A10933:849
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 who doth not find it to be true, which I have said, namely, that faith which is well grounded, and worketh now with comfort by love, shall easily be found to languish and wax faint through doubting and fear, if affliction come in the way to try us? For why? we are so prone to unbelief, that if we do not at the first trial, always show and bewray it, which yet oft times we do, yea, before the trouble come, when we see but a likelihood of it, we shall at least do it, if we be long held under the affliction, and especially if it be any great matter; as some sore loss, pain, or the like. So that it is not without especial cause, that we are commanded by the Apostle, not only to be rooted, but also to be confirmed, and to abound in faith with 1thanksgiving. Let us consider, to this end, that it is but the fruit of our corruption, thus to fear and doubt, when we should believe, and to reason against Gods promises, affirming that they cannot be performed, when we see likelihood of the contrary; yea though we do it not with any bad meaning, as neither Gideon did here, yet it is our great sin to offer God such dishonour: let us strive rather to beat down our foolish fears and passions, seeing it is most like, and we are sure to speed the worst thereby, and in that we give place to our passions, we shall do it to our cost, although we repent for it. Our Saviour seeing Martha in that sudden fear and distrust, ⟨p. 319⟩checks her, saying; Did I not say unto thee, if thou couldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? As if he should say; Look to my word, look not to the unlikelihood. Manoahs wife was stronger then Gideon or her husband, in the like case: If God would have slain us (saith she) he would not have said we should have a son, and so ought Gideon to have reasoned: God will not kill me now, seeing I must deliver Israel: for these are contraries, and thus when Manoahs wife saw that one of them must needs be false, she rather confuteth her husband then the message of the Angel, and concludeth, doubtless we shall live, and not die, for the word of God is more worth the resting upon, then our own conceits. And thus it should be with us, that 2we be not always off and on, now carried with full sail of faith, and by and by cast down, as if we had never been the men, this fickleness is unbeseeming us.