A10933:1088
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.
It is an hard thing to be ruled by the word of God in correcting others, whereas flesh looketh to nothing, but to the will and revenge of it self, and not to the bettering of the party, and the good example of other, and discharge of a good conscience before God. Therefore S. Paul hath given a 1good rule to all by teaching one kind of correcters, namely fathers, that they should not be bitter to their children: even as Achan in a weighty case was wisely handled, and kindly dealt with by Joshua in a matter of life and death, 2and was regarded in, and concerning his soul, when sore punishment was inflicted upon his body. Sundry ways do men shroud this cursed humour, under the false habit of zeal or lawful severity: sometime to cover their ambition, as Jehu in killing Ahab's posterity; sometime covetousness, as Saul in slaying some of the Amalekites: sometime pride and revenge, as the Israelites in warring upon the Beniamites. All of them failed of the ground, ⟨p. 404⟩end, manner or measure in executing the correction: all which being neglected, and not observed, doth mar the action, be it never so lawful in it self and necessary. As when the offending party seeth not the cause of his correction, or is cruelly handled by the correcter, who maketh nor the end of his correction or punishment to be the saving of the party, and to make the sin odious that he is punished for, and the same an example to other. And here is justly condemned the doing of them who say, they cannot correct 3but in anger, and while their hearts are exasperated against the party, is if they should say, they can never do it rightly or without sin, whereas God saith, Be angry, but sin not: for anger doth nothing well. Although 4what need the word of God or the examples of the Saints be used to shame them, whom heathens may shame? Of whom some prescribe rules to such as are angry, how they may bridle anger from r•sh outrage: and one among the rest told his servant, I had surely beaten thee, but that I was angry. This doctrine is to be applied to Magistrates, Parents, Schoolmasters, and other superiors, namely step-mothers, and such as have rule over poor orphans, or any other, whom it little becometh to excuse their own corruption by the fault or desert of the party guilty: