Commentary on Judges, Sermon 79
THE SEVENTIE NINE SERMON ON THE XV. CHAPTER OF THE BOOKE OF IVDGES.
Verſ. 1. But within a while after in the time of wheate harueſt, Samſon viſited his wife with a Kid, ſaying, I will goe in to my wife into the chamber: but her father would not ſuffer him to goe in.
2. And her father ſaid, I thought that thou hadſt hated her: therefore gaue I her to thy companion. Is not her younger ſiſter fairer then ſhe? take her, I pray thee, in ſtead of the other.
3. Then Samſon ſaid vntounto them, Now am I more blameleſſe then the Philiſtims: therefore will I doe them diſpleaſure.
I Will proceed, keeping the order that I obſerue in the The ſumme of the Chapter.reſt. And firſt to begin with ye ſumme, it is thus much: Samſon, when his wife was denied him, vponupon his returne to her, tooke occaſion to ſet on fire the corne fields of the Philiſtims, and to kill them, being armed againſt them: whereupon they came into Iudea, to fight with the men thereof, vnleſſe they would deliuer Samſon into their hands bound: who therefore did ſo. But his bands being broken by the Lord, he ſlew a thouſand of them with the iaw bone of an aſſe: and being thirſtie after his labour, he obtained water from God by prayer: and ſo he was refreſhed againe.
The parts of it are foure. The firſt, how Samſon tooke occaſion to hurt The parts 4.and to bee reuenged vponupon the Philiſtims, to verſe 9. The ſecond, how the Philiſtims got him to bee deliuered bound into their hands by his owne countrimen: to the midſt of verſe 14. The third is, how he was ſtrengthened by God, ſo that he brake the cords, and ſlew a great many of them: to verſe 18. The laſt, how he thirſting after his labour, and obtaining water of God, was refreſhed. Of which in order, as the text giues occaſion.
The firſt part of the Chapter.
COncerning the firſt part, and the woe that hee wrought them, the occaſion The ſumme of the firſt part.was, that his wife was denied to him, when he returned to take her, and was giuen to another, as appeareth in the firſt two verſes: hereby hee was prouoked, as we ſee in the third verſe, and ſo he ſet vponupon and hurt them in their commodities, being ſo prouoked, as is ſhewed vntounto the 9. verſe.
And firſt it is ſaid, that after a while he came to his wife againe, & brought Verſe 1.a Kid with him to make merrie with her, and to ſhew thereby that he was reconciled to her, and was purpoſed to liue with her againe. For he hauing in abſence conſidered his fault, in going from her in ſuch a manner as he did, reſolued and thought good now to cut off all occaſions of griefe from her, and of ſeparation, and to renew and recouer his decayed louelove againe. It all that will condemne Samſon for his choler would ſhame themſelues as hee did here (in returning, which was a condemning of his departing) when they hauehave bin ouertaken as he was it were well: or if m…n could be brought out of louelove with ſuch their wilfull doings, by conſidering that for the time they baniſh God out of their thoughts, and make a man ſlaue to his rankeſt enemy. But by this we ſee, that though good and bad hauehave paſſions, carrying and ruling them, yet where grace dwelleth, they ſhall be found out in Doct.time, and that ſhall be done to the vanquiſhing of them which the ſtrength of corruption in thoſe that want grace, will not ſuffer a man to marke and reſiſt them. Sinne nouriſheth it ſelfe (eſpecially anger) by ſelfe-louelove: ſmoothing it ſelfe vp with Ionah his conceit, [I doe well to be angrie] and ſo Samſon Ionah 4. 9.would (perhaps) hauehave anſwered, if hee had been demaunded a while after he departed from her. But now at leiſure he recanteth, and by returning, condemnes his departure, as I ſaid; much like the ſonne, that being ſent into the vineyard, bid his father doe his worke himſelfe for him; but after, comming Mat. 11. 29.to himſelfe againe, did as he was bidden and went. Whereas a lewde perſon hauing ſinned, pleaſeth himſelfe in it, and doubleth it with Eſau in Gen. 28. 9.his taking ſtrange wiues; or if hee relent, it is for ſhame and terror onelyonly as Iudas; as I hauehave noted in Abimelech before, chapter 9. Samſon in his cholencke Mat. …7. 3.pang, went away with reſolution (likely) of neuer returning, but to let her goe as ſhe deſerued. But now in cooler blood he appeaſeth himſelfe (as the Muſitian did Eliſha) and demurring of his doings, confeſſeth, that though his wife deſerued ill meaſure, yet it became not him who in ſo great 2. King. 3. 15.heate ſought to marry her: to deale ſo deſpitefully againſt her, and that preſently vponupon his marrying of her.
And more particularly, as Samſon here vponupon better conſideration returded to his wife againe, ſo it muſt be granted of all that there ſhould not be any long diſpleaſure conceiued betwixt couples, (if it cannot be auoided but that ſome will be,) and ſpecially that it is too much that there ſhould be any ſeparation betwixt man and wife, vnleſſe it be with conſent, and in louelove, and that alſo but for a while, and as the Apoſtle willeth that they may giuegive themſelues to prayer and faſting, and ſo to come together againe, leſt the 1. Cor. 7. 5.diuell tempt them to euill. This I ſay were to bee wiſhed: but if there fall out worſe matter betwixt them, it ought to ceaſe betimes, as wee ſee here Samſon returned to his wife within a while after hee went from her. For if the prayers of married perſons ought not to be broken off through diſſention any day, as S. Peter chargeth; much leſſe ought there to bee a ſeparation 1. Pet. 3. 7.for a longer time.
Therefore ſeeing many occaſions fall out hereof betwixt couples in marriage, by reaſon of much conceitednes one againſt the other, way wardnes, inconſtancie in louelove, falſe heartedneſſe, and ſuch like; let ſuch as abhor and Note.would ſhunne this and the like weariſomeneſſe of their companions, neuer ceaſe till they renounce and diſclaime thoſe corruptions, and pray oft and earneſtly againſt the ſame, and arme themſelues with many renued couenants, that no ſuch thing may bee betwixt them. So ſhall they the better keepe other in order who are vnderunder them, when they ſhall ſee no breaches nor brawles betwixt them: yea and they ſhall be fit to ſet other couples together who are at variance; but they ſhall ill doe that abroad, if they maintaine not peace at home.
But by occaſion that I ſaid, that married couples ſhould not be abſent any Obiect.long time one from the other; it is obiected that many are, who through neceſſitie of following their calling, cannot chuſe but be a long time one from another, as many Lawyers, Merchants, Sea men and other: and therefore how can that charge that is giuen by the Apoſtle to the Corinths 1 Cor. 7. 5.ſtand? to wit, that there ſhould be no long abſence betwixt couples. I anſwere: becauſe that charge is no better kept, therefore is much euill committed, Anſw.I meane through long abſence one from the other, and many complaine how they ſmart by meanes thereof, and yet redreſſe it not, nay ſay plainely, they ſee not how they can.
And I ſay further, that men ſuffer much ſorrow, and ſuſtaine great troubles through their owne fault, who ſeeing what their callings are, and that abſence muſt fall out betwixt them, doe neither labour for more grace themſelues to beare it the better, neither ſeeke ſuch yoke-fellowes as excell other therein, neither faithfully take order betweene themſelues carefully to looke about them eueryevery way to auoide danger. For God is not contrarie to himſelfe, neither commandeth he contraries: as that there be no long abſence one from another: and yet that they ſhall follow ſuch callings as of neceſſitie require it. But if the laſt muſt needes be; then certainely they may bee helped and relieue themſelues in the firſt. And if they both feare God (as otherwiſe what promiſe hauehave they that God will bleſſe them in any thing, or what ſpeaking to them is there about any ſuch matter? If (I ſay) they feare God, then by good order taking, betwixt themſelues, and by oft and earneſt praying on both parts, for quiet and chaſte mindes and bodies, vſing therewith all good meanes for the ſame as neede ſhall require, then they ſhall attaine redreſſe againſt it, and God hath promiſed to ſuch, that with conſent they may be abſent each from other, without the many vnquietneſſes and other inconueniences, the which yet doe moſt certainely meete with ſuch as be not ſo qualified: who if they fall into adulterie, and the like euils, it is the fruit of their ſinne which God puniſheth, I meane of their irreligiouſneſſe, vnfaithfulneſſe, and ſuch like, as they fall out to bee; who is able to ſay what or how many?
It followeth in this verſe, when Samſon would hauehave gone into the chamber to his wife, to do the dutie of an husband to her, the father the Philiſtim, 2would not ſuffer him, for he had giuen her to another! Oh wofull act, but eſpecially before he had ſpoken with him. But we neede not wonder at that; for what reaſon doe ſuch profeſſe to yeelde of their doings? By this dealing of the Philiſtims, wee may ſee, what a ſore puniſhment it is to hauehave to doe with ſuch vnconſcionable men, that will boldly hold our right from vsus, and ſo deale with vsus, that wee cannot make any reckoning, no not of that which is our owne, if it muſt come through their hands, neither can be ſure of our owne, if it be owing and due vntounto vsus by them.
And what bondage is this, that another ſhould hauehave power and authority ouer our goods? Nature it ſelfe being the foundation of propriety in each mans goods, and abhorring community, as the cut-throte of ciuill ſociety and common-wealth. As if the labourer when he had done his work, muſt nor looke to receiue his wages; or the man who hath lent wares for money, ſhould be denied it: as though hee that liſteth, ſhould claime or detaine another bodies goods. And to that point things are come in many places, that for the heatheniſh vnconſcionableneſſe that is grown vp in this world, Note.a man cannot ſay that any thing hee hath is his owne, there are ſo many waies to defeate the owners of their due. And ſo are men purſued with other open wrongs, that they may well ſay, as Samſon had cauſe to complaine; you deale with vsus as Philiſtims. The vſe of this is, to account of honeſt and faithfull men much the better, and in dealing with other bee wary and circumſpect; alſo be ready to offer all good meaſure to thoſe with whom we hauehave to doe. But this point offereth it ſelfe often.
And as for Samſon, who was denied his wife when hee returned to her fathers houſe to take and enioy her, all may ſee what a puniſhment it is. But when men bring it vponupon themſelues by their owne ſinne, as he did, they are the leſſe pitied And this is true of the finall diſappointment of the vngodly, as the example of the fooliſh Virgins ſheweth, excluding themſelues from that place, which yet they deſired. Let eueryevery man therefore auoide occaſions of troubling himſelfe as well this way as otherwiſe, by giuing liberty to his corrupt affections and luſts; wherein Samſon failing, by going from his wife in a fullen and diſcontented manner, rather then wiſely ſaluing vp her offence, now brought it to paſſe that hee was denied her when hee would gladly hauehave enioyed her. Thus doth a mans ſin crop off the bloſſome which ſhould after in ſeaſon yeeld fruit. And this and ſuch like are the fruites of our ſinnes, which neuer yet, no not the pleaſanteſt, did vsus any good. This hurt among many other commeth; that therby we are depriued of our beſt liberties, when we would enioy them, and all becauſe wee did, in our ſinfull mood ſet light by them. But of this enough in the laſt verſe of the former chapter.
Her father to excuſe his curſed act, in giuing his daughter to another man, tels Samſon, he thought he had hated her, therfore (he ſaith) I gaue her Verſe 1.to thy companion, and then hee offered him her ſiſter, as being fairer then ſhe. Wee may learne by this his firſt ſpeech, that wicked and vnconſcionable men, when they hauehave offered great wrong to their neighbour, make a light matter of it: they thought (they ſay) they might hauehave done as great a matter as that, without offence taken thereat, and that they had cauſe to doe ſo; and they thought it would not hauehave been ſo hardly taken; yea and many bid them goe ſeeke their remedy, where they can get it. So in the Hiſtory of the Church, Iulian the reuolter being ſolicited to deale more indifferently with the Chriſtians, vſed to anſwere: Tuſh, they hauehave no wrong done to them, for their Maſter commands them being ſmitten on the one Mat. 5. 39.cheeke, to turne the other. So did the cruell Pharaoh vpbraid the poore Iſraelites groning vnderunder their burthens; ſaying to them, Yee are idle, and want Exod. 5 17.worke: and the Babylonians ſo taunted the poore Iewes mourning vnderunder captiuity; Sing vsus ſome of the ſongs of Sion. Rehoboam alſo being willed to mitigate Pſal. 137. 3.the heauie hand which his father held ouer his ſubiects, anſwereth; 1. King. 12. 14.Tuſh, yee had too good meaſure ſhewed yee by my father; my little finger ſhall be heauier then his loines. And as ſlightly bad men deale with the Lord in his ſeruice: they thinke their drawing neere to him with their bodies is ſufficient ſeruice, though their hearts be farre off, when yet he himſelfe profeſſeth, that in vaine doe ſuch worſhip him.Math. 15. 9.
So Saul thought he might offer a burnt offering and a peace offering to 1. Sam. 13. 9. 13the Lord, (though it was contrary to his commandement) and would needs imagine it to bee well pleaſing to him ſo to doe, taking it harſhly that Samuel preſſeth him ſo with his diſobedience. But hee ſhould hauehave obeyed God, and not hauehave followed his owne fancie.
But to returne to their dealings with men, whom when they hauehave ſore hurt and wronged, they make a light matter of it, and ſay, they meant no harme; they are like the man in the Prouerbs, that fained himſelfe mad, and caſt firebrands and arrowes, and ſaith, he was in ſport: ſo they deale deceitfully Prou. 26. 19.and wickedly with their friend and neighbour, and ſay, they are in ſport, that is, they meane no harme. But if the leaſt iniurie bee offered them (as was heere to this Philiſtim by Samſon, going from his daughter but a while) they will make of a little matter a great, rather then be ſatisfied with ſuch an anſwere, that the party thought it would not be ſo hardly taken. To conclude, as Salomon ſaith to the young men; Reioce in thy youth, &c: but bee Eccleſ. 11. 9.ſure God will bring thee to iudgement: ſo I may ſay to theſe men while health and iollity laſteth, and none to controll you, tread your vnderlings vnderunder your feet, and winde God himſelfe about your fingers: make a ſlight matter of ſinne, and ſay, it was but a tricke of youth, it was but a ſmall matte, I did it but once; as many at this day make a But of Adams ſin, he did but eate an apple (a matter of nothing) and loe both he and all his poſterity muſt die for it. And doe ye as Eſau did, Tuſh, what great matter is it to ſell my birthright, Gen. 25. 32.let it goe? Sooth vp your ſelues (I ſay) with the conceit of him that thinkes God is (as the Papiſts paint him) but a good old man and ſits idle, hee will neither doe good nor euill, wee may vſe and deale with him as wee liſt. But when God ſhall take the wild Aſſe in her moneths (who being light, cared for none of her purſuers) I meane, when he ſhall viſit theſe men, Ier. 1. …4.and ſet before their face their vnconſcionablenes and hard meaſure, which they hauehave offered and made nothing of, (as if other men were made to bee their teniſ-balles, and the obiects of their wrong and ſcorne) then their ſin ſhall not ſeeme a ſmall But, but a great hill and mountaine vntounto them, and they ſhall cry out, ſaying, We neuer felt the weight of our ſinne till now; it was light in committing, but the puniſhment is greater then wee can beare. And as the holy Ghoſt threatens adulterers, God ſhall iudge them; ſo let theſe Heb. 13. 4.know, that ſeeing they are too ſtout and ſtately for common men to meddle with, God will take them in hand, and (as Iames ſaith) bee an aduocate for the innocent againſt their oppreſſors. This bee added to the former point, Iam. 5 4.to this end, that as there I counſell others to hauehave little to doe with ſuch 2. Theſ. 1. 6.Cormorants: ſo by this marke and cognizance, and the like (as the next point noteth) we may know and auoide them the better. Thus much bee ſaid of the firſt ſpeech of Samſons father in law: the next followeth.
And that was, that he offered him his wiues ſiſter to be his wife. For hee 2reſpected not how neere ſhe was in blood, but feared him, becauſe hee ſaw that hee was a man of a great ſtomacke, and did fret ſore againſt the Philiſtims, therfore he offered him her to appeaſe his wrath, and yet many of the Heathens did know that ſuch marriages were vnlawfull, and made lawes againſt them. Thus he thought to put him off. Euen ſo wicked men, when their bad dealings are found out, and they in ſome danger and feare by meanes therof, marke what recompence they offer: and that is worſe then if they offered none at all, (as hee did heere) and ſuch as they cannot take, nor be the better for, being (for the moſt part) againſt conſcience: for either they promiſe them faire and goe from it: or if they pay their debts, and ſatisfie for their wrongs which they hauehave done, it ſhall bee done moſt vnwillingly, or with other mens loſſes and harmes.
By this act of his father in law, Samſon tooke occaſion to vex the Philiſtims, Verſ. 3.the Lords enemies: for hee ſaw that his father in law did but mocke him, and ſo he took not the condition that was offered him, but ſaid, I hauehave receiued wrong of you Philiſtims, and my dealings ſhall be ſeene to be better then yours, if it come into queſtion. Ye hauehave giuen me iuſt cauſe to ſeek reuenge. But yet we muſt know, that this hee did as one appointed by God thereto, and not as a man to eaſe his ſtomacke vponupon them for his own pleaſure. So we may in no wiſe reuenge our enemies in the heate of our hearts, (howſoeuer wee hardly heare that ſaying) but leaue vengeance to God, and bridle our vnruly affections, that they may not carrie vsus to euill againſt men; but ouercome their euill with doing them good. Although I denie not, but Rom. 12. 21.where we are commanded of God to purſue euill, we muſt goe about it readily, as Samſon heere did. But heere I end theſe verſes.
Verſ. 4. And Samſon went and caught three hundred foxes, and tooke firebrands, and turned taile to taile, and put a firebrand in the middeſt betweene two tailes.
5 And when hee had ſet the brands on fire, hee let them goe into the ſtanding corne of the Philiſtims, and burnt vp both the ſhockes, and alſo the ſtanding corne, with the vineyards and oliues.
6 Then the Philiſtims ſaid, Who hath done this? and they anſwered, Samſon the ſonne in law of the Timnite, becauſe he had taken his wife and giuen her to his companion. And the Philiſtims came vp, and burnt her and her father with fire.
7 And Samſon ſaid vntounto them, Though ye hauehave done this, yet will I be auenged of you, and after that I will ceaſe.
8 And he ſmote them hip and thigh, with a great ſlaughter, and hee went downe, and dwelt in the top of the rocke Etam.
SAmſon hauing gotten occaſion to ſet vponupon the Philiſtims, the holy ſtory in theſe fiue verſes ſheweth how hee vſed it, that is to ſay, theſe two The ſumme of theſe verſes.waies: firſt in ſpoiling their commodities, their vines and oliue trees, and burning vp their corne; and then in taking away the liues of many of them alſo. The firſt of theſe two vexings of them is ſet downe in theſe two firſt verſes, and he did it in this manner. He got three hundred foxes (which abounded in thoſe places) and the tailes of them hee bound together, and put firebrands in the middeſt of them, and ſent them into the corne of the Philiſtims, which then was ripe, and burned vp heapes or rickes of corne gathered in, and that which was ſtanding alſo.
It is but a folly for vsus to aske why hee plagued the Philiſtims that way among Verſe. 4. 5.all other. It is ſufficient that the holy Ghoſt hath ſet it downe that he puniſhed them very ſore euen that way, as we may conceiue. For a fire being kndled in many places, and ſpreading further and further in eueryevery place where it was kindled, much hurt might ſoone bee done thereby; as appeared by Abſaloms dealing with Ioab in ſetting his corne field on fire. But much 2. Sam. 14. 30.more theſe wild creatures (being terrified with the fire) running too and fro, and carrying it through the fields might doe greater miſchiefe. A thing (doubtleſſe) vnlikely to hauehave come to paſſe ſo; but the more vnlikely it was, the more it admoniſheth vsus, not onelyonly that our commodities and riches are ſubiect to loſſe ſundry waies which we may conceiue, but euen that way alſo that we cannot thinke. For who would hauehave thought (though by windes, wet, and drought they might hauehave loſt their fruites) yet that they ſhould hauehave been ſpoiled this way? But the reaſon is, for that there are ſo many caſualties and changes in this tranſitorie life, and we are liuely put in mind of it hereby. Poſſeſſe we therefore theſe earthly benefits, as if wee did not, and ſo we ſhall be leſſe addicted to them. For no man can ſhew to how many vnlikely dangers mens goods lie open, beſide thoſe which are common and ordinary. We hauehave heard of late, that many mens commodities being brought in (and ſo in likelihood paſt danger) hauehave been in great part deſtroyed by vermine, as mice and rats.
Therefore they are called vncertaine riches, ſeeing no man hath any hold Luk. 12. 20. 1. Tim. 6. 17.of them, but one mans they are to day, and another mans to morrow. Beſides, we ought not to ſet our hearts on them, which we cannot keepe, neither thereby giuegive occaſion to our ſelues to be diſquieted when God by any meanes ſhall depriue vsus of them. But minde we better things, and thoſe not ſeene with mortall eye, which ſhall alſo be witneſſes that wee hauehave treaſure Mat. 6. 20.laid vp for vsus in heauen. And when wee walke in the diſcharge of our callings, whereby, through Gods bleſſing we encreaſe our ſubſtance, yet euen then regard we more the commandement enioyning vsus labour, then the profit: and comfort we our ſelues in our good conſcience in comming by and vſing them, with Gods promiſe of good ſucceſſe, rather then by reckoning our commodities before we enioy them. But of this point I hauehave ſaid more elſewhere.
The next thing in theſe two verſes is this, which we are to make our profit 2by; that when the Lord giueth vsus opportunity, and offereth vsus occaſion to do him ſeruice, we ſhould be wiſe to ſee it, & ready to vſe it, that we may ſo teſtifie our obedience both to God and men. For ſo did Samſon here. The Lord would hauehave him ſet vponupon the Philiſtims, but ſo, that he ſhould firſt be prouoked by them; leſt if he had done it without iuſt occaſion offered him, they might not hauehave purſued him alone, but all the land; as they made much adoe for the hurt he heere did them, till they knew that ſome of their brethren, the Philiſtims, had prouoked him, and that thereupon hee ſought to be reuenged on them; as in verſ. 6. Looke more in Gedeons ſtory.
Before Samſon proceed any further againſt the Philiſtims, to purſue them Verſ. 6.in their liues, it is ſhewed in this verſe, that there was hot enquirie among them who it was that had ſo ſpoiled their commodities. And they learned that it was Samſon that had done it: and further the reaſon was rendred why he did ſo, and that was, becauſe the Timnite had taken his wife from him, and giuen her to another. Which when they vnderſtood, they went by and by and burnt her and her father with fire: for they conſidered that they had done him great wrong, and thought that he auenged himſelfe on other of them for that which they had done to him.
In this verſe, by the earneſt inquirie after him that had done them ſo Doct.great diſpleaſure, we may ſee, that by the light of nature they did this, (euen as it is lawfull for vsus to doe in our owne caſes by the help of the Magiſtrate) to ſeeke to finde out ſuch as hauehave done much euill in the Common-wealth, and that were troubleſome. But yet herein we muſt differ from them, that as theſe heere did eagerly purſue the doer of wrong to themſelues, (more then the diſorder) ſo much more wee that are further inlightened by the word of God, ought to hearken after ſuch offenders, and to procure their iuſt puniſhment as we may; rather for their ſinne, then to auenge our ſelues thereby. As Salomon dealt with Ioab, who had ioyned himſelfe with Adonijah 1. King 2. 34.againſt the Lords annointed: for hee commanded him to bee ſlaine, that the blood which he had ſhed cauſeleſſe, might be vponupon his owne head. And great is the ſin of them, that rather then they would incurre the leaſt danger and diſpleaſure at the hands of bad perſons, worthie to be cut off, or ſore puniſhed; doe ſuffer them to goe on in their wickedneſſe, rather then to withſtand and bring them foorth before authoritie to receiue their due; yea rather, if they can, they will bee readie to excuſe their fault and defend them: but if a treſpaſſe be committed againſt themſelues, there is no meaſure in purſuing their enemies. But a fitter occaſion to handle this, will be offered in the 21. Chapter.
When the Philiſtims vnderſtood that Samſon had thus ſpoyled them, becauſe 2the Timnite had giuen his wife to his companion, they went (it is ſaid here) and burnt both him and his daughter, and the houſe ouer their heads. But why did they ſo? For the Timnite was not he that hurt them. No, but ſeeing they could not come by Samſon, to take reuenge on him, therefore they puniſhed them who were the occaſions of Samſons ſpoyling them, though they were in no wiſe conſenting to it, nor knowing what hee did. A moſt vnreaſonable act, to fall vponupon them who were no way guiltie of the hurt done to them. The Lord (indeed) did moſt iuſtly hereby reuenge that villany, which they had all of them offered to Samſon, but this they looked not at: God onelyonly ouer-ruled their appetites, that in one and the ſame act (moſt iniurious in it ſelfe) yet the Lord executed his moſt righteous iuſtice againſt theſe malefactors, arming one wicked perſon againſt another, and preparing a way thereby to reuenge theſe Philiſtims themſelues, as ſhal appeare afterward.
But here we may ſee the madnes and outrage that is in men. For though theſe were Heathens, and therefore might bee thought to hauehave none to match them in groſſe wickednes, among ſuch as are baptized: yet behold, they who are deſtitute of grace among vsus, (further then the feare of man reſtraineth ſome) are let looſe to as great ſinnes. For proofe whereof, behold the dealing of thoſe furious Iewes, Acts 18. who when they could not come by Paul, fell vponupon Soſthenes his companion, and beate him: and at this day Acts 18. 17.the Papiſts when they cannot come by the heretike himſelfe (as they terme him) vſe to draw his picture, as exactly as they can, and with great deſpite burne it in the fire, ſhewing what they would doe to the perſon. Not vnlike to the practiſe of ſeditious ſouldiers, in chopping them as ſmall as herbs to pot, who oppoſe them in their mutinie. And we ſee it commeth to paſſe ſometimes, that when vile men are giuen ouer to furie, paſſion and moode, he ſhall beare the blowes that commeth next in their way, though hee was in no fault, and whatſoeuer is next them, be it knife, dagger, cudgel, or whatſoeuer elſe, whether it beate out the eye or tooth, or breake arme or legge, all is one with them, when they be moodie: euen as ſhe-Beares that are robbed of their whelpes. Nay, ſo little are they led by ſound reaſon, that when, through their owne raſhnes, they hauehave hurt themſelues at a doore, or fall, by ſtumbling at a ſtone, they curſe the one, and beate the other. But if they ſuſtaine damage or loſſe by any neighbour, they are not ſatisfied, till with the Philiſtims they hauehave their blood, at leaſt till they ſeeke it, though the hurt done to them was againſt their will, who are thus doggiſhly purſued of them.
Touching ſuch rage and madnes I hauehave ſaid ſomewhat heretofore, to diſcredit it, and diſſwade men from it: both by ſhewing the hideous face therof, and the curſed fruites iſſuing therefrom. As who beholding Lamech in his furie and outrage, and hearing the terrour of his words, would not abhorre Gen. 4. 23.him and his qualities? And yet there remaine among vsus men of no better diſpoſition, (though they will not ſpeake ſo plainly as Lamech did) who could in their rancour eate the very heart of their enemie with garlicke, as the ſaying is: and yet nouriſh this ſerpent in their boſomes ſtill, and fight not againſt it with the ſword of the Spirit, nor confeſſe themſelues to bee beaſts for their yeelding ſo farre, whereby their whole Chriſtianitie is called into queſtion.
But another thing in this verſe is not to be omitted, that whereas Samſons Doct. 3.wife being threatned by her neighbours before, that they would burne her, except ſhe told them the meaning of the riddle; ſhe (as wee hauehave heard) to auoid the danger, did tell it them, to the griefe and great hurt of her huſband; and yet now behold, ſhe could not auoide it, but by the Philiſtims was burned for all that. For by and for her telling the riddle to her people, ſhe was ſaued from burning, but Samſon went from her, and for that her father gaue her to another to wife: for that, Samſon ſpoyled the Philiſtims corne and commodities; and for that cauſe they burned her and her father; and ſo the riddle, the declaring whereof ſaued her life, the ſame was the occaſion of loſing it. Euen ſo, that which ſhee ſought before by vnlawfull meanes and ſhifts to ſhunne, I meane burning; by the ſame vnlawfull ſhifts ſhe procured it. And ſo it was with Ioſephs brethren, when they ſought to be Gen. 37. 27.rid of him, becauſe of his dreames of ſuch honor that he ſhould hauehave aboue them, which he told them of, and they in no wiſe could abide it, and therefore they ſold him into a farre countrey: euen thereby they brought him to that honour, cleane contrary to their mindes and liking, as is cleere in the Gen. 39. 1. and 20. compared with 41. 40. &cſtorie.
And what is more manifeſtly and manifoldly proued by experience among vsus then this, that whereas many ſeeing great troubles comming toward them, doe ſeeke by euill practiſes, as lying, ſwearing, forſwearing and ſuch like, to winde out of them; what may bee commonlier ſeene (I ſay) Note.then this, that thereby they bring farre greater and ſorer, if not the ſame troubles vponupon themſelues? For while they ſeeke to auoid worldly ſorrow for a while, which had come by their trouble, but much leſſe, they are plunged into a farre greater, euen to torment their conſciences with deadly ſtings of ſorrow by their ſinne, which of a long time will not bee plucked out. So the Iewes ſought libertie by putting Chriſt to death; yet when Matth. 8. 11.thereby he roſe roſe againe from death, it cut their hearts deeplier, and imbondaged them much more, (I ſpeake of ſuch as were not ſeared with an hot yron) and ſo much the rather for that they hauehave thereby brought his blood vponupon them, and their children vntounto this day.
I ſtand the rather vponupon this, becauſe it is thought a fooliſh part for a man to beare a diſcommodity patiently, rather then to ſhift it off by vnlawfull meanes, and is counted a point of wiſdome to fall rather into the hands of bad men, though by yeeding to ſinne, then to commit his caſe to God, with confidence in him: for what account is made of that, though it bee againſt a mans conſcience? As many Politikes cenſure Daniel for his vpright Dan. 6. 10.perſiſting in the ſeruice of God, after the decree was made againſt him by the Princes. What? (ſay men) had he no ſhift nor euaſion to deliuer himſelfe, and elude his aduerſaries, but he muſt wilfully fall into the ſnare? Oh foole! learne by this example the truth of that denunciation; He that will Matth. 16. 25. Iob. 2. 4.ſaue his life, (that is, giuegive skinne for skinne, conſcience and all to ſaue it) he ſhall loſe it: that is, either be diſappointed for his ſhifts, God not giuing him fauour in the eyes of his enemies, who count him but an hypocrite for all his ſhifting) or if he ſeeme to gaine ſomewhat thereby in one kinde, yet he ſhall neuer enioy his penniworth with comfort, but rather with a checking and vpbraiding conſcience, if he doe not at length with wearines renounce it, and caſt it away, as Iudas did his wages of iniquitie. But hee that loſeth his Matth. 27. 3.life, that is, truſteth God with his moſt precious liberties, rather then he will runne vponupon the pikes to hauehave his will, he ſhall finde it, as Heſter did, by ſauing Note.ir; or as the good Martyrs did, by changing it for eternall life, after the ſhort enduring of trouble, which their good and quiet ſpirit, and the hope of reward ſhall make tolerable. Oh that men would once learne to meaſure gaine, not by the preſentnes, but by the cleerenes, and worthineſſe of it! they ſhould by this meanes auoid many a ſinne, with the ſhifts that attend vponupon it, beſides preuenting of many after-reckonings of ſorrow and puniſhment, which an euill conſcience makes vnſufferable: eſpecially if the ſame miſchiefe light vponupon them, which with ſo deare a price they ſought to auoid. Very Heathens could ſay, that vengeance would not ſuffer the guiltie to Acts 2. 4.eſcape, though they might ſhift for the preſent. But the word of God teacheth vsus the cauſe: becauſe the God of vengeance is the Lord of hoaſts, and hath a hundred ſouldiers armed to meete with his enemie, though he hauehave eſcaped one. It is as if a man hauing ſhunned a Beare, ſhould meete Amos 5. 19.with a Lion: he hath eſcaped the former, but he is ſtill in chace, neuer at reſt till he be deſtroyed, and hee had been better to hauehave yeelded to the firſt. The ſtory of al Churches verifie this truth in the examples of abiuring hypocrites, who met with worſe meaſure when God took them in hand, then they ſhunned at the hand of men. For the wiſedome of man is fooliſhnes with 1. Cor. 1. 20.God.
Now in theſe two verſes the other way is ſet downe whereby Samſon Verſ. 7. 8.hurt the Philiſtims, and that was in their bodies, which hee ſo lamed and pained with kicking them with his feete, that he did beate life out of them. And ſo wee are to vnderſtand thoſe words in the 8. verſe [hippe and thigh] that is, with a neceſſary ſupply added for making the ſenſe runne the roundlier, thus; his foote put foorth to their thigh with a ſtrong blow, and had no other weapon to fight againſt them, but his foote; ſpurning them as ſluggiſh perſons, not able to reſiſt him. This as the beſt expoſition (in my opinion, leauing others to their own iudgement) of theſe words [he ſmote them hippe and thigh with a mightie plague] I ſet downe, not troubling the reader with other opinions about it.
Now by this extraordinarie ſtrength that hee had, thus to ſpurne and Doct.tread them downe euen to death; and the ſlauiſh daſtardlines of the Philiſtims, on the other ſide as much to bee admired, that they ſeemed not to ſtriue or fight for themſelues a whit: wee may ſee how mightily God aſſiſteth his ſeruants, whom he ſetteth about his worke, when he will hauehave all to ſee that it is he that bringeth it to paſſe, and not they. As in Gedeons vanquiſhing the Midianites that couered as graſhoppers the face of the earth Iudg. 7 7.for multitude; for he did it with a very few, euen three hundred men. And ſo he dealt with Iehoſaphat. For when the children of Ammon, and Moab, 2. Chro. 20. 17.and mount Seir, came to caſt him and the people of Iudah out of Gods inheritance, with a fearefull and an exceeding armie, the Lord ſent a meſſenger to them, ſaying: Feare not for all this great multitude, for the battell is not yours but Gods. Stand ſtill, moue not, and behold the ſaluation of God towards you, To morrow goe out againſt them, and the Lord will be with you. And (to make vſe of this doctrine) I ſay, that if wee hauehave eyes wee may ſee, that God aſſiſteth and helpeth his, in their trouble, feare and neede, beyond all that mans reaſon can reach vntounto, when they depend on, and truſt in him: yea hee brings them into danger oftentimes and ſtraits, and all to this end that his power in deliuering them, may be ſeene in their weakenes, and fighteth for them as ſenſibly as he did for Iehoſaphat, or for Dauid againſt Goliah. Of the which truth Ionah is a liuely proofe, who was receiued into the fiſh, (when he was caſt into the ſea) preſerued in the belly of it, and caſt vp to land by the extraordinarie prouidence of God, rather then hee ſhould be loſt and forſaken.
Samſon hauing thus ſlaine them, hee went and abode in a place called Etham, an high rocke, which belonged to the tribe of Simeon, in the borders of Iudah. And therefore it is ſaid in the next verſe, that the Philiſtims came and pitched in Iudah to ſeeke for him. But before hee thus ſlew them, as is ſaid in the 8. verſe, that is to be marked which he ſaid, and is ſet downe in the ſeuenth verſe; that when he ſaw that they had burned the Timnite and his daughter, ſeeing they were onelyonly an occaſion of their loſſe, he ſaid thus to thoſe Philiſtims; If yee hauehave done thus to them your neighbours, and of your owne countrey, who did not hurt you, what would you doe to me, if I ſhould fall into your hands? I will therefore be auenged of you, before I ceaſe. Thus much for the cleering of theſe two verſes.
Out of this verſe wee may note, that if men be cruell and outragious againſt Doct. verſ. 7.them that were onelyonly the occaſions of their hurt, though they neuer ſought nor intended it; how much more will they ſhew their fury and madnes againſt them, who hauehave done the hurt and wrong vntounto them? This may fitly be gathered from the reaſoning of Samſon. And ſo wee may well conclude and ſay; that if wee will bee exaſperated againſt ſuch as doe but come in our way, or were onelyonly preſent where wee ſuſtained ſome reproch or iniurie; how much more, if we light vponupon him that hath done the wrong to vsus, will wee ſhew our ſelues vnreaſonable? For hee that cannot beare a little, much leſſe will beare a great deale. Fall not we (as neere as we can) into the hands of ſuch. So hee that will beate the ground at which he ſtumbled, will much more fiercely riſe againſt him, who hath caſt him wilfully on the ground.
Further, in that Samſon ſaid, hee would be auenged of the Philiſtims before he ceaſed, hee ſpake as it became him, ſeeing God had appointed him to doe ſo. So are all in authoritie ſet in place by God to be a terrour to the Rom. 13 4.wicked, euen as they are for the comfort of thoſe that are good. For it is a grace, and no eaſie matter to puniſh ſinne aright, and to ſeeke to winne the Prou. 17. 15.offender. And it is as great an offence for them to doe that worke of the Lord negligently, as it is to fall vponupon the innocent haſtily and cruelly. So all priuate perſons, and Preachers of the word eſpecially, ſhould doe likewiſe: to wit, make that ſinne odious to themſelues and others (as farre as lieth in them) which the Magiſtrate is to puniſh, and they to reproue: euen as they ought to be like affected to all ſin, becauſe God abhorreth it. Herein ſaying with good Leui; Who is my father? I know not euen my father, if hee Deut 33. 9.goe about to hinder the worke of God: and herein follow wee our bleſſed Sauiour, who came to deſtroy the workes of the diuell. But I hauehave oft noted 1. Ioh. 3. 8.this before, therefore I preſſe it no further.
That which in the former verſe he was ſaid to threaten, the ſame in this Verſ. 8.verſe he is ſaid to doe and accompliſh. That is, to ſmite them with a great plague and in reprochfull maner: ſetting (as it were) his feete vponupon them, or ſpurning them vntounto death. This, if it had not been commanded by God, had bin cruelty. So that here we may learne to know, that except we hauehave 1our charge from God to execute vponupon men ſeuere and ſharp puniſhment, it is meere crueltie to ſet vponupon it, which wee ſhould in no wiſe like, much leſſe delight to attempt: no more then wee would be willing to hauehave the like offered to our ſelues. But hauehave wee compaſſion and commiſeration ouer ſuch as are in miſerie any way, as we our ſelues would in like caſe deſire the ſame. This is a branch of the former, often touched before.
That which is ſaid of the rocke Etham here in in Iudah, is to ſhew that 2he abode there, till hee was after taken from thence by the men of Iudah, and carried to the Philiſtims: which was ſoone after. Of which I know no more to be ſaid, ſaue onelyonly that we may ſee that he did not goe to hide himſelfe in a corner, as though hee durſt not ſtand to that which hee had done, but being like to be apprehended he went, God directing him to take that patiently which they ſhould doe to him, and to depend on him for iſſue, though to a defenced and high place, yet to an open, where he was knowne to be, and was eaſily remoued from thence, when the men of Iudah came vp thither to carrie him bound to the Philiſtims, he committing himſelfe to Gods prouidence, whoſe worke he had done. For though he went thither from the Philiſtims, yet he was euen there in a place where they gouerned.
So let all bee wiſe, to doe that for which they may not bee driuen to flie for it: but ſo anſwere to it, and bee armed to beare that which comes vponupon them for the ſame. As it falleth out oft times, that euen for that which they hauehave well done, ſome inſtruments of the diuell or other will bee ready alwaies to moleſt and bring trouble vponupon them for it. Notwithſtanding the which, yet they may reioyce as our Sauiour willeth them, and bee glad if Mat. 5. 12.they be perſecuted and reuiled for his ſake, that is, for well doing. But let 1. Pet. 3. 17. Prou. 20. 1.no man ſuffer for euill doing, for hee ſhall bee forced to hide himſelfe, and runne away; the wicked flying, when no man purſueth him. And yet (all that I hauehave ſaid notwithſtanding) it is not denyed any man, to reſcue himſelfe from the open wrong of the vnconſcionable, by any lawfull meanes, neither ought it to preiudice the equity of our cauſe.