Commentary on Judges, Sermon 83
THE EIGHTIE THREE SERMON ON THE XVI. CHAPTER OF THE BOOKE OF IVDGES.
TO goe forward where I left, heere note wee another thing; to wit, what vſe and benefit wee commonly 2make of Gods long ſufferance and patience, and that is this: euen to goe forward by ſpirituall deluſion, in our ſinnes, without making any queſtion, that God will call vsus to any account for them; but flatteringly to tell our ſelues, and to be perſwaded that all is well, as long as God lets vsus go vnpuniſhed. Whereas, who ſhould bee ignorant of this, that the patience of God toward vsus is to the end we ſhould acknowledge it with vnfained thankes: (for he might iuſtly hauehave puniſhed vsus, as he hath done others, when he ſpared vsus) and that to the end wee ſhould turne againe to the Lord by true repentance, rather wondring Rom. 2. 4.at his lenity in ſo doing, then with much adoe enduring the penalty. and when we be enlightened, and come to our ſelues, and ſee that wee hauehave tempted God, we ſhould in no wiſe flatter our ſelues, leſt the Lord be forced thereby to tie vsus ſhorter, and vſe more ſharpeneſſe then we ſhal like well of. The like I ſpake of Samſons eſcaping in the former verſe. OnelyOnly this I adde, that it is a fearefull thing, when the louelove and conniuence of God, which is a Note.chiefe bridle to containe his faithfull people in obedience, is become an occaſion of the greateſt licentiouſneſſe in them. It argueth that their tender nature and filiall affection is waxen hardened, and degenerated into ſlauiſh and deſperate boldneſſe. Like to him who preſuming himſelfe ſure enough of his maſter, fell to waxe wearie of worke, and to take vponupon him iollity, as they doe who reckon without their Hoſte. But there ſhall no one thing ſo much ſting them at the heart when God is come to take correction on them, as this; that they were neuer well, till they had turned the louelove of a father, into the iealouſie of a foe: whoſe ſwift wings in taking reuenge ſhall be ſure to recompence the delay of his leaden feet, ſlow to puniſh, as Samſon himſelfe in the ſequell found to his coſt.
Thus much of Samſons ſinne: now it is ſhewed how the Philiſtims tooke Verſ. 5.occaſion thereby to get him into their hands, and that was, by dealing with the woman whom he loued, to intice him to tel her where his great ſtrength lay, that ſo they might doe to him as they deſired; but withall, to the end they might draw and perſwade her thereto, they offer her (the chiefe Princes of them, I meane) a large ſumme of money. By this we may ſee the wiſdome and readineſſe of the men of this world in going about to remedie any bodily miſchiefe that is comming toward them. As ſoone as they heard where Samſons haunt was, the chiefe of them went thither, and tooke order for the ſuppreſſing of him, and that not without their great coſt and charge. Oh this were commendable indeed, if it might bee ſeene in vsus, yea and ſo much the more, where greater miſchiefe hangeth ouer vsus, I meane, if wee could offer like violence to our ſinne, and giuegive it no reſt, till wee had rooted it out, as they heere effected that which they went about. The which (yet) all may ſee, that we hauehave greater cauſe to doe, then they that are in the moſt emminent danger of any temporall or bodily euill. But here to ſee both our ſloth and our follie, it is both admirable and lamentable. But of their prouidence, together with their coſt, conſent, and diligence I hauehave noted more by the like occaſion in the former verſe.
It is no maruell that they counſell her to deceiue him by inticements and 2allurements, ſuch as harlots hauehave good skill in, and fooles that are woond in with them, are eaſily deluded by. For Samſon by the ſtrongeſt reaſon and perſwaſion of the wiſeſt carnall friend, would neuer hauehave been drawne to this ſlauerie and ſhame, which a baſe companion brought him to, by deluſion Note.and deceiuing of him. Whereby we may learne, that when we are carried away to ſinne, and are giuen ouer to our luſts, we depart not only from religion, but alſo from ſound wiſdome and reaſon, and are not in our right mindes, (as they ſay) but are deluded, mocked, diſguiſed, euen made very fooles, as Samſon was heere, if not mad and beſide our ſelues; as it was ſaid of the prodigall ſonne when hee had ſpent his goods with harlots, hee came to Luk. 15 17.himſelfe at length, whereby it is cleere that he was before beſide himſelfe: and as we reade of the foole in the Prouerbs, that hee followed as an oxe to Prou 7. 22.the ſlaughter.
And if we be ſuch, then it is our due to bee ſhoaled among ſuch, and to be driuen from the companie of ſober and wiſe men. Yet thus was Samſon deceiued and deluded, when he was drawne and inticed by that wicked woman, to vtter this ſecret, namely where his great ſtrength lay. The vſe that we ſhould make of this, is to abhorre that ſinne, and all fellowſhip with ſuch perſons, and labour to retaine godly wiſedome, to guide vsus in holie feare of offending, rather then to take part in the pleaſures of ſinne for a ſeaſon, ſo ſhall we not be deceiued and deluded, as otherwiſe wee cannot chuſe but be, yea and that in moſt ſottiſh manner, as Samſon here was by her inchantment brought to bee. Let this bee ſufficient to ſhew, that there is enough in the corrupt heart of man to humble him in the ſight of God and the world, if he were not in the depth of darkneſſe, yea though there were no more but this, that there is ſuch a rebellion and deformitie in the inferior appetite of the ſoule, through originall ſinne, that whereas it was created moſt obedient and ſubiect to the pure light of the vnderſtanding in all things, now it is ſo infeebled and infatuated, that it reſiſteth the iudgement of the minde, and led away by the ſtrength of any allurement, euen contrary to that knowledge, which ſtill remaineth to guide it. So that it is degegenerate and become moſt brutiſh and ſottiſh, and ſo bewraieth it ſelfe euen in them that otherwiſe goe for none, of the ſimpleſt, or vnciuill ſort.
This offering of her money by theſe Princes of the Philiſtims, and that alſo in ſuch liberall maner, which was as much as an hundred pound a piece Doct. 3.of our money well nigh, by the eſtimation of the ſhekell, which they reckoned by, [for a common ſhekell was as much as twentie pence with vsus, and therefore eleuen hundred want little of an hundred pound at that rate.] This offering (I ſay) of ſo many hundreds to her, according to the number of the Princes that came to her, might eaſily draw on to their purpoſe ſuch an one as was but light, inconſtant, and falſe-hearted to Samſon, (as harlots are) without reſpect of the money.
Which teacheth vsus, that this hireing of people for money, hath bin, and Doct.is as readie a way to draw them to any lewd practiſe, as it is commonly offered, & hath bin in all ages, but neuer more then in this, and eſpecially by the Popiſh crue in the attempting of deſperate murthers, &c. The like hath bin noted in the fact of Abimelech, chap. 9. who hired lewd fellowes with the Iudg. 9. 4.money of the Shechemites: and that wofull example of the Prieſts preuailing thereby with Iudas one of the twelue Apoſtles, to betray his Maſter, and in hireing the watchmen, Matth. 28. to defame the Reſurrection, may be notable preſidents hereof. And I mention this point to this end, that ſeeing it Mat. 28. 12. 13.is as common as odious, that it may not reach alſo to Gods faithfull ſeruants, to doe either the one or the other, either to ſet a worke others, or to ſell their helpe either to corrupt, or to be corrupted by money, (for they go together, and are mutuall cauſes and effects of each other) to bring wicked purpoſes to paſſe; which in ſo euill an age as this is, (farre more ſubtile and skilfuller then the former to doe miſchiefe) may too ſoone preuaile by cuſtome euen among them. Touching the coſt they were at, ſee more in chap. 17. 2.
Thus wee hauehave heard how this wicked woman was hired by the Philiſtim Verſ. 6. 7. 8. 9.Princes to this wofull worke of deceiuing Samſon, which was the firſt point of the two, (as appeareth in the fourth verſe) in the ſecond part of this chapter. Now it followeth, how ſhe went to worke, and preuailed, and this is the ſecond. This is declared and laid foorth in the verſes following, to the 21. But ſhe not obtaining at one time that which ſhe ſought, ſhe ſet vponupon him fundrie times. Foure ſeuerall attempts are expreſſed here to hauehave been made by her to this end; and the firſt of them is to bee ſeene in theſe foure next verſes. Of theſe therefore as they follow in order.
In her firſt attempt, we muſt not thinke that ſhe went about it ſimply by Doct. verſ. 6.asking him the queſtion, where his ſtrength lay; but as they had taught her to deceiue him, ſo there is no doubt but ſhe flattered him, pretending that ſhe marueiled at his ſo great ſtrength, and that ſhe reioyced not a little, for that ſhe had a louer indued with ſuch an excellent gift and qualitie; and therefore that ſhe, as one louing him againe, and truſtie to him, for his kindneſſe towards her, deſired of him to know where that great ſtrength of his did lie. By this we ſee, what boldneſſe, men (though furniſhed with excellent gifts) doe cauſe and cheriſh in harlots, by hauing fellowſhip, and keeping companie with them. Samſon was a man ſo ſpoken of for his manhood, that ſuch as were of good courage, durſt not be bold to looke him in the face, yet ſhe a baſe houſewife, dares boldly demaund of him weightie matters, and the greateſt ſecrets. So the whoriſh daughter of an whoriſh mother, Herodias I meane, being ſo farre admitted as to dance before Herod Matth. 14. 6.the King, & being permitted to demand what recompence ſhe liſted, euen to the halfe of his kingdome, ſhamed not to aske the head of Iohn Baptiſt: whom not onelyonly all the people, but euen Herod himſelfe reuerenced and Mark. 6. 20.ſtood in feare of. And theſe are the wares which the ſtrumpets fardall is ſtuft withall, euen ſubtiltie, crueltie, falſehood (all ſo tempered together in this demaund of Delilah, that a man knowes not which qualitie of them all is predominant) and among the reſt, this (whereof we now ſpeake) inſolent impudencie and ſhameleſneſſe. It is the practiſe of this curſed kinde euen at this day with their Paramours, to demaund of them vnreaſonable pledges of vncleane louelove, as appeares by the embezeling of their patrimonie for their maintenance, and ſometimes cauſing them to ſpend euen their blood in their quarrell, or by their occaſion.
It is a true ſaying, that too much familiaritie breedeth contempt. But much more if it be in euill, and in no euill ſooner then in this kind, I meane in whoredome. A thing notoriouſly exemplified in that harlot Iezabel, Note.who ſo much abuſed the remiſſenes of Ahab, as to inſult ouer him, as her 1 King. 21. 7.vnderling. It is the common phraſe of them that are the companions of harlots, to call themſelues their ſeruants, and them their miſtreſſes. But in deed they are their vaſſals and ſlaues, and yet their bondage, as great as it is, and ioyned with miſerie, is ſweete to them, although (indeed) but a ſweete poyſon: but it is a reward good enough for ſuch employment. And yet many chuſe this kinde of life, as a libertie, rather then honeſt mariage. But to returne to that which I ſaid of familiaritie, it is not meete for the beſt to ſwell (I confeſſe) and to bee high minded, but humble and meeke toward all; yet with grauitie, whereby the bad may be afraid of them, and not think them fit companions for them, except they change their qualities, and the Note. Tit. 2. 7.good may cling and ioyne to their companie and acquaintance, without feare. But to hauehave familiaritie with the bad in euill, is vtterly vnlawfull, and ſerues onelyonly to confirme and make them bold in wickedneſſe. Thus is many a man, otherwiſe worthie, as Samſon was, brought into meane account by indiſcreete and vnſeaſonable laying open his minde, where hee ſhould not: euen ſo did he imbolden this woman thereby to aske him how he may bee bound and hurt; the which how abſurd a thing it was either for him to incourage her, or for her to propound to him, who ſeeth not?
Samſon in anſwering her, who ſhould not hauehave admitted her to ſpeake to Verſ. 7.him of any ſuch matter, and telling her how hee might be bound, did make way to all the euill that followed. For if ſhe had been repulſed and beaten back from ſuch boldnes at the firſt, ſhe ſhould hauehave had no incouragement, or much leſſe (no doubt) to hauehave proceeded further, as ſhe did afterward. It was as great wiſedome in Samſon to anſwer her in this, as it was in Balaam, when he anſwered the words of his Aſſe. It was time (he ſhould hauehave ſaid Numb. 22. 29.with himſelfe) for him to thinke that hee had gone farre enough in prouoking God, when hee opened the mouth of the dumme beaſt to reprooue him.
So ſhould Samſon hauehave thought, that when he had imboldned a wicked woman to tamper and meddle with him about that which touched his life, and concerned his ſoule, to bereaue it of the furniture of the graces of God, he ſhould hauehave thought (I ſay) that it was time to ceaſe ſpeaking to her, or to admit her to ſpeake of any ſuch matter to him: yea to turne vtterly away from her rather, and vtterly to giuegive her ouer. Ioſeph, when his whoriſh Miſtreſſe lay at him day by day to yeeld to her wicked requeſt, the Scripture Gen. 39. 10.teſtifieth, that yet he hearkened not vntounto her, neither would be in her companie.
So if any of vsus hauehave made vagaries and outſtrayings, yea though not ſo groſſely as Samſon did, neither in fellowſhip with lewd women, (which were horrible) but if it be but in fond and filthie lingering after them, and their whoriſh companie, when our conſciences ſhall accuſe vsus for ſo doing, Note.and warne vsus to deſiſt and breake off betimes, from ſuch longing and lingering after them, as they who hauehave nothing to doe with them, and when withall we ſet before our eyes the ſhame and ſorrow that will fall on vsus by that which we long for, and haſt after: then (I ſay) let vsus thinke, it is high time for vsus (if wee hauehave vnhappily gone ſo farre) to breake the brood, and ſcatter the miſts of ſuch idle and filthie thoughts and wicked luſts, and with aſtoniſhment aske of our ſelues, what hauehave wee done? and by the helpe of our faithfull and ſeruent prayers to throw them all in the duſt, and not with Samſon to dally with them, as he did with his Delilah, but marke and thinke ſeriouſly vponupon the end thereof. And ſo doing, wee ſhall to ſome purpoſe make our benefit of this example of Samſon: otherwiſe wee may with the common ſort wonder at, and condemne his follie, and our ſelues play the fooles in the like or a worſe kinde. It is not ſtrange, that he who purpoſely had proſtituted himſelfe to the will of an harlot, and was now in the purſuit of his luſt, could not then breake the bands of his ſinfull deſire, when it had ſnared him: for the time of preuenting this miſchiefe was, when hee was firſt enticed: now the matter was gone ſo farre that being vnderunder feete, he had ſmall liſt or ſtrength to riſe vp, and call himſelfe to a ſerious remembrance Note.of his offence. And Delilahs lap and armes was no fit nor likely place or occaſion of ſuch thoughts or meditations: wiſedome was driuen out of his breaſt by corrupt affection: the blow was ſmartie enough, but hee had loſt his feeling. So that there is no more miſerable a ſight, then to behold a man when he is intangled with the ſnare of his owne luſt, or any ſin that waſteth the conſcience, for then is hee ſhiftleſſe, and cannot helpe himſelfe, but is readie to beare any burthen which ſhall be laid vponupon his ſhoulders, rather then to riſe vp from vnderunder it. Therefore great is the louelove of God to that man, who not hauing at firſt preuented the beginnings of ſinne, but been ouertaken with the deceitfulnes of it at the firſt view, yet vponupon more aduiſed conſideration of the danger which it leadeth vntounto, ſhall awake and rouſe vp himſelfe, and flie from it as from a ſerpent.
And for his ſhifting her off with a lye, as though he would both ſatisfie 2her, and yet keepe himſelfe in ſafetie, by not bewraying the ſecret; his wiſedome and commendation was alike in both. For as he dealt fooliſhly in anſwering her at all, ſo did hee as ill in looking to ſtop her mouth with a lye. Which forewarneth vsus, not to ſhift for our ſelues, nor looke to make our part good by lying, though the way lie open thereto, and is then too readie at hand, when we ſee no other way; which ſinne in all kinds thereof is condemned, howſoeuer little account be made of it. And the rather it is to bee taken heed of, ſeeing we oft times runne headlong into it, (as I hauehave ſaid) when wee ſee no readier way to ſhift for our ſelues, and (as wee thinke) to ſaue our credit, and auoid greater danger. And ſeeing there was no other to bee looked for, then that Samſon (being in the caſe hee was at this preſent) ſhould prouide for his owne ſafetie by a lye, (a poore ſhield for him, whoſe innocencie and watchfulnes ſhould hauehave been his defence) let vsus beware of entring acquaintance with any ſin, for it will bee coſtly in the maintaining, and draw a man by a wretched neceſſitie to adde thereto many other ſins: euen as Samſon muſt ſeeke couert and ſafegard to himſelfe by a lye (for want of better) except at firſt daſh he would hauehave gone through ſtitch, and hauehave told her the matter. Touching his dallying humour, and his playing wilie beguily with her, as if he had had wiſdome and skill enough to ſhift her off with trifling anſwers, if the hardeſt ſhould come; although it ſauoured ſomewhat of confidence and conceitednes of his ſuppoſed ſtrength, (much like Peters raſhnes, when hee was told by his Maſter that he ſhould denie him) Luke 22. 34. Mat. 26. 34. 35.yet in the ſequell it bewraied his more then common folly, as hee that had had but one eye, might eaſily hauehave ſeene that no leſſe euill could follow: which alſo ſhall appeare in due place hereafter.
She, as if hee had told her the truth, as ſhe verily thought hee had, went Verſ. 8. 9.about forthwith to make proofe of his words: for whereas hee told her hee ſhould be weakened, if he were bound with ſeuen greene withes or cords, ſhe cauſed them to be brought to her foorthwith, and ſhe bound him with them, though indeed hee brake them: (oh wonderfull ſottiſhnes in him to ſuffer it!) and ſhe had certaine of the Philiſtims lying in waite in a chamber thereby; who ſhould be ready to take him, if he had been weakened indeed, as ſhe ſuppoſed he was, and looked for it. Thus wee ſee whereto her flattering words tended, euen to ſeeke his life. And this is as good as they may looke for, who hauehave neere fellowſhip and ſecret company with ſuch companions.
For though as Salomon ſaith, her lips drop as the honey combe, euen as if ſhe were pleaſure it ſelfe to a man, yet her paths leade to deſtruction, and Prou. 5. 3.an whore will hunt after the pretious life of a man. We hauehave read of many, who partly hauehave been moſt wofully handled of the ſtrumpets themſelues, whom they hauehave truſted with life and goods, and partly hauehave bin deliuered by them into their enemies hands to be ſlaine. And what maruell? For ſhe that hath ſold her ſelfe; will much eaſilier ſell her Paramour. And therefore well did the ſame Salomon giuegive warning, that ſhee is to bee ſhunned as hell Prou. 7. 27.mouth. But though bodily danger be ſo much to be feared by her, yet that is the leaſt; ſpirituall hurt is farre greater. But by the occaſion of this which I ſay, I adde; that the ſin of them is farre more grieuous, who abhorre common harlots, who might eaſily bewray them, yet will not refraine from making thoſe (or going about it at leaſt) who were honeſt before, to ſtoope to their lure, and ſo become whores and diſhoneſt; which thing of the better ſort is more to be feared. Of this falſhood and trecherie I hauehave ſaid ſomwhat in the former Chapter.
Thus much of the firſt attempt of Delilah, by the which though ſhe preuailed Verſ. 10.not in that which ſhee ſought, yet this ſhee gained, that ſhee was the more imboldned to ſet vpō him again, as hauing receiued no check nor diſcouragement by him, for that which ſhe had done already. Therefore ſhee is not diſcouraged, but attempteth the matter the ſecond time, as in theſe next three verſes is to be ſeene. And ſhe boldly ſaid to him, that hee had deceiued her, and told her lies, which might iuſtly cauſe her, ſhe ſaid, to doubt of his louelove to her, and therfore now ſhe required better dealing at his hands, or elſe ſhe ſhould be much grieued.
This ſhameleſſe behauiour of hers ſhould teach vsus, that all boldneſſe in euill 1is an high degree of ſinne, and we ſhould keepe our ſelues farre from it: as not euen to dare open our mouthes to a woman to hearken and conſent to a filthy and vncleane demand or motion, wherby alſo ſhe may know and be priuie to the wickedneſſe that is in vsus. The ſame I ſay of boldneſſe in any other ſin, as boaſting, threatning, ſlandering, lying, ſwearing, challenging of any to fight, or any other like vntounto theſe, & it is fearfull to heare any of theſe, or to ſee them committed with ſuch boldneſſe as they are. Oh modeſty and baſhfulnes, what ſeemly & comely ornaments are they, euen where conſcience is as yet wrought by the word, but wanting? for they doe keepe and preſerue many from ſhamefull euils oftentimes, who hauehave no religion to guide and defend them. But boldnes is and ought to be vſed in the defence, commendation, and ſute making for good things, and therein to be ſhewed, Note.and when it is ſo employed, it is then in kinde. This point I will not heere enlarge, ſeeing it often commeth to hand.
Now followeth Samſons anſwere to her ſute in the ſecond attempt. And Verſ. 11.that was much like the former. If, ſaith he now, I be bound with new ropes that neuer were occupied, I ſhall bee weake, as another man. Wherein wee ſee he dallies with her ſtill, and ſuffers her to demand that of him which was not meet in any ſort for him to hauehave ſuffered, yea and anſweres her alſo about it. For what though he held her off with a lie? yet ſeeing hee did not refuſe to anſwere her about it, and charge her to ſpeake no more of it, (being a ſecret not to bee vttered) and alſo in that hee doth ſo the ſecond time, when he had tried already, that ſhe ſought to know it onelyonly to the end ſhee might deliuer him into the Philiſtims hands; in theſe reſpects, I ſay, as it was palpable dotage in him to doe ſo, euen ſo it was the next way to ſet her forward in ſoliciting and importuning him, till ſhee got it at his hands. It was therefore a further degree both of his ſinne, and alſo of the bringing on of his miſery. He might hauehave been made wiſe enough to hauehave refuſed to heare her any more about that, hauing ſeene before, that the Philiſtims lay in the chamber iuſt by, (if opportunity had ſerued) to binde and take him.
And this may teach vsus, that it is no better then ſottiſhneſſe to bee ſo impotently Doct.giuen ouer to a mans appetite, and either this way in lingring after, or clinging to a wicked woman, or in purſuing hotly any other ſinne, ſeeking the fulfilling of a mans deſire, ſo that he can no way bee remoued from it; and that eſpecially when neither proofe of former danger thereby, nor feare of preſent euill, nor the foreſeeing of any to come, (and yet all certaine and apparent) can hold him from it. And though in this groſſe manner Gods ſeruants bee not commonly enchanted and bewitched (which were monſtrous) yet let vsus not reſt in that, nor in any like impotency, as in hunting greedily after the wealth of this world, and ioying in the pride of life, &c. but ſo bridle wee and keepe vnderunder our wicked hearts, eſpecially when wee hauehave had faire warnings before, as he had, that they bring vsus to no ſuch like ſlauery and bondage, but that we abhorre them more then at the firſt, (if we did then entertaine them, eſpecially we hauing had proofe, as he had, what woe will follow.
The more I conſider this fact of Samſon, the more I thinke of that phraſe which the holy Ghoſt vſeth to deſcribe ſinne by; I meane that of drunkenneſſe. And as by other occaſions I note other properties of a drunkard, wilfully ruſhing into it; ſo I obſerue this one of venterouſneſſe and boldneſſe. Well ſaid he that deſcribed drunkennes (among many other properties of the diſeaſe) that it puts into man a marueilous confident hopes, ſo that it dareth fight with any man without weapon, whom ſobriety durſt not encounter with, though well armed. And no wonder, for when the braine is ouercharged, and nature oppreſſed, in ſtead of the purelight and vnderſtanding of mind; there is ingendred a frothie conceit and appearance of that which is not, and in ſtead of the ſpirit and vigour of the affection, ſucceedeth a degenerate boldneſſe and foole-hardie ventrouſneſſe: as all men can iudge that the boldneſſe of a drunkard comes rather for want of wit, then preſence of courage. Euen thus fareth it with Samſon in this diſtemper and ſpirituall drunkenneſſe of his. Still he makes his companion anſweres, faire and farre off, flouriſhing and caſting about, as if he had skill, and ſtrength enough to match and goe beyond her; whereas alas it fareth with him as with the man I ſpake of, who thinking himſelfe ſtrong enough to goe alone and vpright, tottereth and falleth at eueryevery turne. For although the ſecret was not yet vttered, yet theſe preambles of dalliance and trifling, what were they but as the nibling of the fiſh, or the hopping of the bird about the bait and ſnare which ſhe haſteneth, and yet would not ſeeme to haſten vntounto? Doubtleſſe, if Samſon his grace had not been in great part imbezeled and feebled, ere his locks were cut off, he had carried a truer meaſure of himſelfe, and better iudgement of his owne caſe, then to thinke himſelfe his owne man, and able to reſiſt, when his miſtriſſe, or rather his luſt, had him bound in chaines, and laid vnderunder feet, as foiled and vanquiſhed. Ah poore Samſon, (it may be ſaid) thou wert ſtrong enough to match Lions, and thouſands of men: but grace ſtands not in the bigneſſe of bone, and ſtrength of armes, or greatnes of ſtomacke: thy luſt and thy harlot are ſtronger then the Lion, or mightie men. Therefore let this be enough to conuict all ſuch of folly, as are of Samſons humour. Tuſh, ye muſt not tell them of bad company, nor ſtealing of liberty which God denieth them; they would not hauehave you think they hauehave ſhaken hands with the feare of God, they would bee as loth to part with a good conſcience as others: yea, (it may bee anſwered) ſo thought Samſon; he would haunt the harlots houſe, and yet ſecretly keepe his goodneſſe too, for all that. But how, and where lay the ſtrength to effect this? Poore ſoule, onelyonly in his fooliſh conceit and boldneſſe, and indeed onelyonly there lay the foundation of his woe. For if he had felt his declining and weakeneſſe, then had he with aſtoniſhment ſhaken off his louer, and departed. But now hee feareth nothing till all be too late, and this makes him to ſport and play in a matter of the greateſt importance and danger. Therfore to all ſuch bold perſons as ſay, Turne me looſe to any company, and the ſtrongeſt enemie; If I be foiled, laugh at me: To ſuch I ſay; yea, we ſhal be ſure you ſhal be laughed at, though the wiſe will pitie you rather: but who ſhall giuegive you counſell to eſcape it before? truly he that can perſwade you to walke humbly, and with feare of your owne frailty, and to watch againſt, and ſuſpect your owne frailty and falſhood of heart: hee (I ſay) may keepe a miſchiefe from you, and hold you from venturing and dealing with ſuch an aduerſary, as you know will maſter you. But if you looke to eſcape danger, and yet reiect this grace, then know for certainty, that theſe kinds of Merchant-venturers alwaies make ſhipwracke, and bring in no better gaine. All the grace that a man hath, is little enough to quench the dart of tentation ſuggeſted; which yet is but the beginning of the ſinne: and ſhalt thou, adding fewell to the fire, and helping the diuell forward by inward prouoking thy ſelfe to ſinne, thinke to quit thy ſelfe well of it in the hotteſt aſſault? If God try thee, his grace ſhall bee ſufficient for thee: if thou wilt tempt him, and trouble thy 2. Cor. 12. 9.ſelfe, know thou haſt no promiſe of ſafety, or to be kept harmeles, but maieſt looke certainely for thy downefall: as for thy owne wiſedome, grace is not propped vp by ſuch pillers, but ſhall totter and reele as an houſe which hath loſt her foundation: yea they that goe to worke thus on their owne head, moſt aſſuredly with Samſon ſhall fall, and bewray their folly at laſt, to teach them by the experience of fooles, that wiſdome, which the word and other vnhappy men could not doe. Then ſhall they ſee there was oddes betwixt keeping innocent, and wilfull offending; they ſhall finde, that the ſtrength of the one is not like the other, though they were little aware of any ſuch matter.
The iſſue of this ſecond attempt was altogether as it was in the former: Verſ. 12.for ſhe bound him with ropes againe, and had company lying ready for the purpoſe at hand, (if there had bin any worke for them to do,) though as yet he fell not into their hands. And let this teach vsus, not onelyonly to feare and ſuſpect trechery and vnfaithfulneſſe in leaud women which we know; (as this was ſuch an one;) but generally alſo wherein ſoeuer wee hauehave to doe, beware we that we defile not our hearts and hands in any wicked actions and practiſes, whatſoeuer ſhewes and promiſes are giuen and offered vsus. Remembring the words of our Sauiour, Bee wiſe as Serpents, and innocent as Mat. 10. 16.Doues, and beware of men.
Which I doe not ſay, as though I would teach men vncharitableneſſe, (charity being not ſuſpitious) but to giuegive warning to Gods ſeruants to beware 1. Cor. 13. 5.how wee put our ſelues into mens hands, and truſt their faithfulneſſe vponupon a faire word or countenance, which our Sauiour willeth vsus to take Ioh. 2. 24.heed of, and giues vsus example alſo, in that he would not commit himſelfe to men, though they ſpeake him faire, and giueth his reaſon thereof, For he knew what was in man. But while we doe thus, we do not iudge of men what they are, (but are warie, as we be counſelled) or what religion is in them, further then we hauehave proofe thereof by their words and deeds, and yet that we do not ſo, finally neither, but for the time onelyonly, while they lie in knowne euill, or not knowne to be reformed. So that neither are wee on the one ſide, to iudge men without ground and warrant, neither yet are wee on the other ſide, to commit our ſelues into their hands, (hauing that knowledge and experience that wee hauehave of mens vnfaithfulneſſe how common it is) vponupon a bare ſhew. But heere an end for this time.