A10933:104
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.
And of Rehoboams cruel handling his subjects, as his story declareth, and of Josephs brethren, who consented to sell him into a far country, whence he might never return to trouble them, as they hoped, but further, the most of them agreed to take away his life also, and yet if they had killed him, even they themselves had lost their lives also in the famine that God sent afterwards, they being preserved by Joseph among all other men.
And of Rehoboams cruell handling his subiects, as his storie declareth, and of Iosephs brethren, who consented to sell him into a far countrey, whence he might neuer returne to trouble them, as they hoped, but further, the most of them agreed to take away his life also, and yet if they had killed him, euen they themselues had lost their liues also in the famine that God sent afterwards, they being preserued by Ioseph among all other men.
These might make cruelty odious to us. But many that hear this of it, desire to know what manner of thing it is, that rageth after this sort, and like the flaming fire, devoureth and destroyeth, where it cometh. Their demand is godly, and I will briefly satisfy it. That they may therefore cease marvelling, that this fury, cruelty I mean, bringeth such strange effects forth, they may know, that it is a vile and vicious habit or custom, whereby men are carried to do things both harsh and hard, and that beyond all course and compass of reason. Now where men are thus set upon their will, to deal with other, and are led to it without reason, much more without religion, there how can they choose, but to be rigorously handled, and cruelly dealt with, who fall into their hands? Which maketh the cruel man to be hated of all: For such are barbarous and uncivil, as if they had sucked the ⟨p. 24⟩Dragons in the desert, and their hearts so bound with the sinews of iron, that they spoil them whom they pursue, as raging rain and tempest rendeth the trees, and destroyeth the fruits, and they are no more moved with the life of a man, then if a dog had fallen before them. And therefore no marvel, that David having his choice of plagues presented to him, made a present exception to his own nature and kind, fearing and knowing the cruelty of men; saying: let me not fall into the hands of man. This the Heathen Seneca saw, when he said; Thou art deceived, if thou givest credit to the looks of those that meet thee. They have the faces of men, the minds of wild beasts. If he spake this of man in general, what would he have said particularly of the cruel man? with whom this speech is as common; [burn, kill, cut, Poison young, old, men, women, brethren, kindred,] as to eat their meat. Whosoever do but cross them with a mistaken word, or wry countenance, it is but a word and a blow with them, and though they murder upon light occasions, and have no gain by their death, they have enough in that they take pleasure in it. But whither might a man go in this argument? I will give an instance in lower matters of this kind.