A10933:1125
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.
Gideon answereth, God shall reign over them, (an holy speech) for where 1shall they be found that will refuse a thing much less then a kingdom being offered? nay, how greedily would many have fastened upon a matter of small value, being offered them, as the kingdom here was to him? But some will ask, Might not God reign over them though he had also? I say, Yes. Neither was he of the Anabaptists opinion, who think that such civill government and subjection of people to Kings repugneth to Christian liberty. And God reigned over his people, when yet Saul, and after him David reigned over them also: but his meaning was, that the order that God had set (of governing by such as had no continued government,) should stand, and not be perverted by or for him or his: but contrariwise, to his power he would hinder it. And God reigned indeed in the Commonwealth of the Israelites, which flourished in Gideons time, wherein the Elders were chosen by common consent, some ecclesiastical to give the meaning of the law, and others civill and temporal, as men call it, to rule the people thereby: in which office if they did not well carry themselves, they were both punished and put from their places. And if any war fell out, the Lord himself stirred up Guides and Judges, and they were not chosen by men, as appears both by Chapter 1. 1. and after neither did their children succeed them: and thus the Lord both in peace and war ruled over them, and so Gideon meant, that the office of the Judge was no ordinary magistracy, such as the King is: but a temporary and occasional, much like to the Dictatorship of the Romans, in respect of the use whereto it served: although otherwise of divine election, immediately, not by men. By this answer, the singular modesty, and the religious staidness and good government of Gideon appeareth: who having occasion so fairly offered of possessing and enjoying the kingdom, refuseth it as resolutely, as they offered it earnestly. He is indeed the strong man, who standeth out stoutly, when the brunt cometh: now Gideon's sincerity and courage is tried: and now he playeth the part of a truly heroical captain, in rejecting the tentation that was set before him.
Gedeon answereth, God shal raigne ouer them, (an holy speech) for where 1shall they be found that will refuse a thing much lesse then a kingdome being offered? nay, how greedily would many haue fastened vpon a matter of small valew, being offered them, as the kingdome here was to him? But some will aske, Might not God raigne ouer them though hee had also? I say, Yes. Neither was he of the Anabaptists opinion, who thinke that such ciuill gouernment and subiection of people to Kings repugneth to Christian liberty. And God raigned ouer his people, when yet Saul, and after him Dauid raigned ouer them also: but his meaning was, that the order that God had set (of gouerning by such as had no continued gouernment,) should stand, and not be peruerted by or for him or his: but contrariwise, to his power he would hinder it. And God raigned indeed in the Commonwealth of the Israelites, which florished in Gedeons time, wherein the Elders were chosen by common consent, some ecclesiasticall to giue the meaning of the law, and others ciuill and temporall, as men call it, to rule the people thereby: in which office if they did not well carrie themselues, they were both punished and put from their places. And if any warre fell out, the Lord himselfe stirred vp Guides and Iudges, and they were not chosen by men, as appeares both by Chapter 1. 1. and after neither did their children succeed them: and thus the Lord both in peace and warre ruled ouer them, and so Gedeon meant, that the office of the Iudge was no ordinary magistracy, such as the King is: but a temporary and occasionall, much like to the Dictatorship of the Romans, in respect of the vse wherto it serued: although otherwise of diuine election, immediatly, not by men. By this answere, the singular modestie, and the religious staiednesse and good gouernment of Gedeon appeareth: who hauing occasion so fairely offered of possessing and inioying the kingdome, refuseth it as resolutely, as they offered it earnestly. Hee is indeed the strong man, who standeth out stoutly, when the brunt commeth: now Gedeous sinceritie and courage is tryed: and now he plaieth the part of a truly heroicall captaine, in reiecting the tentation that was set before him.