A10933:1193
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.
Thus we might think, and thus it should be, if God in his secret judgement had not prepared some (even of them also) to the evil day. It is said of Ely his children: they hearkened not 1to their father, because God had determined to destroy them; to wit, for the in expiable offence they had caused to the people by their polluting the holy things of God. And so also, it is pitiful to think that the other sort, the posterity of bad parents, dare venture so confidently to go where their ancestors have gone; as it were taking sin by tradition from them, yea filling 2up the measure which they attained not to, as our Saviour speaketh This in a manner, is generally seen: and where it is in a few otherwise, there another father, even the Father of Christ hath revealed it from heaven, flesh and blood hath not taught it. And this dreg of Popery is natural, without teaching: to make it a strong pillar of a mans religion to do• as the forefathers have done. In the story of the Church it is reported▪ that a certain Heathen Prince having received so much light of true religion, that he was content to be baptized: yet when he came to the water, stopped, and asked the Minister this question: Whether have more of my ancestors (being unbaptized) gone to heaven, or hell? To hell, saith the Minister. So will I then, said he, and refused Christianity utterly. Yea doubtless, nature teacheth no better then this, even rather to go to hell with the parents, then to heaven without them. Both these, I say, are lamentable: as for the use that both sorts are to make thereof, I shall not need to insist upon it here, having oft urged it in other places.
Thus wee might thinke, and thus it should be, if God in his secret iudgement had not prepared some (euen of them also) to the euill day. It is said of Elie his children: they hearkned not 1to their father, because God had determined to destroy them; to wit, for the in expiable offence they had caused to the people by their polluting the holy things of God. And so also, it is pitifull to thinke that the other sort, the posteritie of bad parents, dare venture so confidently to goe where their ancestours haue gone; as it were taking sinne by tradition from them, yea filling