A10933:263
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.
Another thing is worthy to be marked here, where the Lord moveth the people to repentance, by rehearsing his benefits bestowed upon them, 1and that is this: that of all reasons, this ought most to prevail with Gods servants, to dissuade them from their sins which they have fallen into, and to raise them out of them or to prevent the committing of the like, this (I say) ought most to prevail with them, even the often remembrance and due consideration of Gods benefits, though with grief it may be spoken, this advice prevails too little. This reason God used here, and the people were convicted thereby, and yielded, and confessed themselves guilty: For why? the love of God constrained them, which having been before shed 2plentifully into their hearts. Now when they heard this sharp and just reproof, and that from God himself by his messenger, they saw clearly their sin, and namely their unthankfulness, how they had forgot Gods benefits, and trod under foot his loving kindness, it being the most precious of all other things, which went near them, they knowing that he had done so many & great good things for them; and this, with the remembering of his benefits in some particular manner, as they heard them repeated, caused them to cast up their unsavoury gorge, and so to return from their deceivable and damnable offences, & to embrace again the mercies of the Lord, who was their first husband. And with this putting the people in remembrance of his many and great benefits, God doth draw them on oft in other places to fear him. As when he saith in Deuteronomy, I thy God have blessed thee in all that thy heart could desire. Thus in another place also he 3calling the people to repentance, whom he compareth to a vine, and labouring 4to draw them from their ingratitude, putteth them in mind, that he had planted them being his Church, in a place most plentiful and abundant. This caused David evermore to have Gods mercies in great remembrance, and to set his benefits before his eyes, that he might shame himself for his sin passed, and by all means seek to come out of it. And therefore in the psalm 103. he as though he had not been thankful (when yet he excelled all men therein) quickeneth up himself thereto, saying; Praise thou