A10933:103
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.
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.
Furthermore here, by this that we hear his cruelty, thus laid out by his 1own mouth, that he had played the tyrant against many, and those no meaner persons then Kings, to cut off the thumbs of their hands and feet, and not to some few of them, but even seventy persons; we see what a raging fury this vice of cruelty is, and to what depth of evil it carrieth men, that do not wisely consider the foulness and shamefulness of it. For whereas one man should be sociable with another, yea with strangers, if occasion be offered, (seeing every one is our neighbour,) this cruelty cutteth of all fellowship, 2nay all liberty of enjoying such benefits of peace, goods, or the like. So that the cruel man is far worse then the thief, who (yet) is odious, and driven from habitation with men in their free dwelling houses, into a loathsome prison among brutish companions. For he, unless he be cruel also, is content to take a share in his goods, whom he robbeth; but the cruel man is not content with a share, but if his might be suitable to his mind, he will have all, at one time or other, that is his whom he pursueth, yea he will thrust him out of house and home, yea, and out of the world also, before he can be satisfied. Cain, a little after the corrupt estate of things entered into the world, was a 3pattern of cruel ones, who when he had no cause given him by Abel his innocent brother, of hard handling him; yet because he was accepted of God, and himself not, did not hate him only without a cause, but which was most unnatural and monstrous in him, rose up against him, and slue him. Pharaoh, 4when he had almost tired the poor people of God, who were strangers in his land, with burdens and toil as much as they could bear; yet was not satisfied therewith, but made their burden far greater, till their life was more unwelcome then death itself, that his cruelty might be manifest to all. Haman so exceeded herein, that it was too little to take the goods of Gods people 5from them, and to hold them bondmen, unless he might have their lives also. And what should I speak of Jezebel, who being a woman, exceeded men who were cruel also?