A10933:1022
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.
which the Lord foreseeing, rather chooseth with a little hardship to the patient, then by violent and extreme courses, to prevent matter of disease rather then to heal the disease. And the truth is, it is easier for a man to be dieted then purged: I mean to bear an affliction which cometh before the spirit and conscience is wounded by a sin, then which followeth sin, as the deserved punishment of it. But for the point in hand, let us by this first learn, what a lewd nature there is in us, that we cannot have a little health and welfare, but presently we distemper our selves, so that we must be fain to be physicked, lest we should endanger our life: I mean, we can enjoy no good blessing, but we forget our selves, and cause the Lord to allay the sweetness of it with some bitterness, except he will suffer us to be turned quite over with it. Again, when we enjoy any blessing, let us not measure the same by the pleasure and content which it gives our nature, (for even in that is a sting which will secretly hurt us) but by the sober, humble, 1and thankful affection wherewith we embrace the blessing. And let us know that then only we enjoy it in kind, and entire, otherwise by halves, and scarce that. And when we see that God sauceth our dainties with sour herbs, let us be thankful to him, and say, Lord I had else fed too much of this dish, till I had overlaid my stomach, even as children, who finding honey, eat too much of it; therefore blessed be thy name, who suffered me not to be sick of it, rather then if thou shouldest let me alone, then I should be provoked to vomiting, which were worse. And this be noted of the Lords ⟨p. 380⟩ordering the action of these Ephraimites, for Gideons good.
which the Lord foreseeing, rather chooseth with a little hardship to the patient, then by violent and extreame courses, to preuent matter of disease rather then to heale the disease. And the truth is, it is easier for a man to bee dieted then purged: I meane to beare an affliction which commeth before the spirit and conscience is wounded by a sinne, then which followeth sin, as the deserued punishment of it. But for the point in hand, let vs by this first learne, what a leaud nature there is in vs, that wee cannot haue a little health and welfare, but presently we distemper our selues, so that wee must be faine to be physickt, lest wee should endanger our life: I meane, wee can enioy no good blessing, but we forget our selues, and cause the Lord to allay the sweetnesse of it with some bitternesse, except he will suffer vs to be turned quite ouer with it. Againe, when we enioy any blessing, let vs not measure the same by the pleasure and content which it giues our nature, (for euen in that is a sting which will secretly hurt vs) but by the sober, humble,