A10933:1412
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 speech of the Lord, namely, [I will deliver you no more] because afterwards 1he did deliver them, giving occasion of some doubt and difficulty, is to be considered of us accordingly, I mean with more regard. His meaning is this: Ye (O people unworthy to be beloved) have abused my facility and gentleness, and you seeing me easily entreated heretofore to help you, plied me with your cries and complaints, till ye had gotten that ye would have, even deliverance from your enemies, naming many sorts unto them. But when ye got once elbow room, saith the Lord, (whereas I looked to have been the God of your worship and service, aswell as of your salvation) ye turned your backs upon me, and rebelled against me: If this be the fruit of my love and tenderness, that I must have the work to deliver you, but every stock and stone, every Idol of Ammon, Moab, &c. go away with the thanks and reverence, and get all the obedience and worship from me, I will help you no more, except I see better fruit come of it: and otherwise I have done with you, go seek to them whom ye serve for succour and relief. So then we see this refusal is conditional: and is applied to them for their former idolatry, and their present unsound dealing, and reacheth only to the present time, though they cried unto him: as if he had said: At this time, in the case you are in, I will not deliver you, I will not help you, as fast as you complain, but when I shall see it meet, that is, when I shall see your repentance sound, then I will give you another answer. So that it is manifest I say, that he speaketh but conditionally, and thus we must 2understand it; for otherwise (they not having committed the unpardonable sin) this speech should have been contrarily •• other Scripture. Where the thing which is to be noted is this: that God after the manner of men, showeth his fearful speeches, as he did here, that he is offended with us, 3(and for the same cause doth oft afflict us) to the end he may make us search out, see, and feel some special sins, they are fore and grievous in his sight, and yet of us nothing or little regarded. By this means therefore, he bringeth us to such a sense of them, that we are not able to look up, but our hart (to the judgement of flesh) doth faint within us, as may be seen in these here.