A10933:1456
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.
Therefore how great a judgement of God hangs over this land for the lust of the eye, (a main branch whereof is filthiness) and the unlimited lust of all sorts, (especially in places of darkness) we can more easily conjecture, then persuade them that are guilty, to redress it. Oh it is lamentable that such spots of our 1assemblies are suffered boldly to spit in the face of modesty, and to hold up their heads aloft, as having the better end of the staff, I mean greater advantage against their accusers (commonly) then they against them. How should this move us to sue to the Lord, that such should be noted and shamed for inordinate persons, that the rest may blank and fear by their example, and so the anger of the Lord be stayed, as once it was by the zeal of Phinehas, for the Lords cause, thrusting through Zimri and Cozbi for their ⟨p. 535⟩2shameful abomination. So should the word preached be more forcible, when the transgressors should see the price of their boldness; and so should the law of the Magistrate take better effect, and not become ridiculous. And so should not we fear that plague which Jehu denounceth upon Jehoram (saying, What peace?) seeing the abominations and whoredoms of 3thy mother Jezebel are still in great number. Of which I say the less, because I have noted it as the fruit of all sin as well as this, in the former parts of this book. Only I say, if the ungodly sort will not take the Lords bridle to restrain their flesh from this lewd course, (for adulteries, as our Saviour notes, are the breakings out of the filthy heart, even as the sores and scabs 4of the body are the fruits of a corrupted blood) then let the people of God learn this duty, even to possess their vessels in holiness, to keep themselves unspotted and pure, and to preserve their bodies and spirits in chasteness, except they will make of the temple of the holy Ghost, a sty of unclean and loathsome lust, fit to drive the spirit of God away. And otherwise the Lord shall set a mark upon them, worse then the brand of a thieves, even a mark of infamy, which I dare not promise that repentance it self shall quite wash off, while they live, but that the stain shall still continue. For this sin is of a scarlet dye, as David speaks,