A10933:1247
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.
By Abimelech and the Bramble, which sought that they were utterly 1unfit for, let us mark, that where ambition is, it maketh the unworthy to take upon them that, which the more worthy will not, but utterly refuse to do. For this cause we must search our selves better in this point. For want whereof, the most are deadly sick of this disease, and feel it not. It is bred in all by nature to aspire, both in Minister and people. That which a grave and godly man dares not do in the Ministry, that every youth and bold fellow almost dares, for his commodity, thrust himself into many preferments, and is not ashamed. So that which honest and ancient inhabitants abhor, and fly from, as to contend and quarrel, to judge others, and puff up themselves with a conceit of their gifts, and to think other fools in respect of themselves, that (yet) dare other do, who in the best things come short and far behind them. The time hath been, when (through a reverent and high conceit of the work of the Ministry (though erroneously and amiss, I must needs say) some men altogether with drew themselves from it, as thinking themselves wholly unworthy of it, and so buried many a talent in the earth. But that was the extremity of modesty: we complain in our age of the contrary overweening of our selves, and under prising of it, so that we can easily answer Pauls question [To these things, who is sufficient?] by another, who is not sufficient? Indeed, since men looked to the benefit, and not to the burden (which so occupieth an honest man, that he ⟨p. 463⟩thinks less of the other) and enquired rather into the quantity of it, rather then his own quality and worthiness: while nothing but flourishing in apparel, jollity, pleasures, good cheer and boon companionship is thought to be the complement of the Ministry, the answer (I confess) is easy, if the living be thereafter, who is not sufficient for these? But, Oh Bramble! 2where is thy sweetness? do men gather Grapes of thorns, or figs of 3thistles? doest thou thus teach in season and out of season? is this thy feeding, thy watching, thy planting and watering? Is this to cheer (and not to grieve rather) the heart of God and good men? Oh who shall heal thy barrenness? other barren creatures have been cured by a miracle or art: the womb, the earth, the waters: