Commentary on Judges, Sermon 34
THE THIRTY FOVRE SERMON ON THE FIFTH CHAPTER OF THE BOOKE OF IVDGES.
Verſ. 19. The Kings came and fought, then fought the Kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo: they receiued no gaine of money.
Verſ. 20. They fought from heauen, euen the ſtarres in the… courſes fought againſt Siſera.
Verſ. 21. The riuer Kiſhon ſwept them away, that ancient riuer, the riuer Kiſhon. O my ſoule thou haſt marched valiantly.
Verſ. 22. Then were the horſe hoofes broken with the beating together of their mightie men.
IN theſe words is contained the ſecond point or branch of The ſenſe of theſe foure verſes.the ſecond part of the chapter, wherein Debora ſetteth downe the manner of the battell on the behalfe of the enemies, namely, that they came ſolemnely to fight, and well prouided; accompanied with Kings, both of Canaan and other countries, to furniſh and adorne the armies: and yet for all that, they fought vnproſperouſly and vnhappily, and had very hard ſucceſſe. For the Lord fought againſt them from heauen; the riuers and waters ſwallowed them vp, and ſwept them away: and their horſes were vnhoofed. Now when they were fought againſt all theſe waies, they were ſcattered & fell before Iſrael, in wonderfull manner, for all the multitude & ſhew of them. This vnproſperous fighting of theirs, is ſet down by her, firſt generally in the 19. verſe, & then more particularly in the next three; as ſhall appeare when we come to them. In the 19. verſe thus; by a figure whereby (not without a bitter vpbraiding of them) ſhe intimateth more then ſhe expreſſeth. They receiued no gaine of money: nay, they ioſt all, and Iſrael enioyed a rich ſpoile. The like figure is vſed in the Pſalme: A broken heart thou wilt not deſpiſe, that is, Thou wilt make Pſal. 51. 17.great account of it. The phraſe it ſelfe, as we vſe it, (for it is a nipping ſcoffe) is as much, as if ſhe had ſaid, they might put the gaines in their eyes, &c.
In this verſe alſo ſhe ſheweth the pompe and multitude of the enemies, Verſe 19.and how they filled all the plaine betwixt mount Tabor, and the townes of Taanach and Megiddo, euen to their riuers running by them, which were called by the ſame names; this (I ſay) Debora doth as well declare, as how ill they ſped, namely, that they got not that which they ſought and looked for, I meane, the ouerthrow and ſpoile of the Iſraelites: nay rather, they were miſerably ſpoiled and diſtroyed themſelues. By the which, two things may be noted: One, that wee may ſee the glorie of wicked men, floriſhing like the greene bay tree. I ſay, of wicked men, (for otherwiſe, I grant, godly perſons may be honourable and great) and we may ſee alſo that this their glorie reacheth, as it were, to the very cloudes, as wee reade in the Pſalme: yea Pſal. 37 35.and that in the time of warre, as here, which yet can in no wiſe ſhew it, as the times of peace may: yea, and that for their glorie they may be ſholed with Princes, and be almoſt companions with Kings: theſe, I ſay, and ſuch like, we may poſſibly ſee, as terrors to daunt and grieue vsus; for the aduancement of them, is heauineſſe and matter of hanging downe the head to the righteous. And w…t of this, you may ſay, when this may bee ſeene? and why ſhall it be thus▪ Surely, that Gods people may not hauehave their eyes dazeled with their pompe and glorie, when they ſhall ſee them pulled from it; but that they may hereby be weaned and eſtranged the more, from the dangerous and poyſoned baites that would hurt them, as they hauehave done the other, but by faith …ee their downfall euen in the middeſt of their glorie, and while they to their hearts deſire enioy all outward things, and all becauſe they are the Lords ranke enemies. Secondly, that they may cleaue to God more faithfully, and alſo waite more conſtantly to ſee the glorie of ſuch turned to ſhame, if they preuent it not by repentance. And let this be the vſe of this firſt thing vntounto vsus.
The ſecond that I note here is this, (according to that in the Prouerbs) that the wicked doe not alwaies roſte that which they get in hunting: that is, they 2 Prou. 12. 27.doe not alwaies attaine to that, which they promiſe themſelues in the earneſt deſire of their hearts; and whereof they hauehave great likelihood, as well as hope: but God cutteth them off from it, to their great vexation and diſappointment: yea, and the godly ſhall ſee it, and triumph, as Debora did here, and Iſrael ouer Pharao. For though that be true, that they are fatted here, and hauehave more then they might looke for, (which yet they hauehave but to their deſtruction) yet, that the righteous may not enuie them, but ſee that the Lord takes their part againſt them, and leſt the proud themſelues ſhould thinke there is no God that ſeeth them, they are croſſed in their purpoſes, and many times when they hope for that which they would moſt willingly enioy, the Lord fruſtrateth and mocketh them, as he did the King of Aram, 2. King. 6. 12.when all his ſecret plots and purpoſes againſt the King of Iſrael, were bewraied to him by the Prophet Eliſha, and hee ſheweth them thereby, that they hauehave him not alwaies at their commandement: as neither can they goe about any of their attempts, without his ſufferance. That it may be verified, that (when none elſe can) yet euen then God reſiſteth the proud. And as the Lord thus matcheth and diſappointeth them, when it ſeemeth good to him, in their common dealings, that they attaine not that which they aime at, and looke for; ſo eſpecially when they fight againſt God, and play the giants againſt heauen like Nebuchadnezzar: and when their inſolencie vttereth it ſelfe againſt the poore Church of God, (as many of them chuſe this as the fitteſt obiect to vomit their poyſon vponupon) then the Lord in an anſwerable manner riſeth vp and ſcatters them; lookes downe from heauen, and laughs them to ſcorne, and ſcatters them: for why? they banded themſelues againſt his annointed.
For example ſake, though the Scripture be full of ſuch, let theſe two at this time ſuffice. The one is of them that would build a citie that ſhould Gen. 11. 4.reach vp to heauen, to get them a name, the Lord ſet himſelfe againſt them, caſt downe their building, and called the name thereof Babell, that is, confuſion. For what a pride was in them, and to what had it been like to hauehave growne, if God had let them alone, and ſuffered their worke to goe forward? The other example is of Haman, who being ſo inward with the king, Eſter 7 10.and aduanced by him, when he looked yet to riſe higher, he was, vnlooked for, caſt downe from all his dignitie, when his ſhame was made ſutable to Note.his glorie. And thus (as it fared here with Siſera) in ſtead of great ſucceſſes and increaſings of their purpoſes and dignities, they are not defeated thereof only, but are faine to loſe that which they enioyed before; the Lord making their ambition, the next meane of their ouerthrow. So God deales with many; of whom, ſome riſing out of the dunghill to great wealth and honour, not only are ioynted otherwiſe oftentimes, but when they want nothing but life and length of daies, to enioy their floriſhing eſtate ſtill; behold, euen that way he meeteth with them, and by death, ſomtime reprochfull enough, but to be ſure, with paine and woe enough, beſides that after their going hence, hee cuts them off from all their iolitie, as it were, at one blow. And who, fearing God, might hauehave liued by them, if they could hauehave prolonged their daies?
This be ſaid of the 19. verſe, and in generall of their ill proſpering againſt Verſe 20.Iſrael, in their fighting: now more particularly, Debora ſheweth in this verſe, that euen from heauen, that is, from the higher region of the aire, the ſtarres and planets raiſed the raine and the winde in their faces, yea the haile and tempeſts to fight againſt Siſera, ſo that thereby God ſhewed himſelfe to be againſt him, all his preparation and furniture of charets, horſes and men ſeruing him to no purpoſe, but diſappointing him. This teacheth vsus, that when God will both heauen and earth, and the powers of both, ſhall fight againſt Doct. verſ. 20. Leuit 26 19. Exod. 14. 28.Gods enemies, euen as all the plagues written in the booke of God, doe at his commandement, ſeaze vponupon, and torment them. So the haile from aboue ſlew Gods enemies, and the Sunne ſtood ſtill to that end: ſo froſts Ioſh. 10. 11. 12.and floods, plague and tamine, with other ſuch, hauehave in our time fought againſt them from God. I hauehave handled this point more largely before, I will onelyonly anſwere one obiection in this place. It is obiected, that the godly Obiect.ſuſtaine the forementioned iudgements and the like, as well as the wicked: therefore when ſhall wee be able to proue and ſay, the Lord in laies them vponupon his enemies, as if he aimed at that alone? For Iob had his ſheepe and ſeruants burnt vp and deuoured by fire from heauen, as if Satan would Iob 1. 16.thereby hauehave perſwaded him, that God himſelf made warre with him from thence: his body was alſo ſmitten with ſore byles, from the ſole of his foote vntounto the crowne of his head, and he tooke a potſheard to ſcrape him. I anſwere, that God ſendeth theſe and the like to his children, as trials, or corrections Anſw.to heale them of ſome dangerous diſeaſe, as pride, looſenes, worldlineſſe, &c. but to his enemies, as ſcourges for their wicked liues, to begin their helliſh torments here; and as this euer true, ſo if their ſinnes be manifeſt, wee may ſo iudge of the particular offenders that he meaneth no leſſe toward them, and that without any feare of iniurying them, vnleſſe they repent.
The next particular aſſiſtant to Iſrael, that is ſaid to hauehave fought againſt Verſe 21.Siſera, was the riuer Kiſhon: which though it was not vſually deep, yet now the waters roſe higher, and ouerflowed the bankes, and was ſpred out further: and becauſe both the armies met there by, therefore it is deſcribed by her, the riuer of mettings, namely of both the armies, for the word is better tranſlated ſo, then as ſome doe tranſlate it the anctent riuer, and by an elegant repetition of the word, ſheweth that it drowned and carried away many of the enemies, euen as the duſt and other filthineſſe is ſwept out of an houſe with a broo…e. Not that all were ſlaine that way, which could not be, when the men were many, and the place not large, but that many flying, were there deſtroyed. And this being a thing neither feared of the enemies, nor made reckoning of by Gods people, doth worthily teach vsus, that when we walke vprightly with God, he cauſeth many things to lend their helpe to vsus, which wee neuer thought of, nor looked for; and not onelyonly perſons to be kinde to vsus, but alſo other commodities, comforts, and incouragements to meete with vsus: yea the very places where we dwell, and whither we come. And the very ſame things which hauehave been fatall and deadly enemies to others, to be helpfull, and as it were, made friendly vntounto vsus.
Iacob thus being faithfull to the Lord, hee inriched him greatly, ouer hee euer looked for, or ſaw likelihood of, but rather of the contrary: and ſo dealt he with his father Iſaac before him, being among ſtrangers in the land. And ſo he prouideth for many of his deare ſeruants, who comming ſtrangers to Note.a place, where it was little likely to get, either grace, knowledge, or other commodities, he hath yet by giuing them honeſt and good hearts, bleſſed them otherwiſe, with louelove and fauour of the beſt, with a ſweete life, inward peace, growing in goodneſſe, fruite of prayers and other holy labours, with contentment, and ſuch like; that it may for euer worthily perſwade all to get into Gods ſeruice, and to be vpright hearted toward him, ſeeing godlineſſe 1. Tim. 1. 12.bringeth ſo many and great commodities. But of this I ſpake ſomewhat before alſo. But on the contrary it may be ſaid, that when men ſeeke not the Lord with all their heart, neither be carefull that their waies may pleaſe him; they not only proſper not long, (which yet they were as like to attaine to as the moſt) but they loſe euen that which they had, and are toſſed about with many calamities, and with this, as the greateſt of all, that when God frowneth vponupon them, they beleeue it not: the danger whereof may eaſily be gathered by the drunkard, in the Prouerbs; who was ſtricken, he ſaid, for his ſinne and the fruites of it, whoredome and ſuch like, but hee was not ſicke; Prou. 23. 35.he was beaten, but hee knew not, therefore he would follow his ſinne yet ſtill.
The ſpeech vttered by Debora, [O my ſoule thou haſt marched valiantly or, 2as it is in the Hebrew, O my ſoule thou haſt trod downe ſtrength, namely of the enemies, which we know was very great. If wee take it in the firſt ſenſe, ſhe triumpheth in a generall manner through the courage and furtherance that God gaue her: if in the latter it is the ſame, but more particularly ſhe ſpeaketh to her ſoule reioycingly, that ſhe had trode vnderunder foote might and ſtrength, ſeeing God had armed her with power againſt ſo great enemies, as if ſhe ſhould ſay, that therefore ſhe need to feare the power of none hereafter, God being ſtill with her. Both affoord this worthie inſtruction, that when wee hauehave ſeene that God hath giuen vsus great deliuerance while wee truſted in him, as ſhe heere did, wee ſhould for euerafter promiſe our ſelues 2. Chron. 16. 8.that hee will doe the like to vsus ſtill, ſeeking to him in the like manner, that ſo Note. Rom. 5. 4.we may harten our ſelues to beleeue it. This agreeth with Saint Pauls doctrine, that experience bringeth hope: and with his practiſe, ſaying, God hath 2. Cor. 1. 10.deliuered vsus, doth deliuer vsus, in whom wee truſt that yet hereafter alſo, hee will deliuer vsus. And doubleſſe this experience is the proper fruit which faith bringeth forth, without which what were our life? wee are not freed from all affliction, becauſe we hauehave eſcaped one: but we remaine ſtill ſubiect to the ſame, or the like: and what ſhall it boot vsus to hauehave been ouercommers in the one, if we be foiled by another, (as we may eaſily be, euen by a leſſer, without this armour) through vnbeleefe, when before through faith wee ouercame a greater. Surely, no more then it ſhould hauehave booted Dauid to hauehave killed the Beare, if he had been ſlaine by the Lion, or the Philiſtim. And therefore learne hence, that though we ought to beleeue in him for his promiſe ſake; yet we much better doe it (or ought to doe) when we hauehave a pawne lying by vsus, I meane experience of the truth of it: but hard is the caſe of them who hauehave neither of both.
The third thing that made the Canaanites fight vnproſperouſly againſt Verſ. 22.Iſrael, was the breaking of their horſe hoofes with the oft beating together of the mighty. The horſe hoofes are naturally moſt ſound and ſtrong, ſo that they be not eaſily cleft aſunder, nor broken: but they ranne heere with ſuch violence in that skirmiſh to ſaue themſelues, and ſo ſmote one againſt another, that they broke their hoofes. In which caſe wee know, that they could neither ſit their horſes to purſue their enemies; neither ſhift for themſelues by flying. This moſt liuely teacheth vsus, that no man ſhould truſt in his owne ſtrength, nor in the ſtrength of an horſe, in charrets, or in riches, no not in Princes power, nor in any earthly thing whatſoeuer. It is as eaſie for the Lord now to leaue men, and diſappoint them in their vaine confidence of young yeeres, great wealth, hope of long life, or ſuch like, as it was to plucke off Pharaohs chariot wheeles, and heere to breake the horſes hoofes of the Canaanites, and ſo to bring vponupon them deſtruction thereby. Thus we hauehave heard in this ſecond branch of this ſecond part of this chapter, how hard and ill ſucceſſe the Canaanites had in this battell.
Verſ. 23. Curſe ye Meroz (ſaid the Angell of the Lord) curſe the inhabitants thereof; becauſe they came not to the helpe of the Lord, to the helpe of the Lord againſt the mighty.
24. Iael the wife of Heber the Kenite ſhall be bleſſed aboue other women, bleſſed ſhall ſhe be aboue women dwelling in tents.
25. He asked water, and ſhe gaue him milke, ſhe brought forth butter in a lordly diſh.
26. She put her hand to the naile, and her right hand to the workemans hammer: with the hammer ſmote ſhe Siſera, ſhe ſmote off his head, after ſhe had wounded and pierced his temples.
27. He bowed him downe at her feete, hee fell downe, and lay ſtill at her feet, hee bowed him downe, and fell: and when he had ſunke downe, he lay there dead.
IN theſe verſes and this part of the ſong followeth the third and laſt The ſenſe of theſe 5. verſes.branch of the ſecond part of the chapter; wherein Debora firſt ſetteth downe the wrath of God againſt ſuch as refuſed to helpe in the worke of the Lord, as were the Merozites; and that ſhee doth in this 23. verſe. And then ſhe declareth the fauour of God toward them that helped therein, (beſides thoſe who were in the battell) as Iael, and this ſhe doth in the other 4. verſes. More particularly in this 23. verſe ſhe calleth all in her ſong to curſe this city with her; for that it being neare the place where the battell was, yet the inhabitants thereof refuſed to helpe their brethren, being called thereto, and requeſted. The other tribes before mentioned had ſome kind of excuſing themſelues, neither were deſired, though they knew of it; but theſe beheld and yet would not ſet hand to helpe; therefore they are thus dealt with. But ſeeing it might be thought to come of ſtomacke and reuenge, that ſhee pronounced ſuch ſharpe threats againſt them; therefore ſhe ſaith, the Angell of God bad her ſing ſo.
And thereafter we are to learne what we may doe about cursing: that it Verſ 23.is in no ſort lawfull for vsus to curſe any man, for to ſatisfie our owne reuenging mindes. For when we deale in our owne matters, we muſt louelove our enemies; and as our Sauiour teacheth, bleſſe them that curſe vsus: but if God it Mat 5. 44.any time ſhew that hee will hauehave any to bee deſtroyed, they who know his will, they are to approue the ſame. This is the harder to learne, becauſe that corruption which lurketh in vsus, and is chained vp from notorious breaking out willingly, ſeeking the opportunity and pretence of zeale to ſhrowde it ſelfe vnderunder; euen as a ſecret traitor ſeeing the dore open which leadeth to the Princes chamber, dare not goe in alone, but waiteth till ſome of the nobles or guard paſſeth in, and in that company he cunningly conueyeth himſelfe to worke miſchiefe. Pray we for grace therefore to watch the dore of our lips, through which many good words of bleſſing paſſe: and let vsus beware that no curſed ſpeech paſſe by alſo, vnderunder what colour ſoeuer. And thus did Dauid, directed by God, and other of the faithful, who curſed Gods Iam. 2. 10. 11.enemies, as in the Pſalme: who yet as they were, did otherwiſe in kind affection, and the ſame not euill, bewaile them. As Samuel, and Ieremy, and our Pſal. 109. 6. &c.Sauiour, did bewaile and weepe for the deſtruction of wicked men; wherin we hauehave no doubt but they pleaſed God. Now to ſuch as demand what they ſhall doe to them who vexe the godly, and rage againſt the Goſpell? the anſwere is, that we are to pray God to change their minds, or to weaken their power, that they may not be able to doe the euill they would: and if this be not granted, then wee muſt craue ſtrength to beare that which wee muſt goe vnderunder.
And heere wee muſt further learne, on the contrary, by the example of theſe of Meroz, to obey God, calling vsus to any duty, as they did, who followed Debora and Barak; and to helpe thoſe that are in want and need; eſpecially if they follow their calling, contrary to that which theſe men of Meroz, and the people of Peniel and Succoth, in the ſeuenth chapter did, who denied to refreſh Gedeon & his men, as they purſued his enemies and theirs. But if theſe were pitifully handled, and the men of Meroz curſed for not helping their brethren; what thinke we ſhall be done to them, who not onelyonly helpe not the ſeruants of Chriſt, but vexe, grieue and oppreſſe them? And if no other thing can diſſwade them from ſuch a courſe, yet let this; that they themſelues are euer like daily to bee taken hence by death: then ſhall Note.they come to their accounts, as they ſee on eueryevery ſide many to be, who were as vnlike as they; and while they remaine here, they ſhall hauehave God againſt them, who hath profeſſed that hee will bee an enemy to thoſe that are enemies to his. And this of Meroz briefly, for in ſo long a worke I am vnwilling to repeate the ſame thing often.
Now ſhe calleth all Gods people to bleſſe and wiſh well to Iael, as one Verſe 24.bleſſed among other women of her linage and kindred, who dwelt in tents, as the Kenites did; and repeateth the words for more force. Thus the Lord would hauehave her commended vntounto all poſteritie, to the rouzing vp of other, who are ſlack and backward in all good things, that when they ſhall ſee that God doth ſo highly account of the readineſſe of ſome in his buſineſſe, other may be quickned to the ſame care in well doing. For were this deeply imprinted in mens hearts, and throughly perſwaded to thē, and often thought of, that God knoweth their workes, and is a plentifull rewarder of all that Heb. 11. 6.ſeeke to pleaſe him, they would be much more forward, eueryevery one in the things which are commanded him. But of this I hauehave ſpoke alſo by occaſion offered, before.
Here Debora commendeth the wiſedome of Iael, but ſuch as proceeded Verſe 25.from faith in her, that ſhe called Siſera into her tent, and couered him, and gaue him drinke fit to caſt him into a ſleepe. And in that it is ſaid, ſhe gaue him butter alſo in a lordly diſh; it is likely that ſhe offered food to him, that he might drinke the more liberally. By all theſe ſhe made way the more eaſily for that ſhe afterward brought to paſſe. By this example we are taught to be wiſe and circumſpect in the things we goe about. For though it be requiſite that they bee lawfull, yet if wee bee not circumſpect, and doe not forecaſt inconueniences, and to doe them in ſeaſon, and fit time, good manner, and to the right end, there may much griefe, diſcommodity, and inconuenience follow, which will much diſquiet vsus: and through raſhnes and improuidence, wee may bring that to an ill end, which yet was lawfully taken in hand of vsus. As if men will embrace religion, yet they walke looſly and lightly. Rebecca when ſhe ſaw that Iacob her deare ſonne was deadly hated of his Gen. 27. 43.brother Eſau, and that hee ſought opportunitie to kill him, did not onelyonly keepe him out of the way (for ſo he might one time or other hauehave had his will of him as Cain had of his brother Abel) but auoided many dangers at once, by ſending him into a far countrey to her fathers houſe (from whence ſhe came) to dwell there (though it was hard for her to forbeare the ſight of him any long time) euen with her brother Laban in Padam Aram. And why? ſhe knew that in that ſpace the wrath of his brother would be abated, as ſhe alſo ſaid. A wiſe part therefore it was in her, in that weightie matter. And the wiſedome of Abigall in preſeruing her houſe, which the fooliſhnes 1. Sam. 25. 28.of Nabal had otherwiſe deſtroyed, was as commendable. And ſuch wiſedome to preſerue our liues, goods, credit, grace, and inward peace therewith to preuent dangers, and auoide many needleſſe troubles, is a great furtherance to liue well, and to make our liues more fruitful to other, and comfortable to our ſelues. OnelyOnly take wee heed that we aſcribe naught to our Note.wit, and that we perke not aboue that which is meete: but in all humilitie ſerue we Gods prouidence, and ſo we ſhall finde it no ſmall benefit to be free from careleſneſſe, raſhnes, and fooliſhnes, which throughout our life cauſe much euill and griefe, which are vnwelcome. About this ſee more in chapter 3. 15.
Debora here addeth to the wiſedome of Iael, her courage and fortitude. Verſe 26. The ſenſe.For was it not a point of courage for a woman to ſet vponupon ſo valiant a Captaine, as Siſera was? and to take the naile in one hand, and the hammer in the other, (it ſeemeth other weapons were not at hand) and to aduenture to ſtrike them into the temples of his head, as he lay? For what though he was aſleepe? might hee not at the firſt blow hauehave ſtarted and riſen vp with the paine, and ſo hauehave ouerthrowne her in his rage, and that a great deale more likely then to hauehave receiued his deadly wound at her hand? The very forme therefore, and being of this fortitude, was no manniſhnes, or ſtoutnes of courage by nature, (for of that we can ſay nothing) but only faith.
And in this laſt verſe of this third point, in this ſecond part of the chapter; The ſenſe of verſe 27.when hee was almoſt ſlaine, Debora ſetteth downe certaine motions, which appeare in ſuch as hauehave their deadly blow by violent death. For he being ſo wounded, his body through extremitie of paine, bowed twice or thrice. For he went about to riſe: but hauing no ſtrength, he fell downe againe, and lay miſerably at the feete of Iael. And thus God brought proud Siſera to ſhame, and to a fearfull end, though ſo valiant a Captaine, and that by the hand of a woman.
Now what ſhall wee ſay to this? Surely it teacheth, that when God will doe ſome great thing by any, he will alſo fit and inable them thereunto. Euen Saul himſelfe had an heart giuen him furniſhed with gifts for gouernment, when God had once called him. Moſes when hee ſhould be ſent to 1. Sam. 10. 9. Exod. 3. 11. & 10. 26.Pharao, to carrie the people of Iſrael out of Egypt, how did hee complaine and diſable himſelfe? but when God had furniſhed him, hee waxed bold. The Virgin Mary, when word was brought her, that ſhe ſhould be the mother Luke 1 35.of our Sauiour, anſwered with aſtoniſhment; How can this thing be, ſeeing I know not a man? But when it was told her by the Angell, the holy Ghoſt ſhall come vponupon thee, and the power of the moſt high ſhall ouer ſhadow thee: therefore alſo that holy thing that ſhall be borne of thee, ſhall be called the ſonne of God; Then Mary ſaid, Behold the ſeruant of the Lord, be it vntounto me according to thy word.
The examples are infinite, that may be brought to this purpoſe. But I will containe my ſelfe, adding onelyonly this one, how ſhould the Apoſtles, being poore fiſhermen, doe ſo great a worke, as to ſubdue the greateſt part of the world to their doctrine? which was as if a man would hauehave vndertaken to tame the wilde beaſts in the wilderneſſe: But by Chriſts ſending them the moſt powerfull gifts of the holy Ghoſt; as the confirming of their faith, the increaſe of knowledge, courage in paines taking and to withſtand their enemies, the gift of tongues, and of working miracles, wee ſee it came ſo to paſſe. And though ſuch things be not wrought in theſe daies, as neither is it neceſſarie that ſuch ſhould now be wrought; yet many of the ordinarie workes which God will hauehave to be done by his, in this latter age, are great and not to be paſſed ouer ſlightly.
For how vnlike a thing is it, for a priuate man or woman, who hauehave no other outward gifts of God, to ſpeake of, but onelyonly this, that they can reade the Scriptures in their owne language; how vnlike is it, I ſay, that ſuch liuing among people of moſt prophane and bad behauiour, ſhould not bee Note.tainted with them, and defiled by them; as he that toucheth pitch? Nay, that they being baited, diſgraced, and ſcorned of them, (as they are in many places) ſhould not faint and be diſcouraged by them, and driuen from their hope, and profeſſion of it, but that they ſhould walke on in the vprightnes of their hearts, and innocencie of their hands, ſo farre and ſo long, till their light ſo ſhining, doth lighten ſome of theſe which hated them, who ſat long in darknes, and cauſe them to embrace that conuerſation, to the which they had been ſuch deadly enemies before; this (I ſay) is a thing to be wondred at, euen as to ſee the lambe and the lion to feede together. And yet (God bee Eſay 11. 6.bleſſed) ſo it is at this day, in ſome places, and ſo it hath bin in former times, that when mens waies hauehave pleaſed the Lord, he hath cauſed not only their Prou. 16. 7.very enemies to be at one with them, but alſo their very hearts to be intirely knit to them. Yea many ſillie perſons, ſo furniſhed with grace by God, hauehave forced great ones to wiſh from their hearts, for all their wealth and power, that they were like to them.
And yet this is more, that a Miniſter of the Goſpell, who is to challenge them openly that keepe not the commandements of Ieſus, and in his name Reuel. 12. 17.to rebuke and threaten the workers of iniquitie (though all this is, of the louing Iohn 16. 8. 1. Tim. 4. 16.and kinde Preacher, done to ſaue their ſoules, by turning them from their euill waies;) that ſuch a Miniſter, I ſay, who is not only hated for his good will, and counted their enemie for telling them the truth; but alſo accuſed Gal. 4. 16.by them, purſued alſo, and not ſuffered to be quiet among them; yet ſhould conſtantly hold out his labours, with a life vnoffenſiue, what a work of God (thinke we) is that in him? who were like to continue ſo gracious a courſe in the middeſt of ſo many diſcouragements (whereof I hauehave mentioned but a few;) if the Lord ſhould not giuegive them faith to beleeue, that of their louelove to him, they ſhould feed his lambes and his ſheep, and that in ſo doing, Ioh. 21 15.they aſſure themſelues they ſhall be plentifully rewarded? and to this end that he will giuegive them ſhoulders, I meane courage to beare their ſo great a Heb. 11. 6.burthen? Theſe are no ſmall things, which yet God worketh among vsus, that we may ſee he regardeth vsus, as he did ſome in former times.
The other and laſt thing to be noted in this ſecond part, is of Siſera; that the Lord pulled him downe, and caſt him from his ſo great honour and valiantnes. Verſ. 27.For as it was a great abaſement for ſuch a Nimrod to be driuen to ſo great a ſtreight, as to lurke in another mans houſe, not daring to peere foorth (as the ſillie bird beaten into the buſh by the hawke) ſo it was yet farre baſer to fall by the hand and at the feete of a woman. Let vsus learne, that the Lord bringeth to naught the high and haughtie, and that to their vtter Doct. verſ. 3. 27.ſhame, who were ſo great and proud. It is no ſtrange thing in the Scriptures to finde it thus, though fooles wonder at it, who will learne no inſtruction by it. The Lord caſteth the mightie from their ſeate. Witneſſe Abimilech, who in his deſperate mood, being ſtriken on the head with a milſtone by a Iudg. 9. 54.woman, called his page, and bid him to runne him through, leſt it ſhould be ſaid, A woman ſlew him. And yet that which was ſaid of him, was reprochfull enough, to wit, that a baſe page ſlew him: and agreeth well with the point in hand. Thus Abſolon, who had ſtomacke to riſe againſt his father, ſo kinde to him, was brought to a baſe and reprochful death, very fit for ſuch an one, 2 Sam. 18. 15.being thruſt through by Ioabs common ſouldiers. And Iezabel, ſcorning God and his Prophets, was, according to the foretelling of the Lord, made dogges meate, and dung vponupon the earth, being throwne out of the window 2. King. 9. 37.from her royall palace. The proud and ſtout Iewes, who railed on Peter, calling him deſpitefully, a drunken man, were ſo terrified with their ſin, that Acts 2. 37.they were glad to ſeeke to be comforted euen by him, whom they had ſcorned. And well is it with them, whoſe pride the Lord reſiſteth in merciemercy for their good, as hee did Pauls, by appalling him firſt, and then ſending him to poore Ananias, who being his comforter now, had been a prey for him, if God had not preuented it. For the reſt whom I hauehave mentioned (they excepted alſo in the ſecond of the Acts) the other, I ſay, were reſiſted to their coſt and vtter vndoing And ſo by the fooliſhnes of preaching (as it pleaſeth 1. Cor. 1. 21.the world to call it) and an humble ſubmitting of themſelues to his holy doctrine, they that are ſaued muſt attaine; but as that generation of vipers, the Phariſies, were glad to come to Iohns miniſterie, if ſo be they tooke any good by it. Be we therefore humble and meeke, they who are graced, are 1. Pet. 5. 7.they that finde fauour with him; but as for the proud, he reſiſteth them, and ſetteth himſelfe againſt them, till they be confounded (if they ſo abide) and be brought to naught. And therefore let the ſcorners and enemies taunt and mocke the ſimple profeſſors of the truth, like Edomites, they ſhall one day wiſh they had been like them, and iudge them more happie then themſelues, as Diues, for all his ſuperfluitie, did wiſh that he might hauehave had, not the eſtate of Lazarus, (which he ſaw no hope to attaine) but the thouſand part of it, euen that he might dip his finger in cold water, and quench his thirſt; which yet might not be granted him. And therefore, let vsus but ſtay a while, and containe our ſelues, and wee ſhall ſee theſe boaſters and contemners, (if they will needs hold on their courſe) wee ſhall ſee them (I ſay) ſwept away, and they ſhall be no more: ſo little cauſe ſhall we ſee of hauing our teeth water after their dainties. They are wiſe, who can in the iolitie and proſperitie of the enemies of the Church, ſee their ouerthrow by faith, and count their floriſhing and bragges to be but vaine crakes. And thus Pſal. 73. 18, 19.much be ſaid of the ſecond part of the Chapter.