A10933:659
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 to return now to the rich and great men whom Debora in this verse ⟨p. 246⟩1moveth to praise God, by this let all the rich and such as enjoy wealth and great commodities do the same, and acknowledge what a benefit it is to them, whether they be great Merchants, to buy and utter their wares, for their maintenance, and increase of their wealth, which could not be, but must needs fail, if that lay dead; or liberty of travelling safely, and of free contracts were hindered, and whether they be otherwise great in riches and revenues; let them do this likewise; and the greater persons they be in either kind, the more let them seek to excel themselves in this duty of praising God, and they being forward in that, they may be enabled to do more good works to necessary uses. By which we may also see, that God alloweth wealthy men to occupy and prosper in their calling; for why? he commandeth them to walk in their callings till he come; and teacheth, that the diligent hand maketh rich: and there need be no question made of that, for the Lord allows that men should increase rather then diminish that 2which they have, both to avoid burthensomnesse, and for the supply of others, so as they practise godliness therewith, as equity, truth, sincerity, innocency, patience, & such like. The which they have good encouragement to do, when they have both liberty to follow their courses of dealing, and also seeing godliness hath the promises of this present life, and of that which 3is to come. And if it were so that men were debarred of traffic, and the use of their calling, as these rich men here mentioned had been, what an heavy cross were that, seeing there is no other way, but to spend upon the stock till all be wasted? & that is soon done, where it is not renewed: alas, how shall the family be maintained, & all charges defrayed, if the freedom of gathering in mens commodities and dealings be taken from them? Do we not see that the weather, or a little sickness, disabling a man to work, causeth complaining? how much more when the liberty is wholly interdicted? But yet if God do sometime bless, men may not look to have always one and the same course of thriving and prospering.
But to returne now to the rich and great men whom Debora in this verse