A10933:1209
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.
Again, when they had thus helped him forward, we may see what manner 1of persons he hired & provided to bring his wicked purpose to pass, to wit, such as were empty, light-headed, and naught worth, and which were lewd and loose, and were carried headlong to that which they did, and not by sound reason. Whereby we have a description of such graceless and wicked hangbies, what they are, and wherefore they serve; which shall be to good purpose to note, as for other causes, so for this one; to wit, that we may see what justice should be done and executed on such: who living idly for the most part, further then they needs must must work, should be laid for as of late years they were by that Honourable Counsellor of worthy memory, and kept from ranging about. But seeing they are seldom punished, the best use we can make of them, is to beware of them. First they are, if we will know them, such as have spent all, and lived idly, without practising any profitable trade or calling: and how have they spent it? full lewdly and badly, in gaming, whoring, guzzling, cavaliering, fray-making, &c. and yet hanging in mens debts. Secondly, they are male-contents both with their own penury and the welfare of others, yea with the State it self (often) of the Common-wealth, wherein they live. Thirdly, they are such as are not to be ruled by reason, much less by religion. But their disposition is, to run on head to be set on gadding, roving, &c. And wherefore stay or wait ⟨p. 449⟩they? but even for such troublesome times as these here were? and for some tumult and insurrection, that they may fish in troubled waters, desiring a change of the present condition of these peaceable times, as a fit occasion to practise and set a work this their devilish disposition, which in peace and government, is, as it were imprisoned in them: some by joining themselves with vain and loose persons like themselves, and wandering to and fro, if there be no employment for them at home, into foreign countries, not through a desire of getting knowledge or experience, much to traffic for their maintenance, but to try their fortunes (as they profanely speak) being weary of their own country, wherein they are defamed for their lewdness, prodigality, and needless debts, or other dishonesty:
Again, when they had thus helped him forward, we may see what maner 1