A10933:1670
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.
And especially the lives of such I may say, who are in penury and want with many other calamities which accompany it, and yet have no hope of salvation neither; which were able not a little to assuage the force and anguish of such tribulations. All which I speak to show how great the madness of men is, and that of all sorts and conditions, who for all their daily and manifold afflictions which cannot be expressed, are yet so wedded & glued to this world: as that they are not fit to hear of a departure from hence, no nor to be brought to a sober and moderate use of it, nor by the strongest persuasions to look after and wait for immortality, so as they may enjoy it. Now let all judge how little cause they have to do so.
And especially the liues of such I may say, who are in penurie and want with many other calamities which accompanie it, and yet haue no hope of saluation neither; which were able not a little to asswage the force and anguish of such tribulations. All which I speake to shew how great the madnes of men is, and that of all sorts and conditions, who for all their daily and manifold afflictions which cannot be expressed, are yet so wedded & glued to this world: as that they are not fit to heare of a departure from hence, no nor to bee brought to a sober and moderate vse of it, nor by the strongest perswasions to looke after and waite for immortalitie, so as they may enioy it. Now let all iudge how little cause they haue to doe so.
It might be thought a benefit, that the long life of man is so shortened from nine hundred years to scarce half nine score, if men duly weighed how evil they are, as old Jacob told Pharaoh; Few and evil have the days of thy 1servant been. But oh, at what a rate would most men buy the lengthening of their misery? a madness so much the more extreme, because they want that which might much allay the vanity and vexation that falleth out in their life, I mean faith and grace. Others, on the other side, meeting with much, yea and that stinging trouble in their lives oft times, wax discontented, desperate, and weary of living, and yet without all willingness to dye, save through a necessity of their own making, thinking thereby to avoid that, which they increase thereby. A third sort lay all their miseries upon their poverty: whereas (alas) if they had the best estate and happiness upon earth, Jephthah might teach them, that they should be never the nearer their desire, for they may have sorrow and vexation enough for all their wealth.