The monument of matrones conteining seuen seuerall lamps of virginitie, or distinct treatises; whereof the first fiue concerne praier and meditation: the other two last, precepts and examples, as the woorthie works partlie of men, partlie of women; compiled for the necessarie vse of both sexes out of the sacred Scriptures, and other approoued authors, by Thomas Bentley of Graies Inne student.

The song or thankesgiuing of Deborah and Barak, after the victo∣rie giuen of God by the hands of Iaël, against Sisera. Iudges. 5, 2.

PRaise ye the Lord, for the auenging of Isra∣el: and for the people [of Zabulon and Nepthali] that offred themselues [gladly,] and became so willing [to resist their enimies.]

Heare O ye kings, harken O ye princes: I, euen I will sing vnto the Lord, I will sing praise vnto the Lord God of Israel.

Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou departedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trem∣bled, and the heauens rained, the clouds also dropped water.

The mountaines melted before the Lord, euen as did Sinai before the Lord God of Israel.

In the daies of Samgar the some of Anath, in the daies of Iael, the high waies were vnoccupied [for feare of the enimies,] and the trauellers walked through bywaies.

The townes were not inhabited, they decaied (I say) and the inhabitants thereof were gone in Israel: vntill I Deborah came vp, which [miraculously mooued by God to pitie & deliuer them] rose vp a mother in Israel.

They chose new gods, and then had they war, or the

enimie in the gates: was there a shield or speare seene among fortie thousand of Israel? [they had no hart to re∣sist their enimies.]

My hart is set on the gouernours of Israel, and lo∣ueth them that are willing among the people: praise yee the Lord.

Speake yee [gouernours] that ride on faire Asse s[or Moiles,] yee that dwell by Middin [in danger of your eni∣mies,] and that walke by the waies.

For the noise of the archers among the drawers of water ceased. There shall they rehearse the righteous∣nesse of the Lord, his righteousnesse in his vnfenced townes in Israel: then did the people of the Lord go downe to the gates [without feare of the enimie.]

Up Debora, vp, arise and sing a song. Arise Barak, and lead thy captiuitie [or them that kept thy people in bon∣dage and captiuitie] captiue, thou sonne of Abinoam.

For they that remaine, haue dominion ouer the mightie of the people: the Lord hath giuen mee domi∣nion ouer the strong.

Of Ephraun their roote [Iosua first] arose [and fought] against Amalek: and after thee [Iosua] Beniamin [that is Saule] shall fight against thy people, O Amalek, Of Machir came rulers, and of Zebulun they that handle the penne of the writer, [euen the learned did helpe to fight.]

And the princes of Issachar were with Debora, and [the whole tribe of] Issachar, and also Barak, he was sent on foote into the vallie: for the diuisions of Ruben were great thoughts of hart.

Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to heare the bleatings of the flocks? For the diuisions of Ru∣ben [that came not ouer Iordan to helpe their brethren in their necessitie] were great thoughts of hart [and much mar∣uelling.]

Gilead abode beyond Iordan [& yet came to helpe their brethren: therefore thou Ruben canst haue no excuse,] and why

doth Dan remaine in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and taried in his desolate & decaied places.

But the people of zebulun and Nepthalie haue ieo∣parded their liues vnto the death, in the hie places of the field.

The kings came and fought, then fought the king of Chanaan in Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo, and wan no monie [but lost all.]

They fought from heauen, euen the starres in their courses fought against Sisera, [and by Gods power his people were holpen to ouer come their enimies.]

The riuer of kishon swept them away [as a béesome doth the filth of the house,] that ancient riuer, the riuer Ki∣shon: O my soule, thou hast marched valiantly.

Then were the horse hoofes broken with the praun∣sing and oft beating together of their mightie men.

Curse ye the citie of Meros [where ye fought] (said the Angel of the Lord,) curse the inhabitants thereof, bi∣cause they came not to helpe the Lord, to helpe the Lord against the mightie.

Iael the wife of Heber, the Kenite, shall be blessed aboue other women: blessed shall she be aboue women dwelling in tents.

He asked water, and she gaue him milke: she brought foorth butter in a lordlie dish.

She put hir hand to the naile, and hir right hand to the workmans hammer: with the hammer smote she Sisera: she smote off his head, after she had wounded and persed his temples.

He bowed him downe at hir feete, he fell downe, and lay still at hir feete, he bowed himselfe downe, and fell, & when he had sunk downe, he lay there dead & destroied.

The mother of Sisera looked out at a windowe, and cried through the lattise: Why is his chariot so long a comming? Why tarie the wheeles of his chariots?

All hir wise Ladies answered hir, yea she answered

[or comforted] hir selfe with hir owne words.

Surely they haue gotten, and found, they diuide the spoile: euerie man hath a damsell or two. Sisera hath a praie of diuers coloured garments, euen a praie of raiment died with sundrie colours, and that are made of needle worke; raiment of diuers colours, and of nee∣dle worke on both sides, which is meete for him that is chiefe in distributing of the spoiles.

So let all thine enimies perish, O Lord: but they that loue him, shall be as the sunne when hee riseth in his might [and growe dailie more and more in Gods fauour.] And the land had rest fortie yeeres.