A10933:886
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.
More particularly, we may see in Joash, who was before an Idolater, but being instructed about the will of God against that wickedness, how soon he was able to resist and stand against it. This teacheth that it is but ignorance and unbelief, that causeth many to practise and maintain, either a false worshipping of God, or any like wickedness: though I deny not, but some do worse, who though they know it to be evil, yet will do so wilfully. The other are to be better hoped of; who if the Lord vouchsafe them the mercy that he did Joash, shall soon be changed from their former ill course, and abhor and stand against that most deadly, which before they maintained and practised. And therefore a detestable state to live in, is Popery, out of the which they will not so much as seek to be brought, by hearing the Gospel preached, and therefore they lie still therein to their confusion, with all such as do like unto them. Whereas many in other kinds of sin, are brought out of it by preaching, and are turned to God by true repentance. Agreeable whereunto is that of Paul, I was a persecutor, blasphemer, 1&c. but the Lord had mercy upon me, because I did it ignorantly. Noting that one cause why few of his sect were converted, because, as our Saviour saith, They 2knew they did evil, therefore their sin remained. This is not to encourage any to live in ignorance; for the least punishment is condemnation, if men prefer 3darkness to light, whatsoever the cause be. But as Christ saith, in Matthew 2. The judgement of Tyre and Zidon shall be easier then of Corazin 4and Bethsaida at the day of Gods coming, for they had repented, if they had been instructed. The use is, to comfort such as affect to be ignorant, hoping thereby to escape Gods wrath: whereas rather they should consider that their ignorance will procure it, yea, is a chief cause of other sin which causeth it: yea and because that it is easy and no hard matter for such as are simply and not wilfully ignorant, to get knowledge and faith, if they would apply themselves to hearing; therefore seeing they persist in their blindness, they cause an invincible ignorance to grow upon themselves, which shall be as severely punished as obstinate disobedience and contempt.