A10933:1736
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 72 › Chapter 13 › Part 3: The third 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 not a thing so commendable in Christians to be kind towards them that deserve it, as the contrary is odious and brutish in them. Those that are commanded to do well to their enemies, and love them that hate them, what great thing is it if they love and be kind to the well deserving? (Heathens and Publicans do likewise) But to be unkind towards them that have been loving and well affected toward them, is not only worse then heathenish, but also then any beast will yield to another. Nay histories report that a lion having bin eased and holpen by a passenger that came by, of a wound which by some means had befallen him: long after acknowledged the benefit. For the Romans using to behold the spectacle of men sighting with beasts: condemned malefactors to this death. Now among the rest this man being one, came armed into the place, to fight for his life: and (as it fell out) this Lion was the beast, which was committed with him. The Lion no sooner saw the man, but came and fell down at his feet, holding up his foot in the sight of all the people, and making no semblance of fury against his preserver. The matter being enquired into, it was found that this man had taken a thorn out of the foot of the Lion and so eased his pain. This (being but a discourse of a thing of inferior nature) I may be thought not so wisely to insert in so grave an argument: neither had I done it for the strangeness of it, but that I would thereby shame such boisterous, rough and barbarous natures, as being provoked to this duty of kindness, by the strongest means, yet out of a bitter stomach, do rather thereby take occasion of hatred and mischief, like Saul, who by Davids innocency and pity to his life, was the more enraged against him. But these meet with their match, for God gives them over to be touzed and hampered by such as spare them not, and want conscience, when they are fallen into their hands, to teach them for ever after to abhor such inhumanity, I had said lionlike cruelty, but that I should wrong that creature, if I should ascribe mans evil quality unto it.
It is not a thing so commendable in Christians to be kind towards them that deserue it, as the contrary is odious and brutish in them. Those that are commanded to doe well to their enemies, and loue them that hate them, what great thing is it if they loue and be kinde to the well deseruing? (Heathens and Publicans doe likewise) But to be vnkind towards them that haue been louing and well affected toward them, is not only worse then heathenish, but also then any beast will yeeld to another. Nay histories report that alion hauing bin eased and holpen by a passenger that came by, of a wound which by some meanes had befallen him: long after acknowledged the benefit. For the Romanes vsing to behold the spectacle of men sighting with beasts: condemned malefactors to this death. Now among the rest this man being one, came armed into the place, to fight for his life: and (as it fell out) this Lion was the beast, which was committed with him. The Lion no sooner saw the man, but came and fell downe at his feete, holding vp his foote in the sight of al the people, and making no semblance of furie against his preseruer. The matter being enquired into, it was found that this man had taken a thorne out of the foote of the Lion and so eased his paine. This (being but a discourse of a thing of inferiour nature) I may be thought not so wisely to insert in so graue an argument: neither had I done it for the strangenes of it, but that I would thereby shame such boisterous, rough and barbarous natures, as being prouoked to this dutie of kindnesse, by the strongest meanes, yet out of a bitter stomacke, doe rather thereby take occasion of hatred and mischiefe, like Saul, who by Dauids innocencie and pitie to his life, was the more enraged against him. But these meete with their match, for God giues them ouer to be touzed and hampered by such as spare them not, and want conscience, when they are fallen into their hands, to teach them for euer after to abhorre such inhumanitie, I had said lionlike crueltie, but that I should wrong that creature, if I should ascribe mans euill qualitie vnto it.