A10933:1465
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.
But although there were no fear of any such revenge to come by pitiless dealing with others; yet this were enough to dissuade a true Christian from it, yea and from any hard measure offering to any brother living by him, how mean soever; that (beside other inconveniences) by so doing, he should bring himself into an hard conceit with him, and so he should never after be able to do him good by counsel and good instruction, exhortation, or comfort, as the other should stand in need of it. And that hope no servant of God should lose, (especially the Minister, it being 1so precious a thing to help save a soul) to wit, to harden the heart of the meanest against him by unchristian handling of him, that he should therefore refuse to take any good by him afterward. And yet I do not for all this, say, that we must tolerate and wink at any in their sins and evils.
But although there were no feare of any such reuenge to come by pitilesse dealing with others; yet this were enough to disswade a true Christian from it, yea and from any hard measure offering to any brother liuing by him, how meane soeuer; that (beside other inconueniences) by so doing, hee should bring himselfe into an hard conceit with him, and so hee should neuer after bee able to doe him good by counsell and good instruction, exhortation, or comfort, as the other should stand in need of it. And that hope no seruant of God should lose, (especially the Minister, it being 1so precious a thing to helpe saue a soule) to wit, to harden the heart of the meanest against him by vnchristian handling of him, that he should therefore refuse to take any good by him afterward. And yet I do not for all this, say, that we must tolerate and winke at any in their sinnes and euils.
- 1Note.
In great persons sometimes cruelty and wrong is shrouded under the name of policy. For when as (according to the rule of their master Machiavel) they seek to bring under and discredit their corrivals and men of equal worthiness, or it may be (better then themselves) they practise this principle, When he is going, down with him; if he rise up after he be sunk, if he be