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…

Samson withstood his wife at first by good reason, namely, this, that he had not told it to his father, nor mother, whom yet he loved dearly, and ¹long; she was but new married to him, neither had he proof of her faithfulness, wisdom, and silence; but otherwise his reason had not been good, seeing a man may impart some things to his wife rather then to them, and in denying her request he did well. So we should with reasonable answers withstand unreasonable suits, and then we shall show ourselves well fortified by the word and sound resolution out of a good conscience, when we can give a sufficient reason of our refusal: and otherwise we are as like to be drawn to sin, although we be not greatly solicited by the importunity of others, our selves being ungrounded or unarmed against the subtlety and loose disposition of our own hearts, though we think never so well of our own strength. But it must be granted, that the greatest danger is when beside our own readiness and proneness to evil, we have provocations also, and those strong by inward temptations and outward occasions. In avoiding and resisting both, Joseph hath given us an example worthy our following, who was neither snared nor enticed inwardly, when he saw he might easily have had such desire satisfied, neither being allured with words and flattery, did so much as hearken to his whorish mistress. Now as I have spoken to men, so a word I will add to women, and that is this, that if they were wise, they would learn to shake off the bold and shameless suits of such as should dare demand that of them, which were their dishonesty, reproach, and undoing, namely, to prostitute their chastity to any of them at their pleasures, who having once spoiled them, do leave them so. But of the fruit of dalliance more afterward.

Samson withstood his wife at first by good reason, namely, this, that he had not told it to his father, nor mother, whom yet he loued dearely, and ¹long; she was but new marryed to him, neither had he proofe of her faithfulnes, wisedome, and silence; but otherwise his reason had not been good, seeing a man may impart some things to his wife rather then to them, and in denying her request he did well. So we should with reasonable answers withstand vnreasonable sutes, and then we shall shew ourselues well fortified by the word and sound resolution out of a good conscience, when we can giue a sufficient reason of our refusall: and otherwise we are as like to be drawne to sinne, although we be not greatly sollicited by the importunitie of others, our selues being vngrounded or vnarmed against the subtiltie and loose disposition of our owne hearts, though we thinke neuer so well of our owne strength. But it must be granted, that the greatest danger is when beside our owne readinesse and pronesse to euill, we haue prouocations also, and those strong by inward temptations and outward occasions. In auoyding and resisting both, Ioseph hath giuen vs an example worthie our following, who was neither snared nor inticed inwardly, when he saw he might easily haue had such desire satisfied, neither being allured with words and flattery, did so much as hearken to his whorish mistresse. Now as I haue spoken to men, so a word I will adde to women, and that is this, that if they were wise, they would learne to shake off the bold and shamelesse sutes of such as should dare demaund that of them, which were their dishonestie, reproch, and vndoing, namely, to prostitute their chastity to any of them at their pleasures, who hauing once spoyled them, doe leaue them so. But of the fruit of dalliance more afterward.