Commentary on Judges, Sermon 87
THE EIGHTIE SEVEN SERMON ON THE XVI. CHAPTER OF THE BOOKE OF IVDGES.
NOw to goe forward with Samſon: it is to bee conſidered in this verſe (it hauing been proued that hee repented) in what place and eſtate hee was in, when God brought him backe to repentance. And that was, in the irkeſome priſon; when he was blind, and loden with paine, and ſorrow enough. But oh will ſome ſay, what encouragement could hee hauehave to minde repentance, in that loathſome place, and irkeſome condition, where rather all was againſt him, that might hauehave been an helpe therto? Indeed I confeſſe that his ſo comming home to God in humbling himſelfe, and looking for mercy in that vncomfortable eſtate that hee was in, is a thing almoſt as admirable euen as his fall was, and the depth of Note.miſery that he fell into.
But by this and other ſuch examples, we ſee how God doth oft worke, as before we heard he went about to doe in him, that hee worketh (I ſay) that Doct.grace in a man, while he is in miſery, which in proſperity is rarely ſeene and found to be in him: as I hauehave occaſion to ſay oft: And it is the more worthie our noting, ſeeing hee dealeth not ſo with all in their trouble, nay it is rare to behold, and the caſe but of few. For the moſt are carried to impatience and curſing, when they feele Gods heauie hand vponupon them, and to bitterneſſe, againſt God himſelfe, for his ſo handling them; neuer looking to their owne deſerts, for ſo there were hope that they might be eaſily brought to confeſſe that God did all iuſtly, yea and ſhewed mercy alſo in iuſtly puniſhing them. And thus he dealeth with men that are brought to good by trouble, I meane hee bringeth them to a due and through conſideration of their vileneſſe and prouoking of him, that they are glad to ſeeke reconciliation with him: euen thus, I ſay, hee draweth and perſwadeth them to take vp their thoughts, for their exceeding benefit, when hee meaneth that they ſhall take good by their affliction.
And he it is (being onelyonly able) that pulleth downe their proud and loftie lookes, by the remembring and conſidering what they hauehave done, (his holy ſpirit directing them) & makes them aſhamed therof, and breaketh their ſtomackes, and maketh them thirſt for mercy, after that they can thinke that there is mercy for ſuch, and loathe their leaud liues, vntounto the which gratious worke they were before moſt oppoſite. Thus in ſickneſſe ſome are brought home, that in health could not abide to heare of ſuch a returne. Thus Ioſephs brethren, Manaſſes, and others bewailed their ſinnes in trouble, who when Gen. 42. 21. 2. Chron. 33. 12.they were void of it before, could by no meanes be brought to the leaſt conſideration of any ſuch matter. Let none therefore maruell, though God purſue them hardly, after wilfull tranſgreſſion, and turning from him, and bring many troubles vponupon them, for hee intendeth their good thereby, which is a great matter; and ſeeth that they will not be brought to repentance otherwiſe. And what a mercy of God is it, that when wee are in the way to vtter vndoing, and we thinke little that the end of ſuch afflictions will be any better, but rather the haſtening of our miſery? yet that hee intends to draw vsus thereby to greateſt happineſſe, as in the former examples may be ſeene. And though this fell not out at the firſt, yet let vsus humble our ſelues vnderunder Gods hand, and not harden our hearts in the leaſt manner againſt him, and in time we ſhall moſt certainly finde it ſo, euen as Samſon found the priſon, hunger, and ſhame, farre better companions for him then his ſo much deſired Delilah, as great oddes as there may ſeeme betweene them. Enough hath been ſaid heereof in the like ſtories, and particularly vponupon chapter 10. verſ. 10.
Now to returne to the Philiſtims a while, and to leaue Samſon in his ſorrowes, Verſ. 23.we ſee how they giuegive thankes to their god for victory ouer him. I ſay the leſſe of theſe Philiſtims, becauſe the light they had reached not ſo farre as to condemne them heerein: their enemy they got, and him they paid home to the full: no wonder: they tooke Samſons vexing of them, a great piece of wrong done to them, if they ſhould not now they had vantage ouer him, hauehave done their vttermoſt to deſtroy him that ſought their ruine, they ſhould hauehave dealt fooliſhly. And therfore they little regarded by what meanes they came by him, or how cruelly they dealt with him. But to let their cruelty paſſe, not to be maruelled at; what ſhall we ſay of many profeſſors, who ſhew little better practiſe in the like caſes: who hauing by moſt vngodly meanes and deuices obtained their deſires and purpoſes againſt ſuch as they ſpitefully purſue and hate, are ſo farre from repentance for it, that they exult and triumph as conquerers, with praiſing God for that they hauehave bin auenged of their enemies; herein declaring that they giuegive thankes for thoſe things, for which they ſhould hauehave been much grieued. And as theſe Philiſtims got Samſon into their hands, but by an harlots meanes, and by fraud and ſubtilty moſt ſhamefull: Euen ſo, wherein glory many of the other, but in that which is their ſhame? as in reuenge had of their enemies, in oppreſſing and peeling the innocent, in humbling and abaſing moſt vilely chaſt Matrones and Virgins, in getting their will vponupon the deere ſeruants of God, (as the Prieſts did againſt our Sauiour) and other ſuch villany. Thus men ioy in things which they ſhould be aſhamed of, as the Apoſtle ſaith of worldly minded men, that their glory is their ſhame: but to reioyce & glory Phil 3. 19.in the Lord, who ſhould be our onelyonly glory, they hauehave no deſire that way.
Another thing in the Philiſtims note, that they praiſe Dagon their god, Doct. 2.offring a great ſacrifice to him, and making a ſolemne reioycing together, for deliuering Samſon into their hands. Thus they were blindfolded, as Idolaters that knew no better: This they learned of the Iſraelites, who did praiſe the Lord Iehouah. Heereof, (not to bee tedious in ſaying that which hath oft times been taught) let this be ſufficient to ſay, by their example to our ſhame, that if we ſhould not be feruent in ſetting out the Lords mercies and deliuerances with praiſes and thankes, and that ioyfully, wee ſhall hauehave the Philiſtims, who were Idolaters, to riſe in iudgement to condemne vsus.
This verſe ſheweth, that as the Princes did, ſo did the people, in all things Verſ. 24.they followed them. Where we ſee, that the examples of our ſuperiors and betters are of great force to draw vsus after them. It is a truth whether in good or euill, but ſpecially in euill, whereto wee are prone enough of our ſelues, without any to draw vsus: and therefore much more when we hauehave them alſo, as patternes to goe before vsus. When the people had taken them ſtrange wiues of the Idolatrous nations in the daies of Ezra, it was told to Ezra, Ezra. 9. 2.but with this addition, that the hands of the Princes and rulers was chiefe in that matter. Good cauſe there was therefore that the Apoſtle required, that there ſhould be ſupplications and prayers made for ſuch to God, who being 1. Tim. 2. 2.ſet in theſe places by him, to the end wee may liue an honeſt and peaceable life vnderunder them, they ſhall the better performe it, and giuegive vsus alſo the better example, when the people doe feruently craue it of God. The ſame is to be ſaid of the Miniſter, gouernours of families, and of other ſuperiours. See more chapter 9. 48, 49. and other places of this worke.
But while I am ſpeaking of the Philiſtims, I will here, as in the fitteſt place note another of Samſons puniſhments; for as it was his great ſinne, ſo it was alſo a puniſhment of ſinne, that he opened the mouthes of the vncircumciſed, to praiſe Dagon their Idoll, as though hee had been able to hauehave taken him out of the hands of the God of Iſrael, and to deliuer him to them to vſe him at their pleaſure. And ſo did hee likewiſe highly diſhonour his owne God, as though he had not been able to ſaue him from Dagon. And this (no doubt) troubled Samſon when hee came to himſelfe, as much as the other puniſhments pained him. So it is certaine, that Dauid was ſore troubled, as appeareth in the Pſalme, when hee remembred and thought vponupon his ſins, when among other things, after he came to repentance, among the which, Pſal. 51. 1. 2.this was none of the leaſt, that hee had cauſed the enemies of God to blaſpheme. For he being threatned of God by the Prophet, for that offence 2. Sam. 12. 14.very ſharpely, doth yet acknowledge, that God ſhould deale iuſtly in puniſhing him for it; thereby declaring that it much grieued him. And that euill ſeruant, which hauing buried his talent in a napkin, was arraigned for it, and anſwered for himſelfe, that, He knew his maſter was an hard man, reaping where he ſowed not, and gathering where he ſtrewed not; hereby defaming his maſters worke, and diſcouraging his ſeruants: what reward had he? For as a ſtarued and ill thriuing and ragged ſeruant makes all men think Luk. 19. 22. 24.that his maſter is a bare man and miſerable, and therefore they ſhunne his houſe: ſo doe theſe. And the diſhonour heere is the fouller, becauſe the diet and wages of his attendances is infinitely greater then any other. And let both theſe warne vsus, that we hauehave our conuerſation honeſt before men, that they may not iuſtly ſpeake euill of vsus, as of euill doers: for if they do, it will 1. Pet. 2. 22.goe to our hearts when we ſhall come to repentance, to thinke that we hauehave cauſed our holy profeſſion, and the Goſpell it ſelfe to bee ill ſpoken of. For we are not ſet heere by God to lay ſtumbling blocks in mens way, and ſo to cauſe them to fall, (woe be vntounto ſuch) but to conuert ſinners from their wicked courſe, (as Dauid promiſed to doe) and ſo by our good workes which Pſal. 51. 13.they ſhall ſee, to cauſe them to glorifie God for vsus, when hee ſhall viſit and hauehave mercy on them.
This verſe ſheweth, that al the indignities and iniuries that the Philiſtims Verſ. 25.had offered Samſon, with the griefe that God brought vponupon him, were not thought to be enough of them to make them ſatisfaction, but when their hearts were merrie with feaſting, they muſt needs hauehave him brought into a ſolemne place before them, to laugh at him, being ſo diſguiſed, and loden with miſeries as he was, and to be ſcorned by them, that ſo they might ſatiſfie themſelues with ſport and paſtime thereby, euen as they deſired. And they were aboue three thouſand of them (according to the receit of the roome) and they of the chiefeſt that did thus meete there. And to this end it is ſaid here, that Samſon was fetcht out of the priſon houſe, and ſet before them.
Here we ſee the vnnaturall crueltie of the Philiſtims, who could not bee ſatisfied with all wrongs offred to Samſon, but they muſt make him a laughing ſtocke, and loade him with taunts and reproches alſo. Which though it be a vice ſo foule, as by the light of nature ſome Heathens abhorred it, I meane to ſhew immanitie to the miſerable; yet it is of that ſort of vices as might eaſily preuaile with ſuch as put out this light by brutiſh paſſion, and impietie. As appeares by the monſtrous crueltie of the Romans, who vſed to behold with great pleaſure, the ſingle combats of malefactors condemned, and their Sword-players ſhedding each others blood. Therefore it is the leſſe to bee maruelled at in the Heathens: but by occaſion of it, let vsus Doct.know who are Chriſtians, that it is to be reckoned among vsus as a moſt cruell thing to adde affliction to the afflicted: And when puniſhment is inflicted, that is itſelfe anſwerable fully to the treſpaſſe, yet for all that, to be inſatiable in the deſire of reuenge. A fearefull example is that of the Prieſts againſt our Sauiour, whom when they ſhould hauehave highly honoured for the great workes that he did among them, not only preferred a murtherer before him, and vniuſtly got liberty of Pilate to crucifie him, being Lord of glory, but Mat. 21. 17. 1.alſo railed and ſpitted on him, and moſt ſhamefully reuiled and mocked him in the middeſt of his agonies: and indeed herein they reſemble their father the diuell, who then moſt inſulteth when hee hath a man vnderunder: but the Lord is alway neareſt to his, as he was to Ionah, in their extremities.Ionah. 2. 9. 10.
Now although God for his euill doing doe iuſtly puniſh ſuch an one; yet we ſhould be moued with ſome pitie toward him, and not to adde vexation to ſuch as God ſmiteth. And therefore wee reade, that the Lord afflicting Iſrael for their iuſt deſerts, by ſending them through the long and vaſt wilderneſſe; yet when the King of Edom would needes vexe them alſo, by for bidding them paſſage through his coaſts, was diſpleaſed with him: And therefore the Prophet Amos writeth thus; For three tranſgreſsions of Edom, Amos 1. 11.and for foure, I will not be intreated, neither turne to him, and addeth that, as the reaſon, becauſe he did purſue his brother with the ſword, and did caſt off all pitie toward him. And for that cauſe ſaith, hee will not leaue him vnpuniſhed.
The vſe is to vsus, to beware of all crueltie, and eſpecially if it be mixed with enuie: for which cauſe Salomon ſaith, Anger is cruell, and wrath is raging, but Prou 17. 4.who can ſtand before enuie? Thus Dauid prayes againſt him, who purſued the man whom God afflicted, ſaying; Let his daies be few, and his prayer be turned Pſal. 109. 15, 16into ſinne, becauſe he remembred not to ſhew merciemercy, but he perſecuted the poore man, and him that was contrite in his heart, &c. But theſe things wee reade and deſpiſe, as if God would be mocked. See more of this in other places of this booke, and by name vponupon the fourth verſe of the firſt chapter.
And here conſider againe, notwithſtanding ſuch diſguiſing of Samſon, as 2wee hauehave now heard, and that he was thus brought into an high degree of ſhame, contempt, and miſerie, whereby it might be thought that he was no better then an abiect and caſtaway; yet conſider we (I ſay) that he was euen now reclaimed from his forementioned ſinnes, and reconciled to God againe, as I ſaid before, and ſay it againe; that none may miſtake me in ſo ſaying; and by that which I hauehave ſet downe of his repentance, God ſheweth how deare he was to him, for all that hath been ſaid of his fall: not that he had merited, by his patience in the priſon, forgiuenes of his ſinnes: but he acknowledged them there, beleeued the pardon of them, and, as it became a godly man, he repented, as before hath been proued; elſe theſe had turned him quite off from God. This did greatly extenuate and aſſwage his miſerie, ouer it was with him before he thus turned to God. So that the Lord who prouided for Ionahs body the ſhelter of a gourd, leſt the extremitie Ionah 4. 6.of the heate of the Sunne might hauehave added affliction to his diſquieted minde: euen hee (I ſay) did much more gratiouſly preuent this poore priſoner his ſeruant, with merciemercy and fauour, againſt the time that his enemies grew to the height of their malice; leſt it might otherwiſe hauehave been intollerable. Yea and hereby the Lord animated him to beare the indignitie the more quietly, becauſe his ſtrength was now alſo renewed, and thereby he knew God had called this deſpitefull rabble together, to be auenged of them.
Heereby let vsus learne, that whatſoeuer men hauehave been in their euill liues heretofore, and howſoeuer they hauehave brought vponupon their own heads much miſery thereby, yet there is much comfort to bee taken in them, both by themſelues and by others, when they hauehave truly renounced and caſt from them the workes of darkeneſſe, to hauehave no more fellowſhip in them, but do ſhelter themſelues vnderunder Chriſts wing, as the poore chicken vnderunder the hen, that he may couer and remit them. And this only is able to make them hold vp their heads, when ſo many ſorrowes and troubles doe otherwiſe oppreſſe them. But oh then, how happie and ſweet is this vniting of vsus to Chriſt by faith, when we are ſo reſolued that we may abide in his louelove, that Iohn 15. 11.wee carefully ſeeke to enioy and preſerue it, and doe wiſely decline other things which doe make that benefit ſeeme farre leſſe gainfull and beautifull vntounto vsus then it is. It is truly ſaid by Salomon, that it is the wounded ſpirit Prou. 18. 14.which makes the trouble waighty; and the ſpirit of a man, free and cheerefull through a good conſcience, and ſupported by God, which beares him vp in his affliction. And howſoeuer the proofe hereof is ſweeteſt in affliction ſent vponupon vsus in our innocency; yet it hath place alſo euen in croſſes which are drawne vponupon vsus for ſome ſinne, when wee hauehave humbled our ſelues truly for them, and hauehave not delayed to ſeeke reconciliation with his Maieſty for them. For then a man recouereth his particular confidence in God, and ſeeth that his affliction hauing done that for which it came, ſhall ſpeedily bee remoued, and a ſupply of patience giuen the whileſt, to vndergoe the triall. Therefore oh fooles, that cauſe God thus to puniſh them: but double fooles, who abuſe their correction, and lie vnderunder it impenitent; Note.for theſe ſhall need no Philiſtims to adde ſorrow vponupon ſorrow, ſeeing they make their burthen double and treble by their ſin aggrauated, and by a conſcience hardened againſt God.
Verſ. 26. Then Samſon ſaid to the ſeruant that led him by the hand; Leade me that I may touch the pillers that the houſe ſtandeth vponupon, and that I may leaue to them.
27. Now the houſe was full of men and women, and there were all the Princes of the Philiſtims: alſo about the roofe were three thouſand men, and women that beheld while Samſon played.
28. Then ſamſon called vntounto the Lord, and ſaid; O Lord God, I pray thee think vponupon me: O God, I beſeech thee ſtrengthen mee at this time onelyonly, that I may bee at once auenged of the Philiſtims for my two eyes.
29. And Samſon laid hold on the two middle pillers whereupon the houſe ſtood, and on which it was borne vp: on the one with his right, and on the other with his left.
30. Then ſaid Samſon, Let mee loſe my life with the Philiſtims: and hee bowed him with all his might, and the houſe fell vponupon the Princes, and vponupon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he ſlew at his death, were moe then they which he had ſlaine in his life.
31. Then his brethren, and all the houſe of his father came downe and tocke him, and brought him vp, and buried him betweene Zorah and Eſhtaol, in the ſcpulchre of Manoah his father: now he had iudged Iſrael twentie yeeres.
NOw it followeth in the end of this third part of the Chapter, to conſider The ſumme.the iſſue of this their dealing with Samſon, and that is, the deſtruction of many of the Philiſtims, brought vponupon them by his meanes: hee himſelfe Verſ. 26.loſing his life with them. But before he did it, he tooke his beſt opportunity to bring it to paſſe. For he being ſet betwixt the pillers, as was ſaid in the former verſe, hee asketh of the ſeruant that led him, to ſet him ſo, as hee might feele them with his ſhoulders; which he ſpake, as though hee would hauehave eaſed and reſted himſelfe, being wearied with grinding in the priſon, and by bearing his chaines and bolts: but intending indeed to ſeeke the beſt opportunity to caſt downe the houſe vponupon the Philiſtims.
Here firſt marke this, that he notwithſtanding he had loſt his eyes, which Doct.ſhould hauehave guided his body, yet hee was not vnmindfull of the worke of his calling, namely, to plague the Philiſtims, Gods enemies, and therefore he vſed the help of the ſeruant to further him thereto. We ſhould all learne to remember and conſider (for all our troubles and diſcouragements) thoſe weightie charges and duties which are in our power to performe, that wee Note.leaue them not by occaſion thereof, neither lay them aſide, as wee are eaſily brought to doe thereby. So that although wee hauehave not all incouragement and abilitie thereto, as were to be deſired; yet we ſhould vſe that which we hauehave, and may come by. Rare is the example of Ionah in this behalfe, that being in the Whales belly, where for ſtreightnes of roome, noiſomenes and ſtinch hee could (a man would thinke) doe nothing; yet euen there made his faithfull prayer to God, and vpheld himſelfe by faith.
For notwithſtanding we are diſabled altogether to performe ſome duties by neceſſitie; yet thoſe which wee may, wee ſhould with Samſon labour to performe, and hauehave a care to diſcharge them. I ſpeak this, for that many profeſſors of the Goſpell hauing receiued a checke from ſome of their betters, for being more forward in religious duties then other, or then is well liked, and for making more conſcience of their waies, then the moſt; I ſay, they ſuſtaining a rebuke for the ſame, are diſcouraged, and are ready to leaue off their Chriſtian courſe altogether, at leaſt their feruencie and forwardneſſe: which is vtterly vnmeete for them to doe; for ſo they ſhew that they feare man more then God, and ſo they cut him ſhort of his due, as they thinke good, which is in no wiſe tollerable. Whereas if they were ſeruants, tenants, or otherwiſe inferiours to ſuch ſuperiours as ſhould abridge and depriue them of ſome helpes and liberties, which might further them to the diſcharge thereof; yet ought they not through feare to giuegive ouer the duties which they may performe, but the rather conſtantly to hold out therein, and practiſe the ſame in al points as they may. For what ſhall all help of man be to them, if God be againſt them? Moſes would not leaue the leaſt dutie Exod. 10. 26.vndone, to pleaſe Pharao. I remember what I hauehave read of a valiant Roman Captaine in a fight by ſea, that firſt hee aduenturing to put foorth his hands to catch at the gable of the enemies ſhip, with eagernes to ſurpriſe her, and draw her to his owne Nauie as priſoner, loſt his right hand by the ſword of the enemie: which being cut off, he haled againe with the left hand, thinking to pull her away, but in the attempt loſt his left hand alſo; when he ſaw himſelfe diſarmed of his hands, he (being neere) fell downe, and with his teeth drew the ſhip with ſuch violence, that hee wonne her in the deſpite of the defenders thereof. I bring in this as an alluſion, to ſhew the exceeding reſolution of carnall men in the aduancing of their purpoſes for honour, wealth, or fleſhly proiects: but in this matter of our holy profeſſion, wherein God is highly honoured, if wee bring forth much fruit, who takes not a repulſe by the ſmalleſt diſcouragement, either from being zealous therein, and an ordinary worſhipper of God, or for being carefull ouer his family, or a liberal relieuer of the diſtreſſed Saints, or from walking in his particular calling with a good conſcience, or to be ſhort, from ſeruing God inwardly and outwardly, with labour, and attendance as the cauſe requires? Alſo who being ſhut out one way, ſeekes paſſage another, trying all meanes rather: yea and though diſappointed in part, yet to do ſomewhat, rather then nothing? Paul indeed being reſtrained from publike preaching ſat not ſtill, but did what he could in priſon, ſo that his bands were as famous as his liberty: not ſaying with Elija (therein weake,) Take my life now (Lord) 1. King. 19. 4.for Iezabel giues no permiſſion to thy Prophets to teach openly, but makes a racket of them. If we may honour God in publike, let vsus: if not, then among a few: if not ſo, yet in our family: if we be ſequeſtred from al theſe, Note.yet in our ſpirit, and that ſhall be our diſcharge before God. But if any ſhall ſay, I hauehave offered God my ſeruice in his Church, and hee refuſeth it, therefore he muſt pardon me if I hauehave the ſmaller liſt to be otherwiſe occupied: this is madneſſe and follie, or elſe ſloth and hypocriſie. Oh, ſaith many a ſon, wife, ſeruant, ye little know what a father, husband, or maſter, or landlord I hauehave, to diſcourage me; otherwiſe I can tell what I could doe in ſeruing God, as well as other: Well, marke what Paul ſaith; If thou be a ſeruant, 1. Cor. 7. 21.(though ſtreitned) doe as thou maiſt: (the worſt maſter cannot make thee cold without thine own conſent) although if thou be free, vſe it rather. And therefore it was a great ſinne in Dauid when hee was driuen to his ſhifts by Saul, to offer his helpe to Achiſh againſt the Church; make the beſt of it that 1. Sam. 27. 2.we can. For, want of incouragement muſt not coole our affection (though it may hinder action) much leſſe may it excuſe diſcontentment, or that which is worſe. And ſeeing ſuch ſullennes argueth that there is no reſolute purpoſe indeed, to dutie; therefore many ſuch grow looſe and conſcienſles in their trouble: (for affliction will ſearch a man) and others being in time inlarged and ſet free; are as barren hypocrites after, as euer before they were plentifull in their complaints of their miſerie. We muſt thinke Zachary and Elizabeth had as many diſmaiments as we, vnderunder Herod, and in ſo corrupt a time: let vsus be as they, and wee ſhall be borne with for being no forwarder. But here an end for this time.