A10933:2174
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.
Of like sort to the Philistines meetings to laugh and please themselves in beholding Samson brought forth to be a gassing stock among them; of like sort, I say, are the brutish flockings together of some parts of our country, who on the most Sabbaths through the summer have used, and that very lately (I am sure) and still they may, for ought I know, to feast, drink and dance, with much misrule accompanying them: misrule, ye may well guess what, by that which I have mentioned; as if God had never commanded better things, saying yet aloud in their ears, Remember that ye keep holy the Sabbath. All which profane customs with the like, let them perish and come to naught, and holy assemblies to hear sermons and to pray, rise up, and be duly and reverently frequented and used on the contrary. Of these lewd customs I have elsewhere spoken.
Of like sort to the Philistims meetings to laugh and please themselues in beholding Samson brought foorth to be a gasing stocke among them; of like sort, I say, are the brutish flockings together of some parts of our countrey, who on the most Sabbaths through the summer haue vsed, and that very lately (I am sure) and still they may, for ought I know, to feast, drinke and dance, with much misrule accompanying them: misrule, ye may well gesse what, by that which I haue mentioned; as if God had neuer commanded better things, saying yet aloud in their eares, Remember that ye keepe holy the Sabbath. All which prophane customes with the like, let them perish and come to naught, and holy assemblies to heare sermons and to pray, rise vp, and bee duly and reuerently frequented and vsed on the contrary. Of these lewd customes I haue elsewhere spoken.
I noted before the slavishness which Samsons sin brought him to, while 1he committed it, in the 17. verse, reserving the other, to wit, the baseness and shame which followed after it, to this place, as more proper for it. That which God threatened to the whole body of his people for renouncing his service, that they should lose their headship over the nations, and become the tail, that befell this one man Samson for his wilfulness. Not unlike to that which Noah (by implication) prophecieth of the Church in the two heads thereof, Shem, and Japheth, that Ham should be under, and a servant unto them, while they dwelt in the tents of God, but otherwise Ham should hold his dominion over them. Samson was made a Lord in some sort over these Heathens, to rule them, and so he did while he held his honour in the service of God: but being weary of it, lo he is made the most vile underling to them, and laden with all despite that malice could lay upon him. We