Commentary on Judges, Sermon 32
THE THIRTIE TWO SERMON ON THE FIFTH CHAPTER OF THE BOOKE OF IVDGES.
NOw to proceed with the reſt that I hauehave begun withall, Verſ. 11.heree Debora ſpeaketh to the ſeruants, that in going forth to draw water for their neceſſary vſe, were not free from the archers, who ſhot at them, and put them to much paine, trouble, and danger, or feare at leaſt thereby 1. Sam. 16. 11.Where we ſee, that as they who are in the meaneſt places of ſeruice, are not to bee ſuffered to enioy their liberty to liue idly, but to be imployed and occupied, (as Dauid, when he was young kept his fathers ſheep) and ſet to worke, that they may be maintained thereby: (and ſuch ought to be thankfull when they may goe to it in peace:) ſo they are to bee admitted alſo, and taken into the number of them that worſhip God in the aſſembly, and therefore ought duly to bee brought thither by their gouernours, and taught there to know him. Euen ſuch as cut wood and draw water, the very droyles in houſes, (as they are called) who doe the moſt ſeruile workes: and therefore in ſome countries, ſuch as keepe ſwine, Note.ſheepe, and cattell, which is more baſe then to ſerue them onelyonly, euen theſe I ſay, being of them who are redeemed by the precious blood of Chriſt, as well as other, ſhould be taught to honour God aright, and to liue vnderunder his gouernment, and therefore not ſuffered to liue brutiſhly, as in ſome places they doe, but be brought forth by their parents or rulers, into the congregation of the faithfull, to learne thoſe things that concerne their happineſſe and peace: this being preſuppoſed, that there they ſhall be taught. Which I ſpeake to the ſhame of ſuch maſters, and gouernours, as neuer regard any ſuch matter, neither conſider that they owe that education to them, for the ſeruice they doe them, and the vſe they make of them, and moſt of all, that they owe it them, by the band with which they are tyed to it by Gods commandement: whereas the life of ſuch is as miſerable for their ſoule, as they vnderunder the Turkes gallies for their bodies: yea euen as aſſes who ſpend the day in toyle, and then are thruſt at night into emptie ſtables; ſo are they ſent after their tedious and brutiſh ſeruice, vntounto their wofull home, and at laſt to hell, as a heauie recompence of their labour. Fie therefore vponupon ſuch tyrants. And yet if ſome maſters in conſcience of the commandement, doe (for ſome it may be doe) giuegive them more libertie to goe to the aſſemblie to worſhip God; yet oft times another euill is in the way, that when they come there, they hauehave nothing taught them, ſo that by one meanes or other, all that liſt may ſee they die miſerably: of which ſort, oh that the number were not too great. Thus much of theſe.
The next ſort ſpoken to in this verſe, are they, who dwelling in villages The opening of the next point in verſ. 11and vnwalled townes, were left deſolate, and driuen from their habitations, and they laid waſte, rifled, robbed, and left ruinous by the enemies: this to be the meaning of the ſecond point in this verſe, appeareth cleerely by the beſt tranſlation; theſe ſhe ſaith, might now ſafely returne to their habitations and townes, and make vp their ruines and breaches, and dwell in them againe as before. They were therefore to acknowledge the goodneſſe of God with the reſt, who yet beſide the driuing them from their owne home, were alſo much impoueriſhed, and ſuſtained great loſſe, beſide feare and trouble thereby. And this (beſides the dutie of thanks for our ſafe and conuenient dwelling and harbour) ſhould teach vsus all to bee highly contented, Doct. 2. in verſ. 11.and patiently to beare our impaired and decaied eſtate, when by Gods prouidence, without our fault and negligence, it falleth out to be ſo, ſeeing we cannot be ignorant, that Gods people hauehave had their part in ſuch aduerſities before vsus: alſo loſſes by fire, water, or any other ſpoyling or waſting of our goods, when ſmall likelihood could be ſeene thereof before. For theſe things fall out, and the like changes, where and when God will, for the ſinne of men, as couſonage, deceit, ſecuritie, hypocriſie, wilfull ignorance, worldlineſſe, idleneſſe, delicacie, exceſſe, &c. (which God curſeth ſometimes with beggerie) raſh truſtings, ſuretiſhip, &c. and they ſhould beare their puniſhments, becauſe they hauehave ſinned: and after their repentance, when God Mich. 7. 7.hath ſtaied the plague, they ſhould thankfully, and without murmuring, receiue the remnants of their commodities, if any remaine to them: as wee reade the men of Beniamin did; and not deſperatly and impatiently to leaue Iudg 21. 23.all at ſixe and ſeuen, becauſe they ſee themſelues diſabled from euer recouering their former eſtate: which is a ſigne of a proud heart, refuſing and ſcorning to ſtoope to the Lords hand and viſitation, as Iob himſelfe did, whoſe loſſe yet (we know) was exceeding great. But oh the madnes of men, who Iob 1. 21.when they being occupied about their commodities, are croſſed in them, contrarie to their expectation, they are at their wits end, when the Lord hath taken but that which he lent them. They dreame of an eternitie here, Note.and when they hauehave well feathered their neſt, (as they ſay) they thinke they are well for many yeeres: oh death how vnwelcome art thou to ſuch? nay the ſmalleſt loſſes doe cauſe them to rage and crie out. The Lord therefore ſeeing this, pulleth from one here, and from another there, to acquaint all with changes, and teacheth them thereby, that if there remaine but ſomewhat to them, of the plentie which they ſometime enioyed, ſo that they hauehave not vnthriftily waſted it themſelues, they ſhould be thankfull, as theſe here are willed to be, who full gladly came againe to their ruinous dwellings, from the which they had been driuen by the force of their enemies. And they whoſe hearts cannot bow to yeeld to their afflictions meekely and patiently, but doe rebelliouſly and brutiſhly harden them againſt God for his iuſt corrections, ſhall gaine this thereby, to hauehave them with Iudas broken in peeces with his mallets of terror and deſpaire, to their vtter confuſion. Oh, full little doe ſuch know themſelues, by ſpurning againſt God, to kicke (as it were) againſt pricks. It is Gods merciemercy (as the Prophet ſaith) Lamen. 3. 22.that they are not conſumed: much more then, to giuegive them breathing, being, and liuing, and therefore they ſhould humbly receiue Gods corrections.
The laſt ſort that ſhe calleth to praiſe God, were they that came together in the gates of their cities, where their iudgement ſeates were appointed to be. Theſe meetings had ceaſed, and had been broken off, through the preuailing of their enemies, and now by their deliuerance were frequented againe. What a puniſhment that was, and how great a calamity to the Common wealth, to hauehave execution of law and iuſtice left off, and laid downe, tending ſo neceſſarily to the ſafegard of mens eſtates, or to the maintaining thereof; by the cutting off of malefactors, and the doers of iniurie, as robbers, and ſuch like; how great a plague that was, I ſay, they well know, who are not ignorant, that the whole ſafetie (in a manner) of the Commonwealth, is maintained and vpholden by ſuch due execution of law and iudgement. And for this benefit (that I may come from them to our ſelues) Doct. 3. in verſ. 11.all that liue in the Church and Common-wealth with peace and welfare, hauehave cauſe to magnifie Gods exceeding goodneſſe in that one reſpect. For hereby they liue ſafe and quiet in their houſes, they enioy their goods and commodities, and that which is the greateſt of all other, they may the better hauehave libertie and the benefit of true ſeruing of God, which maketh all the reſt of their liberties ſauourie. And this with the other particular commodities which are enioyed of vsus hereby, is to bee acknowledged to bee great and bountifull, the rather for that ſuch common bleſſings vſually enioyed, are ſeldome reckoned of vsus to be thanke worthie. And among thoſe who went out and in at the gates, we may vnderſtand all other, who either paſſed through, for their profit, pleaſure, or for any other neceſſarie vſe and cauſe, which libertie all may conceiue how great it was, and therefore both they then, and we now who enioy the ſame libertie, muſt hold our ſelues infinitly bound to praiſe God in this behalfe.
And now we hauehave heard how Debora hath called all ſorts to the praiſing of God, and that euen for ſuch benefits as are in little account with vsus, no nor thought of, how great they be, let it warne vsus of one common fault, that we be more mindfull hereafter of Gods goodneſſe, in his miniſtring to our vſe, the daily benefits which he beſtoweth on vsus for this preſent life, then we are wont to be: as the ſunne-ſhine and the raine; the peaceable following of our callings within doores and without; the vttering and exchange of our commodities; our ſafe dwelling from danger of enemies, and the benefit of mill and market. And what ſhall I ſay elſe? as for our freedome from forrain enemies, and our trauel without danger, from place to place, with other that are innumerable: which though we hauehave thē in great part in common with the vnreaſonable creatures, yet without them we know our life ſhould be deadly weariſome to vsus, yea none at al. I ſay it is certaine that theſe common bleſſings, and many other ſuch are not acknowledged of numbers through the ſeuen yeers together, which ſhould bee remembred (one or other of them, I meane) oft times eueryevery day: which if it ought to be in theſe common benefits now mentioned, (which yet are but tranſitory;) then what cauſe had the Apoſtle, in reſpect of all together, which ſerue for his life, and that which is to come, to charge vsus in all things to bee thankfull? And 1. Theſ. 5. 19.by this that all ſorts are heere ſpoken to by the Propheteſſe; it teacheth that all ſorts of men, and particular perſons among them, are to know that they muſt anſwere to God for themſelues about thankes, euen as elſewhere eueryevery man is commanded to walke in his particular calling, and the duties therof. For ſo ſaith the Apoſtle in the firſt epiſtle to the Corinthians; Let eueryevery man abide in the ſame vocation wherein hee was called. But it followeth 1. Cor. 7. 20.in the text.
Verſ. 12. Vp Debora, vp, ariſe and ſing a ſong: ariſe Barak, and leade thy captiuity captiue, thou ſonne of Abinoam.
13. For they that remaine, hauehave dominion ouer the mighty of the people: the Lord hath giuen me dominion ouer the ſtrong.
NOw that Debora hath called all the people of Iſrael to thankeſgiuing for The ſenſe of theſe two verſe. 12. 13.the victorie, in the three former verſes, ſhee ſtirreth vp her ſelfe in this twelfth verſe by an elegant figure, that other might bee whetted on by her example to doe the ſame. And ſhe calleth Barak to triumph, and with a certaine pompe to make a ſhew of his enemies captiuity and conqueſt: which was to the great honor of God, when all might vnderſtand, that the Canaanites were for the moſt part ſlaine, and they that remained aliue, were priſoners to the Hebrues, who were moſt like a little before to be chopped to pieces of them & other of Gods enemies. In the 13. verſe ſhe amplifieth the victorie by another compariſon of the conquerers, with thoſe who were conquered: theſe hauing been valiant, wiſe, and well prouided: but that they ouercame them; namely, the Iſraelites were but as a remnant, and yet baſe and contemptible. This is the ſumme of theſe two verſes.
Out of her prouoking of her ſelfe to praiſe God, as if ſhee had been much Doct. 1. out of verſ. 12.behinde in that dutie, when yet ſhe had been commendable therein, as wee hauehave heard, and had alſo vrged other thereto; wee may ſee that this hath been the manner and courſe of Gods people, to thinke they could neuer do enough in praiſing God, when they hauehave entred ſeriouſly into conſideration of his goodneſſe, but euer thought themſelues cold and backward in reſpect of that they ought to hauehave been. Doubtleſſe the due weighing of the cauſe, made her ſtil to ſee more and more into Gods admirable kindnes, till ſhe was aſhamed of her vnthankfulneſſe. But ſome will ſay, all cannot be as Debora was: it is well if we can be thankfull when we be prouoked by others, they ſay, and by good meanes, as by the word, &c. To which I anſwere, It is cleare indeed, wee come behinde her in the duty; but is there not enough to moue vsus to be equall to her, yea to excell her therein? Shee is thus thankfull for the victorie, wee hauehave no need nor cauſe to fight: ſhee praiſeth God for peace recouered with the hazard and danger of ten thouſand men, we enioy ours without putting it into queſtion: ſhee, for bodily bleſſing, we hauehave infinite to the maintenance of health and welfare, then the which what could ſhee hauehave more for this preſent life? beſides many that are ſpirituall to ſeaſon the other, and yet wee come ſhort of her in thankfulneſſe neuertheleſſe. And that which I hauehave ſaid of Debora, the ſame we may ſee in Dauid, Anna, and others. Hee in the Pſalme, hauing none equall to him in the performing of that duty, affirming that hee would doe it three times, nay ſeuen times a day, and that hee would doe it openly in the congregation, and priuately by himſelfe; yet as though hee had much forgot himſelfe, and had waxen dull, and been behind other therein, hee quickeneth vp himſelfe to it, ſaying; O my ſoule, praiſe thou the Lord, and al that is within Pſal. 103. 1.me, praiſe his holy name. Hee ſtirreth vp himſelfe, wee ſee, to bee feruenter, when yet he was very forward before. Which I ſpeake not, as if both he and other Gods beſt ſeruants and moſt feruent, did not feele oftentimes a kind of ſleepy deadneſſe in them to good duties, and remiſſeneſſe of ſpirit creeping vponupon them, (as it is certaine they doe, ſeeing they carry that corruption about them, which will oft cauſe a wearineſſe in them of well doing for the time,) but they hauing a greater power of grace working in them to ſubdue it, they gather vp and ſtirre themſelues againe by ſuch occaſion, to more earneſtneſſe, and ſo finde themſelues refreſhed (by a new meditation of their ſlackneſſe) with double courage to ſet vponupon their duties. And to that end they helpe and ſharpen on themſelues, as Dauid and Debora did; and ſometime are ſupported by other, as we ſee Moſes his weake hands were faine to Exod. 17. 12.be holden vp by Aaron and Hur againſt Amalek By this we ſee a manifeſt difference betwixt them and the wicked: who though (as they ſay) they like well of prayer, and hearing, and of thankeſgiuing: yet they profeſſe they cannot endure nor away with ſuch continuall ſeruice; affirming where that is vrged that men ſhall neuer hauehave done. For as they who beleeue how greatly they are beholding to God for his goodneſſe, do charge themſelues with their vnthankfulneſſe, euen when they are forwarder then the moſt; conſidering they are then but vnprofitable ſeruants: ſo the other are ready to poſt it off to others, as teſtifying thereby, that they be more beholding to God then they hold themſelues to be, and thinke eueryevery little to bee enough that they are to doe to God, yea and that a word and away may ſerue the turne; euen very froth it is that they offer to him, a mocking, no ſacrifice: the heart neuer enclining (for it cannot) to any ſuch thing.Rom. 8. 7.
Another thing in this verſe is concerning Barak, and that is, that hee ſhould in a ſhew and with ſolemne pomp ſet out the conqueſt and victorie The elearing of the next part of the verſe.which God had giuen them ouer their enemies. Which though after the victory in warre, it was vſed to bee done by the Heathens ouer ſuch as they conquered, to the priding of themſelues, and the vttermoſt diſgrace of them that were ſubdued; yet this was (we ſee) ſpoken by the Propheteſſe, to the end that God might hauehave honour therby; for one end ſhe propounded, both of his act, and of her owne; and that was, the giuing of honour to the Lord. For the ſeeking of a mans owne glory, is no glory, but a taking it Prou. 25. 27. Doct. 2. in verſ. 12.from God, and a prouoking of him thereby. Nay, where men would thinke that it as a due deſert to them; yet euen there let them beware that they take it not; but let vsus all acknowledge Gods goodneſſe with thankfulneſſe, for that he will vſe our ſeruice to the honouring of his name. But to fleſh and pride our ſelues in the yoking and ſubduing of our enemies, this were no better then the act of Adonibezek, who moſt cruelly cut off the thumbs of the hands and feet of ſeuenty Kings, and made them as dogs, to eat bread vnderunder his table, that hee might glorie in their extreme reproch and ſhame. This act of triumph was common to the people of God with the Heathen, but not done in ſo prophane and common a manner. And as it hath been in war, ſo the like in ſome ſort we ſee at this day in the time of peace, that tehre are of al ſorts who hauing ſutes and controuerſies depending betwixt them, get the day of their aduerſary, and doe bring the one the other to a meane and poore eſtate; I ſpeake of ſuch as contend lawfully, and hauing a good cauſe, and right on their ſide, they preuaile by order of iuſtice one againſt the other, and doe in a certaine manner triumph thereby. But what then? In all this the one beareth as hee is more graciouſly ſeaſoned then another, a lowly mind, and remembreth (though he hauehave the better hand, and other wealth beſide,) whence hee came, who ſet him vp, and why; that is, not to glory fooliſhly of his welfare ouer his aduerſary, but to be thankfull to God, and therefore is moderate and ſober in the vſe of all ſuch liberties, and more fruitfull in doing good. The other vſeth them to pride himſelfe, to ſcorne others, to boaſt of his ſucceſſe, and to be more impudent, prophane, and lawleſſe. Both theſe triumph ouer their aduerſary; but the one in good manner as not glorying that he hath gotten the victorie of himſelfe, or by his owne ſtrength, the other moſt vnbeſeemingly, being a ſlaue, and peſant to his vnbridled luſts, and glorying in the pride of life.
The reaſon of honouring God by them both, Debora and Barak I meane, Verſ. 13.is ſet downe by her in this verſe; and that was, ſeeing the Lord had wrought wonderfully for them, and giuen many men, euen an huge army, into the hands of a few; and valiant and noble warriers he had cauſed to be ſubdued by them, that were but weake and meane. And though ſhee aſcribe it in the firſt part of the verſe, vntounto the perſons; yet that we may know that ſhe ment them to be but the inſtruments onelyonly appointed by God to get the victory, therefore in the latter part of the verſe, ſhe maketh the Lord the cauſe of it, ſaying, that he made them able to obtaine, and ſo to preuaile ouer them.
And ſo we (dearely beloued) when the like falleth out to vsus, that God by ſmall meanes worketh great things for vsus, let vsus learne before to be ready to ſee and acknowledge it. For example, when the Lord ſhall aſſwage the extremities Note.of his ſeruants, either in paine, ſickneſſe, feare of vtter vndoing, or in the cruelty of their enemies, whereas none ſaw how they might bee like to recouer themſelues any more; as when all helpe and hope by manward is paſt; when he (I ſay) ſhal then ſhew his helpe, that was not in any likelihood to hauehave been looked for, is it not time to behold his great goodneſſe and wonder at it with due praiſes? His preuenting of that notorious Gun-powder treaſon, with the remouall of many great enemies of his people, when death onelyonly was like to hauehave done it (God knoweth when) and that in our remembrance, ſince the entering in of our late deceiſed Queene of bleſſed memorie, and the Kings Maieſty, (whom God inable to tread them vnderunder his feet) what thankes doe theſe worthily require of vsus?
Moreouer, to ſee the fruit of this Goſpell, which is for the moſt part ſo contemptible in the world; what great things it doth in ſubduing the ſtony hearts of many vntounto the power of it, and in changing them, (though for the great cumpaſſe of the land, and the long time that it hath bin preached, we may and ought to lament, that it hath preuailed with no more, yet that grace that the ſincere preaching of it hath wrought in many thouſands, is to be remembred, thought vponupon, and acknowledged, to Gods eternall praiſe. Euen as in all ages God hath done wonderfully, I meane, great things by ſmall meanes; as in caſting downe the walles of Iericho by ſeuen daies compaſſing it with blowing trumpets of Rammes hornes. Alſo his inabling Gedeon with three hundred men to ouerthrow an armie of the Midianites, who as graſhoppers couered the face of the earth. And Dauid with his ſling to conquer great Goliah. But I muſt heere cut off, ſeeing the verſes following are many, and muſt be handled together.