A10933:642
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.
Oh, how do we provoke our good God to cast us into some fore calamities, as they here were in, that we might cry to him by feeling the smart thereof, as some daily do, whom God would have to be examples to the rest, lest many should taste of their diet? but fearful it is for all this, to see how few are the better for all the judgements of God that be upon themselves, or that they behold others for the same sins which they both commit boldly, but run on till their course come to suffer (yet) worse and heavier things at Gods hands for them. But while we cannot amend it in others, let us bewail it in them, which is a right property of true love; praying also for them, and for our own parts; let this example of these their calamities, so many and grievous as have been spoken of, cause us to account of Gods goodness so highly, in withholding them from us, that they may make us fruitful thereby in every good work, especially seeing we have many other good encouragements thereto: and also for that when we want them, we say we can do little good without them. But now in that she addeth, Till I, even I Debora arose] we must take it far otherwise then it soundeth; not ascribing her words to a passion of womanish impotency 1and boasting, much less to a contempt of Barak, who was the instrument of ⟨p. 239⟩the victory, as well as her self; but to the heavenly exaltation of her spirit, lifted up pathetically to praise the Lord for the great deliverance wrought by her: as we see the like in David, in the Psalms; Paul, and others. And 2this deliverance being wrought by Debora, teacheth, that all the forementioned calamities, being removed from the people, by her their governor at that time, it teacheth I say, what great things the Lord worketh by the Magistrate and governor, as he did by her, she being at that time the same to the people, even their Judge in Israel. But indeed this is done especially when they are zealous for Gods matters, and do their duties in their places, and have the spirit and affection of her, even to be mother like unto the people, who as she gave counsel to her inferiors, as a mother to her children, being a Prophetess, and delivered them from their enemies, being their Judge:
Oh, how doe we prouoke our good God to cast vs into some fore calamities, as they heere were in, that we might cry to him by feeling the smart thereof, as some daily doe, whom God would haue to bee examples to the rest, lest many should tast of their diet? but fearefull it is for all this, to see how few are the better for all the iudgements of God that bee vpon themselues, or that they behold others for the same sinnes which they both commit boldly, but runne on till their course come to suffer (yet) worse and heauier things at Gods hands for them. But while wee cannot amend it in others, let vs bewaile it in them, which is a right property of true loue; praying also for them, and for our owne parts; let this example of these their calamities, so many and grieuous as haue been spoken of, cause vs to account of Gods goodnesse so highly, in withholding them from vs, that they may make vs fruitfull thereby in euery good worke, especially seeing wee haue many other good encouragements thereto: and also for that when wee want them, we say wee can doe little good without them. But now in that she addeth, Till I, euen I Debora arose] we must take it farre otherwise then it soundeth; not ascribing her words to a passion of womanish impotencie