A10933:1095
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.
So some among us, are undone by their idleness, unthriftiness, and needless spending, some by their unfaithfulness, and deceitful dealing, lose their credit, and being no more trusted, come to naught: some by their oppression sundry ways, are on their death bed so terrified, that whereas by making restitution of a shilling, noble, or a pounds value, while it should have been done, it might have brought great ease to them: they would now in 1their terror restore ten for one, and yet cannot be quieted neither. So some for adultery are brought to shame, and to worse should be, if they had their due: and other by spiteful, malicious, and revenging spirits, make themselves odious to all, and they procure small joy to themselves. And to add something touching the particular sin of these men, which was politic shifting and subtlety in playing the Neuters, while the battle depended in an uncertainty of issue: this I say, that of all other kind of offenders, these sly and wily companions are least pitied of men, when the Lord entrappeth them in their own snare. Sooner would a man let loose a Lion (if he durst) out of the pit, or the danger wherein it is, then the Fox: because (besides the hurtfulness) it hath so many shifts to convey it self from danger, and is so hardly catched. Who pitieth these men of Succoth and Penuel? because they in seeking by subtlety to preserve their lives, justly were beaten with their own rod, and lost them. Whereas he who falls into danger either in a good quarrel, or in his simplicity, is either saved by God, or pitied in his ruin by men. And is not this a double misery, when men are in distress, to hear others say of them, they are well served? Heathens have observed this cowardly subtlety (for who is more subtle, then he that is most fearful) to be ever unprosperous: and seldom even in foreign dissentions of Kings and States, have they sped well, who have held off, and plaid the spectators of other mens success. For whosoever hath got the upper hand, they have smarted: if they whom they denied to succour, they are made the prey of them whom they forsook: if the other, yet they smart also, in that they did only forbear for their sakes, and not actually help. So unnatural is it counted, in a common calamity, to betray one enemy to another, or not to help when we are able.
So some among vs, are vndone by their idlenes, vnthriftinesse, and needlesse spending, some by their vnfaithfulnes, and deceitful dealing, lose their credit, and being no more trusted, come to naught: some by their oppression sundry waies, are on their death bed so terrified, that whereas by making restitution of a shilling, noble, or a pounds valew, while it should haue been done, it might haue brought great ease to them: they would now in