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
a stronger Hale without breaking to wit 2 Internal Cords or 2 Murmurings within the Camp and 2 External Cords or 2 Assaults and Onsetts upon the Camp by King Arad and by King Sihon yet God broke this 4-fold Cord more easily than Samson did his when Philistims were upon him Judg. 15. 14. and 16.12 As 1st Internally And 1st A Murmuring within the Camp for Water at Meribah Numb 20. 2. They wanted Water the first Year of their comming into the Wilderness and now the like want befalls them in this 40th Year of their Wilderness-Wandring In the 1st Year-want God Tryed the Fathers Exod. 17. 1 2. c. and God gave them Water out of the Rock Horeb v. 6. which followed them all along till they came near Canaan 1 Cor. 10. 4. In this last Year-want God tryed the Children and they Murmur like their Fathers and Patrizando do want Patience as well as Water The former at Rephidim Exod. 17. and this at Kadesh do Harmonize in many Particulars save that Satan was more successful in this Plot than in that for here he Transports meek Moses 1. to an Immoderate Anger to Speak unadvisedly with his Lips Psal 106. 32. 2. To a Speaking passionately to the People when he should have spoken believingly to the Rock v. 8. 3. To his Smiting it and that Twice as in a pang of Passion when he should have onely Spoken to it with the Rod in his Hand stretched towards it v. 10. 'T is true while Moses Spoke to those Rebels he spoke to a Rock even to their rocky hearts Here Moses is at a stand and his Faith staggers as knowing a Flinty rock was more likely to have Fire fetch'd out of it than Water by striking He is not bidden Here to smite the Rock as Elsewhere Exod. 17. 6. And because he did it Unbidden not believing in the Lord nor Sanctifying him before the People v. 12. both he and Aaron his Brother for the same fault were Excluded Canaan but Satan could not get either of them Excluded Heaven However God pardons their Murmurings the Belly hath no Ears and satisfies their Thirst by a Miracle Waters came out abundantly by a Work of Omnipotency v. 11. and so the Church is Preserved 2dly A Murmuring within the Camp at the Tediousness of the way in compassing the Land of Edom when that Unkind Cousin would not suffer Israel to pass thorough his Land Numb 20. 14 17 18. and 21. 4. which had been the far nearest way This turning about Mount-Seir turns them again into their Old Paroxysms or Fits of Murmuring against God that forbad them the way thorough Seir or Edom Deut. 2. 5. and of Loathing Manna as their Fathers had done Numb 11. 5 6. as if it were not so Solid and Substantial as that Food they had in Aegypt Though it maintain'd the Body in an equal Temperature of Strength and Vigorous Health without offending the Organs or oppressing with Fullness for many Years as it did Moses Deut. 34. 7. and Caleb Josh 14. 11. For this Contempt God sent Seraphim Nehashim Fiery Serpents to Sting them that those Ungrateful ones who had causelesly Cryed might now have some Cause to cry 'T is a Wonder that seeing the Wilderness through which they went did Abound with those and other Serpents Deut. 8. 15. That the Old Serpent the Devil had not before this Molested the Church with these Biteing and killing-Serpents but the Great God who was their Conduct and Covering over-rul'd the Devil or Serpent and kept all those Serpents from hurting his People till now by their Sin he gave them a Commission as Amos 9. 3. I will command the Serpent and he shall bite thee 'T is the Church's Mercy that the Serpent cannot Hurt nor Destroy upon Gods Holy Mountain but when God permits Isa 65. 25. And though God here for their Sin doth permit this grievous Malady yet Provides he a most gracious Remedy at the Pray'rs of his people v. 7 8. to wit The Brazen-Serpent upon a Pole a Figure of Christ Joh. 3. 14 15. to which whoever looks tho' with a weak Eye are healed Isa 17. 7. and 45. 23. and Joh. 12. 32. So 2dly Externally 1. Satan stirred up the Canaanites to Oppose this Wilderness-Church in her Passage to Canaan now when they were come so nigh to it even to the South-point of the Land Numb 21. 1. and 33. 40. These under King Arad fought against Israel and took some of them Prisoners Undoubtedly those Canaanites had heard of the over-throw which was given to Israel 38 Y. before this when they presumptiously went up against an Express Prohibition Numb 14.41 44 45. and of the Hand of God against them in Detaining them so long in the Wilderness Hereby the Devil hardned and encouraged them to Encounter Israel comming so neer them again which was done accordingly with some Success yet from differing Thoughts of God and the Devil for 1st the Devil did this to discourage Israel that as their Fathers through Unbelief entred not into the Promised Land but their Carcasses fell in the Wilderness Deut. 1. 27 32 35. Hebr. 3. 11 18. So their Children also might be deprived 2. but God Suffer'd this Success for a Chastizement of their Sins and for a Tryal of their Faith and that his People might know that they should not Conquer the Land by their own Strength or for their own Merit Psal 44. 3. Deut. 9.4 This Success of the Canaanites prevailing and taking some Prisoners gave Satan a fair Prospect of his Plot and Project yet behold how the Lord baffles him and Laughs it to Nothing for it was onely some Prisoners not all the Church as the Old Romans may lose a Battel but never a War This Loss was so Sanctify'd as made them take the right way to prevail with God as Jacob the Father of Vows had found it Gen. 28. 20. Upon this Occasion Israel Jacob's Off-spring Vowed a Vow Numb 21. 2. Invocating Gods Assistance and promising a Devotement of their Conquest to God The Lord accepts of this Religious Vow or Promise performs his Part of Helping them to a Victory v. 3. King Arad Satans Instrument being Drunk with his former Success comes again into the Field like Thunder and Lightning but goes out like Smoak and a Snuff as 't is said of the French Prior Impetus est plus quà m Virorum posterior minùs quám Foeminarum More than a Man at first less than a Woman at last God Delivered him into Israels hands and his Cities they Destroyed which they Devoted to God as the first Fruits of the Land of Promise And that they might keep their Vow the better to the end of their Conquests the place of this first Victory was call'd Hormah to wit Devotement for a Standing Memorial both of Gods Mercy and Israels Duty in after Ages v. 3. And when the Devil saw that he had lost this Game and that Israels Sighing for their first Defeat was Turned into
Singing for their last Victory as well as for their Deliverance from the fiery Serpents and for their Sanedrims or 70 Elders causing Wells to spring up in the Dry Wilderness by the stroke of their Staves as Moses had done with the stroke of his Rod v. 8. 9 17. This Enraged him again 2. to Stir up Sihon King of the Amorites against Israel v. 21.23 Deut. 2. 30. Judg. 11. 20. But behold the Issue Sihon comes forth at the Devils Instigation and it was to fetch his own Destruction as King Arad and others had done Gods Judgments need not go to find Wicked Men they do come out to meet it the better half way Jehovah the God of Israel Smote him and his Complices Numb 21.24 Deut. 2.33 Though their Height was like the height of Cedars and they as strong as Oaks Amos 2. 9. Psal 135. 10 11. with 136. 17 18 19. The Glory of this Victory in Defeating the Devil and his Imps is Attributed to the God of Israel And mark a Marvellous good Providence towards Israel who was forbidden of God to meddle with Moabs Land Deut. 2. 9. Yet Sihon had taken this part from Moab Numb 21.26 God takes it from him making him a Proverb or By-word v. 27. Deut. 28. 17. and Gives it to Israel Thus they Lost not but Gain'd by it herein The Ninth Plot against the CHURCH Defeated by GOD. CHAP. IX BUt the Sorest Thrust and most Fiery Dart of the Devil against this Wilderness-Church was that of the Moabites with their Assistants the Midianites which was Vltimus Diaboli Crepitus the last Gun-Shot of the Wicked one against Israel as to External or Outward Engines before they Entred Canaan yet proved it by the Over-ruling Providence of God but the Shot of a Pot-Gun a Dintless Dart and an Unsuccessful Thrust in the Issue No Weapon that is formed against the Church shall prosper Isai 54. 17. This Divine Promise did blunt the Point and Spoil'd the Purpose of all both Humane or Diabolical Projects Yea of this last which was the worst of all Morsus Morientum sunt Maximè Mortiferi The last Bite of Dying Beasts are most Deadly no less was this last of the Serpent to Interrupt the Church in her Passage out of the Wilderness to Canaan Take a Particular View of Two Things 1st of the Church's Danger and 2dly Of the Church's Deliverance God Requires a Due Commemoration hereof Micah 6. 5. where he saith Oh my People Remember now what Balak King of Moab Consulted and what Balaam the Son of Beor Answered from Shittim unto Gilgal that ye may know the Righteousness of the Lord The Compellation Oh my People doth plainly Demonstrate That the sinfulness of Gods People doth not Destroy Gods Claim to and his Interest in them They are his by Creation by Redemption and by the Covenant of Grace 'T is True by the Old Covenant God might Write Lo-Ammi and Lo-Ruhamah upon his Sinful Church but the Free-Grace of this New-Covenant Rides Triumphingly over all the Incapacities and Unworthinesses of his People and when they are not in themselves Worthy yet their Gracious God will Account them Worthy Luk. 21.36 when he cannot own them as his Jewels Mal. 3. 17. for their sakes yet then will he own them for his own sake Ezek. 36. 22 32. No Love like Gods love that Loves thus Freely Hos 14. 4. Though all the World disclaim them yet must God lay his Claim to them Oh my People How can he Disclaim them So he tells us in his 4. such How 's as are not to be parallel'd in the whole Book of God Hos 11.8 How shall I give thee up Ephraim c. I cannot find in my heart to do it What will the Aegyptians say Exod. 32. 12. And what will become of my Great Name Josh 7. 9. The very Banks of Blasphemy will be broken down when God cannot behold Innocency in his people as before yet will he prevent the Insolency of their Enemies Deut. 32. 27. Psal 140. 8. The Commemoration Holds forth Three Things 1st The Plot or Danger as the Church in the Wilderness had a Balak and a Balaam against her So the Church evermore in her Wilderness-State hath Force and Fraud Power and Policy against her 2. The Issue and Deliverance God Deliver'd the Church out of their Hands Josh 24. 10. and brought her from Shittim the place of their Sin of Baal-Peor to Gilgal where he Renew'd his Covenant 3. The End to Proclaim Gods Praise The other Plots before this was a Complication of lesser Plots but this last External is a Plot of Plots the Devil Employing his Grandest Engines at this Onsett against the Church As 1st Balak Hires Balaam to come and secretly Curse them Numb 22. 4. 2. He Draws out all his Armies in Battel-Array against them to Suppress them by Open Power Numb 22. 5. Josh 24. 9. as soon as Balaam had Cursed them 3. When this would not do than by Wiles and Private Policy according to the Counsel of Balaam he Seduces them to Fornication and Idolatry Numb 25. 1 2 3. In the Management of this last and worst Plot Observe Three things 1. The Ground or Occasion 2. The Manner 3. The Matter thereof 1. The Ground it was indeed a groundless quarrel for Moses fretted against Israel to see them upon their Plains just ready to set foot upon the Land of Promise Numb 22. 3. though Moab was Allyed to Israel eased by them of a Troublesome Incroaching Neighbour Sihon King of the Amorites that had taken some part of their Land from them Numb 21. 26. and 3 Assur'd by Israel that they would not meddle with them or molest them because they were of the Posterity of Lot Deut. 2. 9. So it was a Causeless Quarrel as Satan moved God against Job without Cause Job 2. 3. So they were Acted and Agitated by the Devil without cause on Israels part they being of a Differing Religion were carried on with Satanical malice and sought their Ruine Thus Rome at this Day seeks the ruine of those of the Reform'd Religion and Devises Deceitful matters against them that are Quiet in the Land Psal 35. 20. Their Quarrel is Causeless 2ly The Manner Threefold 1. Secret and Undermining Moab sent no open Desiance by sound of Drum or Trumpet it was close as the Plot of Rome against us at this Day 2. It was Earnest Importunate and Irreconcileable for Balak was a restless Adversary and would not give over till some Mischief were done as Rome doth at this Day 3. Sumptuous or Costly Balak spares no Cost either in proffering Honours or in Building of Altars and offering Sacrifices Paul Persecuted out of Ignorance 1 Tim. 1. 13. so was easily Check'd Act. 9. 4. but Balak out of Malice as Rome does and spares no cost in her Malice 3ly The Matter of the Plot. 1 Balak Hires Balaam to Curse Israel Numb 22. 6. Balak was a politick and potent Prince not more Valiant than Vigilant
then Departed yet The Righteousness of the Lord brought Her from Shittim to Gilgal Micah 6. 5. that is The Faithfulness and Goodness of God in keeping Promise with his People notwithstanding all their provocations and in Despite of the Devil that all the way in the Wilderness made many Desperate Disturbances Still the Church had a Joshua to stand for her in Moses stead and though the loss of the Cloudy Pillar was Undoubtedly a very great and most Discouraging loss especially she having Jordan yea and at that time over-flowing all his banks Josh 3. 15. betwixt her and Canaan for the Devil had block'd up all other ways to it having stirr'd up Moab Midian Ammon Amalek and the Amorites to obstruct her passage thither Yet God comes to Comfort her at that time Hos 2. 14. saying as it were Be not Descouraged I have taken from you my Cloudy Pillar to Teach you that the Umbrages or Cloudy Shaddows of the Law of Moses cannot Conduct you into Canaan though it hath through the Wilderness yet now shall you have The Ark of the Covenant which typisies the Angel of the Covenant Jesus Christ to go before you Josh 3. 3 11. and that shall Divide Jordan for you as the Cloudy Pillar had Divided the Red-Sea for your Fathers Hereupon the Order and Course of carrying the Ark of God's Presence was changed for while the Pillar went before the Camp the Ark abode in the midst of it Numb 2. 17. to betoken Gods presence in the midst of his people Psa 46. 5. Now the Ark must go before when the Pillar was gone and Israel must follow it to Shew that as there was no other way of Entrance into the Earthly Canaan but by following the Ark so there is no other way of Entrance into the Heavenly Canaan than onely by following Christ whereof the Ark was the Type Joh. 14. 6. then did the Lord Magnifie Joshua Josh 14. 14. by making him Equal with Moses who had divided the Red-Sea for them at their coming out of Aegypt under the Conduct of the Pillar now Joshua divides Jordan under the Conduct of the Ark and gives them passage to and Possession of Canaan in despight of the Devil and all his Instruments the Nations aforenamed that Obstructed them Joshua through the Righteousness and Goodness of the Lord brings them from Shittim to Gilgal Micah 6. 5. He removes them from Shittim Josh 3. 1. This Shittim was the last Stage of all the 42 Stations or Mansions Israel had in the Wilderness Numb 33. 49. and it was that Unhappy place where Balaam Satans Spelman made the Midianites out-wit Israel by setting fair Faces his stumbling-block Rev. 2. 14. before them who soon Drew them into those Two Sister-Sins Adultery and Idolatry for it was upon those Terms That if they would Worship their Idols they should have the Free use of their Bodies some Derive Shittim from Sethim Spinae as it was a place of Thorns sure I am here Gods Flock of Sheep Psa 77. 20. were so caught among Thorns to wit with that Smoaking and Flaming Sin as they were not cleans'd from it until after the Conquest of the Land Josh 22. 17. it left as the Plague of Frogs Exod. 8. 14. a long lasting Stench behind it by that Sin of Baal-peor Israel brought themselves under the Wrath and Curse of God which Balaam with all his Spells could not otherwise bring them under and this place is call'd Abel-Shittim Numb 13. 49. because of the sad Lamentation as Abel signifies which was made for the Death of the 1000 that Dyed as Ring-leaders by the Hand of Justice and the 23000 that followed those Ring-leaders by the Hand of God in the Plague Numb 25. 4 9. 1 Cor. 10. 8. yet the Lord's Goodness over-comes all Israels Badness and not onely stirs up Phinehas to stand in the Gap to stop the Plague Psal 106. 29 30. but also Joshua to bring them off from Shittim where they might all have perished been cut off and cast away from being a People before him yea and to bring them through Jordan even to Gilgal where he first pitched his Tent and so did take Possession of the Land of Promise wherein Gilgal stood Josh 4. 19 20. Nonne hic Refulsit Admirabilis Dei Gratia saith Calvin Behold here a Miracle of Divine Mercy especially in Six Respects 1. The Devil was Infatuated by God in not stirring up the Canaanites to Guard their Coasts as is usual for people to Man their Frontiers in Danger of Invasion All the Host of Israel passed over and quietly Landed without any Assault or Opposition Josh 3. 17. and 2ly That the Lord should Magnifie his Mercy to his Church notwithstanding all her Demerit by Sin in bringing Israel into Canaan the Land of their Enemies yet the Land of his Promise to them in the very time of Harvest when it was best furnished with all manner of Provisions both for that present time and for the following Year Josh 3. 15. 3ly Another manifestation of God's Mercy to his Church was this That God Roul'd away as the Word Gilgal signifies and therefore the place is so call'd the Reproach of Aegypt to wit the Uncircumcision of their Flesh Josh 5.9 Restoring to them that Seal of the Covenant to wit Circumcision to Teach none but the Circumciz'd in Heart must Enter the Heavenly Canaan as none but the Circumcised in the Flesh must enter the Earthly one Yea 4ly behold a marvellous Mercy of God to Israel in this that the Devil did not stir up the Cursed Canaanites to Fall upon Israel when they were all sore in their Circumcision as Sinicon and Levi did upon the Sichemites Gen. 34. 25 26. and slew them then Israel abode in the Camp till they were whole Josh 5.8 Considing in God's Promise Providence and Protection for Securing them from their Enemies Undoubtedly the Terror of the Lord was upon their Adversaries all the time as in Jacob their Fathers Case Gen. 35. 5. with 34.30 that they Assaulted them not upon this Advantage Yet further 5ly God manifested his mercy to his Church in giving them the other Seal of his Covenant to wit the Passeover and that within Three Days of their Circumcision Josh 5. 8 10. which shews not onely their speedy and miraculous Healing otherwise they could not have Four Days after kept the Passeover with joy but also God's Speedy applying both the Seals to his Bond of Promise to Assure them that though they had wanted them both in their Wilderness-Wandrings yet now their former Sins were all pardoned and their persons now received as a peculiar People into the Bonds of the Covenant he would be a God to them and they should be a People to him Moreover 6ly Christ himself comes to be their Generalissimo with a Sword drawn in his Hand v. 13 14. which Sword he will never put up or lay down till the Wars of the Lord be ended the Cursed Canaanites were all Conquered by
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
all sculking away Their Plot being laid open and timely prevented laid them open to the scorn of the people and to the anguish and horrour of their own guilty Consciences Thus doth the most wise and righteous God befool insolent men in their never so secretly projected and promoted Plots wherein they do hope to supplant the Son of David our Lord Jesus that Prince of Peace as those did Solomon here and the Church in him But what became of the Plotters Adonijah himself flies to the Horns of the Altar which probably so prophane a Prince had hitherto despised and was pardon'd by this peaceable Prince but upon his good behaviour v. 52. which when he broke in seeking the Kingdome with Abishai Ch. 2. 22. being no small Petition as Bathsheba call'd it v. 20. for Solomons sagacity saw the depths of the Devil in it which his Mother could not dive into for this he lost his life v. 24. as Joab did after him v. 30. where the very Altar could not secure him from Just Vengeance and as for Abiathar he was thrust out from the High-Priesthood v. 37. his Linnen Ephod or sacred Function did not exempt him from Civil Censures as the Romanists plead and so was fulfill'd the Word of the Lord upon Ely's House 1 Sam. 2. 31 35 and had he not been afflicted in all wherein David had been afflicted which was for above forty year he had been also a dead man with Adonijah and Joab for this Conspiracy David dies full of days riches and honour 1 Chron. 29. 28. and leaves the state of the Church honourable Solomon succeeds and brings the Churches State to its 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or highest pitch of Glory while Militant which is a Figure of the Kingdome of Christ one greater than Solomon here on Earth David had advanced the splendour of the Church in his Religious provision for the portable Temple to wit the Tabernacle erected in the City of David and also in his Religious preparations for the Fix'd Temple 1. Knowing the place where it should stand to wit on Mount Moriah where Abraham offer'd Isaac Gen. 22. 2 9. and 2 Chro. 3. 1. 2. Receiving the pattern of it by Divine Inspiration 1 Chron. 28. 19. he gave it to Solomon Ch. 29. 11. who by the help of Davids prepar'd materials to wit 1. Spoils of Enemies Ch. 18. 11. 2. An hundred thousand Talents of Gold 3. A thousand thousand Talents of Silver 4. Hewn stone and Timber 5. Iron and Brass without measure Ch. 22.14 6. Precious Stones Ch. 29. 2. 7. His own offerings and those of the Princes and people Ch. 29.4 c. though Solomon added much more of his own store built the most stately and costly Structure the most sumptuous and glorious Edifice that ever was in the World therefore justly called the Worlds Wonder the House of the most High God 2 Chron. 2. 5. and a Type of the Church Triumphant in Heaven as the Tabernacle had been of the Church Militant upon Earth This Temple was twice so long and large every way as was the Tabernacle Exod. 26. as the Temple in Ezek. Ch. 40. 41 42 c. setting forth Gospel-times is described as much bigger than all the old Jerusalem and a new Jerusalem bigger than all the Land of Canaan Solomon finish'd his Temple in the year of the World 3000. Hence some gather that the Spiritual Temple shall be compleated in 3000 more and then the Sabbatical year shall take place as the Sabbath succeeds the six days of the Week In the building of this Magnifical House of the Lord all the materials were made ready before they were brought thither so that there was neither Hammer nor Axe nor any Tool of Iron heard in the House while it was in building 1 King 6. 7. to teach us three things 1. That all true Members of Churches must be sanctified and called to be Saints 1 Cor. 1. 1 2. hewn by the Word and Spirit and made living Stones before Admission 2. That in the Church Militant upon Earth all noise of jars and contentions which are as the knocking of Iron Instruments must be declined 3. That in the Church Triumphant in Heaven there shall be no sorrows nor sufferings all noise of fears and tears shall be done away the State then shall be peaceable and joyful for which the Saints are fitted by the Hammer of Gods Word and the Hand of his Spirit upon the Mountains of this lower World there to enjoy rest and glory The Sanctum Sanctorum of the Temple or Oracle so called because there God used to deliver Divine Answers or Oracles Exod. 30. 5. and Levit. 16. 2. was the place prepared for the Ark of the Covenant to rest in after its many removes and wandrings 1. From the Desart to Gilgal 2. From Gilgal to Shilo 3. From Shilo to the Philistims 4. From thence to Bethshemesh 5. From thence to Kiriath Jearim 6. From thence to the House of Obed-Edom And 7. From thence to Sion the City of David Now Solomon provides a resting place to wit the best part of the Temple the Holy of Holies for this best and most precious piece which had the Law within it and the Mercy-Seat upon it far more precious than the Palladium at Troy the Pessinuntium at Rome or the Image at Athens made by Canetias the Artificer yet said by the covetous Priests to be dropt down from Jupiter Act. 19. 35. as it was the principal Evidence of Gods gracious presence and the lively Type of Christ in whom are hid as in an Ark or Coffer all the Treasures of Gods goodness Col. 2. 3. So that when Solomon dedicates his glorious Fabrick which as Josephus saith dazled the eyes of all its beholders by Sacrifice and Supplication he concludes his Prayer saying Arise now therefore O Lord God into thy resting place thou and the Ark of thy strength 2 Chron. 6. 41. whereby he invites the Lord to take possession of his Temple where his Ark should be no more transportative but setled for a long season Psal 1 â—2 8 9 10. And the Lord testifies his acceptation of all both by Fire from Heaven which was kept alive till the Captivity of Babylon and by filling the House with his Glory 2 Chro. 7. 1. Now was the Church of God by his good hand upon her brought up to such a beauty of Holiness and to such a perfection of dazling splendour like that of the Temple that Religion was had in great Veneration both by Domesticks and Forreigners 1. His own Israel went home so refreshed with the Prayer and the Blessing that they adored the Lord for his goodness to them 1 Kin. 8. 66. and both Hiram King of Yyre praised God for the Blessing that the Church had in Solomon 1 Kin. 5. 7. saying Because the Lord hath loved his people he hath set a Solomon over them 2 Chro. 2. 11. Hence some verily think this Hiram was a Proselited Prince and 2.
got his design in debauching Israel when he had got a Divine Service set up 1. In another place 1 Kin. 12.29 2. At another time v. 3â— 3. After another manner v. 28. 4. And by other Priests v. 31. than God had appointed Proud Lucifer the Devil was well pleased with this Devil-worship This sin not only brought a black Brand upon its abominable Author to all succeeding Generations that the phrase frequently rings in our reading the Scripture Jeroboam the Son of Nebat that made Israel to sin but also had such an Indelible Character in it as could never be removed neither from his own Family nor from any of his Successors though of other Families when his was rooted out all the Kings of Israel after him by his example grew worse and worse and Israel with them until they were all carried away Captive out of their own Land in the days of Hosea their last King 2 Kin. 17. 1. to 6. Here the Devil plaid like a cunning Gamester with notable seeming success yet God is not an idle Spectator all this time and permits Satan to carry it on without any Counterbuffs but now and then he is a swift witness against and a severe rebuker of this Plot 1. Both at the beginning 2. Afterwards and 3. At the end â— At the beginning Jeroboam must not manage his new Rebellion without a Testimony from Heaven against his new Religion And 1st The Lord stirred up a select number both of Priests and people that abhorred Jeroboams Idolatry and fled from all the Coasts of Israel though Jeroboam way-laid them Hos 5. 1. to cleave close unto the true God in his worship at Jerusalem 2 Chron. 11. 13 14 16. The godly Priests gave a good example to the godly people of every Tribe in their self-denial and leaving their Livings rather than violate their Consciences Their voluntary Exilement after their Ejection ab officio beneficio drew much good people after them v. 16. whereby not only Rehoboam was much strengthened v. â—7 but also the Church was preserved in despight of Jeroboam and his Segnirim or Hairy Devils v. 15. insomuch that God had his seven thousand in wicked Ahabs day that bowed not the knee to Baal nor those to the Golden Calves and God preserved them in their slight to the holy City though wicked Watchers laid Traps to catch them upon Mizpeh and Tabor in their passage thither as the Papists in the Marian days watch'd all those that be took themselves to Basil Geneva c. yet the Lord marvellously preserv'd them for his Church in a better day as he did those in a better place 2. Gods Testimony was not for his servants Innocency only but against Jeroboams Idolatry when he stood at his new Altar at Bethel with a Scepter in one hand and with a Censer in the other invading the High-Priesthood as well as usurping the Kingdome 1 King 12. 33. and 13. 1. God sends a Prophet out of Judah possibly one of his banish'd servants to Jeroboam in the midst of his great Assembly and Solemnity at Bethel to cry against the Altar v. 2. that one Josiah should be raised up to destroy it and its Priests And because 't was long too more than two hundred year he gives them a present Sign of the certainty of his Prophecy to wit the rending of the Altar at present to shew its downfall afterwards which accordingly was accomplished v. 3 5. At this Jeroboam rageth crys Lay hold of him and himself would have been the first man in doing it had not God by another Miracle manacled him by withering his hand which though restor'd again by a third Miracle at the Prophets prayer yet hands not its owner into repentance and while the Altar of Stone rends yet his Heart being harder than any stone in the Altar remains still without any rending or relenting This God foresaw and therefore the Man of God was directed to direct his speech to the Altar and not to Jeroboam seeing the former would receive impression sooner than the latter who had forgot how Israel had startled at an Altar of the Reubenites which was only for a Monument and Memorial Josh 22. when they were newly come out of affliction now an Altar for Idolatry startles neither him nor them being setled upon the Lees of a long abused peace in Solomons day and this same Bethel where one of his Calves stood and the rent Altar being now become a Beth-Aven the House of God an house of wickedness as the two Hebr. names signifie was recovered again out of Jeroboams hands 2 Chron. 13. 19. His Golden Calfish God could not protect its own Seat and City from its Enemy This Divine Testimony from Heaven against Jeroboam was manifold 1. Against his Altar 2. Against his Arm which he stretched out to apprehend the Lords Prophet who had born witness against his Idolatry contrary to Gods Special Command Touch not mine Anointed ones and do my Prophets no harm Psa 105. 15. 'T is safer to anger a Witch than provoke a Prophet for if any man will hurt such fire proceedeth out of their mouth to devour them Revel 11. 5. To touch these is to touch the Apple of Gods Eye Zech. 2. 8. Therefore doth God say to Kings not of Kings Touch not those that have the Vnction of the Father which when King Jeroboam offered to do God shrank his sinews and makes him stand like an Antick Statue pointing out the way to Travellers with an hand stretched out but cannot pull it in 1 Kin. 3. 4. So facile a thing it is with God to cool the courage and restrain the rage of the proudest Prince or Persecutor Psa 76. 10. This very Arm that had been burning Incense to his Idol in his playing the Priest himself to give some Grace to his sordid Priests made of the Dregs of the Vulgar God dried up as the arm of an Idol-Shepherd Zech. 11. 17. and because his Eye was darkned too according to that threatning so that he would see nothing of Gods Hand in withering his hand Therefore Gods third Testimony was against his Heir and as Gods Wrath was upon his first Son so on his best Son who was also his Right Hand indeed for he was his Heir and hopeful for good 1 Kin. 14. 13. Now God strikes at the Father for his sin upon the Back of the Child in his sickness Jeroboam seeks to Ahijah the Lords Prophet what would be the issue not what was the cause of his good Sons sickness which none of his wooden Priests could tell him v. 3. He receives heavy tidings and that by the hands of his own Wife that this only gracious Son must die but all his other graceless Sons must live he must die to afflict them they must live to afflict them because Jeroboam was bad therefore was he unworthy of so good a Son and because the Son was good therefore was he worthy to be removed from so bad a
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
the Devils Eye was evil Oh the admirable workings of Divine Compassion in 2 Kin. 14. 26 27. The Lord saw the affliction as well as the transgression of Israel that it was very bitter when they had neither safety nor a Saviour Oh the yernings of Gods Bowels in that Word The Lord said not that he would blot out the Name of Israel from under Heaven God had not then said it yet though afterwards he both said it Hos 1. 6 9. and did it 2 Kin. 17. 18. 'T was a long time and upon great provocation as is related from v. 7 to the 18. before he removed them out of his sight that is out of the Land of Promise upon which the eyes of the Lord were continually after an especial manner Notwithstanding all this the Devil got not all nor did the Lord lose all he divided the spoil with the strong Devil Esa 53. 12. As God had his Witnesses 1. At the beginning of the Apostacy so 2. All along afterwards he had both Witnesses and people too that had a blessed tenderness towards their two hundred thousand Captives at the powerful preaching of the Prophet Oded whom God had as a Witness in the worst of times 2 Chron. 28. 9 to 16. so mightily did the Word of God work upon this armed Army that they shewed a great work of mercy to their distressed Brethren c. though they had but one Prophet to press them to it in so great an Host And as God had his seven thousand of people in Ahabs time 1 Kin. 19. 18. so he had great multitudes in Hosea's time their last King out of Ephraim Manasseh Issachar Zebulon and Asher who humbled themselves under the sight and sense of their sins and came to Jerusalem at Hezekiahs Proclamation to keep the Passover according to the Word of the Lord 2 Chron. 30. 1 6 11 13 18. though some jeered showing themselves ready ripe for ruine in their last Kings time yet many others feared v. 10 11. And though those which came out of the ten Tribes out of the fear of God were ignorant of due preparation having been long without God Law and Teaching Priest 2 Chro. 19. 3. came rudely and irreverently to the Passover and probably smarted for it as 1 Cor. 11. 30. Matth. 22. 12 13. yet at Hezekiahs godly Prayer for them God Healed them and accepted their Service v. 18 19 20. Yea and Gods Pitty was such to his Covenanted people that the Old Stile and Title The Lord God of Israel is kept up even by Abijam 2 Chron. 13. 5. and such was Gods Respect to Israel under the Revolt that he sent sometimes Saviours to them as 2 Kin. 13. 5. Obad. 21. Neh. 9. 27. All which doth plainly Demonstrate Gods Care of his Church even in the worst of times let the Devil and his Imps do all they can And though there hath been such a Revolt from the Ture Christian-Religion by the Papacy as this of the Ten Tribes from the Temple-Worship the Foundation whereof was laid in Blood to wit the Blood of Adoram 1 Kin. 12. 18. as that of the Romish-Revolt much more Yet the Lord secureth his own Interest Rev. 12. 6 14. Maugre the Malice of Men and Devils both in Witnesses and People as I have shown at large in my Discovery of Antichrist Moreover 3ly at the End of this Revolting Kingdom when God had cast the Ten Tribes out of Canaan because they had cast him off and his good Laws yet God had respect 1 to the very Land out of which they were cast for when the King of Assyria had Conquered Samaria and the Cities of the Ten Tribes which he carried Captive into his own Countrey and had Planted his Colonies of mixt People in their place The Lord sent Lyons among them which Slew some of them 2 Kin. 17. 25. because those New-Planters as themselves say knew not the manner of the God of the Land v. 26. foolishly thinking that each Land had its proper God Indeed the Land of Israel had another God than the Gods or Idols of those Lands from whence they came it was a Land which Jehovah had Chosen as an Habitation for himself and saith The Land is mine Levit. 25. 25. Hence it is called the Lords Land Hos 9. 3. and Immanuels Land Isa 8. 8. and by their Seventh-Year Sabbath they Acknowledged that their Land belonged to God and that they were onely Gods Tenants and Tythe-men now seeing those Assyrians that came into Canaan in Israels Room made no such Acknowledgment nor Own'd him in a Land which the True God was pleased to Own therefore he sent this Judgement of the Lyons upon them to let them know that the God of this Land had all Creatures even the most Ravenous at His Command wherewith to be Avenged for their not-Fearing him Thus it appears God did not Hate the Ground as some say that Israel trode upon though they were Revolters 2ly God had Respect to themselves much more if so much to their Land so that they were in a sort Ammi while they were Lo-Ammi and Ruhamah while they were Lo-Ruhamah Hos 1. 6. Yea when the name Israel was too good and too Honourable a name for them but they must be called Jezreel that is a People devoted to Dispersion v. 4. and such as God would scatter into the four Winds of Heaven Zerang as the Seeds-man scatters his Seed so that the Ten Tribes never return'd out of Captivity yet sure I am neither the Devil got all nor God lost all for God did not lose Israel but onely laid them up in an Unknown Sepulchre with his own Hands as he had done their Mediator Moses in sure and certain Hope of a Resurrection God did not cast off his People for ever 1 Kin. 11. 39. Though the dry Bones of Israel lye in Babylon c. as in a Sepulchre and were as it were Buryed Alive at their final Abdication yet the Lord Promises These Graves shall be opened This is spoken over and over again Ezek. 37. 11 12 13 14. to the whole House of Israel the Lord saith Behold Oh my People God owneth them still though they little deserv'd it This is Alledged as an Allay to those Dreadful Desolations so loath is the Sun of Righteousness to sett under a Cloud that in the midst of Judgement he remembers Mercy Hab. 3. 2. Thus while the Lord wrote Jezreel Lo-Ruhamah and Lo-Ammi upon Israel In the Invasion made by Tiglath-Pilneser upon the Tribes beyond Jordan 2 Kin. 15. 29. 1 Chro. 5. 6. and by Salmaneser upon the rest of the Ten Tribes on this side Jordan Yet behold how graciously God comes off in that Direful Sentence Yet the Number of the Children of Israel shall be as the Sand of the Sea that cannot be Numbred and where it was said Ye are not my People there it shall be said Ye are the Sons of the Living God Hos 1. 4 6 9 10. to shew Gods great
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.
a time of great Joy and Jollity for the recovery of Ramoth-Gilcad Wicked Men are taken in an evil Net at the worst and when they never dream of Destruction Sâ—c Deus quos Destruit Dementat So God Infatuates them before their fatal Foil and Fall come upon them and 't is Remarkable no place must serve wherein Ahaziah shall be slain but Gur by Iblaim where 't is supposed his Father Jehoram had slain his Brethren as Ahab had done Naboth at Jezreel thither did he slye and there Divine Vengeance which pursued overtakes him yet receiveth he Courtesie from Jehosaphats Dust Holiness hath its Honour even in Vnholy Hearts he for his good Grand-Fathers fake had a Royal Sepulchre and Funeral Upon which his Wicked Mother Athaliah in the 7th place Usurps the Kingdom by whom the Devils first Design was to Root out that Race whereof Christ was to be Born 2 Chron. 22. 10. but the Great God did Counterwork him who had his Compassionate and Pious Princess Jehosheba the godly Priests Wife ☞ even in this bad Age such were insomuch and so good estimation as Kings Marryed their Daughters to them 2 Kin. 11. 2. As the Devil had his Jezabels and Athaliahs to cut off all Competitors that stood in their way That Old promise Gen. 49. 10. The Scepter shall not depart foom Judah c. and the late promise of Preserving David a Lamp c. 1 Kin. 11. 36. Spoil'd all Satans Engines and Endeavours by Vertue hereof Jehosheba Sacredly as well as Secretly stole young Joash out of the Royal Nursery nourish'd him up in the Temple Six Years so long lay he hid not onely in the House but also in the Hand of the Lord from Athaliahs bloody Hands All this time that wicked Woman being Devoted to Destruction as one of Ahabs Family not onely escapes Jehu's Hand but was spared Seven Y. long to Revel in more mischief for the punishment of the peoples sin but by the pious and prudent Contrivance of good Jehohiada in Subordination to Gods ' providence she was brought to condign Punishment and the right Heir Joash at Seven Y. old Inthron'd to be the 8th King ☞ Behold how low Davids promised Lamp was Reduced even to one Suckling Child yet the promise is made good in Despight of the Devil and this Devilsh Woman who sought his life also as Herod did the Holy Child Jesus's ☞ so foolish it is to Fight against God and his Promise This 8th King Joash Jehoiada had no sooner brought to the Crown but he brought his people into the Covenant 2 Kin. 11. 12 17. Joash repairs the Temple his Sauctuary for Six Y. as well as Gods and Rules well under the Tutorage of his good Unckle and reforms all that were deformed no sooner was Jehoiada Dead but his cringing Courtiers Debauch him 2 Chron. 24. 17. he forgets God forsakes his Temple and falls into open Idolatry v. 18. yea and out of monstrous Ingratitude falls foul upon Zechariah the Son of Jehoiada to whom he did owe both his life and his Kingdom and stones him to Death for no other fault but for his Dealing faithfully with him v. 20 21 22. In his Reign Observe God was at the beginning the Devil in the middle and God again at the end thus the Devil is hedg'd in both before and behind by the Almighty God so that he cannot carry it as he would for though he play'd his pranks after Jehoiada's Death in the latter end of Joash Reign yet God will bring up the Rear looks upon him and requites him according to Dying Zachary's Prayer for 1. the Syrians are the Executioners of Gods Vengeance and Destroyed all his flattering Sycophants that had Seduced him v. 17 23 24. though the Syrian Army was but a small Company 2. God plagued him with fore Diseases contracted possibly by the wounds he had received 3. God gave him up to be Treacherously slain by his Servants because he had Conspir'd the Death of his faithful Servant Zechariah v. 25. Thus though the Beginning should be Satans as in Iob's Case yet the End will be the Lords Iam. 5. 11. Neither did it fall out better with his Son Amaziah the 9th King who though in his beginning did works that were materially good yet prooved not so formally and eventually no sooner departed he from God but his Subjects hearts departed from him 2 Chron. 25. 14 16. God gave him up to Worship those very Idols of Edom which could not deliver them out of his hands v. 15. as a just Punishment of his Pride and Hypocrisie and prooving Unreclaimable at the reproof of Gods Prophet he was told by him I know that God hath Determined to Destroy thee v. 16. ☞ An Uncounsellable person hath Gods Brand for Destruction put upon Him No sooner had he abused his Victory God gave him over Edom to gross Idolatry with their Idols but God rais'd him up a Scourge even the Cedar of Israel to Tread down this proud Thistle of Iudah v. 18. 22. and to plunder Ierusalem After this he spent his time sordidly serving false Gods without remorse Hereupon he falls under the Universal Hatred of his People whom he had subjected to so much misery by his fond Challenging of Ioash they Unanimously Conspire against him v. 27. forces him to slee from Ierusalem to Luchish for his safety they pursue him and slay him Thus ended the Devils Instrument for Corrupting the Church who had indeed a fair Beginning but in his latter end did notoriously Apostatize Neither did Vzziah or Azariah his Son whom all the People of Iudah made the 10th King in his stead 2 Chron. 26. 1. make a better End 'T is no good Commendation that is given him That he did according to all that his Father Amaziah had done 2 Kin. 15. 3. they both began fairly but ended foully This Desinit in piscem or bad Ending marrs many a Mans better Beginning ☞ Oh how many Young seeming Saints become no better than Old Incarnate Devils at the last Thus Vzziah at the first was wholly taken up in Consulting with God while Zachariah the Prophet was his Houshold-Chaplain and as long as he sought the Lord God made him to Prosper 2 Chron. 26. 4 5 6. God Helped him against all his Enemies v. 7. God usually deals with Men as they deal with him those that Honour him he doth Honour them 1 Sam. 2. 30. and God strengthened him exeeedingly v. 8 15. This swell'd him up into Arrogancy and Impudency v. 16. his Victories and magnificence made him proud then was he become a sit Instrument for the Devil to Debauch Gods Worship in the Church out of Curiosity and Insolency he invades the Priests Office embolden'd hereunto because he had Marryed Ierusha the Daughter of Zadok the High-Priest 2 Kin. 15. 33. Therefore the Lord spat in his Face that he might be ashamed and others warned God smote him with Leprosie 2 Chron. 26. 18 19. and at that time saith Iosephus
was that Terrible Earth-quake Amos 1. 1. Zech. 14. 5. even while his Wrath was hot against the Holy Priests who withstood him Gods Wrath waxed Hot against him and takeing their part as he did their Office he makes a Leprosie immediately to rise up in his Forehead and so by presuming to go into the Temple farther than he should did lose that liberty which before he had This Arrogant Act did not onely cast him out of the House of God but also out the Holy City for Lepers by the Law were to live by themselves Levit. 13. 46. Yea and at last cast him out of the World who was then Buryed in some By-corner of the Kings Burying-place for they said He was a Leper 2 Chro. 26. 20 to 23. leaving his Son Iotham to Succeed him as the 11th King who did learn to beware from his Fathers Harm He entered not into the Temple to Usurp the Priests Office 2 Chron. 27. 2. though Son of the Priests Seed of the Daughter of Zadok 2 Kin. 15. 33. Then did Davids Lamp God promis'd him burn brighter than before notwithstanding all the Devils blasts against it for Jotham was a good Prince and did that which was right in the sight of the Lord v. 34. both for Matter Manner Motive and End yet had this very Lamp one filthy Snuff in it to darken its splendour and glory to wit The High-Places were not Removed v. 35. And the People did yet Corruptly 2 Chro. 27. 2. had Jotham removed those High-places he had prevented the peoples corruption ☞ Oh how hardly comes off a thorough Reformation It was with the good Kings in respect of those High-places as it was with Jonathans Signal Arrows Two whereof fell short and but one beyond the Mark 1 Sam. 20. 36. so where one of them shot home to the Mark of the Divine Institution as Hezekiah and Josiah did many fell short as 1 Kin. 14. 14. and 2 Kin. 12. 3. and 15. 4 5. and Here whereas they should have removed not onely those for Idol-Worship as they did but also those for Gods Worship too according to Gods Institution Deut. 12. 5 6 11. Those High-places unremoved was as the Nest-Egg to make the Hen of Will-Worship and Idolatry to return again when his Son Ahaz the 12 King succeeded who brought in all the Idolatry of the Kings of Israel 2 Chron. 28. 2. and went beyond the worst of them all in Wickedness for 1. he burnt his Children in the Fire v. 3. in Honour of Moloch which was the Devil Psa 106. 37. Some he caused to pass onely through the fire to purge them from evil as the Papists send their Friends to their supposed Fire of Purgatory which they conceit their Masses make them pass thorough to Heaven 2. He set up the Altar of Damascus in the place of Gods Altar which he thrust into a by-corner out of the way by the help of Vrijah that Temporizing Parasitical Priest a fit Helve for such an Hatchet and Ahaz approached his New Altar and burnt his Offering upon it c. Vrijah suffering him so to do whereas Azariah a far better Priest would not permit his Grand-Father Vzziah a far better King to do so 2 Chron. 26. 18. 2 Kin. 16. 10 to 16. 3. He did wickedly as he could with both Hands earnestly Mic. 7. 3. as if afraid to be out-done by others and as if he had been delivered to Work all Abomination Jer. 7. 10. He took long strides toward Hell which did gape for him and was but a little before him Vzziah his Grand-Father was smitten with bodily Leprosie for the like Sin of Invading the Priests Office but Ahaz was smitten with a worse Judgement to wit with such an hardness of Heart that he became so stubborn and stiff-necked even in the time of his distress as he would rather Break than Bend 2 Chron. 28.22 Adding Rebellion to his Sin Job 34.37 and Jer. 48. 4. Hereupon the Lord set a black Brand upon him as upon Cain Gen. 4. 15. upon Dathan Numb 26. 9. and here upon him This is that King Ahaz and all for his Stubborness this is that stigmatiz'd Beast and stinking Belialist with his Mark of Ignominy 2 Chron. 28. v. 22 to 25. provoking the Lord to Anger c. and as he provoked the Lord so his own Subjects to Anger insomuch as they vouchsafed not his Dead Body a Royal Sepulchre v. 27. Notwithstanding all this The Devil cannot Run down the Church in Iudah by such a Dangerous Instrument still for God raises up Hezekiah the 13th King to Undoe all that his Father Ahaz had done by the Help of his godly Mother Abiah whose Piety could not prevail upon her Husbands Pertinacy yet had her good Instructions a most Blessed Influence upon her Tender Son 2 Kin. 18. 2. and 2 Chro. 29. 1 2. Here the Rule Partus sequitur ventrem The Birth follows the Belly holds good as Ahaz had stood like a Pricking Thistle betwixt Two Fragrant Roses his good Father Jotham and his godly Son Hezekiah so Hezekiah stands up like a Fresh Spring after a sharp Winter and by the good Hand of God upon him brought the Ship of the Church in Iudah from a Troublesome stormy and Tempestuous Sea into a Safe and Quiet Harbour according to the signification of his Name Hezekiah The Lord was his strength insomuch that he obtained sundry Famous Remarques better than the Brand by a black Coal on Ahaz upon him as 1. his neglecting no time in his Generation-Work but falls upon Reforming Religion in the first place in the first Year in the First Month in the first Day of the Month and on the First Day of his Reign even immediately upon his Corronation-Day 2 Chron. 29. 3 4 5 17. This he doth effect by Convocating an Assembly or Synod or Council of godly Priests and Levites whom his Idolatrous Father had forced from their Temple-Service to which Convocation this pious Prince made a prudent pithy and pious Oration hereby he removes those High-places that Nest-Egg of Idolatry which the best of his Predecessors could never remove and the brazen Serpent which Moses had made not for an object of Worship but for means of a Cure he brake in pieces when Abused to Idolatry calling it when so broken Nehushtan a little poor paltry piece of Brass for the shameing of such as had so doted upon it 2 Kin. 18. 4 5. His Confidence in God was the Cause of his Courage in so doing who could not but expect Opposition at such an Antient Reliques Deposition it being now about 730 Y. old Fiat justitia etsi Coelum Ruat Duty must be done whatever be its Consequences 2. his Rising early the next Morning after his Godly Speech to his Synod of Divines to call a Parliament the Representatives of the Kingdom with whom after seeking Reconciliation with God by his Attonement-Offering for the late Apostacy he Consults 2 Chro. 30. 2. the better to effect his
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
that dare Disturb them be Destroyed a Dreadful Curse and such as God saith Amen to Ezr. 6. 6 7 11 12. The finding of thid Decree of Cyrus with those Contents c. was a marvellous good Providence to the Disturbed Church the Malice of her Adversaries in Writing that Malicious Letter prooved a great Furtherance to the Finishing of the Temple as Pauls Persecution at Rome prooved not an Hinderance but a Furtherance of the Gospel Phil. 1. 12. For hereupon Cambyses's Wicked Decree of Hindring Temple-Work was far Removed as Micah had foretold Mic. 7. 11. and those very Governours the Churches Adversaries do upon the Receiving of Cyrus Decree by Darius 1. Pay in the Kings Tribute to defray the Charges of Building the Temple and 2. send in all manner of Sacrifices when finished v. 12 13 8 9. Thus God still over-shoots Satan in his own Bow causes the very Dogs to lick the Sores of Lazarus and makes all things to work for good to them that love God Rom. 8. 28. Josephus and Esdras say Darius granted all this upon Zerubabels excellent Discourse how Women was stronger than Wine too strong for Kings yet Truth is strongest of all Then the Lord Removed the Decree of Hindring the Building asar off Mic. 7. 11. by Darius's Commission Ezra 5. 3. and 6. 1. So that notwithstanding all the Oppositions from Wicked Men and a Wretched Devil in the 6th Y. of Darius the Temple of God is Finished and the Dedication of it is Solemnly Observed Ezra 6. 15 16. about 15 Y. after the Foundation had been laid Yea and the Passeover also v. 19 20 21 22. Neither was this all the Lord did for his Churches Weal Romovendo Prohibentia in Removing Hinderances out of her way but also Applicando Adiutoria in Contributing Furtherances not onely in making their very Adversaries to become their Auxiliaries as before v. 13. who did lend her Sacrifices of all sorts and that Speedily according to Darius Decree because they durst do no otherwise but also in Sending her Ezra in the 7th of Darius call'd by that common Name of the Persian Kings Artaxerxes to strengthen their Hands in the Lords Work and to make a wonderful Reformation Ezra 7. 1. c. and Ch. 8. and Ch. 9. Thus the Vision of Zachary Zech. 1. 17 22. who Prophecy'd at that time was Accomplish'd in the greatest part for he saw four Horns who sought to scatter Judah to wit Rehum and Shimshai Ezra 4. 17 23. Tatnai and Shether-Boznai Ch. 5. 6. and he saw four Carpenters to break those Horns to wit Zerubabel call'd also Shesh-bazzar signifying Joy in Tribulation Joshua a Saviour Ezna an Helper and to Compleat the Number of Four God sent his Church Nehemiah signifying the Comfort of the Lord in the 20th Y. of this Darius Artaxerxes with a full Commission from the King to repair the Walls of the Holy City after that the Altar and Temple had been re-Built by other Hands Hereupon began the 2d part of the Devils 19th Plot who stirred up Pestilent opposition against the Church both from Without and from Within 1. From Without by open and profess'd Enemies to wit Sanball at Tobiah and Geshum the Arabian Neh 2. 10 19. Sanballat which signifies a pure Enemy and Tobiah that Advanced Vassal were so Sly and Subtle being the Old Serpents Disciples as to Insinuate by Allyances to the High-Priest Neh. 13. 4 28. yet were mortal Enemies to the Church and 1. It grieved them exceedingly that there was come a Man to seek the Welfare of Israel Neh. 2. 10. had they been Ingenious their very Alliance to Israel should have made them Rejoyce in Israels Prosperity but the Cursed Malice of this Moabite and Ammonite had swallowed up all the sparks of common Ingenuity This is the 1st Appearance of the Devil in them they look'd upon Nehemiah with a lowring look with an evil Eye as Cain did upon Abel and such was their Spleen and Spight that they became Sad at it 2ly The Devil in them turns their Sadness into Madness v. 19. they had onely been made Sad before but now are they made Mad with their own Malice and falls a wagging their Wicked Tongues to Scoff and Deride those Godly Wall-Builders and to laugh them to Scorn Herein Geshem Darius's Lieutenant in Arabia Confederates with them at the Devils Instigation v. 10. and Ch. 6. 2. and Ch. 4. 1 2. Now when God had Laughed this Laughing-Design of the Devil to Nothing 1 by Nehemiahs Courage Neh. 2. â—0 and â— by the Peoples Constancy and their good mind to Work Ch. 4. 6. when Scoffs and Sarcasms could not deterr them from Working then 3ly Satan Hurries them into a Secret Conspiracy to Oppose their Building-Work by an Open Hostility Neh. 4. 8. that by turning their Works into Knocks they might make them either Creep into Corners or Run away 4ly They Strengthen their Cruel Conspiracy by the Devils Crafty Counsel 1 In Raising false Rumours Reporting that Nehemiah and the Jews did Intend to Rebell Ch. 6. 6. Thus they lay no less than the Crime of High-Treason to their Charge Intending to charge Home those Children of the most High God as Dan. 6. 13. Ezr. 4. 13. Esth 3. 8. And they have a most Credible and Creditable Witness to prove it too to wit Geshmu or Geshem the Arabian their Fellow-Conspirator saith it ☞ Who knows not that Vulgar Rumour is a loud Lyar Is it true because it is Reported and that by them that say Report and we will Report it Jer. 20. 10. Psal 31. 13. as if there were no false Desaming Detracting Reports feigned only out of the Addle-Brains of the Reporters themselves Ch. 6.8 Geshmu here Broaches the Slander and Sanballat and Tobiah will Blazon it the former setts it on Foot and the latter keeps it a Float Hoping according to Machiavels Maxim Fortiter Galumniare aliquid Haerebit If they slander'd stoutly something would stick It doth not follow because 't is Reported therefore it must be true besides Geshmu's Tongue was no slander for he was known to teach his Tongue the Art of Lying as Jer. 9. 3 5. and was this Man who was a loud and lewd Lyar Yea and a Party too in the Conspiracy fit to be a Witness but any would serve Sanballats turn who for a need could have Suck'd such a Slander as this out of his own Fingers ends And they belyed good Nehemiah as after they belyed Christ himself Joh. 19. 12. that he would have made himself King of the Jews and that he had Hired Prophets to Preach him up King in Jerusalem v. 7. As if Haggai and Zachariah the True Prophets of the Lord and Preaching Vp the Kingdom of Christ Hagg. 2. 7. and Zach. 9. 9. had been Hired by him to Preach up the Kingdom of Nehemiah whereas indeed they Mused as they Vsed this was their own 2d Artifice in Hireing false Prophets to Affright the People from the Work of God to wit
Saints and Convey a Blessing to both and then the Lord shall Bless saying Blessed be Aegypt my People a New and Honourable Title to them and Assyria the Work of my Hands as Created anew in Christ Eph. 2. 10. and Israel my Inheritance Isa 19. 23 25. Thus we see Gods Care of his Church in Babylon and in Aegypt too Defeating all the Devils Designs which were to Destroy it every where as well as any-where Now let us view the same Divine Care and Kindness to his Church when Removed to Persia at the Destruction of Babylon out of which she Fled Isa 48. 23. and 52. 11. and Jer. 50. 8. and 51. 6 45. Zech. 2. 6. Revel 18. 4. For it was Devoted to Destruction by Darius the Persian God had Reserv'd an Holy Remnant for Royal Use even in Persia for not half of the Jews Returned to Jerusalem at Cyrus Proclamation whatever Josephus saith to the Contrary who makes the Returners to be above Four Millions whereas Ezra makes them onely Forty and two Thousand Ezra 2. 64. Ten or Twelve Thousand whereof might probably be of the Ten Tribes that were first carryed Captive who together with Benjamin and Judah make up the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Twelve Tribes which the Apostle speaks of Act. 26. 7. Instantly Serving God Night and Day Hoping to come to Heaven which plainly Intimates how God carefully keeps his Covenant in preserving his Church among them Now I say this People having lived a long season safely in a Fat though a Forraign Countrey there they had lived in Peace enjoy'd their Religion gathered Riches and had Favourites at Court so were loth to trouble themselves with removing into their own Countrey where they were sure to meet with much opposition and many Enemies the Samaritans and others Hereupon many of them remained in Babylonia and Persia as before yet God Delivers them not over to the Devil to do what he would with them but Defeats his Design even there also As the Devil had his Wicked Haman to contrive the Churches Destruction in Persia so God had his Holy Mordecai there for her preservation before whom Haman Fails and the Devils Plot in him Now come we to the most Eminent Evidence and most pregnant Proof of Divine Providence in Preserving the Church of God against the Devils most powerful Plot Recorded in Scripture And in discoursing upon it I shall not meddle with the Timeing of it which some Critical observers of Chronology do place betwixt Cyrus and Darius's Decrees for re-Building the Temple but shall take it as it is placed in Canonical Scripture the very last Book that Describes the History of the Church in the Old Testament to wit the Book of Esther wherein though the Name God be not found yet most Eminently the Hand of God is found there in Capital Characters And herein Observe Two Principal parts 1. The Churches Danger and 2. The Churches Deliverance both exceedingly Eminent even in Shushan the Head-City of Persia wherein God had a great People reserved and preserved there and scatter'd about in many other places as will appear by the Sequel First The Churches Danger in it Three particulars are observable 1. The Occasion of the Danger to wit Holy Mordecai's refusal of Bowing the knee to proud Haman that cursed Amalekite a deadly Enemy of the Church and the Kings great Favourite both before he had obtained the Royal Decree against the Church and afterwards also 2ly The Persons who were in this Eminent Danger to wit not Mordecai alone for he thought him alone too mean a Sacrifice below his Revengeful Rage but also all the Godly Jews every-where Dispersed Esth 3. 6. and 3ly The Danger it self to wit not personal onely as that of Dan. 3. 20. and Dan. 6. 14. but an Universal and Utter Destruction maliciously Intended by a Decree obtained upon false Informations that the Jews did not keep the Kings Laws v. 8. Thus Haman cloak'd his private Malice with publique pretences Oh what a likely Tool had the Devil now got to Work the Churches Ruine withal to wit the Adversary and Enemy Wicked Haman Esth 7. 6. where he is painted in his proper Colours The Man-Adversary or Hebr. Satan the Church hath her Man-Adversary as well as Devil-Adversary a Man of might and a great Favourite at Court an Vtter Enemy a Sworn Sword-man of Satan that old Man-slayer from whom Haman had drawn this Antient Enmity Gen. 3. 15. and from cursed Amalek Exod. 17. 8. He is as pious Queen Esther Brands him our Angustiator or Oppressor and ready to do all Hostile Acts against us 'T is this Wicked Haman a Man of Mischief and the Worst of Mankind even Wickedness it self no better than a Breathing Devil so prodigiously and peerlesly profligate in his Plots and Projects against the Church Now the Devil begins his Plot by this sit Instrument as soon as he had set him alost upon the pinacle of highest Preferment and the King had commanded all his Courtiers to Bow to him Esth 3. 1 2. 1st In Hamans madness against Mordecai for his being so stiff in the Ham as not to bend to Great Prince Haman with the Cringing Courtiers at the Kings command ☞ That was enough for them right or wrong and so 't is in our Day with Herodians that will be of King Herod's or King Harry's Religion whatever it be many matters it not so it have a Royal Sanction it must be done though they themselves be Vndone for ever for so doing this Godly Mordecai could not do not onely because Haman was a cursed Amalekite whom God would have Israel not to Honour but to Destroy Exod. 17. 14. Deut. 25. 19. 1 Sam. 15. 3. but also because this kind of Bowing had a Divine Devotion in it due to God onely and not due to any mortal Man quite contrary to the Law of his God Deut. 6. 13. and 10. 20. Matth. 4. 9 10. Dan. 6. 13. It was not therefore a proud self-willedness that made Mordecai so stiff notwithstanding the Allurements and Affrightments of the Courtiers but Fear of Sin and Conscience of Duty and he would rather offend all the World than God and his own Conscience This enraged Haman to be sleighted by a Captive-Jew whom the Free-born Persians Honour'd and Adored Insomuch as he Swell'd like a Toad and Glowed like a Devil 1 in designing his Destruction and the rather because he was a Jew whom he Naturally Hated as Josephus saith seeing they had Antiently destroyed the Amalekites his Country-men Esth 3. 3 4 5. 2ly His Designing to cut off all his People as well as Mordecai it being below his haughty Heart and too narrow for his Revengeful Mind to be confined within the Compass of Killing one Captive-Slave onely but the Fire of his Rage will Burn up all the Jews that lay in his way v. 6. 1. In order hereunto he cast Lots to find a lucky day wherein to Accomplish his Wickedness which by an over-ruling
Friendly Visit whom he Feasted as familiar Friends Jer. 41. 1. not unlike to Psal 41. 9. Luk. 14. 1. Mat. 26.23 Then those Judas's assaults him when he and all his Guests were as Josephus saith merry with Wine and so less able to Resist and slew him and all that were with him v. 23. and Seventy Samaritan Proselytes who had not in the least offended this Brutish Butcher v. 5 6 7. All this befalls this good Governour by his own fond Credulity for he had a faithful Information of this Bloody Plot by Johanan and the Captains Jer. 40. 13. Discovering to him How the King of Ammon was the prime Engineer out of his Inveterate Hatred to Israel in pussing up this young Gallant and his Ten Desperado Hectors with Promises of Preferment as before v. 14. not unlike to that Influence our present Plot hath had from the French-Court Yea and those Discoverers of the Plot do offer their Service to Prevent it v. 15. but this Just Man too much Ingenuous too little Suspicious was too secure and would believe nothing v. 14. 16. * Qui omnia Credit qui nihil Credit ex Aâ—quo peccat 'T is no less a fault to believe nothing than to believe every thing As Reports are not to be over-heeded so neither are they to be over-slighted especially where Life is concern'd and most especially the Life of the King or chief Governour the latter whereof was Gedaliah's Case and the former is this of Ahasuerus who like a Wise King makes Inquisition to wit a Thorough Enquiry and Searching out to the Bottom whether the Report were True or No Esth 2. 23. well-knowing that the Weal of the whole Land Depended mainly upon One Mans Safety and though Cruel and Crafty Ishmael was successful so far as by his Deep Dissimulation to cut off good Gedaliah through his want of an Honest Jealousie and many others to whom he made a shew of a mournful Mind with them in his Crocodile-Tears that they might not mistrust him Jer. 41. 6. Yet God Laugh'd his Plot to Nothing he lost his Design of makeing himself King or Vice-Roy for though he did what he could to conceal his Wickedness Jer. 41. 4 9. yet God will have all Barbarous Murthers to come out to light though never so closely carryed Rumour out-ran him before he could get away with his Prize Johanan hears of all his Butcheries comes and makes a Rescue to the Joy of the People v. 10 to 13. Ishmael escapes to Ammon as our Conspirators do to France * which Defeat could not but be a greater vexation to his proud Heart there than Death it self with what Peace Honour or Conscienbe could this base Judas live in the Court of the Ammonites King who had sett him on to Raise himself by the Ruine of Gedaliah and to give him an Opportunity of Invading the Countrey when they had none to protect them Here I cannot pass over in Silence those four Famous Remarques The 1st is That Divine Vengeance pursued Ishmael to Ammon as appears Jer. 49. 1 2 3. Amos 1. 14. and 2. 2. which had always Infested Israel and now Grossly Injur'd as if Heir-less so is put under an Irreversible Decree of Destruction for Three and Four Transgressions God knows what may in due time befall France for the like Sins The 2d Remarque is Gods Freedom in his Choice of Instruments for Deliverance This Johanan was not Right no more than Ishmael out of whose Wicked Hands he Deliver'd the People for though he pretended fair in that Act and in his Address to Jeremy Jer. 42. 1 2 3. yet this was all but Hateful Hypocrisie v. 20. and 43. 2 4. The 3d. Remarque is Divine Vengeance Pursues this Deliverer when he step'd out of Gods way into Aegypt as appeareth Jer. 43. 11. and 46. 1 2 c. Thither those persidious Persons are pursued Hot foot for refusing to live in Gods good Land and according to Gods good Laws as they had feignedly promised The 4th famous Remarque is this God suffers some Secret Plots and Cursed Conspiracies to Succeed more and farther than others yet all Baffled and Blasted at last Thus that against Gedaliah had a farther Success than this against Ahasuerus for Gedaliah did fall by that against him because of his Remissness to find out the Treason but Ahasuerus did not fall by His for it was found out Esth 2. 23. as all Treason usually is for Mordecai had so prudently Manag'd the Matter that he could punctually prove the Information and did so whereupon the Traitors who like Bells will never be well Tuned until they be well Hanged were both Hanged on the Gallows wearing a Tyburn-Tippet as Father Latimer phrased it * whereof some such like in our day seem to be Ambitious but much Joy have they of that Ambition to themselves though they be Canoniz'd for Saints thereby in the Romish-Kalendar Mordecai's Discovery becomes the Kings Deliverance and the Traitors Destruction This memorable Act is Entred into the Journal-Book or publique Records of Persia the King being an Eye-Witness of its Registring yet Mordecai's Good Service was soon forgotten God forgat not Ahasuerus to Recompence him for his Love to Esther and Kindness to her People by Detecting and defeating the Damnable Plot of the Conspirators against his Life but he soon forgets Mordecai who from a Conscience of Duty and Fear of God became the Instrument of saving his Life though the whole matter was in his Chronicle-Book before him However God who had an Holy Hand in all this forgat not Mordecai but brought to pass great things by his Providence even out of the Kings forgetting him and that Nothing was yet Done for Mordecai Esth 6. 1. c. as is there at large related * God 's time is the best and we shall one day say so let us leave our All believingly with the Lord never is there any thing lost by waiting Gods Leisure and Pleasure who both Bottles up the Tears and Books up the Groans of his People Psal 6. 8. Yea Writes down all their Prayers in his Roll of Remembrance Mal. 3.16 and will not forget them as the Butler did Joseph Gen. 40. 23. nor as Ahasuerus did Mordecai here therefore all things went Sadly with the Church after this forgetfulness Haman gets the Kings Decree to Destroy all the Jews in the 12th Month upon his Lucky Day Esth 3. 13. and his revengeful Heart being too Impatient of so long Delay till that Day came goes in the mean time to get a Grant of Ahasuerus to Hang Mordecai the Kings Deliverer before hand Esth 5. 14. and 6.4 Now the Devils game was at the fairest the Church brought to a low ebb Haman is come unto the King for an Order to Hang Mordecai very early in the Morning yea so early that Esther could not possibly prevent him by begging of his Life had she been never so Desirous Here was the low-Water Mark now the Tide begins to turn and
'T was a marvellous Providence that God should preserve the High-Priest-hood all the Captivity to this time as Neh. 12. 11. but more to have this Pledge of Gods Grace in Jaddus time The 4th Allay was though Antiochus who sprung out of Alexanders Successors became a fierce Fiend to the Iews yet God told them by Daniel that his standing up against the Prince of Princes to wit God Almighty in Destroying the Dayly Sacrifice and in setting up Idolatry in the Temple would quickly bring Gods Vengeance upon him He shall be broken without Hand Dan. 8. 25. and though for a few Y. as above he shall do according to his wicked Will in the Holy Land Dan. 11. 36. not Regarding any God v. 37. yet shall he come to his end v. 45. a loathsome and lamentable end a Visible Hand of God laid upon him a loathsome Disease and wrapt him up in the Sheet of Shame 1 Macc. 6. 8. and 2 Macc. 9. 5. not so much because he would have spoiled the Temple of Diana but because he did Spoil the Temple at Jerusalem The 5th Allay was that Spirit of God and of Glory which Rested upon the Godly Jews both for Doing Gods Work and for Suffering Gods Will 1. In Doing Oh what a Blessed Zeal did blow up Matthias the Father and Judas Maccabeus his Son who with the Help of his Brethren and other Iews drove the Enemy out of the Countrey and cleansed the Land of all the Uncleanness which had been brought into it Yea and with a very small Handful of Men did mighty Exploits against this Vile Antiochus's great Armies so that the Church was in those Worst of Times most Graciously Holpen with a little Help Dan. 11. 34. in which Weaker Means God Manifested to them his Greater Strength In whose name and by whose Conduct the People that knew their God were strong to do Exploits and to out-doe those Exploits of Antiochus Dan. 11. 28 32. The Apostle seemeth to speak of these Maccabees who wrought Righteousness both Civil and Military Obtained Promises of Glorious Victories and Escaped the edge of the Sword of their Cursed Enemies which sometimes Conquerours do not but purchase their Conquests with the loss of their own Lives as it happened to those brave Brethren at last Hebr. 11. 32 33. and 2ly in Suffering and no less Glorious Spirit did Act the Godly Jews in their Undergoing Cruel Mockings and most exquisite Torments they were Tempted and they were Tortured too yet being got above both the Allurements and Affrightments of the World they would not Accept of Deliverance upon Sordid and sinful terms but as willing to Dye as to Dine they commit themselves to their God in their Martyrdom That they might obtain a better Resurrection Hebr. 11. 35 37. Where that time seems to be Related to God had even then an Holy Remnant whereof the World was not Worthy They were fitter to shine as Stars in Heaven than to be torn in pieces by those Dogs and Hogs on Earth as Josephus the Book of Maccabees and of Martyrs tell us The 6th Sweet Allay the Church had in this Doleful Day was that miracle of the Pool of Bethesda graciously granted by God to corroborate Her in the True Worship of God under the sad persecutions of Antiochus and other Tyrants until the days of John Baptist and of the Lord Christ Joh. 5. 2 3 4. This held up the fainting Spirits of the good people in those bad Times when Prophecy failed and Prosperity too Yea and in the general all true Piety Prophaneness comming in its stead as Malachi their last Prophet declares at large The Rabbins indeed tell us of a Bath-Kol or Eccho that was heard in the Temple which serv'd them for an Oracle c. but waving Jewish Fancies and Fables the Scripture of Truth tells us how an Angel went at certain times to give Healing Vertue to that Water wherein their Sacrifices were washed Here many Impotent Folk lay Languishing at Hopes Hospital and looking after all other means had been ineffectual for God to say to them In the House of Mercy as the Word Bethesda signifies I am thy God that Healeth thee Exod. 15. 26. Jehova Ropheka a Gyant-like Healer Omnipotenti Medico nullus Insanabilis Occurit Morbus No Disease is but God can Cure it This Beneficial Pool was supplyed with Water from the Fountain of Siloam which Represented the Kingdom of Christ Isa 8. 6. The 7th and last Allay was the Promise of the Messiah that Mercy of Mercies who was to be a more Soveraign Bath than this of Bethesda or House of Bounty Christ is the Royal Fountain or Kings Bath Zech. 13. 1. ever-flowing and over-flowing such as Wash herein Believingly shall be both Clean and Whole not Healing at the times of the Iewish Feasts onely as that Pool did but all times of the Year and not one at once as if one only had Suck'd up all the Healing Vertue from all others there but here 3000 persons were Healed together at one Sermon Act. 2. 41. when the Angel of the Covenant Descended to move the Waters that were drawn out of the Wells of Salvation Isa 12. 3. for no other moving but that of an Angel who are Ministring Spirits to heirs of Salvation Hebr. 1. 14. could Dispence to the Diseased any such powerful and immediate Cure the Waters were at all times of a cleansing Property as to their Sacrifices but onely at that time had they a Cureing Power as to themselves When this Beneficial Vertue began in this Pool is uncertain 't is supposed to begin when Eliashib Joshua's Grand-Child with the godly Priests Built the Sheep-gate and Beautify'd it then Consecrated it with their godly Prayr Neh. 3. 1. Hereupon as Tremellius saith probably followed that Miracle of an Angels Descending into the Pool there at their several Solemn Feasts and Healing all Diseases how old great or Desperate soever and that immediately and in a moment 't is as Uncertain likewise when this Miracle of Healing Ceased 't is supposed not till the Destruction of Ierusalem which did fall out about Forty Y. after Christs Healing this Cripple at Bethesda it being so many Y. 'twixt this Passeover Ioh. 5. and that Passeover when Titus Vespasian laid Siege to the City yet this is more than probable that this Miraculous Gift of Healing was given to this Pool before the Comming of Christ as a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or famous fore-Runner of him who was to be the Opened Fountain Zech. 13. 1. for Healing all Diseases and Cureing all Sins Matth. 1. 21. even Jesus the Greek Word comes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sano to Heal as the Hebr. Word of Jashang to Save and this is most certain that the time when this Famous Fountain was opened is well known though concerning the Pool aforesaid the Beginning of its Miracle be unknown to wit to be about the four Thousand Y. of the World according to the Latitude of Time and latest
which sought to make the Church Dye are themselves Dead and all their Diabolical Designs with them The Devil being thus Defeated in the 1st part of his Plot against Christ in the Infancy of his Manhood Christ still Lives grows up in Wisdom and Stature and in Favour with God and Man Luk. 2. 52. and at twelve Y. Old able to Dispute with the Doctors Yea to non-plus them v. 47. The Twenty-Second Plot in the New-Testament against the Church in Christ Defeated by God CHAP. XXII HEreupon he projects a Second Plot against Christ in the Infancy or Minority of his Ministry as the first was Manag'd with an Instrument to wit Herod mediately but this 2d without any immediately by the Devil himself Satan will not trust any Instruments to Tempt Christ as his Imp Herod had trusted his Souldiers to Kill Christ Matth. 2. 16. Now he Assaults Christ by himself Matth. 4. 1. he had Assaulted the 1st Adam in his Proxy the Serpent but he will Venture upon the â—d Adam in his own Person and that Immediately upon his very Entrance into the Ministery Behold here the Dreadfullest Duel the most Memorable Battel betwixt Two the Strongest and Stoutest Champions was sought that ever appear'd upon the Stage of the World that of David and Goliah was of a far Inferiour Alloy though a type of it to this â— Sam. 17. 41 to 51. There was onely Man against Man and that of Michael and the Devil Jude 9. is below this for 1. there it was onely an Arch-Angel against the Arch-Devil 2ly 'T was onely a Dispute about the Body of Moses but here 't is not Man against Man as in the first Instance nor an Angel against a Devil as in the second No 't is the Lord of Angels Hebr. 2. 4. Wrestling a Fall with the Prince of Devils Matth. 12. 24. Oh how do people Run to see some Remarkable Fencers sight their Prizes c. * Behold here a Prize sought betwixt God-Man and Beelzebub 'twixt the Prince of Life and the Prince of Darkness and that not about the Natural Body of Moses as above but about the Spiritual Body of the Messias to wit his Church the Mystical Body of Christ 1 Cor. 12. 12. neither is it that Israel may Overcome the Philistims onely for which David fought Goliah but that all Believing Jews and Gentiles that ever have been are now and shall be to the end of the World may Overcome Flesh World and Devil in this Captain of their Salvation Jesus Christ Hebr. 2. 10. Rom. 8. 37. Col. 1. 16. and 2. 15. Oh what will ye go out into the Wilderness to see Matth. 11. 7. turn aside with Moses Exod. 3. 3. and with Me to see this Great Sight The Strong Man and the Stronger Man Entring the Lists together not Two Reeds shaken with the Wind shakeing one another but a mighty Devil a compleat compound of Goliahs Strength of Achitophels Craft and of Doegs Malice Combating and Conflicting with Almighty God and for a fuller and more distinct View of this most Famous Contest behold it in Two Pregnant Particulars 1. A most strange Act. 2. As strange an End 1. The Strange Act like the River of Paradise Gen. 2. 10. Divides it self into Four Streams Branching it self out in Four Circumstances 1. Time 2. Place 3. the Agent 4. the Patient 1st of the Time when then Matth. 4. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Immediately Mark 1. 12. 1. Presently after he was Baptized 3. Presently after he was Proclaimed the Son of God or Presently after he was 30 Y. Old As to the 1st Christ was no sooner out of the Water of Baptism but Immediately he comes into the Fire of Temptation and both not for himself but for us Behold how he loved us Is there any Love like the Love of Christ who passed thorough both Fire and Water to Work our Redemption As to the 2d Immediately after his Highest Communion with Heaven he hath his Deepest Temptations from Hell If Heaven Open its Mouth to Proclaim him the Son of God Matth. 3. 17. then presently Hell opens its mouth Isa 5. 14. to powr out Flouds of Temptation upon him as Revel 12. 15. If God say I am Well-pleased with Christ Matth. 3. 17. The Devil comes presently and saith But I am Highly displeased with Christ And if Heaven send a Dove and the Holy Spirit to Christ Matth. 3. 16. Hell will be sure Immediately to send him a Fiend and an Vnclean Spirit the former Descends from Above the latter Ascends from Below as 1 Sam. 28. 13. As to the 3d. Relating to Christs Age we do not Read what Christ did in his Minority and Nonage how he spent his private Life was Judg'd by the most Wise God fitter for Secrefie than for Knowledge where the Word hath not a Mouth to Speak we should not have a Tongue to Ask However 't is not probable that Christ that Pattern of Holiness the Regula Regulans Rule-Ruleing as well as Regulata the Rule-Ruled should spend his thirty Y. either 1 in Idleness especially considering the Iews generally were Charg'd with their Children after they had Circumcis'd them to train them up in the Knowledge of the Law of God for the good of their Inner Man Exod. 12. 26 27. and in some Honest Calling for the good of their Outward Man and Rab. Judah saith Quicunque non Doceret suum Filium aliquod Opificium est acsi illum Latrocinium Doceret Whoever Taught not his Son some Honest Employ is as if he had taught him to be a Rogue or a Robber Yea and the Heathen Hesiod could Sing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nullum Opificium est probrosum No Handicraft-Trade is Reproachful but of good Report or 2 in dedicating his Youth to the Study 1 of Curious Arts as those had done Act. 19 19. and such a Devilish Black Artist those Black-mouth'd Blasphemers would have made of the Divine Messiah Mat. 12.24 or 2 of those better call'd Liberal Arts whereof he had no need being the Wisdom of God Prov. 8. 30. 1 Cor. 1. 24. and having the Godhead dwelling Bodily in Him Col. 2. 9. a Beam whereof he was pleas'd to put forth in the Temple among the Doctors when he was Twelve Y. Old Luk. 2.42 46 47. until which Y. the Scripture Relates nothing of him after his Deliverance from Herod nor any thing of him after this until he was Thirty Y. Old save onely that when he had drawn in this Beam of his Deity which he had put forth among the Doctors he went Home with his Parents and was subject to them v. 51. where 't is not improbable the Grand Carpenter and great Architect of the World follow'd his Fathers Calling of a Carpenter as the Evangelists Words are Is not this the Carpenter Mark 6. 3. And as Justin Martyr that lived not long after him saith That before his Ministry he made Yokes and Ploughs which some would confirm from Christs own Words My Yoke is