JEHOJADAHS IUSTICE AGAINST MATTAN BAALS PRIEST OR THE COVENANTERS JUSTICE AGAINST IDOLATERS A SERMON PREACHT upon occasion of a SPEECH utter'd upon Tower-Hill Wherein you may finde his likenesse to Mattan rather then to Christ His place in John 11.48 charg'd upon himself The weaknesse of the choice of his Text How great cause wee have to give thanks By J. H. Minister of the Gospel JUDGES 5. 31. So let all thine enemies perish O Lord but let them that love him be as the Sunne when he goeth forth in his might And the Land had rest fortie years LONDON Printed by M. Simmons for Henry Overton and are to be sold at his Shop in Popes-head-Alley 1645. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFULL SERJEANT WILD J. H. wisheth grace and peace in CHRIST JESUS WORTHY PATRIOT THe life we live we live in God happy is the improvement of that life that is lift up to him and to his wayes It is a glory above the crowne of the worthy Kings of Judah that they prepared their hearts to seek the Lord What 's the life of man without comfort And what greater comfort doth man enjoy in life but his communion with God The life of the best is but a pilgrimage and a life of service lyes upon every man though the race be short imployment attends it if a servant neglect his Lords affairs he had the honour to be call'd a servant but lost his glory for casting by his industry how sweet is their peace that know their Lords command and chearfully take up his charge Every man is at work but many mistake their Masters business they doe their own and put his name upon it Servants that love to walk in the dark are unfit to attend upon the Lord of light light and darkness have nocommunion This present age affords us full testimony how doe the deeds of darkness vanish that past without controule not long agoe which in this time of tryall will not indure the touchstone Mens confidence of their actions is no ground of their justice the Judge will search him out that seemeth just in his own cause nor must the Judges or those that assist them in advancing Justice be discouraged though the impeached challenge them of unjust proceeding Who shall be innocent if the condemneds test may be sufficient to fix a crime Sir I reckon it a part of your honour that God hath conferr'd upon you to be an instrument to bring so great an offender to justice rather then to be ensnared by him You served our Lord Christ in helping to subdue a mountain of ambition you have suffer'd for your love and endeavour to establish a throne for Christ and a throne for the King in righteousnesse your labour of love will not be forgotten your work is with your God and your reward in the Lords hand Goe on and prosper and God that hath made the evill bow before the good and the wicked at the gates of the righteous make you every day more succesfull If this ensuing Subject may yeeld any refreshing to your spirit or provoke the church of Christ to exalt their Lords glory and sanctifie his glorious Name that hath delivered us from so great a burden my spirit hath rest rejoycing in the God of our salvation waiting for further manifestation of greater consolation The God of peace fill you with comfort in beleeving and preserve you to his heavenly Kingdome Your Worships in all service of love JEHOJADAHS JUSTICE UPON MATTAN BAALS PRIEST 2 CHRON. 23. 16 17. And Jehojadah made a Covenant between him and all the people and between the King that they should be the Lords people Then all the people went to the house of Baal and brake it downe and brake his Altars and his Images in pieces and slew Mattan the Priest of Baal before the Altars IN this History we have a cleare discovery of Gods faithfulnesse to David in keeping promise which was to support his throne by a supply of issue out of which descent the Lord Christ was to arise Here was now but one life for the house of David to hold by and that a tender one in his nurses hands hunted after by a bloudy persecutresse who thought shee had made him as sure as his brethren and so to have devolved the State of Judah to the Kingdome of Israel thereby to have made voyd the Lords Grant But God had delivered him to more faithfull hands who vertuously bred him and in time brought him forth anoynting him before all the people And after Athaliahs life had satisfied for the Kings then Jehojadah drew the people into a Covenant Nationall mercies should draw a people to renew Covenant with their God it hath in it a testimony of thankfulnesse as well as a binding act to obedience So that the omitting of it would proclaime us guiltie of swallowing downe more mercies then we are thankfull for If it be doubted whether it be not too forward to covenant till our mercies are more compleated you may observe a people entring into Covenant with God when they were in expectation of mercies when the people waited for the setling of the Arke Samuel binds them to put away their strange Gods and Astaroth and prepare to serve the Lord onely and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistims and they did and served the Lord onely 1 Sam. 7.3 4. By this wee see there is Scripture-ground for a Nationall Covenant when our mercies are made up or coming by which a people bind themselves unto a straite communion with God and to abjure all false wayes When wee esteeme the precepts of God so high as that concerning all things they are right then wee must hate every false way Psal. 119. 128. He that would raise his heart to such a degree of walking in covenant with God shall doe well to meditate Davids example Psal. 119. 105. to the 112. He sets up Gods Word for his lamp at home and lanthorn abroad he is resolved to walk by no light but Gods to fasten the bond of that resolution that he may perform and keep he binds himself by an oath to observe righteous judgements without diversion but now he must walk between strivings within and reproaches without I am afflicted very much there the carnall mind grudgeth against strictnesse My soule is continually in my hand his life in jeopardy to preserve his conscience pure In this conflict he makes his addresse to God 1. For quickning grace that he may live and hold on his progresse according to his Covenant 2. For accepting grace that he may finde in his spirit that he is approved of God in his way 3. For feeding grace that he may still be taught the things that he knoweth not 4. For preserving grace Lord said he the snare of the wicked is laid for me I have not yet erred keep me by thy strength 5. He exerciseth discerning grace and approves his choice of God to be the best heritage and
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