A10933:810
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 further let us mark, that Gideon being much occupied about the prerogatives 1of Israel in Egypt, to wit, how God showed himself present to them, in working miracles for their deliverance as if there had been no other thing done there; and as though he should say, they were happy, but we die here for want of help: but mark we (I say) this that he speaketh not a word of their bondage, and hardness, which they suffered there, and in the wilderness, as well as that they saw his miracles.
But further let vs marke, that Gedeon being much occupied about the prerogatiues 1of Israel in Egypt, to wit, how God shewed himselfe present to them, in working miracles for their deliuerance as if there had been no other thing done there; and as though hee should say, they were happie, but wee die here for want of helpe: but marke we (I say) this that he speaketh not a word of their bondage, and hardnes, which they suffered there, and in the wildernesse, as well as that they saw his miracles.
- 1Doct. 3.
And so do we, if we have not the peace, prosperity, welfare, and other prerogatives that many of Gods servants have, and namely of our condition: (by means thereof (I say) we think he is present with them) but we account our selves to be forgotten and neglected of God in comparison of ⟨p. 303⟩1them; when yet we little know of the wants and sufferings, both outward and inward, of such as we judge to be so happy, and God to be present with: neither do we hear of their sorrowful complaints: and thus we judge and speak, because of their present prosperity which we see; when yet it is apparent that we our selves are not destitute of as great blessings some other way. A great infirmity (doubtless) but much greater it is in us, who have been taught this oftentimes from many worthy grounds of holy Scripture, that we should not judge of our selves by others, seeing we know not their estate as we do our own: for it is certain, that they have many great calamities upon them, even then when we judge them to be so happy; and there is no doubt, but that they think the same of us, for some good things they see in us, which they want, and are void of, we have a surer rule to go by, which cannot deceive us, that is this: that the Lord once loving us, he doth all things for the best to us. Which if it be so, why forget we that, and measure our estate by other mens. And because we have not so usually the comfort of our faith by present sense and feeling thereof, when yet we dare not deny but we have other graces of God in us, and the works thereof, which are inseparable companions to it, we do offend much in this, that we will both be ready to judge, and conclude, that we have no faith, and will count other happy in respect of our selves, when yet we little know their wants, and complainings thereof, as I said before.