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…

And this point deserveth our observation: that she being now in heaviness, wisely chose the fittest exercise to set it in on work, and did not yield to her passion, which then would have made her loggish and unprofitable, but used it to a singular good end, even to fit her self for her death and departure. In mirth and joy how hard a thing is it to recall home our wandering senses and straying affections, and retire our thoughts and minds from roving in every corner of the world, our woeful experience can tell us. Sorrow hath likewise many and those grievous annoyances attending it, but that of the two (the comparison being equal) is the fittest trumpet to sound this retreat. And as naturally it contracteth the body and the spirits, so if it be taken heed unto, it bringeth the superfluous and noisome cares, delights and desires of the soul into a narrower compass. And when a man is wholly at home, is he not fitter for any good duty, then when he is absent in great part from himself? Therefore as the day of grief is a season and opportunity for some good duty, which at other times is to us unseasonable, so let us use it accordingly, that is, redeem it. Solitariness (I confess) is not fit for every sorrower: and yet it is necessary for the better doing of this duty. I therefore distinguish of persons: Such therefore as are ignorant, and yet oppressed with heaviness, for that they doubt, and are uncertain of Gods favour, for their sin, and especially if they be pressed with melancholy. To these I give this counsel, that they avoid solitariness in their pangs of grief, and melancholic passions, and give not vantage to their enemy the devil to find them alone, (as near as they can) lest they find his delusions and temptations the more forcible, as Judas in his perplexity did, when he went aside from all company. But let their sorrow drive them to ask counsel, and make their cases known to such, as can advise or comfort them. The devil was bold to assault our Saviour himself ¹in his solitariness. But to return and to speak of the point. If a survey were taken, I doubt we should find few hours (I speak not of weeks or months) dedicated by the most part of Christians, to this heavenly work of using solitariness for meditation, especially for preparation to dye, to make up their accounts against they should be called for.

And this point deserueth our obseruation: that she being now in heauines, wisely chose the fittest exercise to set it in on worke, and did not yeeld to her passion, which then would haue made her loggish and vnprofitable, but vsed it to a singular good end, euen to fit her selfe for her death and departure. In mirth and ioy how hard a thing is it to recall home our wandring senses and straying affections, and retire our thoughts and mindes from rouing in euery corner of the world, our wofull experience can tell vs. Sorrow hath likewise many and those grieuous annoiances attending it, but that of the two (the comparison being equall) is the fittest trumpet to sound this retreit. And as naturally it contracteth the body and the spirits, so if it be taken heed vnto, it bringeth the superfluous and noisome cares, delights and desires of the soule into a narrower compasse. And when a man is wholly at home, is he not fitter for any good dutie, then when hee is absent in great part from himselfe? Therefore as the day of griefe is a season and opportunitie for some good dutie, which at other times is to vs vnseasonable, so let vs vse it accordingly, that is, redeeme it. Solitarinesse (I confesse) is not fit for euery sorrower: and yet it is necessarie for the better doing of this dutie. I therfore distinguish of persons: Such therfore as are ignorant, and yet oppressed with heauinesse, for that they doubt, and are vncertaine of Gods fauour, for their sinne, and especially if they bee pressed with melancholy. To these I giue this counsell, that they auoide solitarinesse in their pangs of griefe, and melancholike passions, and giue not vantage to their enemie the diuell to finde them alone, (as neere as they can) lest they finde his delusions and temptations the more forcible, as Iudas in his perplexitie did, when hee went aside from all companie. But let their sorrow driue them to aske counsell, and make their cases knowne to such, as can aduise or comfort them. The diuell was bold to assault our Sauiour himselfe