Contemplations. Lrn.X. but the ground ofthis act .vas their hoflility.lt is jull with God to dctlinc wlm c- A nemics he pleafes,to execution:lt 1s not to be expotlulatcd why rhis man is /hicken rather than anotl!er, when both arc P hiliflims. S A M s o N s ViElory. D • Can no more jutlific Samfon in the leaving of his wife, than in the chuling h_cr: He chofe her, bccaufe fhe plcafed him;and becaufc fhc dcfp1fcd turn, he left her. Though her !care made her falfe to him in his l{iddlc, yet 01c was true to his bed: That wcakr treachery B was worthy of a checke, not a defertion. All the pallions of Samfo" were llrong, like himfclfc: but (as vehement motions are not latling) this vehement windc is foonc allaid; and he is now ;eturningwith aKid, rowinne her that had olfcndcJ him, and to renue that feallwhich ended in her unkindnelfe. Slight occations may not break the knot of matrimoniall love; and if any jufl offence have flack1~!d it on either part, it mull be fafined againc by fpccdy reconciliation. Now Samfom father in law 01cws himfclfc a Philillim, the true parent of hcrthat betrayed her husband;for no fooner is the Bride-groomdeparted, than he changes I his fon:What pretence of friendfhip focver he made, a true Philillim will foon be weary ofan lfraelite. Samfon hath nor fo many days liberty to enjoy his wedding as 1 he fpcnt in celebrating it: Marriage bath bin ever a facrcd Inllitution,and who but C a Philillim would fo ealilyviolate it?Oneofhis thirty companions enjoys his wife together with his fute;and now laughs to be a partner ofthat bed,wheron hewas an attendant.The good nature ofSamJon,having forgotten the firll wrong,carried him to a proffer offamiliarity,&is repu!fed;but with a gentle violence,! hadthought thou hadjfhated her.Lawfulwedlockmay nor be dilfolveJby imaginations,butby proofs. Who fhallllay s amfon from Ius ownewife?He that flew the Lion in the way of his wooing, and before whom thoufands ofthe Phili!lims could not lland, yet fuffers himfelft to be refilled by him that was once his father in Law, without any returne ofprivate violence. G rear is the force ofdutyonce conceived,even to the mo!l unworthy:This thougbt I was his fon, binds the hands of SamJon; elfe how ealily migh he, that Oew thof~ D tbirtyPhilillims for their liaes,have de!lroyd this family for his wife?How unnaturall arc thofc mouths,that can curfe the loines fromwhich they arc procceded;and thofc hands,that dare lift up themfelves again!\ the means oftheir life and being? I never read that Samfon flew any but l:iy the motion and allillance of the Spirit ofGod:and the divinewifedome hath referved tbefeoffenders to another revenge. Judgement mull defcend from others to them,lith thewrong proceeded from o- .thers,by them. In the very marriage, God fore-faw and intenaed this parting, ~nd in the parting this punifhment upon the Philillims.lfthePhilifiims had nofbeene as mnch enemies to God,as to Sainfon;enemies to lfrael in their opprcllion,no lelfe than to Samfon in this particular injury,that purpofe and execution of revenge had been no better than wicked:Nmv he to whom vengeance belongs,fets him on work, E and makes the act ju!\icc:when he commands, even very cruelty is obedience. It was a bulie and troublefomc project of Samfon, toufe the foxes for his-revenge: for not without great labor & many hands could fo many wild creatures be got together, neither could the wit of Samfon want other devices of hollility: but bee meant to find out fuch a punilhment,as might in fame fort anliver the offence, and might imply as much contempt,as trcfpalfe.By wiles, feconded with violence, had they wronged Samfon, in e~torting his fecrct, and taking away his wife: and what other Emblcme could thefc foxes tyed together prefcnt unto them, than wilinclfc combined by force towork mifchiefe ? Thefe foxes dellroytheir corn,before hewhich fent thc,dellroy the perfons.Thofc judge-
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