A10933:689
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.
Sermon 33 › Chapter 5 › Part 3: The second part of the Chapter.
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.
The last tribe that is found fault with, is the tribe of Asher, who excuse themselves for being absent from their brethren; partly for that they dwelt far off, and partly for that their towns and cities were ruinous, and not well fenced, and therefore they said, they tarried at home, lest their enemies might have taken occasion by their absence to spoil them, which they saw they might easily have done. And there is no doubt, but that it was grievous to these tribes to be thus rebuked; the which the holy Ghost would have to be done, partly for their own cause that they might see in what great fault they were by not going to help their brethren, how lightly soever they accounted of it, and also that they might repent for it: and partly in respect of others, which I will show when I come to the doctrine. And this be said of the tribes commended and reproved, except the two tribes of Zebulon and Naphtali, who did more specially jeopard their lives for their brethren, as it followeth in the next verse.
The last tribe that is found fault with, is the tribe of Asher, who excuse themselues for being absent from their brethren; partly for that they dwelt farre off, and partly for that their townes and cities were ruinous, and not well fenced, and therefore they said, they tarried at home, lest their enemies might haue taken occasion by their absence to spoile them, which they saw they might easily haue done. And there is no doubt, but that it was grieuous to these tribes to be thus rebuked; the which the holy Ghost would haue to be done, partly for their owne cause that they might see in what great fault they were by not going to helpe their brethren, how lightly soeuer they accounted of it, and also that they might repent for it: and partly in respect of others, which I will shew when I come to the doctrine. And this be said of the tribes commended and reproued, except the two tribes of Zebulon and Naphtali, who did more specially icopard their liues for their brethren, as it followeth in the next verse.
Here she commendeth them both in an high manner (though some 1chief men in the tribe of Zebulon she had praised before, and that for their forwardness against Gods enemies, in so great peril, as we have heard, they were in. For it was a ridiculous thing in the judgement of men, for such a small number as they were, to go against such huge armies, and all as valiant soldiers addressed in warlike furniture, by whom they might have been swept away in less then an hour; but they preferred God and his word before their own lives. By the high places mentioned here, the mount Tabor is signified, on which they were appointed to stand to behold the multitude of the Canaanites, and yet they not flying away from them, but marching toward them, their faith appeared to be so much the greater, and therefore they are thus commended. Thus much for the meaning of these five verses.