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 I say further, that men suffer much sorrow, and sustain great troubles through their own fault, who seeing what their callings are, and that absence must fall out betwixt them, do neither labour for more grace themselves to bear it the better, neither seek such yoke-fellows as excel other therein, neither faithfully take order between themselves carefully to look about them every way to avoid danger. For God is not contrary to himself, neither commandeth he contraries: as that there be no long absence one from another: and yet that they shall follow such callings as of necessity require it. But if the last must needs be; then certainly they may be helped and relieve themselves in the first. And if they both fear God (as otherwise what promise have they that God will bless them in any thing, or what speaking to them is there about any such matter? If (I say) they fear God, then by good order taking, betwixt themselves, and by oft and earnest praying on both parts, for quiet and chaste minds and bodies, using therewith all good means for the same as need shall require, then they shall attain redress against it, and God hath promised to such, that with consent they may be absent each from other, without the many unquietnesses and other inconveniences, the which yet do most certainly meet with such as be not so qualified: who if they fall into adultery, and the like evils, it is the fruit of their sin which God punisheth, I mean of their irreligiousness, unfaithfulness, and such like, as they fall out to be; who is able to say what or how many?

And I say further, that men suffer much sorrow, and sustaine great troubles through their owne fault, who seeing what their callings are, and that absence must fall out betwixt them, doe neither labour for more grace themselues to beare it the better, neither seeke such yoke-fellowes as excell other therein, neither faithfully take order betweene themselues carefully to looke about them euery way to auoide danger. For God is not contrarie to himselfe, neither commandeth he contraries: as that there be no long absence one from another: and yet that they shall follow such callings as of necessitie require it. But if the last must needes be; then certainely they may bee helped and relieue themselues in the first. And if they both feare God (as otherwise what promise haue they that God will blesse them in any thing, or what speaking to them is there about any such matter? If (I say) they feare God, then by good order taking, betwixt themselues, and by oft and earnest praying on both parts, for quiet and chaste mindes and bodies, vsing therewith all good meanes for the same as neede shall require, then they shall attaine redresse against it, and God hath promised to such, that with consent they may be absent each from other, without the many vnquietnesses and other inconueniences, the which yet doe most certainely meete with such as be not so qualified: who if they fall into adulterie, and the like euils, it is the fruit of their sinne which God punisheth, I meane of their irreligiousnesse, vnfaithfulnesse, and such like, as they fall out to bee; who is able to say what or how many?