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…

But the most of us reach at things beyond our compass, or by our wit, policy and skill, think to get all into our net; and meddle with those which we are not trained up unto; and so we suffer our gifts to lie a rusting. Yea surely, this is the case of the most; either they will have all or nothing, though they beg for their labour. Busy bodies many are, the private man prying into the Ministers calling, and finding fault with him; but blind and untoward to seek what is amiss in himself: not unlike to Absalom, who being a subject, who should rather have prayed for grace fit for that estate, forgets himself grossly, and pleaseth himself to think how fit he was for an higher, and what he could do in his fathers place far better then he, and wisheth he were put to the trial, 2. Sam. 15. Whereas, if the foot be unfit ¹to do it own office, much less able will it be to be the head of the body: and, indeed, such as these are ever censuring other in their places and callings, as insufficient, not looking to their own duties. Let us leave (every one) this course, and have ever in mind this answer of the Vine and the other trees; Shall I leave my sweetness, &c. Lest we be as ridiculous as he, who bearing his head aloft in viewing the stars, fell into the ditch, for want of looking (in the mean while) to his own standing. Rather let us be content, though we have not as we would, and rush we not in hast, and without consideration to places and changes of dealings for advantage: but let us be sure, that we have the Lord always going before us, or let us look for it, that he will most certainly joint us. Yea let us count it our chief praise, to be faithful in our own condition and calling: and no discredit to be ignorant and unfit for another's, seeing the Lord requires no more of any, than according to that he hath. And yet it is not unlawful with such respects, in the decay of our trades or such like occupying, to enter upon some other dealings for our necessary maintenance, (if need so require) and to shun and avoid idleness: but let them be such as are fittest for us, and likest to help us, but with this proviso in any wise, that they be not too many, lest we be clogged with them, nor beyond our ability, that we be not cast behind hand by them.

But the most of vs reach at things beyond our compasse, or by our wit, policie and skill, thinke to get all into our net; and meddle with those which we are not trained vp vnto; and so we suffer our gifts to lie a rusting. Yea surely, this is the case of the most; either they will haue all or nothing, though they beg for their labour. Busie bodies many are, the priuat man prying into the Ministers calling, and finding fault with him; but blind and vntoward to seeke what is amisse in himselfe: not vnlike to Absolon, who being a subiect, who should rather haue prayed for grace fit for that estate, forgets himselfe grossely, and pleaseth himselfe to thinke how fit he was for an higher, and what he could doe in his fathers place farre better then hee, and wisheth he were put to the triall,