A10933:1423
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.
And such patrons they shall then find to be cold comforters in those torments, which they shall feel, as for their other sins, so by the remembering how they sought shelter by and from them, unto whose service in their life time they addicted themselves. Thus a wise parent, guide, or superior is taught to answer a scape-thrift and lewd wretch, that hath brought himself into need, prison, and misery; by idleness, gaming, profaneness, bad companionship, and such like doings, when he seeks to them for help; thus (I say) he is to answer him: Get you to them, to whom, and whose counsel ye have hearkened and followed: who (it may be) are in the same misery, or worse then themselves are in, and therefore unfit enough to succour or help them. And if God manifest his nature here, that this shall be his answer to such as live after this manner, then let us learn and conclude, that no man shall end well an evil life: this being added, unless it be changed before by repentance: and therefore that it had been good for such that they had never been borne.
And such patrons they shall then finde to bee cold comforters in those torments, which they shall feele, as for their other sinnes, so by the remembring how they sought shelter by and from them, vnto whose seruice in their life time they addicted themselues. Thus a wise parent, guide, or superiour is taught to answere a scape-thrift and lewd wretch, that hath brought himselfe into need, prison, and miserie; by idlenesse, gaming, prophanenes, bad companionship, and such like doings, when hee seekes to them for helpe; thus (I say) hee is to answere him: Get you to them, to whom, and whose counsell ye haue hearkened and followed: who (it may be) are in the same miserie, or worse then themselues are in, and therefore vnfit enough to succour or helpe them. And if God manifest his nature here, that this shall be his answere to such as liue after this manner, then let vs learne and conclude, that no man shall end well an euill life: this being added, vnlessed it be changed before by repentance: and therefore that it had been good for such that they had neuer been borne.
Briefly to conclude this doctrine with some other uses thereof: we see secondly by this, that God doth import no less, then that (by the law of like equity, and by virtue of a far stronger covenant) if this people had persisted faithful in his service, he could not have denied their suite for help and defence against their enemies. Otherwise, by what reason doth he now shake them off, and send them to their Idols, whom they had served? except he had meant, that himself would have besteaded them, if they had cleaved to him for succour by faith, & attended him by bringing forth the fruit of their confidence, I mean obedience. And what a sweet prerogative is this for which we have the express grant of the King of heaven, that so long as we keep a covenant with God, so oft we may also claim from him (in reverence be it spoken) the liberty of sons and servants, to be defended and guarded against all inward or outward adversary power of our salvation?