A10933:206
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 7 › Chapter 1 › Part 2: The second 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.
And beside this that I have said of them, the like meditation unto this, I had of the estate of many people in the land, who run as swiftly to hell as the other; through ignorance (most falsely called the mother of devotion, but rather the mother of all mischief and confusion) also profaneness, and other gross sins, though not so liable to the law of man to be punished as the other. These are also without a Minister that is able and willing to lead them a better way: who, if they had such means as might convert them to God, and that they who are such good instruments, might be encouraged and backed in their labouring to reclaim them, they should have cause to give God great thanks, and the persons also, by whom they be so well instructed and comforted. But if I should here bewail all such also, as being taught yet are little the better; as I cannot choose but pity them, seeing the Gospel is hidden from them, and therefore they dying so, shall most certainly perish; I say, if I should bewail these, how far should my complaint reach? I shut up this point therefore, concluding thus, Oh that there were not so much hardness of heart in many Ministers and others, who might help this, wishing that they had a little of the compassion that was in our Saviour, as the Evangelist recordeth, when he saw the people dispersed, as sheep without a shepherd. 1And again, Oh that we could deal pitifully, kindly, and lovingly with the miserable and the afflicted; and that all the gentlest means were used to reclaim offenders, of whom there is hope, such as are as this man of Bethel was, in great distress, which is not done but very rarely, and therefore is there much hardness of heart, in those to whom it is neglected, and wilfulness, that carrieth them to all profaneness and impenitency.
And beside this that I haue said of them, the like meditation vnto this, I had of the estate of many people in the land, who run as swiftly to hell as the other; through ignorance (most falsely called the mother of deuotion, but rather the mother of all mischiefe and confusion) also prophanenesse, and other grosse sinnes, though not so lyable to the law of man to bee punished as the other. These are also without a Minister that is able and willing to leade them a better way: who, if they had such meanes as might conuert them to God, and that they who are such good instruments, might bee incouraged and backed in their labouring to reclaime them, they should haue cause to giue God great thanks, and the persons also, by whom they be so well instructed and comforted. But if I should here bewaile all such also, as being taught yet are little the better; as I cannot chuse but pittie them, seeing the Gospell is hidden from them, and therfore they dying so, shal most certainely perish; I say, if I should bewaile these, how far should my complaint reach? I shut vp this point therfore, cōcluding thus, Oh that there were not so much hardnes of heart in many Ministers and others, who might helpe this, wishing that they had a little of the compassion that was in our Sauiour, as the Euangelist recordeth, when he saw the people dispersed, as sheep without a shepheard.