A10933:801
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.
So we are for the same causes deprived oft times of our dear companion in marriage, which is a great part of death it self; or driven from our own habitation into the fearful prison, which taketh much from the delight of living; yea, and we are tried with sudden dearth, as oft times by excessive rain and wet; sometime by drought: as Gideon here was in as hard a case, being driven to fly from his own dwelling, in a manner famished. In these & the like, God leaveth his servants, for the causes which I have mentioned: and also to the end that his deliverance and ease giving after them all, may be the more precious when it cometh, having been so long desired: and thirdly, to this end he holdeth his rods the longer over us, that patience may have her perfect work in us, and himself have the whole ⟨p. 299⟩praise. An example of this which hath been said, we have in Joshua 7. where 1the people having promise of Gods assistance, went against the men of Al, not making question but they should speed as well as they had done before at Jericho. But lo, on the sudden they were smitten before their enemies. This astonished them, till the Lord tells Joshua the cause: Ye look, saith the Lord, it should be with ye as at other times, but I see cause of the contrary. Look well into the matter, and ye shall find that there is sacrilege among the, and therefore ye cannot stand before your enemies. So that though they were doing the work of God, yet because there was found in them this infection, it made the Lord to cross their hopes, that so they might purge out their sin, and go about the work in a better manner. Many wonder why the Lord sayeth them long upon their sick beds, whereas if they had their health, they say they should worship him in public and private with more cheerfulness. Whereas the Lord aimeth at a further matter, and would purge out their coldness, hypocrisy, carelessness, and other sins accompanying them even in their good duties, that so they may return thereto with more reverence, and conscience. We read that Paul after his great lifting up into heaven, was buffered with unwelcome temptations: which though he prayed that he might be rid of, yet the Lord suspended his help, that Paul might be humbled, and fitted to use his knowledge the more fruitfully.
So wee are for the same causes depriued oft times of our deare companion in mariage, which is a great part of death it selfe; or driuen from our owne habitation into the fearefull prison, which taketh much from the delight of liuing; yea, and we are tried with sudden dearth, as oft times by excessiue raine and wet; sometime by drouth: as Gedeon here was in as hard a case, being driuen to flie from his owne dwelling, in a manner famished. In these & the like, God leaueth his seruants, for the causes which I haue mentioned: and also to the end that his deliuerance and ease giuing after them all, may be the more precious when it commeth, hauing been so long desired: and thirdly, to this end he holdeth his roddes the longer ouer vs, that patience may haue her perfect worke in vs, and himselfe haue the whole