A10933:2125
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.
But yet God forsook him not finally, but after, he returned to him again, and brought him to repentance, as shall be further showed in the end of the Chapter. Now to finish this second part of it: let us consider of Samsons estate by Sauls doleful complaint, when he used the same words, which the holy Ghost doth here of Samson: namely, that the Lord was departed from 1him. By both which, though the difference (I confess) in the persons was not small, nor in the issue of their troubles like: behold, to what woeful estate mens sin brings them; and that Gods own children are not free; but if they will follow the sins of other men, they shall be punished here 2like other men. Oh! how do many verify this, who have in their time shined as lights, and been the supporters of many weak ones, who have blessed God for their counsel and example? whose flower was never so 3glorious, as their fade & decay was ignominious. They have wished themselves in the state of the meanest of those, who have admired them in their welfare: their conscience hath played the hangman within them, they have to the astonishment of their beholders, called themselves outcasts from God, who hath hidden his face from them, withdrawn all confidence from them in their prayers, all savour in hearing, and sense of his goodness which in times past they enjoyed plentifully. And why this? Themselves have bewrayed, some by pride and conceit of a perfection obtained, separated themselves from the fellowship of their brethren, as hearing the word, ⟨p. 762⟩and use of other means, and so by degrees waxed loose and hardened. Others beguiled with the snares of the world: others with pomp, not a few with voluptuousness, or other sinful lusts, have cried out of their estate, not for their loss of some outward blessings, as Naomi did, but even the chiefest, I mean inward peace toward God, and hope of pardon. And yet such of them as were not hypocrites, God hath made that very affliction under which they have groaned, to break their hearts & to reclaim them, though their former grace and honour they never recovered. And the like danger lye all open unto, who dare tempt God as they did, and wax wanton, as if grace should abound by the abundance of their sin. Such as are in this case I shall say more to, in the handling of Samsons sorrow and afflictions that followed his fall: