A10933:243
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 by this we may see, that mens sins do not only redound to their 1own hurt, but also to the hurt of others. Whereas none are hurt, neither themselves, by those that fear to offend God, and be careful to do their duties, but they may receive great benefit thereby. But the other hurt many, as well as themselves. As we see bad parents, what woe they hoard up for their unhappy children, as Ahab, and the like. What they do to themselves, this place gives no occasion to show directly, but by consequent, but how other fear the worse by them. And the same may be seen in many particulars among us also, both touching body and soul. As first, how many souls doth an ignorant, idle or scandalous Minister destroy and cause to perish? How many good people doth an ungodly Magistrate grieve, discourage, and make faint in good duties, and flesh the ungodly? as Solomon saith; When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the 2wicked beareth rule, the people sigh. The riotous, ill company keepers, and such ⟨p. 79⟩as give ill counsel, how many do they spoil? as in the Epistle to the Corinthians we read; where it is said, Evil words corrupt good manners. And what discredit to the godly, and to the Gospel it self, hypocrites who profess 3it, do bring, Saint Paul declareth, speaking thus to the Jews; Thou that teachest another, and teachest not thy self, causest the name of God to be evil 4spoken of: so that both when the Gospel is truly preached, and also practised of some, yet both are ill spoken of by the wicked, because of the offence that hypocrites give. And generally the wicked are the causes of mischief and punishment from God, upon the places where they live; causing the earth to mourn, and be weary of the inhabitants, yea Gods children are of the worse for their neighbourhood, not only while they gather infection by them to their souls; but they smart bodily also with them, and by them oftentimes in a public calamity which their wicked lives have caused.
And by this we may see, that mens sinnes doe not only redound to their