To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
IN the booke of Iudges, Chapter 4. you may read, that the ouerthrow giuen to Sisera (by Deborah and Barak) occasioned this Song of deliuerance; and therefore, referring you thither to be informed concerning the par∣ticular circumstances; I will here, shew you the generall scope of this Hymne, to be a Thankesgiuing, for a great ouerthrow, gotten on their enemies. Wherein ma∣ny things are remarkable. First, in their Introduction,
attributing the glory to God, (and inciting all Poten∣tates of the world to consider it) they set forth with what Maiestie the LORD came to their deliue∣rance. Secondly, the excellency of the benefit recei∣ued, is illustrated, by the great desolation they were formerly in▪ the little meanes they had to protect them∣selues, and the happie tranquillity which they should afterward enioy. Thirdly, they shew the cause of their former distresse, to haue beene Apostacie from God. Fourthly, they memorize those, who were forward in that iust warre, and vpbraid such as drew backe in so good a cause. Fiftly, they declare what powerfull enemies they had; and what miraculous assistance God vouchsafed. Sixtly, a curse is denounced against such as refuse to fight the LORDS battailes; and She is blessed who was the happy Instrument of their deliue∣ry. Lastly, here is a description of the manner of Sise∣rah's death, an Ironicall expression of the Aduersaries vaine hope of preuailing, and a propheticall imprecati∣on, that all Gods enemies may so perish, to the aduance∣ment of his Church.
Jt is obserued by the Auncients; that there is no Song mentioned in the Old or New Testament, but it was composed vpon some extraordinary benefit or deli∣uerance, which the Church receiued: and that in all the songs of the old Testament (especially) there is (beside the plaine literall sence) some Mistery of the Christian Religion prophetically aymed at, couertly or openly, vn∣der the passages thereof. And therefore, this Song is not onely to be sung of vs Christians, to glorifie God in memorizing his protecting our mother the Church, among the Iewish Nation, in her Infancie: But, wee are to vse it also, as a thanks-giuing for euery particular deliuerance, which is vouchsafed to the visible Church
in these times. As in memoriall of our miraculous pre∣seruation, in the yeare 1588. when our Princely De∣borah (the Queene of this kingdome) gaue an ouer∣throw to the Spanish Sisera: For then, the powers of heauen apparantly fought against him (as it is said in this Song.) The Sea, more terrible then their brooke Kishon, swept most of them away: And euen then (as the mother of the Cananitish commander, is here scoffed at by Deborah, for her vaine expectation: So, the whore of Babilon (who was mother to that other Sisera) in vaine longed to behold him returne a con∣querour: till being ridiculously confident of the spoile; she was by the true Church laughed to scorne for her presumption. And then also; this propheticall impreca∣cation (which) we finde in the Epilogue of this Song) was partly fulfilled. Thine enemies oh LORD shall perish; but they that loue thee shall be as the Sunne when he riseth in his might. For, as the first Sisera was shamefully ruined by a woman: so, God gaue that last Sisera (with his seeming inuincible for∣ces) into the hand of a woman, whose honour (with his shame) was thereby spread through as great a part of the world, as the Sunne shineth ouer at mid-day.
This Song (as J said before) would properly be sung also vpon many other deliuerances which the Church hath or may haue. As for that of the powder-Treason and such like. For were it not that J should be ouer∣large in my Prologue to this Song, J could make it very probable, how the holy Ghost, was so farre from making this Hymne to fit the Iewes after that victory onely; as that the names therein mentioned, doe well enough expresse any that are, or shall be In∣struments against the peace of Gods Church, or for the protection thereof.