A10933:902
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 therefore we see that Felix pretending that he would hear Paul again at leisure of those things, which his terrified conscience durst hear no longer for that present; never had leisure to hear him again at all, seeing he did it not both when he ought and might. For the second sort of duties: as prayer in family, privately by our selves, with the like, although they are not duties of so simple necessity, that no other actions may ever hinder them; yet let them who have solemnly covenanted with the Lord to use them, and seen great cause thereof, and fruit thereby, beware how they wind out themselves of this course, upon unwarranted occasions: for so they shall never want some one or other shift to salve the matter, till the breach be grown so great, that a slender patch will not mend it, nay grief and slight repentance scarcely will repair it: as we see a close and smooth lid of a frame, if it warp once, is not easily brought to his levelness again. God shall teach wisdom in the cases of lawful omission, to such as lean ⟨p. 339⟩not so much and so long, to their own, till they have laid themselves underfoot. But that the chiefest duties, when all things are rightly considered, ought to be (as I have said) preferred before other, the words of our Saviour in that pattern of prayer, Matth. 6. do clearly show; where before he mentioneth 1any petitions tending to the good of soul or body, he commands us to ask the things which concern the glory of God, which stands in the coming of his kingdom, and doing of his will. So that if it were possible, that a good might ask the pardon of sin, deliverance from evil, or necessaries to this life, without respect had to this, that God might be honoured in all these, it were his great sin so to do. For the very salvation of a mans soul is to be hazarded and neglected, (if it might be) rather then that it should stand in comparison with this, as by Moses and Pauls request for the peoples forgiveness and conversion may appear.
And therefore wee see that Felix pretending that he would heare Paul againe at leisure of those things, which his terrified conscience durst heare no longer for that present; neuer had leisure to heare him againe at all, seeing he did it not both when he ought and might. For the second sort of duties: as prayer in familie, priuatly by our selues, with the like, although they are not duties of so simple necessitie, that no other actions may euer hinder them; yet let them who haue solemnely couenanted with the Lord to vse them, and seene great cause thereof, and fruite thereby, beware how they winde out themselues of this course, vpon vnwarranted occasions: for so they shall neuer want some one or other shift to salue the matter, till the breach be growne so great, that a slender patch will not mend it, nay griefe and slight repentance scarcely will repaire it: as wee see a close and smooth lid of a frame, if it warpe once, is not easily brought to his leuelnes againe. God shall teach wisedome in the cases of lawfull omission, to such as leane