A10933:1153
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.
And again, this showeth the folly of such great persons, as trusting to their greatness and wealth, as to a strong hold, provide as little for their own changes, as for the hardness which may befall their children: but bring them up in all softness and delicacy, not so much as inuring them to any labour, or exercising their bodies or wits to industry and action: whereby it cometh to pass, that if their estate decline, they are left destitute and shiftless: and urged by an unhappy necessity of their own procuring to use indirect means for maintenance.
And againe, this sheweth the follie of such great persons, as trusting to their greatnesse and wealth, as to a strong hold, prouide as little for their owne changes, as for the hardnesse which may befall their children: but bring them vp in all softnesse and delicacie, not so much as inuring them to any labour, or exercizing their bodies or wits to industrie and action: wherby it commeth to passe, that if their estate decline, they are left destitute and shiftlesse: and vrged by an vnhappy necessitie of their owne procuring to vse indirect meanes for maintenance.
Another thing concerning Gideon followeth, and that is, the setting 1down of his many wives, which was his great blemish. And it teacheth us, that as well the faults and blemishes of Gods servants are set before us in the Scriptures, as their virtues: in which respect the Scriptures are unlike to other stories or writings of men, carried partially through hatred or flattery to obscure the truth. So are Davids, Samsons, and Peters; and the faults and infirmities of sundry other approved servants of God: which (yet) is not done by the holy Ghost, that we should seek liberty to follow them, for many sorrows shall be to such, but to teach, that we, even the best, should suspect 2our selves, being full of self-love, to hide and wink at our corruptions and bad qualities, and therefore to keep with all diligence our hearts, which we are hardly brought to do, though they be out of measure deceitful, neither can we abide to be reproved and shamed for the same.