A10933:811
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.
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.
And so doe we, if we haue not the peace, prosperitie, welfare, and other prerogatiues that many of Gods seruants haue, and namely of our condition: (by meanes thereof (I say) we thinke he is present with them) but wee account our selues to be forgotten and neglected of God in comparison of ⟨p. 303⟩1them; when yet wee little know of the wants and sufferings, both outward and inward, of such as we iudge to bee so happie, and God to bee present with: neither doe wee heare of their sorrowfull complaints: and thus wee iudge and speake, because of their present prosperitie which wee see; when yet it is apparent that wee our selues are not destitute of as great blessings some other way. A great infirmitie (doubtlesse) but much greater it is in vs, who haue been taught this oftentimes from many worthie grounds of holy Scripture, that wee should not iudge of our selues by others, seeing wee know not their estate as we doe our owne: for it is certaine, that they haue many great calamities vpon them, euen then when we iudge them to be so happie; and there is no doubt, but that they thinke the same of vs, for some good things they see in vs, which they want, and are voide of, we haue a surer rule to goe by, which cannot deceiue vs, that is this: that the Lord once louing vs, he doth all things for the best to vs. Which if it be so, why forget we that, and measure our estate by other mens. And because wee haue not so vsually the comfort of our faith by present sense and feeling thereof, when yet we dare not denie but we haue other graces of God in vs, and the workes thereof, which are inseparable companions to it, wee doe offend much in this, that wee will both bee readie to iudge, and conclude, that we haue no faith, and will count other happie in respect of our selues, when yet we little know their wants, and complainings thereof, as I said before.