A10944:211
Samuel's encounter with Saul. I Sam. chap. 15 from ver. 13 to ver. 30.…Samuels encounter with Saul. I Sam. chap. 15 from ver. 13 to ver. 30.…
Samuel's encounter with Saul. I Sam. chap. 15 from ver. 13 to ver. 30. Preached and penned, by that worthy servant of God, Mr. Richard Rogers, late preacher of Wetherfield, in Essex. And published word for word, according to this own copy, finished before his deathSamuels encounter with Saul. I Sam. chap. 15 from ver. 13 to ver. 30. Preached and penned, by that worthy seruant of God, Mr. Richard Rogers, late preacher of Wetherfield, in Essex. And published word for word, according to this owne coppy, finished before his death
London: printed by Edw. Griffin for Samuel Man, 1620London: printed by Edw. Grifin for Samuel Man, 1620
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.
For, lest he should have laid too great fault on himself, in confessing his sin, therefore saying, I have sinned: therefore he said,1 I was afraid, if I had not yielded to them, contrary to Gods Commandment, to ⟨p. 274⟩save alive the best of the cattle, that they would have rebelled and have risen up against me. Lo, this was the bladder without wind, and cloud without water, which appeared in Saul, when he was at the best, I mean, brought to confess his sin, which was nothing but a lie, and a coloured excuse. For, the Lord by the Prophet, in the 19 verse, convinced him of a covetous mind and disobedient, that he himself turned to the prey. So, that as he was hardly brought thus far, as to confess his sin, so yet when he did it, it was for fear of losing his Kingdom: yet, even this (which seemed good in him) was corrupt and naught: for besides that, he ⟨p. 275⟩bewrayed so much himself, as I have said, by excusing his fact, so doth the Spirit of God by Samuel, bewray the same in the next verse, where he plainly showeth, that he did not accept, nor allow of it. What shall we say then, if it be thus?2 Truly this: that it is an hard thing for an hypocrite, to leave and forgo his trade of dissembling, even as it was for Demetrius, 3to forgo his wicked gain; and for the Blackmore to change his skin, by washing; which, though it be true of all sins leaning to manward; yet somewhat more it may be said of the hypocrite, then of other sinners: For an open offender (as Paul and the Jailer were) when he is pricked in conscience, ⟨p. 276⟩and troubled in mind, shall much easilier be persuaded, that it is in truth, and shall be forgiven then the hypocrite shall: not that I stint or restrain the work of the Spirit, that it cannot be as effectual in one, as in another: but God so disposeth ordinarily, that the hypocrite having sinned more grossly and grievously, shall be harderly able to apply, and be persuaded of Gods promises, then other sinners; though they be in a like manner delivered to them both. Ordinarily, I say (though God may, when it pleaseth him, do otherwise) but he shall long (for the most part) be under the doctrine, before he shall resolve of his uprightness.