A10933:1832
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 this whole story of the Lion, all that consider, may understand, that 1it tendeth directly to this end, to prepare and make Samson able to bear the displeasure and enmity of the Philistines, which was afterward raised up against him, the Lord giving him strength for that purpose: and that it might minister matter for the riddle which he did after propound to them, whereby they did sore provoke him. By the first, learn, that when God endues men with excellent gifts betimes, (as he doth many) he thereby declareth, that he will both double and multiply them in those persons, and also use them to serve him to singular purposes, if their proceeding be not hindered by some sinister practises of theirs, to stand in their way, or by the devil and 2his instruments subtlety, diverting his good gifts to bad purposes. This is apparent by that which God did work in Samson in his first years of discretion, and when he was yet but young, compared with that which followed afterwards when he made strip and waste of the Philistines. Even so when he will work (I say) in more special manner by some in future age, he will give signs thereof in younger years; which is notably to be seen in David, who in the great danger he was in by Goliath, (when Saul told him that he was but a boy, but he whom he undertook to fight with, to wit Goliath, was a man of war from his youth) answered unto Saul, Thy servant 3kept his fathers sheep, and there came a Lion, and likewise a Bear, and took a sheep out of the flock; and I went out after him and smote him, and took it out of his mouth, and when he rose against me, I caught him by the beard, and smote him and slew him. Therefore this uncircumcised Philistine (said he) shall be as one of them; seeing he hath railed on the host of the living God. And the like is manifest in Samuel, whom because the Lord meant to make a more then ordinary instrument of his glory, in the function of both Judge and Prophet: therefore he revealed himself familiarly by visions unto him, in his tender age, yea before he seemed to be of discretion, and ripeness of years and judgement, the Lord began that work in him early, which in time to come, he meant to accomplish in great measure.
And this whole storie of the Lion, all that consider, may vnderstand, that