A10933:806
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.
The remedy must be that which I spake of before, and shall have cause to mention it again, and that is, to rest upon the word and promise of God, though we see not present help, as Christ said to Martha, Did I not tell thee, thou shouldest see the glory of God, if thou canst believe? As 1for profane persons who want faith, what wonder, if they measure Gods love by their present flourishing, and living in ease, or wealth, and by their enjoying of these outward things below, whereby their lusts may be satisfied? And what wonder, if they judge it impossible, in their deep distresses and crosses, that ever they should wade out of them? As we read of that Prince of Jehoram in Israel in a fore famine, who hearing the Prophets message from God, touching sudden plenty that should be on the next day, he said: Though the Lord would make windows in Heaven, to pour down 2corn and provision, yet this thing could not come to pass. What was this else, but a bold presuming in great blindness of that which he apprehended not, and a very derision of the prophecy? And the like we see daily in such brutish people, who hearing us preach this doctrine of depending upon Gods all sufficiency by faith, even in affliction, do little better then scoff at it; Give us wealth, say they, and corn and wine, give us our fill of meat 3and drink and money, and as for faith, take it whose will. Therefore while they prosper, they are as merry as Nabal, but if God give them a sudden blow, it strikes them down flat: they neither have any armour, to bear off the dint thereof, neither faith to believe that it shall ever be any better with them but much worse. Their evil conscience makes them fear, that this trouble, or that disgrace, either sickness or loss, will be their undoing: and as Hamans friends comforted him, so they do themselves, Hest. 6. and that 4was thus, Thou shalt surely fall. And yet in their jollity who have such appearance of hope, and so great confidence in their estate, that it shall continue, as they? Better and better they look for, and fear no change till it come. This I say of them: but how unbeseeming is it, that a believer should have so much as a tang of this strong unbelief in his deep sorrows?