A10933:2176
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.
As for them who think it their reproach to wear Gods livery at all, they are rather to be hissed at, then confuted by this text, let them go like vagabonds and Cains upon the face of the earth; but as their true shame is herein, that God vouchsafes them no room in his Church, so the time shall be, when their shame shall break forth to their confusion, then when there shall neither be place for them to hide their heads in, nor cloaks left them to cover their shame, much less to have entrance into his kingdom. Let rather such as go for Christians, who enjoy the honour of good report among the best for their religion, and have been hitherto kept from reproachful crimes, and the fruit thereof, that is shame among the godly, and from being a byword to the wicked: let such, I say, look about them by this example, and beseech God to show them yet more clearly the privileges of their sincerity, and godly care of obedience, (which even here are glorious, ere glory it self be obtained) that so they may cleave fast unto him still, and beware, lest catching at some other shadow of glory, by forsaking their zeal, and following the common sins of the time, they become most ridiculous pageants of scorn to them, whom before they held in awe and reverence, by the admiration of their virtues. Sure it is, that if they will venture with Samson to break out to do evil for the having of their own pleasure, or to avoid a little trouble, they shall as he did, reap a great deal for it.
As for them who thinke it their reproch to weare Gods liuerie at all, they are rather to be hissed at, then confuted by this text, let them goe like vagabonds and Cains vpon the face of the earth; but as their true shame is herein, that God vouchsafes them no roome in his Church, so the time shall be, when their shame shall breake foorth to their confusion, then when there shall neither be place for them to hide their heads in, nor cloakes left them to couer their shame, much lesse to haue entrance into his kingdome. Let rather such as goe for Christians, who enioy the honour of good report among the best for their religion, and haue been hitherto kept from reprochfull crimes, and the fruit thereof, that is shame among the godly, and from being a byword to the wicked: let such, I say, look about them by this example, and beseech God to shew them yet more cleerely the priuiledges of their sinceritie, and godly care of obedience, (which euen here are glorious, ere glory it selfe be obtained) that so they may cleaue fast vnto him still, and beware, lest catching at some other shadow of glory, by forsaking their zeale, and following the common sins of the time, they become most ridiculous pageants of scorne to them, whom before they held in awe and reuerence, by the admiration of their vertues. Sure it is, that if they will venture with Samson to breake out to doe euill for the hauing of their owne pleasure, or to auoid a little trouble, they shall as he did, reape a great deale for it.