A10933:1500
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 out of the offer of the Elders, compared with Jephthah's speech in ⟨p. 550⟩1the ninth verse, demanding assurance thereof, (for he did indeed urge them about it, as he had cause) a question may arise, how they could offer this to Jephthah to be their Judge, and how he could take it with a good conscience? First, seeing they had no authority to offer it. Secondly, seeing he and they 2both had this block in their way, that a Bastard might not enter into the Congregation of the Lord to bear any office. The answer is to both questions one: that the Lord directed them thus to do, who is bound to no law: and that he guided them herein, the whole story through the Chapter testifieth. The Lord excludeth such in Deuteronomy from bearing public office: and that to terrify men from begetting Bastards, who are in this world reproachful, and lie open to much misery. And yet how this forbidding that sin prevaileth with men, this the commonness of the sin, and this profane practise of adulterers too too much betrayeth, who think that by this means, of bringing Bastards into the world, (that is the pity they take of them) they shall shun the wearisome company of the wise, and tediousness of children, with the unwelcome annoyances that they count to accompany both. But oh monsters! do they think by avoiding the burden of the lawful wife and children, to escape the blot of unlawful liberty, even reproachful whoredoms? Doth not God set a brand both upon them and their cursed fruit? For it is proved by experience, that besides the discouragement which bastards are oppressed with, as of scorn, and opprobrie in the world, (which of it self is enough to hold them under) the Lord denieth them (commonly) good education: so that they prove vagabonds, curseth them with a more then common indisposition and aukenesse of nature, to retain instruction and government. And lastly, there are few of them who are not tainted with vile and odious 3qualities, such as they derive from their vicious and unclean parents. And therefore the greater is their sin, who for all this his prohibition, most wickedly fill the world with them, & cause them to be brought into so great calamity. Yet as the innocents cannot do with it, so (God be thanked) they are not shouldered out from the hope of salvation, for there is no respect of persons with God, if they fear him.