A10933:1109
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 further condemneth the deadly revenge which is between many, not persons only, but families and kindreds also, who upon such murders, band themselves, and take parts each against other irreconcilably, more fit for Pagans indeed then Christians, who should be joined together in love, rather then divide themselves into sworn brotherhoods in mischief, like those two, Simeon and Levi. Lastly, it betrayeth the lewdness of the Romish pretended pity and mercifulness (not in protecting the guiltless,) but in saving the vilest malefactors from the hand of the lawful Magistrate, whom God hath appointed to be the terror of ill doers, and not the mock and may-game of such shavelings. For if they being pursued, can get into those Temples (or rather dens) of thieves, they are rescued (as in Sanctuaries) for fear of law and punishment.
And this further condemneth the deadly reuenge which is betweene many, not persons onely, but families and kindreds also, who vpon such murthers, band themselues, and take parts each against other irreconciliably, more fit for Pagans indeed then Christians, who should be ioyned together in loue, rather then diuide themselues into sworne brotherhoods in mischiefe, like those two, Simeon and Leui. Lastly, it bewraieth the leaudnesse of the Romish pretended pitie and mercifulnesse (not in protecting the guiltlesse,) but in sauing the vilest malefactors from the hand of the lawfull Magistrate, whom God hath appointed to be the terror of ill doers, and not the mocke and may-game of such shauelings. For if they being pursued, can get into those Temples (or rather dennes) of theeues, they are rescued (as in Sanctuaries) for feare of law and punishment.
Again, in that Gideon saith, and sweareth to it, that he would not have ⟨p. 412⟩killed them, if they had saved his brethren alive, who ought to have done it, for pursuing the people of God, (neither had he authority to save them, though he had to destroy them:) and the Holy-ghost commendeth the act: it teacheth, that it is a very hard matter to do good actions aright, but that they will one way or other be blemished and obscured: even as Jephthah's courage & constancy in warring against the Ammonites was much dashed