A10933:1657
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.
The first thing to be noted here, is the occasion which moved the Gileadites 1to use this policy, to bid the other say [Shibboleth] and that was, because these Ephraimites being asked who they were, made a lye to save their lives, and denied their tribe. It is true which Satan said, Job 2. Skin for skin, 2and all that a man hath, he will give for his life; even truth, honesty, and all. And few will marvel at (it may be) or blame these for lying in so weighty a case, as life it self is, because they think that if they should be put to it as these were, it were no more then they might and should do to save their life. Indeed i confess life is sweet, and if lying be lawful in any case, it is in the case of the peril of life. But it is one thing for a man to omit some duty of the law for mercies sake to our own life, another, to commit an ⟨p. 604⟩express sin against the negative of the law. Therefore although it be lawful for a man to prefer his life before the doing of some duty commanded (put case it be the Sabbath days duties) yet a man may not before a Magistrate answer falsely, or equivocating-lye, under colour of mercy in saving his life. For it is not only the omitting of some duty, but the doing of a gross fault: herein therefore the rule is true, Evil must not be done, that good may come thereof. And the negative rules of the law admit no exception, except God dispense (as he did with the Israelites in robbing the 3Egyptians) who is above the law. And hence it followeth, if lying be a sin, that it is as well a sin to lye, in the defence of a mans life, as it is to lye needlessly, or to please. All three, the officious, the vain, and the shameless lye, are of the same cloth, though not the same colour, nor equal and of so deep a dye. And to us Christians it should seem no hard condition neither, to cast our selves upon God, rather then be beholding to a lye for our life, if the case should so stand. Better it is not to live, then to live with that 4(which is worse then any death) an accusing conscience. As the abjured Protestants in the time of persecution can witness. It is not the fond and foolish pretence, or colour warped by the subtle brain of man which can diminish one jot of the commandment of God, much less disannul it. He that will save his life, by evil and indirect means, shall lose it when all is done: