A10933:2044
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 82 › Chapter 16 › Part 1: The first 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.
What these men of Azza did, when they heard that Samson was there, is ⟨p. 732⟩1showed in this second verse: to wit, that they went about presently to take him, and compassed the house, and lay in wait for him in the night, purposing (though they were disappointed) to kill him in the morning. This diligence in them without delay, being heathens, to prevent a mischief, putteth us to blame and just reproach, who are Christians, if we be not much more careful to do the like. For thereby we prevent, or cut off at least, much inconvenience, when it is already begun, if we do not also hinder and mar the growth thereof, that it go no further. As for example more particularly, if disorder, lewd meetings, to drinkings, gaming, whoring, and such like, be sprung up in our country towns, or houses among us, all should be hinderers of them (that are such workers of evil) as they may, and oppose themselves against them, both Magistrates, Headboroughs of towns, and Masters of families: so for the apprehending a Jesuit or Seminary, and such as are known to carry traitors hearts against their Prince and land, or any that come to sow their heretical and Idolatrous cockle and darnel among the Lords wheat, also if any should go about to alienate the people from the true worship of God, from public hearing the Gospel preached; we should be as forward as these Philistines, in hunting them out of their holes, and bringing them forth, rather then to have our sloth, and backwardness in such good attempts to be condemned, and that justly, and especially by the diligence of such as these Philistines were.
What these men of Azza did, when they heard that Samson was there, is ⟨p. 732⟩1shewed in this second verse: to wit, that they went about presently to take him, and compassed the house, and lay in waite for him in the night, purposing (though they were disappointed) to kill him in the morning. This diligence in them without delay, being heathens, to preuent a mischiefe, putteth vs to blame and iust reproch, who are Christians, if wee bee not much more carefull to doe the like. For thereby wee preuent, or cut off atleast, much inconuenience, when it is alreadie begun, if wee doe not also hinder and marre the growth thereof, that it goe no further. As for example more particularly, if disorder, lewd meetings, to drinkings, gaming, whoring, and such like, bee sprung vp in our countrey townes, or houses among vs, all should be hinderers of them (that are such workers of euill) as they may, and oppose themselues against them, both Magistrates, Headborowes of townes, and Masters of families: so for the apprehending a Iesuite or Seminarie, and such as are knowne to carrie traytors hearts against their Prince and land, or any that come to sow their heretical and Idolatrous cockle and darnell among the Lords wheate, also if any should goe about to aleniate the people from the true worship of God, from publike hearing the Gospel preached; we should be as forward as these Philistims, in hunting them out of their holes, and bringing them foorth, rather then to haue our sloth, and backwardnes in such good attempts to be condemned, and that iustly, and especially by the diligence of such as these Philistims were.