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…

So now behold his sin not being subdued and abhorred, as an unkind itch that is not killed by a mild medicine: he provoketh God a fresh by the same sin that he did before; and the fire (being but raked up as it were in hot ashes) catching hold of new and fit matter to work upon, flameth out amain the second time. Therefore much water will not now quench it, much less the letting it alone was like to heal it. What then? doth God deal with him as before? no: now he taketh him in hand, and pays him home, and makes him see he dallieth not with the dallier, and so he is fain to bear the penalty of this, and the former too. So he dealt with David. It was no very extreme dealing for two so great and so rebellious sins, as Adultery and Murder, to take away the child borne in adultery, especially after so patient a respite all the while between. But David had forgot that gentle correction, for so heinous offences; and therefore waxed he bold once again with the Lord who had showed him such lenity: and so provoked him again in grievous manner, by his ambitious numbering his subjects. But did he escape as clearly then, as before? No; God remembereth both: and as the story well witnesseth, sets himself to a resolute course of revenge, and so he did, till he made Davids heart ache, so that he saw his boldness in tempting God, how little it gained him. For he stayed not till the Angel had well slaked the matter of his ambition, by slaying seventy thousand of his people. Let it be a watchword to us, that if God ⟨p. 765⟩have once mercifully passed by some wilful offence of ours, by sparing us, that (I say) we count it for a great advantage and favour; for if we will dare to be bold to provoke him again, we may justly fear that his scourges will be smarty, as Samson and many other found them to be. That I say no more.

So now behold his sin not being subdued and abhorred, as an vnkinde itch that is not killed by a milde medicine: he prouoketh God a fresh by the same sinne that hee did before; and the fire (being but raked vp as it were in hot ashes) catching hold of new and fit matter to worke vpon, flameth out amaine the second time. Therfore much water wil not now quench it, much lesse the letting it alone was like to heale it. What then? doth God deale with him as before? no: now he taketh him in hand, and paies him home, and makes him see hee dallieth not with the dallier, and so he is faine to beare the penalty of this, and the former too. So he dealt with Dauid. It was no very extreme dealing for two so great and so rebellious sinnes, as Adultery and Murther, to take away the child borne in adultery, especailly after so patient a respit all the while betweene. But Dauid had forgot that gentle correction, for so hainous offences; and therefore waxed hee bold once againe with the Lord who had shewed him such lenity: and so prouoked him againe in grieuous manner, by his ambitious numbring his subiects. But did he escape as cleerely then, as before? No; God remembreth both: and as the story well witnesseth, sets himselfe to a resolute course of reuenge, and so hee did, till hee made Dauids heart ake, so that he saw his boldnesse in tempting God, how little it gained him. For hee stayed not till the Angell had well slaked the matter of his ambition, by slaying seuentie thousand of his people. Let it be a watchword to vs, that if God