A10933:1774
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.
But let this be well considered after their public hearing, besides the shunning of unseasonable companies, that although I forbid not men to return to their lawful callings and affairs after hearing, whereunto the word fitteth them much better (and they are no enemies to the fruit which they have gained in public) yet I say thus much: first, that there ought to be some respite between the one and other (if it may be) so much as may serve to draw the mind and affections together, and settle some reverence upon them, that they rush not forward loosely to matters of another nature, as if with the fool in James they had forgot the hew whereof they saw themselves to be in the glass of the word. Secondly, that if it cannot be that they separate themselves to the reviewing of the things they have heard, Prou. 18. 1but it must needs be that they have to do with others, as in markets and fairs (where yet Sermons are usual heard by all sorts) or the like occasions: then let men watch more specially to their hearts and tongues, that neither they break measure, nor forget the right manner and end of their companying together, but rather take occasion to season others with such things as they lateliest heard, then to drive out one nail with another (to use the phrase of Ecclesiastes) and lose all abroad which they should have carried home for the provision of their family. But alas, as for the common sort whereunto shall I liken them? They are like to foolish market men, who having stored their purses with money, and their sacks with necessaries, steppe into some lewd house or other, where they find such companions, as either by gaming, or drunkenness, or juggling, pick that money out of their purses, and their commodities which they had bought, so that they send them home far more bare and empty then they came forth. This dealing is bad enough at a market, but worse at a Sermon, or upon the occasion of religious actions: worse, I say, because the former commonly ⟨p. 647⟩falls out against a mans will: but the latter wrong, men offer to themselves voluntarily. It is not to be wondered at that there are many such; for as they whom our Saviour whipped out of the Temple, because they made the house of prayer a den of thieves, came not thither to serve God, but themselves:
But let this be well considered after their publike hearing, besides the shunning of vnseasonable companies, that although I forbid not men to returne to their lawfull callings and affaires after hearing, whereunto the word fitteth them much better (and they are no enemies to the fruite which they haue gained in publique) yet I say thus much: first, that there ought to bee some respite betweene the one and other (if it may bee) so much as may serue to draw the minde and affections together, and settle some reuerence vpon them, that they rush not forward loosely to matters of another nature, as if with the foole in Iames they had forgot the hew whereof they saw themselues to be in the glasse of the word. Secondly, that if it cannot be that they separate themselues to the reuiewing of the things they haue heard,