A10933:286
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.
Thus Paul dealt with the Romans, when he sought throughly to make odious to them their former ill course, What fruit had ye (saith he) in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? their consciences bare them witness that ⟨p. 97⟩that they had none. And as this kind of dealing with the people in our preaching is most profitable, and like to do most good, so it is one of the hardest matters, namely, to rouse up the conscience, and to convince it. Profitable I say it is, for that if it be awaked and pricked, it cannot but acknowledge 1the sin in all likelihood, and bleed and so relent for it, and crave pardon, and abandon it, which is the direct way whereby the holy Ghost guideth men to salvation: but if any be drowsy and sleepy conscienced, so that they be not moved by hearing any reproofs, or do strive against the light of their own conscience, being convinced which is more, or wax hardened, which is worst of all, and a most unkind abusing of that gracious work of God in them: I bewail their case, for they not only receive not any benefit thereby, but do wax worse, and so depart from God, so as they seldom return to him again (for the most of them) of which sort Judas was, and some others. And yet these shifts men will use when they are convicted: for either they are not pricked, or struggle against it and seek to shift it off; or else they are hardened by the deceitfulness of sin; all which ought 2most carefully to be taken heed of.
Thus Paul dealt with the Romans, when he sought throughly to make odious to them their former ill course, What fruit had yee (saith hee) in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? their consciences bare them witnesse that ⟨p. 97⟩that they had none. And as this kind of dealing with the people in our preaching is most profitable, and like to doe most good, so it is one of the hardest matters, namely, to rouze vp the conscience, and to conuince it. Profitable I say it is, for that if it be awaked and pricked, it cannot but acknowledge 1the sinne in all likelihood, and bleed and so relent for it, and craue pardon, and abandon it, which is the direct way whereby the holy Ghost guideth men to saluation: but if any be drowsie and sleepy conscienced, so that they be not moued by hearing any reproofes, or doe striue against the light of their owne conscience, being conuinced which is more, or wax hardened, which is worst of all, and a most vnkind abusing of that gratious worke of God in them: I bewaile their case, for they not onely receiue not any benefit thereby, but doe waxe worse, and so depart from God, so as they seldome returne to him againe (for the most of them) of which sort Iudas was, and some others. And yet these shifts men will vse when they are conuicted: for either they are not pricked, or struggle against it and seeke to shift it off; or else they are hardened by the deceitfulnesse of sinne; all which ought