A10933:1146
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.
For the first of these, the text saith, Midian was subdued and brought low, 1&c. which being understood of the multitude of them, teacheth, and proveth, that we ought to look always to the end of things, and not to the beginnings, and flourishing estate of them, and this to do, the Scripture calls sound wisdom. Think we of the godliest, and things of greatest account, pleasure, pomp, dignity, wealth, buildings, purchases, solemn marriages, ⟨p. 426⟩or such like, I grant that the most men rejoice and please themselves in them vainly and foolishly for the time, as if they had gotten a paradise; but when all may see them to fade daily with the enjoyers thereof, and change to corruption, no wise man can or dare please himself or rest in them, as if they could make him happy; but as he seeth the end will be thereof, so he will enjoy them from God, as things decaying and transitory. What then? ye will (perhaps) say, shall he not be glad of, nor delight in them till he do forgo them, and till an end of them come? I answer, that I say not so. But he shall know what the end of them all will be before it come, by the manner 2of using them. For he that seeketh by all these, to be more fruitful in duty doing to God, and in works of love to men, and not to take boldness to sin the rather by occasion of them, this man may know that the end shall be good, and in respect thereof, he may use them all comfortably, seeing he useth them warily and aright, as God directeth him, for in that he doth so, God also blesseth him exceedingly, which blessing few attain thereto.
For the first of these, the text saith, Midian was subdued and brought low, 1&c. which being vnderstood of the multitude of them, teacheth, and proueth, that we ought to looke alwaies to the end of things, and not to the beginnings, and florishing estate of them, and this to doe, the Scripture calles sound wisedome. Thinke we of the godliest, and things of greatest account, pleasure, pompe, dignitie, wealth, buildings, purchases, solemne marriages, ⟨p. 426⟩