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 it doth the more condemn the unthankfulness of them who do what they can to avoid that blessing, and do of purpose shun the occasion of having their part in it, by marrying with full purpose and resolution, where they may be sure they can have no children. Whose fault may be the less, if it be of simple ignorance, but else it may be reckoned as a companion with theirs who grudge and murmur, for that they have so many children: which ariseth partly of distrust in Gods providence, partly fearing that they shall not have wherewith to nourish them; partly of pride, who see they must pull down their countenance, for because of the number of them, and cannot set forth themselves with the wealthiest of their condition, to brave it jollily in the world, for that they be plucked down with such a company of brats, as they term them. And yet as bad as these sorts are, far more gross and barbarous are they, high or low, Minister or people, who rather then their countenance should in the least manner be abated by marriage and multitude of children, do not only live in continual whoredom, zodomie, and such like unnatural and filthy uncleanness, but are glad (though most unjustly and in dissimulation they do it) to be counted and numbered amongst them that live chaste, which sin shall bring the swifter damnation to them: They are loth to abase themselves (as they count it) by stooping to Gods ordinance: but God hath many ways to pull them down, and make them stoop (as I have noted in the former chapter) though they escape it one way and time, yet he meeteth with them another: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge, as the Author to the Hebrews saith, ¹and the experiments thereof are infinite in all kinds of judgements, by scripture and experience, both of old and daily: Although what need we go far? That which they shun by their avoiding marriage, the most pull upon themselves, by the contrary course, as I have said. Now what remaineth, but that they who have and count children a blessing, endeavour carefully to make them the children of God also, that so they may be to them a double blessing?

And it doth the more condemne the vnthankfulnesse of them who doe what they can to auoid that blessing, and doe of purpose shunne the occasion of hauing their part in it, by marrying with full purpose and resolution, where they may be sure they can haue no children. Whose fault may be the lesse, if it be of simple ignorance, but else it may be reckoned as a companion with theirs who grudge and murmur, for that they haue so many children: which ariseth partly of distrust in Gods prouidence, partly fearing that they shall not haue wherewith to nourish them; partly of pride, who see they must pull downe their countenance, for because of the number of them, and cannot set foorth themselues with the wealthiest of their condition, to braue it iollily in the world, for that they be plucked downe with such a companie of brats, as they terme them. And yet as bad as these sorts are, farre more grosse and barbarous are they, high or low, Minister or people, who rather then their countenance should in the least manner be abated by mariage and multitude of children, do not only liue in continuall whordome, zodomie, and such like vnnaturall and filthie vncleannesse, but are glad (though most vniustly and in dissimulation they doe it) to be counted and numbred amongst them that liue chast, which sinne shal bring the swifter damnation to them: They are loth to abase themselues (as they count it) by stooping to Gods ordinance: but God hath many waies to pull them down, and make them stoop (as I haue noted in the former chapter) though they escape it one way and time, yet hee meeteth with them another: for fornicators and adulterers God wil iudge, as the Author to the Hebrewes saith,