A10933:779
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.
Out of these words we may see, it is a fit time for preaching to work, 1when men are inwardly stung with smart of their afflictions, as it appeareth these were, when the man of God was sent to preach unto them; for then m•n will suffer themselves more easily to be reproved for their sins, and will cause themselves, as they see cause; and the word is received into their 2hearts more readily: whereas they are otherwise most commonly hardened, and hate to be reproved. And yet further then men come prepared to our daily and ordinary preaching, it profiteth them nothing. The danger is this, that they are like to quench the spirit after, and to dull the edge of such good beginnings of grace in them, which will most certainly come to pass, if they be not careful to stir them up daily. Men while they have elbow room, think that the preacher, yea God himself must be beholding to them for their hearing: but when God hath them cooped in a narrow compass, his rods being held over them, then the Preacher is welcome, yea sought to earnestly, and God is plied with confessions and prayers. We see it, though with grief, and have too great experience of it, in the practise of the secure and irreligious sort, who though they mind not God all the year long, yet fall to prayer and devotion when some great thundering, lightning, and tempest doth astonish them, and when the likelihood of death is upon them. His word they hear daily without any great reverence, but his terrible works, seen and felt, though but seldom, make them hide themselves in corners for fear. By whose example we see, what need the Lord hath to bore ears into our souls, by terror, and amassing judgements, as Job speaks, chap. 33. because his word is wound about mens fingers, and made 3but as the confused noise of many waters, and as a sound beating the air, going in at one ear and out as fast at the other. Let not such boast themselves as are spared, except they apply themselves to the hearing of Gods voice by the Minister, who can skill to do his message with more regard and earnestness: for either the more is behind, if they belong to God, and they must have somewhat to quicken their appetite thereto, and to make it sink deeply into their hearts, and work upon them powerfully for their good;