A10933:1483
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 to return again, we see that God brought this about principally for the good of his servant Jephthah, and to work his enlargement, though to the shame and conviction of his adversaries. Jephthah neither himself made any means, by messengers, writing, or suite of friends, for his return out of banishment: neither would the Lord permit him to do so, but provided better for him, that he should have a calling to it: for if he had returned blindly home, as a private exile, what great matter had it been, or how could Gods ⟨p. 544⟩work have been seen in it, as now it was? But behold, the Lord will rather have Jephthah abide sometime in distress and baseness, that he may be fetched home with public consent of his nation, as Joseph was out of prison; and that they did not so much to the gratifying of him, as themselves: the greatest persons of Gilead requesting it at his hand, and professing themselves highly beholding unto him, if he would grace them by returning, who had disgraced him before, by casting him off. Nay, and he must not 1be sent for, but come for, not by friends, but by his rankest enemies, not to his former estate of a subject, but to be a Lord and Governor. A carnal man hearing of this, Oh how his teeth water and his fingers itch at the success of Jephthah, and how doth he wish he might have his desire upon his enemies, and triumph over them as he did? But oh fool! this is no prerogative for thee to claim, it is the glory of innocency, the fruit of faith, of patient waiting upon God, and committing a mans ways to him in well-doing. Such another example (lest we should say this is alone) is Mordecai. The Lord might have put it into the Kings mind to peruse the Chronicles and recognize Mordecai's well deserving long before he did: but alas, that had been an obscure favour in comparison. God meant his worthy servant far better then so: he would have this break out when it was most seasonable: and the season was, when his providence might be most manifested thereby. Therefore when great Haman was working his overthrow, and all the Churches; then is the opportunity to bring forth the record: that so (all under one) the adversary may be defeated with shame, the Church notably delivered from danger, and Mordecai not rescued only, but brought forth out of trouble, with the highest honour that his rankest enemy could be forced to give him.
But to returne againe, we see that God brought this about principally for the good of his seruant Iphtah, and to worke his enlargement, though to the shame and conuiction of his aduersaries. Iphtah neither himselfe made any meanes, by messengers, writing, or suite of friends, for his returne out of banishment: neither would the Lord permit him to doe so, but prouided better for him, that he should haue a calling to it: for if he had returned blindly home, as a priuate exile, what great matter had it been, or how could Gods