Commentary on Judges, Sermon 2
THE SECOND SERMON VPONUPON THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE BOOKE OF IVDGES. Verſ. 3. 4.
VERS. 3. And Iudah ſaid vntounto Simeon his brother, come vp with me into my lott, that we may fight againſt the Canaanites, and I will goe with thee into thy lot; and Simeon went with him.
ALthough God had promiſed to deliuer the Canaanites into the hands of Iudah, yet it was not to the end they ſhould ſitte idle; The ſenſe.and waite for it: but that they being ſo well incouraged, ſhould vſe ſuch helpe thereto, as was at hand, and ſuch whereby they might bring it to paſſe. And becauſe the tribe of Simeon his brother had his poſſeſſions mixed with, and lying among the fields of Iudah; therefore they called him to helpe them, and they two mutually aſſiſted one the other. So that there neere dwelling and neighbourhood cauſed them to defend one the other. From their practiſe and example, iuſtified by the Scripture, we learne two leſſons: Firſt, that although God hath promiſed any bleſſing to vsus of his owne free goodnes, yet it is no let to our faith to vſe Doct. verſ. 3.all good meanes that he offereth vsus, for the effecting of the ſame: but rather we ought to doe ſo, as Iudah here did, for as they were to ioyne both Gods promiſe and prouidence together in this action of warre; ſo are we bound to doe in al actions of peace; I meane to beleeue the one and ſerue the other, as we hauehave ſeene. And we ſhould tempt God if we doe otherwiſe.
And ſo we are commanded to doe: When God promiſed helpe in the Pſalme, yet he willeth all his to waite for it by meanes vſing, fitte and like to bring it to paſſe: For thus he ſaith; commit thy way to me and be thou doing Pſal. 37. 3. 5.good, and I will bring it to paſſe. Therefore Dauid, when God had ſtabliſhed the kingdome in his hands by promiſe, yet in the treaſon of Abſalom his 2. Sam. 15. & 16. 34.ſonne, he did not onelyonly prouide for himſelfe to ſaue his life, and keepe the kingdome to himſelfe by flying, but he vſed alſo the helpe of Huſhai the Arkite, and the ſonnes of the Prieſtes Ionathan and Ahimaaz, to fruſtrate the attempts of Abſolom.
And when Paul had receiued anſwere from God by an Angell, that there Act. 27. 30.ſhould not one of them that were in the ſhippe with him, loſe their life in that dangerous voyage and ſore tempeſt; yet afterwards, when the mariners would hauehave gone out of the ſhippe; Paul ſaid to the Centurion, Except theſe abide in the ſhippe, ye cannot be ſafe. Therefore Salomon ſaith, that the ſlothfull Pro. 20. 4.who will not worke in Sommer ſhall ſtarue in Winter. Dauid, though anoynted King in Sauls ſtead, yet did ſo much the more cherefully vſe meanes to attaine it, by how much he was ſecured of the iſſue by promiſe: Euen ſo wee (except God ſhould reueale his meaning to be otherwiſe, that is to helpe without meanes) are bound to doe in all actions both ſpirituall and temporall: neither can we hauehave peace otherwiſe, whither we enioy our deſire or not. This doctrine we hauehave great cauſe to learne and marke well, for both in matters of this life, and alſo concerning our ſaluation, we muſt be guided by it. If in ſicknes, pouerty, or any other bodily diſtreſſe wee feele cauſe to complaine; then with our prayer of faith vſe we the helpe of the Phyſition; labour we diligently in our calling, and vſe we all other good meanes, as we hauehave occaſion, and as godlines will ſuffer, to obtaine and come by that helpe which we want, and God hath promiſed. So in the trouble of minde, wherein we hauehave large promiſes of Gods vpholding and comforting vsus, repaire we to the men and brethren, who as they are skilfull to wound, ſo are Act. 2. 37.they alſo to heale; and God who hath promiſed, will thereby, and by the like meanes, ſend deliuerance.
And here ſlacknes and negligence are much to be taken heed of, then the which there is no greater bane, if we by faith waite for the promiſe: yet there is another extremity to be auoided, as wel as the neglecting of meanes, and that is, that we aſcribe not ſo much to them, that we tie God thereto, ſo that if we vſe them, we imagine we cannot faile of the helpe we deſire. In one of theſe two extremities, wicked men are continually holden, that either they vſe no meanes, (as they that hearing God hath elected to ſaluation thoſe whom he will ſaue; conclude, that if they be elected, they ſhall be ſaued, howſoeuer they liue, whereas God hath praedeſtinated the meanes, as well as decreed the ende:) or if they vſe meanes, they attribute all to them, and nothing to God: as they who glory of their great wealth, which by their wiſedome and trauaile they hauehave gotten, which is to ſacrifice to their nets. And thus much of the firſt point.
The ſecond thing that we hauehave to learne of theſe men of Iudah, is that as Doct. 2.they vſed the helpe of their next neighbour Simeon (as they might more commodiouſly doe then thoſe who were farther off: ſo it is to inſtruct vsus, Rom. 12. 10. 20.that there ſhould be louelove and a readines to helpe one another, as neede requireth Luk. 10. 34. 35.among neighbours, and not an vnkinde refuſing mutually to be aiding one another, as though we could liue alone on earth, becauſe ſometimes we hauehave no neede one of another; and as though Chriſts charge were ſo little to be regarded of louing one another. The reaſons why wee ought to hauehave a great care of this dutie is, (beſides Chriſts commandement) firſt, ſeeing one time or other all ſtand in need of the helpe and gifts one of another. I to day, and thou to morrow, and God hath dealt with the ſocieties of men as with the members of the bodie; giuing to eueryevery member a diſtinct facultie, that they might all agree to the good of the whole, ſeeing that none could well be ſpared without blemiſh. Secondly, neighbours are ſet neere in habitation, to the end they ſhould bee neerely knit together in affection, and be readier to helpe, then they who are farther off.
The benefit of this, though it be greateſt in trouble; yet it is in all times amiable and full of comfort. It is preſerued by due and daily meeting in the publike aſſemblies at the preaching of the word, prayer and the vſe of the Sacraments: alſo priuately, as they may conueniently, by good communication, Heb. 10. 24. 25.and by kind greetings, ſalutations, and auoiding all wronging one another, and diſcourteſies, in word, deede or countenance. Whereto they Note.who will not be ſubiect, and that readily, knowing that they nouriſh and vphold neighbourhood and louelove thereby, they ſhew that they are willing to breake off this knot. It is hindred by ſelfe-louelove, whiles eueryevery man regardeth himſelfe onelyonly, or for the moſt part: and eſpecially where men are more frowardly and churliſhly diſpoſed, who had neede oft to remember the words of our Sauiour, ſaying, Hereby ſhall all men know that ye are my diſciples, Iohn 13. 35.if ye louelove one another.
But I cannot tell how it commeth to paſſe, that one man is a wolfe and lion to another, (yea, euen ſuch as dwell together neerer then in one towne,) by his Nabal-like churliſhnes, and blockiſh, if not miſchieuous, behauiour: who when they ſhould alſo the more neerely be linked together, doe thereby take occaſion to be ſooner wearie one of another; to contend alſo, and fall out for ſmall trifles, as there ſhal not want matter ſundrie waies, if men be not carefull to preuent the ſame. Wherein yet this is worſe; that ſuch as are euer at iarre with one or other that dwell neere them, or with them, doe couer their ſinne by anſwering, they agree well enough with others who are farre from them. Whereas it were monſtrous if we deſerued bad report among them who know vsus not. For who ſeeth not that it is an eaſie matter to bee at peace with ſtrangers, with whom a man hath no dealings, neither commeth oft in their company? But the Apoſtle teacheth, that we ſhould fetch teſtimonie of our Chriſtian behauiour and good conſcience, not ſo much from them that are a farre off, where weſeldome come; but from them eſpecially, with whom wee dwell and conuerſe vſually and deale: for thus he ſaith to the Corinthians amongſt whom he had liued; This is our reioycing, 2. Cor. 1. 12.the teſtimony of our conſcience, that in ſimplicitie and godly pureneſſe wee hauehave had our conuerſation in the world, and moſt of all toward you.
And to draw to an end in this point alſo, it ſhould be throughly reſolued to eueryevery good Chriſtian, not to grieue and offend the meaneſt that he liueth with, either by priuat contention, or iniuring them, or by any other reprochfull Note.behauiour; but to liue peaceably with them, ſo much as in him lieth, and Rom. 12. 18.to looke carefully that he do ſo, and offer them friendly and good meaſure; that ſo he may ſtop the mouthes of the ill diſpoſed, and hauehave intereſt in the other: ſuch perſons when God ſhal viſit them, to bring them on to Chriſtian religion, and exhort them, and ſo to hauehave hope to bring them to repentance, and thereby to inioy the fruit of ſuch wiſe, kind, and peaceable liuing with them, in louelove and inward comfort, which paſſeth vnderſtanding. But yet if any will needs breake off from vsus, becauſe wee will not hauehave fellowſhip Epheſ. 5. 11.with them in the vnfruitfull workes of darkneſſe, and walke after the ſame exceſſe of 1. Pet. 4. 4. Heb. 12. 14.riot that they doe; here we muſt remember, that we muſt ioyne ſpeech with holineſſe, and no further. And (though it grieue vsus) forgoe that agreement, which we cannot lawfully hold: and wee ſhould be comforted in this, that we hauehave ſought it as much as in vsus lieth.
Thus as I hauehave ſhewed Gods people how to keepe neighbourhood and louelove one with another, that they may beware of ſtrāgers, which neuer doth good: ſo I will giuegive a watchword to the vnruly and diſobedient, of their groſſe and common contentions and iarres, with ſuch as they liue among, wiſhing them to conſider, how weariſome they make their liues and diſpleaſing, and therefore to ſtudie to liue quietly, and not to be companions in euill with them, to thinke thus, that if Gods deare ſeruants ſometime diſagree, and liue vnkindly, for that they hauehave no more grace; (though they hauehave ſome;) then much more they ſhould begin to auoid and miſlike all ſuch their vncharitableneſſe, and other ill parts of their liues who hauehave no grace; and that ſpeedily; leſt if they bite one another, they be conſumed one of another. I Galath. 5. 15.deny not, but they hauehave ſhew of neighbourly fellowſhip, among them, but it is moſt chiefly in wickedneſſe, wherein many ioyne eaſily together; but as concerning friendſhip, they are inconſtant and hollow, and are onelyonly friends while they hauehave that which they would hauehave, and no longer, nor no further. And this of them briefly and by the way. And now ſeeing I hauehave ſaid; I will adde a word to another ſort, and that is this: that if the neereſt in place and kindred, ſhould bee moſt neere in affection, (as the very law of nature teacheth, and all will acknowledge) how much more then the married couples? In whom to ſee this band of louelove broken, it is not only ſtrange, but monſtrous. And let this ſhame all ſuch to heare this, ſeeing that which hath before been ſpoken in reproofe of others, who offend this way, ſhall moſt of all condemne them. It followeth in the next verſe.
Verſ. 4. And Iuda went vp, and the Lord deliuered the Canaanites, and the Perezites into their hands, and they ſlew of them in Bezek ten thouſand men.
Iudah, as he was commanded of God, ſo he did: for ſo it is ſaid here, hee went vp, &c. ſo that as he counſelled with the Lord, what he ſhould doe; euen ſo, when hee knew his mind, he was as ready to obey. This condemneth the raſh zeale of many, who are as readie to aske and goe to the word, and pray in the congregation after their manner, as the beſt: but they conſider not why they doe ſo; as though they thought God were pleaſed with ſuch halfe ſeruice as they vſe, much like to Saul who was forward to ſacrifice, thinking God to be highly pleaſed therewith: but as for the obeying the commandement of God in deſtroying the Amalekites, he was farre from it, he did it by halues, ſo that the Prophet Samuel was faine to ſay to him, Hath God as great 1. Sam. 15. 22.pleaſure in burnt ſacrifice, as that his voice ſhould be obeyed? Behold, to obey is better then ſacrifice; and to hearken is better then the fat of rams. So to make a ſhew of much forwardneſſe, and to hauehave no heart nor readineſſe to doe as men pretend; and to ſay, Lord, Lord, and not to bee willing to doe his will, is abomination Matth. 7. 21. Pſalm. 50. 16. Pſalm. 51. 6. Deut. 5. 29.to the Lord. For he loueth truth in the inward parts: he ſaith, Oh that there were an hart in this people, to keepe all my commandements alwaies, that it might goe well with them. God cannot abide that men ſhould ſhew more then is in them; which alſo his ſeruant Paul abhorred to doe, as we reade in that place to the Corinthians, ſaying: I would hauehave none thinke otherwiſe of me 2. Cor. 10. 6.then they ſee in me. Thus we ſee, what vſe we ought to make of this example of Iudah, that is, to giuegive God this honour, that as wee pray and reſort to him to know his will, ſo we be as ready to indeuour to doe it; and to ſeeke to be faithfull and true ſeruants vntounto him, rather then to be ſo accounted, for it ſhall otherwiſe be little to our comfort. This of Iudahs obeying, now let vsus ſee what the Lord did to him.
We hauehave heard of the promiſe made to thē by God of ſubduing the Canaanites; now it is ſhewed how he performed it, in this, that the men of Iudah Doct. 2.ſlew 10000. men of them, & of another people that ioyned with them, namely, the Perezites, which were alſo of the 7. curſed nations. (And heere this victorie is briefly ſet down, but the maner how it was gotten, is more at large laid forth in the verſes following). The reſt of them (ſeeing their armie was very great) it is to be thought, fled away, out of whom their King was taken and caught. By this the Lords keeping of promiſe with Iudah, we ſee it prooued, which was before affirmed, that God hauing ſpoke the word once, it is as much as if hee had done the deed, his word and deed are both one. Which, in ſo great matters eſpecially as he promiſeth, is worthie to be regarded. For we may ſay now of our ſelues, as the Prophet ſaid of former times; Our fathers hoped in him, and were not diſappointed: they put their truſt in Pſalm. 22. 5.him, and were not confounded. This, when wee ſee how hardly it is found in men to keepe their promiſe, and that they cannot bee truſted of their word, though they promiſe; yea, and bind it with an oath, no, though they be depended on in waightie caſes; this (I ſay) ſhould make vsus to thinke our eſtate twice happie, who may be allowed to reſt and put our affiance in God, without feare of being diſappointed in the greateſt matters.
For if wee can but wait patiently, wee may bee ſure it ſhall come to paſſe which he hath promiſed; yea, till heauen and earth periſh, one iot or tittle Matth. 5. 17.of that which he hath ſpoken, ſhall not faile, but be fulfilled. What comfort ought this to bring to all beleeuing Chriſtians, who hauehave promiſes made them by him of temporary deliuerances, and benefits, and of eternall happineſſe? Oh what were wanting here, if there were faith to beleeue them? Note.Beſides, whereas it is one of the greateſt griefes of Gods people to ſee vile Pſal. 73. 13.men proſper in their wickedneſſe, and to flouriſh as the greene bay tree, and to hauehave more pleaſure, honor, and wealth, then they could looke for, whereby they ſeeme to men, to be here placed in an immortalitie; yet ſeeing it is Pſal. 1. laſt.certaine they ſhall come to naught, and to deſtruction, who abide in that eſtate, 2. Pet. 3. 9. Heb. 10.for the mouth of the Lord hath ſpoken it, what patience and contentment ſhould this bee to the faithfull, to remaine conſtant in their hope and well doing, though they hauehave many diſcouragements? and to wait with patience a little while, ſeeing he that will come, will come, and not tarrie. But this point is often taught, therefore it ſhall ſuffice to hauehave ſaid this of it: only applie wee this truth to the bad in Gods threatnings, as the promiſe hath been applied to the beleeuers, that if he threaten them, and they ſtand it out with him, he will ſurely pay them home, as he dealt with Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 4. 31. 32.and others.
Now for Gods deliuering the Canaanites into their hands, wee muſt Doct. 3.know, that this was done without all iniuſtice and ſeuerity, (which ſome wil be ready enough to thinke otherwiſe of) though there be no mention here made of their deſertes and tranſgreſſions: but it is manifeſt in the Scriptures, that they were moſt grieuous. And that appeares by the Lords owne words in the booke of Geneſis: where, when hee would ſhew a reaſon, why hee would hold the poſteritie of Abraham ſo long a ſeaſon in Egypt, before they came into the land of promiſe, he makes it to be this, namely, for that the ſins of the Canaanites were not then come to the ful, which time then was not, but now Geneſ. 25. 16.was fulfilled and come to paſſe, and therefore they were now iuſtly puniſhed; Abrahams ſeed being long before this, brought out of the Egyptian bondage. Now as the ſinne of the Canaanites was growne ripe and knowne to God to be come a great height, though it be not here ſet downe; (yea, though it be not manifeſt to all that read the ſtorie) and yet cleare enough, as I hauehave ſaid, and therefore they ſuffered and were puniſhed moſt iuſtly: ſo we that heare this muſt be perſwaded, that God dealeth moſt righteouſly in all his viſitations and iudgements, though men do not alwaies ſee the cauſe. Which we hauehave great need well to learne; ſeeing we are readie with Cain to Geneſ. 4. 13.to charge God with rigour and hard dealing, by the ſmalleſt occaſion, when (yet) we neither hauehave argument to vphold vsus, and we might hauehave learned of Iob, that there is no diſputing with God; (and if he gaue vsus nothing at all, yet he Iob 9. 3.ſhould owe vsus nothing, we are indebted to him for all that we hauehave.)
This Dauid confeſſed, when the Lord corrected him: and whereas he Pſalm. 51. 6.might hauehave been thought to hauehave dealt too hardly with him, reproouing him ſo ſharpely, and ſending ſo heauie a meſſage to him, as he did by the Prophet Nathan, yet Dauid himſelfe confeſſeth his fault to hauehave been ſo heinous, 2. Sam. 12. 7. &c.and his ſinne ſo great, that God did ſhew merciemercy in correcting him, rather then ſeueritie; and added this, that hee ſhould alwaies be iuſtified, and Pſalm. 51. 4.found righteous, howſoeuer men ſhould iudge of him. This, though men dare not in words denie, if they ſhould be aſked what their opinion is, concerning it: yet when God taketh them ſeuerally in hand, and that his rods be vponupon themſelues, rare are they, that ſhall then be of that mind, and ſo confeſſe Note.to him, or before men, eſpecially if their afflictions bee long, or ſmarty, that yet the Lord is iuſt, & his dealings are righteous: but rather they crie out impatiently, that they are handled as no other men be, and that they would they had any other afflictiō vponupon thē in ſtead of that which they ſuffer. And if they be exhorted to patience, they ask with the wicked king Iehoram, how can they attend on God any longer, in their ſo great calamities; whereas he hauing 2. King. 6. 33.a mercifull reſpect of vsus, regardeth, what wee are fit to beare, and moderateth his chaſtiſements accordingly, and promiſing that he will lay no more 1. Cor. 10. 13.on vsus then he will make vsus able to goe vnderunder; it is (moſt certainly) our great ſin, when we labor not to containe our ſelues meekly, and to ſee ſo much amiſſe (as ful eaſily we may) in our euill hearts and liues, as that we may ſay alwaies in his ſoreſt correcting of vsus, the Lord is righteous, and euer to bee praiſed.
Secondly, this ſhould teach vsus, not to take part with the wicked, in moning and pitying them for that he ſo purſueth them, when wee ſee the hand of God vponupon them, but rather iuſtifie God, nay, giuegive thanks vntounto him for his iuſt dealing with them: and although we wiſh their ſaluation, yet wee may reioyce in their puniſhment, euen as mourne for their impunity, when they prouoke them. Eſpecially if we know them enemies to the Church, ſeeing then we iudge not before the time, and wee know it is iuſt with God to render 2. Theſ. 1. 6.tribulation to all that hauehave troubled his: but when the eſtate of the afflicted is vnknowne to vsus, although we may be aſſured that God is iuſt, yet wee muſt not condemne them, but leaue him to God.
Now to ſpeake a little of the Canaanites, becauſe they eſcaped long, being Doct. 4.ſo great offenders, yet in that they were met withall at laſt, it teacheth vsus; that as God will not alwaies ſuffer his rods to lie on the backe of the righteous, ſo neither Pſal. 125. 3.will he ſuffer the wicked to eſcape and goe vnpuniſhed, but he will bee reuenged on them in his due time, yea and that quickly, whereas they (yet) Luk. 18. 8.thinke the cleane contrary, and imagine, that if they bee not puniſhed as ſoone as they hauehave treſpaſſed, they ſhall neuer come to any reckoning; and therefore they merrily promiſe themſelues, and ſay, Doubtleſſe the bitterneſse 1. Sam. 15. 32.of death is paſſed, and thinke that God will neither doe euill nor good: Nay, they begin to applaud themſelues in their wicked doings, as wee may ſee in the Pſalme: where the Lord himſelfe chargeth them for it.Pſal. 50. 21.
Therefore this and the like Scripture commeth in fit ſeaſon to be vrged vponupon all ſuch, that though they cry, peace, peace, and caſt the remembrance of 1. Theſ. 5. 3.puniſhment behind their backes, yet God will ſet it before their faces, yea and make them ſmart, as if they were ſtung with adders and hornets; their ſinne will moſt certainely finde them out. Haman, after all his cruelty and Eſter. 7. 10.malice, was powred out againſt Gods people with great ioy, notwithſtanding alſo the Kings countenancing and backing of him therein, had yet a ſnare ſet for him at a ſumptuous banquet, and by the prayers of the faithfull, receiued iuſt puniſhment for his doings, when he little looked for any ſuch matter. Iezabell being ſuffered to goe forward in her murthers, and ſpirituall whoredomes along time, not ſparing the Lords faithfull Prophet Elias, but 2. King. 9. 30. 31. &c.threatned death to him alſo, when ſhe was in the middeſt of her pride, braying boldly againſt the Lords auenger Iehu, comming to doe execution vponupon her, was caſt downe out at the window by her owne Eunuches in great diſgrace; her braines being ſquaſhed againſt the ſtones, till ſhe was made dogges meate and doung, for all her former glory.
The ſame I might ſay of infinite other who ſcorned to heare of any thing, or iudgement to be comming againſt them; who yet were made as vnlike Luk. 12. 20.to the perſons they were before in their iollitie, as if they had neuer bin they, (as the rich man in the Goſpell, and the Epicure) euen as if one ſhould ſee a Luk. 16. 22. 23.goodly palace with all the rich furniture thereof, to be burned vntounto aſhes. A Simile.But alas, what is our ſpeaking of ſuch things to a new generation, riſen vp after them, as farre gone as they in their iniquities, yea adding to them alſo other ſinnes both ſtrange and fearefull: Are any made wiſe by former examples, though they come not ſhort of them in their abominations? (that I ſay no more) but they hauehave one thing or other to waſh away the remembrance of ſuch workes of God, or to tuſh at them who tell them that they ſhall be like them in their puniſhments. And if they bee ſcared at any time with feare of Gods iudgements it is with them, but as it is with theeues, when there is hue and crie after them, then they giuegive in, but if it bee paſt, they peepe out of their holes, and fall to their trade a freſh, til they be found out and taken: and ſo doe theſe.
But I will turne away from this kinde of people, as fearing that I doe but loſe my labour about them, I will beſtow my words where I hauehave more hope to preuaile, and doe good by them. I am not ignorant that right worthy and good Chriſtians doe ſometime fall into this diſeaſe; and are rocked a ſleepe with them before mentioned, in ſome particular falles: that when they hauehave found ſweetnes in ſome baites of ſinne, and hauehave ſo farre forgot themſelues, that they are ſnared by the deceitfulnes thereof, they hauehave begun to thinke that it is good being for them there, and to continue ſtill in ſo doing, and they are loath to be diſeaſed, they louelove not to thinke for the time (behold to what point the beſt may eaſily be brought) that God will come againſt them for their ſo being diſguiſed. This is more then with the fiue Matth. 25. 5.wiſe virgins to begin to nodde; nay it is with the Church in the Canticles, Cant. 5. 1.to fall a ſleepe: doubtleſſe, this is as dangerous an eſtate for godly Chriſtians, as it is vnbeſeeming them.
But what of this ſome (perhaps) will ſay? what doth the puniſhment of the Canaanites concerne theſe? I anſwere, it concernes them very much. For though they are not ſeated nor ſaped in ſinne as they, and their like, of whom I hauehave ſpoken already: and therefore are not in danger to be puniſhed like to them, yet is their ſinne great, for that they hauehave bin tenderly regarded of the Lord, and hauehave ſet this louelove more ſweet then the hony combe; and hauehave been aduanced to honour, (greater then Princes) to be ſonnes and daughters, to the Lord almighty, yea and they hauehave ſworne with Dauid, and Pſal. 109. 106.therefore ſhould performe it, to keepe his righteous iudgements: now then, for them to looke backe onelyonly to Sodome, and to giuegive place to their euill luſts, but ſo farre, as to take liking of, and pleaſe themſelues in any vnfruitfull workes of darkenes, ſo as they could be content ſtill to ſolace themſelues therein, it is in them periury; againſt God treachery, and in itſelfe, ſinne, for ſuch perſons to commit, moſt fearefull and horrible.
And if they eſpie it not betimes, which they ought to hauehave preuented and ſhunned at the firſt entrance into it, God will rouſe them out of it to their Note.coſt, with terror and abaſhment, eſpecially if they hauehave fallen ſo oftentimes, and hauehave experience, what woe it hath brought them in times paſt before they could riſe vp againe: and in what a torment and hell they lay, before they could returne. And yet I would hauehave no man take me thus, as though I thought, that a man truly conuerted to God, can alwaies be in one, and the ſame ſtate of libertie to ſerue God, or holde the ſame meaſure of grace at all times, or as though he might not poſſibly, yea eaſily, through his euill Note. Rom. 7. 19.heart, (which in great part remaineth luſting after euill, and rebellious againſt God) as though he might not (I ſay) be eaſily carried after the euill, Pſal. 30. 6. 7.which at an other time he wholly abhorreth, and hath victory ouer. I doe not deny but this may be, and is with the beſt; but to nouriſh theſe ill deſires, and to delight in them, and ſo to be in danger to commit the ſinne, which hath drawen the heart to bee made drunken with it, whether it be whoredome, reuenge; vniuſt dealing, &c. (for ſo it may come to paſſe) this I ſay, changeth his ſweet life into ſowernes, and (to ſhew the danger of ſuch boldnes further) it doth vtterly diſguiſe him; and make him and his profeſſion rediculus.
And to let him ſee what this will grow to, hee may further vnderſtand that God dealeth with ſuch, after this manner; that firſt, he ſuffereth them to be vnſetled in their courſe, ſo that they ſerue God awkly and vntowardly, (as he goeth to worke, that vſeth dull edged inſtruments) they cannot pray, nor walke roundly and cheerefully in their calling, but are full of vnquietnes, with much grudge of conſcience, and a very taſt of hell, which to continue many houres, or dayes, is yet an heauier burden, and greater bondage. Note.And yet if they relent not, when they be vnſetled, and when they ſee themſelues thus far out of the way of godlines; a greater danger is like to follow, that is, that they ſhall be hardened, and ſo, farre from repentance, and then they fall from euill to worſe, till they breaking into other open offences bee met withall and requited, with ſundry open and ſhamefull puniſhments. This is the Lords manner of dealing with his owne, euen as he dealeth with the vngodly, firſt to warne them ſecretly by the accuſation of their conſcience: and if that doe them no good to call them backe; then he caſteth them into bodily or viſible iudgement. And ſo the beſtende they hauehave of Rom. 6. 21.their bad doings, is to goe backe with ſhame and ſorrow, whereas they might hauehave ſhunned both, and hauehave liued in peace and with comfort.
Which being duly conſidered, hath made mee oft to maruell, that men Ier. 31. 18. 19.whom I know to be very careleſſe, can yet bee ſo quiet. Me thinks where much ſinne is committed, and ſuch as the perſons cannot be ignorant of it, when they hauehave done it, they ſhould not put it vp ſo cleanely, and ſleepe vponupon it ſo eaſily, but that it ought to trouble them, euen as the ſtomacke ouercharged, ſeeketh to be vnburdened. So (I ſay) I thinke they ſhould hauehave but Note.ſmall peace within, when ſo much may bee ſeene to bee amiſſe without; for let them ſet as faire a face on their bad doings, as they can; yet can they not be the whole men that they goe for, and God wil not be mocked, they muſt caſt vp their vnſauorie gorge, and clenſe their harts and hands from euill before Iames 4. 8.God will accept, and take knowledge of them for his. For if the conſcience, being tender, and like the apple of the eie, can ſuffer no violence; how can they loade it with ſo great a burden of knowne ſinnes, but they muſt needs cauſe it to cry out, if they doe not with true repentance ſeeke to God for merciemercy to eaſe it? For a penitent ſoule cannot feele the leaſt violence to be offered to the conſcience by ſinne committed, but it crieth out to be cured; and therefore, they who giuegive greater cauſe, cannot bee in good caſe, when they ſet it light, hauing ſo ſore offended. And thus much by occaſion of the Canaanites ſinne: It followeth.