A10933:414
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.
Whereas we ought ever to have before us Gods bounty and kindness in such wise, that they may be bars in our ways, to keep us even from small offences, that so the grosser sins may much more be kept from us. And so David affirmeth, that if he had not been bold to sin against God in secret, he had never broke out shamefully before men. We know the devil is called 1a serpent; which word signifieth properly a creeper, because his property 2is, by little and little creep and wind into us, to withdraw our hearts 3from uprightness and constancy therein; also to cause that Gods benefits shall be more meanly accounted off of us: and then boldness in sin will creep upon us easily, and after that we shall not fear the attempting of great and grievous sins also. It is our wisdom therefore to consider Gods goodness to be so great, and the same so continued to us daily (as who shall but meanly observe and weigh the same, but he must needs confess as much) that we should be afraid and ashamed to offend and displease him, through negligence much more by forgetting ourselves in both to sin openly and wilfully. This be said of their sin. The punishment follows.
Whereas we ought euer to haue before vs Gods bounty and kindnesse in such wise, that they may be barres in our waies, to keepe vs euen from smal offences, that so the groser sinnes may much more bee kept from vs. And so Dauid affirmeth, that if he had not been bold to sinne against God in secret, he had neuer broke out shamefully before men. We know the diuell is called 1a serpent; which word signifieth properly a creeper, because his property 2is, by little and little creepe and winde into vs, to withdraw our hearts 3from vprightnesse and constancy therein; also to cause that Gods benefits shall be more meanely accounted off of vs: and then boldnesse in sinne will creepe vpon vs easily, and after that wee shall not feare the attempting of great and grieuous sinnes also. It is our wisedome therefore to consider Gods goodnesse to bee so great, and the same so continued to vs daily (as who shall but meanely obserue and weigh the same, but he must needs confesse as much) that we should be afraid and ashamed to offend and displease him, through negligence much more by forgetting ourselues in both to sin openly and wilfully. This be said of their sinne. The punishment followes.