A10933:1506
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.
And this rule holdeth also firm and good in religious actions before God. For as it is the honour of a Christian to continue constant in his love to the truth, and the Church of God, the fruit whereof is a sound and good report: so if a man begin to warp and bewray his hollowness or treachery in either; his stain is not easily washed out, neither can he look for that currant estimation or reverence which before he had, nor scarce obtain so much afterward as to be credited, for all his profession. Although men will be trust their vessels with oil or wine, while they be sound & whole, yet if they begin to leak and run, they will not commit any thing unto them, which is in danger of losing. Our Saviour asked Peter but once, Whom sayest thou that 1I am? and took his word, when he deserved no other: whereas afterward he was not satisfied with one nor two professions of his affection, Simon 2lovest thou me? good reason, he had made a great crack in his credit, and therefore he that had forsworn Christ, deserved not upon his own bare 3word and answer, to be believed. And those who have deceived the opinion of the Church touching their religion, by falling into error and schism, or their piety and honesty, by gross offences; may thank themselves, if ever afterward the people of God have them in a jealousy. As we read in the Ecclesiastical history, that when once the baptized party revolted either from his religion or good conscience, (as Miriam by her arrogance) the Church admitted him not without serious repentance and confession of his fault. But if he slipped the second time, they practised greater severity towards them, enjoining them not repentance only, but (for a space of time) to remain out of the Church as in famous. Yea, some even of the reverendest Fathers of those times, as Cyprian and others, grew to this erroneous opinion, that such were not to be admitted without rebaptization, as if their former seal had been quite pulled off by their sin, I mean the seal of forgiveness. Therefore let all Christians look to their standing: the devil (if it be possible) will quite overthrow them; but if he cannot, he will 4foil them, and take away the crown of their rejoicing, which is their faithfulness and constancy.