A10933:941
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 specially to apply this: As the odds between the faint-hearted and valiant soldiers was great, even three to one: and yet all went about the service of God in outward show: so great disproportion there is (among such as worship God) between the lukewarm or indifferent sort of Christians, and the fervent, hearty, and zealous worshippers. Indeed God 1doth not enable nor allow us to sever the one from the other (so that we may determine how far the number of the one exceeds the other) as here he did Gideon: but woeful proof betrayeth no less then I have said. And yet he that dismissed these white-livered soldiers from the army of Gideon, and only accepted the service of these three hundred, whom he fitted for the purpose with faith and resolution; will also exclude all hollow-hearted, lukewarm, and temporizing Christians from having a part among such as ⟨p. 353⟩he will honour, so far as that he will not be honoured by them. I mean not that all Christians should be martial men, and fit for the field: but as Gods work is divers, so a divers kind of spirit he requireth in them that do it: in Gideons men, courage and might; in Christians, fervency and resolution to walk with God. For though we have no Midianites to fight withal: yet we have worse enemies, both within us and without: and therefore have need of spiritual magnanimity to use spiritual weapons against them. And though we were not war-faring men, yet in that we be but wayfaring, (as all Christians are both) we had need of fervency and spirit. For he that in general commands, Rom. 12. Be fervent, or hot in spirit; commands 2the same in prayer, Jam. 5. saying, be fervent therein; likewise in hearing, Be swift to hear: telling us that the violent snatch the kingdom to them, &c. and the like affection also we must have in all duties. Though in deed when dangers and troubles befall men for their profession, then is a special occasion offered of expressing what courage is in them: but if we nourish not that grace daily in other duties, how shall it be at hand when we have greatest need of it?