A10933:492
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.
Now that it is said in this verse, that Ehud, when he had done this work 1upon Gods enemy, came forth neither in fear, nor any great haste, in any disguised manner, but as though he had done nothing worthy suspicion, neither gave any token of a guilty conscience, but as one that had served God in that work. It lively setteth before our eyes the peaceable fruit of an excusing and quiet conscience. Behold the like in Jael, the wife of Heber, 2who having slain Sisera, whereas any other doing such an act of his own head with a murdering mind in such a matter, could hardly have avoided it, but he should have bewrayed himself easily and palpably: as is to be seen in Judas betraying his master, who cried out of his own fact, saying; I 3have sinned in betraying the innocent blood. And it may teach us how greatly the quiet and excusing conscience of the innocent and righteous man differeth from the guilty and accusing conscience of the ungodly. And it agreeth with the words of the Wise man, who saith; The righteous is bold as 4a Lion, but the wicked fleeth, when no man pursueth him. The ground of this his peace, was the discharge of that duty which the Lord imposed upon him, in this extraordinary case, the which otherwise had been abominable parricide. And although this viperous brood of Jesuits pretend the like dispensation from their petty god the Pope, and thereupon harden their hearts, and set an impudent face upon the matter, as if they had no wound or terror of conscience: yet the truth is, their ground being naught, the cause of this boldness is shamelessness, impudency, and want of conscience at all, if they be not wounded. Hell can only terrify these hellhounds, for God they fear not, and they have hardened their faces (as it seemeth) to regard no man. Where we may see a double benefit that the godly reap and enjoy by having allowance and warrant from God for the duties they do: to wit, inward quietness of mind, and strength and courage thereby to bear any outward danger or trouble, if need should be, and both the contraries to pursue and take hold of the other, that is, an hellish mind toward God, and terror and dread though they bite it in, in regard of the world, or an hardened heart which is worse then both.