A10933:2122
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 this palpable deceivableness is bred in us, to dream of God as he did in the Psalm, who said, that seeing God did as it were wink at him and held his peace, when he did evil, therefore he was as he himself, and approved 1his bad course, and would do neither good nor evil, so that there was no change of his prosperity, as he thought, to be feared. And (I confess) God suffereth long, and in this his administration here below doth oft times let such as he meaneth to destroy, go on without stop, and prosper, as the ox fatted to the slaughter: whereas he meeteth with his own children in mercy, (though with smart and bitterness) rather then that they should perish. Howbeit, neither is this course general, (as appears in the many examples of them in Scripture and experience, whose sins have gone before hand) and where it doth hold for this life, yet it faileth at death. Then to be sure their course is altered. The wicked man, as the Prophet saith, 2(though an hundred year old) is accursed: and a day cometh, whereof it shall be said, It is not as yesterday. Let this terrify all ungodly ones, lest God come upon them at unawares, and alter their condition to their most intolerable vexation. Let them rather as men amazed by the terrors of God, shake hands with, and renounce their stale course, wherein they are settled, and as it were frozen. And let them try whether by unfeigned humbling their souls, and obtaining mercy with God, they find not that it was happy for them that ever they changed their estate. For I do them to understand, that there are persons who make a far other use of Gods sparing them, then Samson did here, and do not occasion themselves to sin more boldly still, and yet to promise themselves peace as in former times. And further, I say, that there are men to be found, I say not, who may, but who ought to look for, and build upon it for certain, That it shall be well with them as at other times, and so faith teacheth them to speak; and they are such as have obtained favour with God, that they might believe in him, and in token thereof walk in his ways: even they to whom God hath given such an heart as to fear him, and endeavour to obey him in all his Commandments, ⟨p. 761⟩they (I say) may assure themselves, and shall find it to go well with them alway. Mark that I say alway;