A10933:325
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.
Sermon 13 › Chapter 2 › Part 2: The second part of the Chapter.
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 if such a thing be set down here of the people to their commendation and their governors also, and for us to behold and think upon, that while such lived together, the one was well guided by the other, and God religiously served of both; then let all such as enjoy the benefit of good and Christian government, in house, or out of house, especially in both, fall down before the Lord, and acknowledge it to his great praise, and the binding of themselves unto him, and pray earnestly that they may give good testimony of it, by seeking to be settled in the fear of God, and to grow up in faith, knowledge, and grace thereby. I know it is no common thing either to find the one or the other, but where any are under the authority and wing of godly guides, let them make account that it is their summer season, not like the winter snuffs and brunts. And as for such as favour not good 1dwellings, but rather shun them, as Esau did good marriages, I deny not but they may hold up their head with the highest, and bear out matters with the biggest, and shift to get a share in the pleasures of sin for a season; but they are as far from true happiness as they are from spiritual and sound comfort, though few have ears to hear it, till they smart by it. Now further, for people that live under a good ministry, (to say a little of them, Moses his being among the people, doth woefully prognosticate, unto what a pass they are like to grow, if they had elbow room. For though none might live happilier then they, yet who (for the most part) do less look after it? for as they in Moses absence from them but forty days, made themselves a calf to worship: even so the people are so brutish in these days, and disordered, even while their faithful pastors live with them, that the greatest part of them, take no good by them: what did I say? nay they live most offensively under them. A sign of a woeful condemnation ready to come upon them, all may see it is in their so doing, for loving darkness, in the clear light of the Gospel more then it. And though some of them 2who are more subtle do carry the matter more closely, yet they are restrained by necessity or shame, not reformed by grace, and the power of the word.
And if such a thing bee set downe heere of the people to their commendation and their gouernours also, and for vs to behold and thinke vpon, that while such liued together, the one was well guided by the other, and God religiously serued of both; then let all such as enioy the benefit of good and Christian gouernment, in house, or out of house, especially in both, fall downe before the Lord, and acknowledge it to his great praise, and the binding of themselues vnto him, and pray earnestly that they may giue good testimonie of it, by seeking to be setled in the feare of God, and to grow vp in faith, knowledge, and grace thereby. I know it is no common thing either to finde the one or the other, but where any are vnder the authority and wing of godly guides, let them make account that it is their summer season, not like the winter snuffes and brunts. And as for such as fauour not good