A10933:1137
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.
Gideon did well to set up a remembrance of Gods kindness, as Jacob left a 1memorial of Gods appearing to him, when he went into Mesopotamia, changing the name of the place, and calling it the house of God: for there the Lord had promised him safe deliverance from the wrath of his brother Esau, and to be with him whither he went, and to bring him safely back again: even the like mind did Gideon show here, desiring to keep a remembrance of Gods deliverance there. But in making the Ephod, which was the sign thereof, Gideon was very unadvised, and dealt without due and good consideration. For in so weighty a case as that, and of so dangerous consequence, it had been meet that he had first consulted with the Lord about it, and so (according to the resolution he should have received from him) to have done: to wit, to have abstained from such a work: as undoubtedly he must and would have done, if God had bin consulted with, and might have over-ruled. And this is the fruit of rashness and carelessness, whereas a small matter might have prevented all. It was, I say, no better in Gideon then inconsiderate, though his meaning were good. For God ordained not the Ephod to such an end, but only for the Priests to wear in the Tabernacle when they offered sacrifice: and permitted it not to men to follow him therein, neither to make one for civil uses. It is charitably to be thought that Gideon committed not Idolatry himself, who had thrown down ⟨p. 424⟩the Altar of Baal before with detestation, and cut down his grove: but howsoever it was, as it is not certain to us; yet seeing he did otherwise in setting up the Ephod, then God had commanded, he fell into a kind of Idolatry, or was at least a great occasion thereof, and so the Lord being offended, punished his issue and posterity, rewarding them both with the unthankfulness of the people, and also with the cruelty of Abimelech.
Gedeon did well to set vp a remembrance of Gods kindnesse, as Iacob left a 1memoriall of Gods appearing to him, when hee went into Mesopotamia, changing the name of the place, and calling it the house of God: for there the Lord had promised him safe deliuerance from the wrath of his brother Esau, and to be with him whither he went, and to bring him safely backe againe: euen the like mind did Gedeon shew here, desiring to keepe a remembrance of Gods deliuerance there. But in making the Ephod, which was the signe thereof, Gedeon was very vnaduised, and dealt without due and good consideration. For in so weightie a case as that, and of so dangerous consequence, it had been meete that hee had first consulted with the Lord about it, and so (according to the resolution hee should haue receiued from him) to haue done: to wit, to haue abstained from such a worke: as vndoubtedly he must and would haue done, if God had bin consulted with, and might haue ouer-ruled. And this is the fruite of rashnes and carelesnes, whereas a small matter might haue preuented all. It was, I say, no better in Gedeon then inconsiderate, though his meaning were good. For God ordained not the Ephod to such an end, but onely for the Priests to weare in the Tabernacle when they offered sacrifice: and permitted it not to men to follow him therein, neither to make one for ciuil vses. It is charitably to be thought that Gedeon committed not Idolatrie himselfe, who had throwne downe