Commentary on Judges, Sermon 45
THE FORTIE FIVE SERMON ON THE SEVENTH CHAPTER OF THE BOOKE OF IVDGES.
NOw to goeforward where I left, in this verſe, God tels Verſ. 2.Gedeon, that the people of his armie were too many to giuegive the victory vntounto, leſt they ſhould aſcribe it to themſelues. This ſpeech of the Lord ſheweth, how vnfit wee bee, to hauehave any great matter committed to vsus, or to our truſt and gouernment, for wee are moſt Note. Lam. 1. 1.prone to abuſe it: and therefore he is faine oft-times to take away many good things from vsus, leſt they ſhould much hurt vsus, though they might (if wee could rightly vſe them) turne to our great good, and the benefit of others. This people of Iſrael, if they had gone altogether to the battell, and got the victory, they would not hauehave acknowledged God to hauehave giuen it them, but their owne power and skill, and yet wee know how miſerable they were a little before, when Gedeon himſelfe complained in what diſtreſſe they were, and how low they were brought: ſo that one would thinke, they were vnfit inongh to aſcribe ought to themſelues, and that they ought rather (hauing been brought from ſuch bondage as they had been in before) yea and they might alſo eaſily hauehave ſeene cauſe to giuegive glory to God for it, if they with two and thirtie thouſand (eſpecially ſo many thouſands of them being faint-hearted ſouldiours) had ſubdued more then an hundred thouſand perſons. And this is the more odious in this people, becauſe they would hauehave abhorred ſuch a leaud conceit or quality in themſelues while they remained vnderunder bandage, yea, if they had been asked: What if by you (being but feeble and few in reſpect of your enemies:) the Lord would deſtroy the Midianites, would you not thinke God had fought mightily for you? Oh they would hauehave confeſſed no leſſe, but ſeene that it had been cauſe of great thanks. True; till the victorie had been gotten: and then who but themſelues had foiled the Midianites? So it may be Saul and Ieroboam while they were vnderlings, would hauehave counted it a greater priuiledge, and themſelues highly indebted to God, if hee would hauehave beſtowed a leſſe matter then a kingdome vponupon them, but when they had got it, they ſhewed they were vnable to be made partakers of ſo great a felicitie: and wee ſee, that they were not fit to hauehave ſo weighty and glorious matters as kingdoms committed vntounto them. Euen as wee ſee, meane and beggarly perſons, that neuer knew what belonged to wealth or dignitie, yet if they be raiſed vntounto it, cannot beare it, nay the ground cannot beare them: if they bee ſet on horſebacke, they ride out of reaſon, euen till they breake their owne neckes: whereas ingenuous and wel-bred natures can aſwell carry themſelues in ſuch a condition, (eſpecially if education and grace meet together) as the pooreſt can in a bace and ſimple. And ſurely many of vsus can as hardly beare a little wealth, ſmall reuenues, a few hundreds, nay Note.ſcores, as Saul and the other could their kingdomes: though (ere wee had them) we were as lowly and meane in our owne eies, as our fellowes.
Therefore, as I ſaid, we may ſee, how ſoone we abuſe Gods benefits, and all ſuch good liberties, as he beſtoweth vponupon vsus, as riches, health, promotion, credit (I would I might not ſay ſpirituall gifts alſo) euen as Pharaoh his princely eſtate and greatnes: the rich man in the Goſpell, his wealth: Herod, Luke 12. 19. Actes 12. 23.the very praiſe and commendation that was giuen him by the people. So we that can challenge nothing at Gods hands as due debt to vsus, but trouble and ſorrow, which is the fruite of our ſinne; what a lamentable caſe is it, that the Lord ſparing vsus much from ſundrie calamities, and furniſhing vsus with benefits of diuers kinds, to draw vsus to know, louelove, belieue in him and honour him, that we cannot for al this, ſo ſoone inioy any thing that is ought worth, but by and by wee ſet vp our bruſtles, wee forget from what a curſed eſtate, and whence we came, and kick vp our heeles againſt the Lord: and yet this is eaſie to bee ſeene in all eſtates of men, and kinds of Gods benefits.
So that the Lord if he louelove vsus, ſeeth that there is no better way to be taken with vsus for our good, then to take away ſuch liberties againe from vsus, and to let out our humours, ſeeing they breed but a pleuriſie in vsus, or to croſſe vsus in them, leſt they ſhould ſteale away our hearts from him, and ſo we driue him to ſay of his benefits, as he did of this people: There be too many of them, I muſt make them fewer, or elſe they wil glory of their multitude and greatnes. Euen ſo we cauſe the Lord to ſay of vsus, as to Saul (a bad perſon) they hauehave to much Note.wealth, I muſt plucke ſome of it from them: they hauehave had health too long, I muſt abridge them of it: they hauehave had too many of my benefits, as eaſe, credit, countenance, &c. vnleſſe they could vſe them better, I muſt, ſaith the Lord, of neceſſitie take them from them. And this is the cauſe why the Lord holds many of his vnderunder, that commonly they hauehave no great matters put into their hands, and are much croſſed in thoſe earthly commodities that they louelove beſt, leſt they ſhould be the worſe for them. And it is rarely ſeene, that euen they are better by them, then if they had them not. Therefore except God ſhall beſtow vponupon vsus an humble and wiſe heart, and well ballanced with grace, to account of theſe things as they are, to wit, tranſitory, and ſoone flitting away, and to valew the heauenly treaſure of faith, and a godly life aboue all earthly riches: let vsus know that the Lord deales wiſelier with vsus, then we are aware, in dieting and ſhortning of vsus: and we our ſelues ſhall ſee it as clearely in time (if wee marke it) as theſe Iſraelites did, that God hath done vsus no wrong in taking ſomewhat away which we had, or denying vsus ſomewhat which we deſire. And as for ſuch as ſeeke aboue all things to floriſh and hauehave the world at will, they are not ſo happie, as they bee counted, eſpecially in their owne reckoning, neither will ſhew themſelues the wiſeſt men in the end: as by this and the like, may bee ſeene of them that will weigh it.
But to come yet more neere to that which is noted in the text, not onelyonly men abuſe Gods benefits other waies, but this one way alſo, that is, to vaineglorie, as it is ſaid, that this people here mentioned would hauehave done: and therefore the holy ſtory addeth it as a reaſon why the Lord would not hauehave ſo many goe to the battell, leaſt they ſhould ſay, that they had preuailed by their owne might, and ſo ſhould hauehave taken Gods honour to themſelues. And by this wee learne, why God denieth, and doth not giuegive vsus in our attempts, many, great, or any meanes at all ſometime, and if he doe, yet not with any good ſucceſſe, or at leaſt, not as hee is wont to doe, (although to mans reaſon there bee likelihood enough, yea very great) becauſe if he ſhould, man would ſnatch the glorie from him to himſelfe. As Nabuchadnezzar did when he ſaid: This is great Babel that I hauehave built: Zenacherib that Dan 4 30. E…. 35 15. 1. King. 20. 11.blaſphemed the Lord by his Captaine Rabſhakeh: So Benhadad ſo groſly for got himſelfe in boaſting what he would doe, that hee was anſwered wiſely in this manner, [Let not him that girdeth on his harneſſe, boaſt himſelfe, as he that putteth it off] And they to whom S. Iames wrote, how fooliſhly concluded they before the ſucceſſe, and bragged of their gaine, before they Iames 4. 13.knew they ſhould hauehave it? What would they hauehave done (thinke we) if they had alreadie enioyed it alſo? And is not this ſtrange, that whereas wee pretend, (if wee might partake ſuch and ſuch bleſſings) wee would bee much more thankfull and ſeruiceable for them, the Lord ſhould conuict vsus of diſſimulation and falſehood, telling vsus that we know not our owne hearts, for wee would bee more proud, bold, and vainglorious? So that if the Lord ſhould not bewray to vsus, what poiſon lurkes in vsus, we ſhould thinke that he did himſelfe great wrong in cutting many ſhort of their deſires, who might be like to doe him ſeruice by enioying them: whereas (alas) he knowes that in ſo doing, hee loſeth no honour himſelfe in ſo dealing with men, nay hee hath much adoe by ſuch meanes to keepe men from deſtruction, at leaſt from deepe diſhonouring of him. But to returne, it is moſt true, that if God did not denie much to vainglorious perſons which they deſire, they would neuer giuegive him his due, but take it to themſelues: inſomuch as wee ſee that ſuch doe not onelyonly vaunt of their wealth, birth, ſtrength, and ſuch like, but if they hauehave onelyonly ſome good qualitie, as that they be prouident husbands, or will keepe their promiſe, and pay their due, where it is owing, they glorie thereof, and diſgrace other that faile therein, though the moſt of their other doings may be caſt as dung in their faces, to their ſhame. But giuegive we vntounto God his due: promiſe we to our ſelues nothing, but vponupon condition if God will: and acknowledge wee him as the giuer, and as one that hath right to diſpoſe of that which he hath giuen vsus: and when we are denied ſucceſſe in that which wee hope to bring to paſſe, let vsus in token that we confeſſe the Lord may iuſtly ioynt vsus, not fume and fret, raile and curſe, and much leſſe vtter we ſo much in words to others, that we thinke we are accurſed, when wee ſee ourſelues croſſed, but beare wee it meekly and patiently: and the greater our gifts are, which we hauehave receiued, in more humble, fruitfull, and dutifull manner let vsus ſhew our ſelues to vſe them.
That Gedeon was bidden to ſend away many of the people, and why; we Verſ. 3.hauehave heard: now let vsus ſee who they are that be exempted from the warre, and ſent backe, (of which ſort there were two and twentie thouſand) the text noteth them to bee thoſe that were faint-hearted and timerous, and ſo had God commanded in Deuteronomy that ſuch ſhould be ſent backe, leſt Deut. 20. 8.they ſhould diſcourage other. Here this is to be conſidered; when Gedeon their Captaine thought them meet for warre, and God had called them alſo to that place, and duty, and giuen them gifts for that purpoſe, though they waxed timerous: in that they through faint-heartednes, and ſloth, did not vſe and employ their gifts, the ſhame and ſin was theirs, though God ſent backe: I ſpeake it for our owne edification and benefit; for if many here were exempted by God from the battell, and yet thought fit and meete by men, doe not well beſtow and vſe theſe common gifts of the Spirit, as skill and knowledge in manuary things pertaining to the bodie, and this preſent life: how much more may we thinke, that about the more excellent gifts of the Spirit, as illumination, and matters belonging to the life to come, men doe deceiue the expectation of thoſe with whom they liue, and be other, I meane farre worſe then they goe for? Oh it is true, that there are many Note.perſons, who goe in the ſight of men for good: yet the Lord doth not account ſo of them, but exempt them from his militant Church, euen as he ſhoaleth out a great many of theſe ſouldiers, as faint and vnfit for warre, when they ſhould come to fight with their enemies: whom yet Gedeon thought meete perſons for it, and yet we know, wee are much eaſilier deceiued in iudging about them, then theſe. Looke we therefore to it, in a thing by infinite degrees more precious, how God iudgeth of vsus: and hang wee not vponupon the opinion of men. For hee is not allowed whom men or ones 2. Cor. 10. 18.ſelfe praiſeth, but whom God praiſeth. And therefore we are not to account of all that are among vsus profeſſing the Goſpell, no, though they be not branded with notorious ſins, to be ſound hearted and good Chriſtians, though we know no other by them, till God make them manifeſt, as he did theſe in their kind: Is it for vsus to iudge before the time? but howſoeuer men iudge, ſuch as feare God, and depart from euill (as he himſelfe commended Iob for ſuch an one) it is ſure that they only are accepted of him.
More ſpecially to applie this: As the oddes betweene the faint-hearted and valiant ſouldiers was great, euen three to one: and yet all went about the ſeruice of God in outward ſhew: ſo great diſproportion there is (among ſuch as worſhip God) betweene the lukewarme or indifferent ſort of Chriſtians, and the feruent, heartie, and zealous worſhippers. Indeede God Rom 2. 28. cōpared with Reu. 3. 16.doth not inable nor allow vsus to ſeuer the one from the other (ſo that wee may determine how farre the number of the one exceedes the other) as here he did Gedeon: but wofull proofe bewraieth no leſſe then I hauehave ſaid. And yet he that diſmiſſed theſe white-liuered ſouldiers from the armie of Gedeon, and onelyonly accepted the ſeruice of theſe three hundred, whom hee fitted for the purpoſe with faith and reſolution; will alſo exclude all hollow-hearted, lukewarme, and temporizing Chriſtians from hauing a part among ſuch as he will honour, ſo farre as that he will not bee honoured by them. I meane not that all Chriſtians ſhould bee martiall men, and fit for the field: but as Gods worke is diuers, ſo a diuers kinde of ſpirit hee requireth in them that doe it: in Gedeons men, courage and might; in Chriſtians, feruencie and reſolution to walke with God. For though wee hauehave no Midianites to fight withall: yet we hauehave worſe enemies, both within vsus and without: and therfore hauehave need of ſpirituall magnanimitie to vſe ſpirituall weapons againſt them. And though we were not warre-faring men, yet in that wee be but waifaring, (as all Chriſtians are both) we had need of feruencie and ſpirit. For he that in generall commands, Rom. 12. Be feruent, or hot in ſpirit; commands Rom. 12. 11. Iames 5. 16. Iames. 1. 19. Matth. 11. 12.the ſame in prayer, Iam. 5. ſaying, be feruent therein; likewiſe in hearing, Be ſwift to heare: telling vsus that the violent ſnatch the kingdome to them, &c. and the like affection alſo we muſt hauehave in all duties. Though in deede when dangers and troubles befall men for their profeſſion, then is a ſpeciall occaſion offered of expreſſing what courage is in them: but if wee nouriſh not that grace daily in other duties, how ſhall it be at hand when we hauehave greateſt need of it? And this I ſpeake, becauſe I ſee that the ancient and heauenly fire which once appeared moſt worthily in many, both in their entrance and progreſſe of their good courſe of pietie and a good conſcience, is turned to aſhes and extinct, or burnes ſo cloſe and feeble, that it can hardly be diſcerned: and in ſtead thereof, either a blockiſhnes and deadnes Note.is come vponupon men, or a faint-hearted remiſneſſe and indifferencie, as if men cared not greatly whether they profeſſed or no, and (ſaue for names ſake) many could be content to be without it well enough. And as for ſuch, their diſgrace is as farre aboue theſe ſouldiers of Gedeon, as their ſinne: for theſe were onelyonly ſent backe: but the other the Lord vomits out of his mouth. Some there are (through Gods goodneſſe euen as Gedeons three hundred) who looke to the Spirit, (and good cauſe, for it is the temper of a Chriſtian) but alas how few? Beſides that, the diuell in ſtead of this grace, brought in a franticke ſort of furious perſons, whoſe zeale is to depart from the Church.
Now (to returne to the ſtorie) wee hauehave heard how two and twentie thouſand were ſent backe, and that there were but ten thouſand left to goe Doct. 2.againſt more then an hundred thouſand: and yet that the Lord ſaid, that euen they were too many: this teacheth, that he would hauehave vsus to learne, to depend on him without meanes, (if hee ſee it to be expedient to be ſo, but not otherwiſe) and by thoſe which are very weake: and yet he would hauehave vsus to be perſwaded, that he regardeth and ſeeketh our good, euen when hee doth ſo. But of this before.
He ſaid moreouer to Gedeon, that hee would trie theſe ten thouſand for Verſe 4.him, and ſhew him who were fit, that he himſelfe might ſee it. For men are dull and dimme eyed to behold Gods ſecret power and will to doe them good, if he giuegive them not eyes of faith to behold them. And why ſhould it ſeeme ſtrange that the Lord ſhould doe more then wee can ſee? and if wee ſhall ſee no likelihood thereof, his power and goodneſſe is the more to bee admired and magnified, who ſheweth it ſo manifeſtly in our weakeneſſe, euen when men ſee not how. As who ſaw, that mightie Pharaoh, Siſera, and the Midianites here ſpoken of, were like to be brought to ſuch a downfall as they were? but it was enough that God had ſaid it. And therefore our Sauiour, Matth. 4. tels vsus, Man liueth not by bread onelyonly, but by the word of God: Matth. 4. 4.and in like manner, man thriues not by his wit, prouidence, care onelyonly, but by the bleſſing of God: No, his riſing early, and his late going to bed, and Pſal 127. 2.eating the bread of ſorrow ſhall not auaile to maintaine him, if God plucke backe his hand from bleſſing it. His apparell heates him not of it ſelfe, but by the power of the word and promiſe. Indeede the outward meanes men ſee, taſte, and handle, and therefore in a groſſe manner reſt in them, and diſcerne no ſuperiour power of God in them, much leſſe beleeue, that it can worke without them: ſo that if meanes faile of health, ſafetie, and ſucceſſe, they giuegive ouer hope: eſpecially if they ſee that ſome great outward barre and let ſtops their way: whereas yet the three children tell the King of Babel, That they beleeue the God whom they ſerue can deliuer them, not onelyonly without meanes, but contrarie to meanes. Doubtleſſe in the Scripture wee hauehave a watchword giuen vsus of this ſinne, euen in the matters of ſaluation it ſelfe. For although none but the ſeede of Abraham ordinarily were elected and ſaued (though extraordinarily ſome were) before the comming of Chriſt: yet they who onelyonly relied vponupon theſe outward meanes, heard this ſpoken to them: Say not within your ſelues, we hauehave Abraham to our father: for God is Matth. 3. 9.able of ſtones to raiſe vp children vntounto Abraham. But becauſe men ſeparate (in the matter of happineſſe) the true meanes appointed by God from the end they deſire: I meane faith, repentance, humiliation, from election and ſaluation: it is iuſt with God alſo to meete with them in kinde, and to ſeparate their carnall ends: I meane wealth, proſperitie and the like, from the meanes which they vſe vnlawfully, and to his diſhonour.
And further in that Gedeon was told, that hee muſt take none but thoſe Doct. 2.whom God appointed, and thoſe hee muſt take: it teacheth vsus that Gods word muſt direct vsus in all our actions both for peace and warre, be the ſame neuer ſo meane and baſe: and that whatſoeuer face wee ſet on matters, yet if that be not the light to our ſteps, we walke but in darkneſſe. Now then, we who take in hand ſo many things in the day, and ſo throughout our life, how can wee chuſe but ſerue him after our owne fantaſies, if wee hauehave not Col 3. 16.that light plentifully dwelling in vsus to guide vsus? Wherein it is no hard thing to ſee, that God hath much againſt vsus, and that oft times, when we be at the beſt, ſeeing no man call tell the errors of his actions and life, or how oft hee Pſal. 130. 3. Pſal. 19. 12.offendeth. So that if hee ſhould looke ſtraightly what is done amiſſe, who ſhould be able to ſtand before him? Here I will ſtay for this time.