Commentary on Judges, Sermon 49
THE FORTIE NINTH SERMON ON THE SEVENTH AND EIGHTH CHAPTERS OF the booke of IVDGES.
NOw further are laid out, after Gedeons aduice to his ſouldiers, and the propounding of his owne example vntounto Verſ. 12. 20.them, his induſtrious attempt in his going forward to the Midianites campe, and what hee and his men did together in the way thither, and what ſucceſſe the Lord gaue thereto. The firſt of theſe two is ſet downe in this 19. Verſ. 19. 20.and 20. verſes, the laſt in the 21. and 22. His companie was diuided into bands, to the end that they might come vponupon their enemies on eueryevery ſide, and amaze the whole campe with ſudden feare. Then he choſe for his purpoſe the fitteſt time of the night, the middle part thereof, when the enemies being in a dead ſleepe, were, with that ſudden feare, the more throughly aſtoniſhed. For the noiſe of the trumpets, with the mightie crie, made by the men, and the breaking of the pitchers, with the light appearing, did not onelyonly aſtoniſh them, but likewiſe ſo troubled them, they being ſcarcely awaked out of their ſleepe, that they could not conceiue what it ſhould meane, but thought that many and great hoaſts were ruſhing into their campe, as the Aramites did, into whoſe camp the lepers came. 2. King. 7. 6. 7.And the Lord with all this ſtriking them with a kinde of madneſſe, they tooke their owne fellow ſouldiers for their enemies, and ſo moſt miſerably ſlew one another, the Ammonites and Moabites ſtood vp againſt them of mount Seir to deſtroy them, though they were their fellow ſouldiers: as we ſee alſo in the campe of the Aramites, into which the lepers came.2. Chro. 20. 23.
This kinde of aſtoniſhing the enemies by Gedeon, who was directed by God therein is worthie to be noted of vsus: to teach vsus, what kindes of terrors and vexings of a rebellious people the Lord hath in a readines to feare them, yea and that when men thinke themſelues beſt fenſed againſt them, out of feare of them, and furtheſt off from falling into them. Zimri and Cosbi were ſlaine ſuddenly and fearefully: Chorah and his companie were Num. b. 25. 8.ſwallowed vp of the earth, when no likelihood could be ſeene thereof, till it Num. 16. 32.came. The men of Ziklag wallowing like beaſts on the ground drunken, were ſlaine by Dauid when they looked not for it. Abimilek by a piece of 1. Sam. 30. 17.a milſtone receiued his deadly wound, and Abſolon hanged by the haire of Iudg 9 53. 2. Sam. 13. 14.his head on an oke. Thus I might goe on infinitly. God hath many waies to ſcourge his enemies, as he hath to deliuer and comfort his people, There is no peace to the vngodly, ſaith God. Oh then how fearefull is it to be a wicked man? for if Gods anger be kindled but a little, how happie are all they that Eſay. 48. 22.feare him? for if he hauehave a controuerſie with men, and be againſt them, oh Pſalm. 2. 12.what terrors are eueryevery while like to fall on them, till they be confounded of them? Some will obiect, that for all this, many wicked perſons walke ſecurely, and are as merrie and void of feares, as the beſt of them all. I anſwer, firſt although God meetes them not with ſuch bodily feares as here he amazed theſe heathens withall, yet there is that within them commonly, which euen in the middeſt of their merriments cauſeth their hearts to be heauie, and preſage no good vntounto them at length. This I ſay of ſuch as are not hardned. And who can expreſſe the bitter ſorrowes and checks and feares which they feele, who carrie an ill conſcience about them? which purſues them both ſleeping and waking, and not at Church onelyonly, but euen in their callings, companies, feaſtings, pleaſures, when others thinke full little of it, and themſelues wiſh they could make truce for the while therewith, that it might then be furtheſt off. So that a poore Chriſtian would not willingly change ſtates with them, to hauehave their greateſt glorie, except he might bee free from their troubled conſcience: which is like to the hand-writing vponupon the wall of that wofull Belſhazzar. And this is their portion, euen tempeſt, Dan. 5. 6.fire, ſnares, as the Pſalmiſt ſaith, euen a ſauour of hell, before they come there. As for thoſe that hauehave learned how to ſtrangle their conſcience, and ſmother it, or who are waxen hardned: let them know, that there is no peace belonging to them, though they ſtop their eare from hearing of terror. And when God ſhall quicken, and rouze vp their conſcience, woe be to them, for it ſhall roare vponupon them as a lion, and yet God is greater. Therefore if any ſuch ſhall ſeeke how to be freed from this horror, let them make 1. Ioh. 3. 20.their peace with God, and ſo their conſcience ſhall turne to be their friend: but the reſt may heare this doctrine, as Nabal heard Abigails newes, to their confuſion.
It further appeareth by the effect what theſe fearefull meanes wrought, Verſ. 21. 22.which the holy ſtorie ſetteth downe in this verſe, that the whole campe was aſtoniſhed, feared, cried out, and fled. In which caſe let no man thinke that theſe meanes alone, and apart from Gods work, had any great force to feare, eſpecially to hurt the enemies: for what was there in the blowing of the trumpets, the breaking of the pitches, or in their lampes, to the getting of the victorie? But the Lord put to his hand, and helpe, whereby the enemies were daunted, and ſet beſide themſelues, or elſe, all that was done, had been but ridiculous. And he that made Goliahs head to be cut off with his owne ſword, he wil ſtill bleſſe the vnlikely meanes (as the world accounteth them, yea and fooliſh alſo (of our prayers, ſinceritie, patience, hope and the like, to bring great things to paſſe, yea and faith to ouercome the world, without the which, what are all other things whatſoeuer? Still I ſay therefore, as I ſaid before, bleſſed is the people whoſe God is the Lord Iehouah. But of this, occaſion hath been offered to ſpeake almoſt in eueryevery Chapter.
In the 20. verſe, in that the people of Iſrael in their crie and noiſe that they made, vttered theſe words [The ſword of the Lord, and of Gedeon] therein they Doct. 2. in verſe 20. that was omitted in due place.teſtifie, that God was the chiefe cauſe, and Gedeon as the inſtrument appointed to bring that worke to paſſe. Not as if they would deuide the victory betwixt God and him, (betweene whom there was no compariſon) but to ſignifie, that as God was the chiefe and principall worker, ſo it pleaſed him to vſe Gedeon as his inſtrument to effect it. The ſame it behooueth vsus to do: aſcribe we to God the glory of all the good we doe, yea and of our ſaluation eſpecially, which we ſeeke, but know we that as Gods inſtruments, we are to worke it on in feare and trembling, and to giuegive all our diligence, as the Apoſtle Phil. 2 12. 2. Pet. 1. 10.exhorteth, to make our calling and election ſure. And ſo in all duties of faith that we performe; acknowledge we, that we receiue all gifts and abilitie to thinke and to doe, that which is good, and our ſelues to be Gods workemen and labourers, vnworthy to be imployed by him, euen as we ſee it to bee an honour to be in a Kings ſeruice. And further by this, let all captious cauillers take their anſwer, who ſay, that the people who depend vponupon their Miniſters, make them their God. Be it knowne to all ſuch, that as they deteſt ſuch blaſphemy, ſo yet to the ſhame of all ſuch ſcorners, they honour them vnderunder God, as the inſtruments of their ſaluation, and acknowledge them, as here Gedeons ſouldiers do him, to be the hand which God putteth the ſword of his ſpirit into, for the conquering not of mens bodies, but their ſoules, and the bringing into ſubiection the thoughts of their hearts, yea the whole powers of ſoule and body, to the obedience of Chriſt. In which reſpect Salomon 2. Cor. 10. 4.praies that Gods Prieſts may bee clothed with ſaluation. And Paul doubts not to ſay vntounto Timothy, He ſhould ſaue himſelfe, and others. For more particular application of this doctrine, reade verſe 2. of this Chapter.1 Tim. 4. 16.
This victory is remembred and made mention of in the Pſalme, where Doct. out of all theſe 4. verſes. Pſal. 83. 9.it is ſaid: Doe to them, as vntounto Midian, and as vntounto Oreb and Zeeb. Which teacheth, that this ſtory, and ſo other in the bookes of canonicall Scripture, is diligently to bee remembred, that wee may hauehave vſe of the diuers good things that are in it, that through the Scriptures wee might get knowledge, experience, conſolation and hope: as to pray as Gedeon did in danger and Rom 15. 4.diſtreſſe, to hope, and waite for the like ſucceſſe, in our ſeuerall neceſſities, which God will as ſurely doe and performe to vsus, as he did here to his people, hauing made the like promiſes thereof vntounto vsus, as vntounto them. And through the writings of the Euangeliſts and Apoſtles, wee ſhall meet with quotations of Scripture out of the old teſtament, as it were ſetting a ſecond edge vponupon them, and teaching the reader with what regard and obſeruation he is to reade them. As our Sauiour doth in recording the hiſtory of Lots wife; and in ſpeaking of the propheſie of Daniel touching the pollution of Luk 17 32.the Temple by the abomination of deſolation, and diuers ſuch like places: beſides the fulfilling of the propheſies of the Meſſias, and other things to come to paſſe in the Church ere the ſecond comming of Chriſt. For to this Matth. 24. 15.end, the holy ſtories are written, as well as the other books of the Scripture, I meane for our inſtruction, edification and comfort. As Dauid mentioneth Rom 15. 4.this ſtory, ſo doth Eſay, ſpeaking of Zenacherib, God ſhall (ſaith he) raiſe vp a Eſay 10. 26.ſcourge, like that of Midian. And ſo it came to paſſe, as he propheſied, for the whole armie of that King was ſlaine by God, euen as this of the Midianites.
Now followeth another thing mentioned in this verſe, that is, when the Verſ. 23.moſt of them were ſlaine, the Iſraelites with Gedeon purſued and followed after the reſt: where note his wiſedome in foreſeeing and preuenting danger to come. When he had ſcattered them, they might hauehave gotten ſtrength againe afterward, and ſo hauehave troubled them as before, (as another Iabin King of Canaan aroſe) which he preuented. And in warre this is meet to be Iudg. 4. 2.done againſt the enemies both bodily and ſpirituall. Satan being throwne out, laboureth, as our Sauiour ſaith, to enter in againe. This is alſo neceſſarie Matth 12. 45.in eueryevery calling, to be prouident to keepe away danger by wants and oppreſſion concerning both body and ſoule.
It is great wiſedome, to follow herein the vniuſt Steward, namely in prouiding Luke 16. 8.for the time that ſhould come after: and to follow the example of the fiue wiſe virgins, who ſo prouided oile for their lamps, that when the other fooliſh, for want therof, were ſhut out at the bridegroomes comming, Matth. 25. 10.they entred in with him to the wedding. So wee ſhould deale ſurely to preuent diuel and world, and al offences, that might break out from vsus through our owne corruption, and not to be ſo fooliſh, as to bring needleſſe ſorrow vponupon our owne heads by neglecting any meanes that might remoue it. Yea and one Chriſtian with another muſt be faine, and is forced to deale circumſpectly, there be ſo many weakeneſſes in vsus, and ſhifts to deceiue, leſt they breake off their fellowſhip. Wee ſee daily to what perfection men hauehave brought their trades, and how eaſily they thriue, through carefull marking and remoouing the ſeuerall inconueniences thereof, and vſing the beſt prouidence, Note.and all opportunities making for their gaine, which their predeceſſors knew not. But alas how raw and rude, yea what bunglers are men in the trade of all trades? who beates his braines to attaine to a gift, readineſſe and dexteritie therein?
Who ſeekes to bring the excellencie thereof into the view of the world, or vponupon their owne proofe and experience to teach others, the next and directeſt way both of being and walking as a Chriſtian? And why? becauſe men are not wiſe to follow this trade without breakings off, and many onſets and turne-againes: they neither will ſearch out and vſe the beſt meanes which may make them expert, and bring in gaine, nor will learne wiſedome to preuent diſaduantages, annoyances, temptations, and therefore their worke goes not forward, their skill in this trade comes not to ripeneſſe. For behold, while they thinke they ſerue God commendably in ſome duties which they apply their mind too, there growes in them noiſome luſts, vnſeene, vnrepented off, and theſe make them new to begin, and ſet them ſo much behind hand againe, that they almoſt deſpaire of euer recouering their forwardneſſe neglected.
The Beniamites we reade in the 20. of this booke, met their brethren in Iudges 20. 40.the field ſtoutly: but lo, the euill was behind them, and that they were not aware off, till the flame and ſmoke aſcended, and then all their courage was cooled. To teach vsus (if we will proſper) to make cleane worke before vsus, and leaue not ſomething vndone, through ſloath, which will coſt vsus double and trebble afterward. And if we bee wiſe, let vsus learne with Gedeon how to vſe and keepe the victorie as well as how to get it: how to clenſe out that euill which we are prone to, as do ſome duties which we like; leſt according to the prouerbe: He that flieth and eſcapeth, will returne and fight againe; whereas we might hauehave ſlaine him right downe at the firſt, and been paſt all danger.
Furthermore, it is to be noted as commendable in Gedeon, that when he Doct. 2.had gotten the victory, hee was willing that other ſhould hauehave part of the glory thereof: to wit, theſe other tribes, Nephtali, Aſhur, and Manaſſe, who yet could helpe but little, comming after Gedeon had gotten the victory with great danger. Which example of his, ſhould teach vsus to vſe the gifts of God, not ſo that we ſhould ſeeke glory by them, but to deſire that other alſo might exerciſe and hauehave vſe of their gifts to the benefit of the Church: we of the Miniſtery eſpecially ſhould doe this; that wee may bee able to ſay as Moſes ſaid, Would to God that all his people could propheſie: yea and to this end Numb. 11. 29.let vsus rather in giuing honour, euen ſtriue to goe before each other, yea the meaneſt, who may ſooneſt and eaſilieſt thinke themſelues neglected and deſpiſed. Excellent therefore is the practiſe of Chriſt and Iohn Baptiſt, who though they were both admired by diuers ſorts of people, and that in ſuch wiſe, that there was carnall emulation betweene the Diſciples of both; yet alway they ſo carried themſelues, that the one honoured the other, and both fulfilled all righteouſneſſe.
Yea Iohn in the middeſt of his flouriſhing, yet ſtill acknowledged himſelfe Ioh. 3. 30.but the ſhadow, and Chriſt the ſubſtance; himſelfe the herold, and Chriſt the Prince: I muſt decreaſe (ſaith he) and Chriſt encreaſe. Which example of his, if his ſucceſſors had as well regarded, Satan had not ſo ſoone corrupted the miniſtery of the Church with ſchiſmes and factions, which are but the fruits of pride and arrogancy.
And if we can grow, or cauſe by our example and gifts, other to grow in grace, let vsus not with the Diſciples, contend who ſhall bee chiefe and greateſt. But we though we hauehave theſe gifts and the like to glorifie the giuer, and to reſtraine and hold our ſelues from this vaineglory, yet wee gape for that by Satans deluding of vsus (lamentable to behold) ſo that when wee hauehave not praiſe of men, (who ſhould looke for that from God) if (I ſay) we cannot get that, we leaue off labouring and ſit ſtill: and for this very cauſe, ſome, as well in the miniſtery, as the people, doe part and breake off their fellowſhip one with another. But of this ſee ſomwhat before, in the eighth verſe of this Chapter.
Verſ. 24. And Gedeon ſent meſſengers to all mount Ephraim, ſaying, Come downe against the Midianites, and take before them the waters vntounto Bethbarah, and Iordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered together, and tooke the waters vntounto Bethbarah and Iordan.
25. And they tooke two Princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb, and ſlew Oreb vponupon the rocke Oreb, and ſlew Zeeb at the winepreſſe of Zeeb, and purſued the Midianites, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gedeon beyond Iordan.
IN this verſe the holy ſtory ſheweth, how Gedeon ſent to all the inhabitants Verſ. 24.of mount Ephraim to meet with the Midianites, and take vp the paſſages, where they went ouer the waters, euen to Bethbara or Bethabora, and Iordan. And the men of Ephraim did ſo. And ſo hee made them partakers alſo of the honour of the victory, as he did the other tribes. This is the ſumme of this verſe. And to make our vſe of it, it were to be wiſhed, that we in this our age did as theſe did: that in all ciuil actions religion did guide vsus, that where helpe is needed, and required by one of another, that it were likewiſe willingly and readily performed; as namely in aiding the widowes and fatherleſſe, the poore, and the oppreſſed
And much more it were to be wiſhed, that we were ſo ioyned together in the Church, that if there were any excellent and profitable matter begun, that we were willing to hauehave other coadiutors and fellow labourers to the finiſhing and perfiting of the ſame: but wee rather oft times (which is greatly to be lamented) and our ſinnes iuſtly deſeruing the ſame, doe hinder one another: whereas both they ought to bee regarded, who hauehave a good mind to the worke of God, and doe labour in it, (though they bee not equall with ſome other,) euen for that which God hath inabled them, and which they are fit to doe: and alſo they in humility ſhould reuerence their elders in gifts and yeeres, and be readier to learne of them, then to pearke ouer them.
Which ſinne in the forwarder ſort both of Miniſters and people, and in the ancienter and younger ſort of both, being ſuffered to grow for want of louelove, ſo that the one doth not his dutie toward the other, hath cauſed the Lord ſeuerely to puniſh it in both, that being diuided, they are thereby ſeebled, and the good which they did is hindred and croſſed; and not only ſo, but alſo that is verified which Saint Paul writeth to the Galathians, that one Galat. 5. 15.biting and deuouring another, they be conſumed one of another, at leaſt, by a third ſort, but yet through their fault and procuring. But of this I hauehave ſpoken in the firſt chapter.
Ephraim tooke two Princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: whoſe puniſhment Verſ. 25.by the iuſt iudgement of God was agreeable to their ſinne. The one, namely Oreb, was ſlaine on a rocke and mountaine, called by the ſame name, Oreb: where they had conſtrained the people of God to hide themſelues, and where they had ſought them to kill them The other, that is, Zeeb, was ſlaine at the threſhing place or winepreſſe called Zeeb: for thoſe places they ſpoiled of their victuals and famiſhed them. Where it is manifeſt, that God forgetteth not, neither winketh at the cruelty of his enemies, but in due time and place will pay them home, ſo that all that will, may ſee, that God hath not left them vnrecompenced.
And that either with the ſame puniſhment as he did Adonibezek, or at the ſame time, as he did Iudas, who betraying his maſter to death, died firſt himſelfe: or as heere he did to Oreb and Zeeb, euen in the ſame place where they did the miſchiefe: and as among vsus the wilfull murtherers ſuffer, and are made ſpectacles by hanging in chaines, to all that paſſe by, neere the place where they committed the murthers: or if none of theſe waies hee puniſh them, yet ſome other ſuch, that may be as a ſigne to all, that God will be reuenged on ſuch as they be. For why, as the blood of Abell, ſo doth theirs Gen. 4. 10.cry for vengeance: woe therefore to bloody perſecutors, and cruell perſons, for God and their ſinne ſhall find them out. Therefore let them know this that fall into the hands of ſuch, leſt they ſhould bee diſcouraged. And leſt we ſhould thinke that theſe Princes did but fight for themſelues againſt the Iſraelites, as in warre men doe, reade of their malice and cruelty, in the Pſal. 83. 9. 11. 12.Pſalme 83. But for Gods iuſt puniſhing of his enemies, according to their ſin, I hauehave ſaid enough in chapter 1. of this booke.