A10933:1806
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 74 › Chapter 14 › 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.
Now in that Samson was grown up to years fit for marriage, and yet the 1people of Israel were still in subjection to the Philistines, and lay under oppression by them, (as they were before he was borne) we may see clearly that they were long held under of that calamity. And so it cometh to pass oft times, that as it is long before God punisheth, so it is long before he cease punishing of his children. And that we may not much marvel at it, we may know that he doth so; first, that his correction may in some measure recompense the abuse of his patience: And secondly that he may frame us aright to his mind and liking, which is hard to do at his first afflicting of us, and long ere it be wrought in us, because of our untowardness. For a little affliction and short, doth not commonly search us deeply, nor bring us very readily upon our knees, and therefore such great sores must have deep tents, by longer continuance of the pain and smart. Some we read of to have been afflicted twelve years, some eighteen in the Gospel: as this peoples forefathers were long under the Moabites, and the Canaanites, and sore vexed by them: so famines have bin continued, three, 2seven, and more years: which how uncomfortable, grievous, and stinging they have been, we may easily gather, by that which we sustained some few years since, who saw the third year of famine to hold and continue, much more pinching and oppressing, then the former two: neither was it seen of the wise, how a fourth year could have been borne, (if it should have been cast upon us) without starving and famishing to death of a great number of the people; so sore was the want of bread. To speak of particular mens calamities, in which also they have lien long, it were endless and infinite. Let 3the use of this doctrine to all of us both persons and companies, be, not to make full account of present or speedy riddance from any cross, by the which we are held under; and yet not to despair, though we have suffered long, not being relieved and eased, but abide patiently, and pray the more fervently: for God, before we shall fall into extremity, will certainly come with help, though we know not how, and not tarry. More of this the reader may find in the former Chapters, as 13. 1. and others.
Now in that Samson was growne vp to yeeres fit for mariage, and yet the