A10933:592
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.
And here another thing is to be marked, that when God doth not bless, 1but blow upon mens furniture & furtherances, and taketh part against them, even these things which were armour and defence to them before, they cast them away as burdens and impediments. As Sisera here was driven to leave his chariot now that he was so pursued of his enemies, which yet had been, and was counted, as his house of defence unto him. For God will have us know, that his favour is toward all his, as the pleasant sunshine to the earth and the creatures therein, which maketh all pleasant and beautiful, 2and if that should cease to shine, the earth with all that is therein, should ⟨p. 219⟩stink and come to naught. Even so, if God turn away his loving countenance from a man, and frown upon him, all that was precious to him before, is unpleasant, even as the moth consumeth the beauty of a garment, as it was said of Jerusalem, when God was displeased, that all her pleasant 3things were matters of sighing and sorrow unto her. Whence is it, that many a man of great possessions, can yet find no savour nor relish in them, especially if any affliction or trouble be upon him? Why is the heart so locked up, that it cannot joy in any commodity? in wife, children, wealth, favour? Will ye know the reason? because first, outward things are so far sweet as the Lord sweeteneth them, and otherwise the enjoyers thereof find no taste nor sweetness in them; no, they have no use of them. If God be not 4a mans portion, all other portions are enjoined without his love, and so turn to gall and bitterness. As Nabals wealth, Ahithophel his wisdom, Hamans favour. For when Ahashuerosh abandoned Haman, what stead did his wife, friends, or former favour stand him in? The wrath of the King blasted all these, as the frost or East wind doth the tender buds. Nabals heart was as •••one, when he presaged the event that followed. Achitophels wisdom was that which brake his neck. Again, the wicked force themselves to find a deceivable sweetness in these transitory things without God: therefore he justly deprives them thereof, and turns them out of kind, so that although he hath suffered them for a while to flourish, and take their pleasure in them, yet when they have long surfeited of them, they poison them, yea and in short time also, as he seeth good.