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 in that he told not this either to his father or mother, which was ¹very like he should have done, (it being a strange thing to find honey in the carcass of a Lyon) and we are all given to tell such things to our friends, as are seldom heard of, and are like to be wondered at, as news very welcome to them, yet I say, in that he signified it not unto them, it was wisely done of him to conceal it, whether he then thought to make a riddle of it, or no, it is uncertain, as after he did: for then, if he had told it to them, it might easily have been known to many, and so it had been like to have by some means been disclosed to and among the Philistines, as we see it was afterward, when he told it to his wife only. It confirmeth us in the former doctrine out of the seventh verse: namely, that we be very wary to conceal things that need not be uttered, especially secrets, when we see no good can come thereby, but by concealing them there may. And because it is not easy for a man to foresee every inconvenience which may come of unseasonable speech; therefore it is the wisest way for us to cut off all talk, whereof we see not some good reason to move and warrant us to utter it. Now if there grow any inconvenience thereby, notwithstanding our care and respectiveness, we shall have the less to accuse us, as we see in Davids fact, 1. Sam. 21. I mean in his requiring the show bread and armour of Goliath ²from Abimilech in the presence of Doeg, necessity drave him to ask it, and Christ defended the fact, and therefore he had less cause to be troubled, though much hurt arose by it. To them that object, that Samson told the riddle to his wife, which was more dangerous then to have opened it to his parents: be this taken for an answer, that he offended greatly in so doing. And we may learn by it, that we may possibly show wisdom in some part of our life, whereof yet we may fail, without great heed taking, afterward.

And in that he tolde not this either to his father or mother, which was ¹very like he should haue done, (it being a strange thing to finde honey in the carkeis of a Lyon) and we are all giuen to tell such things to our friends, as are seldome heard of, and are like to be wondred at, as newes very welcome to them, yet I say, in that he signified it not vnto them, it was wisely done of him to conceale it, whether he then thought to make a riddle of it, or no, it is vncertaine, as after he did: for then, if he had told it to them, it might easily haue been knowne to many, and so it had been like to haue by some meanes been disclosed to and among the Philistims, as wee see it was afterward, when he tolde it to his wife onely. It confirmeth vs in the former doctrine out of the seuenth verse: namely, that we be very wary to conceale things that need not bee vttered, especially secrets, when wee see no good can come thereby, but by concealing them there may. And because it is not easie for a man to foresee euery inconuenience which may come of vnseasonable speech; therefore it is the wisest way for vs to cut off al talke, whereof wee see not some good reason to moue and warrant vs to vtter it. Now if there grow any inconuenience thereby, notwithstanding our care and respectiuenes, wee shall haue the lesse to accuse vs, as we see in Dauids fact,