A10933:1354
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.
For they thereby being emboldened, go further from God, and by their success, through the corruption that is in them, they are made more unfit to return to him again. But all must know, that the word of God followed and obeyed carefully of us, bringeth the good success indeed, in which we may rest, yea and in that only. For what blessing soever it pleaseth the 1Lord to send us in outward things (as he promiseth many) saying to those that do so, that other things shall be cast upon them; we have also inward 2comfort thereby, which neither can be bought with money, neither can be taken from us: which maketh us glad to use and embrace all good means for the strengthening and stablishing of us: which the other being drunken with earthly peace, make no account of. And both these being considered, the godly have small cause to repine at the success and joyful proceedings of the ungodly: the Lord gives them their scope, that he might bring the more sudden desolation upon them, while they look to morrow should be like to day, and much better. Neither should it grieve the godly, that themselves are often crossed, and denied the success they dreamt of, and desired: seeing either their enterprises were evil, and therein to be crossed is a blessing: or lawful, but unlawfully followed, and therefore Gods promises were 3stretched further by them, then indeed they reached: or although their doings were religious, yet it may be, they were undertaken with too much confidence in the goodness thereof, and in the mean season themselves who are the doers, not looked into, nor well purged from other sins which may easily set behind the success of their best actions. But doubtless, where a Christian offends none of these ways, he shall never want success: and the fruit thereof shall be far other, when it is least, then the wicked mans who ventureth only the more boldly upon the next onset, because of his former good speed, (as Abimelech here:) but he shall with Paul, believe that God, who hath well begun in him, will give good success, both in mercies and deliverances. But I have handled this point at large in this history before.
For they thereby being imboldned, goe further from God, and by their successe, through the corruption that is in them, they are made more vnfit to returne to him againe. But all must know, that the word of God followed and obeyed carefully of vs, bringeth the good successe indeed, in which wee may rest, yea and in that only. For what blessing soeuer it pleaseth the