A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 200. Of Samsons Excellencies.

THE speciall excellencies commended in Samson were two,

• 1. His great Strength.
• 2. His right use thereof.

The greatnes of his strength was manifested two ways.

• 1. By the things which he did.
• 2. By the means, and manner of doing them.

For the things which he accomplished, they were such, as thereby nothing* 1.1 seemed too strong for him: he vanquished, and removed whatsoever stood against him.

• 1. He tore a Lyon. Iudg. 14. 6.
• 2. He oft s•…•…ew multitudes of men, and that by himself alone. Iudg. 14. 19. and 15. 8, 15.
• ...

  3. He carried away the Gates, and Posts of a City.

  These were questionles. very massie, and fast fixed in their places. Iudg. 16. 4.

• 4. He brake cords, withs, and all other bonds whereby they sought to bind him, as flax burnt with fire.
• 5. He pulled down at once, two strong pillars of a great house, the roof whereof could bear three thousand people. Iudg. 16. 29, 30.

The means, and manner of doing many of these, were with his own hands;* 1.2 So he tore a Lyon. Iudg. 14. 6. and took the doors, and posts of the gate of a City, and carried them away upon his own shoulders, Iudg. 16. 3. And by himself alone brake all the bands wherewith he was bound. All the means that we read that ever he used, was once the Jaw-bone of an Ass, wherewith he slew a thousand men. Iudg. 15. 15. It is said, that he smote his enemies hip, and thigh, with a great slaughter: Iudg. 15. 8.

That is, with kicking, and spurning them.

As Samsons excellency was manifested by the greatnes of his Strength; So al∣so,* 1.3 by the right use thereof.

This was manifested two wayes.

• 1. By using it against the enemies of God, and his Church. Though his own Country-men ptovoked him much, by comming to bind him, and to deliver him

• into the hands of his enemies, yet he was so far from taking revenge of them, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he suffered them to bind him, and to deliver him up to his enemies. I•…•…dg. 15. 13.
• 2. In all his conflicts with enemies, he never put any to hazard, but himself. Other Judges, Generalls, and Commanders, in war against their enemies, have put their Souldiers upon the greatest dangers.

This instance of Samson giveth evidence of Gods power in enabling his people against their enemies: This Generall might be proved by many other instances, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 none like to this.

In God is all power: he can derive it to whom he pleaseth, and in as great •…•…easure as seemeth good to himself. So as a divine power shall be manifested in human weaknes.

A great encouragement this is, against all sorts of enemies, and against all their 〈◊〉〈◊〉: especially spirituall.

In these doth God most usually, manifest his greatest power.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The great things which Samson did by his strength.
• * 1.2

  The means•…•… which Samson used.
• * 1.3

  Sampsons right use of his strength.