A10933:1218
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.
So Herod and Herodias had nothing that troubled them, but John Baptist; and yet when they had taken John out of the way, our Saviour Christ role up, who (through this that Herod's conscience put him in fear) kept him at 1that stay, that he could not be quiet. Ahab had been at hearts ease, but for 2Elijah, and yet afterward Michaiah vexed him as much. Gehazi sped well a while; but at length his master dashed all. And all this is a savour of their 3woe before it come, unless they be teared & driven from their bad courses thereby, and so humble themselves to seek mercy; as that third Captain of Ahazijah did to Elijah, seeing the danger. And thus God feareth the 4whole rabble of the ungodly, and by other terrors also: when his word will not do it, his works shall; and even thereby, I mean by the casting them down by the law lively preached to them, and the fear of death, judgement day, and hell; he doth so torment many a man, that all his shifts and devices cannot deliver him there-from; neither is all that he hath able to comfort him, and cry down this voice of the Ministry, although it work no true fear of God in him to repentance, but only awake and astonish him. True it is, that some, though they be apparently crossed by God, yet they feel it no more then the dead palsy, as we see in Nabal. But in that they be hardened, they are in worse case. So then God dealeth thus commonly, that the wicked shall have somewhat to make them less eager of their pleasures; as either pain, sickness, or some such thing, or else inward fear, or the like. Although (alas) what although they should never be interrupted? they should yet be but carried to hell merrily, when others go mourning. And when Gods servants fall to the like sin, as to nestle themselves in the deceivable enticements of this world, he giveth them the like medicine to cure them of their disease, that they shall ever have one thing or other to hold them in unquietness, and to fear 5them with: which is ever like to light upon them, to vex and sting them, if they shall dare delight themselves in any evil thing, or to rest in that which is transitory; and so go from the Lord. As the fear of losing a good wife, their nearest companion to them, to partake their commodities and delights with them;