A10933:1626
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.
Sermon 69 › Chapter 12 › Part 1: The first part of the Chapter.
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 let us a while consider of this more particularly, as we have done before of the Ephraimites quarrelling with him. Where this cometh first ⟨p. 593⟩to be noted by their disordered contending with him, not in course of law, 1but seditiously and with tumult, how one affliction arose to this good man after another: as the trouble that he had by his daughter was accompanied in some sort with this, that came to him by his neighbours the Ephraimites. Whereby we may see the condition of Gods people as in a glass, that they are ever wrapped into new combats and troubles daily, so as the end of one is the beginning of another. As we see in the book of Job, it is said of his 2troubles, how one complaint came to him in the neck of another: and yet (which is more to be marvelled at) God of his goodness so worketh by them, that they who will be ruled by him, may see them turn to their profit and benefit, according to the saying of the Apostle, to wit, that all things 3turn to the best to them that love God. The like saith S. James; Count it 4(my brethren) matter of the greatest rejoicing, when ye fall into divers tribulations. And it is a doubt mercy of God that it is so: For we are so corrupt and defiled, that if things succeed with us after our desire, we are exceedingly lifted up, and forget our selves, in such wise that our pride is intolerable, and we shamefully disguise our selves, so that such as fear God, and behold us, knowing we are but worms meat; are greatly grieved to see our insolencie. Therefore to keep us from such disguisedness, and the danger that cometh thereby, what a favour of God is this, that he after some prosperity, doth use to exercise us with new combats and afflictions, and all to hold us under, yea, and much to benefit us. For as it is better to go to heaven 5with one foot, then to hell with both; so he will rather save us with putting us to some pain and grief here, rather then to lose and forgo us utterly, by suffering us to enjoy uncertain and momentany prosperity and the pleasures of sin for a while. Of this having spoken what I thought fit in chap. 11. vers. 34. and 8. 1. I add no more here.