A10933:553
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 I will say this one thing to thee, whosoever thou art that wouldest live comfortably. Try the working of this doctrine in thee: look but one week to thy calling faithfully, to discharge the duties of it conscionably; 1and so far as thou hast knowledge, endeavour to obey all other commandments of God; and be firmly persuaded of the promise of God to thee, that thou art safe in so walking. For he hath annexed a promise of blessing to the obeying of every commandment: yea and that an hundred fold more then thou forgoest thereby. Thou wilt ask, how shalt thou know that God doth reward thee so? I answer, be thou judge thy self, if he deal not so with thee. For example, let this be the case: Thou wilt say, ⟨p. 202⟩if thou wert not tied so strictly to obey God, thou couldest take thy pleasure in merry company, or benefit thy self as other men do, to gain and get commodity, whereas now thou being tied to make conscience, darest not do so, but must lose and forgo much thereby. I hear thee; now hear thou me likewise. Thou confessest that the profit and pleasure thou forgoest by obeying God, is unlawful, and against conscience; for otherwise, who holdeth 2thee from it? Now put the case, that when thou hast so gotten it, God urge and cause thy conscience to prick thee, and thou beest wounded therein, which stingeth worse then Hornets; for so God doth one time or other make mens sin smart and sting the committers of it, in most painful sort, or (which is worse) leaves them hardened. If thou knowest what this meaneth, or believest that which I say to thee, what wouldest thou not give to be healed of this intolerable pain? Even all that thou hast, how much soever it be. For that is a sign to thee of losing thy soul utterly, if thou persist therein: and what shall it profit a man to win the whole world and lose his soul? 3Thou fishest with a golden hook, which being lost, is not recompensed by all thou catchest therewith. Now answer me, haddest thou not been void and rid of this terror and taste of hell, if thou haddest avoided and resisted thy sin? Mightest thou not have been quiet and merry, as other of Gods servants be, if thou haddest obeyed the Lord?