A10933:421
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.
But to return to the other, if Gods servants apprehend his wrath, and then fall into the tentation of the devil, who can cunningly deceive them, in making it seem greater then it is, to be kindled against them, they are cast down, as it were with a deadly blow: and thus (I say do all in that case, till God put away fear from them. And seeing these two are contrary; to wit, to be turned from God by fear and unbelief, and to return and come home near unto him again by faith; and seeing they meet so near together in one person, so that one of them oft times immediately succeedeth the other; ⟨p. 150⟩therefore all possible speed and care is to be used, that when fear, through the accusation of the conscience taketh place, faith should be at hand to expel and overcome it. But again to object further, it is said, God heareth not 1sinners, and therefore he will not (they say) hear them crying unto them. But to this I answer, that when men repent, he heareth them, as we see in 2David, Peter, and other. And such need not be discouraged from coming to him, but take hope assuredly that he will hear them. Indeed they that dare not come and humble themselves to him after their offence, and so stand firm in their hearts; or other that do call upon him, yet for all that do it in show rather then in faith and repentance, they (I say) do all one, as if they did not cry to God at all. They therefore who have learned that God will certainly smite and punish, if they sin; let them also learn, what they must do, and how they must seek to the Lord when he punisheth, as these men did here, taking heed of the extremities before mentioned. If they desire to turn away Gods wrath from them; then cry they to him also in seeing their sin, and laying it near their hearts; and if they relent and turn from it, let them believe that his anger is also turned away from them, they unfeignedly purposing amendment of life, and looking duly to it afterwards: but more happy are they who look warily about them, that they provoke him not at all, but dutifully and constantly hold on their Christian course. And this of their crying to God, the third point.
But to returne to the other, if Gods seruants apprehend his wrath, and then fal into the tentation of the diuell, who can cunningly deceiue them, in making it seeme greater then it is, to be kindled against them, they are cast downe, as it were with a deadly blow: and thus (I say doe all in that case, till God put away feare from them. And seeing these two are contrary; to wit, to bee turned from God by feare and vnbeliefe, and to returne and come home neare vnto him againe by faith; and seeing they meet so neare together in one person, so that one of them oft times immediately succeedeth the other;