A10933:936
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.
So that the Lord if he love us, seeth that there is no better way to be taken with us for our good, then to take away such liberties again from us, and to let out our humours, seeing they breed but a pleurisy in us, or to cross us in them, lest they should steal away our hearts from him, and so we drive him to say of his benefits, as he did of this people: There be too many of them, I must make them fewer, or else they will glory of their multitude and greatness. Even so we cause the Lord to say of us, as to Saul (a bad person) they have to much 1wealth, I must pluck some of it from them: they have had health too long, I must abridge them of it: they have had too many of my benefits, as ease, credit, countenance, &c. unless they could use them better, I must, saith the Lord, of necessity take them from them. And this is the cause why the Lord holds many of his under, that commonly they have no great matters put into their hands, and are much crossed in those earthly commodities that they love best, lest they should be the worse for them. And it is rarely seen, that even they are better by them, then if they had them not. Therefore except God shall bestow upon us an humble and wise heart, and well balanced with grace, to account of these things as they are, to wit, transitory, and soon flitting away, and to value the heavenly treasure of faith, and a godly life above all earthly riches: let us know that the Lord deals wiselier with us, then we are aware, in dieting and shortening of us: and we our selves shall see it as clearly in time (if we mark it) as these Israelites did, that God hath done us no wrong in taking somewhat away which we had, or denying us somewhat which we desire. And as for such as seek above all things to flourish ⟨p. 351⟩and have the world at will, they are not so happy, as they be counted, especially in their own reckoning, neither will show themselves the wisest men in the end: as by this and the like, may be seen of them that will weigh it.
So that the Lord if he loue vs, seeth that there is no better way to be taken with vs for our good, then to take away such liberties againe from vs, and to let out our humours, seeing they breed but a pleurisie in vs, or to crosse vs in them, lest they should steale away our hearts from him, and so we driue him to say of his benefits, as he did of this people: There be too many of them, I must make them fewer, or else they wil glory of their multitude and greatnes. Euen so we cause the Lord to say of vs, as to Saul (a bad person) they haue to much