A10933:780
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.
or else woe be unto them, the Lord in all likelihood hath cast them off, and taketh no pleasure in them, and greatly it is to be feared that when affliction shall come upon them, yet by reason of that their former unbelief and contempt of instruction, they shall do them little good. The thing that they should do is this: when the Lord layeth his hand upon them, let them examine themselves, touching their affection to the word, and how little they were moved by it in the time of their health & prosperity, and so they may easily find, that their blockishness, and careless or unprofitable hearing; their deadness, fullness of stomach, and such like, with earthliness, weariness, wandering, drowsiness, &c. have caused the Lord to send such trials upon them (be they inward or outward) as might grind off their flat 1and blunt edge, and set on a sharper and keener upon them: that with desire and meekness they may embrace the word, and find it savoury to their taste, till it have wrought upon them as it ought, that is, even to cast them ⟨p. 291⟩into the mould of it. And this let such know, that if their afflictions tame them not, nor meeken their spirits under the hand of God, but that they fight against him, as Pharaoh did, and will not see and use well this season which is offered them, that if they be delivered once again out of them, they may have sound preaching in all high reverence; let them know (I say) that their case is woeful and desperate. For as the Lord saith in the like case by his Prophet; O people how shall I entreat thee? or what shall I do 2unto thee? So he may say unto them: for he hath no other physic, then his word, mercies, and chastisements. If none of all them can break the heart, there is no help, nor hope, that if he should use extraordinary courses (which they are not to look for) that he should prevail any more with them, then he did with the Priests, who going against their consciences in bringing Christ to his death, were no more moved with his resurrection. Therefore they are wisest, who put not the Lord to this extremity, but hearken to him when he speaketh, and offereth them fair, by the voice of his messengers: and defer not till affliction, as a second warning, be sent unto them: lest then also, they be found alike unprovided, and being hardened, lest God should not vouchsafe them that mercy to mollify & soften them: