A10933:802
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.
Now followeth the salutation of the Angel; the Lord is with thee, thou valiant 1man. If we mark the ebb and low estate of Gideon (as we have heard) it was wonderful to hear this news brought him, that the Lord was with 2him, as it was lamentable to see in what distress he was, when he heard the words of this message uttered to him. For it was as much as if the Angel had said, the Lord loveth thee, as one of his dear ones, and he is with thee even now to comfort and preserve thee, even in this thy oppression, and therefore none shall be against thee to hurt thee. This was much to be said in such a time of calamity, to such an afflicted person. And yet, we must know, that it yieldeth to us the like instruction. That even in great outward troubles, and inward disquietness of mind, when a body would think that God, and all good men were our adversaries; yet in all this is God with us whom he hath made a covenant with, yea he loveth and careth for us, as dear and precious unto him, even as Christ Jesus the Son of his love was, though without beauty among men, and as a withered branch, despised, Isaiah 53. 3Therefore the spouse in the Canticles saith, I am black, but comely O ye daughters, 4&c. meaning, that the Lord Jesus her husband esteemed no whit less of her, neither was she any whit less amiable in his eye, being tanned in the sun, then when she was in her perfect beauty. Indeed, the sin which causeth the Lord to afflict, is odious: but the affliction it self argueth, that he makes much of us, because thereby he would purge out of us that which he misliketh, which affliction when it hath wrought kindly, the Lord can soon change our hew, and restore our former beauty, as Jobs example witnesseth.
Now followeth the salutation of the Angell; the Lord is with thee, thou valiant 1man. If we marke the ebbe and low estate of Gedeon (as we haue heard) it was wonderfull to heare this newes brought him, that the Lord was with 2