripture ſets not downe from whence he came, but his behauiour bewraied him. If (I ſay) they knew him not, they did fooliſhly, to receiue and reſt vponupon him, being a ſtranger, though a boaſter: and if they did know him, what madneſſe was it, to take and truſt in him, though a ſtranger, yet a boaſter? But howſoeuer their ſinne was great, in their intertaining of him, yet indeed, it was of and by God (who hereby haſtned their deſtruction) that they ſhould light vponupon ſuch a Captaine; themſelues being ſuch ſouldiers, they might well goe together; and no wonder, if boaſters and the ambitious ſo eaſily accorded, although if they had not been giuen vp to themſelues, they would not hauehave truſted to him. Thus the men of Shechem prouided for themſelues, and how Abimelech did the like, it followes after.

And as the doing of the men of Shechem was fooliſh, dangerous, and Doct.(as it prooued) their ouerthrow; ſo it giueth warning to them that can receiue it, to beware of reſting vponupon all rotten holds, and broken ſtaues. Of which ſort there are many, with which, men are deceiued as groſſely, as they of Shechem were by this their folly, to caſt all their welfare vponupon a boaſter. The Pſalmiſt mentioneth ſome of theſe, when he ſaith: Some put their trust Pſalm. 107.Ps 107in chariots, and ſome in horſes. The Prophet Ieremie teaching men to ſhunne Ier. 9. 23.Jer 9:23the ſawe danger, ſaith, Let not the wiſe man glory in his wiſdome, nor the ſtrong in his ſtrength, nor the rich in his riches, but let him that glorieth, glory in this that hee knoweth me, ſaith the Lord. If we may not reſt on men, much leſſe on weaker p. 474ſtaies, as ſome doe in their preſent eſtate of peace, wealth, habitation, wife, friends, health, and the like.

The ſame Prophet ſaith: Curſed is he that maketh fleſh his arme, and truſteth Ier. 17. 5.Jer 17:5in man, and his heart departeth from God. So the Prophet Dauid crieth out, ſaying: Truſt not in earthly Princes, who cannot ſaue others, nor themſelues. Pſalm 146. 3.Ps 146:3And to King Aſa it was ſaid, Becauſe thou truſtedſt in the King of Aram and not 2. Chron. 16. 7.2 Chr 16:7in the Lord, from hence foorth thou ſhalt hauehave warre. In God onelyonly our truſt muſt be repoſed, Salomon ſaith, otherwiſe we may vſe mans helpe and other Prou 3. …. Pſalm. 127. 2.Prov 3Ps 127:2meanes, but all in vaine. And the vſe of this doctrine is, that we ſhould retaine in all dangers and troubles, our hope and confidence in Gods promiſes, and for other ſlippery helpes, our comfort is thereafter as wee reſt in them: and this appeareth more clearely, the greater the matters are, in which we doe ſo.

But this doctrine hath been diuerſly occaſioned before. One thing I will adde to anſwere ſuch as might ſay, Theſe Shechemites had no other ſhift now, but to ſhroud themſelues vnderunder this, or ſome ſuch like defence, who therefore can blame them if they ſought ſhelter againſt a tyrant where they could get it? I anſwer. To ſeeke ſuccour againſt an vſurper is lawfull, ſo the meanes be according: but this vſurper was ſet vp by themſelues, neither did he any greater violence to them, then they to him; and therefore for this, I ſay, they might thanke themſelues, for that they brought wilfull bondage vponupon themſelues. Indeed, as the caſe ſtood with them, either they muſt fence their citie and people (whom they had brought into the ſnare being led by them) againſt Abimelech, or elſe yeeld and periſh. But what a curſed thing is this, for the men either to vſe vile perſons to be their patrons in their deſperate quarrels, or elſe to bring themſelues to that point, that they might be come vponupon by one that ſought and waited to deſtroy them? Therefore let not men defend their ſins by this plea, that they are driuen to a ſtraight, and hauehave no remedy, but to fall vponupon the ſmaller inconuenience, that they may auoid the greater: For who brought this wretched choice vponupon them? God alloweth his children to walke at large vnderunder his gouernment, and keepes them from ſuch ſtreights as theſe. Who then cooped them into ſo narrow a roome? Surely their owne ſinne: when men hauehave liberty, they are wearie of it, till they beſtreightned and driuen to their ſhifts. Therefore this defence is as bad as the crime it ſelfe: for if men hauehave fallen into extremitie by one ſinne, they muſt not redeeme and auoid it by another, nor doe euill that a ſuppoſed good may come of it. What then? Humble themſelues for the firſt ſinne, and caſt themſelues vponupon Gods hand for the iſtue and danger, & ſo auoid the ſecond, as Dauids example excellently ſheweth. 2. Sam. 24. 17.2 Sam 24:17For who are they, that hauing ſinned, they ſhould ſcorne to beare the ſhame of it? And eſpecially if the extremitie they auoid, bee but onelyonly a puniſhment bodily: (as cōmonly that is the ſtreight which men ſeeke to ſhun) and they ſin doubly by prouoking God through indirect meanes, and al to ſaue themſelues frō momentany trouble & danger. Indeed of two euils temporall, the leſſer may be choſen to auoid the greater, but not of two euils morall and mortall which are ſinnes, much leſſe when the one is a temporall euill, the other morall. For by this meanes an adulterer may ſay, I hauehave no way p. 475to ſhift but one, to buy off my ſhame, except I would bee ſhamed for euer. But O thou wofull man; if thou hauehave deſerued it, beare it; if God hauehave laid it vponupon thee, as the Church did in Micha, ſaying: I will beare my puniſhment, Mich 7. 7.Mic 7:7becauſe I hauehave ſinned: and thinke not by ſuch a ſhift to eſcape ſhame being guiltie, vnleſſe thou fall into a greater without recouerie.

The Shechemites were ſo afraid of Abimelech, that they durſt not gather Verſ 7.their grapes, which were as their harueſt: therefore they hired this Gaal to helpe them, who was (we ſee) ſedicious, a boaſter and a deceiuer. Now by his conduct they goe foorth into the field, and in great laſciuiouſnes, reioyced, and in their Temple curſed Abimelech.

By this, among the manifold diſcomforts in warre, which in other places I obſerue, let this one be numbred, y^t men are thereby cut off from the …s Doct.of the earth, & from their harueſts, by which they liued all they ere: which being ſpoyled, how farre is their life from death? and yet worſe then death, to lie in feare of it, pinched with penurie. They could not goe out of their doores, nor reape their fruites, till now they made this ſhift by Gaal: and yet neither were they ſafe in their houſes: theſe beſides many like effects of warre moſt frearefull, are at ſuch times brought againſt them, who are by …warre ſet vponupon. So that a man would thinke, that knoweth this, that ſuch as are preſerued from it, and the like ſore oppreſſions, would binde themſelues while they liue, to ſubmit themſelues to God in all dutie, and that moſt willingly.

And no doubt ſo would they moſt readily couenant to doe, when they are vnderunder ſuch oppreſſions, vponupon condition, that they might then obtaine a promiſe of deliuerance from them: which ſheweth that there is good cauſe why they ſhould doe ſo: but can we ſay (who marke it) that men doe thus? In ſmaller troubles, we ſee (alas) the contrary. I remember what is ſaid in the Pſalme: when the Lord ſmote the people, they ſought him, yea, they ſought him Pſal 78. 34.Ps 78:34earely: but what was there found in them when it came to the triall, but falſe heartednes and vnfaithfulnes? which I vtter with griefe, as knowing how commonly this is offended in. And wee that doe but heare of ſuch things, I meane of warre, throughout this booke and other ſtories, and ſee it not, through the long continuance of peace, wee (I ſay) doe not weigh the greatnes of the benefit, ſuch is our vnthankfulnes ioyned with blockiſhnes, but abuſe our peace to ſenſualitie, and thus we deale with God in many other things?

But hauing oft obſerued and bewailed this follie in men in other places, and ſeeing it followeth here expreſſely, what they did when they were reſcued by that Gaal, and gathered in their fruites, I will note it from hence. And what was their behauiour therein, thinke we? verilv moſt brutiſh, and vtterly vnbeſeeming ſuch, as had euer ſerued the Lord. For, like mad men, they did eate & drink, and made merrie without meaſure, curſing their enemies, and praiſing their Idols. Which teacheth vsus, that it is hard to ſay, whether 1. Sam. 30. 16.1 Sam 30:16the wicked are more to be pitied in their miſeries and calamities, or in their deliuerances out of them. For by them they are held in ſome awe and Note.feare: but when they are ſet free, they are moſt diſſolute and vnruly, and more offenſiue by exceſſe therein, then they are by impatience, and vnquietnes in their calamities. But in both they are greatly to be pitied.

p. 476And although their bodily eſtate be to be lamented greatly, yet is it farre worſe with their ſoule, as is manifeſt in their breaking out ſo fearefully and damnably into all manner of ſinne with greedineſſe. Inſtances hereof in all conditions are too many. In ſuch as hauehave ſome religion, (becauſe they Note.hauehave no more ſtore of it) who ſeeth not, that they are euer moſt looſe, ſecure, forgetfull, when they are moſt at hearts eaſe? And in the badder ſort it is more manifeſt: who are quailed in their croſſes, and held downe by them from much euill: but if they bee at hearts eaſe, oh the looſenes, ſawcines, quarrelling, laſhing out of needleſſe and great expences; rioting, ſwearing, that may be ſeene in them, and ſcorning thoſe that ſeeke to reclaime them, though they be ſuch as they ought to heare, and whom they owe duty vntounto, and therefore ſhould readily heare them, whereas they regard nothing in their proſperitie, but curſe and bleſſe with one mouth, I may ſay (almoſt) with one breath. But to leaue theſe, let the beſt looke well to themſelues herein; I meane, that in both eſtates they may yeeld another manner fruite of their peace and proſperitie, and bee carefull to hauehave a good conſcience. Of which argument, ſeeing much is ſpoke by occaſion in the former proceſſe of this ſtorie, I ceaſe to ſay any more.

To proceed: Theſe two, Gaal and the Shechemites hauing each heartned the other, and helped forward their defiance of Abimelech, by feaſting and iollitie, which are great meanes (yea as oyle to the flame) to prouoke the proud ſtomacke of a man, they now being well heat with meate and drinke, preſumptuouſly aske, Who is Abimelech? We may ſay truly, where Verſ. 28.and when doe the wicked make an end? For they goe from one ſinne to another, as one that runneth downe an hill, and ſtaieth not. Now after all the reſt, they boaſt againſt him, and defie and deface him, and that in his abſence. Which teacheth the vnmeaſurablenes and vnſaciablenes of the wicked Doct.in ſinning, how they goe on from one to another, and neuer are willing to make an end: and in ſtead of repenting for the former, they adde greater ſinnes vntounto them: and by that courſe harden their hearts in all manner of euill doing, as they bee able, with greedineſſe, and ſo grow paſt feeling vntounto vtter impenitencie.

Many, after they hauehave done euill, hauehave ſome remorſe, as the brother in the Goſpell, who when he had not obeyed his father, ſending him to work Matth. 21. 31.Matt 21:31in his vineyard, but refuſed; hee afterward bethought himſelfe, and went. And the Prophet Ieremy wondred that they who offended, relented not. Ierem. 8. 5. 6.Jer 8:5Jer 8:6But when men goe from one ſinne to another, and caſt not vp their gorge, it is almoſt paſt hope to reclaime them. Eſau when he had ſold his birthright, the ſigne of eternall life, which one would hauehave thought had ſinned Gen. 25. 31.Gen 25:31fearefully enough in ſo doing; yet he could not ſtay there, but he muſt alſo iuſtifie the wicked fact that hee had done, ſaying: Of what valew is this birthright vntounto me?

But if this ſinne reſted onelyonly in ſuch as I hauehave ſpoken of, wee that feare God might be ſure, that it could not be committed by vsus: but when we ſee how Peter was taken in this ſnare, to ſinne againe, after he had once or twice denied his Maſter, and that with ſwearing, and curſing himſelfe, if he knew him, and had been ready to hauehave done it an hundred times more, if occaſion had been offered; how may not the beſt of vsus feare the falling into it? p. 477For in thus giuing place a little, and in ſome things taking libertie to goe againſt conſcience, it is the next way to goe further, as wee hauehave heard. The beſt remedie againſt it, is, while we may to preuent it, and to be ſo farre from ſuch a courſe, that we rather in feare and trembling to make an end of our ſaluation; Philip. 2 14.Phil 2:14but if we hauehave already fallen, then as ſoone as we can to riſe out of it.

Now this Gaal wiſheth that he were king (for we muſt know that all the men of Shechem were not of one minde) and this is the meaning of the phraſe of ſpeech that he vſeth, ſaying: Who ſhall giuegive this people into mine hand? Verſ. 29.The like ye may reade in the Pſalme: Who will giuegive me the wings of a Doue: Pſal. 55. 6.Ps 55:6that is, oh that I had them. Euen the ſame that Abſolom wiſhed in a caſe much like this of Abimelechs: Oh that I were made Iudge in the land. Thus did this 2. Sam. 15. 4.2 Sam 15:4Gaal: which noteth the pride and ambition that was in this baſe fellow, his boaſting being not farre off. Which ſinnes in him, with the like in Abimelech, brought to paſſe his and the peoples deſtruction.

To teach vsus to beware of all ſinne, and of theſe particularly, ambitious Doct.pride and boaſting, with the like, in the which is wrapped vp, when they come to their full growth, irrecouerable miſchiefe to the committers and intertainers of them, as all ſinnes doe threaten no better, if they be not ſpeedily broken off by repentance. Whereunto Gods deare ſeruants being ſubiect, Pſal. 32. 10.Ps 32:10euen as ſome of them hauehave tried and found it ſo alreadie, that great ſorrowes hauehave accompanied them long time, as the fruite of ſuch ſinnes: Dauid, Sampſon and others: ſo we that remaine are taught, if we will be wiſe, to auoid carefully the beginnings and occaſions of euill: ſo ſhall we be ſure to be free from great woe. As for boaſting, it is but the ſuperfluitie of the corrupt and proud ſcornefull heart, ariſing not alway from ſome worthineſſe or eminencie, but a bare windie conceit of ſomewhat which is not. As we ſee in the body when the gall is too full, it ouerfloweth and coloureth the face A ſimilitude.with the excrement of that humour: and when the inward parts are tainted, the outward are full of breakings out and ſores: ſo when pride is at the full, it ſwelleth, and breaking out of the heart, vtters it ſelfe by the mouth and behauiour. But put the caſe there be ſome excellencie in him that boaſteth: doth boaſting beſeeme ſuch a man? nay, doth it not impeach his worthineſſe? Therefore he that will auoid boaſting, let him ſoberly thinke of, and vſe Gods gifts both inward & outward, knowing who he is, whence he receiued them, how naked hee were without them, and while hee hath them, they are but borowed, he himſelfe is naked and deſtitute. Neuer was an humble man a boaſter: except his boaſting were as Pauls, of his infirmities: or of his gifts, to honour the giuer, and diſgrace the enemies of Gods glorie. Touching the particular point of ambition and the preſeruatiue againſt it, let the reader ſee more in the former chapter in Gedeons refuſing the kingdome, and alſo in this chapter in Iothams bramble aſpiring to bee king ouer the trees. Here therefore I end.