A10933:327
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.
But here in as much as we see these people held out in Gods service but 1for a time, and that was, while they had good governors and overseers living with them: it availeth much therefore to observe in our selves what it is that maketh us embrace religion, and what is the chiefest thing that causeth us to hold on the same. (A worthy point for all to learn, and namely such as pretend they love the Gospel) it much concerneth us (I say) to know and be assured whether it be favour of men, commodity, credit, example, or other outward respect, which moveth us to profess any thing more zealously then some other do, or whether for conscience sake, in that God commandeth us so to do, and for the savour and sweetness that we find therein and in the Gospel which we hear. For even thereafter shall our welfare, prosperity, and perseverance be. For if we have tasted how good 2the Lord is, and have found that hundred fold that is promised, and verified in us which is written in the Psalm, that a day in Gods house is better to us 3then a thousand else where; then we may know that we have builded upon a 4rock, and our building shall stand, and till we meet with a better booty then that, and may serve a better master then the Lord is (which shall never be) we will keep close to him, and count his service to be perfect freedom. And to such as demand of us whether we will continue and hold on in a godly course, or go back, as Christ demanded of his Disciples, we shall be 5able to answer with Peter: whither shall we go? we are in the way to eternal life, and we will not change our Christian course for any other. Otherwise it is not enough to boast of our love to God, and to say [Lord, Lord] when yet we will take no pains throughly to gauge our harts and to see our affection well ordered, that so good life may follow.
But heere in as much as we see these people held out in Gods seruice but 1for a time, and that was, while they had good gouernours and ouerseers liuing with them: it auaileth much therefore to obserue in our selues what it is that maketh vs embrace religion, and what is the chiefest thing that causeth vs to hold on the same. (A worthie point for all to learne, and namely such as pretend they loue the Gospell) it much concerneth vs (I say) to know and be assured whether it be fauour of men, commodity, credit, example, or other outward respect, which moueth vs to professe any thing more zealously then some other doe, or whether for conscience sake, in that God commandeth vs so to doe, and for the sauour and sweetnesse that wee finde therein and in the Gospell which wee heare. For euen thereafter shal our welfare, prosperity, and perseuerance be. For if wee haue tasted how good