A10933:1207
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 they show that God and his word are of meaner account with them then their loathsome lusts. Touching this abuse of mens wealth and outward blessings, sundry kinds of doctrine have occasioned us to speak before, neither shall it be needful to make any set discourse upon it in this place. Only I will add a word or two touching this. That they took these pieces out of the treasury of Baal-berith. Whether they took it out of their treasure, appointed to idolatrous uses (for it is probable they had such a treasury, in imitation of the treasury of the house of God) or whether their common treasure, was in some place of that Temple, there laid up as in a safe repository, and free from the violence or sacrilege of robbers, (of which use of temples, especially in times of war and danger of pillage, we read in Profane and Ecclesiastical writers every where) of this, I say, I will not affirm, neither can I. Only I incline to the former opinion: and do think that they robbed their Temple, to supply the want of Abimelech (and sacrilege may well stand with treason and tyranny, which spare neither things holy nor profane.) But upon conjectures I ⟨p. 448⟩will collect nothing. Whether soever they did, sure it is, that they thought their Idol a sufficient treasurer and keeper of this silver, (or else they would not have made his Temple the treasury) and durst trust him with the preciousest things they had: who yet had neither eyes to see it, or hands and power to defend it from robbers. This is no wonder (may some man say) that they durst trust him with their money, who durst venture their lives and souls upon his protection, as they in the days of Elijah. 1. King. 18. did. I answer: 1It were the less wonder indeed, if we saw not Christians, worshippers of God (who profess themselves to jeopard their salvation upon his promise) to be yet far behind these Idolaters in this thing. For they will not venture nor cast their goods upon his safeguard, nor think the Lord a meet and trusty keeper of their wealth; they will put no more in his hands then they are willing to lose. To such we may say: Is he not much beholding to you the whilst? He hath given you living Temples, not of stone temples, not of Baal, but of his own making, even the poor members of the Lord Jesus; Into these he commandeth you to cast, not your superfluities, but some of your substance: