A10933:1206
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.
But now to return to the Shechemites again, I have not yet noted nor 1set down the particular sin, which they added to the rest, that is to say, that they help forward this cursed imp Abimelech to usurp the kingdom, by giving him such a piece of money out of their common treasury, which was the house of their Idol Baal-berith (of whom we spake before cha. 8. end) with the which he was able to hire a band and company of lewd fellows to guard and run before, and follow him, as Absalom did the like, when he took in hand such a like work. Whereby we may see to what uses many 2put their goods, and how commendably they employ them, which they are put in trust with. As for feeding the hungry with them, or clothing the naked, or pitying the oppressed, it is too base a matter for them to look 3after, though they shall know one day, and that to their cost, that they have the poor among them, to this end, that they may do good to them. But the thought of such things is as far from them as the East is from the West: yea it is death to them to part with the very shreds to good uses: but they 4empty their purse to the bottom to bestow upon their lusts, in riotous life, in drinking, whoring, and other excess, till they be brought to a morsel of bread: or else they be of another disposition, namely, to gather and increase their substance endlessly, neither they themselves, nor any wise man can tell why: for if they have posterity to leave it to, (which yet many want) they should leave them but that which remaineth after they have done, in their time and place, many good deeds to divers civill and religious necessary uses: and otherwise accursed are they in that which they have, which for the most part doth no other good then the pleasing of the eye of the owner, while they know many smart and are in penury, (that I say) nothing of their wicked increasing of great part of it by oppression, and defrauding of men; whereof we have too many woeful examples among us from time to time. The Lord, therefore, hath given them no heart to do good with it, which if they had, they should consider also, that there is somewhat else to bestow cost upon, as well as upon themselves, but especially upon their lusts: I mean, the worship of God, procuring a good Minister, relieving the distressed, of all kinds, as their ability will reach.