A10933:1106
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 here (as the fittest place) let us behold these desperate Princes, how they are brought forth to their answer for a fact which they little dreamt they should ever hear of again, or answer too: namely, for killing of those men whom they slew at mount Tabor. Tush, they in their jollity had put them ⟨p. 410⟩to the sword, with the rest of the company, no respect had of persons (nay it is like the rather, because they seemed to be of note and worth) and all to make boast of their gallant spirits, victorious, brave, and proud stomachs: not unlike to him, whose glory it was to cut off the thumbs of seventy 1Princes, and put them like dogs under his board to gather crumbs. As touching the abuse of mens prosperity I have oft spoken, and of the right use thereof: but here one word (more particularly) let me add to warn men, how they ought to demean themselves in their places, when by reason either of their great success, unlooked for preferment, or what other occasion soever their corrupt flesh might take to forget themselves: I say, let men beware what they do in their jolly, lusty, or merry moods, when they 2think they have the world in a sling, and none may control them: even then, I say, let them control themselves, and take heed lest any insolent, disdainful, cruel, injurious, words or deeds, break out of the superfluity of 3their pride and bravery: which hereafter either God or man might bring forth against them, when they shall be abased and in meaner condition. Which counsel I give not to them who are in these pangs, (for I know it little boots to tell a drunken man, You have done that in your drunkenness which you will repent of being sober) but to arm men both against all such unlawful occasions, as the most seek after, to the end they may utter this stomach of theirs, as gaming, drinking, challenges, quarrels, contentions and suites of law, &c. as also against the corrupt abuse even of lawful blessings, which (if a man be not very wary) will tickle and prick him forward at one time or other, to some odious carriage of himself, which afterward may be remembered against him to his reproach, loss and shame, yea ruin, as here we see in these. Even Heathens have prudently observed this, That a wise man will carry himself no otherwise being prosperous, then as one who considereth, that one day he may be miserable.