and he gave it her] That is, the pledge she demanded, to wit his signet, or seale, his bracelets, and staffe; lust whether for corporall, or spirituall whoredome, is a besotting evill, which makes a man part with his precious things to a pernicious purpose; so did the Israelites with their earerings to make the golden Calfe, which they set up to their own ruine, Exod. 32. and he came in] Not by the high way where she stood to tempt, but in some private place not farre off, more like to be chosen for such a sinfull secret. This fact of Judah is recorded for many reasons. First, to shew the impartialitie of Gods Spirit which indicted unto the Pen-men of the holy Scriptures, who useth no connivence to the offences of any; therefore Moses, though he were of the Tribe of Levi, tells his faults, Genesis 34:25. &Chap. 49. 5, &c. as well as Judahs; and his own defects, Ch. 38. 15, 16. Exodus 4:13. and Gods displeasure towards himself as well as others, Exodus 4:24. Numbers 20:12. and David, howsoever he is highly magnified, hath his faults laid open, though done in secret, as well as others, 2 Sam. Chap. 11. &12. &Chap. 24. and Jonah reports his own murmuring against God, and tooke a chiding for it, answering nothing in his own defence, and so his booke is ended. Secondly, That we should not make Idols of the Worthies of former Ages, but consider them as fraile men, though never so eminent. Thirdly, To shew them that the favours they received from God were not rewards of their works, but the exercises of mercy, whereof the best thought themselves most unworthy, Genesis 32:10. Fourthly, To take away all boasting of a carnall birth, and therefore our Saviour himselfe though immediatly borne of a pure Virgin was lineally descended from this Judah, and Thamar, that men might respect him for himselfe, not for the worth of his progenitors in the flesh; and so the vanitie of the Jewes brag is evident, who gloried that they were not borne of fornication, John 8:41. by Judah (for from him they are called Judaei, Jews) who here committed incest with the widow of his own sonnes. Fifthly, To comfort penitent sinners, though they have foully fallen into grosse offences, for though divers of the Patriarches were great sinners, as Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah, yet were their posteritie all sharers in the Land of Canaan, and all their names written in precious stones on Aarons breast-plate, Exodus 28:21.