A10933:480
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.
As for Eglon's rising up at the mention of God, as though he had reverenced 1him, (for this is the next thing that followeth in the text) howsoever they used to do so at that time who were but heathen Kings, as Balaam before, when Balak then King of Moab, came to him, and his Princes with him, to ask what Gods answer was to him, Balaam (I say) then spake thus unto him: Arise Balak to hear Gods voice, and to give reverence to it. Concerning his rising up (I say at the naming of God (that we may make some good use of it, we are sure it serveth to convince Atheists, and profane ones, who are far from yielding any. But if ye will say, what reverence was that which they gave, seeing they were Idolaters, and did it at the naming of God, whether it were the true God Jehovah, or any other, I say, sufficient to condemn these. But some make shows of reverence when in truth they offer disgrace. So we read of the Pharisees, that when it was proved to them by the blind man, that Christ had opened his eyes, which they 2could not abide to hear, they would not take knowledge of it; but as though they might boldly and freely detract from him whom they hated, (so that they gave words of honour to God) bewrayed their hypocrisy, who would seem holy, and therefore said; give glory to God, we know that this man is a sinner: and so bewrayed that they had no religion, when yet they would seem to go before others therein: seeing this is true, that he that honoureth not the Son, neither doth he honour the father. Let all this ⟨p. 175⟩then, both serve to shame all brutish and profane persons, (who yet are in the visible Church) who ascribe not so much to the word preached, neither regard the message of God, with so much reverence as this heathen Eglon did; who in token thereof stood up when Ehud told him that he had a message for him from God. But to leave these, let it be a watch word to us that profess the true worship of God, that we please not our selves in the work wrought; I mean in giving outward and bodily worship to God, and in 3calling him father; seeing neither they who draw near to him with bodies only, do please him; neither all that say, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the 4