A10933:1872
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 I will first return a little to Samson, and show how he made use of the 1works of God, which he considered and observed. For to his great benefit he gathereth a riddle, and raised thereby a question out of the work of God in the Lyon, which was a mean to hold much evil from among them. So it behoveth us to mark things that come to pass daily, (which all fall out by Gods providence) and his dealing in and by them, that we may learn wisdom thereby, and take good by them. For as Preachers gather similes by the things they see, read, and hear, to illustrate that which they utter in their Sermons to the people; so should we by Gods judgements upon the wicked, and his blessings on them that fear him, we (I say) should learn to profit by them, and to shun the one, and to get our part in the other, so as all may say, we have made right use of them in deed, whereas the most part take no good by either of both, nor by any other of his great works: my meaning is not, that the general administration of God only in the governing the creatures (which he hath admirably made) ought to be noted, but specially the ends of the just and unjust: that to the one there is always peace, the other cannot, no not at death give testimony of a good estate, nor depart with hope, nor encourage his companions to be like him, but dieth either with a wounding, yet desperate conscience, or is stricken like Nabal, with a dead Palsy of insensibleness.
But I will first returne a little to Samson, and shew how he made vse of the 1works of God, which he considered and obserued. For to his great benefit he gathereth a riddle, and raised thereby a question out of the worke of God in the Lyon, which was a meane to hold much euill from among them. So it behoueth vs to marke things that come to passe daily, (which all fall out by Gods prouidence) and his dealing in and by them, that wee may learne wisedome thereby, and take good by them. For as Preachers gather similies by the things they see, reade, and heare, to illustrate that which they vtter in their Sermons to the people; so should we by Gods iudgements vpon the wicked, and his blessings on them that feare him, we (I say) should learne to profit by them, and to shun the one, and to get our part in the other, so as all may say, we haue made right vse of them in deed, whereas the most part take no good by either of both, nor by any other of his great works: my meaning is not, that the generall administration of God onely in the gouerning the creatures (which he hath admirably made) ought to be noted, but specially the ends of the iust and vniust: that to the one there is alwaies peace, the other cannot, no not at death giue testimonie of a good estate, nor depart with hope, nor encourage his companions to be like him, but dieth either with a wounding, yet desperate conscience, or is stricken like Nabal, with a dead Palsie of insensiblenesse.