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…

It were a wise part for a man to judge of his sin, as he judgeth of the many dangerous effects that follow upon it. But who seeth it an absurd unseemly thing in the wealthy, to play the Lords and controllers over the baser and poorer sort? Not being content to make them their drudges and slaves to do their meanest works: but both in word and deed taking liberty to usurp over them, as if they had been only made for them to crow over? Sometimes rating them with reproaches, nick-names, upbraiding them by their poverty, (which is to despise their maker) other whiles making a pray of them, and racking them for the poor commodities they buy, whereas yet for their work, they will drive them to the lowest wages that may be, as hard as times are, and all things dear and chargeable, which the poor standeth in need. But now when the worm trodden upon, turneth again, and draweth out the only weapon it hath, the tongue I mean, to revile and rail most disdainfully upon the rich, for their misfortunes and oppression, then I say every wealthy person can say, this is odious. And so it is indeed: but was not their dealing as bad which provoked them? They do badly, but by them God will teach the wealthy how to consider wisely of the estate of the poor. Therefore when men being exasperate, turn to shifting, every man can speak against them: but who considers the greatness of their sin who urge them? The law of necessity (we know) is hard to undergo. And when these shifters turn upon their oppressors, not only with tongue, but with hand also, rejoicing in stealing and purloining from them, do not then all cry out and complain of the damage they sustained? And yet their stealing was caused by the others robbery: only the one being a rich thief stole openly, the other for fear in secret: and defends himself by this, That he hath but robbed him, that first stole from himself. Indeed it is Gods mercy, that (oppression of the poor being so rise, as who seeth not that all the gripings wherewith one rich person oppresseth another, are in the upshot wrecked upon the poorest, who can worst make his part good?) that there is so little harm done in this kind: and in great part the cause is in the good government civill which restraineth such.

It were a wise part for a man to iudge of his sinne, as he iudgeth of the many dangerous effects that follow vpon it. But who seeth it an absurd vnseemely thing in the wealthy, to play the Lords and controllers ouer the baser and poorer sort? Not being content to make them their drudges and slaues to doe their meanest workes: but both in word and deed taking liberty to vsurpe ouer them, as if they had been only made for them to crow ouer? Sometimes rating them with reproches, nick-names, vpbraiding them by their pouerty, (which is to despise their maker) other whiles making a pray of them, and racking them for the poore commodities they buy, whereas yet for their worke, they will driue them to the lowest wages that may be, as hard as times are, and all things deare and chargeable, which the poore standeth in need. But now when the worme troden vpon, turneth againe, and draweth out the onely weapon it hath, the tongue I meane, to reuile and raile most disdainefully vpon the rich, for their misfortunes and oppression, then I say euery wealthy person can say, this is odious. And so it is indeed: but was not their dealing as bad which prouoked them? They doe badly, but by them God will teach the wealthy how to consider wiselie of the estate of the poore. Therefore when men being exasperate, turne to shifting, euery man can speake against them: but who considers the greatnesse of their sinne who vrge them? The law of necessitie (we know) is hard to vndergoe. And when these shifters turne vpon their oppressors, not only with tongue, but with hand also, reioycing in stealing and purloyning from them, doe not then all crie out and complaine of the dammage they sustained? And yet their stealing was caused by the others robbery: onely the one being a rich theefe stole openly, the other for feare in secret: and defends himselfe by this, That he hath but robbed him, that first stole from himselfe. Indeed it is Gods mercy, that (oppression of the poore being so rise, as who seeth not that all the gripings wherewith one rich person oppresseth another, are in the vpshot wrecked vpon the poorest, who can worst make his part good?) that there is so little harme done in this kind: and in great part the cause is in the good gouernment ciuill which restraineth such.