A10933:964
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.
Th• sending him to the camp of the Midianites so nakedly and unfurnished, what could it promise in likelihood and outward show, but deadly danger? But hear the rest of Gods words to him; Thou shalt (saith he) hear what they say, and thou shalt be confirmed thereby, and after thou shalt go into the host of the Midianites and fear and dismay them, till they be vanquished. By this we see, that we have great cause to beware, 1that we take not some part of Gods word, and leave the other, lest we deprive our selves utterly of the whole, and all benefit thereof: as Gideon (we see) had done, if he had taken one part of Gods speech to him, and left the other. And this thing is too commonly offended in, not only by subtle Sophisters, whose sin is the greater, because they sin of knowledge, but also by weak Christians: who through fear and want of experience, do draw against themselves the threats and commandments to wound them, but the promises of God (which by his own appointment are set down to their comfort properly) those (they say) belong not to them. So what a corrosive were it to a Christian, if hearing this, that, All who will live holily in Christ Jesus, must suffer affliction, &c. he should go away (as he in the Gospel) heavy and sad, saying: This is an hard saying, who then shall be saved? 2But God be thanked if the promises be added to the charge, the heart will be well eased, and the burden in great part allayed. And doubtless the devil himself would wish a Christian no greater mischief, then he causeth to himself by this separating of those things which God hath joined together. But of this point read more in the former chapter in Gideons reply to the Angel. And there is as great cause that we take heed of separating the word of judgement and punishment from the word of precept and commandment, as the promise: for as this causeth men to stumble where they need not, and plungeth them into fear and deadly despair, so the other strengthens them as much in their boldness to offend. As we see Eve, by disjoining the punishment threatened upon her eating the fruit, was the more provoked to attempt the sin. Genes. 3.3
Th• sending him to the campe of the Midianites so nakedly and vnfurnished, what could it promise in likelihood and outward shew, but deadly danger? But heare the rest of Gods words to him; Thou shalt (saith hee) heare what they say, and thou shalt be confirmed thereby, and after thou shalt goe into the hoast of the Midianites and feare and dismay them, till they be vanquished. By this wee see, that wee haue great cause to beware,