A10933:559
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.
But afterward weighing better the commandment of God, and his promise, God by his spirit assisting him, he believed the words of Debora, and obeyed, and so obtained the victory by faith, as it is said in the forementioned place to the Hebrews. And how usually this falleth out, and cometh to pass, even to the godly, that at the first they do stagger and doubt, 1and believe not by and by, and that through the strong relics of the old Adam, there is no man of God but hath proof; and yet for all that, afterward they being strengthened by the spirit of God, recover themselves again, 2and believe confidently. This is apparent in David, even after he had believed, saying, O Lord, wash me throughly, cleanse me, for I am wholly filthy: 3And again, Create in me a new spirit; as if the old had been utterly lost. Also in Moses, when he was first commanded to go to Pharaoh, how fearful he 4was at the hearing of the message, and how he shrunk back: but afterward, how boldly did he execute the same, and deliver it unto him? Even 5so the best of us, when we hear of the death of our dear friends, or of great losses that are befallen us; also at the beginning of great sickness and pain arresting us, oh how do we faint, and distrust that we shall never submit our selves, and yield obediently to them (though God command us straitly to 6do so) while we cast both our eyes on the burden and cross; that is, on the the things that are seen, as the Apostle speaketh, and while we are not 7yet come to our selves to look up to God with confidence, and to things not seen, but eternal. But when we weigh how they come from him that loveth us, and therefore cannot intend our hurt; we then submit our selves to God, and stay upon him for grace to go under all, and wait patiently for a good issue. And because our hearts arise oft times against our brethren, when we see these weaknesses in them, and begin to judge and think too hardly of them for the same, the Lord therefore letteth us sometimes see the same or other such in our selves, that so we may learn to bear with the infirmities of them.