A10933:1409
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.
Oh there is no such heart in them, saith he, as their tongue would seem to import. For ⟨p. 520⟩even as a lewd housewife, who is run away from her husband, or any ill debtor, who is fled for debt, if they be taken and terrified with the law, they will not stick to say and swear to any conditions which are offered them, so that the present danger and shame may be remitted: whereas yet they are as treacherous and loose afterward, as ever before; as the issue proves (in thieves and other malefactors) even so, when vile persons are under Gods punishments; (from whom they see, there is no breaking away by strong hand) what will they not say, in accusing and condemning themselves? Nay, who can shame them as they will themselves for their sins? or who can so denounce and plead against them as themselves? What will they not promise, upon condition of release from the present woe they are in? And yet when these men come to the trial, they fly touch, and recoil again, as if there were no witness to convince them, and as if all they said, had been spoken in a trance. Oh therefore, those forced exclamations and complaints, which either for horror and fear a grieved soul maketh, or which a body pinched, and in distress, compel a man unto: how may they be taken for approved testimonies of repentance, either by themselves, or by other? Yea such as know they have often abused the Lord thus, (as if they had him at command to order him as they list, upon each flattering promise, whereas it is his wonderful mercy that he will forbore them, and offer them means of searching themselves better: let them repent therefore of this playing wily beguily with God: Oh how should this terrify them, and scare them, that the Lord still counts them but hollow persons, rotten at the heart, and false in their covenant, and therefore that he will at one time or other, reckon with them for all their villainy and hypocrisy, which they durst cover under the visor speeches of humbleness and truth. As for us, who have learned and practised better, let us beware that, as Paul 1bids Timothy, not to lay hands suddenly upon any; so that we do not lightly judge well or commend the estate of any man upon so slender evidence, let his constancy speak for him: time (the mother of truth) shall prove him:
Oh there is no such heart in them, saith he, as their tongue would seeme to import. For ⟨p. 520⟩