A10933:461
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.
Therefore in such actions as have not the best show of goodness (to the end we may bring no violence to our consciences, nor disquiet to the godly, and the better also to stop the mouths of others) it shall be meet for us to aim at and intend better things then are seen at the first show. But then it may be truly said on the contrary, that they who do things in show, scarce honest; as to haunt suspicious places, and the company of those who are of ill note and name, and yet mean worse then is seen, namely to practise whoredom, and fall to drunkenness and ill rule, it may (I say) truly be affirmed, that such are vile 1persons, and very bad indeed. And most of all they who will show signs of goodness, as of love by friendly familiarity, sobriety and religion, and yet spite us and our holy profession behind our backs, and carry themselves lewdly, are of all other the worst. But to return, the like we see in Jehu, who although he seemed cruel to the view of the world in murdering the house of Ahab, yet having an eye to the calling of God, went through it with courage, 2which was to be commended. But here must be a caveat observed, that is, that no man presume by these examples to enterprise such like matters without warrant from God, alleging for himself that his end is good and profitable: this is to go to work of our own head, yea to call evil good, and to do evil, that good may come of it. As in a mans private case to take upon him to revenge his own wrong, which belongs to the Magistrate. For as the Lord warrants a man by the sincerity of his intention, to go forward, when the thing is lawful (as we see in that act of the two tribes and an half building an altar) so when we have no word to bear us out, we run 3into the lapse and offend against the express prohibition of the Scriptures, which is, [Thou shalt not do thine own will,] whereas that it is written, we 4should avoid all appearance of evil. It is not unlawful simply for a good man to be in the company of one that is evil; but this excuseth not him, who observeth no circumstances herein, but shall associate himself with such as are of bad note, in gaming, drinking, or haunting of suspected places (as I have said) although he abuse the extraordinary fact of Esther, and the example of our Saviour, or pretend (as some will) the good of the party.