A10933:1111
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.
But oh silly man consider, thou bearest about thee a body of sin, an evil heart, even in a good heart: what wonder then if much evil cleave to thy best actions, when no other thing is looked at, but the good? when the hypocrisy, ignorance, boldness, pride, and other corruptions thereof lieth unseen, unpurged: nay when a corrupt humour sets a man on work to do a good duty, that it may lurk under the visor thereof: as anger and malice, under zeal and holy revenge, which is as odious as Nadab & Abihu 1their offering Incense with strange or common fire. Is not hearing, prayer, a good action? Yet our Saviour saith: Take heed how ye hear: Paul saith, 2Watch your selves in prayer, Ephes. 6. For if ye look not narrowly to your selves in these, keeping your selves attentive, reverent, confident, humble, fervent, throughout them; the devil will watch you so, that as good never a whit, as never the better when all is done. And if this be so, even in things religious, how much more in those which are indifferent? For under this pretence, That to be angry, merry in company, to eat, drink, recreate the body, &c. are things neither good nor evil in nature; who forgets not this, That these all, change their nature when they come into action, and cannot be indifferently done? They are good or bad according to the manner of ⟨p. 413⟩doing. Therefore though anger be not evil of it self, yet the Lord justly challengeth Jonah, saying, Doest thou well to be angry? meaning, so corruptly 3and carnally. Therefore, as easy a work as men think it, to carry themselves aright in all these: yet let them know, that if in any of them they transgress the rule either of piety, love, or soberness; the goodness, or indifferency of the work, shall not save them harmless. For instance, if in their zeal, they neither aim at Gods glory, nor the reformation of the party, nor the moderation of the affection: their zeal is folly, rage, error, or any thing rather then holy zeal. But of this point I have spoken in this book often, and shall speak afterward, if God will. Let me add this caveat to the Ministers, that in all their teaching, especially in the doctrine of these duties, they beware lest they teach men their liberty (which they learn too soon of themselves, and catch greedily from them) and be large therein: