Commentary on Judges, Sermon 12
THE TWELFTH SERMON ON THE SECOND CHAPTER OF THE BOOKE OF IVDGES.
NOw to proceed. The ſecond puniſhment threatned, to wit, that they ſhould bee thornes in their ſides, is The ſecond puniſhment.next to bee weighed. Oh how fearefull is this? For what is more irkeſome, then continually, night and day, lying or going, to hauehave thornes pricking our fleſh? which muſt needs breed griefe vponupon griefe, and ſorrow vponupon ſorrow. And this came to paſſe afterward vntounto this people of Iſrael, who were oft brought, as is manifeſt in this booke, and in the Scriptures following, to ſin after ſinne, and puniſhment vponupon puniſhment, for ſuffering the Canaanites and Idolaters to liue amongſt them, and the Lord to bee prouoked, and the land defiled thereby. And in the large laying out of this puniſhment vponupon the people of Iſrael, let it teach vsus, that fellowſhip and familiarity with ſuch, Doct. 2.and with prophane perſons will pricke our conſciences, as thornes our fleſh, when wee muſt oft remember, that wee hauehave thereby not onelyonly allowed them in their bad ſpeeches and examples, againſt our knowledge and conſcience, Note.which will pricke and vexe vsus afterwards if there bee any true feare of God in vsus: but alſo, that we our ſelues be tainted by their fellowſhip, and not dulled onelyonly in grace and gifts. But of this before.
This doctrine may alſo more generally be applied to all ſinnes which we ſhall ſuffer to lurke and lie in vsus, they are as thornes in our fleſh afterwards. Howſoeuer in the committing of them, they be as ſweet and pleaſant baits, yet after, they become as choakes and bitter vomiting vntounto vsus. We may not thinke that their ending will bee as their beginning at the committing of them: when Adam ſhould eate the fruit forbidden, oh how the Serpent baited it with pleaſantneſſe to the taſt, beautifulnes to the eye, but vnſpeakeable Note. Gen. 3. 6.benefit to his fond perſwaſion, for that it ſhould bring with it the knowledge of good and euill, to make them like vntounto God himſelfe. But when it was taſted of them, what gall or wormewood was euer like bitter vntounto it? what thornes, did pricke the heart of Dauid, after that hee had been deceiued 2. Sam. 11. 2.and ouercome with the bait that the diuell had laid to catch him withall? what thornes, I ſay, did pricke him after, as in that Pſalme made by him Pſal. 51. 2.doth liuely and plentifully appeare, and in ſome other which lay out his ſorrow, ſhame, anguiſh, doubting, and fearing that hee had loſt all grace, by hauing his deſire in committing of that ſinne. And it is the beſt that can bee ſaid of thoſe, who (hauing hauing had warnings and charges giuen them, to tie vp their vnruly affections, and outragious luſts, and not to dallie with the ſinnes that they hauehave been allured by) hauehave yet been ſo farre from regarding ſuch inſtructions, that they hauehave giuen ouer themſelues vntounto theſe defilements. They hauehave, I ſay, found them thornes, as Dauid did, though few of them hauehave euer had the thorne plucked out of their fleſh, to diſquiet them no more, as he had; I meane to bee brought to ſound and kind repentance, as he was.
The third puniſhment was, that their gods ſhould bee ſnares vntounto them. 3A ſnare we know is ſet to take and catch the bird or conie vnawares, that ſo it may be killed at the pleaſure of him that ſet it. And ſo hee ſhewes them, that they not foreſeeing wiſely, that their not rooting theſe nations out, would proue a ioyning with them in the worſhipping of their gods, and ſo would become their deſtruction; for their ſo foolithly running into the ſnare, he ſhewes them, I ſay, that they ſhould be taken therein, and fall thereby, and by other noiſome ſinnes, into the hands of the Lord, who would ſcourge them grieuouſly, one generation after another, till they ſhould periſh out of that good land. And euen ſo it came to paſſe, and they found all true that was told them: for to thoſe enemies to whom they had moſt wickedly ioyned themſelues in league; they were often in ſubiection and bondage, and thereby ſpoiled of all their goods, liberties, and bleſſings, and afterward caſt out of the land among the Babylonians and Aſſyrians.
And by this wee may ſee, that by idolatrous and wicked company keeping wee hauehave ſnares ſet for vsus, to bring vsus in fellowſhip with them in their fowleſt ſinnes. For ſo the Lord hath ſaid, if wee will conuerſe and hauehave fellowſhip Exod. 23. 32.with them, by making of marriages, and eating with them, wee ſhall alſo fall to their faſhions, and partake with them in their ſinnes as this people did. For great is the force of friendſhip, to draw vsus to that which wee neuer intended; nay againſt which we reſolued to keepe our ſelues. And who is ſtrong enough among vsus to withſtand all the allurements & perſwaſions Note.of carnall friends (wee being oft in their company) who hauehave ſo many waies to draw and allure vsus, but that one time or other he ſhall bee conſtrained to yeeld, or if he ſhould not, how can he beare al the diſlikes, frownings, diſpleaſures, and hard handlings, with the which hee ſhall bee ſet vponupon and purſued? And we ſee as much: and theremedie is, to refraine their companies 2. Tim. 3. 5.and neare fellowſhip with them altogether; and yet although we do ſo, and thereby bee free from danger on that ſide, yet wee muſt know, that without as great care had to keepe our liues free from all other offences, wee ſhall ſome other way lie open to ſome of them, whereby as great danger is like to enſue. And by this gather, that wee ſhould neither bee idle nor vnprofitable in the acknowledgement of Chriſt, if wee ſeeke to proſper. But ſeeing we behold the practiſe and vnwearied labour of the bad and popiſh ſort, to winne men to their vngodly courſe, this one thing I muſt adde more particularly: Let vsus that profeſſe our ſelues Chriſtians, be aſhamed to bee ſo careleſſe and ſlothfull in the companies where we come, to draw and moue men to faith and repentance, and to ſtirre vp better perſons to louelove and to 1. Theſ. 5. 11.good workes, and through ſelfe louelove ſo to pleaſe our ſelues in rotten talke as Heb. 10. 24.we doe. And this be ſaid of the puniſhments.
Now I hauehave ſet downe the words of Gods meſſenger, whereby hee Obiect.ſought to turne the people from their ſinnes, vntounto God by repeating his benefits, and by reproofes and threats. I ſhould heere hauehave ended with his ſpeech, but that I ſeē an occaſion of propounding an obiection and doubt, will be taken from hence. For which cauſe I will ſet it downe and anſwere it, before I goe to any new matter. The obiection is this, ſeeing the meſſenger of God mouing them to repentance, doth with his reprouing and conuicting them, make no mention of faith, it may ſeeme that faith was not of ſuch price then as it is now, no mention being made of it, or if it were, that the people might be driuen to deſperation rather, then brought to repentance, being not encouraged to beleeue the pardon of their ſin, as well as to forſake it. To the which I anſwere; firſt, that they could not be moued Anſw.to repentance, if they had not had with all encouragement & perſwaſion to beleeue: for though hee name not faith expreſly, yet ſeeing repentance and that cannot be ſeparated, neither could repentance therefore be vrged vponupon them without it. Secondly, I ſay, this people did repent, as it is cleere by the text; therefore they alſo beleeued. And thirdly, the meſſenger repeating Gods promiſes to them; what doth he but finde fault with them for not beleeuing the ſame before? I conclude therefore, that hee moued them to beleeue, which is the chiefe thing in our turning to God. And ſo let all bee perſwaded, though it bee not alwaies expreſſed, euen as it was ſaid to the Iaylor, when hee asked what hee ſhould doe to bee ſaued; beleeue in the Lord Ieſus. And as without faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God; ſo let it bee Act. 16. 31. 34. Heb. 11. 6.looked vntounto principally, that we riſe vp, and lie downe, and walke accompanied with that, for ſo we ſhall reſiſt the tentations, allurements, and diſcouragements, 1. Ioh. 5. 4. Verſ. 4. 5.with other difficulties of this life.
This being thus anſwered, now I proceed to the ſecond point in this firſt The ſenſe.part of the chapter, and that is the fruit of the ſermon that the people reaped by it, which was repentance, and that is ſet downe in theſe two verſes, not in expreſſe words, but by ſignes thereof, and thoſe are ſet downe to bee three. The firſt was, that they lifted vp their voice; the ſecond, they wept; the third, they offered ſacrifice. By the lifting vp of their voice, wee can conceiue no other thing, but that they heartily confeſſed their ſinnes, and cried out of them, which they heard to hauehave been reproued by Gods meſſenger, and craued pardon of them, accuſing themſelues. They being guided therein by God, as the Prophet Hoſea in his time taught the people, that in repenting they ſhould take to them words, as well as to hauehave a good heart. By their weeping, they ſignified deepe griefe conceiued for diſpleaſing God, and prouoking his wrath againſt them. And their weeping was ſo great, that the place took the name thereof, and was called Bochim, that is, a place of weepers, and by their ſacrifice they declared their faith, that their ſinne was pardoned. For the ſacrifices were ſhadowes of Chriſts death; and they in offering them, beleeued as the fathers of thoſe times did, they conſtantly beleeued (I ſay) that all their ſinnes were forgiuen by the death of Chriſt, reſembled by the offering of them. To the which alſo there is no doubt, but that they added thankes, as the Lord directed the people in Hoſea to doe in Hoſ. 14. 3.the repentance which hee required of them; which alſo was reſembled by their peace offerings.
Now to examine theſe things more perticularly, this doctrine of repentance which heere occaſion is offered to ſpeake of, I will the brieflier paſſe ouer, ſeeing I hauehave ſpoken largely of it in other Sermons, though not in this booke, ſaue onelyonly ſo farre as the words require ſomewhat to bee ſaid. And firſt, ſeeing the hearing of that ſermon did worke ſo good things in the people, I meane many of them, and bring forth ſuch fruit, wee are taught Doc verſ. 4. and 5.not onelyonly to pray the Lord of the harueſt to ſend ſuch labourers into the harueſt, as may bee able and fit to bring home the Lords harueſt; but alſo what we ſhould doe when wee heare ſuch diuine ſermons, and doctrine as this was which the meſſenger of God heere preached vntounto them which do vrge our conſciences by laying out our ſinnes: for all doctrine is not of that argument. I grant we ought by all doctrine to be moued, according to that which wee heare, and as occaſion is offered, either to griefe or to comfort: but when wee are more ſpecially taught the doctrine of repentance, wee ſhould follow the example of theſe heere mentioned, who cried out of their ſinnes, and mourned deepely, and craued pardon. And likewiſe of other that did the ſame; as the people that came after theſe, when they heard Samuel reprouing them, lamented after God; and they who are mentioned 1. Sam. 12. 1.in the booke of the Acts, at Peters ſermon, were pricked in their hearts, and Act. 2. 37.ſought comfort. So (I ſay) ſhould wee doe, I meane, both ſuch as hauehave repented already, to renue it, and ſuch alſo as are yet to enter vponupon it. And it is fearefull when theſe fruits may be ſeene in them and others, that ſo many among vsus, hearing the like ſermons, can goe vntouched in their conſciences. and with drie eyes or harts: for though theſe be not ſufficient, yet with faith they are commendable.
Secondly, and more principally heere, as this people lifted vp their voice Doct. 2.and wept, when they were reproued for the abſe of Gods benefits, and for breaking of their couenant, by Gods meſſenger: ſo among all other good inſtructions (which are infinite) we ſhould be greatly moued and ſore grieued, when wee ſhall heare that wee are iuſtly charged by preaching, for the like faults; as for the ill vſing of the bleſſings which God hath beſtowed vponupon vsus, and for breaking the couenant which wee hauehave made with him, becauſe theſe two ought to be ſo thorowly minded of vsus daily, that wee ſhould giuegive no iuſt cauſe to be rebuked for the neglecting of either of them. For what Note.doe we in our liues commendably, if theſe two bee wanting, and neglected of vsus, I meane if we doe not bind our ſelues by couenant, to bee more fruitfull in dutie, and more cheerefully to go about the ſame, while we ſee Gods benefits continued to vsus, whereby he doth (as it were) hire vsus thereunto? And ſecondly, if we make not new couenants with him from time to time to walke conſtantly in our vprightneſſe, rather then to deſerue iuſt rebuke for breaking and looking looſely to the old? But if wee hauehave due regard of both theſe, from time to time, wee ſhall both keepe all other parts of our liues within compaſſe the better, and alſo we ſhall not need to feare that we can ſuſtaine any ſharpe reproofe iuſtly, (which is euer vnwelcome to fleſh) for the ſame.
But yet further, to ſay ſomewhat more perticularly of theſe three ſignes of their repentance; we muſt know, that the inward graces which are teſtified by the outward ſignes thereof heere ſet downe, are rather to be ſought of vsus in our repentance, as relenting and melting of the heart for offending God, humiliation, faith, and the like; then the outward ſignes themſelues; the laſt eſpecially, as the offering of ſacrifice, both expiatorie, to ſeeke forgiueneſſe of ſinnes, and euchariſticall, repreſenting their thankes, which were meerely ceremoniall, and proper to the Iewes; therefore not now to be vſed of vsus; and yet in them laudable, this ceremony being then in vſe to expreſſe their faith and beleeuing in Chriſt, and their thankeſgiuing, as we doe ſimply offer to God both, and without them. This be ſaid of their offering ſacrifice firſt, though mentioned laſt. The other two, of lifting vp their voice, and weeping, are alwaies to bee aimed at in our repentance, but cannot alwaies be attained, neither are therefore of neceſſity to bee vrged, neither Note.to be reſted in if we hauehave them. For the firſt of them; namely, the lifting Doct. 3.vp the voice in prayer and confeſſion of ſin, and accuſing of our ſelues, it is required by the Prophet Oſea, of ſuch as could ſhew it: for in vrging the people at that time to repent, ſaying, O Iſrael, returne to the Lord thy God, hee addeth: take vntounto you words, and ſay vntounto him, take away all iniquity and receiue Hoſ. 14. 2.vsus graciouſly, and we will offer the calues of our lips, &c. But all cannot expreſſe their minds in words; as namely, the ignorant, eſpecially ſome of them, and ſome in the bitternes of their hearts powre out their prayers without words at ſome time, as Anna did. Therefore if it may be, and that alſo it be moſt expedient (as if it may be an helpe to quicken vsus in feruency) the voice is to be 1. Sam. 1. 13.lifted vp, but not alwaies of neceſſity to be inioyned.
Now concerning weeping, which they alſo heere are ſaid to hauehave adioyned, Doct. 4.it being a further degree of ſorrow then many can attaine vntounto, it is not of neceſſity to bee impoſed vponupon vsus, (as I hauehave ſaid) as though repentance could not be without it: though where it can be, and accompanieth repentance, it doth more deepely ſearch into the heart, ſatisfie the party ſo moued, and quiet the mind, which was before troubled and vnſetled. This I hauehave thought good to ſay of their outward ſignes of repentance. And ſeeing they were ſet downe to teſtifie the ſame in the people, therefore all may ſee that this repentance muſt be euer found in vsus, whether any of the ſignes bee preſent or no. And the points thereof are theſe; that the heart bee deepely The ſumme of repentance briefly.pricked for ſinne, that it bewaile the ſame, as purpoſing neuer to turne to it or the like againe: which is all that can bee for the preſent time, and that there bee yet for all this aggrauating of the ſinne, a beleeuing according to the promiſe of God, that it is all freely remitted by God through Chriſt, Doct. 5.which more or leſſe quiteth the heart: and if that beleeuing be there, it wil purge it from dead workes alſo afterward, and keepe it from ſinning any more, in ſuch manner as it did in former times, the heart and whole man being ſanctified already through beleeuing. And this is the ſubſtance of repentance, which we are to practiſe by the example of this people, as alſo of many other in the Scripture; as in Ieremy, Hoſea, and diuers other.Ier. 31. 18. Hoſ. 14. 2 3. Obiect.
But heere may a doubt ariſe about the repentance of the people, that it may ſeeme not to hauehave been ſuch as it hath bin ſet downe to be. For if they repented at this time, why did they not bring forth fruits of amendment? whereof this was one, yea a chiefe one; to wit, that they ſhould after this, hauehave rooted out the idolatrous Canaanites, they being now ſo ſharpely reproued for that they had not done it before, but rather made leagues with them, when yet that making of peace with them, was one of the chiefe ſins that was laid to their charge? and in all ſound repentance, the ſins bewailed, acknowledged, and repented of, muſt needs be amended (wee know) in the perſons. For anſwere hereto, it is to bee thought, that the Lord held backe Anſw.ſtrength and courage from them, ſo that they could not fight againſt them, proſperouſly, as they had done in the daies of Ioſhua. And this he did, to the end they might beare that as a mark of their ſin and diſobedience. For God, according to his accuſtomed maner, did receiue them into his fauor, when they repented: but hee did not by and by reſtore againe to them the other particular gifts, which for their iuſt deſerts hee had taken from them; as ſtrength of body, and courage of minde, they hauing both been abuſed of them before, neither neceſſary to ſaluation.
Which thing is moſt needfull for vsus to marke for our great benefit: For euen ſo he dealeth at this day, as he did in former times, and with that people. Note.So hee dealt with our firſt parents after their fall: for though they repented, and were receiued againe into fauour, yet the euils and diſcommodities which they brought vponupon themſelues and mankind, did not the Lord take away; neither was that quiet and ſweet abode of theirs in Paradiſe, enioyed of them at any time after. So Sampſon loſt the gift of his bodily ſtrength for a time, after hee had ſo greatly diſpleaſed God; which I might ſay of many other, to wit, that they loſt the vſe of ſuch graces as before they enioyed. And ſo doubtleſſe, ſuch as after a commendable profeſſion of the Goſpell, when they had before been truly conuerted to God by faith and repentance, did fall againe to their old ſinnes, or to drowſineſſe and coldnes in his ſeruice; ſuch, I ſay, hauehave found and receiued the like meaſure at his hands, as moſt cleare experience hath been hereof in this late deceaſed generation, and in ſome who ſtill remaine of them; whoſe firſt zeale and louelove which they had at their firſt receiuing the Goſpell, being after ſlaked, hath neuer after been as it was, recouered. For though they hauehave ſeene their falles, and repented, and obtained mercy, yet the Lord hath left a marke of Note.that their ſinne behind, both to miniſter and people, ſo that they hauehave rarely recouered their former zeale, the one in feruent preaching, and care taking ouer the people, the other in cheerefull profeſſion, vprightneſſe of heart, and holy walking; but hauehave limped in ſome ſort afterwards, and they doe come ſhort of the grace they had before; the which the Lord hath ſuffered to put them in remembrance of that their ſin; euen as a man hauing fallen from an high beame or tree, and broken his bones, though hee get A ſimile.them ſet together againe, ſo that they may ſerue the turne in ſome ſort, yet he neuer feeles them perfectly cured, but euer painfull and lame afterward, or much impaired.
And to adde one inſtance more; ſuch as after they truly repented hauehave fallen into adultery, or any ſuch hainous crime, though they hauehave riſen againe out of it, and giuen good teſtimony thereof, although they come to be truly perſwaded, that it is forgiuen them, yet what vnquietneſſe doe they oft finde within themſelues, what ſhame and holding downe of the head Note.doth it cauſe outwardly before men, whereby they are much appalled and held backe, in reſpect of that they might hauehave been, from good doing? beſides, how many of the louers of the truth are ſtrong enough to receiue them as they did before, (though it be their ſinne that they doe not) and as freely to communicate with them eueryevery way; but are much eſtranged from them, and hardly conceiue of them, whereby it may bee ſeene, that their credit is much impaired thereby among men, although they bee ſtill in fauour with God, as Dauid and others were. The which the Lord in his prouidence doth to them, and ſuch like, to keepe them in awe, who are ſo ready to breake out againe, and that all may ſee how God deteſteth ſinne, euen in his owne, and alſo that hee may thereby ſtir vp more ſerious repentance, and conſtant holding on in that courſe, and that they bee notled away from it by the errour of the wicked, in ſuch as are brought into the right way already.
That which hath been ſaid of this point, (that I may teach a further vſe of it) ought to prouoke al ſuch as by the grace of God are kept from ſuch reprochfull ſinnes, to yeeld continuall thankes to God for it, (which it is to be feared, is much neglected) as well as for other benefits, which giuegive them iuſt cauſe to doe the ſame. But if any lie in knowne and offenſiue crimes, and yet can cunningly keepe them from mens eyes, and looke no further; let ſuch Note.know they are worſe then the worſt I hauehave ſpoken of, whoſe ſins yet hauehave broken out before men. And ſeeing the beſt may fall poſſibly, and that dangerouſly, and ſo doing are ſure that their ſinne will finde them out, and that they ſhall ſmart accordingly; let the other much more thinke that God will vnskirt and vnuizor them to their ſhame, in his good time, and let the beſt count it no loſt nor needleſſe care to keepe themſelues well while they are well, I meane, free from notorious and knowne ſinnes, and let them endeauour to giuegive good example without wearineſſe, that ſo they may bee free from ſuch fearefull offences. And this be ſaid of the peoples repentance.
To all the former inſtructions out of theſe two verſes, this I adde, that if the Doct. 6.bitter weeping of the people there, cauſed the place to take the name from thence, ſo that to this day it is retained, and is called a place of weeping: and further, we ſee how long the remembrance of it is kept for many yeeres after: then it doth ſtrongly commend to vsus, what care we ſhould hauehave while we liue, to poſſeſſe the generations comming after vsus, of good examples giuen by vsus among them that liue with vsus, which may doe good when we are gone: either Miniſters by their diligent and feruent preaching, and godly liuing; or the people in more then ordinary receiuing the meſſage of the Goſpell with thankſgiuing, and other commendable fruits following. The place of ſuch inhabitants, whether it receiue a name from ſuch things done there, as this Bochim did heere, or no, it is not ſo materiall. But this is to bee thought, that the remembrance of ſuch good things done them, might harten and encourage many that ſhall come after them, not in that place onelyonly, but alſo in many other, to follow ſuch examples. But whether they doe or no, this is too true; that no vile actions ſhall bee done to leade the people from God and goodnes, no diſorder, I meane vnruly behauiour, and reuell rout keeping; but their example ſhall bee taken vp (to be ſure) not onelyonly of them that hauehave ſeene them; but alſo of them who ſhall come after them, hauing heard of them, and be made cuſtomes, if not petty lawes among themſelues, as the cuſtome of ſpending the twelue daies at the Natiuity, &c. doth too truly teſtifie. And thus I end.