Commentary on Judges, Sermon 21
THE ONE AND TWENTIETH SERMON WHICH IS THE FIFTH ON THE THIRD CHAPter of the booke of IVDGES.
OF Ehud it followeth ſtill of his conueying away the men when Doct 2. in verſ 18.the Preſent was deliuered, that all inconuenience might bee auoided on both parts: of whom let vsus learne, not onelyonly to bee warie that wee bewray not ſecrets vndiſcreetly to any (which hee wiſely preuented by ſending them away) and therefore much more not to many: But alſo as he did, ſo let vsus doe; it agreeing with the rule of charity, namely, that if danger trouble, or ſorrow muſt needs enſue and follow by doing ſuch things which wee goe about, and muſt needs take in hand, yet let our care be that the trouble bee no more to any then it muſt needs be, nor the danger or heauines take hold of no more then muſt of neceſſity hauehave their part therein. As Ehud ſaw the burthen lay vponupon him, hee might if hee would, hauehave laid it vponupon other beſide himſelfe, but that in no wiſe hee would doe, but ſent the reſt of the company home, that they might be out of danger. Which thing I well remember our Sauiour alſo moſt carefully practiſed, and that with no leſſe tender louelove and kindneſſe toward his weake Diſciples. For when the Prieſts and Iewes with their band of ſouldiers came to apprehend and take him, they telling him, when he demanded of them whom they ſought, that they ſought him: hee anſwered them, If ye ſeeke me, let theſe (meaning his Diſciples) goe their way: Ioh. 18. 8.and the reaſon of that ſpeech was, that they might eſcape danger.
Much like to both theſe examples, was the doing of the Shunamite in the ſecond booke of the Kings. For when her child was dead, which the Prophet Eliſha obtained of God for her, ſhee hauing none before, and ſhee knowing and beleeuing, that it ſhould be reſtored to life againe vntounto her; 2. King. 4. 21. 22.when ſhe had talked with the Prophet, and made her moue and complaint vntounto him, which ſhee ſaw ſhee might doe, and yet returne home againe the ſame day: what did ſhee, thinke wee? Surely this, ſhee locked vp the dead child in the Prophets chamber, (which ſhee had perſwaded her husband to build for him in their owne habitation, to reſt at, when hee paſſed by) and made his death knowne to none, leſt trouble and ſorrow ſhould thereby hauehave been cauſed to the whole family, and neighbours thereabout, and by faith had the child reſtored aliue vntounto her againe. The griefe and care for it muſt needs light on her, and ſhe ſuſtained it her ſelfe, and would hauehave no other to ſorrow for it, or be troubled about it. But our ſinne about this thing is great, that when wee might with a little trouble to our ſelues, free and eaſe many other, yet wee raiſe and procure it to other alſo: yea and wee bee Note.not ſatisfied, vnleſſe they ſmart as well as we. So farre are we off from regarding other, and from ſeeking their peace, who would liue peaceably by vsus. As for example, it is commonly to be ſeene, how many rough and boyſterous husbands grieue and diſquiet both wiſe and family, by their loud and vnbeſeeming as well as vnſeaſonable complaints and outcryings, (whereby they diſquiet the whole family) for ſome ouerſight which they eſpy; yea they hauehave oft times no cauſe at all to doe ſo; or at leaſt if they had any iuſt cauſe to be grieued, yet a little patience and bearing with the treſpaſſers (as the cauſe requireth) and ſober and kinde telling them of it, might hauehave done farre more good, and hauehave kept the whole family quiet. The ſame I may ſay of the wife, if ſhe be giuen to waſpiſhneſſe, and bee ſhrewiſh, hot, and wrathfull, who thereby troubleth both husband and the whole houſe: and this accuſation reacheth yet further; euen to the ſpitefull and malicious, who are not onelyonly oft iarring, and at ſtrife with their neighbours vponupon ſmall or no occaſions, but are ready to ſue them at the law for eueryevery trifle, and ſo trouble both them, and themſelues alſo. Whereas the vertuous Queene Heſter beholding how ſhee was the onelyonly hope and helpe vnderunder God of the Heſt. 4. 16.Churches deliuerance from Hamans plot and deuiſing to waſt and deſtroy it vtterly; tooke vponupon her the going about it, though it was with moſt likely perill of her life, and that without the hurt of any one beſide; ſaying in ſo doubtfull a caſe, If I periſh, I periſh. Yea Saul himſelfe, who yet had no commendation through the ſtory for vprightneſſe and goodneſſe, would not ſuffer any of the murmurers and repiners againſt his entring in, to bee puniſhed at his firſt comming to his kingdome, as ſome would hauehave had it, but 1. Sam. 11. 13.choſe rather to put vp the diſgrace, ſaying: there ſhall no man die this day; for to day the Lord hath ſaued Iſrael. And this by occaſion of Ehuas ſending the people away that went with him, being the firſt of the three things mentioned, to be contained in theſe 3. verſes.
Now followeth the ſecond thing, to wit, of Ehuds ſecond going to Eglon, Verſ. 19. 20. The ſenſe.and what he ſaid. Hee returned in haſt from the place neere Gilgal in the land of Iſrael, whither hee had conducted the people, which could not bee farre from the place where King Eglon lay: for hee hauing brought the Iſraelites into ſubiection to him; it is cleere thot he lay neere their borders, the better to ſee them kept vnderunder: and he comming to him, told him hee had a meſſage which was of ſecreſie to doe vntounto him. Whereat the King required him to ſtay the vttering of it, till the company ſtanding by, were commanded out of the place. For hee hauing ſo lately receiued a preſent at his hand, had no ſuſpition of any trechery to be intended by him. The company being gone, Ehud was admitted to come neare vntounto him. And telling him that his meſſage was from God, hee ſtood vp to doe reuerence at that name: and ſo by this meanes he had the way made more eaſie for him, and the better opportunitie to doe the worke he went about.
And in theſe two verſes we may ſee, conſidering that the Lord called Ehud to this worke, for the deſtroying of that his peoples enemy, and to deliuer them out of his hands, (for elſe it had been a moſt bloody and trecherous act) we may ſee (I ſay) the courage and confidence that was in him, to aduenture that great danger that hee did, by going about to kill Eglon the King: who, if before his attempt he had been detected and found out, had been put (who doubteth?) to moſt extreme tortures among enemies, and no friend of his ſtanding by or in preſence. And what had hee to vphold himſelfe by, in that great difficulty and fearfull danger, but his truſt in God, and confidence, that hee who laid that worke vponupon him, would bring him well through it? And yet how hard a thing it was for him, who ſeeth not, if he will rightly conſider it, in that difficulty and great ſtraite that hee was in, to beleeue that God would make way for him, and enable him to ſuch a worke, all likelihoode thereof being taken away. And this teacheth vsus, what Doct. verſ. 19.the nature of faith & confidence is, wherſoeuer, and in whomſoeuer it is to be found: that they looke not vponupon things that are ſeene, which may-work 2. Cor. 4. 24.deadly diſcouragement and anguiſh: but vponupon that which is not ſeene with Note.mortal eye, and that is Gods power and willingneſſe ready at hand to helpe vsus forward, and to encourage vsus (to waite for the accompliſhing of that which we beleeue and looke for) in our greateſt need.
This it was that animated and ſtrengthened Ehud to attempt this dangerous worke. And this faith and confidence hartened and emboldened the Ioſh. 3. 13. 14.Prieſts, when the Lord by Ioſhua commanded them for their paſſing into the land of Canaan, to ſet their feet on the water, to goe ouer the riuer Iordan, (how vnlikely ſoeuer it was) their beleeuing (I ſay) the Lord by the mouth of Ioſhua, that a way ſhould be made for them to paſſe through ſafely, as on dry land, euen that it was that hartened them to doe it, who yet in ſo doing, muſt of neceſſity hauehave been drowned by mans reaſon and iudgement. And this faith made Peter bold to pronounce to the lame and diſeaſed, euen while they lay viſited, to pronounce (I ſay) in the hearing of all Act. 3. 6. and 9. 34.that ſtood by, when he ſaw no likelihood thereof appeare: Ieſus Chriſt maketh you whole, ariſe and walke. For hee beleeued Chriſt who had ſaid to him that he ſhould worke a miracle, whenſoeuer it was expedient, and that faith made him bold to ſay ſo: whereas if that had not been immediately done indeed, which he foreſaid ſhould come to paſſe, that the parties ſhould bee healed; he ſhould hauehave been vtterly diſcredited, and laughed to ſcorne, and caſt out from mens company, as a deceiuer.
This faith made the holy Martyrs yeeld their bodies to the fire, for the Note.defence of Gods truth, while they beleeued, not onelyonly that they ſhould bee receiued after into glory; but alſo that God would ſtrengthen them for the preſent time to endure the flame. And this it is that inableth vsus to ſuffer the hardneſſe which wee willingly ſuſtaine throughout our liues, euen this, that we truſt and reſt perſwaded, that God will bring vsus well through it, and afterwards receiue vsus into his eternall kingdome. Which cauſed Saint Paul Act. 21. 13.to vtter theſe words: Why weepe ye thus, and rend my heart? for I am reſolued and ready not to bee bound onelyonly, but alſo to die at Ieruſalem for the name of the Lord Ieſus: and euen ſo he taught, writing to Timothy; Therefore we ſuffer becauſe we 1. Tim. 4. 10.beleeue in the liuing God, who is the ſauiour of all, but eſpecially of them that beleeue. And this of Ehud in theſe two verſes, and of his words ſpoken to the King. and as for ſuch as aske why he deluded the King with a lie, while hee went about to kill him, ſeeing hee vttered no meſſage to him at all; when yet hee told him hee had a meſſage from God vntounto him: to them I anſwere; the word which is tranſlated meſſage or errand, doth not onelyonly ſignifie a word or meſſage by mouth, but alſo a thing or deed, ſuch as that was which he did vntounto him; for he was ſent from God to kill him, euen as among the Latines, Verbum & res. Quid hoc verbi eſt? Quid hoc rei eſt? both are one.
Now followeth the third thing, and that is in this 20. verſe, namely, of Ehuds The vnfolding of the latter part of verſ 19. and of the 20.laſt words to the King immediately before he killed him, and of Eglons behauiour thereat, as it is heere ſet downe, let vsus conſider: of which, this I ſay; In that he ſhould ſo ſimply hearken to, and beleeue him, admit him into his ſecret parlour, and that Ehud being a ſtranger, ſhould neither be ſuſpected, nor ſearched (as the manner is, and great reaſon was for it) before hee ſhould hauehave acceſſe to the King, and that none of all the Kings attendants ſhould aduiſe ſuch a matter, that hee ſhould not bee ſuffered to ſtand on his feet before the King, which was more ſuſpitious,) but rather commanded to bee vponupon his knees before him, and then that hee ſhould cauſe his owne company to goe out of the place, and leaue them two onelyonly together; but eſpecially to let Ehud depart, before they ſaw all to be wel: Theſe (I ſay) and ſuch like, if the Lord had not blinded, and caſt a myſt before them, could neuer hauehave paſſed as they did. And we may ſay, it was much like that which we reade of Abner, captaine of Sauls hoaſt, and all his men; to wit, that when 1. Sam. 26. 15.he imagined that Dauid purſued him, and ſought his life, and ſhould therefore hauehave more ſpecially watched and attended the Kings perſon, then at other times; yet that euen then all the armie ſhould be aſleepe together where they lay; in ſo much that Dauid challenged Abner for it; was it not admirable? For it could not hauehave been ſo in any reaſon, except God had caſt a ſleepe vponupon them, to the end that Dauids integrity and innocency toward Saul, might be knowne, when there was ſeene no other way to ſhew it, and all ſaw (that would) how he might hauehave killed Saul.
And hereby let vsus learne, that when God will hauehave any worke wrought, Doct in verſ. 19. & 20.or any thing brought to paſſe for his glory, the good of his Church, or deſtruction of his enemies, he hauing many waies to bring it to paſſe, will effect it through infinite difficulties, without our troubling our ſelues about it. For his prouidence alway miniſtreth to, and makes way for his purpoſe till it be executed. Dauid was ſo coped in by Saul at one time, that there ſeemed no hope of eſcape: but then the Lord whiſtled him away, and ſet him about other buſineſſe. What lets and diſcouragements (thinke wee) had Noah to hold him from that great worke of building the Arke to the preſeruing Gen. 6. 13. 14.of the world, and the Church of God? I will leaue it to the conſideration of the reader, rather then ſpend the time in laying it forth. In the bringing to paſſe Gods promiſe to Ioſeph in his dreame, what a long time was it before it was effected? euen well nigh twentie yeeres: and how vnlike, and in the meane while, how many difficulties were raiſed and ſet in the way to the fruſtrating of it? as the malice and enuie of his brethren, ſome of them intending and ſeeking to kill him, but all the company conſenting that he ſhould be ſold to ſtrangers a farre off, from whence they thought he Gen. 37. 21. 22.ſhould neuer hauehave bin any more ſeen of them, neither his dreames come to paſſe: and then his impriſonment alſo after all, by the falſe accuſation of his whoriſh miſtriſſe: who would not hauehave ſaid, that by the meanes of all theſe, he ſhould hauehave been vtterly depriued of the benefit of the promiſes which God had made to him? But could they preuaile? was any iot of Gods word Gen. 42. 21.made voide, ſo that it came not to paſſe?
And was all the cruell malice of Haman eaſily auoided in plotting the deſtruction of all the Iewes Gods people: the day thereof being appointed, Heſt. 7. 50.the King perſwaded by him to let all be as hee would hauehave it, and no friend to them, (but they were as ſheep appointed to be ſlaine) but they that were in as great danger themſelues, that is to ſay, Heſter and Mardocai: and when ſhee the Queene, who was all their hope vnderunder God, ſhould goe about to helpe them out of the danger, ſhe brought her ſelfe thereby into the preſent perill of her life. And yet becauſe it could not be poſſible that the Church of God ſhould be ouerthrowne, did not he moſt ſtrangely deliuer it? But to let paſſe examples in Scripture; euen thus the Lord hath and doth vphold his Church heere and there for a time againſt all enemies and lets, and will doe, till he hath accompliſhed, and made vp his number. And when wee ſee that he continueth his fauour more ſpecially to any place or people, through many trials, let vsus ſay, the Lord hath done great and maruellous things for Note,them, and they had need to acknowledge his kindneſſe, and profit by it more then in common manner, leſt their account be harder to be made then other mens. And to come to ſhew it more particularly, and ſo to conclude this point; if eueryevery priuate perſon whom this concerneth, could weigh through what difficulties, (as tentations and diſcouragements,) God hath brought him to hold and keepe faith and a good conſcience, both in the beginning, middle part of his combate and conflicting daies, and more ſpecially when he hath well nigh runne his race, and finiſhed his courſe with ioy; oh what thankes would he render to the Lord for it? For all ſuch may well Note.remember how oft they hauehave ſaid within themſelues, that they ſhall neuer be ſtabliſhed and perſeuere to the end, and that the promiſe of heauen made to them, is too good to be true. And yet God hath ſo mixed his power with their weakeneſſe, and ſo vpheld them beyond their expectation, that hee hath brought them ſafely through all that they feared. Oh I cannot ſufficiently magnifie and commend this goodneſſe of the Lord, and withall, the glorious worke of faith, and what wonders they effect! and yet little known or asked after. But ſeeing the arme of the Lord is no more ſhortened now, then in times paſt, but he doth great things for them that beleeue at this day; let vsus alſo learne Dauids leſſon: Commit thy way to the Lord (ſaith he) and beleeue Pſal. 37. 3.that he will effect it, and he will doe it in deed, without any needleſſe and indirect trouble, or fretting care of thine: but if we beleeue not, I deny not but that we may ſee (as Eliſha told the Prince of Iſrael, and Mordicai Heſter) 2 King 7. 2. Heſt. 4. 14.Gods promiſes performed to others which hee made, as the vnbeleeuing Prince did, but we ſhall hauehave no part therein our ſelues, nor cauſe of ſound reioycing thereat, in as much as we had no exerciſe of our faith in beleeuing them. Therefore this worthily deſerueth at the hands of all the children of God (to whom the fruit of this doctrine hath in any meaſure been granted, and who hauehave any proofe of their faith at al, that at leaſt they yeeld the Lord thus much; that as they bee thankfull (yea euen with admiration) to conſider how hee hath brought matters to paſſe for them beyond hope: ſo that they arme themſelues to beleeue ſtill, and that more aſſuredly that God is able and willing to make way for them in all their deſires, or diſtreſſes, without which yet they ſhal loſe the benefit of this his power and louelove. But more of this, as occaſion ſhall be offered.
As for Eglons riſing vp at the mention of God, as though hee had reuerenced Doct. verſ. 20.him, (for this is the next thing that followeth in the text) howſoeuer they vſed to doe ſo at that time who were but heathen Kings, as Baalam before, when Balak then King of Moab, came to him, and his Princes with him, to aske what Gods anſwere was to him, Baalam (I ſay) then ſpake thus vntounto him: Ariſe Balak to heare Gods voice, and to giuegive reuerence to it. Concerning his riſing vp (I ſay at the naming of God (that wee may make ſome good vſe of it, wee are ſure it ſerueth to conuince Atheiſts, and prophane ones, who are farre from yeelding any. But if yee will ſay, what reuerence was that which they gaue, ſeeing they were Idolaters, and did it at the naming of God, whether it were the true God Iehouah, or any other, I ſay, ſufficient to condemne theſe. But ſome make ſhewes of reuerence when in truth they offer diſgrace. So we reade of the Phariſies, that when it was proued to them by the blind man, that Chriſt had opened his eyes, which they Ioh. 9. 24.could not abide to heare, they would not take knowledge of it; but as though they might boldly and freely detract from him whom they hated, (ſo that they gaue words of honour to God) bewrayed their hypocriſie, who would ſeeme holy, and therefore ſaid; giuegive glory to God, wee know that this man is a ſinner: and ſo bewrayed that they had no religion, when yet they would ſeeme to goe before others therein: ſeeing this is true, that hee that honoureth not the ſonne, neither doth hee honour the father. Let all this then, both ſerue to ſhame all brutiſh and prophane perſons, (who yet are in the viſible Church) who aſcribe not ſo much to the word preached, neither regard the meſſage of God, with ſo much reuerence as this heathen Eglon did; who in token thereof ſtood vp when Ehud told him that he had a meſſage for him from God. But to leaue theſe, let it bee a watch word to vsus that profeſſe the true worſhip of God, that we pleaſe not our ſelues in the worke wrought; I meane in giuing outward and bodily worſhip to God, and in Mat. 15. 9.calling him father; ſeeing neither they who draw neare to him with bodies onelyonly, doe pleaſe him; neither all that ſay, Lord, Lord, ſhall enter into the Mat. 7. 21.kingdome of heauen, but he that doth the wil of the father that is in heauen: 2. Tim. 2. 19.and againe, ſeeing it is written, that all who call on the name of the Lord, muſt depart from iniquity: let vsus regard that duly, without which wee ſhall hauehave no more to commend vsus to God, then this Heathen King had. But of this enough before, cap. 1. verſ. 4. It followeth.
Verſ. 21. And Ehud put forth his left hand, and tooke the dagger from his right thigh, and thruſt it into his belly.
22. So that the haft went in after the blade, and the fat cloſed about the blade, ſo that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly, but the dirt came out.
OF Ehuds intent and preparation to kill Eglon King of Moab, wee hauehave The ſenſe and doctrine of theſe two verſes.heard: now followeth the execution of it. For as Iael was ſtrengthened by God, to deſtroy and kill Sicera, captaine of Iabin King of Canaan; ſo the Lord ſtrengthened Ehud heere, to bring downe Eglon King of Moab, that Iſrael his people who cried vntounto him, might bee deliuered out of the bondage that he had brought them into. And thus God in a moment tooke Doct. in verſ. 21.away the life and honour of him both together, by one deadly blow? wherin hee would ſhew vsus the wofull eſtate of thoſe, who hauehave nothing but in this world, to what end they may come euen heere, they know not how ſoone and ſuddenly, beſide the irkeſome deſolation that ſhall meet with them when they goe hence. Oh the baſe and lothſome death that God would hauehave him brought vntounto, and yet in his flouriſhing eſtate, ſo far from likelihood of any change or decay at all! If wee regard any thing, wee will conſider this: examples are infinite. Thus Belſhazzar and Herod were taken downe in the middeſt of their iollity. Adde to theſe, Nabal for the vncomfortableneſſe 1. Sam. 25. 37. 38.of his death, with Zimri that burned himſelfe, to burne the Kings pallace in Tirza, and ſo died; and with Ioaſh the King of Iuda, 1. King. 16. 19.who was ſlaine of his ſeruants, and Iezabel, whoſe blood was without compaſſion 2. King. 12. 20.daſhed againſt the ſtones. Euen ſo, doe wee not daily ſee the flouriſhing Luk. 21. 6.eſtates of men turned to moſt deſolate decay? in ſo much as they bee iuſtly reproued for making them their Paradiſe; and that by the words of our Sauiour [are theſe the things ye looke after?] and alſo when hee Luk. 29. 42.bewailed them, for that they died without hope. And heere by ſo fit an occaſion as is offered by Ehuds killing of Eglon this King of Moab: I thinke it not vnfit in this place, (though in a word, and by way of execration) to note and bring to the remembrance of the Reader, the curſed practiſe of Ieſuites in murthering, and bringing vntimely death vponupon the Lords annointed, Kings and Princes, vnderunder the colour of their hereſie (as they call it) or leſt they ſhould incurre ſome way the Popes diſpleaſure for not doing ſo; as though they would helpe the Lord to cut off ſuch as flouriſh and proſper. And the rather I mention them, becauſe they defend themſelues by this fact of Ehud, and ſuch like, moſt impudently and abiurdly, to couer their horrible treaſons and murthers. The two laſt Kings of France were thus handled, and the facts with the doers highly extolled by theſe that hartened them on thereto. Oh villaine intolerable! whereby, as by their perſecuting the Goſpell, they moſt liuely ſhew themſelues to bee vtter aduerſaries to Chriſt, and to bee moſt neare akind to them who commit the ſinne againſt which we ſhould not pray, that cannot bee forgiuen. But to leaue them whom God alloweth not to bee inſtruments of ſuch bloody acts and trecheries, let vsus returne to the perſons before mentioned, who liued heere in pleaſures of ſinne for a ſeaſon, and were without God in the world, and ſoone periſhed miſerably.
Theſe with many other mentioned in the Scriptures, and in later Chronicles (for I ſpeake of the chiefe and greateſt perſons, ſeeing they doe moſt moue affection,) ſo highly aduanced in this world, and yet ſo ſoone and ſuddenly ſpoiled and bereaued of all their honour and excellency (as I hauehave ſaid) and to change it with a baſe death, and a worſe eſtate afterwards; doe liuely ſet before our eyes the miſery of all ſuch, as looke no further, then after brauerie, iollity, vaine pleaſure, and large poſſeſſions, which they can neither keepe, when their deadly blow is giuen them, and when their dreadfull woe commeth, ſo that they might bee any comforts to them; nor loſe and part from them (if they hauehave any time to thinke thereof) without deadly diſlike, and moſt bitter vexation. So that it may worthily warne all ſuch as be of high degree, and much more vsus that are inferiour perſons; and therefore ought firſt to ſtoope to conſider of, and prouide for our ende, that when we muſt departhence, (which time is moſt vncertaine) we may bee prepared to die happily, and prouide to be receiued into heauenly habitations. For wee ſee what a pitifull and dangerous thing it is to reſt vponupon that which we enioy heere, as wealth, pompe, young yeeres, or any other earthly proſperity. The Lord ſcatters men in the imaginations of their hearts. He ſweepes downe their warped thoughts, as copwebs with beezome. It had been well with Eglon, and ſuch as hee was, (all that heare of him will ſay) if he had enioyed nothing; and much better if hee had been nothing. Note.Euen thus the hand of God is againſt all his enemies, and when the day of reckoning commeth, they periſh. It is reported (in the hiſtory of that time) that an Emperour of Rome, Adrian by name, when hee ſhould die, and Melanct in Adriano.leaue all his iollity, being ſuddenly ſtricken with great terrour, vſed theſe words: Oh my poore wandring ſillie ſoule, which haſt been long a companion and gueſt of my body, what ſhall hereafter become of thee, or whither wilt thou goe? Thou haſt been iollie, merrie, and full of ſporting and pleaſures, but now thou muſt goe where theee is no ſuch matter, forlorne, deſolate, and forſaken. Behold in this great man, the wofull apprehenſion and fearefull preſage of the woe to come, euen while he liued: the which doubtleſſe ſeazing vponupon the mighty and glorious (when no outward thing can comfort them) ſhould flaight and terrifieal ſorts and degrees of men from reſting vponupon any earthly props, wanting Gods fauour for their chiefe ſtay and refuge.
And heere in laying out the fearefull manner of killing Eglon, occaſion Doct in verſ 22.being offered to make mention of that which was lothſome to the eare; in that it was vttered in more ſeemly termes and words: we may learne how warily wee ſhould ſpeake of things more vnſeemely, or which are more harſh in the hearing; and follow the holy Ghoſt in our termes, namely to vtter that (which might elſe offend the eares of the moſt) in more ſeemely and honeſt words. So the action of the marriage bed is vſually expreſſed by the holy Ghoſt in moſt chaſt and ſeemely words. As it is ſaid of Dauid, 1. King. 1. 4.when Abiſhag the Shunamite was brought vntounto him to miniſter to him, though ſhe cheriſhed him, and lay in his boſome in his extreme age, that he might get heate by her, it is ſaid in modeſt words, that the King knew her not: ſo Mary, how can this be, ſeeing I knew not a man? Such are the termes vſed Luk. 1. 34.by the holy Ghoſt, of diſcouering the ſhame and couering the nakedneſſe of Noah our father, as Shem and Iaphei did. And although education and good manners teach vsus modeſty, yet grace muſt teach the language of Canaan, whereof this is a part. The Lord commanded Iſrael to couer their Deut. 23. 12. 13. 14.excrements with their paddle, becauſe hee walked among them: and ſo ought we to behaue our ſelues, eſpecially Preachers muſt beware of brode, vnſeemely, and offenſiue ſpeech in this kinde, becauſe they are to vtter the will of God, in the moſt ſeemely and reuerent phraſe and manner. And diuers other ſuch might bee brought forth, but that I would not bee long in this matter, where fewer words may ſerue. Which is to the iuſt reproofe of many in our time, who as they are rude and brutiſh in their behauiour, ſo hauehave they as beaſtly and filthy tongues to vtter their mindes by, in too vnſeemely manner, as they know who are their companions, and like vntounto them. And this of Ehuds killing Eglon.