A10933:878
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.
Here many good points may be noted about idolaters, which I will briefly 1set down. First this, how deeply idolatry, superstition, and false worship is rooted in peoples hearts, and ground fast; as is to be seen in these, and through these stories, and those in the book of the Kings; as the Philistines blind devotion to their Dagon, and the peoples fond and mad zeal in maintaining the false worship of Baal in Ahab's time, their offerings to them, their bowing down, and praying to them. So that a man might have as easily plucked their hearts out of their bellies, as to have dissuaded and alienated their love from them. The reasons are, first, because as sin, so error is strong, plausible and deceitful. Secondly, God accurseth all that will not hearken to the truth, so that they shall believe lies, and be bewitched ⟨p. 329⟩2therewith. See and consider to this end, Isaiah 44. 19. Thirdly, the worst 3weeds have deepest roots, and corrupt customs or opinions, because they agree with mans bad nature, are not easily rooted out; whereas those which are good and commendable, are like precious plants or flowers, which hardly take any root at all, and may be plucked up with two fingers. As at this day the cursed relics of heathenish and popish fashions, how hardly are they laid down, look but to some vain and foolish customs, and the •ond devotion of the superstitions all the year long, in kneeling before stocks and stones, and ye may easily guess how hard a thing it is to remove and expel them & the like. Gamaliel said of the doctrine of the Apostles; If it be not of 4God, ye shall not need to oppose it, it will fall of it self. But we must know that God not working by miracle, as he did then, Satan and his complices will in these days try the uttermost, and use all means ere that come to pass: yea as we may see, they grow in experience and policy, strength and resolution also, to uphold their rotten building, until (as at death (to be sure) it shall) it fall upon their shoulders. Whereas the true and pure worship of God, what authority, credit, or hearty love doth it find or obtain at the hands of the most of them who profess it? Nay, they have soon enough of it, many revolt and fall from it, and they that retain it, do it (for the most part) in a most dead and cold manner.