Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now here are two things set one against another in Zebulun and Issachar. Zebulun, (saith he) Rejoice thou in thy going out: and unto Issachar he sayeth, Rejoice thou in thy rest. Here the one goes abroad and seeks from place to place; & the other tarries quietly and peaceably at home like a snudge as they say. And yet Moses saith that God will make them both to prosper, though their cases be nothing like. And by Zebulun's going out, he meaneth not his end (as some have expounded it,) but the voyages which the people of that tribe were to make, as folk that should traffic into far countries. His saying then is, God will prosper thee in thy going• abroad. When thou goest in danger by sea, and makest long voyages; thou shalt be guided & governed by God, and his blessing shall accompany thee. But as touching Issachar, because he was fearful and cowardly, it is said that God will yet have pity upon him, and bless him though he love his ease. And it is not without cause that he speaketh so to Issachar. We see how it is said of him in the nine and fortieth Chapter of Genesis by Jacob,¹ Issachar is as a strong Ass or a Mule of burden which sleepeth (sayeth he) between his packs. He saw that ease was good, and he bowed down his shoulders, and choose rather to be a servant and to pay taxes and tallages, than to try his force in resisting his foes. Here we see how the nature of that people was strong and sturdy, but yet that they wanted heart, and were cowardly, so as they played the burdened Mule, which coucheth down between his packs, and there falls asleep, that is to say, He was like a great packhorse which careth not for liberty: in so much that although men load him with heavy and intolerable burdens, yet he ceaseth not to yield to them still, as if a Mule should fall asleep being laden with his packs. He bare then taxes & tributes and passed not greatly for it: he was at a point for all other things, so he might eat and drink his fill; as ye shall see some lubberly louts▪ which so they may always have meat & drink, do make no further reckoning; neither can they any skill of freedom, they be in that behalf as Oxen & Asses, so as they have no care of any thing. And even so was it with Issachar.

Now here are two things set one against another in Zabulon and Isachar. Zabulon, (sayth he) Reioyce thou in thy going out: and vnto Isachar he sayeth, Reioyce thou in thy rest. Here the one goes abroad and seekes from place to place; & the other taries quietly and peasably at home like a snudge as they say. And yet Moses saith that God will make them both to prosper, though their cases be nothing like. And by Zabulons going out, he meaneth not his end (as some haue expounded it,) but the voyages which the people of that trybe were to make, as folke that should traffike into farre countries. His saying then is, God will prosper thee in thy going abroade. When thou goest in danger by sea, and makest long voyages; thou shalt be guyded & gouerned by God, and his blessing shall accompanie thee. But as touching Isachar, because he was fearefull and cowardly, it is saide that God will yet haue pitie vppon him, and blesse him though he loue his ease. And it is not without cause that he speaketh so to Isachar. Wee see howe it is saide of him in the nine and fourtith Chapter of Genesis by Iacob,