Eli clearely understood It is the Lord said he what seemes him good Now let him do against both me and mine Against his sentence I will not repine What SAMUEL said to ELI more or lesse Upon ELI it shortly came to passe Then it was showne clearly by th' Eternel That Samuel was for to judge Israel The proud Philistins in his time came out Against Isra'l he put them to the rout He cri'd to God and God by thunder heard The Philistins under their feet he troad To shew his thanks to tell what God had done In the same place he wisely set a stone A stone of help for to declare Gods fame Eben-Ezer in Hebrew was its name In his old age when he was full of dayes His bribing sons did not walk in his wayes Then all the people greeved with this thing Cri'd with one voice Now let us have a King For now Samuel is old and full of dayes His bribidg sons doe not walk in his wayes Then God directed SAMUEL how to say That Isra'l had rejected God that day Go to go to hearken unto their voice Give them a King according to their choice Be plaine with them and hide from them nâ— thing Shew them clearely the manner of the King To war to till to reape in every point Of hard service your sons he will appoint Of your daughters who walk with lofty lookâ— He will make Bakeâ—s and vile sluttish cooks Your fields and yards which are the most pleâ—sant He will take and give to his owne servants The tenth of your sheep and seed he will crave Your stout young men to his worke will hee have In all this bondage ye shall howl and say Alas but God shall not you hear that day But all this speach to them no change could bring No not said they but we will have a King As this people rebelliously would have A King so GOD a King unto them gave When this was done Samuel did testifie Before all ISRA'L his integritie Now I am old said he see my gray head I have been with you from my young childhood Now heere I am I gladly do accord Witnesse against me heere before the LORD Be plaine I pray you and now hide no thing For heere we are in presence of the King Whose Oxe whose Asse have I by wrong possessed By violence whom have I once oppressed What bribe tooke I therewith to blinde mine eye If it be so now let you testifie Then said they all as they well understood We know nothing in thee but what is good No man we know hath beene opprest by thee No bribe was able for to blinde thine eye God be witnesse said he and understand That now ye have not found ought in mine hand After this said he did them terrifie With fearfull thunders piercing through the skie The people then to him quakeing did say We have sinned to JOVAH for us pray Fear not said he but comfort to you take For his people the LORD will not forsake If ye cry to him he will hear your voice For he of you hath onely made his choice As for me I will not leave off to pray For you I will al 's teach you the good way Onely take heed and serve the Lord with fear So ye his goodnesse shall both see and hear But if ye carelesse do the wicked thing Ye shall be consum'd both ye and your king After SAMUEL though he was old and gray The proud King Agag in Gilgal did slay He was a man faithfull in every point Before his death two Kings he did anoint The Use Let Judges learne by Samuels historie To take good heed that no bribe blinde their eye THE GARDEN OF ZION The Kings SAUL Seeking THis Son of KIS from seeking hath his name His life with vice he stain'd his end with shame When he began his calling was but base Before his Crowne he sought his fathers Asse When at the first from the stuffe he came out Then the people with their voice made a shout The wordes they said in their lovely shouting Were that the Lord would safely keep the King About this time Nahash the Ammonite Against Jabesh made war with great despite Then Iabesh said Spare us and let us be A Covenant we will now make with thee But cruell Nahash burning in a rage By no fair words could his great wrath asswage No friends no friends said he now will we be Except we first now thrust out your right eye Seven dayes they sought an answere for to give They sent to Saul that he might them relieve Then Saul armed with companies out three Threw Ammon downe with a great victorie Saul by this valour was confirmed King Then all the people desir'd him to reigne When he was King even in his second yeere The Philistines with forces did appeare They of Charets strong thirtie thousand were Six thousand foot also prepar'd for war But Israel which was cause of great fear Disarmed was without both Sword and Spear The Philistines triumphing them above Did craftily from them all Smiths remove Yet for the Forks Axe Coulters Goads this while To sharpen them the Hebrews had a file When Saul this saw he greatly was afraid In caves and rocks the people did them hide Then Saul in fear not waiting on Samuel The seventh day off'red to GOD in Gilgal Then Samuel angry with his foolish haste Made both his eares to tingle with this blast Thou hast rebell'd thou hast done foolishlie Thy Kingdome no more shall abide with thee Then Jonathan went after secretly Between Bozez and Seneh two rocks hie To his servant he said Let us pursue God can us save by many or by few Before we go by this we will them try If while they see us they shall say Tary Then will we stand but if their words be so Come up to us untill them will we go They said Come up and that by way of mock WheÌ„ this was heard they both did climb the rock In that conflict with Philistins children Stout Jonathan did there slay twentie men Terrours from GOD his foes hearts made to shake All th' Hoast trembled the very earth did quake The LORD in armes glist'ring did fight that day He made his foes like snow to melt away The LORD of Hoasts by his great power and might Made these his foes one ' gainst another fight When th' Isralits of this mercy heard tell From holes and bores they rushed to Battell These who before for fear themselves did hide Stoutly their foes did beat both back and side They fought like Lions but anone a jar A fasting oath the victory did mar They durst not eat and therefore faint and few They could not throughly their strong foes pursue While Isra'l thus did faint for fault of meat Jonathan of a hony comb did eat Assoone as he had taste of that honie His sprite reviv'd enlightned was his eye What he did then it was by ignorance For he knew
they come death shall close up thine eyes â—â—ter these men heard such words of comfort â—ey to the King the message did report Then Josiah with the men of Judah â—ent up unto the house of great Jovah â—th him there were the Priests and Prophets all â—ere al 's the people were both great and small 〈◊〉 them he read the Lords booke ev'ry word â—ich had been found in the house of the Lord â—n this good King who Gods word understood 〈◊〉 serve the Lord hard by a pillar stood 〈◊〉 with the people all with one accord â—d make a Covenant there before the Lord Gods presence all ill wayes they forsooke â—â—lling to doe according to that Book Then the King in the name of great Jovah â—mmanded soone the high Priest Hilkijah â—â—th other keepers whether great or small â—ring quickly the vessels made for Ba'l 〈◊〉 for the grove out of Gods Temple faire That he GODS house might cleanse and alâ— paire When this was done in the field of Kidron He in great zeal there them did burne each onâ— And to fulfull the word of th'Eternell The ashes he did carry to Bethel Vile Priests there were who with idolatrie Defiled had both Temple and Citie To Sunne Moone Planets and al 's to Baal They sacrificed and to Heavens host all These vile men he desiring God to please In his great zeal put downe and made to ceâ—â— The grove also which was idolatrous The King with speed brought out from the Lâ—â— house At Kidron he it burnt and stamped small To small powder and cast that powder all Upon the graves of these who foolishly Had beene defiled with idolatrie The Sodomiteâ— far from Gods house he drâ—â— And these who did weave hangings for the gâ—â— He with the rest Topheth defil'd anone Which was in the vile valley of Hinnon So that no man thereafter durst aspire To make his Son for Molech passe the fire Thus he persisting as he had begun Tooke the horses which were given to the Suâ—â— By Kings of Judah which made Priests to mourn The Suns Charets he in a fire did burne He did beat down and break most speedily The Altars which in vile idolatie Manasseh Ahaz when they God forsooke Did build the dust thereof in the base Brooke Of Kidron he did cast High places vile â—or Ashtoreth Chemosh Milcome defile â—e did That bad Abomination â—ard at mount Olives mount of corruption Which Solomon did build in Israel Whereby he much provocked th'Eternell â—as by Josiah destroy'd speedily â—ch was his zeal for the great Gods glory This good King al 's the images brake then â—e cut the groves and with the bones of men â—â—e places fill'd the Altar at Bethel 〈◊〉 Jeroboam made who mov'd Isra'l 〈◊〉 sin he brake downe it to dust he drove â—â—d stampt it small and also burnt the grove The King turning him self at last did spy â—vers Sepulchers wherein dead did ly â—ke up these bones said he in his great ire â—â—on this Altar burn them all with fire â—w do for God who doth my crowne uphold â—â— this long since by God hath beene foretold Then said the King come now and tell to me What title is among the graves I see The men of that city said to the King Heere lyes the Prophet which message did bâ—â— That great Jovah the God of Israel Should do such things to th' Altar of Bethel Then said the King this man whom GOD love Let him alone see no man his bones move Likewise this Prince sent from the great VAH Reform'd the cities of Samariah Their Priests he slew with his sword in his irâ—â— And on their Altars their bones burnt with firâ—â— Then King and people all with one accorâ—â— A great Passeover did keep to the Lord The like whereof before had never bene Among the Kings or yet the Judges sene Yet more the workers with familiar sprits With wizards idols and all idle rits He spied out and wholly put away Thus he Gods house reform'd without delayâ— Unto the Lord this King just and upright With all his heart with all his soul and mighâ— Turned himselfe in great zeal more and morâ— He had no match after or yet before But oh alas the great wrath of Jovah Could not be turn'd from the sins of Judah Manasses sins both cruel and unkind â—ld not go out of great Jehovahs minde 〈◊〉 will said God withdraw now my great love â—m all Judah them now I will remove 〈◊〉 of my sight as I did t' Israel Salem al 's like judgements I will tell 〈◊〉 wrath ' gainst it here plainly I declare â—ugh I had said my name shall ay be there â—hen good Josiah King after all this â—ne with his men to fight at Carchemish â—inst Necho of Egypt land the King â—o did with him a mighty armie bring â—ho to him Embasadors did send â—ell him that he came not for this end â—hurt Josiah either neere or far 〈◊〉 others at whom he intended war â—d hath him sent therefore now let him passe 〈◊〉 afterward thou smart for thy trespasse â—hou Necho in this Gods warre annoy Lord is with him who shall thee destroy â—ut for all this Josiah with Necho â—olv'd to fight him neere to Megiddo â—n he disguised came to that Battell Archers shot and there Josiah fell â—n said the King sore wounded I this day Battell am have me therfore away â—â—e desir'd so they this wounded King From the battell unto Salem did bring In a Charet There this good man he died There he also was with his fathers buried After his death all these that did sojourne In Judah did for him lament and mourne Yea for his death the Prophet Jeremie With words of greefe lamented bitterlie The Use Behold O Kings who minde to please Jovaâ— Of zeale a patterne was this good Josiah This man by halfes did not idolatrie Reforme but purged all most perfectly High places groaves images idols vaine Hill Altars he did cut break and disdaine 16. JEHOACHAZ The possession of God JEhoachaz Son of good Josiah Was after him crowned King of Judah He fear'd not God he in Jehovahs sight Follow'd the trace of wayes that were not râ— Him Phar'oh Necho King of Egypt land Tooke and with fetters strong at Riblah band Wee yeeres of age he was and al 's twentie â—en he was crown'd and reign'd but moneths three The Use Kings here learn not in their sinnes to sport â—angers God who cuts their honours short 17 ELIAKIM called also JEHOJAKIM GOD ariseing â—Fter that Necho King of Egypt land Deposed had by strong and mighty hand â—oachaz he sent for Eliakim â—ose name he chang'd into Jehojakim â—s was the second son of Josiah â—o by Necho was made King of Judah 〈◊〉 age this King was eighteene yeeres and seven â—â—en he began he reigned but eleven 〈◊〉 fear'd not God he in JEHOVAHS sight â—low'd the trace of wayes that were not right â—n his dayes Nebuchanezzar the King 〈◊〉 Babylon Jehojakim did bring â—o
me a man of noble fame Most angel-like he told me not his name He said unto me when he did appear Behold a son thou shalt conceive and bear No rasor shall at all come on his head For he shall be a Nazarite indeed LORD said Manoah Let the man of GOD Now come and tell us what with this young lad We have to do for we are ignorant That we may follow thy commandement The LORD him heard the Angel came anone And told them both all that was to be done Then Man'oah said I pray thee now tary Till we in haste prepare a kid for thee I am a sprite said he I eat no bread With sacrifice unto the LORD proceed What is thy name said Manoah tell me It is secret said he now let it be When he heard thus the Angel him forbid A meat-offring he offred for a kid Unto the LORD as the sacred story Tels us the Angel did most wondrously Behold th'angel who had the secret name Of the offring ascended in the flame Alas said he unto his worthy wife We have seen GOD we shall both losse the life No not said she we need not for to fear Because GODS Angel to us did appear If to kill us this had been his earand He had disdain'd the offring in our hand Then young Samson the Sprite of GOD began At times to move in the great camp of Dan At last he did require a Philistine For wife which he at Timnah had new seen His parents to this could not well accord For they knew not that it was of the LORD While he to Timnah went a beast did roar As though he would the young Samson devore But he anone him pulling by the beard Rent him as though he would have rent a kid The LORD did this who made the sea and land For young Samson had nothing in his hand Returning after to his wife he sees In the dead Lion a fair swarm of bees The honey comb most sweet he took to eat For this to him in mister was for meat When Philistines his feast began to taste Then he this riddle did propone in haste Out of the eater said he came there meat Out of the strong came that which was most sweet Seven dayes they had at this riddle to guesse But the meaning thereof could not expresse With furie great they were puft up in rage Because they saw they were to losse their pledge Of thirtie shirts and thirtie garments dear These great charges they had not will to bear Then said they all unto strong Samsons wife If we these cloaths losse thou shalt losse the life Entise him soone the doubt try by request Why should we losse so much at his fair feast Then did she presse him by day and by night Untill he had declar'd his riddle right Then said these men in words not to be long Sweet is the honey and the lion strong Then said he With my heifer have ye plow'd Who hath unto you my dark riddle shew'd Then GODS good Sprite this strong man came upon Who in his strength went down to Askelon Thirty Philistins he kild in that place Whose garments pay'd for his riddels disgrace Then his fair wife her father took him fro And gave her to his friend who was his fo Then he bethinking how he might revenge This wrong he did three hundred foxes range Knut tail to tail with a burning fire-brand Which did consume the cornes upon the land When all was known the Philistins in ire Burnt the Timnite and Samsons wife with fire This is no mends yet aveng'd will I be Said Samson I will smite them hip and thigh The Philistins who did like lions ramp In JUDAH LEHI soon did pitch their camp What means this war to them Judah did say To binde Samson with ropes and thongs said they Then of Judah went three thousand anone To Etams top where was the strong Samson To him they said What hast thou brought to passe We all will smart for this thy great trespasse To these men I have done no wrong said he I did to them as they have done to me We will thee binde said they with cords and bands After we will put thee into their hands Swear to me said he by GOD that made all That ye your selves will not upon me fall Truely said they thy blood we must not spill Thou needs not fear that Judahs men thee kill But unto this we with one voice accord To binde thine hands fast with these two new coar◠Then when his foes saw him bound at Lehi For joy they cry'd and shouted mightily Upon him then came a Sprite from the LORD With great power hee brake both bands and coards When he himself did thus shake in his ire His bands became like flaxe burnt in the fire When GOD had this great work thus brought to passe Strong Samson found the jaw-bone of an asse No sword he had no other weapons then With that asse-bone he slew a thousand men After this battel sore troubled with thirst Upon his eyes he felt of death the mist Thou hast me helped greatly LORD said he Oh suffer not me now for thirst to die Then GOD did cleave of the jaw the hollow From this bone soone great waters out did flow Because that bone by GOD was made a Well Samson that place Enhakore did call The Word signifieth the Well of him that called or cryed SAMSON in Gaza went to an harlot His foes it heard and they in anger hote Laid wait for him in their great strength might Resolv'd they were to kill him in that night But he the gates of their Gaza did take With the two posts and barre upon his back He thence them cari'd to fair Hebron hill Thus the Gazits could not strong Samson kill Againe Samson in Sorek land did love Delilah fair who dayly would him move With her fair words decit and flattery To tell wherein his greatest strength did ly First wit hs then coards then with the web and 〈◊〉 To her such answers thus he did begin But at the last for which he suffred smart He unto her revealed all his heart A Nazarite said he from my youth-head I have been no rasor upon mine head Hath come If any cut mine hair from me Like other men I surely weak shall be When she saw that Samson had thus reveal'd That which from her he had so long conceal'd The Philistins she spake and cald apart Come now said she for I know all his heart Then these proud lords came up in a great band And brought to her much money in their hand Then she him made upon her knees to sleep And from his head his seven locks she did swee◠Up up said she arise Samson quickly Behold the strong Philistins be on thee I will arise said Samson and me shake As heretofore of strength I have no lake But Oh Samson this did not understand That GOD the LORD had left him
But God to Nathan the next night did tell That in an house as yet he would not dwell But afterward should come a man of fame Who richly should build an house for his name A son of David whom he would correct If he should sin but not as Saul reject When David heard Nathan from God thus say With heart and harp he did both praise and pray After this done by an courage divine He boldly went and smote the Philistine From them he tooke Metheg and al 's Ammah For with him then was the great JEHOVAH After he had subdued the Philistine He smote Moab and measur'd with a line He after that smote the King of Zobah Being assisted by the great JOVAH After he strong routed the Syrian hoast Who came against him with great brags and boast King Toi hearing of his courage divine Sent to him Joram with a rich propine At last he did consecrate to the Lord Both spoile and presents conquer'd by his sword To Mephibosheth in his great distresse For Jonathan he shew him great kindnesse After all this his servants courtesly He sent to Hanun comforters to be For Nahash death but that fool could not spâ— He cut their coats and made their buttocks bare This al 's he did more for a greater scoff Of all their beards the half he shaved off These men for shame could not lift up their facâ— But on David redounded the disgrace When King Hanun did ponder well and thinkâ— He said this fact in Davids nose doth stinke Before he know we will make an armie To overthrow both him and his partie But David wise did to his captains tell That all should be prepar'd for the Battell That day JEHOVAH who is most mighty Gave unto David a great victory Both Syria and Ammon with their might That day by Isra'l were put to the flight David as yet remaining in his rage ' Gainst Ammon their towne Rabbah did besieâ— He sent Joab unto it for captaine But he himself in great ease did remaine At faire Salem while he did there abide It came to passe about the evening tide He rose from bed and to the roofe he went Where he forgot the Lords commandement With foolish heart and with a rolling eye He did perceive Bathshebahs great beautie Goe to said he you woman to me bring Make haste for what 's unlawfull for a King While David thus burning in lust did say Some vile servant was ready to obey She brought to bed by the King was defil'd Anone after she found her self with child Then in all haste she sent unto the King To see how he might wisely hide that thing Behold thought David a scandale and blot Will soone break foorth except I cloake this spot I see no way to hide from all the land This secret sin but by her own husband If he come home and once but with her ly My sin is hid hence no man shall it try Some servant goe tell to Joab quicklie That he in haste send Uriah to me Then Joab soone him sent when he was come With fair sweet words David made him welcome How Joab did at him he did inquire If all did goe after their hearts desire Then David said I thinke it now most meet Thou goe to thy house and there wash thy feet But these faire words the man not caring for Abode without and sleept at the Kings doore After that David to Usiah said Man with thy wife why didst thou not abide Uriah said The Arke and Israel Joab and Judah right well I can tell Abide in tents during this time of strife And should I now goe to sport with my wife I will not goe as thou livest O King I will not go I will not do such thing When David heard this he found out a wile With drunkenesse Uriah to beguile That being drunk the war he might forget And so go to his wife without all let But God above this thing did so provide At the Kings doore this man did still abide When David saw that for ought he could say To touch his wife this poore man did delay Then wickedly to thinke he did begin How by his blood he might then cloake his sin Bring pen and inke said he to me right soone When he is dead who shall know what is done His strange letter to Joab this did tell Set this man in the front of the Battell When at skirmish in danger ye him see Retire with speed that he may surely die This David wrot He wanting Gods true fear Made Uriah his death with him to bear Then Captaine Joab too too ready bent To pleasure Kings in their commandement Tooke this poor man with cruell craft and slight And set him where most valiant foes did fight Where men of Rabbah fiercely to Battell Came there they fought and there Uriah fell When David heard this he said All is well My secret sin no man shall now reveale After Bathshebah by mutuall accord Became his wife which displeased the Lord. Then God to him his Prophet Nathan sen To let him know that God was miscontent By parable he did himselfe expresse A holy wile to make David confesse His filthie fact and for it sore to weepe Who whole nine months in his vile sin did sleep Then said Nathan there was in one city Two men the one in richesse was mighty The other poore the rich upon his ground Had herds and flocks wherein he did abound But the poore man save an ewe lamb had nought Which he in strait with his poore meanes had bought And nourished with diligence indeed With his children he dayly did it feed Of his owne cup it dranke and of his meat Such as he had it welcome was to eat Yea in his bosome sweetly it did lye And was to him as daughter by and by But O behold unto the rich mans Inne A traveiler came to abide therein The naughty rich man his flocks for to spare Caught the poor lamb it kil'd for to prepare Meat for that man for him it he did dresse What think ye Sir should he not this redresse Then Davids wrath raging against the man Sore kindled was he said unto Nathan As God liveth who liveth most surely That beastly wretch for that vile fact shall die And unto that yet I will adde this more The Lamb fourefold he shall quickly restore This I ordaine no man it shall repeale It seemely is that Kings for God have zeale Then unto David said Prophet Nathan Even thou thy self O King thou art the man Thou wouldst for God seem to have zeal and love Thou hast done that which heere thou dost reprove Thus saith the Lord the God of Israel I unto thee this hard message will tell Ov'r Isra'l King I made thee for to be Out of Sauls hands I safe deliv'red thee Thy Masters house with thy Masters Kingdome I gave to thee his wives in thy bosome I made to lye yea I most liberallie Both Isra'ls