confidence for ever We must then behold these two warriours the disadvantage in their persons their Armour and weapons all which make the victory more glorious and tell us plainly That it is of mighty concernment to the Church for ever 1. The Combitants are Goliah a Giant a man of warre from his youth and David but a Youth as Saul said a stripling ver 33. 2. Their Armour there is no comparison there for David ver 56. has none at all But reade I pray you how Goliah is furnished When the Church reads it and well considers on it then they thinke they shall never feare their Adversaries any more Thus you reade An Helmet of brasse upon his head a Coat of Maile about his body Greaves of Brasse upon his leggs c ver 5 6. and a Target of Brasse between his shoulders 3. The Weapons as unequall too Goliah had a Sword and a Speare and a Man carrying his Shield before him David is his own Man well able to carry his Armour himselfe for his Armour is but a Staffe and a Sling and a Scrip and a few smooth Stones within it There were all the disadvantages in sight and whosoever walked by sight would have disdained David as Goliah did and have given Goliah the victory before they fought And yet there were those advantages on Davids side and some of them in sight that it was not possible but David must have the victory For 1 Goliah was a Philistine David an Israelite Goliah hated of GOD David was beleved for the Disproportion otherwise in the bulkinesse of the body c. that is of no account This is a mans advantage and promotes him which sets him nearer to GOD. That heightens him which makes him little in his owne eyes and great in the favour of God Goodnesse is a better safeguard then Greatnesse No matter how bigge the Churches Adversary is how sterne or how bigge he lookes though a man of might and of warre and has a face like a Lyon What though Put it downe for a conclusion drawn from the experiences of all ages what He is as weake as water and as a Dove a Hose 7. 11. without an heart THAT hath PROVOKED GOD. Goe-on and feare no colours for this was written for the generation to come And 2 None of all that Armour before mentioned is of proofe It cannot keepe off the vengeance of the d Job 15. 25. Almighty Goliah stretched forth his hand against God and strengthened himselfe against the Almighty What then His Armour shall doe him no good The LORD will runne upon e ver 26. him even on his neck upon the thick bosses of his bucklers It was so and it will be so to the worlds end Object But David seemes to be a naked man Answ True he seemed to be so but he was in compleat Armour from the head to the foot The Lord was his Defence he had said of the LORD Thou art my shield and buckler Psal 18. And 3. What is a Sword and Speare vaine things and so is he that formed them these shall not prosper against David But Esa 54. 17. are not these instruments as like to prosper in Goliahs hand as a sling and a stone in Davids hand No This stone and this sling must prosper for it must doe execution upon Gods enemies and because these are unlikely things therefore more likely to prosper GOD will doe the greatest matters by the smallest instruments Why That He may have all the glory that is the reason Surely the Lord will confound the enemies of His Church by means and wayes very improbable and unlikely as weake as water We cannot tell for perhaps it never came into our thoughts what meanes the Lord will use in confounding the pride of his Adversaries But thus we have heard and seene and so we reade foolish things in 1 Cor. 1. 27 28 29. mans conceit shall confound the wise weake things the things which are mighty base things and things that are despised hath God chosen and things which are not to bring to naught things that are Why all this That no flesh should glory in His presence And 4. We must observe the manner how these Souldiers addresse themselves to the Battell Goliah marched on like a Philistine cursing David as he went David went on with ver 43. blessings in his mouth Goliah maketh toward David in his owne strength and the strength of his gods David goeth against him not in his own strength but in the Name of the Lord of Hosts the God of the Armies of Israel What follows Whom thou hast defied And will God helpe them who have cursed His children blasphemed His Name and defied His Hoast certainly God will destroy them utterly And this was Davids confidence and touching himselfe also he should overcome and be victoriovs for he had sought his God and He is never sought in vaine he trusted in God He will never deceive that Trust he went on in the Name of the Lord of Hosts it was not possible then he should returne ashamed Let the Redeemed of the Lord say so for His mercy endureth for ever As David set his foot upon Goliah so shall the Church the servants of the Lord set their foote upon the neck of their Adversaries nay they shall wash their feete in the blood of the slaine there is the conclusion We reade on and find that after this victory Saul enquires after David takes so full notice of him now that indeed he Eyed him continually from that day forward and he bends all the force of his Militia against David He ceaseth not to offend David therewith till the day of his death How David defended himselfe and how justly will be enquired into and resolved in a fitter place so as he that will understand it may be fully satisfied therein and he that will be ignorant let him be ignorant still Saul did seeke the life of David from that very day he had the victory over Goliah in which bloody mind he continued till he dyed We will then turne over and looke upon him in the power of the Enemy and in the hands of death and heare him what he saith for there-out we may pick a great lesson To take our season of seeking after God We reade When Saul saw the 1 Sam. 28. 5. Hoast of the Philistines his heart greatly trembled What should he doe now Let him goe to the Prophet that he cannot doe for the Prophet is dead There are other wayes to be taken and whereby to know Gods mind and other Prophets also if not let him enquire of the LORD so he does Saul enquired of the Lord but no answer now The Lord ver 6. had answered him fully and plainly what His will and pleasure was Saul hearkned not for he obeyed not Now he askes againe and againe all in vaine He that would not hearken when he might and was commanded shall
of Governement they aske a King are shewen the manner of their King Saul is given them He is well advised and ruled by Samuell and is prosperous An Ammonite deales proudly with Israel and is accordingly dealt with and confounded GOD gives Saul a glorious victory over the Philistines and his sonne fullfills a Prophecy He is charged concerning Amaleke and does contrary Then he heares of his rejection David gaines him another victory as wonderfull as the former therein gives the Church assured confidence for ever he is ill requited for it Saul envied him to the day of his death bent the strength of his Militia against David Sauls life was all along contrary to the rule of grace and his death contrary to the light of Nature SAmuell is Israels last Judge and Saul their first King called to that high office and inabled thereunto by GOD Himselfe raised quickly in his thoughts and disposition to the pitch of a King Samuell doe's not rule now though well read and experienced in that Art but orders and directs gives Saul the honour of that hardest worke The ruling of the people but tels him how to doe it Samuell speakes and Saul hearkens and all this while it was well So long as Samuell ruled-out the way of government to Saul and he followed the Rule it was well with Saul and with all the people The Lord made their Militia strong and successefull to a wonder When he transgressed that Rule his spirits fell and he from his princely dignity thrusting himselfe besides the throne with his own hands Notwithstanding the LORD wrought a wonderful deliverance for Israel by the hand of David for which David was ill requited for therefore Saul envied him and turned the edge of his Militia against him Saul should have fought the battels of the Lord and have strengthened himselfe against the Lords and Israels enemies he does the contrary fights against the Lord and his servant David Quickly after his sinne finds him out and the Philistines who gathered strength while Saul strengthened himselfe against the LORD drove Saul into the straits and being there he sought for Death from anothers hands and obtaines it not his owne hand shall doe him that favour since he counts it so and so is his own Executioner Thus I have this once for I shall doe so no more hudled-up and crowded together a large and famous Story which contains many Remarkables of infinite use That is it I intend Therefore I will draw them out one after another if at more length then is expected the intent is good that we may put the more observations upon them The History begins AGe bath overtaken Samuell and his carefull government which is a burden too heavy for him he puts off from himselfe laying the weight thereof on his Sonnes shoulders Joel and Abiah a 1 Sam. 8. 1 2. who judged the people at Bersheba the very utmost City towards the South of Judea The place was inconvenient and very remote so were these two brothers no lesse removed from the justice and virtue of their Father They turned aside after lucre and tooke bribes Bribes in the plurall ver 3. number he that opens his hand to a bribe once seldom shuts it afterwards for the thirst of covetousnesse the more it swalloweth the more it drieth and desireth finding taste in nothing but gaine and so for in-comes that way they set the Law at a price and sold Judgement and Justice to the best Chap-men them that would give the best bribes for it it follows tooke bribes and perverted judgement This injustice in their Judges makes the Elders of Israel very earnest with Samuell to give ver 4. them a King they might justly ask a King now they thought an alteration and change in government now that their Judges were so changed from what they were and so wicked had quite perverted judgement and justice And so importunate they are that they are resolved upon it and will have no denyall They might aske a King but they should not have been so importunate their request was good but it was too hasty and then good things may be ill desired GOD purposed to raise up a King to his People the People after the manner out-pace GOD they will have a King when they please The government by Judges was of GODS institution and at this time setled amongst them they shall have a change of government but they are over-forward to a change and they shall be well check'd for that The Request is put up to Samuell with much importunity he knowes what to doe he enquires of his Oracle asketh the LORDS ver 6. mind in this matter The LORD resolves him saying I was indeed their King before and it was well with them They have reiected Me and not thee that I should not reigne ver 7. over them Now therefore hearken to their voyce but tell them moreover the manner of their King he will know himselfe to be King and then thinke hee may doe what hee listeth The People must know this then perhaps they will understand that ever to be the best kind of Government which God appoints over a people and that if the government be heavy as an yron yoake upon the necks of the People it is but meet for their neckes which are stiffe as an Iron sinnew and because their iniquity is heavy upon them whereof they stand charged to complain and not of the government which the Lord hath set over them Samuell does according to his charge speakes unto the people in the same words And they like themselves turned a deafe eare to all the perswasions and threats which Samuell used and they said Nay but there shall be a King over us e ver 19. The people will not be denied As before so they might have a god of their owne chusing and so soone as they pleased if it were a Calfe they cared not They were as indifferent about their King give them a King that they may be like the Nations and then they were well enough for the manner of their King no matter at all for that Men like their owne time best and their owne choise then Samuell hearing the People say so tooke a viall of oyle and powred it upon Sauls head who was gone forth to seeke Asses and such was the Providence found a Kingdome and said The Lord hath annointed thee to be Captaine over His inheritance a 1 Sam. 10. 1. Then shortly after having well rebuked and disciplined the people b ver 18. he shews them their King openly And all the people shouted and said GOD save the King c ver 24. Then Samuell told the People the Law and Statutes of the Kingdome and wrote it in a book d ver 25. and laid it up before the LORD so dismissed the People and they whose hearts GOD had touched went home with their ver 26. King others but they were children of
enquire now and have no answer Saul enquired of the LORD the ver 6. LORD answered him not neither by Dreames nor by Vrim nor by Trophets What will he doe now He is resolved to enquire of the Devill to see what he will say See here a sad case That man is in straits indeed who expects enlargement from the Devill But marke his complaint that he puts up to the Devill I am sore distressed he took a bad way for ver 15. help to seek for it from his greatest Enemy But what troubles him The Philistines make warre against me Nay that was not it so they did before the Moabites too the Ammonites Amalekites the Arabians also all the world warred against Israel therefore the trouble was not in that No but here it was this was the trouble and sore affliction which was like a Sword in his bowels yea like the gall of Aspes there GOD is departed FROM ME This was it I-cabod the Glory is gone the Nations are angry they will come upon the Land from every quarter Let them come they shall not distresse the Land with all their strength But does this follow God is departed from a Land then all created strength cannot safeguard the same if the Enemies were all wounded men yet they shall destroy all the Land and take the spoile And this was Sauls case God is departed from me The saddest complaint that ever was heard Consider well of it and you will say so too suppose the Adversary entring the doores treading upon the mans heele pangs are come upon him the paine as of a woman in travell his Soule is upon his lipps he is entring into the chambers of Death and his case is the same with Sauls here GOD is departed from him He answers him not Certainly neither teares nor sighs nor sobbs can point out this mans complaint the grievousnesse of this case exceeds all comparison And this was Sauls case then that it may not be our case anon Let us consider with all our hearts how equall and just it was that God should leave Saul at this time and afford him no answer God was with Saul prospered him exceedingly gave him glorious victories Saul was not aware of all this God answered him againe and againe told him what His expresse will was Saul rejected it now God departs from him and answers him no more A man will drive hard for comfort at such a time but he will mistake his way as Saul did his goes for the living to the dead nay worse from Esa 8. 16. God to the Devill he seekes answer there at the Devils Oracle And behold worse and worse Saul cannot endure to heare it but falls straight-way all along on the Earth c ver 20. When he sought counsell of God he was alwayes victorious Now that he sought counsell from the Oracle of the Devill this was the answer Who can be thy friend now God is thine enemy Thou didst not execute the fierce wrath of the Lord upon Amalek * A dangerous omission not to execute the wrath of the Lord upon His Churches Adversaries old fierce and treacherous therefore must that wrath be executed upon thee and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me c. And so it was for answerably it follows That both himselfe and his three sons with his neerest and faithfull servants were all slaughtered by the Philistines his body with the bodyes of his Sonnes as a spectacle of shame and dishonour were hung over the walls of Bethsan and there had remained till they had found buriall in the bowells of ravenous Birds had not the gratefull Gileadites of Jabes stolne their carcasses thence and interred them This was the end of Saul such as might tell all the world That now the blood of Gods Priests * 1 Sam. 22. 19 which Saul shed and of David which he would have shed was required and requited Let us note it more particularly What was his end very desperate The Battell went sore against him and he was sore wounded of the Archers Then he said unto his Armour-bearer draw thy Sword and thrust me * 1 Sam 31. 4. throw therewith His Armour-bearer refused Did he well in disobeying Yes for he disobeyed the desperate will of Saul which a man may doe and yet doe the greatest right See Childs Patrimony p. 36. and justice to the King Yes though he had held Saul from falling upon his own Sword and so restrained him from being a selfe-murtherer But Saul was left to himselfe and so he died he tooke a Sword and fell upon it A desperate execution He was an Enemy to good men while he lived and now he died he is an Enemy to himselfe He lived and died a murtherer he fell upon his own Sword and so Saul died His buriall we reade before His life death and buriall all three well agree together The greatest part of his life was spent in persuance of Gods friend see the Relation all along The last Act of his life was violence upon himselfe from his own hand He had driven David the head of his Tribes and after Oyle had been powred upon him and who so faithfull among all Sauls servants as David was d 1 Sam. 22. 14. from abiding in the Inheritance of the Lord Sauls head was taken off and his body exposed to the weather fastned to a wall no more accounted 1 Sam. 31. 9 10. of then a despised broken Idoll or a vessell wherein is no pleasure Saul had slaine the chiefe Priest and all his Fathers Ier. 22. 28. house then Priests of the Lord he had smitten their City with 1 Sam. 22. 16 17. the edge of the Sword and all therein with the edge of the Sword it is twice repeated to shew the bloodinesse of that ver 19. execution Now his lot shall fall-out unto him and this the portion of his measures All Sauls Sonnes are slaine he is Ier. 13. 25. written a Man Childlesse to all Generations some of his seed remained but none prospered to sit upon the Throne and Rule any more in Judah * Ier. 22. 30. We must repeate this once more for so I find it in the Sacred Writ because we may receive from it a sure instruction That we doe not transgresse against the ANGELL of the LORD nor reject His Word That we continue seeking Exod 23. 20. Counsell at His mouth and if He answer not yet wait if we die let us die seeking while we waite there is hope depart from Him there is no hope goe after other gods and then certaine destruction as to Saul So Saul died and his three Sonnes and all his House died together for his transgression which 1 Chro 10. 6. ver 13. he committed against the Lord even against the word of the Lord which he kept not and also for asking Counsell of one that had a familiar spirit to enquire of it
Beliall evermore as deeply in love with vice as good men are with vertue and as over-hasty in their choyce so as quickly out of love with it despised him saying This is a King indeed as little helpe can be expected from him as from one of us Shall this man save e ver 27. us Saul was so wise as to hold his peace at that time for he could not value himselfe as yet he tooke no notice of their contempt Then Nahash the Ammonite came up 1 Sam. 11. 1. and encamped against Jabesh Gilead the People there fall presently upon Propositions for Peace Make a Covenant with us say they and we will serve thee Agreed said the Ammonite ver 1. but upon this condition that I may thrust out all your RIGHT-EYES f ver 2. That is the condition of an Ammonite you must never expect better from him Hard termes indeed The Ammonite was perswaded no doubt of an advantage sufficient against Israel for 1. He knew that many of the Israelites did not willingly submit to their new King 2. He remembred that the Philistines had not long before slaine thirty foure thousand of their men of warre g 1 Sam 42. 10 Besides he had used great care and diligence that the Israelites should have no Smithes to make them Swords and Speares d 1 Sam. 13. 19. Neither was it long before that the Bethshemites perished by the hand of GOD more then fifty Thousand e 1 Sam. 6. 19. These respects and what els I know not made the Ammonite so proud in his Demands He will have their Eyes and their right-Eyes It would lay a reproach upon all Israel indeed and utterly disinable them for the Warre for though a man may doe much by the help of the left-Eye as some did with the left-Hand yet these Gileadites using to carry a Target upon their left-Armes which could not but shaddow their left-Eyes should by loosing their right be utterly disinabled to defend themselves Better a just Warre then a dishonourable Peace Gold may be bought too deare so may peace Had Israel given their right-eyes for peace they had done then as some would doe now purchase peace with the losse of Faith and a good Conscience Give Israel peace Good LORD but let them not accept of it upon an Ammonites termes with the losse of their right-Eyes We reade on Saul observes the people weeping enquires the reason understands it was because the Ammonites had made such a proposition for peace Marke now And the Spirit of GOD came upon Saul Now there is question about Israels parting with their right-Eyes The Spirit ver 6. of GOD came upon Saul raised up Sauls spirit to the height of indignation so that his anger was kindled GREATLY ver â— And that his indignation might appeare he hewes his Oxen in peeces summons all his people thereby assuring them their Oxen shall be served so too if they doe not every man of them fit for Warre make their appearance presently for they must venture the best blood in their veines to preserve their right-Eyes The people will doe it for though the blood in their veines is deare unto them yet their right-Eyes are dearer But wee must note as followes The feare of the LORD fell on the people What then And they came out with one consent And so the Warre began and was quickly ended for this unreasonable Demand put courage into the King and people both So Saul set his Army in Battell-aray Then he put 1 Sam. 11. 11. the people in three Companies and they came into the midst of the Hoast in the morning watch and slew the Ammonites untill the heate of the Day f. And they that remained of the Enemies were so scattered that they who demanded the two Eyes from the people were not left no not two of them together And that was notable for as Samson said GOD avenged them of the Ammonites for demanding their two Eyes Judg 16. 28. And so let all Thine enemies perish O Lord who thinking they have an advantage against Israell will not give him peace unlesse he will give them his right-Eye Now the People were well pleased with Saul for they judge of Persons and things by the issue and successe they have violent lovers of the Prosperous are base vassalls to him that flourisheth and as dispitefully cruell against those whom any worldly accident hath throwne downe we have a valiant King said they and who are they that spoke so contemptuously of him bring the men that we may put them to Death And Saul said there shall not a man be put to Death this Day for to Day the Lord hath wrought salvation for Israell d 1 Sam. 11. 13 He had indeed hee gave Israel courage and glorious victories over that insolent adversary who delighted in proud wrath and Saul did his duty in making acknowledgement and giving the Glory to GOD. All this while Saul prospers for Samuell a good man and well experienced in Government do's all and all to render Saul Prosperous and confirmed in his Kingdome So according to Samuells advice King and people went downe to Gilgall made Saul King before the LORD there and there they sacrificed Sacrifices of Peace-offerings before the LORD ver 15. and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoyced greatly In the next Chapter Samuell reasons with the People before Chap. 12. the Lord of all His righteous Acts Convinceth them mightily touching his own Innocency and uprightnesse in judging them and the Lords Goodnesse towards them from the dayes of Moses unto that day Adviseth them to continue in His Goodnesse and quickens them thereunto with a mighty threat and so concludes the Chapter Now Saul the third time is acknowledged King having Reigned two Yeares over Israel he did Reigne many Yeares Chap. 13. but no more in Gods account He computes him but two 1 Sam. 13. 1 Yeares a King for a Reason which followes strengthened himselfe with a Guard of Three thousand chosen men of which he assigned a thousand to attend upon his Sonne Jonathan Jonathan with his small Regiment surpriseth a Garrison of the Philistines smites them so that he did but enrage the Enemies with that surprise for presently the Philistines assembled Thirty thousand Charrets and six Thousand Horse-men and ver 5. People as the Sands in multitude and so Invade Judea This suddaine Invasion strikes such a terrour into the Israelites that some hid themselves others fled and went over Jordan others for they were all in a strait and distressed went trembling to Saul yet in Gilgal who feared as much as they And now ver 6 7. was the time when Saul should have cleaved fast to GOD and His Command for he was affraid and then said David I will trust in Thee and waite for my hope is in Thee And this Saul seemes to doe and but seemes for being appointed to attend the comming
first who had no power till now since Davids time but now Iehorams sinnes make them strong d Nostris peccatis Barbari fortes sunt Hier Epist 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isid Pet. l. 1. Ep. 294. The Arabians with them a naked people these despicable Enemies take his fenced Cities spoyle his strong holds pillage his House carried away all the substance that was found therin and his sons also and his wives So that e ver 16 17. there was never a sonne left him save one And then to make his sorrows compleat for when GOD begins He will make an end either bend the man or breake him too peeces And that the terrible Sentence in that threatning Epistle whose it was I know not but it was the word of the LORD might be fullfilled to a Letter he that smit his brethren is smit in his bowels which shortly after fell out by reason of his sicknesse so he dyed of sore diseases g ver 19. Surely the wound and place therof commands our observation and our mark Iehoram was smitten in his bowels we must remember whom Iehoram had smitten his Brethren the sons of his Mother his Sonnes were smitten too and he in his bowels Our Divines have a saying very notable Tell me thy punishment and I will tell thee thy sinne For the LORD the GOD of Recompences d Jer. 51 56. tenders to a sinner his Measures e Jer 13. 15. and the very ingredients which he puts into his sinne GOD puts into his punishment That the sinner smarting under the stroake of his sin and punishment both together may be humbled for the one more then under the other and say from his heart The LORD is righteous The Retaliation of the Lord is wonderfull here we must put the more observation upon it even how He did return Jehorams recompence upon his owne head f Joâ—l 3. 7. 1. He had concealed hatred he had spoken fair and peaceable words when warr was in his heart he is punished openly in the sight of all Israel and before the Sun 2. He had slain All his Brethren and every one of them better then himselfe g ver 4 ver 13. The Princes also divers of them the worst could not be worse then himself only complying with him in his abominable way all these he had slain The Lord doe's recompence him He stirred-up the spirit of the Philistines and of the Arabians and they came up into Judah and brake into it And what did they They carried away ALL the substance that was found in the Kings House and his sons also all save one and his wives except Athaliah that wicked woman she must be left to recompence All Iudah for the blood-shed there and the abominable services done there but the enemies carried away all the rest leaving him but one son nor that one for his sake but for David His servants sake 3. He did not only countenance irreligious services performed to the Devill but established them by a Law and by compulsive authority did enforce them he shall feele force enough This Adversary did force him and the other did force him even in his own house and carried out thence All his substance that was found there with his sons and with his wives Why he would FORCE Judah to doe as he did evill before the eyes of the Lord he had an Arme like God he could command nay compell the freest thing in the world and against God to do wickedly d Ezek. 6. 9. worse then the Heathen See his recompence he feels force after force breach upon breach but the last is the forest 4. He had broken the Lord with his whorish heart d Ezek. 6. 9. like as was the heart of his Queen for so the Lord complains to shew unto us how He is wearied and pressed with those abominable services in Iudah the LORD GOD of Recompences breaks his heart with sorrows for He smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease wherof he lay lingring two yeares All that long time an hundred years so they seemed to him lying in extremity day by day complaining night and day O my bowels Then they fell out by reason of his sicknes and so at once he died twise for ought we can gather the first and second death together He committed much sin in a little time 8 years he paced over his own way quickly and more quickly passed the pleasure of it but the pain is lasting Certainly this is written for the instruction of all the Kings of Iudah that came after him who beholding this Recompence might abhorre the worke And looking through to the end of the way of Ahabs-house they might not dare to set their face or foot that way in taking the daughter of Ahab to wife for she will rule all and give counsell like her selfe wicked counsell to the ruine of King and Kingdom and all All this will be legible in the next Chapter so soon as I have shut-up this Iehoram departed this life without being desired m ver 10. as his Subjects had small cause of comfort in his life so had they not the good manners to pretend sorrow for his death Then we reade his buriall and there is all of him but that he was not buried in the Sepulchers of the Kings n 2 Chron. 22. 9 The like is said of others like him we will set this note once for all upon his grave He that walked so contrary to his good Father all the day long shall not lodge with him at night They buried him but not in the Sepulchers of the Kings 2 Chro. 21. 20. THE ACTS OF AHAZIAH CHAP. IV. Ahaziah his short reigne he walked in the wayes of Ahabs house and after wicked counsels the end therof The good old King the grand-father is at rest in his bed but in his life time joyning in affinity with Ahab he made Judah restlesse till all his house and Kingdome was destroyed IEhoahaz called also Ahaziah the youngest of Iehorams sonnes for the Arabians had slain all 2 Chro. 21. 17. the eldest began to raigne when he was â—â— 42 a 2 Kin 8. 26. years old and ended his raigne within the year 2 Chro. 22. 1 2. after Vid. Tremel He had a great example before his eyes in a sore wrath powred downe upon his Father his children his 2 Chro. 21. 14. wives and all his goods which bad him look well to his stepps and yet he was not warned He walked also in the wayes of the house of Ahab and was guided by the same spirits that had 2 Chro. 22. 3. been his Fathers evill Angels His Story is short but very lamentable very exemplary also to bid others beware they tread not in the wayes nor after the counsels of the house of Ahab The first yeare of his raigne was the last of his life for he hasted-on in the most compendious wayes