A10933:1666
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 79 › Chapter 12 › Part 2: The second 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.
It is said Jephthah had that place six year: Ibzan seven years: Elon ten, 1and Abdon eight. All which being but one and thirty, were a small number for four to enjoy the place one after another. Whose office, as it was to deliver the people out of the hands of their enemies, so (doubtless) they did, if there were cause, by their being in bondage, or else they kept them in peace, that they were not oppressed nor brought under of their enemies at all. And that was a great favour of God to Israel, that they changing their Governors so oft, yet they are not said betwixt the time of the one and the other to have been in their enemies hands; which when it was so, is expressly set down in the former examples and stories. Thus the Lord hath blessings of all sorts for his Church, & is not willing to change them into punishments, till our abuse of them turn them to our own bane. And as these 31. years ⟨p. 607⟩of peace, under four governors were granted to Israel, so it was their own sin and revolt from God, which brought upon them so long or a longer time of war and disquiet: the Lord could have allowed them their peace without interruption, if they could have served him in it without unsettling and weariness. And as he dealt with them, so would he with us also: who as he hath undeservedly continued our peaceable days even in the times of our late change, (a work of his most worthy to be had in remembrance) so he would have freed us from plagues and dearth also; but in that he hath allayed our peace with such domestical punishments, as these late years have witnessed, we may thank our selves, and marvel that they have been no sorer, for (doubtless) he hath therein remembered mercy in judgement. Our peace is from him, our troubles wherewith it is accompanied are caused by our selves, and far more bitter should the cup be, if we were made 2to drink it, as we have tempered it: but the Lord in mercy holds back from us, confusion, and bondage, to our enemies, which he inflicted often upon these Israelites. But more particularly, this teacheth that it is a great mercy of God, when in the change of Princes and Governors, there falleth not out some great detriment and hurt to the people, especially when the changes are often. For that is counted a punishment, as Solomon saith. For the 3