A10933:1021
A commentary upon the whole book of Judges Preached first and delivered in sundry…A commentary vpon the vvhole booke of Iudges Preached first and deliuered in sundrie…
A commentary upon the whole book of Judges Preached first and delivered in sundry lectures; since collected, and diligently perused, and now published. For the benefit generally of all such as desire to grow in faith and repentance, and especially of them, who would more clearly understand and make use of the worthy examples of the saints, recorded in divine history. Penned by Richard Rogers preacher of Gods word at Wethersfield in Essex.A commentary vpon the vvhole booke of Iudges Preached first and deliuered in sundrie lectures; since collected, and diligently perused, and now published. For the benefit generally of all such as desire to grow in faith and repentance, and especially of them, who would more cleerely vnderstand and make vse of the worthie examples of the saints, recorded in diuine history. Penned by Richard Rogers preacher of Gods word at Wethersfield in Essex.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston for Thomas Man, 1615
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Sermon 50 › Chapter 8 › Part 1: The first part of the Chapter.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And here first, some man might think it an unseasonable accident that 1befell Gideon even in the chief spring of his glory; I mean, that in the very neck of the victory should come upon him such a cross blow, as to turn the solemnity and honour of his great acts, in subduing the Midianites into ⟨p. 379⟩reproach and abasement. But the most wise God who best knoweth how to keep his own children in compass, and seeth what corruption they carry about them, by means whereof they cannot bear any great blessing, or prosperity, without swelling, and pride; he (I say) doth commonly so dispose 2of them, that with rare and special liftings us, and heightenings of 3them, either in grace, wealth, honour, and success, or the like, he matcheth and mixeth some great coolings and buffetings of them, to keep them from falling dangerously, in so slippery a place as they stand in. Of Gideon we cannot certainly say any thing to his just reproof in any gross manner, but of great infirmities of his we have heard; and therefore doubtless he being a man) he had that in him which might have puffed him up upon so great success, if God had not by this great and unwelcome cross, prevented it. So Jephthah coming fresh from a great conquest, was suddenly quailed 4by his only daughter. And Job in the middest of his flourishing and prosperous estate, hears all at once, of his children and substance destroyed and spoiled. Likewise David had few victories, but the Lord sent him a cooler upon them, the rebellion of Absalom, the cursing of Shimei, the insurrection of Sheba, the death of Ammon, the slaughter of Absalom; which (doubtless) were enough to purge out any superfluous humour which might rise up in him, and so to keep him sober, temperate, and within holy compass. It is not so strange that the Lord should thus physic his servants, being already 5surfeited with excessive and sinful abuse of their prosperity: but it is his great mercy that he should so diet them with these potions, that they may prevent surfeiting. The reason is, because first it is the wisdom of the same Physician to give preservatives, as well as purgations. And again, sin is easilier kept out from entering, then thrust out of doors being once gotten in: