A10933:1885
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.
except this (I say) it is not the general choosing of a good woman, which will serve the turn, neither shall the several and mutual offices which concern each party be ever currently or constantly performed, much less the whole life, and the estate of marriage blessed or comfortable.
except this (I say) it is not the generall chusing of a good woman, which will serue the turne, neither shall the seuerall and mutuall offices which concerne each party be euer currantly or constantly performed, much lesse the whole life, and the estate of marriage blessed or comfortable.
Further, by her weeping, when she had no just cause, we may note the 1subtlety of a bad woman, to complain bitterly of that, which her husband gave her no occasion of. For what though he told her not that which he ought not to do, must he therefore hate her? and although the Philistines threatened her, did that prove that he hated her? I say therefore (to leave her to her self, and such as she was) let no just cause of unkindness be offered by a Christian husband, and let it be well testified that he doth so, and if she will then (as many women do) dissemble, and charge her husband unjustly, and knows that she doth so, and that only to bring him to the bent of her bow, or to make her own cause seem tolerable and good, and so seek (as she did here) to draw him to inconvenience; if (I say) she do thus, let it make all Christians wise and wary of such fetches, and teach them that they in the mean while, giving them all due that belongs to them, take heed that they be not overcome of them that way, or in any such case. As for example, if a spiteful woman will call her husbands love into question, because he will not revenge the falsely supposed wrongs which another hath offered her, as she out of her impotent humour pretendeth: Or if a proud woman will thus upbraid her husband, for not satisfying her demands touching costly attire, or allowance of more money, then his estate will admit. So also if a jealous woman, to justify her base and uncomely conceits and behaviours to her husband, shall make her case good, by alleging that he is cheerful in other women's companies, though he do it with sobriety and wariness: In all these cases let the husband see that he be innocent, and then beware how he prostitute or imbondage himself to such of his wives passions, lest by yielding a little, he lose his liberty: but yet let it be done kindly and peaceably anger and bitterness.