Commentaries, Commentary on Judges · Chapter 2 · Verse 19 – Verses 20-23
19 Yet for all that as ſoone as the Iudge was dead, they turned and did worſe than their fathers, in following ſtraunge gods, and in ſeruing them and bowing them ſelues vntounto them, and ceaſed not from the Actes of them, and from their hard waye.
When the Hebrues in the tyme of the Iudge that was rayſed vp had a reſtyng tyme, and came to a tollerable eſtate, that iudge beyng dead, they fell agayne worſe than they did before, and committed much more grieuous things than did their elders. Whereby is founde true, that whiche we before hauehave ſayde, namely that the infirmitye of our nature is ſo great, that we can not longe abyde in pure religion and ſincere worſhipping of God. And in that it is ſayde that they whiche came after were a great deale worſe than their fathers, is declared that GOD not without reaſon and iuſte cauſe was the more prouoked vntounto anger ſo that wheras he had longe tyme ſpared their elders, nowe at the laſt he would not forgeue thoſe that came after. And this is it whiche is often ſayde,Howe the iniquities of the fathers are viſited in the children & childrēs children. that he doth viſite the iniquities of the fathers vponupon the children euen to the third and fourth generation, whiche is not ſo to be vnderſtand, as thoughe he ſhould puniſhe the poſteritie more than they hauehave deſerued. But bycauſe God, as he hath ſpared the fathers, would ſo alſo hauehave forgeuen the children, vnleſſe they had ſo much followed the iniquities of their fathers, that alſo they went farther in thoſe miſchieuous Actes, then did their fathers. God is patient, and before the poureth out hys wrath and puniſhementes, he vſeth to tary for the thirde or fourth generation. But howe theſe of whom we intreate were more corrupt than their fathers, the hiſtory manifeſtly declareth: for they committed more wicked Actes than did their fathers, And of all thoſe, whiche their fathers perpetrated, they forſooke none, or left none vndone.
But of this kynde of ſpeache, wherein it is ſayde:It is not in mans power to auoyde ſinne. Neither ceaſed they from their endeuours, we may not conclude that it lyeth in our ſtrength & power to auoyde ſynnes, or to wrappe our ſelues out of them. Wherfore they greatly erre, which of the preceptes of the law of GOD do gather the ſtrength and power of our free will. For by the commaundementes the Scripture teſtifyeth, what thynges they he whiche are required of men.The power of free will is not to be gathered of the commaū dementes. But the ſame Scripture manifeſtlye in an other place admoniſheth, that it lieth not in our power to fulfill them. As Paul alſo writeth in hys latter Epiſtle to Timothe: that there are in a great houſe not onelyonly veſſelles of golde and ſiluer, but alſo veſſelles of wood and veſſelles of claye. And he whiche ſhall purge hym ſelfe from them, ſhalbe a veſſell ſanctified to honour, profitable to the Lorde and prepared to all good workes. Neither for all that can we therby conclude, that it is in our owne ſtrength, to purge our ſelues from ſynnes, althoughe the ſame be required at our handes, for as much as that is to be looked for onelyonly of God. Wherefore the ſame Apoſtle in the ſame Epiſtle, when he had admoniſhed the Miniſter of the Churche ſo be gentle, ready to teache, pacient to ſuffre euilles,It is GOD whiche geueth repentaunce & amendement. but ſo for all that to confute them whiche reſiſte, addeth. If peraduenture God ſhall geue them repentaunce to the knowledge of hys truth. By theſe wordes we are taughte, that repentaunce from ſynnes, whiche is commaunded commeth not of our ſelues, but is louyngly and gently geuen of God.
The waye of ſynners is rightlye and worthily called harde,The waye of ſinners is hard and it is a metaphor elegantly taken of roughe and ſtonye places, for ſtones and rockes for that they hauehave thicke and vnequall partes, they hurte, pricke and rente the tendre fleſhe of theyr feete whiche trauayle vponupon them. So are the manners of the wicked, they wounde theyr conſciences, and at the laſte bryng them into extreme miſeries, which happeneth not without the great goodneſſe of God for ye god at the length by that meanes calleth vntounto him very many ſinners. And the ſawe hath Hoſeas the Prophete very well deſcribed in hys ii. chap: when he ſayeth: And ſhe ſayde, I will go after my louers whiche hauehave geuen me golde, ſiluer, wooll, flaxe, &c. But I will hedge in thy wayes with thornes, and will take awaye my gold, my ſiluer, my wooll and my flaxe. And ſhe ſhall ſay: I will returne vntounto my firſt huſband, for then was it better with me, than it is now.
20 Wherfore the wrath of the Lorde was kyndled agaynſt Iſrael, and he ſayd: Bycauſe thys people hath tranſgreſſed myne appoyntment, whiche I commaunded their Fathers, and hauehave not hearkened vntounto my voyce.
21 I alſo will hence forth not caſt out before them one man of the nations whiche Ioſua left when he dyed.
22 That thoroughe them I maye proue Iſraell, whether they wyll kepe the waye of the Lorde, and walke therein, as their Fathers dyd, or not.
23 And ſo the Lord left thoſe nations, and droue them not out immediatly, neither deliuered them into the handes of Ioſua.
The cauſe being before declared, namely the contempte, wherby the Iſraelites contempned GOD, now is ſet forth the effect thereof whiche is the kindlyng of the wrath of GOD. For this worde Chara in the Hebrue tongue, is to waxe hotte, or to be kyndeled with anger. Whereby the property and nature of angry is properly and elegantely expreſſed. For if angry ſhould be defyned accordyng to the matter thereof, it is a certayne inflamation of bloud about the hearte.What is the matter of āger Neither do I ſpeake it as thoughe that can be applied vntounto GOD, who vtterly is without heate and bloud. But all theſe thynges (as I hauehave allready oftentymes ſayde) are by a certaine tranſlation applied vntounto hym.