A10933:882
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.
Another thing note we here, how soon and earnestly they inquired who 1should deface their Baal, and strip him of his ornaments? whereas Gods word may lie unpreached by many occasions, long enough, before it be asked where the fault lieth, and complained of, and bewailed; or before the neglect thereof be sought to be remedied. In Popery, if a man shall speak against the mass, or their breaden God, or dispraise any, yea the least part of their trash and trumpery, he shall be more cruelly handled then for blaspheming in the highest degree. Which appears by such as in the time of persecution in our own land, attempted zealously to deface that idol, who of all other were put to most exquisite torments. Even as Gideon here was pursued, and as a most heretical and seditious disturber, was called for to be put to death, for offering that reproach unto that base idol Baal. Oh, it were an happy time, if men were as zealously bent against atheism, superstition, idolatry, adultery, and such like, as many are zealous for them: and that holy and heavenly things were in that account and request with many, that open and apparent sins are with them. And thus at this day do the most men storm and rage at the Minister of God (who is Gods ordinary instrument, as Gideon was the extraordinary) when they see that he is not content to dally with them, but in good earnest striveth to pull them from their ignorance, formal, and could worship of God, uncleanness, or whatsoever other sin they cleave unto; (as these did to their idol Baal) and serve. The poor man Gideon here had not more ado to save himself from this furious and eager multitude, then the Minister hath (in many places where the Gospel hath not prevailed) to defend himself from a swarm of hornets, which fly about his ears, ready to sting him (I might rather have said wild beasts to devour him) by their cursed reproachful slanders and virulent tongues for his casting their Baal to the ground.
Another thing note we here, how soone and earnestly they inquired who 1should deface their Baal, and strippe him of his ornaments? whereas Gods word may lie vnpreached by many occasions, long inough, before it be asked where the fault lieth, and complained of, and bewailed; or before the neglect thereof be sought to be remedied. In Poperie, if a man shall speake against the masse, or their breaden God, or dispraise any, yea the least part of their trash and trumperie, he shall be more cruelly handled then for blaspheming in the highest degree. Which appeares by such as in the time of persecution in our owne land, attempted zealously to deface that idoll, who of all other were put to most exquisite torments. Euen as Gedeon here was pursued, and as a most hereticall and seditious disturbur, was called for to be put to death, for offering that reproch vnto that base idoll Baal. Oh, it were an happie time, if men were as zealously bent against atheisme, superstition, idolatrie, adulterie, and such like, as many are zealous for them: and that holy and heauenly things were in that account and request with many, that open and apparent sinnes are with them. And thus at this day doe the most men storme and rage at the Minister of God (who is Gods ordinarie instrument, as Gedeon was the extraordinary) when they see that he is not content to dally with them, but in good earnest striueth to pull them from their ignorance, formall, and could worship of God, vncleanenesse, or whatsoeuer other sinne they cleaue vnto; (as these did to their idoll Baal) and serue. The poore man Gedeon here had not more adoe to saue himselfe from this furious and eager multitude, then the Minister hath (in many places where the Gospell hath not preuailed) to defend himselfe from a swarme of hornets, which flie about his eares, ready to sting him (I might rather haue said wild beasts to deuoure him) by their cursed reprochfull slanders and virulent tongues for his casting their Baal to the ground.