A10933:1123
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.
Sermon 53 › Chapter 8 › Part 3: The third part of the Chapter.
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.
Now as I have spoken of the general act of the Israelites toward Gideon, 1which all may see to have been commendable, in that they were thankful, (though not without some weakness) so yet their particular act in offering the kingdom to him, as far of from allowance in them, that it was utterly unlawful: for it was not in their power, and therefore they offered that which was not theirs, as shall better appear by Gideons answer in the next verse. We ought by this to beware, that we be not liberal of another mans right and good, in giving that which belongs not to us. As many love for name and credit to be liberal, but it shall be of stolen, or (which is all one) of other mens goods. Even so, (to show it in another kind) neither may any man give his soul to the devil, as witches and conjurers, and many other though not so apparently do; for they are bought with a price: nor our bodies to be defiled, for they are redeemed, and made the Temples of the holy Ghost. This needs no long standing upon: but by this we are taught, that as their sin is great, as oppressors, gripers and gamesters, who enjoy to their own benefit ill gotten goods, and restore them not; so neither ought we to receive of any man that which is not his own, but ill come by, if we certainly know it. Otherwise the receiver is excused, who in his simplicity doth presume charitably, that to be of the givers proper goods, which he knoweth not certainly to have been badly gotten. Neither shall the simple affection of the receiver, acquit the ill conscience of the giver, whose sin herein is double, both that he hath attained his wealth unconscionably: and then plaid the part of Achan, in covering his stealth, what though it be under the fair pretence of religious and devout liberality? Doubtless if Ananias ⟨p. 418⟩were guilty of sacrilege, for detaining to himself a part of that which he 2had alienated from himself, and consecrated to the Lords use: how much more they who first rob others, and then feed the Lord with the spoil, as Lions do their Whelps of that which they have ill gotten? It is the cast of many caterpillars, when they have sucked and drawn the blood of others all their life, like horseleeches ready to burst, they will satisfy for their villainy, by paying the tithe or some shred of their unrighteous Mammon to the use of the Lord, or the Church: