Commentary on Judges, Sermon 56
THE FIFTIE SIXE SERMON ON THE NINTH CHAPTER OF THE BOOKE OF IVDGES.
NOw to proceed, wee hauehave ſeene how theſe wofull men of Shechem, who bewraying by the forementioned act of leaning to More of the third verſe.a bad requeſt, the exceeding wickednes that was in them, hauehave yet branded themſelues with another note of infamie like the former, which doth much aggrauate their ſinne; namely this: that liuing in the fellowſhip of honeſt citizens, who ſhould hauehave puniſhed euill doers, and hauehave chaced them away with their very countenance, yet behold, there were no worſe to be found there then themſelues. They who ſhould hauehave made the worſt afraid of their iniquitie, by their executing of law and iuſtice vp … the committers; euen they put the common citizens, and better men then they were, in danger of their liues by their wicked dealing; and did indeede cauſe them both to loſe their liues, by bringing in an vſurper and tyrant, to ſpoile and make hauocke of them. We know next to the Prince in a land, are the Peeres and Nobles thereof: theſe it moſt concerneth to aſſiſt the ſupreme gouernour in the execution of iuſtice and gouernment. And yet we ſee, by comparing this with the Chronicles of diuers lands, that theſe often hauehave been the forwardeſt in defending the worſt cauſes, in attempting againſt the State, yea and (in the vacancy of the throne and kingdome) to further and helpe forward vſurpers in their vnlawfull claime, againſt the vndoubted heires. Whereby we learne, that there are no Doct. …. in verſe 3.worſe then ſome of them who liue in ciuill ſocietie with others; who alſo are truſted with the peace and ſafetie of towne and citie, and yet by the iuſt iudgement of God, purſuing them, break out and bewray themſelues ſometime to be notorious offenders, and are brought forth oft times by their due deſerts, to ſhamefull execution with other euill doers; Euen as we reade of one who liued in the tents with other, when Iſrael abode in the deſert, after Leuit. 24.. 4they came out of Egypt, yet being a blaſphemer, was takē out of the hoaſt of Iſrael, and ſtoned to death, like the worſt malefactors: and ſo ſome (to come to our time) with Ananias are found, though they bee citizens and headborowes, to be forgers, ſacrilegious, &c. Others, of the ſame condition with Achan, prooue arrant theeues, and as he was, are put to open ſhame and reproch, Ioſh. 7. 25.as well as rogues and maſterleſſe hang-bies, and ſome are found with Zimry to be whoremongers, yea worſe then the inceſtuous, and no better Numb. 25. 8.thē Sodomites, and do publikely receiue their puniſhment due thereto. As alſo all the ſpies, being yet choice men among the Tribes, yea of the chiefer Numb. 14 37ſort of them, yet periſhed for their colluſion and diſſimulation, except Caleb and Ioſhua. Theſe are not light and ſmall matters that ſuch as are ſubſtantiall, and of good reputation among their neighbours, ſhould bee brought forth thus to be ſet on the ſtage to be gazed on with the worſt, who might and ought with the beſt, to hauehave been purſuers and puniſhers of other euill doers: and their infamy ſhall neuer be put out with God (beſide the ſhame that befalleth them here before men,) without vnfained repentance, which is no common thing, as the world (yet) accounteth it. And to paſſe from theſe, there are otherſome ſo vile, irreligious, and monſtrous in another maner, yea and euen of them who yet beare it out among men, as if they were to be allowed and iuſtified, their ſinnes being not puniſhable by the law of the land, nor to be taxed by the Magiſtrate, ſo that the Lord doth execution vponupon them himſelfe, cauſing their prophaneneſſe, atheiſme, and miſerlike worldlineſſe to riſe vp againſt them, and driue them to hang themſelues with their owne halter, as did Ahitophel the great counſeller, and Iudas the Apoſtle, when he became a traitor. Theſe whom I hauehave now mentioned, and many other of bad note, being found among the ciuiller ſort in cities and townes eueryevery where, who yet ſhould helpe to ſuppreſſe vagarant and vnruly perſons; Oh, what are good, faithfull, and friendly neighbours worth, and how highly to be accounted of? ſuch I meane, as among whom one may dwell peaceable, and without feare, and in whoſe faithfulneſſe a man may reſt? And as ſuch may much reioyce, though their infirmities hold them vnderunder, ſo yet they who flouriſh and lift vp their heads on high, and count themſelues the onelyonly happie people, becauſe they are more righteous, as they call it) that is to ſay, counted honeſt, and ciuill dealers, and ſuch as cannot be blemiſhed with any open blot and ſtaine of infamie for oppreſſion, falſhood, vncleanneſſe, and yet void of religion, euen theſe alſo (ſo many of them as will ſhew themſelues wiſe indeed; let them (I ſay) know they are in little better caſe thē the other in Gods account, ſeeing they hate to be reformed. And for all their vaunting themſelues, and the high conceit that they hauehave of their good eſtate toward God, as if they were the only religious perſons, yet while they ſubmit not their neck to the Lords yoke of obedience, but abhorre and ſcorne ſuch as they thinke go beyond them in ſincere piety, who make conſcience of ſtricter matters, (as the world count them) as idle ſpeech, pride of life, fooliſh reſting, filthy pleaſures, railing, ſlandering, lying, deceiuing, &c. euen they, moſt certainely hauehave God their aduerſary, and becauſe they repent not, they ſhall likewiſe periſh. Doubtleſſe Luke 13. 3.it were (I deny not) to be wiſhed, that there were no worſe in townes, then theſe of the ciuiller ſort, and it were greatly for the benefit of the commonwealth, that groſſe villanies were rooted out among them, & common vertues practiſed, as the outward worſhipping of God, and peace with men. But yet theſe, (as the Scripture teſtifieth) are farre from happineſſe, as before hath been noted: the which I ſay, partly leſt theſe men ſhould deceiue themſelues and others, with an erroneous conceit of that good which is not in them, (while they ſearch not their hearts, and purge out the filth that is there, and yet glorie of repentance: and partly, that Gods people may ſee cauſe of endeuouring after a further meaſure of grace and true holineſſe; rather then to faint therein, and breake off their good beginnings. And the Lord doth oft times therefore plucke out ſuch whole and ciuell men, (as Note.they louelove to bee counted) by the eares from their fellowes, and for the example of many other, he ſuffereth them to diſguiſe themſelues groſſely by falling into the ſinnes for which they hauehave ſcorned and diſclaimed others, as adultery▪ and boaſted themſelues to be free from them. This (I ſay) God is faine to doe to them: and then they crie out of their hollowneſſe, ignorance, vnbeliefe and euill heart, (being ſo conuicted,) which hath laid them in the dirt. Theſe before were no ſinnes with them, neither would they be brought once to thinke ſo; whereas yet now that they hauehave committed the groſſer, they accuſe themſelues of ſmaller alſo. Therefore they are happy, who lay the foundation of their peace, credit, ſafety, and true welfare toward God, who lay it (I ſay) deeper, then that ſtorme or tempeſt, wind or weather may caſt it downe: neuer ceaſing▪ till they hauehave by faith purged out the ſtrength and poyſon of thoſe corrupt and bitter rootes of the euill heart, and by the ſame faith hauehave obtained and found mercy with God, that they may feare him, and for a good conſcience ſake, goe vnderunder (if it muſt needs bee ſo) diſcredit with bad men, rather then for credits ſake to ſmother conſcience, which building ſoone decaieth with the ſandie ground-worke thereof.
But now to returne to the Shechemites againe, I hauehave not yet noted nor Verſe 4.ſet downe the particular ſinne, which they added to the reſt, that is to ſay, that they help forward this curſed impe Abimelech to vſurpe the kingdome, by giuing him ſuch a peece of money out of their common treaſurie, which was the houſe of their Idol Baal-berith (of whom we ſpak before cha. 8. end) with the which he was able to hire a band and company of leaud fellowes to guard and runne before, and follow him, as Abſolon did the like, when he tooke in hand ſuch a like worke. Whereby we may ſee to what vſes many Doct. v. 4.put their goods, and how commendably they imploy them, which they are put in truſt with. As for feeding the hungry with them, or cloathing the naked, or pitying the oppreſſed, it is too baſe a matter for them to looke Marke 4. 7.after, though they ſhall know one day, and that to their coſt, that they hauehave the poore among them, to this end, that they may doe good to them. But the thought of ſuch things is as far from them as the Eaſt is from the Weſt: yea it is death to them to part with the very ſhreds to good vſes: but they Iames 4. 3.empty their purſe to the bottome to beſtow vponupon their luſts, in roytous life, in drinking, whoring, and other exceſſe, till they bee brought to a morſell of bread: or elſe they be of another diſpoſition, namely, to gather and increaſe their ſubſtance endleſly, neither they themſelues, nor any wiſe man can tell why: for if they hauehave poſteritie to leaue it to, (which yet many want) they ſhould leaue them but that which remaineth after they hauehave done, in their time and place, many good deeds to diuers ciuill and religious neceſſary vſes: and otherwiſe accurſed are they in that which they hauehave, which for the moſt part doth no other good then the pleaſing of the eie of the owner, while they know many ſmart and are in penury, (that I ſay) nothing of their wicked increaſing of great part of it by oppreſſion, and defrauding of men; whereof we hauehave too many wofull examples among vsus from time to time. The Lord, therefore, hath giuen them no heart to doe good with it, which if they had, they ſhould conſider alſo, that there is ſomewhat elſe to beſtow coſt vponupon, as well as vponupon themſelues, but eſpecially vponupon their luſts: I meane, the worſhip of God, procuring a good Miniſter, relieuing the diſtreſſed, of all kinds, as their abilitie will reach. But they ſhew that God and his word are of meaner account with them then their lothſome luſts. Touching this abuſe of mens wealth and outward bleſſings, ſundry kinds of doctrine hauehave occaſioned vsus to ſpeake before, neither ſhall it bee needfull to make any ſet diſcourſe vponupon it in this place. OnelyOnly I will adde a word or two touching this. That they tooke theſe peeces out of the treaſury of Baal-berith. Whether they tooke it out of their treaſure, appointed to idolatrous vſes (for it is probable they had ſuch a treaſurie, in imitation of the treaſurie of the houſe of God) or whether their common treaſure, was in ſome place of that Temple, there laid vp as in a ſafe repoſitorie, and free from the violence or ſacriledge of robbers, (of which vſe of temples, eſpecially in times of war and danger of pillage, we reade in Prophane and Eccleſiaſtical writers eueryevery where) of this, I ſay, I will not affirme, neither can I. Only I encline to the former opinion: and do think that they robbed their Temple, to ſupply the want of Abimelech (and ſacriledge may wel ſtand with treaſon and tyranny, which ſpare neither things holy nor prophane.) But vponupon coniectures I will collect nothing. Whether ſoeuer they did, ſure it is, that they thought their Idoll a ſufficient treaſurer and keeper of this ſiluer, (or elſe they would not hauehave made his Temple the treaſurie) and durſt truſt him with the preciouſeſt things they had: who yet had neither eies to ſee it, or hands and power to defend it from robbers. This is no wonder (may ſome man ſay) that they durſt truſt him with their money, who durſt venture their liues and ſoules vponupon his protection, as they in the daies of Eliah. 1. King. 18. did. I anſwer: 1. King. 18. 28.It were the leſſe wonder indeed, if wee ſaw not Chriſtians, worſhippers of God (who profeſſe themſelues to ieopard their ſaluation vponupon his promiſe) to be yet farre behind theſe Idolaters in this thing. For they will not venture nor caſt their goods vponupon his ſafegard, nor thinke the Lord a meet and truſtie keeper of their wealth; they will put no more in his hands then they are willing to loſe. To ſuch we may ſay: Is he not much beholding to you the whileſt? He hath giuen you liuing Temples, not of ſtone temples, not of Baal, but of his owne making, euen the poore members of the Lord Ieſus; Into theſe he commandeth you to caſt, not your ſuperfluities, but ſome of your ſubſtance: hee promiſeth to be the ouerſeer and ſteward of this treaſurie, he will reckon and returne againe ſuch beneuolence of yours, double and trebble vntounto you, yea tenfold, (which is vſe and gaine enough) nay, an hundreth fold, rewarding it with euerlaſting habitations: For why? he hath vndertaken, and is become the Surety (as I hauehave ſaid) to repay all ſuch loane againe abundantly. But wee thinke theſe to bee but words: and keepe the principall faſt, let the intereſt goe where it will for vsus. As for theſe Temples, we count them Sepulchres, deuouring al, asking giuegive, giuegive, but neuer returning ought againe: and as they in Eccleſiaſtes, who thinke all loſt and caſt vponupon the waters, that is well beſtowed. But theſe Idolaters and their confederates in Baal-berith, ſhall ſtand foorth, and witneſſe Eccleſ. 11. 1.againſt ſuch, to their ſhame.
Again, when they had thus helped him forward, we may ſee what maner Doct. 2. in verſ. 4.of perſons he hired & prouided to bring his wicked purpoſe to paſſe, to wit, ſuch as were empty, light-headed, and naught worth, and which were lewd and looſe, and were carried headlong to that which they did, and not by ſound reaſon. Whereby we hauehave a deſcription of ſuch graceles and wicked hangbies, what they are, and wherefore they ſerue; which ſhall be to good purpoſe to note, as for other cauſes, ſo for this one; to wit, that we may ſee what iuſtice ſhould be done and executed on ſuch: who liuing idly for the moſt part, further then they needs muſt muſt worke, ſhould be laid for as of late yeeres they were by that Honourable Counſeller of worthie memorie, and kept from ranging about. But ſeeing they are ſeldome puniſhed, the beſt vſe we can make of them, is to beware of them. Firſt they are, if we will know them, ſuch as hauehave ſpent all, and liued idlelie, without practiſing any profitable trade or calling: and how hauehave they ſpent it? full leaudly and badly, in gaming, whoring, guſling, caualering, fray-making, &c. and yet hanging in mens debts. Secondly, they are male-contents both with their owne penury and the welfare of others, yea with the State it ſelfe (often) of the Common-wealth, wherein they liue. Thirdly, they are ſuch as are not to be ruled by reaſon, much leſſe by religion. But their diſpoſition is, to run on head to bee ſet on gadding, rouing, &c. And wherefore ſtay or waite they? but euen for ſuch troubleſome times as theſe here were? and for ſome tumult and inſurrection, that they may fiſh in troubled waters, deſiring a change of the preſent condition of theſe peaceable times, as a fit occaſion to practiſe and ſet a work this their diuelliſh diſpoſition, which in peace and gouernment, is, as it were empriſoned in them: ſome by ioyning themſelues with vaine and looſe perſons like themſelues, and wandring to and fro, if there be no imployment for them at home, into forren countries, not through a deſire of getting knowledge or experience, much to trafficke for their maintenance, but to trie their fortunes (as they prophanely ſpeake) being wearie of their owne countrey, wherein they are defamed for their leaudneſſe, prodigalitie, and needleſſe debts, or other diſhoneſty: others being readily hired, to ſort themſelues with ſuch as will rifle mens houſes, and companions in helping to make a head, and if none of theſe hit, (as they ſay) nor come to paſſe; then fall they to robbing by the high waies. And ſuch dangerous and diſeaſed members hauehave there alwaies been, and are in al Common-wealths. In the booke of the Acts, in two or three Chapters, the Acts 17. 5, 8. & 19. 29. …4.Iewes got ſuch hang bies to make ſtirres and tumults in cities, and then charged Paul to be the author of them; when he yet was in danger of his life by them; and all to make him ſeeme ſeditious, and a raiſer of trouble where he came. Euen ſo ſuch there are at this day, idle companions, who cannot chooſe, but like Vultures and Cormorants, pray vponupon other mens goods: who might eaſily hauehave been ſtaied from theſe courſes while they were young, if they had not been ſuffered to hauehave their owne will ſo farre, til this trade (as miſerable as it is, yet becauſe it is ioyned with eaſe) waxed ſweete vntounto them. And againe, if they had not been ſaued and kept from priſon and correction, when they had ſo iuſtly deſerued it: which correction if the ciuill Magiſtrate, or the Head-borrowes of townes wherein they lurked, had neglected; yet their owne parents and kindred ſhould hauehave ſeene executed.Deut. 21. 19.
And if ſuch as worke not, ought not to eate, why are they ſuffered, whoſe 2. Theſ. 3. 10.life is idlenes? Let ſuch therefore be purged out from among vsus: and in all places let prouiſion be made, that they who are idle and vagrant, be reſtrained, and ſet on worke, (though they hauehave ſomewhat of their owne) that ſo, (will they nill they) as they will doe no good, they may bee compelled to ſtoope to good order, and be held in from doing miſchiefe at leaſt, that this euil may ceaſe which threatneth ſo great danger to Church and Common-wealth: which (I muſt needs ſay) is hard to doe; conſidering how ſuch perſons flocke together to ſuch places of the land as are populous and frequented, where they may be in harbour and the ſafer from ſearch and puniſhment: but then, that which we cannot amend, let vsus lament, and bleſſe God if we be free from ſuch moleſtation in the places where we dwell.
When this Abimelech ſaw how his bold and ſhameleſſe deuices and attempts Verſ. 5.proſpered, and how he thriued in them, he waxed much bolder, and tooke heart to goe fall vponupon his innocent brethren, and ſlew them. And Compare Act. 12. 2. Eccleſ. 7. 15.herein is verified that of Salomon, Eccleſ. 7. There is a wicked man (ſaith he) who continueth in his malice: meaning, becauſe he proſpereth, and is not reſiſted. Thus Adonibezek, chap. 1. ſtaied not till he had ſerued ſeuentie Princes Iudg. 1. 7.ſhamefully after his cruell humour, but was fleſhed more and more by his ſucceſſe. O horrible and vnnaturall blood-ſhedding crueltie! Here wee may ſee what monſters are in the world, worthily to be driuen frō amongſt men, and to be made ſpectacles and gazing ſtocks by open and moſt ſharpe puniſhment inflicted vponupon them. Such were Athaliah, Haman, and Abſolous. Such were they who wrought that bloodie maſſacre in France, and they who were the chiefe doers in the perſecution here in England, which may be remembred by ſome that yet liue; and they of the Gunpowder-treaſon come nothing behinde, that I ſay no more. But how much more cruell are they who murther many ſoules for want of due foode? But touching the ſinne of crueltie I hauehave ſpoken in chap. 1. 7. and chap. 8. 20. and forward. There let the reader ſupply this place from thence.
Many, not ill minded, deſire to know why God doth ſuffer ſuch abominations. Obiect. Anſw.I anſwere, that God knoweth the cauſe, who ruleth iuſtly, and who (as a godly father ſpeakes) ordereth the euill appetites of the wicked, to fulfill his prouidence, though he infuſe not euill into them; as he wrought the ſaluation of his elect, by the fall of Adam, and the treacherie of Iudas: and yet wee are not, neither ought, to bee altogether ignorant why God doth this. Wee are not to appoint the Lord how to gouerne the world, nor by whom, nor how he will be glorified. And he who may marueile that God is patient toward the bad, how can he thinke himſelfe too good to ſuffer for his own deſerts, be the inſtruments neuer ſo euil, when our Sauiour ſuffered for vsus without cauſe? But if any of vsus bee without danger and hurt by ſuch wicked perſons, who are one of Gods ſcourges to correct vsus, let vsus reckon it among the great bleſſings of God, and vſe it accordingly.
But in this verſe let vsus proceede further with Abimelech. He conſidered Verſ. 5. doct. 2.that his ſeuentie brethren might be like to hinder and reſiſt him: and therefore what did he? hee reſolued to diſpatch them all, and ſo hee did, except one. The hainouſnes of the fact, deterred him not from going through ſtitch with it: he would not leaue it by halues, nay he could not be quiet till eueryevery obſtacle and hindrance was remoued, and each eye-ſore taken away. It bewraieth a moſt fearfull propertie in the workers of euill: that cannot deſiſt nor leaue of, till they hauehave brought their vngodly attempts to a full and perfect end: wherein the godly ſeldome match them in contraire actions. A man would hauehave thought theſe ſeuentie men had been a great blocke in an vſurpers way, to keepe him from proceeding currantly in his bad courſe: and Abimelech ſaw that to, but yet it was not a barre ſtrong enough to keepe him from villanie, but he broke it (as it were) to peeces, rather then it ſhould ſtand vp in his way to hinder him from his purpoſe. For that, he was reſolued to goe forward with: and therefore whatſoeuer oppoſition ſhould come againſt it, hee would beare it downe, as floods and windes pull downe hils, bankes, bridges, gates, trees, and whatſoeuer comes in their way, and yeelds not to them. Woe be to him that meetes a Beare robbed of her whelpes; and yet better ſo, then croſſe an vſurper of his ambitious deſire: although theſe his brethren had not croſt him, but by ſilence and ſitting ſtill. Ambition is a raging monſter we ſee, and although it thirſt after honour, yet ſeldome is it aſſwaged without blood, if occaſion and opportunitie ſerue. Nothing is ſo holy, ſo pretious, ſo neere, which it prophaneth not, defloureth and deſtroyeth not. Euen his owne ſonne, it hee had ſtood in his way, had taſted of the ſame ſawce, which his brethren did, as it is reported Herod the great did, in the maſſacre of the infants. But it Matth. 2.became him well enough to keepe that to himſelfe by villanie, which hee had inuaded by wickednes before. Euen as his ſucceſſors at this day, theſe Italionated diuels, and diſciples of Machiauel both practiſe and defend, according to his rules, that a kingdome gotten by force, muſt be preſerued alſo by violence. Againe, he that will rule, muſt not ſtand nicely vponupon vertues, but (when occaſion ſerues) play both the lyon and foxe, and worke out his enemies by fraud or crueltie, any way, ſo he can doe it. Againe, let them ſtrike once, but (as Abiſhai ſaid) ſtrike home, and kill all at once that ſtand in his way and ſit in his light. For to kill often is odious, but to make a riddance all at once, roote and branch, is with ſuch, policie, and a neceſſitie pardonable. When I thinke of this fact of Abimelech, I could not but thus reſemble it to theſe monſters, who lately offered to giuegive vsus an experiment of the like enterpriſe in their powder-treaſon: which, as no age euer matched, ſo no age ſhall euer forget it, to their eternall ſhame, and the Lords endleſſe praiſe. For as they were Abimelechs in ambition and crueltie, ſo the Lord made them Abimelechs in confuſion. Abimelechs ioy laſted not: theirs was but hope, and yet made them aſhamed. The Lord ſent a ſpirit of diuiſion betweene him and Shechem: ſo hee did betweene theſe, one betrayed the other. So let thine enemies periſh O God, &c. Therefore let all wiſe men (for all Iudg. 5. laſt verſe.are not great ones) circumſpectly take heede and beware what ſinnes they reſolue to commit: for ſurely whatſoeuer they giuegive ouer themſelues vntounto, they will make no bones of the neceſſarie attendants thereof, be they neuer ſo hideous and horrible. As it is hard to ſay, whether this parricide or his ambition were greater, ſaue onelyonly that the former ſerued the latter. Men little dreame how deeply they plunge themſelues, when they vndertake any ſinne: themſelues often are aſtoniſhed at themſelues, but that when they hauehave begun, they muſt play the men in going forward, and not ſhrink for it. Herod himſelfe was not willing to behead Iohn: but when he had ſaid the word, he muſt not goe backe, (he thought) for his credit ſake, therefore hee went through. Hee might thanke his luxuriouſnes, and iollitie, which cauſed the oath, and the oath the murther. So ſaith the Apoſtle; Becauſe men ſet it downe, they will be rich, they meete with their match, and fall into 1. Tim. 69.many temptations and ſnares, &c. Tuſh, tell not them of trifles, of lyons in the way, they are buſie in purſuing their game, and they will get it, whatſoeuer it coſt them, for they hauehave ſo decreed and ſet it downe. Well learne to reſolue onelyonly vponupon that which is lawfull, and ſo be free from any great inconuenience, and goe through it with commendation: for all other reſolution is diueliſh. I would bee larger in this, but that there followeth in the ſixth verſe a doctrine not much differing from this argument.
But in this bloodie act of Abimelechs, one of his brethren eſcaped his Doct. 3.hands: and in that one of them was preſerued from his crueltie, and kept out of his reach, it was done by Gods ſpeciall prouidence, both to hold him in feare, ſeeing hee that was kept aliue, was the lawfull ſonne of Gedeon, and borne of a lawfull wife; Abimelech himſelfe comming but of a concubine: and further, it was alſo a good daſhing of his ioy. And moreouer, wee ſee there was good vſe of the Lords ſauing aliue of that one of his brethren, Iotham I meane, becauſe of the prophecie that he vttered; therein foretelling the deſtruction of Abimelech. To teach vsus, that although the committers of euill hauehave their humors ſatisfied, and their turne ſerued, and things to fall out euen as they would wiſh, yet there is, and ſhall be euer, ſomewhat reſerued to vex and pay them home, euen here in this world, and to giuegive them a taſte of further torment. For example, who had better ſucceſſe then Haman? and yet by Mordecay (who was of no place to ſtand with, or to croſſe him) how was his ioy quailed by him? rather then there ſhould be none to reſiſt him: yea, and that which was very vnlike to be, came vponupon him, for by Mordecaies counſell, and well handling the matter, Haman was ouerthrowne Eſter 7. 10. & 9. 10.with his whole houſe.
So Herod and Herodias had nothing that troubled them, but Iohn Baptist; and yet when they had taken Iohn out of the way, our Sauiour Chriſt role vp, who (through this that Herods conſcience put him in feare) kept him at Marke 6. 20.that ſtay, that he could not bee quiet. Ahab had been at hearts eaſe, but for 1. King. 22. 8.Eliah, and yet afterward Michaiah vexed him as much. Gehazi ſped well a while; but at length his maſter daſhed all. And all this is a ſauour of their 2. King. 5. 25.woe before it come, vnleſſe they be teared & driuen from their bad courſes thereby, and ſo humble themſelues to ſeeke mercy; as that third Captaine of Ahazijah did to Eliah, ſeeing the danger. And thus God feareth the 2. King. 1. 13.whole rabble of the vngodly, and by other terrors alſo: when his word wil not doe it, his workes ſhall; and euen thereby, I meane by the caſting them downe by the law liuely preached to them, and the feare of death, iudgement day, and hell; hee doth ſo torment many a man, that all his ſhiftes and deuices cannot deliuer him there-from; neither is al that hee hath able to comfort him, and cry downe this voice of the Miniſtery, although it worke no true feare of God in him to repentance, but onelyonly awake and aſtoniſh him. True it is, that ſome, though they bee apparantly croſſed by God, yet they feele it no more then the dead palſey, as we ſee in Nabal. But in that they be hardned, they are in worſe caſe. So then God dealeth thus commonly, that the wicked ſhall hauehave ſomewhat to make them leſſe eager of their pleaſures; as either paine, ſickneſſe, or ſome ſuch thing, or elſe inward feare, or the like. Although (alas) what although they ſhould neuer be interrupted? they ſhould yet be but caried to hell merrily, when others goe mourning. And when Gods ſeruants fall to the like ſinne, as to neſtle themſelues in the deceiuable inticements of this world, hee giueth them the like medicine to cure them of their diſeaſe, that they ſhal euer hauehave one thing or other to hold them in vnquietneſſe, and to feare Note.them with: which is euer like to light vponupon them, to vexe and ſting them, if they ſhall dare delight themſelues in any euill thing, or to reſt in that which is tranſitory; and ſo goe from the Lord. As the feare of loſing a good wife, their neareſt companion to them, to partake their commodities and delights with them; or their croſſes and decaies in the world, to make them eaſilier borne, which affliction diſquieteth them much, and dampeth all their earthly repaſt. So alſo, he exerciſeth them with weakeneſſe of body, meannes in eſtate, petty loſſes, &c. and al to weane thē from the breaſt (as it were ſucklings) by laying ſuch bitter and diſtaſteful corrections vponupon them.
The vſe of this is, to reſt and ioy our hearts in nothing here below; but to Vſe.ſee, that our delight bee in the fauour and feare of the Lord continually: which is the one thing (though we may make them two) that is neceſſarie. Prou. 24. 27. Luke 10. 42.And if nothing will rouſe vsus out of ſpirituall ſlumbering in earthly proſperitie and peace, (wherein to lie ſenſeleſſely and ſottiſhly, is more then to hauehave one foot in hell already) let this doe it, that wee know not how ſoone wee muſt leaue al, and goe to iudgement, and to the yeelding vp of our account. And yet if the Lord croſſe vsus in our enterpriſes that bee euill, we may know the worſt that the meaneth toward vsus, is, that he would ſtop vsus in our race toward deſtruction and miſery, that it may not come vponupon vsus.
When Abimelech had ſo vnnaturally ſlaine his brethren, which ought to Verſ 6. The ſenſe.hauehave ſtricken ſuch a terror into the men of Shechem that they ſhould hauehave abhorred him, and purſued him openly, calling the reſt of the Tribes to ioyne with them therein, till he had receiued his due puniſhment: he ſo ſubtillie woound in with them, and they were ſo credulous, that they beleeued, for all that hee would deale well with them, as hee had promiſed them; and therefore proceeded (O fearefull to be ſpoken) and vndertooke to make him King: and this they did in a place that pertained to them, none of the other Tribes being either called, or made acquainted with the matter (who yet had a farre greater ſtroke therein then they) which muſt needs raiſe great diſſention and deuiſion betwixt them. But this they regarded not, ſeeing they had taken in hand the effecting of the other.
Here we ſee, when one ſinne is intended of a man to be committed, it goeth Doct. 1.not alone, but draweth with it many other, as companions to it. For neither can it be brought to paſſe without the helpe of other, neither can a man take pleaſure in it without the company of other ſinnes. He ſeekes to be King, and how many ſinnes doth he adioyne, to the effecting of it? As he here vſed fraud, flatterie, and couſonage, and roſe vp, and drew after him a band of ſeditious hang-bies; he ſlew his brethren; and when he was made King, what contention did he cauſe among them?
It is too manifeſt, that ſinne is no ſolitarie bird, nor is euer ſeene out of Rom. 13. 13.company. Euen as S. Paul teacheth to the Romans, how ſtrife carrieth enuying with it; and gluttony draweth drunkenneſſe; and chambering, wantonneſſe. And this is the more to be marked, becauſe wicked perſons alleage for themſelues, when they are reprooued for their faults, that al men are ſinners, yea ſome ſinne groſſely in many kinds, and for themſelues, they ſay, they hope, if they hauehave done amiſſe, yet they may be borne with, ſeeing it is but one treſpaſſe: and further they will ſay, eueryevery one for himſelfe, Such a man hath this blemiſh, and ſuch a one that: all hauehave ſome one or other, and ſo may I hauehave, and what then? But to this it is to be anſwered, where one chiefe ſinne is committed, there are many other as handmaides to accompany it. As in the ſinne of Achan, Dauid, Ananias and Saphira, with many others, is to be ſeene. Therefore if we thinke it be a ſhame for vsus, to be charged Note.with many, then take we heed of any one, for it will not goe alone, and if we thinke it a ſmall matter to bee rebuked for one, know we for certaintie, that one will bring and draw many to it: and he only is happy, that wiſely taketh heed of all. But this doctrine I hauehave handled before: therefore the leſſe ſhall ſerue. Looke backe into chap. 1. verſ. 7.
Moreouer, let the fooliſhneſſe of theſe men of Shechem, who beleeuing Abimelechs faire words, went by and by and made him King, let it (I ſay) teach vsus wiſdome. For it is a ſingular good watch-word to all Chriſtians, that we doe not regard ſo much the ſpeeches of vaine and looſe perſons, as Note.weigh and compare their actions one with another, that we may profit by them, and not be beguiled. As the prouerb ſaith; what ſhould I hearken to words, when I ſee deeds contrarie. His were vile and horrible, as they ſaw, therefore they ought not to hauehave regarded his words. For he that is faultie in a great matter, is not to bee truſted in a ſmall. For example; if (as our text teacheth) a man be vnpitifull to his owne, as this Abimelech was, he will certainly be without pitie and compaſſion to other, howſoeuer for vaine glory he may ſhew pitie ſometime, and in ſome caſe; but that will not hold, neither is it to be reſted vponupon: for one ſwallow maketh not ſummer. So if one will contend and fall out with, diſclaime, and deceiue his neere friend, let not a ſtranger truſt him. For though ſuch an one bee now in fauour with him, yet they may twentie waies be eaſily eſtranged one from another, as we ſee it commeth daily to paſſe. So if a man liue not peaceablie and kindly with his wife, hee may ſay what hee will of his agreeing with others, but longer then while his corrupt and inconſtant humor bee pleaſed, he will liue kindly with none. This Dauid aimed at, and meant in his anſwer 2. Sam. 1. 16. & 4. 12.to them that brought tidings of their murthering of Saul, and of Iſhboſheth: for what likelyhood gaue they of any more fidelitie to him, if the time ſhould hauehave ſerued?
So to proſecute this point in more particulars, wherein the truth of it doth beſt appeare; let vsus not be deceiued, but wiſe; if we ſee, that a man be not faithfull to God, let vsus not thinke that he will bee to vsus. So if one helpe not his poore neighbour in his need, there is ſmall liberalitie or neighbourhood in him at any time. If a man beſtow not the Sabbath in godly exerciſes and religious duties, it is ſure he doth little that way on other daies: and if he doe; yet it is not of knowledge nor conſcience, whatſoeuer he doth, without which it is nothing worth. So if a man cannot be appeaſed in a ſmall matter, let him ſay what he will, it is ſure, hee will much leſſe bee in a great: and yet men commonly ſay, any thing but this I would doe for you, or could yeeld vntounto, when yet a ſmall matter is requeſted of them.
So, to enlarge the argument from the greater and more likely, to the leſſer: if thou canſt not truſt them, whom thou haſt long knowne faithfull, Note.though thou getteſt many new friends, thou ſhalt neuer be bold ſoundly to reſt vponupon them. Alſo if a man will ſeeme repentant, and leaue not an il outward qualitie, he hath not (certainly) yet begun to ſearch and purge his euil heart. If the righteous find much adoe to be ſaued; he is farre from it, that 1. Pet. 4. 18.taketh his libertie at his pleaſure. And who is little troubled about ſeeking aſſurance of his ſaluation? If one day ſpent and taken vp in a godly life bee Pſalm. 84. 10. Prou. 24. 10.ſweet, what were many, may the whole life, if it were paſſed therein? If we faint in afflictions, and yeeld readily to temptations, we may know by that; our ſtrength was neuer great. Againe alſo, (as our Sauiour ſaith) If ye be vnfaithfull in the ſmalleſt things, who ſhall truſt you with the greateſt treaſure? And Luke 16. 11.ſo (to ſay ſomewhat of Gods dealing with vsus) if God hauehave helped vsus in the hardeſt, when we ſought to him in feruentnes and truth, he will by the ſame meanes, helpe vsus in ſmaller danger. If he ſpare not his owne, (as he did not the Prophet, who diſobeyed him at Bethel) much harder ſhall the ſtate of 1. Kin 13. 25. 35.the bad be, as Ieroboams was, who hard of the others puniſhment. And if we be ſure, that he hath giuen vsus his Chriſt, the greateſt of all gifts; much more will he giuegive the ſmaller, being ſought with the like mind. Thus we may take good by Abimelechs words, and bee bold to ſay, that hee ſet not more by the men of Shechem, then by his brethren, whatſoeuer he ſaid.
Now one thing I will adde, or repeate rather, hauing handled it in this Doct. 3.Chapter more at large; I meane, touching theſe men of Shechem, who went and made Abimelech King, for all the abomination that they ſaw hee had wrought, who ought rather to hauehave purſued him to the fearefulleſt death, as I hauehave ſaid. Out of whoſe practiſe wee may clearely ſee, that there are none ſo vile and odious perſons, ſhewing openly their wickedneſſe to the world, but they are applauded and approoued of ſome in their odious and bad practiſes: and none are ſo godly, but ſhameleſſe beaſts there are, who openly wil defame them, and ſpeake maliciouſly of them; yea, (if need be) to their faces. The reaſon is, that they who commend and maintaine theſe vngodly ones, are as vile and bad themſelues as they, as I prooued before out of the Apoſtles words. And for further proofe of this which I ſay, Rom. 1. laſt.let that be conſidered of Iudas, when hee had betraied his moſt kind and louing Maſter, yet how was hee incouraged to it before, and rewarded for it Luke 22. 5.by thē that went then for maſters in Iſrael, euen for the chiefe pillers of the viſible Church, yea, teachers and lights to others? though the fact was afterward cried out of by the traitor himſelfe, ſaying: I hauehave ſinned in betraying the Matth. 27. 4.innocent blood. And all experience, aſwell as Scripture, prooueth the truth of this point; which ſhewes how full of ſinne and euill doings the times are. And yet they who applaud ſuch, goe for honeſt citizens and townesmen, till they bee bewrayed by the Lord, and till their wickedneſſe breake foorth, euen as the others doth. Which rightly verifieth the prophecy of our Sauiour who foretold, that in theſe latter daies, the abundance of iniquitie Matth. 24. 12.ſhould bee ſuch, that it ſhould cauſe the louelove of many to waxe cold. So that I conclude, that they are happy who are wiſe to turne away from, and to abhorre the ſinnes of the times they liue in, but eſpecially, if they abhorre ſin in themſelues ſecretly, that they may be farre from committing it openly, and feare to offend God, for the louelove they beare him. But I leaue the reſt to the next Sermon.