A10933:1313
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.
yet but little in respect of that which might be, and that were to be desired and looked: because such good instruments, the most of them are too faint to fight the Lords battles against his so fierce, subtle, and many enemies. The like providence of God I noted before touching Abimelechs hiring vain fellows upon the fourth verse of this Chapter. And to that, I may add, that the Lord doth use one wicked person to devour and oppress the other, that so his own people may enjoy the more peace and safety. As we see here, that this politic dissembler Zebul (a right picture of our subtle Machiavellians now adays) smooths and flatters this Gaal, and serves his humour, (as one that would make his fellow drunk, draws him on lewdly to drink pot after pot, till he be quite turned over) by a pretended show of friendship, that so his intent and plot to betray him to Abimelech, might in the mean season take the more sure effect.
yet but little in respect of that which might be, and that were to be desired and looked: because such good instruments, the most of them are too faint to fight the Lords battels against his so fierce, subtile, and many enemies. The like prouidence of God I noted before touching Abimelechs hiring vaine fellowes vpon the fourth verse of this Chapter. And to that, I may adde, that the Lord doth vse one wicked person to deuoure and oppresse the other, that so his owne people may enioy the more peace and safetie. As we see here, that this politicke dissembler Zebul (a right picture of our subtile Machiauilians now adaies) smoothes and flatters this Gaal, and serues his humour, (as one that would make his fellow drunke, drawes him on leaudly to drinke pot after pot, till he be quite turned ouer) by a pretended shew of friendship, that so his intent and plot to betray him to Abimelech, might in the meane season take the more sure effect.
Secondly, from hence let us note, how one sinner (being opposite to another's 1drifts and purposes) goeth to work, in the defeating of his enemy. Even thus that (as the proverb saith) one nail drives out another: they have no way to go beyond each other, but this, who shall use his weapon skilfullest, and most mischievously. They all fetch their wiles out of one budget, and their arrows out of one quiver: either subtlety or force is their weapon: the sligh and treacherous Ahithophel runs to the budget, the cruel and malicious Esau to the quiver: here lies the point, who shall draw out the subtlest and cunningest fetch, or who shall take thence the sharpest or deadliest arrow. Both shoot in the same, I mean the devils bow, but the skill is, who shall over-reach, and over-shoot each other therein. And he that provides them this artillery, will be sure to be the gainer which part soever loseth: he will provide, that his kingdom shall increase, even in the opposition of his subjects: they fight as fast for him as they do against each other: Zebul and Gaal serve two Masters here (in one sense) the one Abimelech, the other Shechem, and the one by his boasting seeks to out-face the other. The other by his connivance and dissembling seeks to root out him. But lo in the mean while both serve one Master the Devil, he rejoices as much in the spectacle, as Joab and Abner did, in the beholding their young men to play, (as they cruelly called it) but in good earnest to cut each