A10933:899
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.
Thus after all the trouble that Gideon had, both otherwise, and by fear of 1the Midianites now provoking the Israelites to battle, and the many hurts that they did them before, yet God would (we see) have his true worship set up, & Idolatry cast down first, as we have heard; which the wise men of the world though they had allowed, would yet have deferred till after the victory. And note we hereby, that it much pleaseth him, that we should not post off the great and weighty commandments of his worship & service, for our earthly affairs & bodily business, though weighty, if there be time enough to discharge them; no nor lay aside the exercises of prayer, hearing, reading, and the like, for our own pleasure. And we our selves may see, that it is very meet and expedient that it should be so: and how cheerfully we may go about the one, when we have well discharged the other: whereas by deferring, we leave them undone altogether sometimes, and our appetite is much quailed when we return to them. As therefore we read, that as great need as there was to make all possible speed to rescue the Church in the great distress it was in at that time, yet that Esther sought the Lord by fasting 2and prayer, before she went to the King, and went after that with great courage to him for help, and prevailed. But it is otherwise with us; for we, for the most part, first serve our selves (what though in doing things that are lawful?) and seek our own profit and pleasure, which is our great sin: and yet that is not all, but having so done, we are also by the least occasion easily brought to omit the Lords due altogether many times (as I have said) or at least to perform it slackly, coldly, and by halves, so that it were as good undone.
Thus after all the trouble that Gedeon had, both otherwise, and by feare of 1the Midianites now prouoking the Israelites to battell, and the many hurts that they did thē before, yet God would (we see) haue his true worship set vp, & Idolatrie cast down first, as we haue heard; which the wise men of the world though they had allowed, would yet haue deferred till after the victorie. And note we hereby, that it much pleaseth him, yt we should not post off the great and waighty cōmandements of his worship & seruice, for our earthly affaires & bodily businesse, though waighty, if there be time enough to discharge them; no nor lay aside the exercises of praier, hearing, reading, and the like, for our owne pleasure. And we our selues may see, that it is very meete and expedient that it should be so: and how cheerefully we may goe about the one, when wee haue well discharged the other: whereas by deferring, we leaue them vndone altogether sometimes, and our appetite is much quailed when we returne to them. As therfore we reade, that as great neede as there was to make all possible speede to rescue the Church in the great distresse it was in at that time, yet that Hester sought the Lord by fasting