A10933:998
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.
This kind of astonishing the enemies by Gideon, who was directed by God therein is worthy to be noted of us: to teach us, what kinds of terrors and vexings of a rebellious people the Lord hath in a readiness to fear them, yea and that when men think themselves best fenced against them, out of fear of them, and furthest off from falling into them. Zimri and Cosbi were slain suddenly and fearfully: Chorah and his company were 1swallowed up of the earth, when no likelihood could be seen thereof, till it 2came. The men of Ziklag wallowing like beasts on the ground drunken, were slain by David when they looked not for it. Abimilek by a piece of 3a millstone received his deadly wound, and Absalom hanged by the hair of 4his head on an oak. Thus I might go on infinitely. God hath many ways to scourge his enemies, as he hath to deliver and comfort his people, There is no peace to the ungodly, saith God. Oh then how fearful is it to be a wicked man? for if Gods anger be kindled but a little, how happy are all they that 5fear him? for if he have a controversy with men, and be against them, oh 6what terrors are every while like to fall on them, till they be confounded ⟨p. 373⟩of them? Some will object, that for all this, many wicked persons walk securely, and are as merry and void of fears, as the best of them all. I answer, first although God meets them not with such bodily fears as here he amazed these heathens withal, yet there is that within them commonly, which even in the middest of their merriments causeth their hearts to be heavy, and presage no good unto them at length. This I say of such as are not hardened. And who can express the bitter sorrows and checks and fears which they feel, who carry an ill conscience about them? which pursues them both sleeping and waking, and not at Church only, but even in their callings, companies, feastings, pleasures, when others think full little of it, and themselves wish they could make truce for the while therewith, that it might then be furthest off. So that a poor Christian would not willingly change states with them, to have their greatest glory, except he might be free from their troubled conscience: which is like to the hand-writing upon the wall of that woeful Belshazzar. And this is their portion, even tempest,