A10933:2094
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.
Another thing here of Samson let us learn, that it is even death to men to be put from their unlawful delights and pleasures, when they have once given over themselves brutishly and sottishly unto them, as he was vexed almost to the death to hear her to tell him, she must forsake him, and could not love him, if his hart was no more toward her, then she saw; which yet she spake but in gross dissembling. All bondage is grievous; but what is greater then bondage to an whore? when a man cannot but cling to her, and be at her lure, whose heart is false toward him, and seeketh his destruction. We must take heed that we rest not in the best things that are subject to change, but much more that we hang not our security upon deceitful pleasures, & especially of all other, upon a wicked & alluring woman, whom rather then Samson would once think of forgoing, behold, he shameth not to abandon God; conscience and all, not to speak of the outward mischief 1that ensued. And surely if this be true of Samson, who sinned against conscience all this while, what shall we say of them who commit secret filthiness with greediness, and yet without remorse? What a death is it to them (think we) to be plucked by violence from their old acquaintance, which by custom is become as the poor mans lamb, whom Nathan describes to David, even 2as his son? Therefore when men have lived a long time in a lewd course without let, how welcome is death to them that makes an utter separation between them and their lusts, which lived before in as strait league and union as the soul and body together? Oh bondage unspeakable! to be inwardly 3linked to the love of that which can neither be enjoyed but with extreme misery, nor forgone but with intolerable vexation. Let this be one motive among others to humble the sinner before God, and to show him how out of measure sinful his corrupt nature is: as also to teach him not so eagerly to pursue his lusts, except he will bring a world of sorrow upon himself, when the time of forsaking them is come. For what though at the last cast many a man renounces the old courses of ungodliness, and repents him, yea and is ashamed of his doings? this is when the conscience is terrified by some violent fear or grief: not while he hath his will, and prospereth in his evil.