A10933:285
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.
Now the messenger of God having told the people of the covenant 1which they were bound to, he shows them their sin, that they had broke their covenant; and convicteth them of it saying: ye have not obeyed. Which being so spoken to them, they could not deny it. And this Scripture teacheth, that men ought to be convinced of their sin by the word of God, and to have them so proved to be just provocations of God, which yet they live in, as that they may not be able to deny them; and all to the end they may the easilier be brought to repentance, and not only told in preaching what is sin, which I grant must be done; but as far as may be, they are to be charged as guilty who are so: and to be urged as they have given cause, so far as that they may be pricked in their consciences, unless their hearts be flinty, and so to say from their hearts, we have sinned. And this is one principal point in preaching to be aimed at by Gods commandment to Timothy, where it is said, preach the word, in season and out of season, rebuke, 2convince, and exhort with all lenity: and this convincing is most available, (through Gods blessing) among other means to awake the drowsy conscience, and so to quiet and reform it. This is that which our Saviour foretelleth us in Saint Johns Gospel, that the spirit of God, that is, the power of 3the word inspired by the holy Ghost, and preached by his Apostles and Ministers after his resurrection, should convince the world of sin. So we read in the second of the Acts, that Peter proved against the Jews, and convicted them in their consciences that they had crucified the Lord of glory who consented thereto. And it is said immediately following there, when they heard it, they were pricked in their hearts. Thus when David could easily yield to the truth generally set down to him by Nathan, but 4could go no further; namely, to see himself faulty, whose sin reached to the heavens, the Prophet Nathan convinced him, and told him, saying; thou art the man that hath dealt so cruelly and wickedly; and then he could say, I have sinned. So in Sam. 24. when God had showed David his sins, in 5numbering the people, he repented and yielded. vers. 17.