A10933:541
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.
This woman, as God used her to deliver his people, so she was also endued 1with the spirit of prophecy, to reveal the will of God to them, and to answer their doubts. For which cause it is said in the next verse, that the people came up to her for counsel and judgement: For it is thought, that 2their oppression by that Jabin was so great, that the people of Israel could not have ordinary Judges. Now though it was rare to have women Prophetesses, vet now and then God stirred up such, as Miriam the sister of Moses, Hanna the mother of Samuel; and Hulda in the days of Josiah the King: and ⟨p. 197⟩3in the new Testament, as Anna the daughter of Phanuel, and the 4. daughters 4of Philip, in the book of the Acts recorded. And it is not unlike, that some of these women that were endued with the spirit of prophecy, did instruct and teach the people, declaring to them those things which God had revealed unto them, seeing the gifts of God are not given to be buried, but to be used for the edifying of the Church in public and private. And for proof of this which I say, we are to know, that prophesying is not only taken for the foretelling of things to come, but for making known the will of God in matters of salvation, and to both ends God used women sometimes, 5though now he forbid them. (As for those forged, or diabolical she saints and Prophetesses, of whom the Church of Rome boasteth, we ascribe as much credit to them, as the dreams of Monks deserve.) Therefore we must also here take heed, that we bring not that into example which the Lord hath wrought extraordinarily, when it hath pleased him: For we are tied by Pauls rule, set down to the Corinthians, to wit, that women keep 6silence in the congregation. He addeth a reason, because they must be subject to their husbands. But the teachers office is to have authority over those which are taught by them, and to govern them also as well as to instruct them, which is not permitted to the wife over her husband, neither over other men. But seeing the Lord in these latter times useth not commonly extraordinary instruments as he did in former days, especially unless he furnish them also with extraordinary gifts, but ordinary: therefore we are to admire and reverence his goodness in both: