A10933:1458
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.
As we read of Mephibosheth, Jonathans young son, that he being lame 1on his feet, could not resist David, as Ishbosheth his uncle did, (to his great toil and little prevailing) but lived peaceably in the Kings favour and fed at his table: and how could he have been in better state? whereas if he had enjoyed his limbs at liberty, it is hard to say whether he would not have been stirring, and taking part with Ishbosheth to his own overthrow: which had bin very like to have befallen him, when Abner forsook him, if he had not bin prevented by violent death. Thus doth the Lord (as Paul speaks) clothe 2the more unseemly parts with most honour. And in our experience many worthy men for their excellent parts (both in Church and Commonwealth) have yet had their deformities. One among the rest of late and godly memory, Master Perkins that worthy instrument, being lame of his hand, testified often, that his defect was the occasion of his training up to learning: as being unfit thereby for other employment. Wherein Gods admirable providence appeared, in making him lame, that his blemish might be an occasion of doing good to the Church. Indeed the common speech is, that Nature noteth some men, for their sinister and notorious qualities: (by how much the rather all such had need pray much and use good means to ⟨p. 536⟩rectify and perfect their inner man, and purge out their corruption, lest this imputation be justly cast upon them) but we must know that God hath a further stroke then Nature, and layeth his hand upon many, that he might be glorified by them, and show his works on them, as (in a sense somewhat divers) our Saviour speaks of the blind man, Joh. 9 So that such as are notable 3for their grace and gifts, as the other are notorious. Naturally we pity such as are deaf, lame, blind, and we do well, (for it is the part of a cursed Ham to deride such) but the Lord oft turns pity into admiration, yea and condemns by such, the shameful unthankfulness of them who have no bodily blemishes, but inwardly are tainted with all that naught is. God had done his part (to use the phrase) one way to Absalom, who had not a wem from top to toe, but who had a more disguised soul then that fair body carried within it? Even as we see, the completeness of many a mans person, draws by degrees to the halter: many a woman's beauty makes her a strumpet.