A commentary upon the whole book of Judges Preached first and delivered in sundry…A commentary vpon the vvhole booke of Iudges Preached first and deliuered in sundrie…

Now when these two Princes see the youth fearful, they (as men impatient of further delay) provoke Gideon himself to fall upon and slay them, and so rid them out of the way. And they descant upon the youths tenderness, as if Gideon had not been well advised what he did. The child (say they) doth according to his age: he is not fit for such a work. The like discourse they make before, in their answer to Gideon; They were like thee (say they) like the children of a King. Of both these together, because they bewray the same spirit and nature in them. First then in the 18. verse they deny not the fact, but describe the persons whom they slew, that they were Princes fellows, as I have said, and all to declare the greatness of their courage and stomach: but they abase not themselves so low as to ask pardon, neither to crave any ⟨p. 415⟩favour. And by this we may see, what are the props whereby wicked and desperate men stay up and hearten themselves in their miseries and extremities: their props are profane and devilish magnanimity, and a desperate lofty stomach, which they call a brave mind, which will yield itself for no fault, neither blush, or seek any favour, through a senselessness of Gods wrath. And to join therewith this second reply of theirs in this verse, they bewray the same here also, when they say, Fall thou on us, or, dispatch us with thine own hands. And this I note of them not so much to their shame (who being Heathens, what wonder though they were no better reformed) as to the shame of such as come after them, who being in the Church, should be better, but yet are led by their spirit: who are so blinded and hardened by the devil, that they think it an ornament to them, and a chief point of manhood, to shrink for nothing, but to bear off all by the head and shoulders, as they say, and to seem to men to set light by a violent death, as appears in them who desperately cast themselves off the ladder into hell, if God be not merciful: which contempt of death is yet contrary to their own nature, and feeling within them. And this sin resteth not in these only of the worst and most projected sort, but reacheth to many professors: who if they have done evil, yet set a good face, I mean, a bold, on it; but relent not in any wise, nor will be known to be such as they are, and know themselves to be:

Now when these two Princes see the youth fearefull, they (as men impatient of further delay) prouoke Gedeon himself to fall vpon and slay them, and so rid them out of the way. And they descant vpon the youths tendernes, as if Gedeon had not been well aduised what he did. The child (say they) doth according to his age: he is not fit for such a worke. The like discourse they make before, in their answer to Gedeon; They were like thee (say they) like the children of a King. Of both these together, because they bewray the same spirit and nature in them. First then in the 18. verse they denie not the fact, but describe the persons whom they slew, that they were Princes fellowes, as I haue said, and all to declare the greatnes of their courage and stomack: but they abase not themselues so low as to aske pardon, neither to craue any