A10933:807
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.
to wit, not only to wish it were otherwise, which in some sort is not to be disallowed, and eagerly to desire a redress, and impatiently to bear the burden which ⟨p. 302⟩his sin hath brought upon him: and not to be little upholden by this, that God is the God of the valleys as well as the mountains; that his love is the same 1in trials (if it also appear not greater) which it was in prosperity. So unwelcome is the cross, and so sweet is the contrary to the flesh, that men have no ears to hear of this doctrine, to believe that God is near unto them; yea even with them in the middest of their sufferings. For why? They look only at this, in my prosperity God was with me, but now my estate is contrary, therefore God is absent. And therefore if any man be at hand to promise them health, favour, or relief in their sickness, trouble or loss, they lift up their eyes, and open their ears to that voice, though it come but from a man like themselves; but to God who hath promised, I will be with thee, I will not leave thee, nor forsake thee, they cannot be comforted with that saying, but still look full heavily, and swearing with Gideon every one by himself: Oh Lord, if it be so that thou art with me, how then is this evil and trouble come upon me? Why? Did I ever promise thee (saith 2he) that no adversity should betide thee? Nay rather, have I not sent this evil, that thou mightest therein have good proof of my love toward thee, in upholding thee therein? And learn this lesson yet better, that I am yesterday and to day, and the same for ever. And this is the more odious in us, 3that we do not only fail thus in great and searching troubles, such as this was; but even in smaller also. And yet, which of us will not be ready to accuse the Israelites (if question be moved of them) for calling for their fleshpots and garlic, being then in the wilderness, which sometime they had in Egypt, and for their murmuring, when they had no other food but Manna, and now and then wanted water: thus our tongues are ready to descant of others, and our censure to go upon them;
to wit, not onely to wish it were otherwise, which in some sort is not to be disalowed, and eagerly to desire a redresse, and impatiently to beare the burthen which