A10933:746
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 35 › Chapter 5 › Part 3: The third 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.
And to this purpose, I ask, did not the Priests in the Gospel meet with that which they feared, when Christ, whom they would needs crucify, that they might be rid of him, rose again? to bring a greater fear upon them at the last then at the first? And as they would in no wise fear, when their sin was at the highest, and yet we see they were constrained to fear; so there is no doubt, but that there are some hardened, which do what they can, to put fear away from them, having their consciences seared with an hot iron, whose damnation (yet) sleepeth not, neither shall they ⟨p. 280⟩escape fear, but it will seize upon them, when they would not. And whereas it may be said, the godly are much afraid sometime as well as other; I answer, it is true: but that tendeth to a good end; as if they have taken liberty amiss, or rather stolen it, to break out of the good and righteous way which they had covenanted to walk in, they cannot but be afraid, when they come again to themselves; but it is for that they see they have offended their merciful father, therefore they cannot be quiet, till they be in favour again with him. And let the other know, that even so and much more must they do, to wit, in their falls, fear; and take no rest nor peace to themselves before that: else, when their time cometh, that which they fear, shall also fall upon them: but if they consider duly of their estate, and while they may, and before the time of their trouble come, turn their feet again into the way of Gods testimonies, God will bury all the indignities which they have wrought against him, and will receive them graciously.1
And to this purpose, I aske, did not the Priests in the Gospell meete with that which they feared, when Christ, whom they would needs crucifie, that they might be rid of him, rose againe? to bring a greater feare vpon them at the last then at the first? And as they would in no wise feare, when their sinne was at the highest, and yet we see they were constrained to feare; so there is no doubt, but that there are some hardned, which doe what they can, to put feare away from them, hauing their consciences seared with an hot iron, whose damnation (yet) sleepeth not, neither shal they ⟨p. 280⟩escape feare, but it will seaze vpon them, when they would not. And wheras it may be said, the godly are much afraid sometime as well as other; I answere, it is true: but that tendeth to a good end; as if they haue taken libertie amisse, or rather stolne it, to breake out of the good and righteous way which they had couenanted to walke in, they cannot but bee afraid, when they come againe to themselues; but it is for that they see they haue offended their mercifull father, therefore they cannot be quiet, till they bee in fauour againe with him. And let the other know, that euen so and much more must they do, to wit, in their falles, feare; and take no rest nor peace to themselues before that: else, when their time commeth, that which they feare, shall also fall vpon them: but if they consider duly of their estate, and while they may, and before the time of their trouble come, turne their feet againe into the way of Gods testimonies, God will burie all the indignities which they haue wrought against him, and will receiue them graciously.