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 this by the occasion of the sin in these two tribes, bewailed by Debora, speaking in her song of one of them thus; for the division of Reuben, in that he divided himself from his brethren, there were great thoughts of heart, that is, much marvelling and lamenting for his so doing. Of the other thus: Gilead remained beyond Jordan; as if she should say, even then, when their brethren were fighting with their enemies, they of Gilead sat still at home, whom yet the business concerned as much as themselves that lamented it. And was not that then very lamentable? And as I have spoken of this one sin, the same may be said of the rest how much to be bewailed they are, and namely, these more near akin. Even so it is, when good men to these, as tetchiness or conceits, or any other sinister corruptions to separate men from their brethren, and thereby to make them backward in helping forward the good things which otherwise might be, as in keeping the unruly in order, and within compass; or helping to bring in a sound and good ministry, or any other commendable thing, by their care and industry. Oh how it should grieve us when we see them backward in any good thing, who should be forward. Indeed when the devil hath so fare wound in ⟨p. 261⟩with men, as to divide them from their brethren, they stand stiffly in defence of their doing (so little doth it grieve them) but it pierceth the hearts of the godly, in respect both of the wrong done to themselves, & the scandal offered to others; as also because they deserve thereby, that their former forwardness and fruits should be called into question. Demas made light of his going from Paul: but he writes mournfully of it to Timothy, in this manner: Demas hath forsaken me, and hath embraced, that is to say, he ¹resteth in this present world. And no marvel; for the truth is, the better a mans properties be, the more lamentable are his personal blemishes. Even as when a man comely, and of very good shape in all other parts very personable of body, hath a wooden leg, or some other gross disfiguring of him, all men observe it with commiseration and pity.

And this by the occasion of the sin in these two tribes, bewailed by Debora, speaking in her song of one of them thus; for the diuision of Ruben, in that he diuided himselfe from his brethren, there were great thoughts of heart, that is, much maruelling and lamenting for his so doing. Of the other thus: Gilead remained beyond Iordan; as if she should say, euen then, when their brethren were fighting with their enemies, they of Gilead sat still at home, whom yet the businesse concerned as much as themselues that lamented it. And was not that then very lamentable? And as I haue spoken of this one sinne, the same may be said of the rest how much to bee bewailed they are, and namely, these more neere akind. Euen so it is, when good men to these, as techinesse or conceits, or any other sinister corruptions to separate men from their brethren, and thereby to make them backward in helping forward the good things which otherwise might bee, as in keeping the vnruly in order, and within compasse; or helping to bring in a sound and good ministery, or any other commendable thing, by their care and industry. Oh how it should grieue vs when wee see them backward in any good thing, who should bee forward. Indeed when the diuell hath so fare wound in