A10933:937
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.
But to come yet more near to that which is noted in the text, not only men abuse Gods benefits other ways, but this one way also, that is, to vainglory, as it is said, that this people here mentioned would have done: and therefore the holy story addeth it as a reason why the Lord would not have so many go to the battle, least they should say, that they had prevailed by their own might, and so should have taken Gods honour to themselves. And by this we learn, why God denieth, and doth not give us in our attempts, many, great, or any means at all sometime, and if he do, yet not with any good success, or at least, not as he is wont to do, (although to mans reason there be likelihood enough, yea very great) because if he should, man would snatch the glory from him to himself. As Nebuchadnezzar did when he said: This is great Babel that I have built: Zenacherib that 1blasphemed the Lord by his Captain Rabshakeh: So Benhadad so grossly for got himself in boasting what he would do, that he was answered wisely in this manner, [Let not him that girdeth on his harness, boast himself, as he that putteth it off] And they to whom S. James wrote, how foolishly concluded they before the success, and bragged of their gain, before they 2knew they should have it? What would they have done (think we) if they had already enjoyed it also? And is not this strange, that whereas we pretend, (if we might partake such and such blessings) we would be much more thankful and serviceable for them, the Lord should convict us of dissimulation and falsehood, telling us that we know not our own hearts, for we would be more proud, bold, and vainglorious? So that if the Lord should not bewray to us, what poison lurks in us, we should think that he did himself great wrong in cutting many short of their desires, who might be like to do him service by enjoying them: whereas (alas) he knows that in so doing, he loseth no honour himself in so dealing with men, nay he hath much ado by such means to keep men from destruction, at least from deep dishonouring of him. But to return, it is most true, that if God did not deny much to vainglorious persons which they desire, they would never give him his due, but take it to themselves:
But to come yet more neere to that which is noted in the text, not onely men abuse Gods benefits other waies, but this one way also, that is, to vaineglorie, as it is said, that this people here mentioned would haue done: and therefore the holy story addeth it as a reason why the Lord would not haue so many goe to the battell, least they should say, that they had preuailed by their owne might, and so should haue taken Gods honour to themselues. And by this wee learne, why God denieth, and doth not giue vs in our attempts, many, great, or any meanes at all sometime, and if he doe, yet not with any good successe, or at least, not as hee is wont to doe, (although to mans reason there bee likelihood enough, yea very great) because if he should, man would snatch the glorie from him to himselfe. As Nabuchadnezzar did when he said: This is great Babel that I haue built: Zenacherib that