A10933:1691
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 71 › Chapter 13 › 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.
Secondly here, in that the Lord doth raise a deliverer out of the tribe of 1Dan, in which this place Zorah was, near to Eshtaol, and verse 25. showeth; this tribe being one of the meanest: It teacheth that God will serve himself by the meaner sort as well as by the mightier and greater, when it pleaseth him. For if he furnish them with gifts fitting, for that he setteth them about (whereof they are as capable as the other) thereby he enables them for the work, which not their birth or wealth alone can do, as we have seen before. Therefore it is not for us to scorn and reproach such, whom the Lord by their gift will exalt, though this be to be added, that neither mean nor mighty shall have any cause in the end to rejoice in their preferment, otherwise then they have well and rightly used their place, and themselves in it with their gifts. And as I have said of outward place and advancement in the world; so I say of inward grace and gifts of the spirit. That even out of the mean or middle sort of people, the Lord chooseth many, yea most to be heirs of salvation: and to use our Saviours words, Matth. 11. to be seasoned 2with the Gospel by believing (for so I expound the words.) And doubtless in comparison of these, few great ones are called: nay many 3who have striven against mediocrity of estate (which yet Agur preferreth as the best to serve God in) they have forsaken their own mercy. See more in the tenth chapter, 1. 2. 3. verses thereof.
Secondly here, in that the Lord doth raise a deliuerer out of the tribe of 1Dan, in which this place Zorah was, neere to Eshtaol, and verse 25. sheweth; this tribe being one of the meanest: It teacheth that God will serue himselfe by the meaner sort as well as by the mightier and greater, when it pleaseth him. For if he furnish them with gifts fitting, for that he setteth them about (whereof they are as capeable as the other) thereby he enables them for the worke, which not their birth or wealth alone can doe, as we haue seene before. Therefore it is not for vs to scorne and reproach such, whom the Lord by their gift will exalt, though this be to be added, that neither meane nor mighty shall haue any cause in the end to reioyce in their preferment, otherwise then they haue well and rightly vsed their place, and themselues in it with their gifts. And as I haue said of outward place and aduancement in the world; so I say of inward grace and gifts of the spirit. That euen out of the meane or middle sort of people, the Lord chuseth many, yea most to be heires of saluation: and to vse our Sauiours words,