Commentary on Judges, Title page – Dedication
A COMMENTARY VPONUPON THE WHOLE BOOKE OF IVDGES.
PREACHED FIRST AND DELIVERED IN SVNDRIE LECTVRES; 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.
HEBR. 12. 1.
Wherefore ſeeing we are compaſſed with ſo great a cloud of witneſſes, let vsus cast off eueryevery thing that preſſeth downe, &c.
Whatſoeuer is written, was written for our inſtruction, that wee through conſolation of the Scriptures might hauehave hope.
BY WISDOM PEACE BY PEACE PLENTY.
LONDON, Imprinted by FELIX KYNGSTON for Thomas Man, and are to be ſold at his ſhop in Pater-noſter Row, at the ſigne of the Talbot. 1615.
TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE, SIR EDVVARD COKE KNIGHT, LORD chiefe Iuſtice of England, and one of his Maieſties moſt Honorable priuie Counſel: R. R. wiſheth all bleſsing internall, externall, and eternall, from God our Father through Chriſt Ieſus.
RIght Honourable, as it hath alway befallen the beſt both Diuine and Humane lawes to be peruerted by common profanenes and lewd cuſtome: ſo may it be verified in all other things of like precious nature, that they could neuer eſcape the taint of humane errour and abuſe. Witneſſe the inſtitution of the holy feaſt of Shiloh mentioned in this booke: which though firſt was chiefly vſed as a memoriall of Gods benefits, yet in proceſſe of time grew to extreme abuſe, and gaue occaſion to the vnlawful ſtealing of the virgins in their dances. Nay, witneſſe euen this approueable cuſtome of Dedicating bookes: which though it hath been long taken vp and continued for good and reſpectiue reaſons: yet hath it been of old the practiſe of heretikes, and ſtill is of vnworthy writers to conueigh the poiſon of their books into the inferiour ſort, by ſtiling and gracing them with the names of remarkable perſonages.
Religion and Chriſtianitie, the miniſterie of the Word, and the Profeſſion thereof, are things in name and nature, of the higheſt value: howbeit, as the faireſt apple to the worme, ſo are theſe expoſed to the treble corruption of error, infidelitie, and hypocriſie. Semblably, the writings of Diuine argument (whether vponupon Scripture, as this, or Treatiſes conſonant thereto) are of ſingular vſe in the Church: yet neuer free from the malignitie of ſome men. Eſpecially ſuch as who either out of their curioſitie can endure nothing which clawes not their leprous humor: or through their careleſnes, profeſſe either to meddle with no mans writings at all, or without putting difference to embrace good and bad with equall affection.
For the two former of theſe three, (I meane the vngratiouſly nice, and the graceleſly ſenſuall:) this I muſt ſay, that ſince the Scriptures themſelues (the moſt ſolemne of all other both for matter and ſtile) cannot relliſh with them: I deſpaire that my writings ſhould procure their appetite. Yea peraduenture this worke of mine will diſpleaſe their daintie eyes and fingers, by the very bignes, and ſo preiudice their further handling. Theſe therfore (if their diſeaſe be incorrigible) I profeſſe not myſelfe a cooke, for to dreſſe their diet; but rather leaue them to feede vponupon the chalke and morter of their vnſauourie Pamphlets, while others nouriſh their minds with more wholeſome meate: and ſend them to the trough and akornes, ſince they refuſe Angels food. For the latter ſort, (ſince there is more hope to correct their error, then the others vice) I pray to God, that with their generall willingnes to reade, he would giuegive them an vnderſtanding heart, to diſcerne aright of things that differ: that the holy eye of their iudgement may be, like a Muſicall eare in the diſtinguiſhing of ſounds, and like the fining pot of the Goldſmith, in ſeuering the gold from droſſe, or his touchſtone in diſcouering of mettals. Alſo my hope is, that ſuch as buy new bookes of all ſorts, may happily light vponupon this, among others: which if they ſhall doe, I wiſh them no worſe, then that the gaine they reape, and the taſte they get from this, may diſgrace and diſtaſte with them, all fruitleſſe and offenſiue authors.
Pardon me (right Honourable) if I hauehave been ouer bold, in aduenturing to publiſh theſe poore labours, and thruſt them vnderunder your patronage. I hauehave not ſiniſterly aimed at the Poets marke, who wiſheth all writers, to ſet a gloſſe vponupon their worke foreign. Pind.by a glorious entrance: But partly to ſhroud myſelfe in God vnderunder your authoritie, againſt the tempeſt and violence of all vniuſt cenſurers (ſuch as I named before:) and partly (yet chiefly) to commend the diligent peruſall of this booke to all religious or indifferent Readers, by your Honours example: perſwading myſelfe, that you will not more willingly become patrone to the writer, then a patterne of the things contained in the writing itſelfe. And, as by Gods ordinance, the oyle of Conſecration was firſt powred vponupon the head of Aaron, yet Pſal. 133. 2.ſtaied not there, but ranne downe thence vponupon his beard, and to the nethermoſt skirts of his clothing: ſo, I iudged this order no whit prepoſterous, if firſt I preſumed to powre this oyle (fetcht out of the Lords Tabernacle) vponupon your Honours head: that ſo from you (as the ſweet ſhowres trickling downe from the hill to the valley) the fragrancie and fruite hereof might deſcend lower vntounto meaner perſons.
Among ſundrie other bookes of holy writ, which, in the courſe of my Miniſterie, theſe fourtie yeeres paſt, God hath aſſiſted me to explane and go through with my Audience; I hauehave (for ſome cauſes) choſen this, to leaue as a poore pledge and memoriall to Gods Church of my fidelitie, paines, and louelove. And, though I reſpected alſo the good and requeſt of my owne Congregation herein, into whoſe hearts I deſire doubly to faſten the naile of wholeſome inſtruction (which ſoone ſlippeth out): yet ſeeing my time is ſhort, and my voyce cannot reach beyond her vſuall limits, I hauehave endeuoured with my pen to draw a long and a weariſome line, that the other defect might be ſupplied: looking vp to him for a requitall, who hath promiſed not to conceale the labour of our louelove.Heb. 6. 10.
I hauehave (Right Honourable) purpoſely altered the courſe of my writing, which formerly I hauehave vſed in my Treatiſe. As Eliſha the Prophet put his hands vponupon the King of Iſrael his 2 King 13 16.hand, when hee bad him ſhoote: ſo, when wee vndertake the handling of Scripture, the holy Ghoſt allowes vsus not to ſay all wee can inuent, but requires vsus to put our hands in his hands, and to applie our ſelues more ſtrictly vntounto his drift, then in Tractates of our owne, wherein generally our ſcope and libertie is more large. Yet as the text hath led me, I hauehave held myſelfe to theſe two markes: The one more generall to build vp the Chriſtian Reader in faith and good life: To the which end as I hauehave alreadie written a large Diſcourſe, (if it hauehave yet come to your Honours hands) containing grounds and directions for the more eaſie practiſing and growing in them both, ſo now in this I hauehave annexed liuely examples out of the Scriptures to illuſtrate thoſe precepts: the naturall repugnancie whereof to fleſh and blood might otherwiſe breake out into gainſaying the Art itſelfe and the practiſe thereof. The other, particular: to ſhew to the diligent Reader, what vſe the hiſtoricall examples of the old Teſtament (eſpecially) doe afford vsus: a matter in this our contemplatiue but cold age, little reſpected, and leſſe vnderſtood.
The which (ſuch as it is) I hauehave boldly preſented vntounto your Lordſhip vponupon a three-fold conſideration. The firſt this: God who hath made you a principall member in this great bodie of our land, both in gifts perſonall and publique, hath iuſtly proportioned a principall place of employment for you aboue others. Your complements of Nature, Art, Experience, he hath (I doubt not) accompliſhed with ſauing grace. Your pietie towards God, teſtified by your reuerend hearing his word, and reflecting itſelfe in louelove vponupon his Miniſterie: your ſage and well menaged gouernment of ciuill affaires: your learning bewraied by your iudicious and aſſiduous reading of Schollers bookes, and fauouring their authors: all theſe argue ſtrongly, that though Poperie, ignorance, iniuſtice and euill manners could well forgo you, yet the Church, the Commonwealth and literature could ill want you. And the ſame God who hath thus enriched you, hath crowned his gifts in you, ſo that while you liue, your Name is bleſſed, and at the end of this life, you ſhall not dye vndeſired▪ Why hath the Almightie thus graced you? Doubtleſſe not for yourſelfe onelyonly, but to this end, that as the Sunbeames drawing vp the ſweet vapours from the earth, ſuffer them to fall vponupon their thirſtie mother againe, with a doubly fruitfull influence: ſo Gods talents meaſured out largely vntounto you, might entirely returne their honour vntounto the giuer with ouerplus. The veſſell that is full, and runneth ouer, hath for itſelfe, and bedeweth the earth alſo which is neere it. And ſeeing the greateſt goodneſſe of the beſt creature cannot reach ſo high as God himſelfe: therefore hee expects that you drop it vponupon this lower region of Saints who Pſalme 16. 2.excell in vertue; yea vponupon his Church and Goſpell, (whereto he hath by letter of Attorney made ouer all ſuch debts) to the promoting and aduancing whereof, the aduantage of your Honour and authoritie (beſides your other gifts) is chiefly to be employed. GiueGive me leaue then (I beſeech) to improue that common intereſt, which our Mother the Church claimeth in you, for the vndertaking of this my writing. You are chiefe among the ſonnes of wiſedome, which is iustified of all her children.Matth. 11. 19.
Secondly, your Lordſhip knoweth well, that the Church and Common-wealth are friendly neighbours, each bordering vponupon other, both compaſt with one wall, and both yeelding Eadem ſunt Eccleſiae & Ciuitis moenia.mutuall aids & defences each to other. As outward peace could hardly be ſetled, except humane lawes enioyed the brotherly aſſiſtance of the ſpirituall ſword: (which is a law preſent when no other is, euen to the conſcience) So the miniſtery of the word ſhould not ſo much preuaile as it doth, (little though it do in compariſon) except the pleaſant dewes of Hermon did So Moller and others motralize that in Pſalm. 133. 3.refreſh the barren mountaines of Zion, I meane, except the ciuill ſword of iuſtice did backe and authorize the ſame againſt them, who profanely cōtemne the word, as the ſmartles ſtroke of a leaden edge. The due obſeruation whereof (right Honorable) hath cauſed me to offer you this gift, that ſo I (one of the meaneſt) might thankfully acknowledge in the behalfe of the foreign. Actes 24. 2.whole Church, that vnderunder his Maieſty ſhe hath obtained much quietneſſe through you, and that many things are worthily done to this nation by your prouidence, (as ſometime that euill man but not euill Orator ſaid to a perſon and in a caſe farre vnlike:) which I hauehave therefore vttered in your eare, not only for that your Honour is well able to digeſt your owne felicity foreign. Pind.and merit, but that I might exhort you to excell yourſelfe in time to come, and to bring forth moſt fruite in your age: remembring that it is as hard a thing to ſtand to the reparations of ſome houſe, as to build it out of the ground: and it hath euer biniuſtly queſtionable whether the purchaſe, or preſeruing of vertue be the more difficult. Sure it is that the Prologue and Scene of your life hitherto worthily carried, promiſe to the beholders a cloſe deſeruing rare applauſe.
Laſtly, your place and name ſeemed to claime this Dedication. The booke I write vponupon conteines the moſt famous hiſtory of the renowned Iudges of ancient Iſrael. And God hath ſet your Honour in the chiefe ſeat of iuſtice, euen made you (vnderunder his Maieſtie our higheſt Iudge) the principall Iudge in our Engliſh Iſrael. Beſides, the argument of the booke (if it pleaſe your Honour to take a view of it) doth as peculierly concerne you, the preſidents of theſe Worthies well deſeruing your imitation. As that Romane Captaine beholding the images of his victorious anceſtors, found himſelfe enflamed with earneſt zeale of equalling or ſurpaſſing them: ſo, I doubt not but the laying open of theſe Iewiſh Captaines in their liuely colours, will rauiſh your religious ſpirit, with the louelove and emulation of their graces. And here (ere I finiſh) ſuffer me to recommend vntounto your Honour, two of the moſt heroicall vertues in theſe Gouernours. The one, their inuincible courage, (the Epitome of a Chriſtian Magiſtrates worthines) though Ioſh. 1. 2.they liued in the moſt forlorne times, and diſſolute, wherein the Idolatries and iniquities of Iſrael, ſeemed to ſtriue with her captiuities and calamities, and whether man ſinning or God reuenging ſhould get the vpper hand. A manifeſt token of the immediate warrantiſe of theſe Iudges from heauen; enabling and encouraging them with ſo incredible fortitude and ſucceſſe. The other (laſt named, but in nature firſt) is their admirable faith: which as the Author to the Hebrwes could not Heb 11. throughout.ſilence in that thicke clowd of witneſſes, ſo thereby he importeth, that is generally the life whereby all Chriſtians liue; and Heb. 10. 37.eſpecially the fortreſſe, yea armour of proofe for the Magiſtrate. Not onelyonly the ſword of the Lord in the hands of Gedeon, Barak, Jphtah, and Samſon (mentioned in this booke) to fight with againſt their forreine enemies: but alſo a ſingular both offenſiue and defenſiue weapon, for your Honour firſt, and then for your inferiors in place of gouernment, againſt the inteſtine aduerſaries (no leſſe hurtfull) of God, his Goſpell, and our common peace. For this ſword ruſteth not, nor looſeth her edge with time. In the deſire of this happy bleſſing vponupon theſe my poore trauels, I moſt humbly recommend myſelfe and ſeruice to your Lordſhip, and your Honours perſon and weightie affaires to the protection and direction of the Almightie.
From my poore houſe at Wetherſfield in Eſſex. Ianuary 20. 1615. reſting Your Honours moſt humbly deuoted in the Lord, RICHARD ROGERS Miniſter of the Goſpell.