A10933:1083
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 this was the power of God through faith, they trusting and resting in him through the Mediator to come, so it is no less in us, (for I will briefly apply it again, though I have stood largely on this point before, a new occasion being offered) that we outgrow many lets and discouragements by the same our faith, though we be privy that there is otherwise nothing in us, and that (when sometimes it hath seemed to us almost impossible) the Lord hath done much for us, and wrought great things by us, while we have, although but weakly and poorly gone to work, whether we respect our faith, or our labour, which is the fruit of it. And we having been diligent to approve our selves in both; we have found the truth of that Scripture 1verified in us, which saith, that faith overcometh the difficulties that are in the world; and have grown to the contempt of many sins, and the subduing of them, in great measure, which had sometime prevailed against us; and to be better heartened against afflictions, and to get strength of hope 2by experience for the time to come. But to see how soon Moses, Joshua, and Gideon here grew strong in faith, as in a few days, which we are going about many years, this ought as to humble us, for that we are so far behind them, so to encourage us, looking duly unto this, how graciously God ⟨p. 402⟩assisted them. And so (to apply this to the Sacrament) we have communion with God and with Christ therein, and are much confirmed thereby in the covenant he hath made with us, by our diligence and faithfulness in preparing our selves thereto, which they that believe not think absurd, and more then needs, to look after. And to conclude this point (seeing I have showed the necessity of it, and the evil and hurt that falleth out on the contrary, I mean by looseness, idleness, and unbelief, in Christians, by many occasions heretofore) this I add, that the cause of so great difference in the degree and measure of grace and goodness, which we observe in many professors, is this, that some are painful in hearing, using good company, marking, with their hearts deeply set upon the same, remembering, and making use of their knowledge, watching thereunto with prayer, &c. whereas others 3cumber themselves so much with other matters, that there is no room or leisure left for these.