A10933:1429
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.
Now if it seem strange to any, that in their first crying to God, their suit 1was rejected, we must know, that they sought not to him for it in the uprightness of their hearts, as is said before; and therefore God meant to hold them on the rack, as it were, and not only to keep them in suspense, but also to hold them in a deep fear, by denying help to them. Secondly, to bring them to a through repentance, as indeed now they did show signs of ⟨p. 527⟩it, and those also effectual, which they did not before: and for this purpose he drave them more throughly to examination of them themselves, then they had done before. So that we see at first, they gladly would have been delivered, but in the mean while they would not cast away their Idols and other sins, but would still walk in the ways of their own hearts. Which setteth before us a common disease, that is too oft even in Gods dear children: that in our afflictions we cry to God for mercy and help, and fain would have the punishment taken away, but so, that we would have liberty to live as we did before, and hold fast our sins still, and abide in them, 2for they are dearer to us then our own flesh. Even after this manner many of us too oft and boldly deal with the Lord: so that repentance is hardly attained unto, no, not even then, when we are to sue to the Lord for ease in our trouble. As may be seen in David himself in the 32. Psalm, that it 3was painful to him to confess against himself: we need not the speech of the people of Anothoth to Jeremiah, to preach unto us pleasant things: and again, that we will not hear the law of this thy Lord: neither to follow Demetrius the silver Smith in the book of the Acts; for these were wicked 4both of them. And how did they foil themselves; they of Anathoth, to retain their pleasures; the other to uphold his wicked gain? But that it should be so with us in any manner, who are of the better sort, how can it be borne! And yet it may justly be complained of, Oh even the better sort of men will not be reformed. Insomuch, that when affliction is upon them, of which they would most willingly be eased, yet they cannot be brought to see or amend any thing that is amiss, because they flatter themselves, & are great in their own eyes, while their iniquity is found worthy to be hated.