A10933:543
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 further to proceed, this which is said of the marriage of Debora, being 1a Prophetess, can teach us no less then this, that they who have attended on God in the ministry in former times, whether men or women, or such as do it at this day, are not despised of God for their married estate, but counted of him faithful, and put in his service, as this Debora was: which though there is no cause to make question of, (seeing they who teach other the whole counsel of God, and so by consequent, how to use the married estate aright, a man would think should much more be fit to use it in the best manner themselves) yet I say so, for that the Romish prelacy, who snatch at every occasion to rail on the Ministers of the Gospel, (and so they do because of their marriage,) do what they can most spitefully and injuriously to bring the faithful Preachers into an odious account with all men. And they have thought this a meet matter in them to bark at, under a pretence that the marriage bed, (for they think better of the whorish bed) can no way stand with such an holy calling as the ministry is; which being ⟨p. 198⟩Gods ordinance for all states of men to enjoy, were shameful in them to 2spurn against, though they themselves lived most chaste, seeing while they go about to disgrace the persons, they fight against the ordinance of God, yea and that which is highly commended of him: but much more reproachful and odious it is in them so to do, seeing the same devout persons, (as they would be counted) are, and that many of them, as is well known, gross whoremongers themselves, (that I say no worse) and such as live in filthy uncleanness, though Priests by their calling. But for further proof of this truth, I mean the marriage of Ministers to be lawful, seeing I have begun to speak of it, this I will add: that the examples of the Ministry under the Law, as well as their practise at the coming of Christ, and after in the Apostles times, do maintain and justify it: yea and since those times, the Church of God for many hundred years, (till Gregory's and Siricius times, who were Popes of Rome) do prove and testify the same. The Prophets first, as aObed, Hanany, and other: the b