of glory hath taken away never to destroy his vines any more So let all thine enemies perish O Lord that when it goeth well with the righteous the Citie may rejoyce and when the wicked perish there may be shouting Prov. 11. 10. But fourthly In as much as when God chooseth to feed men with their owne delusion and to leave them under impenitency then they justifie themselves in the way of their errour and glory in their shame Mattan esteem'd it his renowne to die for his Altars and through the blindnesse of his judgement after the ransacking of his heart with his own dark lanthorne could find nothing that he had done with all his Baaliticall innovations that was contrary to the pure worship of God nor his conspiracy with Athaliah against the State nor any thing that he had done could proclaime him guiltie of that death that he suffer'd we may 1. Feare the judgement of an hardned heart for it can neither blush nor repent nor give glory to God by confessing sin but deliver up a man to the treasures of wrath 2. Let 's be carefull what foundations we lay for men live according to their principles the things that are bred with us we hardly part from when wee are call'd to question for them we are obstinate in defence of them and rather choose to suffer with them then to be severed from them an heretick will burne with his heresie when men are drunk with errour though God send plagues on every side yet they that are not slaine with the plague repent not of their murthers and their fornications Rev. 9. 20 21. they that live in errour will lie downe in the shame 3. Let the testimony of truth be dearer to us then our lives by how much the more wee see proud men love their errours to the death they dye for that which deceives them but they that dye for the truth of Christ have Christ to comfort them men that dye for their errour complement with Christ rather then call upon him to save them but they love their errour and not Christ but it's love to our Redeemer that carrieth the soule above sufferings To conclude fifthly Let us not be secure upon the remove of an enemy lest out of the Serpents root should come a Cockatrice Isa. 14. 29. When Mattan is slaine Satan is not cut off the Prince of darknes keeps his seate when the ministers of Satan are brought under cleave to Convenant and stand upon your watch remove not from your stedfastnesse but renew your graces continually coole not in your love but kindle in spirit and fervour unto Christ for ever let Rulers wax valiant for the truth for the Lord is their helper let the people rejoyce and give God the glory of subduing them that rise up against us there is nothing that we should seeke the ruine of so much as that which opposeth the advancement of Christs glory for feare the Serpents brood should break forth into a viperous generation it 's good to spoyle the vipers neast and when the people that were under a cloud see light let them confesse unto God thou hast multiplyed the nation of them that reare thee and not increast the joy of their enemies therefore wee joy before thee according to the joy of harvest he that doth lesse then joy in the downfall of Christs foes may passe amongst them for a friend let no mans heart melt as if Mattan dyed a martyr If any repent of the deeds that he hath done and seeke his peace with Christ whom he hath persecuted as well as peace with God by Christ who would not rather rejoyce then be offended at conversion breach with God Christ makes up for offence against Christ the Spirit makes intercession but if the Spirit be refused there 's none left to make request to him and so the work of mediation between God and the soule falleth If any man walk in communion with God and Christ and the Spirit of grace who would not reioyce in his peace when he lyeth downe in his bed of rest but one that is ignorant But if a person make no more profession of knowledge of God and Christ but onely because it is the profession of the Nation nor at any time makes addresses to God but in times of horrour and then rather seeking for safetie than holinesse as God is holy who would conceive that worship to proceed from faith and love but he that doth not understand the way of the Spirit of life Cloth not proud offenders with the robe of Martyrs thereby to take occasion to contemne the justice that God executeth when transgressours are cut off let God have the glory and let all that love the Lord rejoyce when the adversaries of Jefus Christ are brought to their doome To him that reigneth be glory FINIS Observ. Observ. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Observ. Consid. 2. Observ. Consid. 3. Observ. Observ. Observ. Application
one with another to walk with one heart toward the Lord Ezra 10.4 Arise for the matter belongeth unto thee we also will be with thee They that were for Christ after his resurrection and ascension were altogether with one accord in one place These are the dayes wherein God will assemble the Kingdoms to powre out upon them his indignation but then he promiseth to the people that engage themselves to him by covenant to turne to the people a pure language that they may all call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one consent Zeph. 3.8 9. The Lord is one his worship is one our covenant is one ought not then our hearts to agree in one If men in covenant divide against themselves and despise one another for the rage of their tongues AEgypt shall deride them Hos. 7.16 There is nothing divides men so much as when either they strangle a publick heart in the croud of private interests in seeking to secure selfe and leaving the publicke to hazard If we let Gideon conquer thinkes the house of Ephraim we shall eclipse our glory Judg. 8.1 Or else when all consent not to put away detestable things when one part is to put them away another to keep them hence growes the strife Ezek. 11.18 19 20 21. They that are of one heart will keep Gods ordinances but they whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things are liable to answer Gods vengeance for their contempt The fourth circumstance is what they did at the house of Baal They did not gaze about lamenting and crying pity that a thing of that cost should in one instant be demolisht that was a posture now fit for Babylonish Merchants Rev. 18.16 17. but they set to work with all their might first to demolish the house next to execute the Priest the house they brake down and the Altars and Images in pieces The Priest they slew before the Altars that were the delectable things of his heart their eye did not spare nor did they shew pity upon any thing that had the face of Idolatry A people covenanting for Reformation must abolish all that is idolatrous So did Iosiah 2 King 23.4 Nehemiah found that Tobijah an Ammonite had gotten him a Chamber to lodge his houshold stuff in within the Courts of the house of God Now this was contrary to law for an Ammonite might not come into the house of God for ever therfore he cast him and his houshold stuffe clean out Nehem. 13.1 8. For 1. God will not be served by the halfes Christ left not the work of redemption halfe done and halfe undone Agrippa was halfe a Christian and halfe a heathen Laodicea was halfe a Church and halfe no Church the work of salvation is a work that must be wrought out and he that will keep the feast of Christ must purge out all filibinesse of flesh and spirit 2. The house that is but halfe swept is never clean and a Church that is but halfe purged is never pure If a wife should leave many lovers and retaine but one beside her husband that 's brand enough of harlotry 3. That which is left will make way for that which is cast out to returne a stump of a broken tooth may put a man to as much pain as if the whole were hollow 4. That which is cast out will cry out of injustice if as bad be reserved favoured and set up Demolisht Abbies are grieved that Cathedrals flourish in their ruines and Cardinals quarrell at that justice that casts them out yet keep their Bishops in like Lordly honour The heart that is prepared to exalt Christ and his glory is fully bent to levell every mountain that stands in the way to his glory But if any demurre and plead We could willingly endeavour and rejoyce to have all manner of superstition and Idolatry removed but this slaying work is terrible and mens lives are pretious It must be answered 1. That malefactors lives are not to be valued 2. They that so plead may as well say I am weary of my grosse sinnes and I could wish they were all mortified but might we not get a dispensation for that old man of a corrupt nature to be preserved in life 3. Better one cut off then that a whole Nation should incurre the wrath of God for sparing one that is guilty Cruelty is the judgement decreed against rebellion Pro. 17.11 19. 19. A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment for if thou deliver him yet thou must doe it againe Sin that is unpunisht is as good as cherisht 4. The Law bindeth as well to judge the person that seduceth as to condemne idolatry Deut. 13.5 albeit Iosiah spared the lives of the Priests of Judah yet he slew all the Priests that belonged to the Idols of Samaria 2 Kings 23. 9. 20. When Hananiah had taught rebellion against the Lord God put him to death because men would not Ierem. 28. 16. 17. There 's ground therefore for this conclusion A people that have covenanted to keep righteousnesse and doe justice must not spare when God condemneth If therefore it shall be demanded why the Rulers and all in covenant with them should be so zealous and forward to have Mattan slain It was not that they delighted to shed blood as they that in their anger dig'd down a wall Iehoiadah was not moved with emulation as one that would be competitor with him for Court honour which peradventure Baals faction would suggest that he put Mattan to death that he himselfe might rule as a Lord in his stead but the truth is God had given sentence Mattan should die and they had covenanted to doe justice Object It is a bitter covenant that binds men to shed blood Answ. Gods covenant is bitter against none but such as are rebellious But what probable grounds were there why Mattan should bee put to death 1. He was a Priest of Baal and had taken Orders to serve those Idols he was a profest idolater which was death 2. He was Queen Athaliahs favourite and did strengthen and obdurate the Queen in her error 3. He was not content to infect Israel with idolatry but came over into Judah and sought to poyson that State also that under pretence of uniformity he might joyn both Kingdomes in Apostasie 4. It is probable he was of counsell with Athaliah to make away the King and afterwards to lay hands on the Kings children by affinity with Ahabs house Ahaziah was perswaded to joyn in an unnecessary warre wherein he was slain chap. 22. 9. and afterwards cruell hands seised on the Kings children hoping thereby to devolve the Kingdome of Judah to Israel for want of issue If it be objected that that was Athaliahs fact It 's like enough so but though the fact bee atttibuted to one that 's eminent in the plot yet it is probable that more were of counsell and if any it is very likely the Priest would not be
ground which did weaken the nations Isai. 14.6.7 12. Adore him who executeth righteousnesse and judgement for all that are oppressed But secondly let all the earth tremble before him who is able to set his foot upon the high places of the earth and to crush them and their power to nothing in a moment a moneth shall devoure them he will famish all the gods of the earth and the powers against him shall come to nought he will subdue the mighty and bring downe the Spear-men and scatter the people that delight in warre we worship him that can doe good or evill he can bring to the grave and make alive hee will make the evill bow before the good and the wicked at the gates of the righteous The turning of things upside down are in his hands It was Mattans yesterday and to day Jehojadahs Baals lease was out and now pure worship was at liberty to run in its own chanell Improve freedome and stand in awe prize religion and feare to provoke the Lord to cancell our free grant Hitherto he hath brought us with great joy and trembling strengthen stedfastnesse lest he turn us back to the wildernesse let no mans heart fail him for the accusations of an enemy that calls petitioners for justice seditious and such as convince him of crime to be witnesses that seduce the Judges but hold on integrity and love righteousnesse and keep judgment at all times Remember covenant Thirdly Acknowledge with heartiest thankfulnesse the loving kindness of the Lord the goodness of our Lord Jesus to his Saints at this day He hath snared the wicked by the work of their owne hands and in the thing wherein they dealt proudly the Lordhath set himself above them When the decree was seald to cut off the Jewes there was generall mourning but when Haman becametheir ransome there was great joy The righteous shall rejoyce when be seeth the vengeance and when he washeth his feet in the bloud of the wicked he shall say There is a reward for the righteous for there is a God that judgeth the earth Psal. 58.10 11. Have we not cause to see narrowly to look and to consider this great and wondrous work in taking off so great an enemy and to say Is this the man that made the earth to tremble that did shake Kingdomes Isa. 14. 16. The seed of evill doers shall never be renowned ver. 20. How should we increase our joy by considering what in times past he did which he shall never doe He shall no more play the beast against the Lamb nor set up superstition above worship nor open a doore to thrust out holinesse and let in prophanenesse nor accuse strictnesse as hypocrisie and cry up libertie for religion He shall no more give libertie to prophane the Subbath nor set up May-poles as his pillars to proclaime all strict observing of the Sabbath to be Jewish or reare them up as speares and weapons of warre against the holinesse of that day He shall no more set up Candlesticks and put down Catechising nor deifie singingservice and suppresse Lectures nor tolerate playes and suppresse christian libertie in private communion for fasting to increase faith and renew repentance nor countenance men in prophanenesse and convent men as offenders to his tribunall for sanctifying their families in conceiving prayers He shall no more watch opportunities against the Watchmen and faithfull Pastours of the Land that were the Lords husbandmen to turne many to righteousnesse He shall no more remove them from their Congregations by suspensions extrusions forcing to banishment by imprisonment by affamishment by death nor make their lives grievous by threats and scornes He shall no more seduce the Kings of the earth nor delude great ones nor over-awe the Judges to cause wrong judgement to proceed nor terrifie the Counsellor that he dare not plead for his client nor slay the fatherlesse in judgement nor condemne the guiltlesse He shall no more exalt the proud be a terrour to the just a vexation to the thirstie soul in taking away the bread of life from Congregations that faint for the word of consolation to build them up in faith He shall no more sow fedition set Kingdomes on fire raise warre against the peaceable despise dominions nor study to subvert supreame Judicatures In a word he shall no more in any wise Lord it over Gods heritage not sit upon the mount of the Congregation in the sides of the North Isa. 14. 13. for the Lord hath swept him away with the besome of destruction ver. 23. Now what 's our dutie but to rejoyce in the God of our salvation Would one imagine there could live so much impudence so neare a sudden death as for a man so eminent an enemy of all righteousnesse in his life an apptossour in an high nature a persecutor of rich and poore that set their faces toward Sion I say for him in an open place on the Scaffold of death before such a confluence of people of this Citie that have had such open testimony of his pride and cruelty to justifie himselfe by the example of our Lord Jesus for wherefore else were those words chosen Heb. 12. 1 2. and this glosse that he despised the shame for Jesus Durst any but a spirit past holy feare and humilitie compare himselfe with Christ in that particular of his sufferings his beheading with Christs crucifying and his ignominy to Christs undeserved shame Weigh but the imparitie of the parallel when you have considered one not well shapen passage Christ despised the shame for me and God knows I despise the shame for Christ if the Speech be comparative as he for my example so I by his example and no more then he died a Socinian not a Protestant But how unlike are the sufferers Christ for the joy that was fet before him was going to his Father but this man for griese that he could live no longer to vexe Christ in his members was going to the tribunall of him whom he had pierced In Christs mouth was found no guile under this mans lips were nothing else but deceit and strife Christ endured the Crosse in obedience to his Fathers will and as our Suretie but this man despis'd the crosse as a foole goeth laughing to the stocks Christ despised the shame as being no way conscious of desert but this man indured the shame as the just wages of his ambition and pride Christ entred into his glory and laid downe his reproach but this man laid downe his honour at one blow and liveth under perpetuall ignominy Christ prayed for them that cryed him downe to be crucified but this man hath branded a famous Citie with sedition for praying for Justice on the Kingdoms disturbers Christ endured the contradiction of sinners but this man sought to set dissention between two Houses in clearing his Judges and condemning them that accused him unto them finally Christ died as a Lamb but this man as a fox whom Christ the Lord