Commentaries, Commentary on Judges · Chapter 6 · Verse 6
6 Wherfore Iſraell was excedingly impoueriſhed by the Madianites, and the children of Iſraell cried vntounto the Lord.
Of munitions and caſtels.Neyther caues, nor dennes, nor ſtrong fenſed caſtels could helpe the miſerable Iſraelites. For ſinners muſt not onelyonly take heede of outwarde enemies, but they muſt chiefly flye from the anger of God, from whiche vndoubtedly no man can auoyd by caues, dennes or municiōs. And as long as that endureth, theſe humaine helps do not defend frō outward enemies. And if any man wil not beleue this,Ecbatanis. let him call to memorye the breadth of the walles of Ecbatanis, which as it is written in ye boke of Iudith the .1. chapter) was thyrty foote broad, and ſeuenty foote hygh, and had in it an hundred Towers, and yet all thoſe thinges could not withſtand thoſe which beſieged it.Babilon And of Babilon alſo it is written, that the walles of it was an hundred foote in higth, and fighty fote in breadth, and it is ſayd to hauehave bene ſo large that it might hauehave bene a prouince rather then a city, and yet it was conquered and vtterlye ouerthrowen. Suche thinges men goe about when they withdraw themſelues from God, theſe their hornes are erected agaynſt God. Theſe thinges do leade vntounto deſperation the afflicted, which thynk not vponupon God, as though tirannes by whome they are oppreſſed could neuer be plucked out of ſo ſtrong and wel fenced places. But in Abacuk the prophet ſuch madde building are wonderfully laughed to ſcorne of the ſpirite of God, and Abdia in the name of God threatneth the children of Eſau, that theyr neſt ſhould be throwne downe to the ground, howe ſoeuer it ſeemed vntounto them that they had ſet it in heauen.
But what more notable example nede we to ſeeke for, then that tower, whiche men ſtraight after the flood, began to builde, as though they would defend them ſelues againſt God, if he againe ſhould go about to deſtroy the world wyth waters, but the Lord from heauen laughed to ſcorne their made furiouſnes, as it is amply ſet foorth in the booke of Geneſis. God wanteth no excellent politike deuiſes: for firſt, from ſuch, which ſo much truſt to munitions, when they thyncke they ſhall ſtand them in moſt ſteede, he vſeth to take awaye the courages of the bold, and al promptnes, & ſo to ſtrike them with madnes, that he vtterly maketh them voyde of wiſedome. Wherfore he debilitateth their harts, & their ſtrength faileth them. Yea, and they ſeme to be made afeard and verye ſore abaſhed, euen of the very ſtones, beames and walles of their Caſtels. I could here eaſely ſhew thinges, whyche hauehave in our age happened, but that I muſt hauehave reſpecte to bee briefe. Reade the .2. chapter of Barucke.
What then? Are not Cities or Caſtels to be fenſed?Whither it be lawful to fence cities & caſtels. I deny not but that that may be done, but I would hauehave Princes which do in ſuch ſorte builde, firſt to be a certained of this, that no thinges created can defend or ſuccor men, vnles with them be ioyned that power of God, whereby with his becke hee ruleth and gouerneth the world: and when hee withdraweth that, whatſoeuer men go about or enterpriſe, it vtterly happeneth contrarily. And euen as out of breade, wyne, or other meates we ought not to looke for nouriſhment, if God do drawe backe vntounto himſelfe that his power and operation, which hee daylye lendeth to thoſe things: ſo alſo without it, ther is no defence to be had out of munitions, walles, being otherwiſe neuer ſo ſtrong, and Caſtels very well fenced. Wherefore before we begyn munitions, we muſt put our confidence in God, and we muſt lay the moſt profitable foundation of holy prayers: and pray vntounto God, to keepe vsus chiefly in true and ſincere godlynes, to cal vsus backe from ſynnes, and daylye to geue vntounto vsus a perfect repentance. Laſtly, we muſt deſire, that when a iuſt and holy man ſhal hauehave neede to hauehave the vſe of ſuch munitions, hee woulde vouchſafe to beſtow vponupon them that his moſt mighty and healthfull power. Which ſelfe ſame cogitations and prayers we muſt vſe both in meate, drinke, apparel, or any other thing, when we begin to receaue them.
And the children of Iſrael cryed. Now ſhalbe declared the deliuerye of the Iſraelites, but firſte is ſet foorth their repentance and inuocation. Nowe at the length the Hebrues flie vntounto the ſure rockes, vntounto the ſafe dennes, and vntounto the true Caſtels. For the rocke or caſtle beſt fenced, (as we reade in the Prouerbes) is the name of the Lord. In that rocke Dauid eſcaped al aduerſities.