A10933:1387
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 61 › Chapter 10 › Part 1: The first 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.
This, seeing he calleth an evil, he well instructeth the children of wisdom, to justify her wheresoever she be found, howsoever she be jostled and opposed by the carnal. And as the Queen of the South said to Solomon, Happy are thy servants that attend on thee, and who may 1hear thy wisdom: so because a greater then Solomon is here, we should count it our felicity to hear him, and count their feet beautiful that bring glad tidings. And to receive such, as men of God, and as his Prophets, 2what mean show soever they make in our eyes, and to commune with them when they are dead, while we read their holy works, when we cannot converse with their persons, being taken away from us out of this life. Thus David out of a mean family, and Saul also (though destitute of grace) were excellently gifted with courage for war, and government in peace, so that few of the noblest (doubtless) might compare with them. So that the meanelier they were descended, the more admirable they were in themselves, not being beholding to any predecessors for the spirit and good parts that were in them: but laid the foundation of Nobility to their posterity. Therefore so long as the base by birth, maintain worthily the places of high office and honour whereunto their excellent gifts have lawfully advanced them: not degenerating by pride, cruelty, and covetousness, (the common companions of men bred meanly, when they are got aloft) I say, when such are not regarded; it is a great contempt not of them only, but of God in them, (for he that despiseth the poor, despiseth his Maker, 3and much more, he that reproacheth them in authority) to call them upstarts, or to defame them by their base blood, that so their more eminent virtues ⟨p. 512⟩may be blemished. A common disease among the factious, and flattering followers of great and vicious persons, to stain the honour of such as are more truly noble then they, in virtue and wisdom, by this; that they are but men of yesterday, and cannot show the Arms, which their patrons can. But whether is it better (as he in the history answered) to raise up a new, or to bury the old Gentry and Nobility? Of this the less, because I have said somewhat in the two points before not impertinent hereto.