A10933:176
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.
And further we are to know, that God may be with men in some sort, as by his power and bodily help, and at some time, and yet not be with them to their effectual comfort and always. These are great matters, and duly to be considered of us, for he may be with the wicked, so as he was with Ahab, when he gave the great hosts of Benhadad into his hands: yea, and that which is more, he may be, and is present with the unbelievers in the congregation, when he enlighteneth them to understand that which is soundly taught, and to take liking of the same. But this is by his power only, but not by his effectual grace and favour; as he was with Mary, who being freely 1beloved of God, he was also with her: and his being with her, made her blessed and joyful: and if he be thus with us, he will both spiritually grace us, and also bodily bless us, as shall be expedient for us, even as he did Gideon, 2when he was said to be with him. And this, to the end we may not deceive our selves, it behoveth us to mark, for our singular and continual comfort: and therefore let men give all their diligence to make their salvation sure, and to come into the favour of God, that so they may abide therein, then will he be with them to guide, keep and comfort them: and otherwise, they 3may have God with them (I deny not) sometime, as I have said, though he owe not even that to them, but so (yet) they may be miserable and unhappy still, but in a better manner he was here with Judah, both before and at the time here mentioned; also he declared the same by giving their enemies into their hands. This confuteth the conceit of such as measure Gods being with them by his raising them in wealth, or giving them their desires. As Micah an Idolator applauded himself as beloved by God, because he gave 4him a Levite to be his priest, whereas he giveth many wicked men their desires in wrath, when yet he denieth to his own, theirs in favour. And this is ⟨p. 53⟩that, which we have to make profit of, out of the words before mentioned, that Judah prospered, seeing God was with him.