Contemplations vpon the principal passages of the holie historie. The third volume: in three bookes. By I. Hall, Doctor of Diuinitie

Iael and Sisera.

IT is no wonder if they vvho ere foure-score dayes after the Law deliuered, fell to Ido∣latry alone, now after foure-score yeeres since the Law restored, fell to Idolatry among the Canaanites: Peace could in a shorter time work ••ooseness in any people: and if for∣••ie yeeres after Othniels deliue∣••ance, they relapsed, what mar∣vell is it that in twise fortie after E∣••ud, they thus miscaried? VVhat ••re they the better to haue killed Eglon the King of Moab, if the I∣dolatry

of Moab haue killed them? The sinne of Moab shal be found a worse Tyrant then their Eglon. Is∣rael is for euery market; they sold themselues to Idolatry, God sells them to the Canaanites; it is no maruell they are slaues, if they wil be Idolaters: After their longest intermission, they haue now the sorest bondage. None of their Ty∣rants were so potent as Iabin with his 900. chariots of Iron. The lon∣ger the reckoning is deferred, the greater is the summe: God pro∣uides on purpose mighty Aduersa∣ries for his Church, that their hu∣miliation may bee the greater in sustaining, and his glory may be greater in deliuerance.

I doe not finde any Prophet in Israel during their sin; but so soone as I heare newes of their repen∣tance, mention is made of a Pro∣phetesse, & Iudge of Israel. There is no better signe of Gods recon∣ciliation, then the sending of his holy messengers to any people; He is not vtterly fallen out vvith those whom hee blesses with pro∣phecie. Whom yet doe I see ray∣sed to this honour? Not any of the Princes of Israel; not Barac the Captaine; not Lapidoth the hus∣band; but a woman, for the honor of her sex; a wife, for the honor of wedlock: Deborah, the wife of La∣pidoth.

Hee that had choice of all the millions of Israel, culls out two

weake women, to deliuer his peo∣ple; Deborah shall iudge, Iael shall execute. All the Palaces of Israel, must yeeld to the Palme-tree of Deborah; The weakenesse of the instruments, redounds to the grea∣ter honour of the workman. Who shall aske God any reason of his elections, but his owne pleasure? Deborah was to sentence, not to strike; to commaund, not to exe∣cute: This act is masculine, fit for some Captaine of Israel; She was the Head of Israel, it was meet som other should be the hand: it is an imperfect and titular gouernment vvhere there is a commaunding power, without correction, with∣out execution. The message of Deborah findes out Barac the son of Abinoam, in his obscure secre∣cie,

and calls him from a corner of Nepthali, to the honour of this ex∣ploit. Hee is sent for, not to gette the victory, but to take it; not to ouercome, but to kill; to pursue, & not to beat Sisera. Who could not haue done this work, whereto not much courage, no skill be∣longed? Yet euen for this wil God haue an instrument of his ovvne choice: It is most fit that GOD shold serue himselfe where he list, of his owne; neither is it to be in∣quired, whom we thinke meet for any imployment, but whom God hath called.

Deborah had beene no Prophe∣tesse, if shee durst haue sent in her owne name; Her message is from him that sent herselfe, Hath not the

Lord God of Israel commaunded? Baracs answer is faithfull, tho con∣ditionate; and doth not so much intend a refusall to goe without her, as a necessary bond of her presence vvith him. VVho can blame him that hee would haue a Prophetesse in his cōpany? If the man had not been as holy as vali∣ant, he wold not haue wished such societie. How many thinke it a perpetual bondage to haue a pro∣phet of God at their elbow? God had neuer sent for him so farre, if he could haue bin content to goe vp without Deborah; Hee knew that there was both a blessing, and incouragement in that presence. It is no putting any trust in the suc∣cess of those men, that neglect the messengers of God.

To prescribe that to others, which we draw back from dooing our selues, is an argument of hol∣lowness and falsity: Barac shall see that Deborah doth not offer him that cup, whereof she dare not be∣ginne; without regard of her sexe shee marches with him to Mount Tabor, and reioyces to be seen of the tenne thousand of Israel. With what scorne did Sisera looke at these gleanings of Israel? How vn∣equall did this match seeme of ten thousand Israelites against his three hundred thousand foot, ten thousand horse, nine hundred cha∣riots of Iron? And now in a bra∣uery, he calls for his troupes, and meanes to kill this handfull of Is∣rael with the very sight of his pi∣ked chariots; and onely feared it

would be no victory to cutte the throates of so few. The faith of Deborah and Barac was not ap∣palled with this world of Aduer∣saries, which from Mount Tabor they saw hiding all the Vally be∣lowe them; they knew whom they had belieued, and how little an arme of flesh could do against the God of Hosts.

Barac went down against Sisera, but it was GOD that destroyed him. The Israelites did not this day wield their owne swords, least they should arrogate any thing; God told them before hand, it should be his own act. I heare not of one stroke that any Canaa∣nite gaue in this fight; as if they were called hither, onely to suffer.

And now proud Sisera, after ma∣ny curses of the heauinesse of that Iron carriage, is gladde to quit his Chariot, and betake himselfe to his heeles. Who euer yet knew a∣ny earthly thing trusted in, with∣out disappointment? It is wonder if God make vs not at last as wea∣ry of whatsoeuer hath stolne our harts from him, as euer wee were fond.

Yet Sisera hopes to haue sped better then his followers, in so sea∣sonable an harbour of Iael. If He∣ber and Iael had not been great persons, there had beene no note taken of their Tents; There had been no league betwixt King Ia∣bin and them: now their greatnes makes them known, their league

makes them trusted. The distresse of Sisera might haue made him importunate, but Iael begins the curtesie, and exceeds the desire of her guest: Hee askes vvater to drinke, shee giues him milke; hee wishes but shelter, shee makes him a bed; hee desires the protection of her Tent, she couers him with a mantle. And now Sisera pleases himselfe with this happy change, and thinks how much better it is to be here, then in that whirling of chariots, in that horror of flight, amongst those shriekes, those woundes, those carcasses. Whiles hee is in these thoughts: his weari∣ness & easie reposall hath brought him asleepe. VVho would haue looked that in this tumult and dan∣ger, euen betwixt the very iawes

of death, Sisera should finde time to sleepe? How many vvorldlie harts doe so in the midst of their spirituall perils?

Now whiles hee was dreaming, doubtlesse, of the clashing of ar∣mors, ratling of chariots, neighing of horses, the clamor of the con∣quered, the furious pursute of Is∣rael; Iael seeing his temples lie so faire, as if they inuited the naile & hammer, entred into the thought of this noble execution; certainly not without som checks of doubt, and pleas of feare: What if I strike him? And yet who am I, that I should dare to thinke of such an act? Is not this Sisera, the famou∣sest captaine of the world, whose name hath wont to be fearefull to

whole Nations? What if my hand should swarue in the stroke? What if hee should awake, whiles I am lifting vp this instrument of death▪ What if I should be surprised by some of his followers while the fact is greene, and yet bleeding? Can the murder of so great a Lea∣der be hid, or vnreuenged? Or if I might hope so, yet can my heart allow mee to be secretly treche∣rous? Is there not peace betwixt my house, and him? Did not I in∣uite him to my Tent? Doth he not trust to my friendship & hospitali∣tie? But what doe these vveake feares, these idle fancies of ciuili∣tie? If Sisera be in league with vs, yet is he not at defiance with God? Is hee not a Tyrant to Israel? Is it for nothing that GOD hath

brought him into my Tent? May I not now finde meanes to repay vnto Israel all their kindnesse to my Grand-father Iethro? Dooth not GOD offer mee this day, the honour to bee the Rescuer of his people? Hath God bidden mee strike, and shall I hold my hand? No Sisera, sleepe now thy last, and take here this fatall reward of all thy cruelty and oppression.

He that put this instinct into her hart, did put also strength into her hand; He that guided Sisera to her Tent, guided the naile throgh his temples; which hath made a spee∣die way for his soule throgh those parts, and now hath fastened his eare so close to the earth, as if the body had been listening what was

becomne of the soule. There lyes now the great terror of Israel at the foote of a woman: Hee that brought so many hundred thou∣sands into the Field, hath not now one Page left, either to auert his death, or to accompany it, or be∣waile it: Hee that had vaunted of his Iron chariots, is slaine by one naile of Iron, wanting onely this one point of his infelicity, that hee knowes not by whose hand he pe∣rished.