A10933:805
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.
But this is well and clearly laid out in the next verse, therefore I will pass 1to that. It appeareth in this verse, that as near as God was to Gideon, yet he saw it not: but concludeth, that seeing he and the people of the land were under such oppression by the Midianites, that it could not be well with them, neither could he believe that God was with him. And he confirms himself therein, by a reason, though of no strength, thus: God was indeed with our fathers (he saith) when he brought them out of Egypt, & wrought many miracles for them, but he did not so now for him and the people, therefore how could he think, said he, that God was with him now. This spake Gideon from an heavy heart, even then when the Angel was sent directly to him with glad tidings. But let us further examine his words, and make our benefit of them. In saying, the Lord could not be with him while 2the Midianites so oppressed them, he showed his great weakness, as I said in the former verse, affirming that he could not believe, while he saw it to be so with him. Whereby we may see, how hardly the faithful can be persuaded, ⟨p. 301⟩that the Lord is with them in affliction, how ready soever they be to acknowledge it at other times, which I speak not, as though none were: 3for both the three children cast into the hot burning furnace, and Daniel into the Lyons den, have left most worthy testimony of their invincible 4faith in their great extremity, with many other both in ages past, and now among us. But yet in time of calamity it must needs be said, especially if it belong and smarty, that our corrupt nature, which is untoward, and hardly suffereth us to give credit to Gods promises is furthest off then from letting us see into them, and believe them; and the devil is readiest to work upon our weakness at such times, and to take the opportunity thereof to fear and terrify us; and with his fiery darts of unbelief to pierce our hearts, whereby it is with us, too oft and usually, as it was here with Gideon, in so much that the Lord being even then near us by his promises of comfort and encouragements, which were sufficient to content and stay us, yet we see it not, neither think it to be so, seeing we give not our selves to study and