A10933:1250
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.
And by this speech of Jotham, we gather, that although good and bad 1meet together, and both seem to be merry in their several company; yet there is a greater odds betwixt them, then a man would imagine. For the ungodly mans mirth is bred in the tongue and countenance, and therefore is controlled by an heavy sad heart, which tells him, that if he considered aright of the matter, he hath small cause of being merry, but to turn his merriments into heaviness. The godly mans joy is hearty, entire, sound, and therefore lasteth: and he cannot check himself justly, except it be for ⟨p. 464⟩that he is not so merry as he ought to be. And (as Jotham saith here) the wicked though they rejoice together, yet they add not each to the other any sound, but only frothy and deceitful joy by their fellowship: the reason is, because the ground of it is society in evil. But the godly, as they joy in secret, both in Gods favour and their happy estate, and in the good duties which they do, (as appeareth both in their going about them, performing them, and the fruit of both) so when they meet together, their joy 2is increased and multiplied, even as mirth is doubled by music and pleasure. Whereas therefore the Christian complains of much sorrow, within and without, his corrupt affections, his looseness, his crosses, reproach in the world, bad example, abundance of iniquity, temptations: let such a man know, that even this sorrow of his, is a good ground of his rejoicing, seeing that his sorrow is good. He sorroweth for evil to see it so to abound, but his sorrow is not evil. His conscience still is good, and so long his joy is warrantable: only the ill conscience mars this feast of a quiet minded and merry hearted Christian. My rejoicing is my good conscience, saith the 3Apostle. But if a good man will do as a bad man, his joy is like his. As for affliction, if it come upon him in his innocency, though it may damp his outward mirth, especially if he be not fitted for it, yet it takes not joy from his soul, but it shall return again double and treble. For their names being written in heaven, and they knowing it to be so, no affliction, no nor the 4