A10933:412
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 18 › Chapter 3 › Part 3: 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.
Their sin is set down, first generally, that they did evil in the sight of the Lord; and then more particularly, that they forgot him, and fell to Idolatry. Here I give this watchword to the reader, that seeing I shall in this book often meet with things that I have already spoken of, at least, that there are diverse things mentioned oft and sundry times herein; therefore I will not go over them again, as oft as I meet with them, being the same ⟨p. 144⟩[…] ⟨p. 145⟩[…] ⟨p. 146⟩specially in the same manner, which were but a wearying of the reader with repeating one thing oft: but I will note and chiefly follow such things, as beside them are occasioned there. All the things in this verse are such: I will therefore do as I have said, and refer the reader for the rest, to that which hath been said of them before. Their sin set down in general, that they durst offend God secretly, and do that which was evil in his sight: and that they forgot the Lord, and remembered not his kindness, and many benefits; and their Idolatry and worshipping the gods of the nations, which arose of the two former: these things (I say) duly considered of us, do teach this worthy point; to wit, how men break out into gross and foul sins, by the forgetting of Gods goodness toward them, and the taking of boldness to sin against him, in doing that which is any way evil in his eyes. And so by the contrary; the direct way to live godly, and to be free from reproachful sins, is to fear to do any thing amiss in the sight of the Lord in secret, and to keep in mind his benefits, by daily recording them with 1fervent and hearty thanks. For if the child be drawn to a natural love and joying in the parents, and so to be afraid to displease them, seeing they make much of it, and give it all good things: what marvel is it if the Lords benefits, which are renewed upon us every morning, being duly recorded of us, should draw us to delight in him, and make our songs of him; also that we 2being ready to do his will, and afraid to offend him in secret, what marvel (I say) if we should abhor to dishonour him openly? And if elder children endued with grace, will be faithful to their parents in their absence, and so shun boldness in offending them in presence: who doubteth, but that if we fear to offend our God in secret, we shall shun open and greater offences also?