A10933:885
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 here in general occasion is offered to consider, how strangely God 1wrought for Gideon, and against his enemies, beyond all expectation stirring up Joash to assist and oppose the other. Who would not have said, that the people would have borne down Gideon, they being backed so strongly, and having an idolatrous Magistrate on their side? But behold, the Lord turns his heart as he pleaseth, and makes him stand out in the defence of his sons act, whose cruel Judge he had been more like to be, to condemn him to death, as these mad people required, and looked for. And we must think ⟨p. 332⟩that it was no small courage to him, to do thus, though a Magistrate. For this concourse of the people was not ordinary, in a judicial manner but mutinous, and not unlike to that of Demetrius in the case of Diana's worship. But the same God, who (when he saw it meet) caused Lysias, an Heathen Captain, to become a Protector of Paul against the Jews: and Paul himself to be a Preacher of the Gospel which he had before persecuted, did this also, and his hand is not yet shortened from doing the like for the good of his Church, and encouragement of his people, according to that saying of the Wise man: When a mans ways please the Lord, he will make his very enemies 2his friends: and by consequent, those things which were most feared, as being like to work most against them, he will make them to work contrarily, even to their most good and furtherance: and besides, God turns the hearts of men, as rivers of water. Examples we have in Cyrus the restorer of the Jews, and the worship of God. Pilates wife, Achisth to David, &c. But this by the way only.
And here in generall occasion is offered to consider, how strangely God 1wrought for Gedeon, and against his enemies, beyond al expectation stirring vp Ioash to assist and oppose the other. Who would not haue said, that the people would haue borne downe Gedeon, they being backed so strongly, and hauing an idolatrous Magistrate on their side? But behold, the Lord turnes his heart as he pleaseth, and makes him stand out in the defense of his sonnes act, whose cruell Iudge he had been more like to bee, to condemne him to death, as these mad people required, and looked for. And wee must thinke