A10933:1317
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.
This urging of Gaal by Zebul alleging his own words, that he had said, 1[Who is Abimelech] made him go forth against him, but full soon he turned his face away from him, and fled: where we may see how God shamed him for his brags, and that even among the men of Shechem, where he had made his boasting: that they, as well as he, might take shame for their rash and most unwise adventuring to set him up for their head and guide, in whom they saw nothing but brags. Thus doth God daily put to shame both boasters and such as advance and cleave unto them: as what ⟨p. 488⟩boaster is there, if he can make a flourish, but some base and unsettled persons or other will admire and applaud him, which God doth most justly suffer them to do, the one to deceive, the other to be deceived, accordingly as they have provoked him, and yet in great mercy he doth it, to humble, and bring them to repentance, when they cannot but with shame see what they have done: although we see (the more is the pity) that few are the better thereby, or make any use thereof, but run into some other bad course, if they be made openly ashamed of that. Which I speak as well to give a watchword to both, to bethink themselves betimes of taking a better course, as also to the great comfort of them that are wary and advised to shun and avoid such deceivers and base flourishers, and do take like heed and care to keep themselves from every evil way. But to return: in that this 2Gaal was driven so cowardly to fly, who had made so great brags of courage and manhood, we see what many do show themselves to be in trial: for without grace there is little difference. And I do not only mean hereby gross and great braggers, of whom I have spoken already, but others also in that kind, though as it is counted in a lower degree. For example: how many may we see, who show great liking of good things, and who profess their forwardness in religion, and to dislike others that do not so, as if they were before-hand themselves in comparison of many? and yet it is clear that either they have small or no use of religion, (when they be at the best) no, not as many of them have, whom they disgrace and condemn, or else they revolt in time for all their fair shows, and thereby do openly bewray that there is nothing but froth to be found in them.