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 when we endeavour to do thus, yet if we deeply think and consider of our own vileness and wretchedness, and of Gods greatness and glorious majesty, out of the flesh and humane nature of Christ, and without applying his sufferings and obedience to us by faith, we cannot be without danger and sense of swallowing up, as Gideon and other were. And not only so, but we are oft times overcome and almost overwhelmed, when we do the best we can, and think of Christ as we are able, we are so easily led and carried by the spirit of bondage and fear. And therefore what may we think of the superstition in Popery, which hath caused in the people such carnal fear of God and slavish terrors and servile worship; but that it is the bane and poison of infinite thousand people? because it is a doctrine that driveth to despair, leading men with horror of Gods wrath, but showeth them no way to escape it which ⟨p. 317⟩will stand them in any stead, jostling aside unfeigned faith, which only knits us to God through Christ, and causes us to pray or draw near to him, without astonishment, yea with much comfort. But to leave them, and to return to the people of God, I grant that this is through want or weakness of faith, which I said of them: such want and weakness is oft times in the best of us, or at least may be, so that we are not privileged from it. And this argueth our great sin and corruption, and that our faith is never here perfect, when it is at the best. The view, sense & experience hereof, and of fear and frighting, is notably and clearly discerned to be in us, in thunder, lightning, or some other apparent danger, when the presence of Gods glorious Majesty presseth us more nearly. And though now we in this latter age of the world, are not to look for such appearances of Christ and Angels in the shape of men, but are sent to Moses and the Prophets, and to search the ¹Scriptures to know that, of and concerning God, which we have need of, yet in the former and first age both of them were; as in the forementioned examples of Abraham, Jacob: and Manoah is to be seen: and in that Vision of Isaiah, when he saw God sit in a throne, and with him Seraphims crying one ²to another, Holy, holy, holy, &c.

so when we indeuour to doe thus, yet if we deepely thinke and consider of our owne vilenesse and wretchednesse, and of Gods greatnesse and glorious maiestie, out of the flesh and humane nature of Christ, and without applying his sufferings and obedience to vs by faith, we cannot be without danger and sense of swallowing vp, as Gedeon and other were. And not only so, but we are oft times ouercome and almost ouerwhelmed, when we doe the best wee can, and thinke of Christ as we are able, we are so easily led and carried by the spirit of bondage and feare. And therefore what may we thinke of the superstition in Poperie, which hath caused in the people such carnall feare of God and slauish terrors and seruile worship; but that it is the bane and poison of infinite thousand people? because it is a doctrine that driueth to dispaire, leading men with horror of Gods wrath, but sheweth them no way to escape it which