A10933:769
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 36 › Chapter 6 › Part 2: 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.
Further also observe here, what shifts they choose to make, rather then they 1would seek to God by humiliation and repentance, for release. They love their freedom well, who having their city besieged by the enemy, till extreme famine compel them to eat dogs, cats, and such vermin, as is noisome to nature, yet choose to endure such difficulties, rather then yield. And so doubtless, they love their lusts well, who suffer themselves to be made such slaves and drudges to them (as these here were) rather then they ⟨p. 287⟩would abandon them, and return to the Lord with unfeigned renouncing of them. Alas, they must leave them with shame and double repentance at length, when they have wearied themselves as these did: but till their own rod hath made them smart, who may tell them of the unfruitfulness of their toilsome trade? Toilsome I may truly say; both considering with what great ado they bring their sin to ripeness and perfection; and then what shifts they undergo to wind themselves out of the woe and misery, which (in stead of fruit) their sin brings upon them? It is a good piece of the life of an adulterer, first to compass and fulfil his unclean lusts: and when he hath done, to cover and keep himself from shame, and to make fair weather of it again. And so the thriftless spend-good, what ado makes he to scrape together somewhat to maintain his riotous humour? and when he is brought to beggary, then he must cast about him afresh, how he may defray that, and avoid the gallows, or a base and wretched life. In a word, it is true which Solomon saith in Ecclesiastes; To the sinner God giveth pain: he 2gives him sour sauce to his sweet meat, painful service to his sweet lusts. And yet without Gods special goodness neither of these shall prevail with a lewd person to pull him from the love and liking of them, though they cost him so dear, and though he bear and bring forth with pain, and the sweat of his face. There will be found an Hiel to build Jericho, though he knew it will cost him and his never so dearly. Therefore they are happy whom God hath entertained into his house, and holds them under his government: because neither is his word tedious to them, nor his 3commandments grievous while they are doing them: