A10933:45
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 1 › Chapter 1 › Part 1: The first 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.
which in the unwelcome parting of couples in marriage, (the husband from the wife, or she from her husband, where true love was betwixt them, is daily seen and proved, to the deep sorrow of the longest liver of both.
which in the vnwelcome parting of couples in mariage, (the husband from the wife, or she from her husband, where true loue was betwixt them, is daily seene and proued, to the deepe sorrow of the longest liuer of both.
Al this which I have said, should what on such as are so backed by others, to weigh the great goodness of God in giving them such helps, and to yield them due reverence, love, and obedience in the Lord, and to be more carefully given to every good work, while they have so great encouragements. But because the enjoying of such is made so common a matter, and a thing of no great rejoicing while they live with them: (for according to the proverb, we best know what a good thing is worth when we feel the want of it) therefore it were good for them to suppose oft times, and to put the case, that such worthy helps and friends are taken from them, and what they should then do being left without them; for as the vine wanting his ⟨p. 3⟩rail to prop it up, runneth on the ground and waxeth wild and unfruitful: 1so inferiors being destitute of their godly superiors, wax degenerate, and grow out of kind, lying open to mischief as Saul did after Samuel's death. 2But to speak the truth (the more is the pity) this is rare and hardly to be found, that such take any great good by those helps while they enjoy them, (unless it be in things temporary, for their ease, maintenance, and seeking 3of liberty to the flesh,) neither when they forgo them, have grace to bewail the loss of them in any other respect then that which is earthly: neither do they look to stand up as they ought (in the want and room of them) with care and confidence to become lights and good examples, and to keep themselves from evil, as they were kept some of them (no doubt) by their good friends before. Such provide ill for themselves, seeing as it was with this people of Israel here, when Joshua was dead, that they had a great loss, and were constrained now to look better about them then they needed to do before, even so they having now the like befallen them, must now take the burden on themselves, which was borne by others for them before. The which being so, men should make this use of such changes, to