A10944:219
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.
Quest. If ye ask, why God suffered them to come thus far, as to accuse and find fault with themselves, if they be never the better, nor nearer salvation?
Quest. If yee aske, why God suffered them to come thus far, as to accuse and finde fault with themselues, if they bee neuer the better, nor neerer saluation?
Answ. I answer, there are many causes,1 why God doth bring them thus far, as to confess against themselves, though they be never the better for it. One is in respect of his faithful people,2 that while he holdeth the wicked under the cross,3 the faithful may have more freedom and liberty to serve him; as the people of Israel had, while Pharaoh was plagued. For, as many breaches in the sea banks, may be repaired while the sea goeth away: and much corn in the inconstant weather, may be reaped by the husbandman, while the day is fair and clear: so the godly may edify, and build up themselves in faith, fear and the knowledge of God, while ⟨p. 290⟩he putteth his hook in the nostrils of the wicked, and bridles them from rage, by such a forcing of them to confess it to be good and holy to live so: and themselves to be held under, with fear of Gods judgements, is a righteous thing in the sight of God, and the godly are more encouraged thereto, when they hear the way of godliness to be commended by them, who were wont to speak evil of it, & to persecute those, which were the zealousest embracers of it: As, who doth not know what an emboldening it was, to the poor Disciples at Damascus, and round about it, when they heard that Saul their Archenemy, who brought letters ⟨p. 291⟩from the high Priests to imprison them, was constrained by the mighty power of God, to renounce and cry out of his doing, and to confess his cruelty against the Saints, and to justify them; yea, when it was not known to them, that he had repented; neither durst they, as yet, trust to him, that he was truly converted.