A10933:1884
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 first let us mark the woman's dealing with him: thou lovest me not, 1saith she, but hatest me. That had been hard indeed at the first entering into their marriage, though a thing which falls out often in the marriages of many unadvised couples. But her words were not true, neither therefore by and by so to be believed, as she uttered them, to wit, that he loved her nor: yet if it had been so, we all see had been guilty of a foul and great crime: whereby before we proceed further, let us note this: that in the judgement of an heathenish woman, there should be no hatred but near and unfeigned love betwixt couples in marriage: much more among Christians should it be verified, Never any man hated his own flesh, &c. Such an absurdity (I say) is not to be admitted, but to be abhorred, which causeth (that I say no more) weariness one of another. The falling out among those is much more to their great shame: yea, and so is the diminishing of love also which maketh ready way to hatred, seeing love ought to be strong 2as fire, which cannot be quenched with many waters. But they provide ill ⟨p. 684⟩for this, who make their marriage (when yet it is void of grace, and the fear of God) the only ground of lovely and delightful qualities: whereas the best things that are in it, beside these, are flitting, and momentany, and so is the love that is grounded on them: but the true and christian love is constant, and bringeth forth much fruit. And this is a point of such importance, that the Apostle includes all the husbands duty therein, that he love his wife: as if he should say, Where that is, other good things are not wanting. For he being the head of relation and union, from whom must flow and descend to the wife all comfort and welfare; he must know, that he is thorough this love, to communicate himself to his wife, in all free, bountiful, and plentiful affection, and duty: whereupon it followeth, that she is to him again in all reverend submissive, and yet cheerful manner, fitted and framed. Yea so weighty a point is this of love, (I speak not of frothy, hot and foolish love, which is vanity of vanities) that except the heart of the man be knit to the woman in the Lord, as to one not only religious and well qualified, but also as the only person, whom he can delight in, and live within this special kind of fellowship: