A10933:78
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.
Vers. 4. And Judah went up, and the Lord delivered the Canaanites, and the Perezites into their hands, and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men.
Vers. 4. And Iuda went vp, and the Lord deliuered the Canaanites, and the Perezites into their hands, and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men.
Judah, as he was commanded of God, so he did: for so it is said here, he went up, &c. so that as he counselled with the Lord, what he should do; even so, when he knew his mind, he was as ready to obey. This condemneth the rash zeal of many, who are as ready to ask and go to the word, and pray in the congregation after their manner, as the best: but they consider not why they do so; as though they thought God were pleased with such half service as they use, much like to Saul who was forward to sacrifice, thinking God to be highly pleased therewith: but as for the obeying the commandment of God in destroying the Amalekites, he was far from it, he did it by halves, so that the Prophet Samuel was fain to say to him, Hath God as great 1pleasure in burnt sacrifice, as that his voice should be obeyed? Behold, to obey is better then sacrifice; and to hearken is better then the fat of rams. So to make a show of much forwardness, and to have no heart nor readiness to do as men pretend; and to say, Lord, Lord, and not to be willing to do his will, is abomination 2to the Lord. For he loveth truth in the inward parts: he saith, Oh that there were an hart in this people, to keep all my commandments always, that it might go well with them. God cannot abide that men should show more then is in them; which also his servant Paul abhorred to do, as we read in that ⟨p. 15⟩place to the Corinthians, saying: I would have none think otherwise of me 3then they see in me. Thus we see, what use we ought to make of this example of Judah, that is, to give God this honour, that as we pray and resort to him to know his will, so we be as ready to endeavour to do it; and to seek to be faithful and true servants unto him, rather then to be so accounted, for it shall otherwise be little to our comfort. This of Judahs obeying, now let us see what the Lord did to him.