A10933:1245
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.
Sermon 57 › Chapter 9 › Part 2: The second part of the Chapter.
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.
The naked and dead earth, as it appeareth in the Winter time, to yield to us, and to all living creatures here below, food and nourishment, and to case such a beauty into our eyes by the variety of the furniture of it in the Summer season, Oh what an admirable thing is it? The sun to give heat and light daily to cherish the creatures, what a great favour of God is it, as common a matter as we make of it? and so we may think of the rest. These are 1the visible things of God, to make him known to us, who is invisible. The goodly variety of meats, drinks and medicines, which he hath appointed for our refreshing, health, and comfort, which not only our own soil, but also other countries afford to us; also that he alloweth us to eat of the 2fat, and drink of the sweet, who can think of all these, but with wondering at the love of the giver of them in this his large and free bounty: and especially considering, that we have peace, health, and other public and private blessings with them, as I have noted chap. 5. And yet who knoweth not, that these serve us here only in this temporal life? things eternal are of another kind, and far more excellent. Yea, and yet that which we see in the creatures, is nothing in comparison of that which should have been, if the sin of man had not blemished and defaced the first beauty of their creation. And howsoever (in great providence) the Lord have released the curse due unto them: yet they come short of that they were, when God saw all was good, and so blessed them. And all these his creatures for our need and Christian delight, may we enjoy, boldly and without fear, who are his redeemed ones by Christ, and so restored to the right we had first in them: and this we may do with Gods good liking, if we have learned how to use them to their kindly ends, even to admire at (in our beholding them) the ⟨p. 462⟩wisdom, power, and bounty of the Creator; gathering from that we see, proofs of his mercy, providence, and love to us, in supplying us with the good things we see not. For by these (in part) he would have us know him: as himself said, Do ye see how the grass of the field, the Lilies, and other 3plants are clothed with beauty in their seasons, and beautify the earth with their leaves, flowers, fruits, the colour, the savour, the abundance of them?