and could not brook that Zipporah should take too much Honour upon her self because of her Honourable Husband and give too little to her As Satan prevailed first with Eve then by her with Adam So here first with Miriam then by her with Aaron so sets a Sister and a Brother against Moses he loves to Fish in Troubled Waters no Relation or Qualification either of Honour or Meekness can secure a Man from Offensive exceptions Their Murmuring against meek Moses causes the Cloud of Glory to depart as the sin of the golden Calf had done before wherein Aaron had a Hand in the Sin also Moses is Vindicated by God himself Numb 12. 4. He that had been a Lyon in Gods Cause in breaking the Calf to Powder was a Lamb in his own and the less he speaks for himself the more God speaks for him God Hears and Stirs Yea and Strikes Miriam with Leprosie because Chief in the crime and possibly more passionate and peremptory in her Reports and Reproaches Not Aaron because he was the Judge of Leprosie and so could not be tainted with it as some say but rather because he met God by Repentance v. 10. So disarm'd Gods Indignation and Redeem'd his own sorrow Yea and Miriam was humbled too Deut. 24. 9. The People staying and Mourning for her to go before them Micha 6. 5. till she was Recover'd And another Disturbance after this Halt was They Journeyed to Kadesh-barnea Numb 13. 3 26. not far from the South-point of the Land of Promise Deut. 1. 2 19. 20. From hence they sent the Spys which no doubt but the Devil of Unbelief put them upon seeing God had before Spyed out the Land for them Ezek. 20. 6. and Search'd it out Deut. 1. 33. But this Satisfied them not Seeing with them must be Believing Those Spys came to Hebron Deut. 1. 22. and Returning with the Fruit of the Land Ten against Two great odds prove the Devils Instruments who had prompted them to this Practice and Rais'd an hard Report upon the Glory of all Lands Ezek. 20.6 Numb 13. 32. Hereupon Israel falls upon Mistakes As 1st That the Lord Hated them Deut. 1.27 whereas never was Child more Charily carried by a Tender Father as his own Bowels and never was Prince served in more State than they had been all along yet they thus Desperately Belyed the Lord. 2dly They make themselves a Captain to Return to Aegypt Neh. 9. 16 17. as if that were better for them which could no way be Thus they cast the Helve according to the Proverb after the Hatchet and like Children because they might not have what they would grew Sullain and would have nothing This highly pleased the Devil and the rather because it mightily Displeased the Lord insomuch as he Swore They should wander in a Circle until they were worn out and spend about 38 y. in Journeying from that place of their Sin Kadish-Barnea to the self-same place Kadish-Barnea again Numb 33. 18. and 37. which is call'd Richmah here but before Paran and Kadesh Numb 13. 3 26. and Deut. 1. 19. Kadish-Barnea as the Lord was there Sanctify'd Hebr. Kadesh upon the People and made them Wandring Sons as Barnea signifies Numb 14. 32. Yea and there Mans Life was shortned from Hundreds of Years they had Lived to 70 or 80 Y. as Moses then making the 90 Psalm sheweth to wear them out the sooner And thus God was a Moth to them to wear them Sensim sine Sensu insensibly away though he would not be as a Lyon to them to Devour them at once and to Extirpate them utterly Hos 5. 12 14. because he had Pardon'd them at Moses Prayer Numb 14.20 And therefore doth he Preserve their Children both to Propagate the Church and to Possess the Land However this sad Doom both in cutting their Lives shorter and in causing them to Wander so as to make that way which in it self was but 11 days Journey Deut. 1. 2. to be above Three times 11 years Journey long Expos'd them for the Devil of Discontent to possess Hence arose this grand Plot Korah's Conspiracy as well as all their other Murmuring afterwards Korah was the Devils Chief Instrument in this 3d. and Grand Disturbance or Internal Impediment in the Church's Motion towards Canaan he was the Principal Rebel Hence this Plot is call'd Korah's conspiracy and 't is Korah's Congregation or Company Numb 16. 5 16 22. and 26. 9. and 27. 3. And the Gain-saying of Korah Jude v. 11. And to make his Conspiracy the stronger draws in Dathan and Abiram to be his Complices Yea and 250 Princes of the Assembly Numb 16. 2. and not onely so but even all the Congregation v. 19. Who were all too ready to promote this Plot he having perswaded them that God also would promote and Prosper it v. 41. Thus one Scabb'd Sheep infected the whole Flock and as Juvenal saith Vuaque Corruptâ livorem ducitabab Vuâ Hence the Psalmist Imputeth this Conspiracy to all Israel They Envyed Moses also and Aaron the Saint of the Lord Psa 106. 16. Inasmuch as the People did neither Desire to Punish those Conspirators nor Enter'd their protest against them they are all look'd on as a Rabble of Rebels against God and his Servants and accused as Guilty of the Sin Thus Satans sowr Leaven almost Leaven'd the whole Lump And though Aaron was not Innocent in the Two former Internal Impediments being an Accessory in them both yet in this he keeps Clean and is call'd a Saint of 〈◊〉 Lord being one of the main Marks those Rebels Shot at for Korah his Cousin-German Exod. 6. 18. of the Tribe of Levi Aspired to have the Priest-Hood from Aaron v. 11. and being enraged that Elizaphan Son of the 4th Family should be preferred before himself of the 2d Family Numb 3. 30 and he Incenses Dathan and Abiram who were his next Neighbours in the Camp so soonest seduced to claim the Principality from Moses as being of Reuben the First-Born 'T is against Moses and against Aaron Numb 16. 3 11. against Magistracy and against Ministry a Desperate and Dangerous Conspiracy 1st In Slaunderlng the Governours that they took too much State too much Power too much Honour and too much Holiness upon them whereas they took none of these upon them but what the Lord God had given them Hebr. 3. 3. and 5. 4. Thus these Ring-leaders of the Rebellion most Presumptuously prescribe an Amendment of Gods Word and Work and would have his Divine Institutions to truckle unto their Humane Humours and fond Inventions 2dly In Flattering the Governed As if the People were Holy and might make their immediate approaches to God both with their Incense and Offerings All this is as false as the former Moses was Ambitious say they 'T is as true as Israel was Holy much alike had Moses been so while God lifted him up over Israel he had never faln at their Feet as v. 1. And had Israel been Holy who
his own Duty towards them and that in his Threefold Capacity 1. As a Father 2. As the High-Priest 3. As the Chief Magistrate or Judge 1st As a Father So the Devil made use of his Candid Constitution and his sweet Natural Disposition even to a Cockering of his Sons and to a too much Tenderness towards them as he did David's afterwards towards His 1 Kin. 1. 6. c. both in their Younger and Elder years over-much Mercy marrs many a Child Pro. 13. 24. and 23. 13 14. 'T is likely Eli had always been a Fond Father to his Sons and brought them up in his Doting Indulgency till he brings down his House by their Diabolical Impiety 2ly As High-Priest which added more Authority to him over his Wicked Sons yet doth he so gently Reproove them for their Sins so exceeding sinful even to Black Sins under a White Ephod as if he had been Afraid to Hurt them 1 Sam. 2. 22 23. A Gentle Reproof can never be a Salve broad and sharp enough for such a Sore as is Notorious and Abominable Wickedous He did it as Hierom saith Lenitate patris non Authoritate pontisicis by the Gentle Lenity of a Father not by the grave and Severe Authority of an High-Priest who should have expell'd them out of their Sacred Function for their sinful Practices and Excommunicated them out of the Church of God 3. As the Judge or Chief Magistrate which gave him power most of all to punish those prosligate Varlets yet he onely Shaves the Head which Deserved Cutting off he should have punish'd them for their Adultery they having Wives of their own 1 Sam. 4. 19. according to the Law yet comes off onely with Why do ye such things and Nay my Sons c. whereas he should have Instanc'd and Aggravated their evil Doings for their Shame and Horror and Executed Justice upon them as Degenerate Sons of Belial rather than of Eli 1 Sam. 2.23 24. 25 c. Hereupon he is blamed for Gratifying his Sons more then Glorifying God v. 29 chusing rather to please them than him and not punishing those prophane Priests either by Ecclesiastick Censures or by Civil Penalties Fearing possibly least by this means the High-Priesthood should go from his Family of Ithamar as it had from Eleazar's for the like Misdemeanour which also did befall him afterwards 1 Kin. 1. 26. 1 Chron. 29. 22. Thus Eli by seeking to prevent that Evil in an evil manner and by evil means did the sooner procure it For God became highly Displeased and the Devil took this Advantage and powr'd in three Grand Mischiefs and Maladies upon the Church of God all which had most Blessed Remedies in Samuel Successor to Eli to wit 1. The Abhorring of the Lord's Sacrifice 2. The Failure of all Prophetick Visions 3. The Captivity of the Ark by the Philistines 1st Of the 1st Those Prosligate Priests made the People to abhorr the Offerings of the Lord 1 Sam. 2. 17. and to Transgress v. 24. where the Prophane Clergy so called laid a Stumbling-Block before the Sober Laity not onely in their sinning so presumptuously and scaping Scot-free in so Doing against God himself and Dishonouring the Lord in prophaning his Worship and Abusing his Ordinances but also in giving such an evil Example to God's People by their wicked Practices whom they should have Instructed in the good ways of God according to their Office so as to make them withdraw from God's Worship when they saw it so much prophaned by their Impieties This God Complains of as a Spiritual loss to his Peoples Souls more than of the Honour of his own Name dishonoured thereby Hence 't is said the People Transgressed in Neglecting to come to God's Worship in Shilo The Men would not come while those prophane Priests Theevishly and Sacrilegiously Abused God's Sacrifice 1 Sam. 2. 13 to 16. And the Women durst not come for Fear of a Rape v. 22. for those lewd losels though they had Wives of their own were sick of a Plurisie for knowing more Women And like the Devil their Master lov'd to Sow their Seed upon other Mens Ground Matth. 13. 25. The 2d Malady was The Failure of Prophecy in those licentious times of Eli 1 Sam. 3. 2. The Word of the Lord was Precious in those Days though there was some secret Vision as to Manoah and his Wife Judg. 13. yet there was no open Vision the Spirit of Prophecy was Rare and Scarce and therefore Pretious Rara Praeclara in those Days of Detestable Debauchery and both Neglect and Contempt of God's Worship for which God Inflicted this fore Judgement upon them that they should have a Famine of the Word Amos 8. 12. and that there should not be a Prophet among them nor any that could tell them how long Psal 74. 9. 'T is very sad with the Church when there is a Sealing up of Prophecy Dan. 12. 4. and she is plainly benighted in this way-less Wilderness This Darkness upon Israel who were Children of light and of the Day 1 Thess 5. 5. could not but please the Prince of Darkness and give him both light and fight of the Success of his Plot to make them both stumble and fall Joh. 3. 20. 1 Joh. 2. 11. The 3d. Malady is the Captivity of the Ark which was first Touched for which Vzzah perished 2 Sam. 6 6. 7. and also taken by the Hands of the Uncircumcised 1 Sam. 4. 11. which made the Wife of Phinehas to cry out Ichabod that Glory was departed from Israel the greatness of her Grief made her Repeat it Twice v. 21 22. seeing the Sign of God's presence and Protection which was therefore call'd their Glory Psal 78. 61. the Face of God Psal 105. 4. Yea God himself Psal 122. 5. was carried Captive as if the Devil had been too strong for God and as if God could keep the Ark no longer but was Constrained to let it go out of Canaan into the Countrey of the Philistines who verily Thought they had taken the God of Israel Prisoner v. 8. Indeed Israel ascrib'd that Honour to the Ark of God which was Due onely to God himself for upon their Defeat knowing no other Cause though there was enough Psa 78. 58 61 62 63. but the want of the Ark. They send for it to Shilo that it might save them v. 3 4. 1 without Consulting with God 2 they brought it into the Camp without due Reverence 3 and that by the Hands of Two prossligate Priests All which was more likely to bring a Curse upon them and not a Blessing When this Ark of Wood was made an Idol by the Israelites they fare worse and not better v. 2 10. Notwithstanding its presence external priviledges rested and Trusted in are more Destructive than Saving Rom. 2. 9. and God justly suffers it to be taken from them by the Philistines Now the Devil having got the Ark of God into his own Temple to wit the Temple of Dagon which they had
Rebuilt since Samson pull'd it Down Judg. 16. 23 25. and the Two Cherubims now Spreading their Wings under the Roof of an Ugly Image Half a Fish and Half a Man no doubt but he had a further and fairer Prospect of prospering in his Project yet even Then God Awakes who had been Asleep as it were all this time Psal 78. 65 60. puts forth his Power Beats Dagon upon his own Dunghill yea Beats him down to the Ground as if he had met his Worshippers to Worship them and falls down to them that came the next Morning to fall down to him 1 Sam. 5. 3. and when their Superstition had made them more Senseless than their Senseless Idol Psal 115. 8. they become Patrons to their God and as if it had been onely a Chance Helps him up into his place He is a miserable God that cannot Rise alone but stands in need of Helping up by his own Worshippers and craves more Help from them than ever he could give to them Dagon is again rais'd up into His Rood-loft to Affront the Ark and hath those very hands lifted up to him which had helped to lift him up Will a Jealous God who Winks and sits still on purpose to behold their mad Folly and stupid Confidence and to Fetch about his own Glory put up this Injury shall this Lifeless Stone continue as a sit Companion with the Living God and scape Scot-free with an Harmless Fall No God cannot Brook Corrivals Dagon Falls again and Breaks his Neck His Head the Seat of Wisdom and His Hands the Seat of Power were both Cutt off v. 4. to shew them their God could neither Consult nor Act for them yea God had chopp'd them off upon the Threshold of his own Temple as a Cook sometimes doth the Head and Leggs of a great Fowl for his Masters Dinner and now those that came to Worship him might Tread those parts they most Trusted in under foot as unsavoury Salt and Dagon was now no better than a Dunghill-Deity They might now set their Foot upon the best parts of their Idol whereon they had set their Heart and now those chiefest pieces met them at the Threshold to tell them how much they were mistaken in their Headless Handless and ever Footless God Nothing but the Stump remained to wit the Fishy part that had no Feet and that also sadly Bruised and Battered by the Fall And because those obstinate Idolaters instead of giving Glory to God who had Destroy'd their Idol gave Honour to the Threshold which their Dagon had Touched v. 5. whereby however God perpetuated the Memory of the Miracle in the minds of Posterity as if the Broken Head and Hands of the Idol had Hallowed it They had it in great Veneration Thus the Pagans of Old Kissed the Threshold of their Temples and the Papagans at this Day do Kiss the Threshold of Peters-Church in Rome when they enter into it Suppose it were done as some say by way of Detestation and not by way of Veneration as Dear Relations will Detest to touch that Sword wherewith their neer Friend hath been Murthered yet even so the Romanists do Symbolize with those Uncircumcised inasmuch as the Pope in his Solemn Procession declineth to Walk that Street in Rome wherein Pope Joan was Delivered as a Street unhappy to the Credit of their Church Thus the Priests of the Devil might forbear to Tread upon the Threshold that was so Unhappy as to break the Head and Hands of their Supposed Deity However the Lord was Angry for no better Improoving the Fall of their Idol neither the first nor second therefore Falls he foul upon themselves pays their Posteriours like so many Puniboys and Plagues them with Emrods yea and as some think with the Foul Disease and likewise with Mice that Marr'd their Land as the Blind Piles Marr'd themselves Their Dagon could not drive so much as a poor Mouse from them insomuch that their own Mouths Confessed The Lord's Hand is sore upon us and upon Dagon our God v. 7. The Ark is too Hot for them to Hold They carry the Ark of God and with it the Plague of God up and down to their Neighbours any whither they would bear it rather than Home to Israel until God forced them to yield saying Let the Ark Return to its own place v. 11. Yea and that City which first said so fared the best for the Men there Dyed not as they did in other Cities Thus God's Revenge Works out Nolens Volens the Ark's Return and not without a Trespass-Offering though Ridiculous such as Satan in Contempt of God had suggested to their Diviners 1 Sam. 6. 2 4. The Ark is carryed Home by two Untamed and Untrained Kine that had Calves at Home which Naturally they break through All to come at and that without a Driver All this made the Miracle greater God Himself drove the Cart and made the Kine know their Owner Isa 1. 3. which Hophni and Phinehas Two Priests had not done 1 Sam. 2. 12. This was no doubt The Fruit of Samuel's Pray'r in whom the Lord Restored the lost Spirit of Prophecy hence is he called the first of the Prophets after that Failure Act. 3. 24. Hebr. 11. 32. and of Israel that Lamented after the Ark not being Contented with an Empty Tabernacle but thought themselves forlorn without the Ark in it Thus Gracious was God to his poor People to make the presence of the Prisoner the Ark Grievous to the Philistines and being set at Liberty Joyful to Israel Even so will the Lord do with all those that Deal thu with the Gospel as they did with the Ark he will make them Smart for it and Laugh all their Plots to Nothing Especially if God give his Samuels to his Church that cease not to Cry to the Lord for her at her Request 1 Sam. 7. 8 9. And the Spirit of Repentance be powr'd out upon his People so that All Universally Lament after the Lord even with Storms of Sighs and Shours of Tears though after 20 Y. Bondage and Backslidings v. 2 to 6. Weeping before the Lord abundantly that their Sorrowing might be proportionable to their Sinning Samuel's Sermons to Israel in his Itinerary Circuits wrought so powerfully upon them as to fetch Groans out of their Hearts Tears out of their Eyes Vows out of their Mouths and Idols out of their Hands Oh! for such a Divine Dispensation in our Day then though the Five Lords of the Philistines 1 Sam. 6. 16. those Five Lords in the Tower do Plot against us and Assault us in our Fasting and Praying If our Samuels do but Cry as he was Excellent at that Work Psal 99. 6. Jer. 15. 1. and Offer up the Lamb of God with their Prayers as he did v. 7 9. God will Hear and Thunder upon them with a great Thunder as v. 10. and Ch. 2. 10. and Josh 10. 10. Judg. 4. 15. and smite them so at Beth-car the House of the
Lamb as to make them come no more v. 10 11 12 13. the same God is our Eben-Ezor or Stone of Help v. 12. The Fourteenth Plot against the CHURCH in Canaan Defeated by GOD. CHAP. XIV WHen God had Graciously given a Suitable Remedy to that great Malady by Eli's Sons in Holy Samuel and so had Establish'd his Church Ark and Worship again Satan play'd his Pranks and plys his Plots again in the Days of Saul David and Solomon 1st of Saul The Wicked One never Idle Debauches Samuel's Sons as he had done Eli's notwithstanding their stricter Education Samuel could not well be guilty of that Sin of fond Indulgency which he from God had Reprooved in Eli. This gave the Occasion to Israel for changing their Aristocracy or rather Theocracy 1 Sam. 8. 7. into a Monarchy and Saul of Wicked Gibeah Judg. 19. was set over them for his Stature as David was after for his Heart Saul at first Reigned as a King well and Orderly but being Rejected of God for Disobedience he turn'd a Tyrant and Rul'd with Rigour 1 Sam. 13. 1. with 14. 47. Then the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and an evil Spirit from the Devil by the Lord's leave possessed him Ch. 16. 14. which cast him into Fits of Phrenzy and Fury Here began the 1st Branch of this 14th Plot in Saul's Reign as the other Two did in David's and Solomon's which all Three in Conjunction makes up this 14th Diabolical design against the Church of God By Israels 1st King Satan labours to Hinder the Church By the 2d God Advances her By the 3d. God brought her to her greatest Glory 1st In Saul who at his first Entry quitted himself nobly in the overthrow of Israels Enemies but when scarce well warm in his Kingdom he Hears of losing it 1. For his Incroaching into the Priests Office of Sacrifising 1 Sam. 13. 8 9 13 14. where his distrust made him praecipitant he should have stay'd for Samuel one Hour or two longer had he done so his Kingdom had been Establish'd upon him but his Rotten Heart was Discover'd by this Delay and his Doing foolishly in Thrusting himself among the Priests as he had done among the Prophets procures him tydings of its Translation to Another whose Heart was Vpright Psal 57. 7. and who would do all Gods wills Act. 13. 22. 2ly For his sparing Agag with his Amalekites and Cattel contrary to God's express Command 1 Sam. 15. 2 3 8 9 26 28. out of foolish pitty to his fellow-King he spared the one and because he Feared the People he spared the other therefore Samuel said to him The Lord hath Rejected thee c. And this Doubly Declared Rejection brings him into a sad Melancholick Dejection Discontent is called the Devil's Bath wherein he Delights to Wade The old Man-slayer takes this Advantage and turns his Melancholly-dumps into a mad Phrenzy inasmuch as in his frantick Fits he Transports him outragiously to Slay all in his way Friends as well as Foes even his own dear Jonathan once Ch. 20. 33. as well as his Deserving David often sometimes covertly as Ch. 18. 17 25. and sometimes overtly as v. 11. and Ch. 19. 10. The Devil that Evil Spirit possessing him had filled Saul's Heart from Corner to Corner with his own Disease to wit Envy which is call'd Morbus Satanicus Vitium Diabolicum against David whom he knew God had Raised up to Raise up the low Estate of His Church 1 Sam. 24. 20. Yet by the over-ruling Hand of God The Spirit of the Lord that rested upon David from his first Anointing ch 10. 13. by the power of which he Kill'd a Bear and a Lyon Chap. 17. 34. was all along too hard for Sauls Devil not only when Davids Musick drove away Sauls Melancholly Chap. 16. 23. but also in all Sauls both Secret Craft and open Cruelty 1st In his Craft How many Plots did the Devil in Saul contrive to cut off David from advancing the Church yet God Laughs them all to nothing and 't is very Remarkable God Extracts Happy Remedies out of the very Loins of Wretched Saul against all Davids Vnhappy Maladies once Michal and often Jonathan Sauls own Son and Daughter God makes use of his own Children to disappoint him of his Wicked Design and to deliver Innocent David whom he foolishly followed as his Adversary Chap. 19. 2 4 12 13 c. and 20. 27 29 30. 34 to 42. Jonathan shot over David that Saul might shoot short of him And 2dly in his Cruelty When he threw his Javelin three times to Kill David yet the Lord Interposes as oft and he who Guided the Stone which David did sling unto Goliah's Forehead for his Destruction Diverts Sauls Javelin from Davids Body though a fairer Mark and nearer hand for his Deliverance This was Sauls Cordolium or Heart-ake when he could not come at and compass Davids Heart to destroy it whose onely Fault was Faithfulness and who must dye onely because he made Israel Live Saul as is the Nature of Envy feeds upon his own heart Ch. 18. 12 15. Invidia Siculi non Invenêre Tyranni majus Tormentum Envy exceeds all the Torments the Tyrants of Sicily ever Invented it destroys its own Habitation as the Worm doth the Nut wherein it is bred Thus God made Saul his own Inward Executioner by sending this Fire into his Bosom to burn him and this Worm to be continually gnawing upon his Intrals long before he was his own Outward Executioner at last And Sauls Frantick Devil did not hurry him into Outragious Cruelty against David onely but against the Priests of the Lord for shewing kindness to David Chap. 22. 12 13 16 c. Oh what a Mad Phrensy was manifest in his cruel Commission Turn and slay the Priests of the Lord Ver. 17. His malice was bent against the Lord himself for taking away his Kingdom and giving it to another and because he could not come at the Lord who was out of his reach he spends his Spleen and vents his mad Fury upon his Priests 'T is a wonder that the very Word the Priests of the Lord in his Mouth did not make his Hands tremble to Murther them and that without two or three Witnesses according to the Law but only upon the bare single Testimony of a falie and flattering Sycophant hence some say that this Damnable Hypocrite Saul did commit herein the Sin against the Holy Ghost Massacreing such a multitude of Innocents as 8 Priests as the Scripture and 300 persons more as Josephus tells us Chap. 18. ver 18 19. and though his own Servants durst not do such a Villany vers 17. obeying God rather then the King yet Doeg that bloody Edomite of Esau that had been as far in Gods Sanctuary as David Chap. 21. 7. sticks not at this Desperate Villany yet in this Horrid Act of Cruelty God baffles the Devil that acted Saul and his Swine-herd Doeg in two respects 1st While this
all 1 Kin. 11. 11 12 13. 1. For Davids sake which is five times repeated there for his honour and 2. For Jerusalems sake both which had peculiar promises as 1. David 2 Sam. 7. 9 10 11 12 16. all performed by the promiser either in the Types ' or Antitypes 2. Jerusalem that holy City Neh. 11. 1. 18. Isa 52. 1. wherein Zion and the Temple stood and was the special Type of the Church Psal 51. 18. Isa 62. 1 7. and 66. 20. Revel 21. 2. and therein God promis'd to David his servant that he should have a light or Lamp always 1 Kin. 11. v. 36. to wit a Royal Successor that should shine before his people which was most properly accomplish'd in Christ Luke 2. 32. The Scepter could not be taken either by men or Devils from Judah until Shilo came Gen. 49. 10. and then was he a light to the Gentiles as he had been and still was a glory to Israel Now though the Devil that Grand Make-bate of the World had a great hand in this Rent or Division together with his Impious Instrument Jeroboam yet the Lord had a greater hand in it to ordain order and over-rule all For thus saith the Lord This thing is from me and the cause was from the Lord as well as from the Devil 1 Kin. 12. 15.24 As it was a sin call'd Rebellion Ch. 12. 19. so it was from the Devil but as it was a punishment of sin both of Solomons Idolatry Ch. 11. v. 11. and of Rehoboams insolency so it was from God as an Act of Justice from the Supreme Judge Am. 3. 6. God here withdraws the Spirit of Wisdom from Rehoboam and leaves him to his own egregious folly as Chap. 22. 23. 2 Chron. 25. 20. and 32. 31. God knows how to order the disorders of the World to his own glory as having an over-ruling Providence beyond mans purpose and an over-pouring power still to preserve his poor Church though Solomon had been sharing himself betwixt God and Idols and therefore his servant Jeroboam shall share the Kingdome with his Son Rehoboam yea and bear away the better half from him yet Judah still rules with God and God with them and is faithful with the Saints When Ephraim the ten Tribes compassed God about with lyes Hos 11. v. 12. that is while back-sliding Israel went after their Leaden Priests made by Jeroboam of the basest of the people and their Golden Calves Judah kept tite to the Temple-worship and firm in the true Religion Thus the most gracious God even in the midst of wrath remembers mercy and leaves this blessing soon repenting of the evil behind him that a Lamp should be lighted in Jerusalem which the most boistrous blasts of the Devil and his Instruments should not blow out The Sixteenth Plot against the CHURCH in Canaan Defeated by GOD. CHAP. XVI NOw when the Devil had divided so great a share of Davids Kingdome to himself by Divine Permission the Lord of the Soyl Hos 9. 3. Isa 8. 8. giving way for his own glory to such sad Incroachments he falls upon sowing the cursed seed of his Tares upon the Lords Land among those Tribes who disdain'd to live any longer by the Lords Law Oh wonderful there was no visible Church upon Earth at this time but in the Land of Promise and yet the only wise God gives up to Satan when all the World lay in wickedness 1 Joh. 5. 19. and so in the possession of that wicked one even the largest share of his own Land also though it was but a little spot of Land no bigger than our Wales in all Thus the Lords Land Levit. 25. 23. became the Devils Land too in the greatest part with all the rest of the Habitable World Oh how unsearchable are the ways of the Lord and his works past find-out Rom. 11. 33 34 35. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oh the bottomless depth of Divine Wisdome the Devil having got this leave against Israel as once against Job when Gods Hedge was gone begins to lay waste Gods Vineyard Isa 5. 5 6. He now falls to work for debauching Israel he first makes them cast off their true Soveraign and chuse a false one Jeroboam the Son of Nebat must be the man one that wanted neither Craft nor Courage to back this Horse which had cast his Rider Next to Achitophel the Devil had not a craftier Head to plot against the Church than this Leader of the Faction and Fraction As the subtil Serpent infused into him his subtilty for stealing a Scepter so for securing it to him when he had stoln it His Plotting Head had this considering Cap upon it 't was but a pang of discontent that made me King violent things are not permanent sudden Paroxysmes or Fits of passion have as sudden Relaxations and recoveries the Revolters cannot return thrice a year to the Temple in Jerusalem as God commands them Exod. 34. 23. but 't will make them revolt from me and return to Rehoboam I must either keep them off from God or I shall never keep them off from Loyalty and Piety Therefore to give them a pleasant Diversion when he durst not offer a direct Restraint and Prohibition he changes and adulterates that Religion which he dare neither inhibit nor abolish Hereupon this new King plots to make Israel a new God and for their ease nearer home too that they might not be toiled with going so far as the Temple pretending to be more merciful to the people than the most merciful God yea and more prudent than he in his more compendious and plausible way of worship altogether accommodated to the ease and humour of the people Aaron had humour'd Israel with one Golden Calf such as they had seen long in Egypt Exod. 32. 4. Now Jeroboam who had lately lived there 1 Kin. 11. 40. judges it proper after Aarons example to humour them with two which he sets up at Dan and Bethel at both the ends of the Land North and South 1 Kin. 12. 27 28 29. Thus took he crafty counsel of his cursed Courtiers and so he might secure his Realm and Region he matter'd not though Religion were run down to ruine And this thing became a sin to Israel v. 30. a most heinous sin though it was but a base thing this Image was one of the basest Psal 106. 20. The Image of a Calf eating Hay Oh what Brutish Creatures were Israel made by an Intoxicating Devil Psal 115. 8. so as to fall down and worship such a Brutish Creature as a Calf as soon as it was set up yea that service which was only due to God was performed to Devils in this base thing 2 Chron. 11. 15. all Idolatry is Devil-worship all Devotion that is not done to God nor by a Divine Warrant is done to the Devil there is no Medium or Mean betwixt them 1 Cor. 10. 20 21. Revel 9. 20. Now the Devil that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Idol-lover had
Father This Son alone shall have both Tears and a Tomb for his goodness his other Sons shall have no sorrow but for their lives and at their deaths no Graves but the Belleys of Dogs and Fowls v. 6. 11 12 13. Israel had cause to mourn when they had lost such an hopeful Heir of the Kingdom The fourth Divine Testimony against Jeroboams Idolatry was as 1. Against his Altar 2. Against his Arm. 3. Against his Heir so 4. Against his Army Jeroboam in the eighteenth year of his Reign raises a vast Army no less than eight hundred thousand to vanquish Abijah while young and newly steâ—t into his Father Rehoboams Throne which was then empty by his Fathers death young Abijah raises an Army to resist him which was but half as big as Jeroboams yet was it an huge Army too considering that fifty thousand is now counted a Royal Army whereas his was four hundred thousand which is eight times as many as is fifty Those two great Armies the 800000 of Jeroboams for Idolatry and the 400000 of Abijahs against Idolatry faces each other in the Field Abijah by his Heralds sounds a Parley stands upon Mount Zemeraim as Jotham likewise had done upon Mount Gerizim Judg. 9. 6. makes a pious pithy elegant and artificial Oration not unlike Solomons Grand-child to the Heads of Jeroboams Army wherein he shews them the honour God had from Judah and the dishonour he had from Israel and many mighty Motives he presses upon them to desist their irrational and irreligious enterprize whereof they could never render any good reason nor ever hope for any good success While Abijah was thus Haranguing in his Religious as well as Rhetorical Disswasives by a fair and friendly Treaty Jeroboam basely useth most foul and filthy treachery in causing an Ambushment behind him while his main Battalia was before him to surprize him at unawares 2 Chron. 13. 3 4 5 13. Judah espying his treachery and their own danger cryed unto the Lord v. 14. having strong fervency in praying to God for succour in that dangerous case prayers were their Souldiers surest great Ordinance and together with their holy prayers they joyn an honest policy the whole Army together gave one great unanimous shout v. 15. This loud Acclamation They run they run affrights Israel especially God striking them at the same time with a panick fear and with frightful Furies in their own Consciences they all fly and fall in a monstrous and matchless slaughter v. 16. 17. to wit five hundred thousand men of Israel were slain by the men of Judah who were but four hundred thousand so that they slew more than every one his man and this Slaughter is well called a Great Slaughter it being the greatest slaughter of men in any one Battel in all the World that we read of either in Sacred or Civil History And had those two Armies been united as Brethren against a Common Enemy they had made up the greatest Host that ever we heard or read of assembled together in the Field yet Judah the lesser number prevails against Israel twice as many because they relied upon the Lord. v. 18. Deo Confisi nunquam Confusi Judah confided in God therefore were they not confounded by Israel True trusting in God can never miscarry God is faithful and never fails the Faith of his people He that believes in him shall not be confounded 1 Pet. 2. 6. The fifth and last Divine Testimony was against Jeroboam himself God had let him blood as it were in the Arm to cure him of his Idolatry and struck the Vital Spirit out of it when 't was dry'd up but now God comes to strike the Soul out of his Body when neither Ministry nor Misery nor Miracle nor Mercy could mollisie and heal his impenitent heart neither the Wind nor the Sun to wit neither the blasts of Divine Judgments nor the Beams of Divine Mercy could make him cast his cumbersome Coat of Idolatrous worship but he will not though his hand was both withered and healed c. see Gods Hand against him but will live and die in his Idolatry Therefore the Lord smote Jeroboam v. 15. and the Lord struck him v. 20. that he died God gave him two deadly blows upon his Cheek-bone as Psal 3. 7. with his heavy hand so that he died not an ordinary but a sudden and violent death and that by a special hand of God The Lord smote him as with a Thunder-bolt as he smote Nabal that he died 1 Sam. 25. 38. Deadly Diseases are Divine stroaks as the Pestilence is call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Morbus Sacer or the Divine Disease though it is not expressed in Scripture of what Disease neither Nabal nor Jeroboam died and had his Idolatry died with him it had been better for Israel This Jeroboam the Son of Nebat who made Israel to sin 2 Kin. 10. 31. c. which is oft added as Jeroboams infamous stile 1 Kin. 12. 30. and 13. 34. and 14. 16. c. so oft it sounds in our ears made all the Kings of Israel sin his sin of Idolatry after him there being not one good Successor in his Throne of Apostacy until the Captivity though God raised up sundry famous Prophets as Elijah Elisha c. to reclaim them and though God did witness from Heaven against them in his most severe Judgments yet the perdition of one was not any availing caution to another for 2. Nadab took no warning at Gods Judgments upon his Father Jeroboam and he was rooted out and all his house 1 Kin. 15. 27. by Baasha 3. And the same Judgments in the same words are threatned against Baasha which had been against Jeroboam because he persisted in the same sin 1 Kin. 16. 3 4. And 4. Ela Baasha's Son was a Sot in his drunkenness and was slain in his sin by his servant Zimri v. 9. who 5. succeeded him but God soon cast that Rod into the fire wherewith he had chastised the house of Baasha v. 10 11 12. for Omri the 6. forced him to burn himself with his Palace v. 18 19. This Omri made wicked Statutes Mich. 6. 16. and made undoubtedly as wicked an end Qualis vita Finis ita he lived wickedly v. 25. seeking to out-sin all his predecessors so died wretchedly though not that we read of by any violent death His Son Ahab the seventh that None-such sinner succeeded whom being an uxorious man Jezabel his Wife stirred up even to unparallel'd wickedness v. 31 32 33. God sets this black brand upon this Virago Jezabel 1 Kin. 21. 25 26. who held her Husband in such slavery by a mischievous 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Woman wearing the Britches that for a quiet life with her he did not dare to deny her any thing that she would have done Hereby he proves worse than his Ancestors extorts Naboths Vineyard and life from him where the Dogs licked his blood afterwards yea and the Dogs did eat up Jezabel also 1
care of his Church and of his Promise to Abraham even when he seems to have Utterly Abandon'd them The same Graciousness that had sent Prophets to them all along their Revolt and a Promise of the Messiah at the same time their Rejection was foretold Isa 7. 8. within 65 Y. of its comming to pass That the Lord would not quite cast off the House of David till a Virgin have born a Son and he to be God in our Nature v. 14. and this Son to be Born in Bethelem One that should tread down all the Churches Enemies and be her Peace c. Micah 5. 1 2 3 4 5. yet would be War to the Assyrians in sending Lyons among them as before all which doth show That this Antient People of the Ten Tribes are not altogether Abandon'd and Abolish'd but God reserves this Honour for them to Vouchsafe them a Call to the Participation of Christ but more of that in New-Testament-times Ezek. 37. 16 19. Jer. 3. 12 13. c. Isa 11. 12 13. Obad. 20. Rom. 11. 15 26. The Seventeenth Plot against the CHURCH in Judah Defeated by GOD. CHAP. XVII WHen the Devil saw how successful he had been in Debauching and Destroying the Ten Tribes of Israel He falls upon his 17th Plot against the Kingdom of Judah which yet Ruled with God and was Faithful with the Saints Hos 11. 12. God was sincerely served amongst them and they Held fast their first integrity the True Religion was Publickly Professed and the True Worship of God was Purely Preserved in the Temple at Jerusalem This made Abijah the next to Rehoboam though none of the best to boast so boldly and therefore prevailed 2 Chro. 13. 10 17. Israels Apostacy was not onely Aggravated but also Vanquished by Judahs Integrity yea and Judah was Kind Courteous and Communicative to those good Souls that left the Ten Tribes and came thither to Injoy the Pure and Publick Worship of God This the Envious One espying and Envying Endeavours to Corrupt Jerusalem as he had done Samaria that so Aholah and Aholibah might be both Alike nay the latter to be worse than the former as afterwards Ezek. 16. 2 45 48. and 23. 4 11. Yea that Prince of the Ayr the Devil never gave over his stormy Blasts with his stinking Breath until he had Blown out that Lamp which God had promis'd to give David in Jerusalem 1 Kin. 15. 4. at the last which did fall out about the 3420 Y. of the World in the 11th Y. of Zedekiah when Ezekiels 390 Y. mentioned Ezek. 4. 5. were exactly accomplish'd in that fatal Fall of Jerusalem for which Jeremy Writt his Book of Lamentations to Condole the sad Condition of the Church because the Crown was faln from her Head Lam. 5. 15 16. and her Light or Lamp was Extinct by the Devils Extinguisher then was she brought into darkness and not into light Lam. 3. 2. and removed into dark places as they that be dead v. 6. so put into the Dark Graves of Babylon until the Time of their Opening came Ezek. 37. 12. c. Now to Reduce the Church to this faln and Extinct Estate The Devil Designs against her many Maladies and 't is remarkable God sent her as many Remedies in Raising up a good King for a bad a good King for a bad almost all-along whereas those of Israel were all bad Universally until they had sinned themselves beyond the Reach of all Remedies Prov. 22. 1. 2 Chro. 36. 16. Oh Dreadful and Direful Divine Sentence Satans first Blast against the Lamp of the Church in this 17th Plot was in Rehoboam who at 41 Y. old was Childish and Simple 2 Chro. 12. 13. with 13. 7. but of an Haughty and Hard-oppressing Spirit so prooved himself a very Fool Eccles 2. 19. though he were the Son of so Wise a Father a very fit Tool for the Devil and though for 3 Y. he did Well 2 Chron. 11. 17. yet after he did Evil and Judah with him which brought up Shishak K. of Aegypt to Plunder Jerusalem 1 Kin. 14. 22 23 24. Upon this the Devil got the Golden Shields of Solomon changed into Brazen ones v. 27. as he had made the faithful City now to become an Harlot No Wonder therefore that her Silver was become Dross and her Gold turned into Brass Isa 1. 21 22. Shishak prompted to this Enterprize by Jeroboam who had lived in the Court of Aegypt and as some say Married a Wife of the Blood-Royal easily prevaileth through the Pusillanimity and Effeminacy of Rehoboam but especially because Judah had Transgressed against the Lord 2 Chron. 12. 2. His Prevalency could not have happened without the Church's Prevarication Notwithstanding at the Preaching of the Prophet Shemaiah which was a great Divine favour both Princes and People Humbled themselves v. 5 6. which was a greater Divine favour but the greatest of all was that God did not then pour out his whole Wrath but granted them some Deliverance v. 7 8. So that things went well in Judah v. 12. The Devils 2d Blast against Davids promised Lamp was in the Reign of Rehoboams Son call'd Abijah 2 Chron. 12. 16. so his Father named him signifying The Lord is my Father with Respect to that Promise made to David 2 Sam. 7. 14. but because he Walked not in the ways of David therefore is Abijah called Abijam 1 Kin. 15. 1. which signifies My Father is a Sea Indeed his Father was as Inconstant in good as the Fluctuating Sea because he Prepared not his Heart to seek the Lord 2 Chro. 12. 24. he had only some slashy and fleeting Resolutions in his aforesaid Humblings but he did not draw them out into Execution because they Sprang not from his Heart that right Spring of all True goodness so they were soon off again and he wavering like a wave of the Sea Jam. 1.6 was driven by the Wind of Temptation to do Evil and so Dyes leaving a Diminish'd and Impoverish'd Kingdom to his Son Abijah or Abijam who did Evil like his Father Though the Book of Chronicles layeth no Wickedness to his Charge so joyns Jah the Name of God to his name Abijah yet the Book of Kings Chargeth him with the Wickedness of his Fathers ways and therefore calls him Abijam as above 1 Kin. 15. 3. Though at first when he went out to War against Jeroboams vast Army he seemed to be good pretending to and pleading hard for Religion 2 Chron. 13. 5 10 12. and praying to God in his Distress v. 14. and believing in God v. 18. but being puffed up with this great Victory he falls away and shew'd himself in his Colours treading in the same Dirty steps of his Idolatrous Father who when he Recover'd Bethel from Jeroboam 2 Chron. 13. 19. did not Destroy the Calf and Idolatry there for which cause 't is probable God shorten'd both his Reign and his Life Oh what a sad Aspect had the Church in that Day when not onely Israel Worship'd Jeroboams
Calves but also Judah Built them high places and Images and Groves on every High Hill and under every Green-Tree 1 Kin. 14. 22 23. Yea and Tolerated Sodomy in the Land v. 24. This sad Face of the Church and that continuing two Kings Reigns must needs sadden the Hearts of those Faithful Ones who among the 12 Tribes were Gods Remnant and Instantly served him Day and Night Act. 26. 7. There was no Visible Church in the whole World but in this little part of it And how was the Church here most Deplorably Depraved God sometimes suffers his Church as he doth the Moon to Wane out of sight and to be Ecclipsed yet such Gloomy times shall not last always God causeth Light to Spring up by Asa the 3d. King after the Revolt who Revives the Church and Refreshes the Children of God by a Right Reformation of Religion 1 Kin. 15. 11. both in the Privative and in the Positive part 1. The Privative He finding Sodom in Jerusalem Roots out the Sodomites v. 12. Demolishes the Idols those Dirty Dung-hill Deities call'd Deos stercoreos because of the Stench wherewith they offend Almighty God yea removes Maachah from being Queen-Regent for setting up a most filthy Idol in honour of Venus supposed the Picture of Pan or Priapus v. 13. 2ly The Positive part He doth not onely put down Idolatry c. but he sets up and Restores the Splendour of Temple-Worship 'T was his Grand-Father Rehoboam that turn'd Solomons Gold into Brass now Asa turns Rehoboams Brass into Gold 1 Kin. 15. 15. 'T is said of Augustus Coesar Romam Invenit lateritiam Reliquit Marmoream He sound Rome all of Brick he left it all of Marble So it may be said as Rehoboam had turn'd Jerusalems Marble into Brick so Asa turns it back from Brick to Marble as Solomon had left it 'T is a Wonder that both Sodomy and the Worst sort of Idolatry to wit Priapism should be found amongst Mankind being so contrary to the Light of Nature Rom. 1. 19 to 28. but much more amongst the onely professors of Religion that were then upon Earth Here the Devils Design had notable Success yet behold as great a Wonder in the Churches Remedy as was in her Malady the Lord raises up a good Son Asa from the Seed of an evil Father Abijam and from the Soil of an Idolatrous Mother Maachah and makes him to be such an Impartial Reformer as he would not grant a Dispensation to his own Mother or Grand-Mother 1 Kin. 15. 13. and 2 Chron. 15. 16. He finds her Unreclaimable from her Idols in her self and very Influential upon the People Hereupon the Law of God in Command 1. 2. Preponderates the Law of Nature Command 5th Down goes her Idols from their Station and her self from her Regency because his Heart was perfect with the Lord 1 Kin. 15. 14. And as a Reward of his Covenant-Reformation God gave him a glorious Victory over the greatest Army that ever we read of in any History to wit a Thousand Thousand Aethiopians who likely were call'd in by the Ten Tribes at the Devils Instigation in Revenge of their Five Hundred Thousand which Abijam had overthrown 2 Chron. 14. 9 to 12. God at good Asa's Prayer Smote his Enemies and as the Word signifies Tumbl'd them down Headlong Asa Reign'd long to do great and good things for the Church Therefore the Devil who did owe him an ill turn and had been hitherto under a Divine Restriction which to him is a grievous Vexation at last gets leave to Touch him with his Churlish Touches as Job 1. 11 12. to wit in causing him 1 to Connive at the Will-Worship in the High-places mis-devoted for the Worship of God who had Confined it to the Temple though he Demolished those set up in honour of Idols 1 Kin. 15. 13 14. this God graciously overlooks beholding Truth in his Heart God tenderly covers Asa's Frailty with the Mantle of Sincerity which he would not do for Unfound Jehu though Excellent things were done by him 2 Kin. 10.31 and inasmuch as the Indulgency of Asa's God did draw a Cross-line over all Asa's Weaknesses Satan lost his Design in Tempting him to this Sin and to the following also 2 To a Relyance on the King of Syria more than upon the Lord 2 Chron. 16. 7 8 9. Considence on Man an Arm of Flesh draws off his Confidence on God who gave him Victory over the Million of Aethiopians Isa 31. 1 2. He trusteth not God at all who trusteth not God above and over all Asa Hires Benhadad with Sacrilegious Treasure unfaithfully to break his League with Baasha and brings a Wicked Enemy into Gods Inheritance 3 To that which was worse even to the Imprisoning of Hanani the Prophet for reprooving him for his sin v. 10. Asa instead of comming to Repentance and calling for Mercy in a great rage against his Faithful reproover commands Revenge 4 To be as Harsh to the People as he was to the Prophet Tyrannically trampling upon those that protested against his Tyranny to the Lords Prophet for this God did not onely send upon his Kingdom continual War v. 11. but upon himself the sharp Dolorous Gout v. 12. whereby God clapp'd him up a closer Prisoner by the Heels in his Bed and with more Torturing Fetters than he had done Gods Prophet in Prison Then 5 to seek to the Physitians for Cure of his Gout and not to God v. 12. Thus falls he into his former sin of Creature-Confidence He that in his outward straits sought to Benhadad and not to God now in his Inward Sore seeks not to God but to Physitians not depending upon the Lord for his Blessing upon Men and Means No Wonder therefore that his Disease struck upward to his Head and Heart and that his Hot Feet carried him to his Cold Grave v. 13. Notwithstanding all those Failings the Devil lost his Design for 't is more than probable that Asa repented before he Dyed Seeing 1 God gave him this commendable Character That his Heart was Perfect with the Lord all his Days 1 Kin. 15. 14. 2 Chron. 15. 17. and 20. 32. and 2 his People gave him a most Honourable Funeral 2 Chron. 16. 14. which was Denyed to Wicked Jehoram Ch. 21. 19. and which they would not have done in that costly Solemnity for Asa had he not Repented and Reformed to be thus Honoured at his Burial Yea and God blest him with a long Reign of 41 Y. v. 13. wherein he saw many Successions and Changes upon the Throne of the Ten Tribes who were all speedily rooted out by their Idolatry whereas good Asa was long Establish'd upon his Throne by his True Piety in Despight of the Devil leaving his godly Son Jehosophat the 4th King to succeed him who prooved one of the best of the Princes of Judah whom God Stirred up for a Farther Reformation of Religion and for a fuller Preservation of his Church c. 2 Chro. 17 c.
Jer. 22. 18 19. His Son Coniah or Jehoiakin the 19th King is Wicked also Jer. 22. 24 c. and within Three Months surrenders the City got Quarter for his Life and Used kindly after for his yielding Ch. 24. 11. and 25. 27. Zedekiah the 20th whose Pride against God 2 Chron. 36. 12. and Perjury to Nebuchadnezzar prepared him for Destruction v. 13. And there was then a general Defection both of Priests and People now Gods wrath comes on them without Remedy v. 14 16. the Devil is well-pleased as God was displeased to see the Temple burnt and Judah carried Captive to Babylon The Eighteenth Plot against the CHURCH in Babylon Defeated by GOD. CHAP. XVIII NOW when the Devil had got the Church laid wast in Judah and as it is expressed in Scripture Buryed in the Graves of Babylon he made as sure Work as he could to keep them down there In order thereunto he made them Servants to Nebuchadnezzar and to his Sons evil Merodach and Belshazzar as the Prophet Jeremy had foretold Jer. 27. 6 7. yet this was not to fulfill the Will of the Devil but the Word of the Lord 2 Chron. 36. 20 21. Until onely the Land had Enjoyed her Sabbaths which had likewise been foretold Levit. 26. 34 35. and 23. 32. Ier. 25. 9 12. and 29. 10. Dan. 9. 2. The Land was Eased of that Wicked weight which brought upon it Gods heavy Curses and it had been toyled and tyr'd out with continual Tillage and so they had got out the very Heart of it to spend it upon their Lusts both in a Neglect and Contempt of Gods Holy Sabbaths ☞ The good Lord divert from us the like Judgements as an utter extirpation for the like Sins Oh how should our notorious Provocations make us Weep over and Tremble at the Word of the Lord Ezek. 24. 13 14. least Ruine come upon us without Remedy as upon Israel and Iudah whom Ezekiel calls Aholah and Aholibah Ch. 23. 4. the Lewdness of both which God caused to cease as a Caution to all Kingdoms that they may Hear Fear and do so no more v. 49 49. and Ezek. 16. 51 58 59. where the same matter is Expressed more plainly as in Ch. 23. 't is spoken parabolically yet this Thundering Law God was pleased most graciously to qualifie with some serene Sun-shine of the Gospel v. 60. Nevertheless I will remember my Covenant This spoil'd the Devils plot who thought the Cup now put into the Churches Hand in her Captivity was so Deep and Large Ezek. 23.32 that it had Eternity to the Bottom but Gods Covenant of Grace stop'd her bitter Draught be times not by thy Covenant to wit of Works made on Mount Sinai but by my Covenant to wit of Grace made on Mount Sion Ezek. 16. 60 to 63. This destroy'd the Devils Design of Burying the Church in the Babylonish-Grave of Everlasting oblivion which was as Impossible as to keep Christ in his Grave from a Glorious Resurrection Act. 2. 21. Rom. 1. 4. as the literal Body of Christ our Redeemer so the Mystical Body of Christ the Church Swallows up Death in Victory 1 Cor. 15. 54. The Lords Witnesses cannot be kept Under without a Glorious Resurrection Rev. 11. 10 11. Oh how gladly would the Devil have by his Agents kept Christ fast in the Grave when he had got him there Hereupon his Instruments those Kill-Christs procures a Commission to do that servile Work on the Sabbath-day in Securing and Sealing up Christs Sepulchre by Authority So they went and made the Sepulchre sure Matth. 27. 66. and now the Devil Dances upon the Grave of Christ as thinking himself Cock-sure of him but he that sat in Heaven Sees and Smiles Videt Ridet looks and laughs and Laughs all to Nothing he sets his King in despight of the Devil upon his Holy Hill of Sion Psal 2.4 6. and as Daniel was brought out of his Sealed Den of Lyons was made greater than ever So the Church that Prisoner of Hope is rais'd out of the Pit out of the Graves of Babylon by the Blood of the Covenant Zech. 9. 11 12. Gods Promise to this People is that though they lay in Babylon as in a Sepulchre and as it were buryed alive there yea and now nothing but bare Bones yea dry Bones such as were ready to crumble into Dust Their Case being so desperate that they desparingly say We are cut off for our parts hanging up their Hopes and their Harps together upon the Willows Psal 137. 1 2 3. yet God owneth them saying Behold Oh my People though they little deserved it Ezek. 37. 3 11 12. The Graves shall be Opened together with my Dead Body they shall Arise Isa 26. 19. Come my People your Captivity is but your Chamber a place of Rest I will bring you out thence God sent his Angel to Roul back the Stone as an Officer sent to let Christ out of Prison without the Keepers consent and sat upon it in despight of all their Arms which the Guard let fall out of their Hands at the Astonishing presence of the Angel Matth. 28. 2 3 4. There was an Earthquake at Christs Death that Opened the Graves Matth. 27. 52 53. for the Earth could not bear his Suffering and there was an Earthquake at Christs Resurrection for the Earth could not hinder his Rising and Christ graciously Comforts his Disponding Church in the Graves of Babylon Thy Dead Men shall Rise together with my Dead Body they shall Arise Awake and Sing thou that dwellest in the Dust Isa 26. â—9 Arise and come away Cant. 2. 10 13. and till thy 70 Y. be Accomplish'd he saith Come my People Hide your selves in your Chambers of Rest or Babylonish Retirement as it were for a little Moment c. Thus God lovingly bespoke his people when they were led Captive to Babylon as if leading them by the Hand to an hiding place of his own providing there saying I will make Babylon to you Oh my People what the Ark was to Noah and what Zoar was to Lot your Captivity shall be your Sanctuary Build ye Houses in Babylon and dwell in them take ye Wives and beget Sons and seck the peace of the City Jer. 29. 5 6 7. in a Land like your own Land for Fruitfulness 2 Kin. 18 32. As it is with sundry Plants which loses their Stalks as well as their Flowers in Winter yet shelter themselves by their Roots in the Earth the Ground is not their Grave but their Sanctuary a New Spring makes them live again to Bud and Blossom So it was the Churches Winter-time in the Graves of Babylon wherein God secured Sion when an out-cast as it were under Ground and trampled under foot as Roots of the most beautiful Plants in Winter yet Behold how the Lord Cherishes the Churches Root there and then with Thoughts of Peace and Love to give her an Expected End of her Winter and to bring a fresh spring upon her Jer. 29. 11
Day But suppose they had been of that Moyety of Mankind that lye dead in the Grave as Psal 88. 5. and that Death had not onely seiz'd but also fed upon them and had Gnawed them to the very bones leaving nothing but bare bones yea suppose those bones had been dryed yea so very much dryed ex Vetustate Carie both so old and so rotten as ready to moulder into Dust at the least Touch yet the great God who comes to stand over these Opened Graves as Christ did over Lazarus's Joh. 11. 38 41. and who by his Almighty Power can quicken the Dead and call things that are not as if they were Rom. 5. 17. Joh. 5. 28. Isa 26. 19. Hos 13. 14. he cryeth with some Groanings over the Grave Lazarus Judah Oh my People Oh my Church come forth Joh. 11. 43. Ezek. 37. 12. Yea he Roareth mightily from on high Ier. 25. 30. like the lusty Lyon finding his Whelps dead in his Den at their birth he falls a Roaring so fiercely that as Pliny Reports they presently revive and rise up So the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah Roareth here to the like purpose and much more at the last Day 1 Thess 4. 16. 1 Cor. 15. 52. together with Gods Word there goeth out a Power Luk. 5. 17. as when he said Lazarus come forth So it is in the first Resurrection and so it shall be in the last Joh. 5. 25 28 29. If God do but Speak to the dry bones saying Ye shall Live c. accordingly it is done as in the Creation of the World Gen. 1. 3 6 9 14 c. The Admirable Work of this great World was all made by a bare Word out of the Mouth of the Almighty God and He who could give a being out of nothing at the first can more easily restore a Being out of something again as out of dry Bones here This great Truth Ezekiel Gods Interpreter excellently Evidenceth in his Parabolical and Typical Vision of the dry Bones most aptly Applyed and Accomodated to the Jewish-Church in the Graves of Babylon which yet was Reviv'd Ezek. 37. v. 7. 1. By a Noise or Rattle to wit some Roaring Thunderclap 2. By a Shakeing as that of the Earthquake at Christs Resurrection Matth. 28. 2. the Earth did shake then to let Christ out of his Grave and now to let the Church out and when God delivers his Church from mystical Babylon he will shake Heaven as well as Earth Hebr. 12. 26 27. he will shake the old Heaven and the old Earth to settle the New Heaven and the New Earth 2 Pet. 3. 12 13. Gods Shakeing concludes with Settling 't is not to Ruine but to Refine his Church Oh what a Noise and what a Shakeing was made here by Ordinary Means as well as by Extraordinary in the Thunderelap above and in the Earthquake below to wit 1. by the Power of Prayer 2. by a prevalent Proclamation 1. Prayer hath a shakeing Power Act. 4. 31. Yea and a ratling Noise or Sound with it Act. 2. 2. as Ezekiels Vision of the dry bones had both those Two extraordinary and sensible Signs of Gods powerful presence so the Spirit of God came upon those Praying Ones as a Spirit of Power 2 ' Tim. 1. 7. and shakes the place of Prayr with a mighty rushing Wind and shakes the Persons too at that first planting of the Gospel as Planters do to young Plants that they may settle the better Now this Powerful Prayr for the Jewish-Churches Restoration out of Babylon was Threefold 1. That of Solomon 1 Kin. 8. from 46 to 54. this very Prayr though made about 468 Y. before shakes the Heart of the Persian Prince Cyrus so as to shew Compassion to Gods poor people in Babylon and at length gives them leave to Return thus Jacobs Prayr God Almighty give you Mercy or Hebr. Bowels Gen. 43. 14. was particularly Answer'd when Josephs Bowels yerned over Benjamin v. 30. 2. That of Daniel when he Vnderstood by Books how the 70 Y. were expired then he puts Gods Promise in Suit and speaks nothing in his Prayers but what God had spoke in his Promises and so was Answer'd by God in his Providences Dan. 9. 2 4 20. This Prayr shakes Heaven brings from thence Gabriel who tells him for the 70 Y. Captivity they shall enjoy their own Countrey Seven Seventies or 490 Y. v. 24. 3. That of the People who Prayed Fasted and Wept by the Waters of Babylon Psal 137. 1 2 3. 1 Kin. 8. 47 48. Zech. 7. 5. Those Three Actions in those 70 Y. shows the Church was no more Dead in Babylon than Daniel was in his Den for they are all Actions of the Living not of the Dead They Sow in Tears the precious Seed of Prayr Wing'd with Fasting so Reaps at last in joy Their Desolate Countrey made them Disconsolate Souls yet their Sighs unutterable brought Joy Vnspeakable Psal 126. 1 2 5 6. Then comes the 2d Shake Cyrus prevalent Proclamation the Lord stirring up his Spirit to it Ezra 1. 1 c. This turn'd the Churches Tears into Triumphs her Sighing into Singing her Sadness into Gladness And the Devil for all his Plots hath the Contrary to all these is Sad at his Defeat and goes learing away Now when God in whose Hand are the Hearts of all Kings Prov. 21.1 had most Happily stirr'd up the Spirit of Cyrus to Issue out his most Gracious Proclamation of a Jubilee to the Distressed Church wherein he was a Type of Christ Proclaiming Liberty to the Captives and the Opening of the Prison to them that are bound Isa 61. 1. and to give her so fair and full a Patent this Mighty Marvellous and Immediate Work of Divine Mercy in her so deplorable misery did so surprize her that she could hardly believe her own Eyes but was for a while as those that Dream Psal 126. 1. This was the Lords own Doing and most Marvellous in the Churches Eyes Psal 118. 23. especially upon those Respects 1. That their Graves should be opened 2. That their dry Bones should live again stand upon their Feet walk home into their own Countrey build a Temple c. 3. That Cyrus an Heathen King who did not know the Lord Sc. savingly Isa 45. 4 5. should not onely be called by Name above 170 Y. before he was Born to become the Lords Shepherd to Feed his distressed Church Isa 44. 28. but also 4. in the very Entrance into his Monarchy before his Affairs were fully settled to Dismiss so great and so United a People in their Religion and Custom and so given to Insurrection as their Character was Ezra 4. 12 19. and to Return them into their own Land with all manner of Accomodations both for State and Strength 5. 'T was most marvellous That this Decree or Proclamation should be Signed not onely 1. Precisely at the End of Daniels Prayer Dan. 9. 21 23. and 10. 12 14. No sooner was Daniels Prayer out of his
Fumigabunt Touch the Mountains and they will smoak Psal 104. 32. Touch a great Man upon the Sore as the Baptist here did Herod and he fumes casts the Toucher into Prison without Bail or Mainprize and there he lies for half a Year without ever coming to a fair Tryal or Hearing John Baptist knew well Gods Truth must be told however it be taken and not to be Betrayed as too oft it is by a Cowardly and Sinful Silence Here John lies in Fetters while the Fear of Man more than of God Restraineth Herod from Murdering him Mark 6. 17 20. Matth. 14. 4 5. he feared Johns Innocency which shone in his Face and he feared the People who Hated him already for his many Crimes and Cruelty least they should move a Mutiny at the Death of so Innocent and so much Honoured a Person Hereupon the Plot was layd 'twixt Herod and his Harlot Herodias to cut him off when their convenient Day Herods Birth-day did come Mark 6. 21. that day had been appointed long before for craftily Acting this cruel Tragedy a great Feast must then be made the Nobles Invited the Damosel-Daughter must Dance the King must Swear and must gratifie the Queen with the Baptists Head All this was done as if God had not been concern'd at all but God did so far concern himself that Herod was struck with Horror upon it with Terrour and Torment Luk. 9. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he stuck fast in the Mud and could find no way out yet God made him find a way out of his Kingdom the half whereof he had promis'd to the Damosel for Tripping Wantonly upon the Toe as Josephus Relateth and probably out of Gods Kingdom too So Father and Son be both alike in their Sin and Punishment The 2d By-Blow the Devil gave Christ was to cut off his Followers the Disciples as he had done his Forerunner John Baptist And this he endeavoured to effect when he had got the Disciples to Sea apart from Christ Matth. 14. 23 c. Mark 6. 45 c. Joh. 6. 16. Very loth were the Disciples to Lanch out to Sea alone and to leave his Sweet and Safe Company but Christ constrains them to do so 1 that he might the sooner dismiss the Multitude 2 he dismisseth his Disciples to Sea least they also should strike in with that Rash-many-Headed Multitude who would have made him King 3 Though they were loth to leave their best Friend behind them so neer Night in a Desart and all alone too yet this was Christs Choice that He might have an Opportunity of Solitary Prayer for their Safety and of his Miraculous Walking upon the waves to their Relief by the Want of Christ for a few Hours of Danger onely they learnt the Worth of Christ no sooner had the Devil caught the Disciples at Distance from Christ but to Work he falls then down comes the Storm and up goes the Sea another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or mighty Storm which is a Wind saith Aristotle that Rouls in a Circle with such Violence insomuch as it swallows up whole Towns in Italy c. and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a great Tempest a very Sea-Quake of the same Nature with an Earth-Quake which hath the Formidable force of removing Mountains and of casting down Strong Castles that stand upon them Descends from the Stinking Breath of the Prince of the Ayr the Devil upon now the poor and Christless Apostles with a malicious Intention to Drown them all that they might never trouble his Kingdom any more as with an Horrible Wind Satan had Brain'd all Jobs Children so by the like means he would have Drown'd all Christs Disciples Christ being absent in this latter as Job himself was in the former Instance Behold with me a little 1. The Churches Calamity 2. Her Comfort in the 1st See the sad Circumstances of this History of the Church * as 1 in this little Ship was embarqued all the Hopes of a Church that now God had in the whole World as in Noahs Ark couped up in a little compass 2 The Winds were contrary Matth. 14. 24. as Act. 27. 4. So 't is mostly with the Church that is so often blown back from the Cape of Good Hope and from the Haven of Heaven in her Militant-State she is ever and anon as in the Straits of Magellan wherein which way soever a Man Bends his Course he is sure to have the Wind sit cross to him 3 Those Contrary Winds were not so much Ordinary as Extraordinary so that those Apostles who were Fishermen and thereby experienced in ordinary Sea-Storms cryed out We Perish for 4 they were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mark 6. 48 49. which signifies not onely that they were Tossed with the Tempest but also Tormented with it so the Word is used Luk. 16. 23. The Rich Glutton was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Torments Thus the Afflicted Church was here not onely tossed with Tempests and not Comforted as Isa 54. 11. but also Tormented as those miserable Men are by the Tormentors in the Spanish Inquisition tossing them too and fro up and down till they be Ready to loose one Limb from another So this Wind was far unlike the sweet Gales of the Spirit of God which always blows Good to the Church out of every Quarter North and South Cant. 4. 16. but more like that Ruach Gedolah strong and mighty Wind 1 Kin. 19. 11. which had not the Lord in it for his Voice is a Voice of Mercy and Clemency and Natural to him Micah 7. 18. and his Voice of Justice against Jezebel which was not to be yet is called his strange Act Isai 28. 21. yea more then so for this Tempestuous Wind had the Devil in it and therefore it tossed the Church up and down hither and thither so it Toiled and Tormented them as if it had been Extorting as upon a Rack a Denyal of Christ and of all Christianity from them 5 They were in the Deep the Ship was now in the midst of the Sea Matth. 14.24 Mark 6.47 the Syriack Adds They were many Furlongs from each Shore agreeable to Joh. 6. 19. where 't is said they Rowed about Thirty Furlongs so deep was the Sea here that they could not Fathom or Feel the Bottom and here the Devil Hoped to carry it by carrying them down into this Deep and not onely so but to carry them also down still lower into his own Deep even to the Deep and Bottomless Pit of Hell 6 It was very Dark as well as very Deep Joh. 6. 17. which is a time very Terrible to Marriners to whom the Water affords them mostly a little Light now Darkness of it self was their Danger not knowing how to Steer their Course safely from Rocks and Quick-Sands Sailing was then Dangerous as Act. 27.9 when no Stars appeared v. 20. but this was more Dangerous in it self it being a Darkness from the Prince of Darkness the Devil who Hoped to Drown them
in the Deep and in the Dark a right Divelish deed of Darkness that they might not Discern their own Destruction Oh how doleful was all this to the Disciples 't was so deep they could not feel Bottom and so dark they could not discern Shore and whether this the Devils Hericane would drive them to drown them either by swallowing up the Ship in the midst of the Sea or by splitting her upon the Rocks or Sands of the Shore they knew not Oh what a sad Takeing was Judas whom Christ calls a Devil soon after this Joh. 6.70 in at this sad Bout But the 7 was the saddest Circumstance of all to wit Christ was Absent from them in this Storm who was present with them in the other And Jesus was not come to them Joh. 6. 17. This was worse to them than the Storm their best Pilot and Protector whose Presence had Protected them from the last late Storm was wanting Though Christ was Asleep in the former Storm yet was heat hand they could quickly Awake him but now was he out of their Call and they knew not when he would come Oh what can they do no doubt but the Devil might make them doubt of the Truth of Christs Words to them Ye shall bear by Name among the Gentiles as Act. 9. 15. 't was now more likely they should bear it down into the Deep and unto the Dead yet mark it they altogether Despond not they do not betake themselves to their Boat as those Desperado's did Act. 27. 30. but to their Oars Rowing hard about Twenty-Five or Thirty Furlongs Joh. 6. 19. They had so learnt of Christ Ephes 4. 20. that God must be Trusted but not Tempted by a wilful Neglect of Due means he is not tyed to them yet doth he usually Work with them their Sails they could not Hand out the Wind was too Boisterous therefore they keep Tugging with Hands all at their Oars even all the Three long Watches of the Dark and stormy Night for the Stress of Weather and the Disciples Distress lasted from Evening to Midnight and from thence to Cock-crow then after Cock-crow the 4th Watch of the Night God Blessed their Endeavours so far as to bring them to a Sight of their Dear longed and long-looked for Saviour Joh. 6. 19. * This doth Teach us In greatest storms to use all lawful Means and Practicable Helps for our own Deliverance as the Disciples here Non Navem Deserunt sed Remigando Laborârunt Deserted not their Stations but did their utmost at their Oars when they could do nothing with their Sails Try all things 1 Thess 5.21 if one way may not another may avail Having Viewed 1. the Churches Calamity in those Seven sad Circumstances now take a View of the Churches Comfort Christ will not leave her Comfortless 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Orphans Joh. 14. 18. as his Disciples seem to be now during Christs Absence who was not onely their Lord but their Father also for he calls them his Children Matth. 5. 45. but more plainly and distinctly he saith to his Disciples Children have ye any Meat Joh. 21. 5. ☞ Oh the Boundless and Bottomless Bowels of this Heavenly Father to his poor Children ever saying Compassionately to them Have ye Food and have ye Raiment Have ye this and Have ye that our Heavenly Father knoweth that we have need of these things Matth. 6. 32. both for our Souls the good things of the Throne and for our Bodies those of the Foot-stool he Careth and Catereth in every thing that is good for us Oh Happy we did we but know Believingly our own Happiness Psal 139. 14. and 22. 9. and 144. 15. Numb 11. 13. Hos 2. 8 21 22. Psal 50. 10. Rom. 8. 28. Oh Happy Disciples that had such a Father present or absent even when plung'd into the Deep of Misery we have seen their sad Suffering or Passion in the Circumstances aforesaid now View a little Christs Compassion for Comforting the Church in Calamity the Disciples could not well be Ignorant of the yerning of Divine Bowels over his Church in such a like Condition as theirs then was Isai 54. 11. Oh thou Afflicted c. and it could not but comfort the Disciples to consider they had not step'd out of Gods way when they met with this Storm for Christ had Constrained them to go this Voyage and that without him 'T is very Comfortable to take along with us in all our Journeys and Voyages Christs sweet and saving Company but Christ Commands them to go without him to this place where they were in this Jeopardy ☞ Hence Observe 1 Storms may be met with in ways of Obedience in going where and whether Christ bids us go 2 If Storms meet those that Walk in ways of Obedience what can they expect that Walk in ways of Disobedience but Sodoms Storm of Fire and Brimstone 3 Storms may well be expected if Christ be Absent as here Yea 4 they are not exempted from Fears and Dangers by the presence of Christ Matth. 8. 25. 5 Christ may seem to be Careless of the Cause Case and Condition of his Church and Children he falls asleep in the first Storm and had withdrawn himself in the second 6 Christ was tugging and toiling as earnestly in his Prayer for them Matth. 14. 23. as they did for themselves in their Perilling and almost Perishing condition with all their Hard Rowings 7 Astormy Sea cannot Separate Christ from his Church in Danger Rom. 8. â—5 Christ comes Walking upon the Sea showing himself herein to be greater than Moses who onely Walk'd through a Sea Dryed up but the Messiah Walks upon the surface of a Full-Sea yea Notoriously Raging Christ steps from off one proud Wave upon another his Godhead all along bearing up the Natural weight of his Manhood he well knew that his Absence made their Sufferings Unsufferable so takes he long and more than Mortal strides towards them Matth. 14. 25. 8 When Christ on the Shore saw them toiling in the Sea then out of compassion he came upon the Sea to comfort them Mark 6. 48. Christ is now landed upon the Shore of Glory in Heaven and thence he beholds all the Toilings of His Church upon this Troublesome Sea on Earth then comes he down to Deliver her Exod. 3. 7 8. 9 yet not till the 4th Watch of the Night then and not till then he commonly keeps his hand for a Dead lift and his Help is always sweet because whatever we think of it 't is always Seasonable Isa 30. 18. 10 How apt are Men to mistake their Comforts when they come to them as here they were troubled at the comming of their onely Comforter Matth. 14. 26. They Feared this Spectrum or Apparition as well as the Storm they might think it was the Devil who had rais'd that Storm and was come himself to sink them out-right thus mistook they their Saviour for Satan and their Choicest Comforter for their chiefest
open to Christianity to Canaan and to the Battel at Armageddon Here ☞ Note 1 the Jews are call'd Kings of the East 1. Christ maketh all Christians to be Kings in general Rev. 1.6 but 2. Those Converted Jews in special Isa 24. 21 22 23. Where upon their Conversion they are called Kings 3. Then shall the Kingdom of Christ be most Gloriously Erected among them Zech. 12. 8. and they Reign with Christ Zech. 14.6 7. Isa 60.20 and 62. 1 2 3. of the East because they most live there in Turky Tartary the Ten Tribes especially and China which is call'd the Land of Sinim Isa 49. 12. or Shinar Zech. 5 11. 2 That the Jews shall be Converted in the latter Age both Old and New Testam foretell it this must be under the 6th Vial for under the 7th Vial All is Done Rev 16. 17. both the Mystery of Iniquity is Abolished and the Mystery of Godliness is then Accomplished 2. Their Conversion is Describ'd with the same Phrase of Drying up the River Isa 11. 15 16. 3 The Hebrew Phrases used here and no where else as Armageddon Rev. 16. 16. and Allelujah Rev. 19. 1 3 4 6. where the 6th Vial is reassumed and further explained doth show that the Jews are come in and joyns with the Christian Gentiles in praising God for the Ruine of Rome Christ Commands to praise God for it Ch. 18. 20. the Gentile-Churches do readily Obey and cry with a great Voice Hallelujah Chap. 19. 1. This Awakens the Dull Daughters of Jerusalem especially the Voice of the Lamb ver 5. to seek their Beloved with them Cant. 5. 9. and 6. 1. Then comes the Jewish Church out of her opened Grave Ezek. 37. 12. As the Morning out of the East and after a long Night Cant. 6. 10. out of Her Wilderness She is somewhat Moved and Mollified by the Two first Hallelujahs v. 1. 3. but more by the 3d. wherein the 4 living Wights and the 24 Elders joyntly and publickly sounded their Hallelujah v. 4. yet most of all by the Lambs Voice was she roused and raised from the Dead 't was Christ that did powerfully pull the Vail from off her Heart v. 5. so that now she joyns with the Gentile-Churches in the 4th Hallelujah to Concelebrate that great Mercy of Romes Ruine whose Idolatry had long been her Stumbling-block Now all the Saints Jew and Gentile joyn with one Consent to Praise the Lord v. 6. Hence 't is call'd the Voice of a great Multitude of many Waters and of mighty Thunders Thus the Believing Gentiles do all they are able to bring Christ into their Mothers House the Jewish Church Cant. 3. 4. The Gentile Church was Conceived in the Chambers of the Jewish Joh. 4. 22. And now the Jewish Church after a long Divorce hath the Robes of a Bride bestowed on her Chap. 19.8 that in Conjunction with the Gentile Church both may be Marry'd to the Lamb and because Christ will not Marry this New Bride but as a Conquerour therefore is his Conquest Related after the Conquerour is Described v. 11 20. Christ Drew his Sword when he began his War against the Cursed Canaanites Josh 5. 13 14. and he will never put up his Drawn Sword till he hath made all his Foes his Footstool The Dragon cannot prevail against Michael our Prince Rev. 12. 8. Here the Beast that bears the Whore is Taken notwithstanding all his Fraud and Force and with him the False Prophet and both cast Alive into the Lake of Fire that burneth with Brimstone which is the most exquisite and most unquenchable burning Rev. 19. 19 20. The Beast in respect of his Civil or Temporal power and the False Prophet in respect of his Spiritual or Ecclesiastick power makes up one Antichrist whom Christ as soon as he comes into the Field Conquers Venit Vidit Vicit Catches Casts him away with Indignation yea comes upon him as out of an Engine while he is most Secure and Insulting when he saith I sit as a God and shall see no sorrow Ch. 18. 7. and hurls him Headlong into Hell where he shall have Burning for Burning as he hath burnt Alive many of Gods Martyrs with a Temporal fire so he shall be burnt alive himself with Eternal fire And the Kings that are Antichrist's Auxiliaries with their Armys shall be slain with the Sword v. 21. at Armageddon which signifies a Treacherous Army or an Vnfortunate Troop or rather a Mountain of Men cut in pieces as Sisera's Army was at the Waters of Megiddo Judg. 5.19 Revel 16.16 These are not so Deeply Damned as the Beast c. yet are they made a Prey to the Infernal Vulturs The 7th Memorable Remark is the 7th Vial which is powred out upon the Ayr that is on the Kingdom of Satan that Prince of the Ayr who had hitherto Upheld the Beasts Kingdom Now It is Done Ch. 16 17. to wit the Dragon 's or Devils Deputy Antichrist Chap. 13.2 is Vndone and utterly Destroyed Note 1. the Instruments of this Destruction Heaven and Earth Conspire together for that Work v. 18. 2 The Object of this Destruction is the whole Antichristian Church and State ver 19. the 10th part whereof is said to fall at the Rise of the Witnesses Ch. 11.13 here the Nine parts remaining do fall in a Tripartite Ruine This Earth-quake pulls it all into Three pieces and all Confederate Places and People are either Converted or Confounded whether Continent Countreys or Islands See Ezek. 5. 11 12. Zech. 14.4 5. some may Flee away v. 20. and Chap. 18.4 by true Penitency but such as remain in their Stubborn Impenitency Christ will Brain them with bigger Hailstones than those Josh 10. each of them being an 100 Weight v. 21. or those that knock'd down the Jesuits Church at Blois in France yet marvelously passed over the Protestant Church there without the least Harm as Exod. 9. 25. or bigger than those which fell here this 18th of May which knock'd so many Rooks on the Head c. That the Prophecy of the 7th Vial poured out on the Ayr is Reassumed in Revel 20. as the 5th and 6th Vials are Ch. 17.18 19. hath the common consent of the Learned though many of them do conceive 't is no more than an Historical Repetition of things formerly done yet we may with many others as probably Conclude that it is a Prophetick Relation of things to come Considering 1 the Connexion of this Vision Chap. 20. with the former Ch. 19. 19 20 21. John saith And or Afterwards I saw c. Ch. 20. 1. to wit After I had seen the Beast and the False Prophet cast into the Lake then had I this following Vision 2 'T is rational to expect the Doom of the Dragon or Devil after the Doom of the Beast who was but the Devil's Deputy Rome both Imperial and Papal Acting all by and under the Dragon Revel 13. 3. Christ indeed fought with the Dragon and Foil'd him Ch. 12. whereupon he