Commentary on Judges, Sermon 80
THE EIGHTIETH SERMON ON THE XV. CHAPTER OF THE BOOKE OF IVDGES.
The ſecond part of the Chapter.
Verſ. 9. Then the Philiſtims went vp, and pitched in Iudah, and ſpread themſelues in Lehi.
10 And the men of Iudah ſaid, Why are ye come vp againſt vsus? and they anſwered, To bind Samſon are we come vp, and to doe to him, as he hath done to vsus.
11 Then three thouſand men of Iudah went to the top of the rocke Etam, and ſaid to Samſon; Knowest thou not that the Philiſtims are rulers ouer vsus? what is this that thou haſt done to vsus? And he ſaid vntounto them, As they did vntounto me, ſo hauehave I done vntounto them.
12 And they ſaid vntounto him, We are come downe to bind thee, that we may deliuer thee into the hand of the Philiſtims. And Samſon ſaid vntounto them; Sweare vntounto mee that ye will not fall vponupon me your ſelues.
13 And they ſpake vntounto him, ſaying; No; but wee will bind thee faſt, and deliuer thee into their hand: but ſurely we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him from the rocke.
14 And when he came to Lehi, the Philiſtims ſhouted at the meeting of him.
HOw Samſon vexed the Philiſtims, we hauehave heard in the firſt part The ſumme of theſe verſes.of this Chapter: In this ſecond is ſhewed, how they purſuing him, got him to bee brought bound vntounto them. And that was after this manner. Firſt they came vp againſt Iudah where Samſon was, threatning to fight againſt them, vnleſſe they brought Samſon bound vntounto them. And this is in verſ. 9. 10. Secondly, they of Iudah fetched him from the rocke Etam, where hee was, and brought him bound vntounto them: verſ. 11. 12. 13. And thirdly, when he came to them at Lehi, the place heere mentioned, the Philiſtims ſhouted for ioy that hee was come, thinking to hauehave ſome great hand ouer him: and this is in a part of the 14. verſe.
But to come more particularly to theſe three points, it is ſaid firſt, that the Verſ. 9. 10.Philiſtims came with an armie againſt Iudah in that part of it which was neere adioyning & conterminate to their owne countrey, here called Lehi, which ſignifieth a cheeke or iaw-bone, and tooke the name from an act that Samſon did in that place afterwards, in ſlaying many there with the iaw bone of an Aſſe. Into Iudah, I ſay, they came, putting the men thereof into great feare, for that Samſon, who had done them ſo great hurt, had his abode among them, and was (as they tooke it) harboured and maintained in that euill which he had wrought againſt them, by them of Iudah. And when they demanded of the Philiſtims, why they did ſo come againſt them, ſeeing they had not broken their league with them; they anſwered: that they did it for the great hurt that they had ſuſtained by Samſon, and him they would hauehave to be deliuered vntounto them, or elſe they would make warre with them.
The Philiſtims did in this, but as any like them, nay many farre better, Doct. verſ. 9.would doe in the like caſe. Nay, there are few to bee found, either nation againſt nation, or man by man prouoked, who are not ready enough to ſeek reuenge, yea to paſſe their bounds therein exceedingly, rather then to come behind in ſuch caſes: who though they doe euill, as the Philiſtims alſo did, yet if any man would aske whether a Chriſtian muſt put vp all wrongs and iniuries? I anſwere; he may defend himſelfe in his innocent caſe, and ſtop the courſe of his aduerſarie, ſo as it bee without malice and a reuenging mind, of which more is ſaid in another place. Neither doe I affirme, that ſin is to goe vnpuniſhed, by this debarring of eueryevery man in his priuate quarrell from reuenge: for (as that officer of Epheſus told the ſeditious Citizens) Act. 19. 38.If ye hauehave ought againſt theſe men, there are aduocates; ſo I ſay, in caſes of weight, there are Magiſtrates, who are to looke to this, that neither by the impudency of the wrong doer, nor the impotency of the reuenger the common-wealth be diſturbed: And ſo much more in the ſinnes committed againſt the Maieſty of God, ought the Magiſtrate to beſtirre himſelfe, if hee doe as behoues him: wherein he is no reuenger, but rather one that ſtands in the gap to ſtay Gods hand from being reuenged vponupon the whole body for the diſorder of a few bad members, as in Phinees his ſtory is manifeſt. But that which I complaine of is this: that whereas men are ſo hot one againſt Numb. 25. 8.another for bodily treſpaſſes, and temporary harmes done vntounto them; yet their owne ſpeciall ſinnes, which doe themſelues infinite harme, they hauehave no heart to goe againſt them; no neither are wiſe enough to beleeue what Note.deadly enemies they bee vntounto them. And thus wee may find it in all kinds of offenders. A thing worthy to be bewailed, if it were duly conſidered; eſpecially in thoſe who hauing found them by wofull experience to hauehave wrought them more ſorrow and iuſt cauſe of complaint, then their rankeſt enemy could poſſibly hauehave procured them.
As for reuenging of others; that ſhould alway be ready to feare and hold vsus from it, which is written, Rom. 12. Vengeance is mine, ſaith the Lord, and I Rom. 12. 19.will repay it. For whiles men are ouer buſie in quitting themſelues of their enemy, they both exaſperate him, and make God a party againſt them, and ſo they find the harder match of it. Dauid durſt not reuenge when he could hauehave done it, but anſwered; As the Lord liueth, either the Lord ſhall ſmite him, or his day ſhall come to die, or he ſhall fall by the ſword, or otherwiſe: as for me, I will 1. Sam 26. 10.not ſmite him; wickedneſſe be with the wicked, but my hand bee not vponupon him. But 1. Sam 24. 13.we (though wee can doe nothing) yet pleaſe our ſelues in Iezabels humour, 1. King 19. 2.and her ſonnes, ſaying, God doe ſo to me, and more alſo, if I make not Eliahs head as the head of one of theſe to morrow. So ſaid Iehoram of Eliſha. Whereas before we can bring our purpoſe to paſſe, we are our ſelues preuented by God, and 2. King. 6. 1.our nailes pared, and we laid full low oftentimes, more fit to be pitied, then to reuenge. Doubtleſſe, if we could moderate our ſelues, and take the Apoſtles counſell to the Romans [If thine enemy hunger, feed him] Rom. 12. Rom. 12. 19. 20wee ſhould ſooner make our aduerſary ſubmit himſelfe vntounto vsus, and acknowledge his offence with ſhame and griefe, then wee ſhall euer doe it by oppoſition: which were a double victory both ouer him and our ſelues. See that example, 2. King. 6. 22. compared with the end of the 23. verſe.
Now by this their ſeeking of Samſon, and requiring of the men of Iudah Doct. verſ. 10.with threats, and in armour, to bring him bound to them, as in this verſe it appeared they did) we ſee a new trouble aroſe againſt him, for the faithfull and diligent performance of his dutie: euen as Dauid receiued many diſcouragements for his well doing, and namely by Saul, and thoſe many and 1. Sam. 17. 8.great, and before that, of Eliab his brother, in offering himſelfe to fight againſt Goliah. But ſo God hath prouided in his wiſe diſpoſing of things, that wee cannot bee forward in any good cauſe, but commonly for the humbling of vsus it ſhal coſt vsus trouble: as either by our owne corrupt nature croſſing and hindering vsus, ſeeing we are renued but in part, & the fleſh reſiſteth againſt the ſpirit, when we ſtriue to doe well, and to renounce euill: or elſe by outward affliction befalling vsus for the ſame. As oftentimes ill will of men is ready to meet vsus, for labouring to keepe a good conſcience, and that many waies ſhewed and teſtified: as by railing vponupon vsus, and ſpeaking euill of vsus, perſecuting, and other vnreaſonable meaſure offering vntounto vsus, becauſe wee cannot brooke, and digeſt the ſinnes of the times that wee liue in, nor walke after the bad examples of other, as Saint Peter ſpeaketh. But oh, little 1. Pet. 44.know wee or conſider, that by ſuch oppoſition the Lord trieth what courage is in vsus, and whether wee were like to honour him by ſuffering greater things for him, when we can ſo eaſily beare ſmaller reproches for his names ſake, and make them our crowne, counting our ſelues happie that wee may ſuffer for well doing. Moreouer this manner of our liuing, and ſuch carriage of our ſelues, bringeth another way great reioycing. For what ioy or comfort is like to that which ariſeth from a good conſcience? which Salomon therefore compareth to the continuall feaſting of the vngodly. But this Prou. 15. 15. 2. Cor. 1. 12.hath been often vrged.
This bee ſaid of the firſt of theſe three things in this ſecond part of the Verſ. 10. 11. 12.Chapter, to wit, of the Philiſtims comming armed againſt the men of Iudah to require Samſon of them. Now the next point followeth thereof; that is to ſay, how the men of Iudah, being ſore afraid of them, went and bound Samſon, to deliuer him vntounto them. And this they did after they had asked of them why they came againſt them, and they had anſwered; to hauehave Samſon brought bound vntounto them. The which they went about immediately, as ſhall further be laid out in the 11. 12. and 13. verſes.
But the men of Iudah demaund of them in this 10. verſe, why they took Verſ 10.vp armour againſt them, ſeeing they (according to agreement with them) ſubmitted themſelues to them, and paid their tribute, and had not prouoked them by riſing againſt them: vponupon which condition, they had promiſe of the Philiſtims that they ſhould enioy peace, and liue without feare. But they anſwered for themſelues, by pleading how Samſon had ſpoiled them, who was one of them, and if they would (they ſaid) defend his doing, then they would fight and make warre with them: but if they would deliuer him bound vntounto them, they would depart: for they would (they ſaid) do vntounto him, as he had done vntounto them.
They of Iudah thought they had great wrong offered them by the Philiſtims, Doct. verſ. 10.whiles they themſelues did none to them: for they did not defend Samſons fact. And the Philiſtims thought much that they ſhould be oppoſed by any of Iudah, they hauing made peace with them vponupon conditions, and would hurt none but him (they ſaid) that had hurt them. By both wee learne, that it is more then heatheniſh, and a thing that reaſonable men doe marueile at, that peaceable and innocent people, who giuegive themſelues to leade an harmeleſſe life, ſhould be hurt by any, and that they ſhould not bee quiet and in ſafety by them with whom they liue, and to whom they do no harme. So ſaith Salomon; Intend no euill against thy neighbour, ſeeing hee doth Pro. 3. 29.dwell without feare by thee. And they who enioy ſuch peaceby them, hauehave that earthly benefit that God alloweth them; which how great it is, who doth not know?
But on the contrary, the vnpeaceable (for the moſt part) doe reape the fruit of their vnquiet liuing, anſwerably. For it muſt be granted, that vnrighteous people, and ſuch as ſhiftingly hurt & wrong others, procure to themſelues much hatred, trouble and ſorrow; and the breaking out of men that way, doth cauſe the exclamations, diſquiets and complaints that are in all places. But God doth pay ſuch home, and requite the leaud and bad dealings of vnconſcionable men oft times in this life, cauſing them to find ſuch meaſure as they offer to other. From which dealing yet how farre they ſhould be, euen this teacheth; that both the Philiſtims, and they againe, the men of Iudah, do claime couenant keeping of the heathen Philiſtims, and challenge them for the breach of it, as being againſt the light of nature. And how much more ſhould Chriſtians keepe couenants which they hauehave made for peace one with another, howſoeuer things fall out, and not breake and goe from them diſhoneſtly, when by Gods prouidence they ſuſtaine ſome hurt thereby. Euen as wee reade in the Pſalme. If thou haſt ſworne to thy neighbour, diſappoint him not, though thou ſhouldeſt loſe thereby. Sundry Pſal. 15 4.are the bands which tye men (otherwiſe lawleſſe) to dutie and peace. The generalleſt is the common band of humanity. Then our Baptiſme, profeſſion, the Communion (for ſo we call that Sacrament) and among ſome, Matrimony, conſanguinity, affinity, friendſhip, partnerſhip, neighbourhood; yea the law or comprimize hath bound ſome from offering violence. Here are lincks enough, a man would thinke, to make a cord not eaſie to be broken: but where a boyſterous and vnreaſonable ſpirit, nay brutiſh, beareth ſway, what is there, either holy thing or ciuill ſufficient to containe men? Euen as Samſon did with thoſe new ropes, ſo doe theſe with ſuch bands of louelove and amitie, ſhameleſly and at once, breake all in two, like flax. But here an end of this.
Now to goe forward, wee hauehave heard that the men of Iudah anſwered Verſ. 11.the Philiſtims, that they had not riſen vp againſt them, and therefore marueiled why they came to make warre with them. Whereupon ariſeth a Queſt. 1.queſtion, whether they did well in yeelding ſo to the Philiſtims, and in anſwering them ſo, to wit, that they had been ſubiect to them according to agreement. Alſo, whether they did well herein, in offering to yeeld Samſon to them? And now (as is ſaid in this verſe) in forſaking him their countrey man and auenger, nay in apprehending and binding him, and ſo to deliuer him into their hands? For God had raiſed him vp an helper vntounto them, his people, againſt their enemies: and ſhould they be ſo vnthankfull as to offer him, their Iudge and helper, into their enemies hands?
Againe, (to make the doubt the greater) it was ſaid in verſe 4, chapt. 14. that it came of the Lord, that Samſon ſhould take occaſion againſt the Philiſtims, that he might ſore vexe them; and ſhould they of Iudah then helpe them to cut him off, who was giuen of God to be ſuch an helper to them? And whereas he was not ſo openly and profeſſedly ſuffered to ſhew himſelfe ſuch a one, as the other Iudges did; Othniel, Ehud and the reſt: but only in priuate manner to vexe them, as they gaue him occaſion,
To this the anſwere is; that ſo God had appointed, who would thereby hauehave the enemies curbed, and their force weakned, for the eaſe and quiet of his people, and yet he would not giuegive them a ful deliuerance, whom he had ſo often proued to be vnfaithfull and vnthankfull toward him.
I ſay therefore that hereupon it may ſeeme that the whole courſe of the words and deedes of the men of Iudah toward Samſon, was faultie and euill, for ought that hath yet been ſaid to the contrary, and their yeelding him vp to the Philiſtims, as they did afterward, was no better then that which they are ſaid in this verſe to hauehave ſpoke and done to him: to wit, that they went ſo ſpeedily about the apprehending and binding of him, and ſo ſharply rebuked him for the hurt he did to the Philiſtims, whereas they fared the better for it, and ſaw it was to the eaſing of them.
To all this I anſwere, that it is not certaine that the men of Iudah knew Anſw.any ſuch thing that Samſon was giuen them to auenge them of the Philiſtims, (though it was told to his mother by the Angell in the 13. Chapter, verſe 5.) and that may bee gathered by the words of the men of Iudah to Samſon, when they ſpake to him ſo ſharply and ſaid, that they muſt bind him, and ſo deliuer him to the Philiſtims: which had been abſurd for them to ſpeake, if they had knowne that he was ſet by the Lord to deliuer them. Beſides, God gaue them no commandement to breake their league with the Philiſtims, which they had made with them, being brought vnderunder of them, neither had hee giuen them any meanes to defend them by violence and armes againſt them, therefore they were to commit the ſucceſſe to God: and it cannot be laid to the charge of the men of Iudah as their fault, that they did ſo to Samſon in deliuering him vp into the Philiſtims hands, notwithſtanding that God in his prouidence had called Samſon to be their auenger. And wee muſt obſerue that by this deliuerie of Samſon, the Lord ſtill gaue further heart as alſo opportunitie to him to afflict theſe Philiſtims more then before, as ſhall appeare in the fifteenth verſe. So that the Lord thus carrying the buſineſſe, wee muſt not (without apparant cauſe) condemne the fact of the people. Yet hereby I doe not altogether cleere them from blame. For there is no doubt of this, but that the men of Iudah were too much afraid of the Philiſtims, and too ready to keepe themſelues from danger by them, and to ſtay them from making warre againſt them. And though it had been commanded them of God to hauehave kept Samſon from them, yet ſeeing it had been with the perill of their liues, it is like enough they would not for all that hauehave done ſo, but would hauehave deliuered him vp vntounto them: onelyonly indeed they are the leſſe to be charged, becauſe (as I ſaid) they had no commandement of God to doe ſo, which excuſeth the fact, but not them, becauſe they looked not at theſe grounds, neither were guided by knowledge. So then thus I conclude (and let the reader marke): The fact of the people of Iudah had been bad and groſſe, if they had left Samſon to ſhift for himſelfe, againſt an expreſſe commandement from God, and if he had bidden them to take Samſon for their helper, and to aſſiſt him: for then they ought to beleeue, that hee would both hauehave directed them what to doe, and would alſo hauehave aſſiſted them. But this not appearing by any neceſſarie proofe, they are onelyonly to be charged for this, that they proceeded herein vponupon ſiniſter cauſes, and not by the warrant of knowledge; as appeares by their fleſhly fearing the Philiſtims, becauſe they were ſtrong: and they did not cleaue to Samſon in this reſpect, ſeeing they ſaw not that they were like to be eaſed greatly by him againſt them, and thereupon were ſo ready to goe about to apprehend him, and to aske him what hee meant to prouoke the Philiſtims againſt them, they being yet vnderunder their dominion.
So that this wee may learne hereby; That howſoeuer God promiſed to Doct. verſ. 11.be with vsus in all our waies appointed to vsus by him to walke in, as hee did to theſe men of Iudah, yet if we cannot doe ſo without oppoſition, diſpleaſure and reſiſtance by men, wee commonly looke, as they did, to the ſtrongeſt ſide, with fleſhly and carnal eyes, I meane, to the power of man, and not of God, and ſo we ſoone goe out of the way: which is not like to be without our great hurt. And yet marueilous it is to ſee, what ſlauiſh mindes are in vsus, Note.that how plainly ſoeuer God reueile his will to vsus, in and about any particular dutie, we will hauehave an hundred ſhifts and excuſes why we cannot (as we ſay) but indeed dare not walke in the approued beaten way, which God hath laid out for vsus.
No tongue is able to expreſſe the innumerable breaches of Gods commandements, and fearfull ſinnes which are committed thus and by this occaſion: and all to ſhunne an outward and temporary danger and diſcommoditie; but the inward violence and ſmarting words which wee make in our conſciences thereby we doe not at all, or very little regard them: which therefore ariſe after, and ſometime many yeeres after to trouble, yea and torment vsus. As the fact of Ioſephs brethren did vex them more then twenty Gen. 42. 21.yeeres after; and Dauid was ſore troubled, when he remembred the ſinnes Pſal. 25 7.of his youth.
And this to bee true both Scripture and experience teach vsus, that while men runne into ſinne, to auoid outward trouble and danger, and yet make nothing of it when they hauehave done, leſt they ſhould too much diſquiet themſelues; yet that God doth afterwards make their doings as prickes in their eyes, and thornes in their fleſh; that thereby we may know, that they who hold vp their heads moſt iollily after their ſione committed, as though nothing were amiſſe with them, ſhall not ſo eaſily goe away with it; but their ſinne which they hauehave made their dearling, ſhall ſting them in their boſomes, and riſe vp and ſtrangle them, as it oft doth, and make their liues weariſome, if it put not alſo an end to them; as the ſinne of Zimry and Coſby did; Corab alſo and his company. But where might one make an end of Numb. 25. 8. Numb. 16. 32.this diſcourſe? Looke more of this in the ſtorie of Gedeons demaund of the men of Succoth and Penuel, and in this Chapter, verſe 6.
To the queſtion of the men of Iudah, demaunding of Samſon what hee meant ſo to prouoke the Philiſtims againſt thē, by hurting them (he knowing Verſ. 11. 12that they, euen all their land, were vnderunder them, and ſubiect to them) he anſwereth them; As they hauehave done to me, ſo hauehave I done to them; meaning, according to my charge. Samſon might hauehave been like, if hee had followed carnall reaſon, to hauehave fallen vponupon them, for that they knowing him to hauehave ſo greatly hurt their enemies, and he knowing himſelfe to be their Iudge and helper, ſaw yet that he was ſo roughly dealt with by them: for they might ſeeme to deale with him as the Hebrewes dealt with Moſes; Exod. 5. 21.who being oppreſſed by Pharao, told Moſes that he made them ſtinke in the ſight of Pharao, Samſon (I ſay) knowing that which he did, might hauehave bin like to hauehave ſlaine theſe men of Iudah for their ſlauiſh fearing of the Philiſtims, and for their ſl…rh and daſterdlines in yeelding to them, and ſetting themſelues againſt him.
But he kindly anſwered them, and told them gently what he had done to them, and why. And when they ſhewed him that they muſt binde him, and carrie him to the Philiſtims, hee rageth not againſt them, neither hurteth them, he only requires an oath of them (and vponupon that condition he would yeeld himſelfe to them) to wit, that they would not kill him themſelues: the which he did, becauſe hee loued his countrey, and would in no wiſe ſhed the blood of any of his citizens; which (yet) hee ſaw hee muſt doe, if hee ſhould fight with them by hand-blowes. Such was his louelove to them, that he would rather be deliuered to his enemies, then that his countrey for his cauſe ſhould come into danger: and his faith in God was as firme and conſtant. In whoſe merciemercy he truſting, doubted not to commit himſelfe to his enemies and to defend his nation from them with the perill of his life. And this teacheth, that we ſhould hauehave regard of other, as well as of our ſelues, in ſo much that though we hauehave power in our hands to hurt them, yea and though ſome cauſe be offered vsus to deale hardly with them, yet wee ſhould forbeare, and rather in godly wiſedome paſſe by an offence, except greater euill and inconuenience doe come thereby.
For (alas) what pleaſure ſhould we take in ſeeing euill fall vponupon our brethren, when we might hauehave held it from them? which Iob in no wiſe would Iob 31. 29.be brought to doe. And as we ſhould eueryevery way hauehave regard of this toward our neighbour, ſo in our families we ſhould ſhew this wiſedome, care, and louelove toward them that are vnderunder our gouernment. For the Lord ſparing vsus, Note.where we hauehave deſerued hard meaſure at his hands, nay we receiuing many and continuall bleſſings from God, why ſhould wee not alſo deale well with other? So Iob gaue his ſeruants leaue to plead their cauſe, and hearkened Iob 31. 13.to them, if they were wronged. And of his neighbours hee ſaid; I was not moued with ioy when euill came vponupon them that hate me, neither ſuffered 29. 30.I my mouth to ſinne, by wiſhing a curſe to their ſoule. All theſe commendable graces in Iob are condemnations of the ſpitefull and malicious, who glory in cruelty againſt other, and ſeck to hurt and wrong them, whom See Heſter 10. laſt verſe.they ſhould kindly regard.
Nature hath engrauen a louelove in vsus to our countrey, but grace muſt ſeaſon, ripen, and direct it. And a ſhame it were for Chriſtians to come ſhort of Heathens in this point. And yet there are memorable examples among them of ſuch as for the procurement of their countreys good, doubted not to deuote themſelues to execrable deaths, and offer themſelues of their own accord to aſſured ſlaughter. But what ſhall I ſay of this nation of ours? Thoſe Decij and Marcus Regulus ſhall riſe vp in iudgement againſt many curſed vipers, degenerate miſcreants of this our nation, who (hauing ſome of them more bonds to obliege them to louelove and loyaltie then this alone, I meane, fauours from Prince, dignities and rewards more then for their deſert) yet hauehave attempted and taken vp armes againſt their owne parent, and ſought to ſhed her bowels vponupon the ground: ſome out of pretenſed conſcience, but moſt out of helliſh rancour, diſcontent, pride, and vnthankfulnes, hauehave raced out the image of all louelove, dutie, or allegiance to God, King, Religion and Nation: ſorting themſelues into two treacherous rankes of runnagates, the one ſhrouding themſelues as ſouldiers vnderunder forreine Popiſh Princes: and waiting their opportunitie to doe miſchiefe: the other creeping into Cloyſters, and there taking vponupon them the mark of Antichriſt the Pope, the deadly enemie of our Religion and State, and renouncing their owne countrey and ſeruice thereto, to the end that they may returne againe and worke the ruine thereof by their curſed policie.
But to leaue th…ſe and ſhut vp the poynt, let Samſon teach vsus, both Gouernours, Miniſters, and people, to vnite our louelove to our nation and the Church of God therein, by almeanes wiſhing her peace, and procuring her welfare: and pray God that they may more and more doe it, whom it concerneth to roote out all aduerſarie power which might threaten it. As wee ſee, Paul cannot thinke of his nation, but he burſteth foorth into prayers for the ſaluation of it, not doubting (as a loyall ſouldier) to pledge not his life Rom. 9. 3.onelyonly, but his ſoule for it. And Dauid when hee beheld his people ſtanding amazed at Goliah, breaketh out thus; What is this vncircumciſed Philiſtim, 1. Sam. 17. 26.that he thus brayeth againſt God, and the hoſte of Iſrael? Thus let it be with vsus, and not onelyonly content our ſelues with that common louelove that ſtandeth in the communion of peace, wealth, eaſe, pleaſure, and liberties: for then the leaſt diſcontent for the want thereof may preuaile ſo farre, as to cauſe vsus to forſweare all religious or ciuil intereſt in her that begat and nouriſhed vsus.
The oath that he required of them, was for the ſecuring of him; for hee Verſe 12.thought himſelfe ſafe if he had an oath from them, that they would not kill him: becauſe then hee doubted not, but that hee ſhould breake his bands, and eſcape the hands of the Philiſtims, and vex them againe. This his example teacheth vsus to take heed how wee commit our ſelues into the hands of men, and whom we cannot ſafely truſt; and ſuch as are not faithfull to God, except wee hauehave good ſecuritie for our ſo doing, (yea though they make ſhewes of friendſhip and louelove) but much more when they bewray themſelues to be ſuch. Neither hang we the peace of our conſcience vponupon men; for they that hauehave none themſelues, will not tender and regard vsus, but put vsus to our ſhirts. Looke in the former chapter more at large hereof.
And here wee ſee, that men venture their liues vponupon the ſecuritie of an oath. He putteth his life into their hands, when they had ſworne they would not kill him. So the Gibeonites thought themſelues ſafe, when the Princes of Iſrael had ſworne to grant them their liues: and Rahab was ſatisfied, when Ioſh. 9. 15.the Spies had promiſed her by an oath, that they would ſaue her and her fathers Ioſh. 2. 12.houſe, when they came to take Iericho the citie wherein ſhe dwelt. Such an account hath been made of an oath, euen among the Heathens; as hath been noted in the ſtorie of Iphtah and the men of Gilead, chapter 11, verſe 11.) by the like occaſion. Therfore moſt fearefull it is, that ſuch as goe for Chriſtians breake and goe from their oath which they hauehave made to witnes their faithfulnes to their brethren, putting their truſt in them; wheras their bare word ought to hauehave tyed them: much more this condemnes ſuch as lay vnconſcionable oathes on people, and vrge them to ſweare to that, which is in no wiſe to be vrged vponupon them.
Now they did as they had ſaid to him, I meane, they bound him with Verſ. 13.two new cords, and brought him downe from the rock: loe, thus they dealt with him, and deliuered him into their enemies hands. Now in that they were conſtrained thus to bring him bound to them, euen as a ſheepe to the ſhambles, (and as if men ſhould deliuer their dogges to the wolues) and ſo muſt bee depriued of ſuch a great benefit as hee had been to them almoſt twentie yeeres, in deliuering them from the oppreſſion of the Philiſtims, (God giuing them no commandement to aſſiſt him:) note wee, that it falleth out many times, that wee muſt (and cannot auoide it) be depriued (the caſe ſo requiring) of our beſt helpes and meanes of our health, peace, libertie, and other commodities. And God will hauehave vsus feele the ſmart thereof, to make vsus know our ſelues the better. And how ought this to bring vsus out of louelove with our ſpeciall ſinnes, which are the cauſes hereof, or of like vnquietnes and diſtraction in our liues? And if we deſire to keepe the beſt things wee hauehave, to our comfort, then let vsus offer violence to ſuch our ſins, as looſnes, inconſtancie, hollow-heartednes, wilfulnes, ſtoutnes, worldlines, or to any other as they ſhall ſit more neere vsus. Touching this fruite of ſinne, wee hauehave had occaſion to ſpeake often, and through this booke.
The men of Iudah to ſhew their diligence, and to purge themſelues from Verſ. 14.blame with the Philiſtims, brought Samſon from the rock bound vntounto them in that place Lehi before mentioned, nigh the borders of the Philiſtims, and yeelding him vp ſo into their hands, at leaſt going about ſo to do: (for elſe, if he had eſcaped before they ſaw him bound, and before they had receiued him into their cuſtody, they might hauehave been thought to deale fraudulently with the Philiſtims, and not to hauehave bound him,) I ſay when they brought him to them, in that manner, I meane faſt bound, they ſhouted with a great noiſe for ioy: ſo glad they were, when they had him their enemie, ſo neere them, euen in their hands, and (as they thought) paſt eſcaping.
Behold heere the ioy of the wicked, wherein it conſiſteth, and how it is Doct.cauſed. In a word, when their deſire is accompliſhed; howſoeuer it bee: as in the apprehending of a great enemy of theirs, (as heere it was with the Philiſtims, when they had got Samſon bound) ſo in their aduancement, in feaſting, in play, vaine pleaſure, and ſuch like. But as for good things, as the certainty of the fauour of God, the aſſurance of eternall life, other heauenly tidings of the Goſpell, the ſetting vp of the kingdome of Chriſt, or the ouerthrow of idolatry or ſome great ſinne, finally in holding and keeping a good conſcience (which yet is continuall feaſting) they know they cannot Prou. 15. 15. Note.reioyce in theſe. Whereby a man may iudge more certainely of their eſtate to Godward, then the Phyſitian may of the ſtate of his patients diſeaſe, by feeling his pulſe.
And to ſpeake as the truth is, what reſting is in ſuch ioy, how lawfull ſoeuer the things are in which they reioyce? but a ſudden ſorrow may follow as greatly ſtinging and tormenting them, or ſuch as will at leaſt a while after Note.vndoubtedly take hold of them, in this changeable world (if no other way) by loſing and forgetting that which cauſed ſuch reioycing. And theſe moods and paſſions) which are as meere extremities, as the noonetide is to midnight) are nothing beſeeming the faithfull ſeruants of God, but doe vtterly diſguiſe them, who hauehave learned to take vp their delight in the other things holy and heauenly, which I hauehave laſt mentioned, and ſuch like: and in their reioycings in and about theſe outward to bee carried alwaies in a meane, and with meaſure.
And becauſe I know, that vponupon that which I hauehave now ſaide, it will anſwere theſe demands and queſtions, whether it be vnlawfull to reioyce in ſuch lawfull things as God giueth men to enioy in this life, as victory ouer enemies, promotion, wealth, and ſuch like: I anſwere, no, as I ſaid before: ſo as withall we deſire and reſolue to make right vſe of them, ſo farre as wee know how, or may learne: but to reſt in them is vnlawfull, for that were 1. Tim. 6. 17.to truſt in them, which is idolatry. Alſo to exceed in reioycing for hauing them, is to take away our ioy from better things, if we hauehave any, or to hinder it, that there may be none; of which fault to be conuinced, Iob in no wiſe could abide it. I thinke it not vnfit heere, (though I might bring hither Iob 31. 25.his owne words, which doe cleerely ſhew that hee was a paterne of rightly enioying riches (to ſet downe the obſeruation of the right learned Father Maſter Beza concerning this point. Hee well weighing the ſtory of Iob and his practiſe this way, ſpeaketh thus of him about this thing. Iob (ſaith he) loſt his goods without any great griefe, therfore he enioyed them when he had them, without any great louelove. Thus wee hauehave heard in this ſecond part, how the Philiſtims preuailed thus far to the ſatisfying of themſelues in ſeeking reuenge vpō Samſon, that they cauſed the mē of Iudah to bring him bound vntounto them, to their great reioycing. Now followeth the third part of this Chapter, wherein we ſhall ſee how flitting and ſhort this their ioy was.