A10933:346
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.
And to speak the truth, who can say any less? And so might this people well have answered, and so they ought to have said also, even as Peter did. But it was far from them, because some of them had never cleaved to the Lord in truth before, nor trusted in him, but walked hollowly and unfaithfully towards him, though now they did much worse. And by them 1we may see to what a fearful estate they may grow, to what depth of sin they may fall, who embrace not religion conscionably, even for the worthiness and excellency thereof, and for the good they have, or ought to have gotten by it, and for the love they should bear to God, who hath loved them first; but rather began to profess in a passion, or in some other outward and mutable respects; such (I say) may be like in time to depart from God altogether, and then in what other state are they, but without God in the world? For when mens hearts become hardened once by the deceitfulness of sin, they do next after that grow worse, and so depart from the living God, as it is written in the Epistle to the Hebrews. Now as I have 2spoke of these who were but outward professors, when they were at the best, how they did wickedly in the sight of the Lord; so there being some better among them who did so likewise. We may further note hereby, that though we begin well as some of these did, in the true renouncing of evil, yet we not holding on faithfully and carefully, by considering duly Gods goodness toward us, and zealously embracing good means, we may easily, and by little and little, yea and shall also together go back, even as these did: but of the revolting of such I have spoken a little before.
And to speake the truth, who can say any lesse? And so might this people well haue answered, and so they ought to haue said also, euen as Peter did. But it was farre from them, because some of them had neuer cleaued to the Lord in truth before, nor trusted in him, but walked hollowly and vnfaithfully towards him, though now they did much worse. And by them 1we may see to what a fearefull estate they may grow, to what depth of sinne they may fall, who embrace not religion conscionably, euen for the worthinesse and excellency thereof, and for the good they haue, or ought to haue gotten by it, and for the loue they should beare to God, who hath loued them first; but rather began to professe in a passion, or in some other outward and mutable respects; such (I say) may be like in time to depart from God altogether, and then in what other state are they, but without God in the world? For when mens hearts become hardened once by the deceitfulnesse of sinne, they doe next after that grow worse, and so depart from the liuing God, as it is written in the Epistle to the Hebrues. Now as I haue