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
Jer. 22. 18 19. His Son Coniah or Jehoiakin the 19th King is Wicked also Jer. 22. 24 c. and within Three Months surrenders the City got Quarter for his Life and Used kindly after for his yielding Ch. 24. 11. and 25. 27. Zedekiah the 20th whose Pride against God 2 Chron. 36. 12. and Perjury to Nebuchadnezzar prepared him for Destruction v. 13. And there was then a general Defection both of Priests and People now Gods wrath comes on them without Remedy v. 14 16. the Devil is well-pleased as God was displeased to see the Temple burnt and Judah carried Captive to Babylon The Eighteenth Plot against the CHURCH in Babylon Defeated by GOD. CHAP. XVIII NOW when the Devil had got the Church laid wast in Judah and as it is expressed in Scripture Buryed in the Graves of Babylon he made as sure Work as he could to keep them down there In order thereunto he made them Servants to Nebuchadnezzar and to his Sons evil Merodach and Belshazzar as the Prophet Jeremy had foretold Jer. 27. 6 7. yet this was not to fulfill the Will of the Devil but the Word of the Lord 2 Chron. 36. 20 21. Until onely the Land had Enjoyed her Sabbaths which had likewise been foretold Levit. 26. 34 35. and 23. 32. Ier. 25. 9 12. and 29. 10. Dan. 9. 2. The Land was Eased of that Wicked weight which brought upon it Gods heavy Curses and it had been toyled and tyr'd out with continual Tillage and so they had got out the very Heart of it to spend it upon their Lusts both in a Neglect and Contempt of Gods Holy Sabbaths ☞ The good Lord divert from us the like Judgements as an utter extirpation for the like Sins Oh how should our notorious Provocations make us Weep over and Tremble at the Word of the Lord Ezek. 24. 13 14. least Ruine come upon us without Remedy as upon Israel and Iudah whom Ezekiel calls Aholah and Aholibah Ch. 23. 4. the Lewdness of both which God caused to cease as a Caution to all Kingdoms that they may Hear Fear and do so no more v. 49 49. and Ezek. 16. 51 58 59. where the same matter is Expressed more plainly as in Ch. 23. 't is spoken parabolically yet this Thundering Law God was pleased most graciously to qualifie with some serene Sun-shine of the Gospel v. 60. Nevertheless I will remember my Covenant This spoil'd the Devils plot who thought the Cup now put into the Churches Hand in her Captivity was so Deep and Large Ezek. 23.32 that it had Eternity to the Bottom but Gods Covenant of Grace stop'd her bitter Draught be times not by thy Covenant to wit of Works made on Mount Sinai but by my Covenant to wit of Grace made on Mount Sion Ezek. 16. 60 to 63. This destroy'd the Devils Design of Burying the Church in the Babylonish-Grave of Everlasting oblivion which was as Impossible as to keep Christ in his Grave from a Glorious Resurrection Act. 2. 21. Rom. 1. 4. as the literal Body of Christ our Redeemer so the Mystical Body of Christ the Church Swallows up Death in Victory 1 Cor. 15. 54. The Lords Witnesses cannot be kept Under without a Glorious Resurrection Rev. 11. 10 11. Oh how gladly would the Devil have by his Agents kept Christ fast in the Grave when he had got him there Hereupon his Instruments those Kill-Christs procures a Commission to do that servile Work on the Sabbath-day in Securing and Sealing up Christs Sepulchre by Authority So they went and made the Sepulchre sure Matth. 27. 66. and now the Devil Dances upon the Grave of Christ as thinking himself Cock-sure of him but he that sat in Heaven Sees and Smiles Videt Ridet looks and laughs and Laughs all to Nothing he sets his King in despight of the Devil upon his Holy Hill of Sion Psal 2.4 6. and as Daniel was brought out of his Sealed Den of Lyons was made greater than ever So the Church that Prisoner of Hope is rais'd out of the Pit out of the Graves of Babylon by the Blood of the Covenant Zech. 9. 11 12. Gods Promise to this People is that though they lay in Babylon as in a Sepulchre and as it were buryed alive there yea and now nothing but bare Bones yea dry Bones such as were ready to crumble into Dust Their Case being so desperate that they desparingly say We are cut off for our parts hanging up their Hopes and their Harps together upon the Willows Psal 137. 1 2 3. yet God owneth them saying Behold Oh my People though they little deserved it Ezek. 37. 3 11 12. The Graves shall be Opened together with my Dead Body they shall Arise Isa 26. 19. Come my People your Captivity is but your Chamber a place of Rest I will bring you out thence God sent his Angel to Roul back the Stone as an Officer sent to let Christ out of Prison without the Keepers consent and sat upon it in despight of all their Arms which the Guard let fall out of their Hands at the Astonishing presence of the Angel Matth. 28. 2 3 4. There was an Earthquake at Christs Death that Opened the Graves Matth. 27. 52 53. for the Earth could not bear his Suffering and there was an Earthquake at Christs Resurrection for the Earth could not hinder his Rising and Christ graciously Comforts his Disponding Church in the Graves of Babylon Thy Dead Men shall Rise together with my Dead Body they shall Arise Awake and Sing thou that dwellest in the Dust Isa 26. â—9 Arise and come away Cant. 2. 10 13. and till thy 70 Y. be Accomplish'd he saith Come my People Hide your selves in your Chambers of Rest or Babylonish Retirement as it were for a little Moment c. Thus God lovingly bespoke his people when they were led Captive to Babylon as if leading them by the Hand to an hiding place of his own providing there saying I will make Babylon to you Oh my People what the Ark was to Noah and what Zoar was to Lot your Captivity shall be your Sanctuary Build ye Houses in Babylon and dwell in them take ye Wives and beget Sons and seck the peace of the City Jer. 29. 5 6 7. in a Land like your own Land for Fruitfulness 2 Kin. 18 32. As it is with sundry Plants which loses their Stalks as well as their Flowers in Winter yet shelter themselves by their Roots in the Earth the Ground is not their Grave but their Sanctuary a New Spring makes them live again to Bud and Blossom So it was the Churches Winter-time in the Graves of Babylon wherein God secured Sion when an out-cast as it were under Ground and trampled under foot as Roots of the most beautiful Plants in Winter yet Behold how the Lord Cherishes the Churches Root there and then with Thoughts of Peace and Love to give her an Expected End of her Winter and to bring a fresh spring upon her Jer. 29. 11
Mouth but it was presently in Gods Ear and no sooner was it there but Immediately Gabriel comes posting upon the Wing with an Answer That the 70 Y. being Expired the Decree for their Liberty was now Signed but also 2. Exactly at the End of the 70 Y. Captivity neither more nor less God will come according to his Promise Jer. 25. 12. and 29. 10. but Daniels Prayers must lead him thus he will have it to be and God will be Punctual in keeping his Word a Day with Men breaks no squares it doth with God Hence those Two great Deliverances out of Aegypt and Babylon and this latter more Marvellous than the former Jer. 16. 14 15. hath Two special Remarques upon them in their Accomplishment at a Punctual and Precise point of Time promised as 1. That very Night wherein the First-born of Aegypt were slain was the Ending of the foretold Four Hundred Y. Exod. 12. 40 41. And 2. That very Night wherein Belshazzar was Slain by Cyrus and Darius was exactly the Expiration of the foretold 70 Y. Dan. 5. 30. ☞ This is the Churches Cordial and Comfort though God sometimes fails to come at her time yet he never fails to come at his own time The Nineteenth Plot against the CHURCH in Judea Defeated by GOD. CHAP. XIX THe Church of God through his Over-ruling Hand having got this Royal Wind under her Wings flyes Swiftly out of Babylon to Canaan there to re-Build the House of the Lord one of the Seven Wonders of the World and to Repair the City of Jerusalem that Holy City Ezra 1. 5. then Rose up Zerubabel the Chief Prince and Joshuah the Chief Priest with all the Heads of the Families the Priests and Levites with all their Children Men and Maid-Servants in all 7337 Ezra 2. 65. whose Spirits God had raised up leading them into the Land of Uprightness Psal 143. 10. 1 Chro. 9. 3. Ezek. 37. 16 17 21 22. many Israelites joyned with the Jews Those by the good Hand of God upon them 1. setts up the Altar Ezra 3. 3. in the place where the Temple stood for as yet they had none v. 6. that by their Prayers and Offerings thereon they might get God on their side and run to him Reconciled what ever evil should befall them from their Evil and Malignant Neighbours Then those Godly and Active Souls not being content with the Altar of God onely but Desirous as we should all be of all Gods Ordinances lay the Foundation of the Temple v. 10. Then did the Devil Rage projects his 19th a new Plot against the Church which indeed is a Complication of Plots as the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah doth Demonstrate The 1st part of the Devils 19th Plot was to stirr up 1 the Samaritans to obstruct the Superstructure of the Temple upon the Now and New-laid Foundation 2 the Governors of the Land to wit Tatnai and Shether-Boznai when they began to Build again after the first Obstruction 1. The Samaritans Satan Awaken'd and Rouzed up at the loud Acclamations and Out-cries Partim Jubilando partim Ejulando some shouting aloud for Joy and others howling aloud for Sorrow Ezra 3. 9 12 13. Those Adversaries of Judah Devises Two Designs against the Children of the Captivity to wit the Church Their 1. Plot or Design was most Craftily to offer their own cost and pains to promote the Building of the Temple Ezra 4. 1 8. Here the Devil pretends Devotion to promote his Divelish Design Those Mongrels in Religion who put it on and off at pleasure would have mingled with the Church and would Compound with them here when they saw they could not Conquer them that would break through all Difficulties and Discouragements and do their Duty Ezra 3. 3. and this Accomodation they set on with a loud lye saying We seek your God as ye do which they did not 2 Kin. 17. 28 29 32 34. for they feared the Lord not Filially but for his Lyons Thus they Pretend Amity but indeed Intend Enmity and breeding of New Broils by their Intermixed Influence so as to Hinder the Building This is the very practice of the Jesuits at this Day who pretend Conversion and comming over to the Protestants yet those Cassandrian Reconcilers intend Subversion by the bitter Contentions they keep alive in the Church to hinder Reformation but the Lord will Detect and Defeat them as he did those Samaritans whom his Servants repuls'd telling them Ye have nothing to do with us but we our selves together or alone will Build the Temple for which Doing they had Royal Authority v. 3. So it was a Godly Combination no Wicked Conspiracy or Faction In a Word They stand off from them 1 Tim. 6. 5. not accepting of their false Service for the Jews have no Dealing with the Samaritans Joh. 4. 9. When this 1st Design of the Devil in those Samaritans was Disappointed then the 2d was their Hiring of Counsellours that others might Hinder the Work which they themselves could not v. 4 5. Such Counsellours as can Condescend to Bribing for bolstering up a bad Cause or for Brow-beating a good one Justifying the Wicked for a Reward and condemning the Righteous are the most probable Promoters of the Devils Hellish Plots and Projects Those Sordid Silver-Lovers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being Courtiers had a fair opportunity to frustrate the Purpose of the Church Inasmuch as Cyrus Warring abroad against the Scythians c. made Cambyses his Son the Vice-Roy and he being a light loose and lewd lossel was easily prevail'd with to obstruct the Building If Cyrus did connive at the Crossing of his own Decree by his Son all his Days then his Fatal Fall by Tomyris Queen of Scythia who Conquer'd him cut off his Head casts it into a Vessel full of Blood saying Satia te Sanguine quem Sitisti Cujusque Insatiabilis semper fuisti Glut thy self now with Blood whereof thou could never get enough was a Just Reward from the God of Justice This Cambyses who is call'd Artaxerexes in the Persian and Ahasuerus in the Chaldee-Tongue Names given in common to Kings of Persia as Pharaoh to the Kings of Aegypt c. signifying Great Warriour or Great-Head those Courtifi'd Counsellors Writes to and turning Informers Wrote a Divelish Accusation Hebr. Satana a Satanical Suggestion Hatcht in Hell and Dictated by the Devil the Contents of it being False and Scandalous for then they had not begun either with Building the City or the Walls of it v. 6 12 14. Those Mercenary Pick-Thanks obtains hereby a Commission to cause the Work of the House of God to cease v. 24. The Hindring of the Temple-Building was the Principal thing Intended though the Building of the City and of its Walls was falsly Pretended This Plot proves so powerful that though the Propher Daniel and Gabriel Dan. 10. 13. Remain'd there with Cambyses and his Counsellors to repress their Rage and to Blast their Projects against the Church and though he was a
'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
pieces 10000 Tender Lillys yet is so Marvelously Preserv'd in the midst of many and mighty Enemies It could never be Cut up by the Sword of Persecution or Burnt down by the Fire of Martyrdom And to Behold all along a most Harmonious Consort and a most Con onant Coincident Correspondency betwixt the Words of Gods Mouth and the Works of Gods Hand Lastly Your Honour may behold how the Church hath been and will be Secured by a Divine Power Promise Prophecy and Providence against the Fraud and Force Craft and Cruelty Power and Policy of all her Foes that notwithstanding all their Stratagems and Strength the Issue hath ever been the Destruction of All the Designers leaving a Fatal Monument of themselves to Posterity behind them yet the Church is still preserved That your Lordship may be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 do Worthily in Ephratah and be Famous in Bethlehem as you Hitherto have been and that you may have Safety in this World and Salvation in the World to come is the Hearty Prayer of Your Humble Orator CHRISTOPHER NESS ERRATA PAg. 11. l. 15. r. own Bow l. 29. r. 1 Rage p. 26. l. 4. for savely r. save p. 45. for Protestator r. Protector p. 50. l. 16. for Ezek. r. Exod. p. 74. l. 8. for Moses r. Moab p. 87. l. 1. for Parlus r. Pareus p. 143. l. 20. for place r. peace p. 224. l. 4. r. Evilmerodach p. 256. l. 1. for 3. r. 20. p. 157 for 257. p. 290. l. 27. for day r. days p. 312. l. last r. 3 presently p. 321. l. 27. for 1 r. 8. p. 415. l. 4. for Southwind r. Southward l. 5. for Northward r. Northwind p. 451. l. 16. for 22. r. 23. The Table of the Devils Plots against the Church Defeated by God Chap. 1. THe First against Adam in his State of Innocency pag. 2 to 11. Ch. 2. The Second against Abel after the Fall by Cain pag. 12 to 26. Ch. 3. The Third against Seth and his Posterity at the Deluge pag. 27 to 31. Ch. 4. The Fourth against Israel by the Bondage in Aegypt pag. 32 to 41. Ch. 5. The Fifth against the Church in the Wilderness By Amalek pag. 41 to 46. Ch. 6. The Sixth against the Church in the Wilderness by the Golden Calf pag. 46 to 52. Ch. 7. The Seventh against the Church in the Wilderness by Korah's Conspiracy pag. 53 to 62. Ch. 8. The Eighth against the Church in the Wilderness by Inward Murmurings and Outward Assaults pag. 64 to 70. Ch. 9. The Ninth against the Church in the Wilderness by Balak and Balaam a Type of Rome pag. 71 to 86. Ch. 10. The Tenth against the Church in the Wilderness by Moses Death and Burial pag. 86 to 90. Ch. 11. The Eleventh against the Church in Canaan by Achan and by the Altar Ed. pag. 91 to 98. Ch. 12. The Twelfth against the Church in Canaan by Idolatry and Debauchery pag. 99 to 111. Ch. 13. The Thirteenth against the Church in Canaan by the loss of the Ark. pag. 112 to 126. Ch. 14. The Fourteenth against the Church in Canaan by Saul Absolom and Adonijah pag. 127 to 152. Ch. 15. The Fifteenth against the Church in Canaan by Solomons Apostacy pag. 153 to 164. Ch. 16. The Sixteenth against the Church in Canaan by Jeroboam's Idolatry to the Captivity of the Ten Tribes pag. 165 to 188. Ch. 17. The Seventeenth against the Church in Judah by Apostacy to the Captivity of the Two Tribes pag. 189 to 222. Ch. 18. The Eighteenth against the Church in Babylon by 70 Y. Captivity pag. 223 to 238. Ch. 19. The Nineteenth against the Church after their Return by Samaritans Sanballat c. p. 239 to 255. Ch. 20. The Twentieth against the Church in Persia by Haman c. pag. 256 to 294. Ch. 21. The 21st against the Church betwixt the Old and New Test and in Christ's Minority pag. 295 to 310. Ch. 22. The 22d against the Church in Christ after his Minority at his Baptiâ—m pag. 310 to 328. Ch. 23. The 23d against the Church in Christ fulfilling his Ministry pag. 329 to 360. Ch. 24. The 24th against the Church in Christ by Crucifying him at last pag. 361 to 372. Ch. 25. The 25th against the Church in the Apostles by Persecution pag. 373 to 400. Ch. 26. The 26th against the Church in the Seven Golden Candlesticks of Asia pag. 401 to 407. Ch. 27. The 27th against the Primitive-Church by the Ten first Persecutions pag. 407 to 413. Ch. 28. The 28th against the Church after the 3d. Century by Arrianism pag. 413 to 435. Ch. 29. The 29th against the Eastern-Church after the 6th Century by Mahometanism pag. 421 to 435. Ch. 30. The 30th against the Western-Church by Popery from the 6th Century pag. 436. Ch. 31. The Popish-Plot against the Waldenses in the 11th and 12th Century Ch. 32. The Popish-Plot against the Lollards in the 13th and 14th Century Ch. 33. The Popish-Plot against the Protestants in the 15th and 16th Century Ch. 34. A Scripture-Prophecy opening the Revelation and Evidencing how the Church shall overcome all her Enemies to the End of the World and shall at last have a Glorious State c. THE PREFACE T IS a most Sacred and undenyable Truth that The Wicked Plotteth against the Righteous Zomem Rashang letsadik The Mouth of the Lord the God of Truth hath Spoken it Psal 37. 12. This is the Churches Malady in all the Ages of the World it hath been so in times past both before the Flood and after it under the Law and under the Gospel It is so in time present and it will be so for time to come until time shall be no more And 't is as Sacred and certain a Truth That the Lord laughs all those Plots to nothing ver 13. This is the Churches Remedy Deus Videt Ridet God looks and laughs he laughs them to scorn when he looks that their Day is comming even their dismal Day wherein they shall be Slain with their own Sword v. 14 15 17. and Fall by their own Counsel though no Hand be upon them Psal 5. 9 10. Now while God laughs at the Plots of the Wicked both to disgrace the Plotters and to degrade their Plots God's People have little cause to cry especially considering that their God is loath to laugh alone and therefore he tells them of a time wherein they shall laugh with him at their over-witted and over-power'd Adversaries Psal 52. 6. The Cause of the Wickeds Plotting against the Righteous in all Ages is Twofold The 1st is Causa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or The Inward Cause to wit The Old Enmity which the Fall of Man brought Judicially betwixt the Two Seeds Gen. 3. 15. Ever since there hath been a boisterous and bloody Disposition running all along in the Black Line of a carnal Generation in all the Seed of the Serpent against the Seed of the Woman This Enmity had there its beginning but it shall
never have an ending until the World endeth Yea it may be call'd an Eternal Enmity a parte post though not a parte ante for as the Angels and the Souls of Men had a beginning but shall never have an end So this Cursed Enmity which had its beginning at the Fall will continue beyond this World even in the World to come As long as evil Angels and damned Souls continue in Hell which shall be for ever so long will this Enmity continue in them against the Glorious Angels and Glorify'd Saints Thus 't is a Bottomless boundless and endless Enmity The 2d Cause is Causa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or The Outward Cause why the Wicked Plot c. is the Malignant Adversary of Mankind the Devil so called Quasi Do Evil. 1st He is their Father and they are his Children and the Lusts of their Father they will and must do Joh. 8. 44. 2dly He is their Lord and they are his Vassals and they will and must run his Errands Yea 3dly He is their God 2 Cor. 4. 4. and they are his Creatures And as God at the Creation of the World did but Speak the Word and it was done So if the Devil in the Conversation of the wicked do but speak the word hold up his singer his will is done He leads them Captive at his will 2 Tim. 2. 26. He leads them like a Dog in a string whether he pleases yet hangs them up at last like Dogs upon everlasting Gibbits in Hell where they hang and howl as Dogs yet never dye to which if Tertullian's Character Sessorem habent Diabolum be added Then 4ly He is the Rider and they are his Asses which he Rides upon whipping and spurring them as Balaam did his Ass as if Riding Post to meet their own Destruction And as saith the Proverb They must needs go yea gallop whom the Devil drives especially such as with the Man in the Gospel have a whole legion of Devils in them such wicked ones with the Gadaren's Hoggs do Run Violently down most steep places and most desperate praecipices until at last They be choaked in the deep Pit of Hell Matth. 8. 32. Now as long as there be the same Original Corruption in wicked Men while this present evil World lasts to be drawn forth and the same Devil who whosoever become Converts can never become one to draw forth that depraved Disposition so long there will be a wicked Plotting and practising against the Church of God in the World Solomon saith There is no new thing under the Sun the thing that hath been it is that which shall be Eccles 1. 9 10. And the Apostle telleth us As it was then he that was Born after the Flesh persecuted him that was Born after the Spirit as Ishmael did Isaac even so it is now Gal. 4. 29. Paul saith It is so now in my days And we may say It is even so now in our days It was so then it is so now and it will be so for ever so long as there be any wicked in the World and the old Man-slayer to set them on who is that Evil Spirit which worketh as the Artificer doth in his Shop in the Children of Disobedience Ephe. 2. 3. We Read of the Dragons War but as a sad Cordolium with the Woman the Church and her Seed Rev. 12. And if this War were in Heaven v. 7. how much more on Earth v. 17. This War is manag'd and maintain'd with great Wrath v. 12. having the Assistance of an Inveterate Implacable and Everlasting Enmity in all incarnate Devils his Auxiliaries all acted and agitated by the Devil who lends them his Seven Heads to Plot with and his Ten Horns to push with against the Church And we Read of the Lambs War with this Dragon as a sweet and Soveraign Cordial even our Blessed Michael and his Angels in the behalf of the Woman and her Seed Rev. 12. 7 8. And though the Beast to whom the Dragon gave his power Rev. 13. 2. make War with the Saints and overcome them during his Lease of 1260 y. allotted him Rev. 13. 7. yet the Lamb shall overcome the Dragon and all his Auxiliaries Rev. 17. 14. and 19. 19 20. and 20. 10. And in the mean time though the Beast seem to overcome the Saints so it seemed but so it was not Rev. 13. 7. For the Saints overcome the Beast by the Blood of the Lamb when they seem to be most overcome by him to the shedding of their own Blood Rev. 12. 11. This Lamb Laughs all the Plots of the Beast to nothing and all as Vain Things whereof no good Reason can be given nor any good Issue can be expected Christ sits in Heaven seeth and Smileth is no more concern'd save only to ask the Many and the Mighty that Club their Craft and Cruelty against Christ if they be all Mad to Attempt that which shall assuredly come to nothing Psal 2. 1 2 3 4. The little Stone dashes all in pieces Dan. 2. 34. So that it may be said of the Church as it was said of the old Romans She hath lost now and then a Battel but never a War And as 't is said of Gad A Troop may overcome Gad but Gad overcomes at last Gen. 49. 19. So the Church Concutitur non Excutitur may sometimes be Shaken but never Shiver'd into Nothing She always gets and gains by her Losses and though she may be trampled under Foot all the Night of her Asfliction yet is she sure to have Dominion in the Morning Psal 49. 14. And that Morning ushers in the Dismal Dooms-Day of all her Enemies Niteris Incassum Christi Submergere Navem Fluctuat at nunquam Mergitur illa Ratis Dipt may the Churches Ship be but not Drown'd Christ will not fail her Enemies to Confound No Weapon that is formed against her shall prosper Isa 54. 17. Nor ever did prosper That Precious Promise hath blunted the Point and turned the Edge of many Thousand Weapons that have been formed against her The Gates of Hell though in a Combination of all its power and pollicy shall not prevail against it Matth. 16. 18. All the Plots both of the Wicked One and of all Wicked Men from Adam to our Day have been Velut Unda Supervenit Undae as the waves of the Sea succeeding one another yet all have dashed themselves to pieces upon this Rock of Ages whereon the Lord hath founded Sion Isai 14. 32. and 26. 1 4. and 54. 10. The Church is Invincible and can never be Demolished either by Angry Men or Enraged Devils Magna est Veritas Valebit Truth is great and will prevail AN Historical Narrative OF THE Devils Plotts AGAINST THE CHURCH All Defeated by GOD. The First Plot against the Church c. CHAP. I. THis I shall Demonstrate by an Induction of Particular Instances as the Lord shall help me both out of Sacred and Civil History to make manifest the marvellous Conduct which
the Pillar of Providence hath secured the Church withal in all her passages through the World as the Pillar of Glory did the Church in the Wilderness The 1st Instance of the wicked Plotting against the Church and the Lords laughing it to Nothing is that first Plot of the Grand Plotter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that wicked One 1 Joh. 5. 18. the Devil against our first Parents As of Jacob's Ladder which consisted of so many rounds or steps as would reach from Earth to Heaven 't is said The Lord was upon the top of it Gen. 28. 12 13. So of this Scale of Conspiracies against the Church which contains so many Distinct Designs as do Reach from Adam to our present time it may as truly be affirmed That the Devil must be at the top of it We Read of a Book of the Wars of the Lord a Book not extant but if not lost latent Numb 21. 14. However this is extant in the Book of God that here began the War of the Devil or Dragon against the Church No sooner was Lucifer faln from Heaven Isa 14. 12. and of a Glorious Angel was become a damned Devil Jude v. 6. 2 Pet. 2. 4. partly for his pride against God in aspiring to be like the most High and partly for his Envy at Man when he first beheld the Honour and Happiness wherein Man was Created and first heard the charge which God gave the Angels to keep Man in all his ways Psal 91. 11. This Command proud Lucifer disdaining that a superior should wait like a servant upon an inferior Creature Psal 8. 5. He kept not his first Estate but left his first Habitation Jude v. 6. Thus he sinned from the beginning 1 Joh. 3. 8. and abode not in the Truth Joh. 8. 44. And now being come down by his Sin or rather cast down for his sin from Heaven and having great Wrath Rev. 12. 12. for being hurl'd out of Heaven into Hell he had no comfort left him save onely this miserable and mischievous one to make Man as miserable as himself and to bring him into the same Condemnation 1 Tim. 3. 6. For this purpose he lays a dangerous and Diabolical Plot consisting of many parts As 1st He assumes a fit Engine that Creature which was more subtile than all the Beasts of the Field Gen. 3. 1. The sharper a Weapon is it makes a deeper wound and gives a more deadly blow the sharpest and subtilest Wits are of all others the most mischievous Instruments in the Devils hands against Gods truth This grand evil Angel made use of this Serpent which as some say was very specious and delightful to the Eye by his comely mixture of lovely Colours to deceive the first Woman as the good Angel made use of the Ass to rebuke the mad Prophet 2 Pet. 2. 16. Numb 22. 28. 2dly The 2d part of his proposed and pursued Plot is in Assaulting not the Man but the Woman the weaker Vessel which is soonest and easiest overcome where the Hedg is lowest there the Beast leaps over with the least difficulty A besieging Enemy raises his Batteries against the weakest part of a besieged City the weaker Sex is most likely to truckle to his temptations hence he Essays to break the Mans head with his own Rib and to make use of this Rib as of the Round of a Ladder whereon to climb up so high as to Reach a blow to her Head and Husband 3dly He sets upon the Woman when alone 'T is supposed As Adam and Eve walk'd together in Paradise Eve stood still gazing with her fancy upon some Delectable Object which Adam passed by with less looking on he got so far before her as to leave her behind whereby she was overtaken by the Tempter the absence of her Head with its counsel and comfort gives Satan a fair opportunity which he improves to the utmost Solomon saith Where Two are there is Help Eccle. 4. 10. 4thly While Eve is alone the Tempter falls a disputing with her in asking her a Concise and an Abrupt Question Yea hath God said c. That he might Enervate the Authority of the Divine Menace or Commination Hereupon the weaker Vessel Eve gives but a weak Answer for she might in her state of Innocency have that Ignorance which the Schools call a pure Negation not a depraved Disposition which is found in Children c. She might not know whether Serpents could naturally speak or whether there was now any Devil existing not hearing of the fall of Angels she did know her protection of Angels as before so might mistake the Devil in the Serpent for a good Angel and therefore disputes with him and was deceived by him as she confesses Gen. 3. 13. So dangerous it is to dispute with the Devil who is better believ'd away than argu'd away They do but shoot with Satan in his own Bow that think by parlying with this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or subtile Sophister to put him off by this means he draws Eve out of her Trenches of the Divine Praecept and wrings the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God out of her hand then doth he what he will with her yea wins the Day when he had disarm'd her 5thly No sooner had the Woman put in her weak Answer in this Disputation to the Devils Question mincing the matter of the Divine Menace in her Least ye Dye instead of Gods Word Ye shall surely Dye Whereby she made that Danger doubtful only which God had made Certain peremptory and without a peradventure Hereupon this subtile Serpent watching for her halting and when to have her upon the hip doth as confidently deny that sentence of Death v. 4. as God had seriously and severely Threatned it before Gen. 2. 7. Hereby her belief of Gods Word is batter'd down and not opposing the certainty of Gods Threatning which she but seem'd to doubt of in the Disputation against Satans Insinuation in his plain and positive Denyal of it she yieldeth If the Word of God had abode in her she had overcome the Devil 1 Joh. 2. 14. 6thly The Tempter tempts her with an Apple from the Forbidden-Fruit-Tree telling her as some say that there was no death in the Apple according to the Divine Threatning from a proof of his own Experience For saith the subtile Serpent I do climb the Tree and eat of the Fruit thereof and yet am not Dead for so doing This was probably done while Eve looked on and therefore she said at least in her mind That she saw it was good for Food v. 6. Hereupon she concluded that Death was not in the Fruit of the forbidden-Tree and hereupon inclines to take and Eat 7thly The Devil to promote his Plot the more accuses God of Envy to Eve which is truly call'd Morbus Satanicus the Devils own Disease as if God had forbid them the Fruit of this Tree of Knowledge onely out of Envy least their Eating thereof should make them Equal
Rabbins say The Devil was mad at Abel because Abel had slain the same Serpent which he had lately possessed to seduce his Mother yet not without a wound in his Heel before he could break its Head This Satan takes as an high Affront and therefore Plots to break Abels Head with a Club as if not enough his Heel was bruised by the Serpent however this is certain and beyond the Credit of a Jewish-Fable That Cain was mad against Abel because his own Works were wicked and his Brothers Righteous 1 Joh. 3. 12. Now when he saw Abels Worship Received and his own Rejected and thereby losing the Blessing of the Primogeniture and the Consecration of the First-Born this Ripen'd him for the Devils possession who thereupon Enters and Fills his Heart as Act. 5. 3. from corner to corner then falls Cain's Countenance from a cheerful to a churlish one Index animi Vultus The Malignity of his Mind was bewrayed by his surly and lowring Look Heu quà m Dissicile est Animum non prodere Vultu And being thus prepared yea and Acted by the Devil 's both craft and cruelty he falls upon plotting Abel's Death and Destruction The 1st part of his Plot was his Deep Dissimulation Talking with Abel after a Friendly and Brother-like manner V. 8. In the Hebrew there is an Extraordinary pause Intimating some Amicable Discourse and in the Word Amar an Insinuating Invitation as Let us go into the Field This the Greek Version Thargum Jerus addeth his Rage by a Diabolical Fire lay now smothered and he puts on as fair a Look as his Fester'd Heart would admit not unlike that of Absolom to Amnon who hated him with an Habit of Hatred wherein the Venom of all Vice is steeped yet spake he to his Brother neither Good nor Bad for Two full Years together 2 Sam. 13. 22 23. Yet all this time he Nourish'd a Resolution for Revenge and onely waited for a fair opportunity to his foul Fratricide so long did Inveterate Rancour lye lurking in Absoloms Malicious Heart and then could Invite his Brother to a Feast V. 26 27. which had sowr Sauce in the end Thus Cain covers with Dissembled Courtesie his Design of Cruelty and draws a fair Glove upon his foul Hand Enticing Abel to walk hand in hand as a Brother with him into the Field a convenient place for his bloody contrivance The 2d part of the Plot was When Cain had got Abel thither he picks a Quarrel with him upon the occasion of Abel's contradicting his Discourse saying as the Chaldee Paraphrase adds That there was no Judge nor Day of Judgement nor World to come nor Reward for Righteousness nor Punishment for Wickedness c. Thus he as it were Imprisoned those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 common principles of Nature in Vnrighteousness Rom. 1. 18. and Muzzl'd the Mouth of his own Conscience that he might gratifie his revengeful Spirit without controul Hereupon he turns all his former Flattery into downright Railery and Chiding of Abel for whose sake he had been newly chidden of God v. 6. 17. This done he falls on The 3d. part of the Plot by Adding to his Craft in the Two former his Cruelty in this later who having Decoy'd his Brother far enough from his Fathers House from all sight noise and relief none being nigh to Rescue his Innocent Brother out of his nocent Hands he Addresses himself to knock him down on the Head with his Clubb or Plough-staff wherewith as 't is supposed he being an Husbandman usually walked Inter Amplexus Interfecit or as the Greek-Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies which we Read Slew He cut his Throat 1 Joh. 3. 12. Now when Cain the Devils first Patriarch had Killed Abel God's first Martyr and the Onely Hope of a Succeeding Church Satan had seeming success yet this 2d Plot is soon Blasted the Lord Laugh'd it to nothing though the Devil and his lmps had been Laughing together for laying Abel their Tormenter along on the Ground as Revel 11. 10. and that by these Means 1st Though there was no Man an Eye-Witness of the Murder and though Cain to keep it the more secret as Josephus saith did Bury the Murdered Body privately yet God who is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All-Eye saw it and heard the Cry of Abel's Blood which had as many Tongues as Drops and every Drop crying for Vengeance v. 10. Heb. 11. 4 and 12. 24. Murder ever Bleeds fresh in the Eye of God Surely saith he I have seen Yesterday the Blood of Naboth c. 2 Kin. 9. 26. And crys as fresh in the Ear of God whereby Abel though Dead yet speaketh Hebr. 11. 4. Hereupon God comes to make Inquisition for this Fresh-bleeding and Fresh-speaking or crying Sin who is not said to make Inquisition after any other sin as after Murder Psa 9. 12. And God in his Inquisition is more strict and critical than the Spanish-Inquisition Though that be done with utmost secresie and severity The Lord looked upon it and Required it 2 Chron. 24. 22. Yea and Requited it too Mat. 23. 35. and 22. 6 7. Revel 16. 6. Even upon the Heads of every Ish-Dammâ—â— or Man of Bloods Psa 5. 6. such as the Damming Hectors of this Day mostly be 2dly God after his severe Inquest passes a sad Doom upon the Murderer ver 11. a more severe Sentence is not found in Sacred Scripture Woe be to Cain and to all that walk in his way Jude v. 11. The Judge of all the Earth will do right Gen. 18. 25. Cain shall not escape Scot-free as he hoped God will appear himself when Man either doth not will not or cannot The Judge of Quick and Dead himself Arraigns Cain at the Barr denounces Iudgement notwithstanding all his Jesuitical Evasions as before against him which consists of 3 Particulars 1st He is cursed in his Person v. 11. and they whom God curseth shall be cursed as they whom God blesseth shall be blessed Gen. 27. 33. Numb 23. 20. Even the Grand Balaam of Rome who Canonizeth Cains for Murdering Righteous Abels cannot take off that Curse which the great God lays on better all the Witches in the World and all the Devils in Hell or their Eldest Son the Pope should curse us with Bell Book and Candle than this one God whose Curse is Irrevocable and can never be Reversed This Cain was the first cursed Man upon Earth cursed in his person 2dly He was cursed in his Patrimony v. 12. his Land he Tilled was cursed to him The former curse laid upon the Earth for Adam's sin in general Gen. 3. 17. was now Increased by Cain's Murder unto him in particular This was a particular curse upon Cain's Portion wherever he came when he Tilled it as an Husbandman it might Upbraid him as a Murderer in its barrenness The Earth had been Kinder than Cain to Abel for it had opened its Mouth to Receive his Blood from Cain's cruel hands and so to give it
an honorable Interrment and now opens its Mouth again in not yielding him its strength in a clamorous petition for Vengeance against him As the cursed Fig-Tree lost its Vigour and Withered Mark 11. 21. So a Fruitful Land is made barren for the Wickedness of its owners and Occupiers Psal 107. 34. The 3d. Means God uses to Defeat the Devils Design is He Excommunicates Cain Satans prime Patriark out of the Church who would have Excommunicated the Church out of the World in God's proto Martyr Abel and that with the greater Excommunication v. 12. A Vagrant and a Vagabond shalt thou be Thus his Doom Rises higher and falls heavier upon him Psa 59. 12. and 109. 10. Cain the first Apostate went out from the Presence of the Lord and dwelt in the Land of Nod which signifies Wandring v. 14. 16. So that he was a Vagrant from the Church from his Fathers Family and Fellowship as well as a Vagabond upon Earth God would come and Talk with him no more nor Vouchsafe one Gracious Glance towards him nor Accept any one Oblation from him at any time 4thly God sets a Brand upon him v. 15. and thereby as it were Burns him in the Hand and Stigmatizes him for a Rogue This mark was not an Horn in his Forehead as the Jews feign but 't was an Hornet in his Conscience as Exod. 23. 28. stinging him with horrible Conviction and Compunction for his Murder The words of the Septuagint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Sighing and Trembling as if God's Mark upon him had been probably a Trembling not onely of his Hands and Head but also of his Heart and whole Body which made all People pitty him Some Rabbins say Cain was continually Dogged with Abel's Dog but Assuredly he was Haunted with his own Evil Ghost which made him look with a most ghastly Countenance having Horror in his Heart and a very Hell in his Conscience This might make him Tremble every where and fear every Bush he saw was a Bayliff to Arrest him and every Man he met a Devil to Torment him So that a longer Lease of his Life was no better than a lingring Death nay such a Life under the Guilt of such a sin and under the sense of such a Curse was far worse then a Temporal Death Therefore God Dooms him to Live and not immediately to Dye that he might be a Land-Mark of Shame and a Living-Monument against Murder and Murderers 5thly His Death after a Woful Life was Woful also as humane Testimony Reports for though he us'd some Carnal Anodynes to Allay the unbearable pangs of his wounded Spirit and to drown the horrible noise of his self-condemning Conscience he falls upon Building a City and call'd it Enoch that his Son might be call'd Lord Enoch of Enoch v. 17. Yet Vengeance would not suffer him to live Act. 28. 4. Nor to Live out half his Days Psal 55. 23. Nor to go down to the Grave in peace 2 Kin. 2. 5. That he Dyed an Untimely death all Historians concurr about the Year 131. the manner how is Variously Reported some say It was by the Fall of an House which he was Building in his New City Others say He was slain by his Grand-child Lamech who being a Blind Archer was led to shoot him by a wicked Boy Take it either way and his Sin is Writ upon his Punishment for either as he that Designed to pull down Gods House the Church so his own House which he was rearing up falls down upon him and knocks him down dead on the place as he had done his Brother Abel or As he Disdain'd to be his Brothers Keeper but not to be his Executioner Lives to beget a Son whose Son became his Grand-Fathers Executioner Thus when God makes Inquisition for Blood Psal 9. 12. shall not he Search it out Psal 44. 21. Yea he will and wound the Hairy Scalp of such as go on in their Iniquity Psal 68. 21. 6thly Neither doth Divine Vengeance upon him End here in his Untimely and Violent Death but his last Doom is the most Woful of all Dooms Cain must not onely be doom'd out of the Church and out of the World but also he must be Doom'd to Hell whither all wicked Men are turned and all the People though there be whole Nations of them that forget God as Cain did Psa 9. 17. Especially Murderers who are abhorred of the Lord Psal 5. 6. He that sat upon the Throne hath himself said it Rev. 21. 8. Murderers shall have their Lot in the Lake that Burneth with Fire and Brimstone more especially such as Murder Gods Image in his Servants who have his Image upon them in a double manner both by Generation Gen. 9. 6. And also by Regeneration Eph. 4. 24. God will of all others avenge their Blood Rev 6. 10. and that speedily Luk 18. 7. Thus Cain was a wicked One was of the wicked One and went to the wicked One in Hell at last But the last Means whereby God Defeated the Devil's 2d Plot was In raising up a Seth to Stand up in Abel's Stead according to the Signification of his Name Seth Hebr. Posuit placed in his Brothers place for Upholding the Church Sic Vno avulso non Deficit Alter Aureus Though one Branch Abel was lop'd off from the Tree of Mankind Adam yet another Springs up and that a Golden One in his Stead And out of the Ashes of the Dying Phoenix another Phoenix Ariseth to Continue its Kind in the World Thus Seth or Sheth signifies not onely Posuit but Reposuit layd up as his Godly Mother believingly Acknowledged That the Church was layd up in him and that he was the Foundation of it a Type of Christ Isa 28. 16. 1 Cor. 3. 11. out of whom Christ Sprung Luk. 3. last Gen. 4. 25. and though Adam had many other Sons Gen. 5. 4. yet none are Named savely onely Seth as being the only Professor of the True Religion and Foundation of the Church Now when the Devil and his Agents had got Abel out of the Way and World and saw Adam for an 130 Y. without an other in his stead Gen. 5. 3. Oh what Rejoycing was there and sending of Gifts amongst them as Rev. 11. 10. But God Cut their Coxcombs and Confuted their Confidences in Raising up Seth by whose Means with God's Blessing the Devil lost and the Church won Ground for then 't is said Men began to call upon the Name of the Lord Gen. 4. 26. That is Publickly and in Solemn Assemblies making an Open Profession which hitherto had been but Privately done The Third Plot against the Church in SETH Defeated by GOD. CHAP. III. WHen Satan saw his 2d Plot Defeated and Laugh'd to Nothing by the Lord that Seth must Live and have many Children though Abel was Dead and that Childless Gen. 5. 7. Numb 24. 17. And the Church not onely Maintained but Advanced by them This Restless Adversary Projects a 3d. Plot
had now scarcely wiped their Mouths of the late Transgression assuredly there had never been so much Idolatry Infidelity and Mutiny amongst them What could make them Wicked if all these would Denominate them Holy No doubt but the Devil had a fair prospect of his Plot and Design when he had raised up a Grand Ring-leader of Rebellion and not onely so but when this One Man v. 22. the Great Wheel the Primus Motor or Primum Mobile thereof had by his Instigation Twisted to himself such Two considerable Interests of 250 Princes and of so many People yet the Great God who is higher then the Highest Eccles 5. 8. Laughs all this to Nothing for Moses well tells them v. 11. That this their Rising was against the Lord as the Lord told Saul after Saul Saul why Persecutest thou me Act. 9. 4. Who ever hardened himself aegainst God and prospered Job 9. 4. Nor they then for 1st Moses Retorts upon those Rebels the same they had falsly reflected upon him and Aaron v. 7. Ye take too much upon you ye Sons of Levi as doth Elias upon Ahab 1 Kin. 18. 17 18. and to Hide pride from them Job 33. 17. he minds them not to look up at those few Priests that were above them so much as look down at the many Myriads of People that were below them Their Thankful-Contentedness with their Advancement as Levites above all the People should have kept them from all Repining Discontentedness at the few Priests that were above them But those sturdy Rebels were Uncounsellable Incorrigible and their Envy and Ambition are restless and Unsatisfiable Hence they say We will not come up v. 12. Preferring the Land of Aegypt their House of Bondage and their Iron Furnace Deut. 4.20 most Ungratefully and Maliciously before that of Gods most Gracious Promise v. 13.14 Hereupon 2d Moses referrs this Controversie betwixt the Church Malignant and the True Church Militant to a Divine Decision 1st in Praying that God would not respect their Offering v. 15. and thereby maintain his Honest Cause and Holy Calling against those Invaders thereof they had forgot Gods Judgements upon Nadab and Abihu Levit. 10. 1. which should have made their Hands Tremble insomuch as Handling strange Incense and Censors which they had ready provided when first they Combined to Usurp the Priests Office and now stood stouting it out in the very Face of God but he had no Respect to their Offering when he came to make known who were his as v. 5. Though he Answer'd by Fire from Heaven it was to Burn themselves but not their Sacrifice 2dly In Predicting Gods Miraculous Judgement upon those Rebels v. 28. 29 30. wherein Moses Engageth the Truth and Honour of his Cause upon a Miracle Immediately comming to pass At last 3dly both the Plot and all the Plotters Perished Jude v. 11. Some one way and some another as the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies none of them dying a common Death God Created Two New Destructions for them Some were Swallowed up of the Earth so Buryed Quick the worst of Deaths because their Mouths had been open Sepulchres to swallow up Gods Servants and Others were Burnt to Death with Fire from Heaven having sinned by Fire in their Censors and Incense As for Korah the Captain of the Conspiracy and the Ring-leader of the Rebellion the main Wheel of this Malicious Mutiny the Scripture seems to doom him to a double Death as his Sin was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Twice-dip'd Scarlet Sin and of a double dye As if he were not onely Buryed Quick in that Dismal and Universal Grave but also Burned with those that Offer'd strange Incense as if the Mouth of the Earth below him and Fire from Heaven above him had both Conspir'd together to Stigmatize and Brand that Arch-Rebel who had been the Original of all For 1st That he was Swallowed up of the Earth Appears 1. Inasmuch as the People were bidden to Seperate from the Tents of Korah as well as of Dathan and Abiram Numb 16. 24. and accordingly they did so v. 27. 2. The Words v. 30. If the Lord Create a New Thing and the Earth open her mouth and Swallow Them up seems to referr unto all the Three 3. The Earth did Swallow up all the Men that appertaineth unto Korah v. 32. And 4. 't is Expresly said That the Earth did Devour Korah himself Numb 26. 10. 2dly That he was burned by Fire from Heaven Inasmuch as Korah being a Levite 1. was one of those that offered such Incense as God Respected not 2. Korah joyning with them in the same Sin was also joyn'd with them in the same Punishment They all sinn'd together by Fire and they were all Punish'd together by Fire and that Immediately after their burning Incense 3. Those that were thus burnt are call'd Korah and his Company ver 40. 4. Korah's Censer was among those Censers which were to be Plates for the Altar as a Caveat to succeeding Ages That none should Invade the Priest-hood as Korah and his Company had done Numb 16. 6 17 38 39 40. However he was Burned in Hell both he and his whole Tribe of Traitors Thus the Sheol v. 30. taken either strictly or largely for Hell or Grave Swallow'd up both this Plot and all the Plotters Yea and the Wise God here beats Satan and batters his Kingdom with his own Weapon and strikes him thorough with Arrows out of his own Quiver in his Reserving Korah's Children alive The Sons of Korah Dyed not Numb 26. 11. who some say were born up Pendulous in the Air by Divine Power while the Earth had Swallowed up their Wicked Father being either Innocent of their Fathers Sin or Penitent at Moses Admonition Numb 16.5 And those became as eminently Serviceable as their Father had been notoriously Destructive to the Church Of them descended Samuel 1 Chro. 6. 33 34. with 1 Sam. 1. 20. They were singers in the House of the Lord v. 31. and many Psalms have them in their Titles as Psal 42 44 45 c. Thus God can gather Grapes from Thorns and Figgs from Thistles And as one saith can make White Paper even of Dung-Hill Raggs An Holy Off-Spring Extracted out of an Vnholy Root Thus Satan loses Ground by this Plot and the Church winns Aaron's Priest-Hood so opposed is Confirm'd by a Miracle Aaron's Rod alone Budded Numb 17. And the Church marches on towards Canaan The Eighth Plot against the CHURCH Defeated by GOD. CHAP. VIII THe 8th Plot is as a Rope of the Devils making wherewith he Designs to draw back the Church not onely from Canaan when they were come to the very South-point of it Numb 21. 1. but also farther off into the Wilderness yea if possible into Aegypt again And in Order hereunto whereas the Scripture saith A 3-fold Cord is not easily broken Eccl. 4. 12. To make it stronger Satan Twists his Rope here of 4 Cords to make it a 4-fold one that it might make
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
his way at last was Sheath'd in his own Bowels Numb 31. 8. 'T is said indeed He return'd to his place Numb 24. 25. That is saith Baal Turim He went to Hell as Judas did Act. 1. 25. had he gone then to his own place in Hell his Doings of Mischief would then have Ceased and been Turned into Suffering of Misery which Undoubtedly was done at last but either he was in his Returning Homeward Detained by the Midianites where he gave that Pestilent Advice to Entice them with their Daughters both to Adultery and Idolatry Israel was joyn'd hereby to Baal-Peor that Shameful God of Opening Numb 25. 3. Hos 9. 10. This became Peccatum Flagrans a Foul Flaming Sin in God's Eye that Stank in his Nostrils without which he had Subtilly said none of his Enchantments could prevail against Israel Numb 23. 21 23. Until this sin put them at his Advice under Gods Displeasure 2 Pet. 2. 15. Jude 11. Rev. 2.14 or if he went Home he return'd again to Midian to Demand his Wages saith Chaskuny as soon as he heard Gods Plague was upon Israel through his means Numb 25.9 1 Cor. 10. 8. but as Shemei sought his Servants and lost his Life 1 Kin. 2. 40 46. so did Balaam Numb 31. 8. Neither Balak had his Will nor Balaam his Wages How could he Dye the Death of that Liv'd not the Life of but Plots against the Lives of the Righteous The Tenth Plot against the Church in the Wilderness Defeated by GOD. CHAP. X. THus have I shown what a Marvellous Conduct the Church had by the Pillar of Providence Defeating all the Devils Designs against her from Adam to Noah from Noah to Moses and from Moses to Joshuah Winning not losing Ground all the time for above 2493 Y. according to Helvicus Paroâ—â— Calvisius or 2553 according to Dr. Lightfoot When Satan had got quit of Moses by his Tempting him to Vnbelief Numb 20. 12. who Dyed in the very Borders of Canaan whither he had brought Israel and was Buryed by God himself Deut. 34. 5 6. Next he proposes and pursues his 10th Plot and Project which was the last Internal Engine against this Body of the Church which had now lost her Head Moses and that in his Contending with Michael or Christ about the buryed Body of Moses Jude 9. Michael or Christ who onely could bury Moses Law Rom. 8. 3. Gal. 3. 13 14. Col. 2. 14 16 17. Hebr. 9. 9 10 11 c. becomes himself a Sexton and burys Moses Body the like is not done by God to any Mortal Man a Peculiar Priviledge and Honour testifying how God Loved him both Alive and Dead which Body was Rais'd at Christ's Transfiguration Matth. 17. 4. with a Glory upon it and yet should Rise with a greater Glory at the last Day Phil. 3. 21. The Devil Disputed with Michael about the place of Moses Sepulchre that he might take up the Reliques of Dead Moses as the Romanists do of their supposed and Supposititious Saints and set them up as Idols in the Hearts of the Living Israelites who were so Notoriously Inclined to any sort of Idolatry Psal 106.28 Isa 8.19 65.4 thus Satan being ambidexter lays about him on both Hands while Moses was Living he Tempts Israel to Despise him in their Murmurings aforesaid but when he is Dead he would Tempt them to Idolize him and to Translate his Body out of its Grave into a Temple of their own Hearts yet all this was but as a Stirrop and Stalking-Horse to Advance and Advantage the Devils Design of setting up a Divine Adoration of Himself among the People of God This Game did Satan play with Saul in making him Disregard Samuel while Living and then puts him upon Conjuring him up as his God when Dead Whereby Satan got Divine worship from Saul in that Mock Samuel Here Satan had no Respect to the Body of Moses any further than thereby to Hurt the Souls of Israel 't is probable he might Argue to the Arch-Angel in the Dispute 'T is a shame that such an Honourable Magistrate and Holy Man should have such a private and not a publick Burial Attended by all Israel whereas indeed it was most Honourable for God onely Attended and Acted all the Solemnity the onely fault or quarrel was that God would not Invite the Devil to be present at the Funeral for the Reasons aforesaid Thus the Plot was lay'd to make Moses an Idol and an Occasion of Idolatry when Dead who had been the greatest Opposer of it whilst Living But what Success had this Plot 't was Laugh'd into Nothing for Michael Over-matches the Devil rebukes him Satan may be rebuk'd but never reform'd he may be Curb'd but never Cured he may be Chain'd but never Changed And as the Lord's rebuke was upon him for his Contending about the Body of Moses so Undoubtedly it is about the Body of the Messias to wit the Church which is his Body and he is the Head Never did Michael make War with this Dragon but he hath always the Victory as Rev. 12. 8. Dan. 10. last c. And if he do not now lay his rebuke upon Satan 't is not from the scantness of his Power but from the greatness of his Patience yea and of his Wisdom Behold here God did not leave the Church his Body without an Head but raises up a Living Head a Joshua or Jesus so call'd Act. 7.45 a Type of Jesus our Lord instead of a Dead Moses Moses or the Law cannot bring to Canaan no it is Dead and all the Ceremonies of it and 't is the Devil that puts Men to digg them out of the Grave but to bring us into the Possession of the Heavenly Canaan is the work of Jesus by the Gospel as Joshua not Moses brought Israel into the Earthly Canaan This Jesus is the Head of the Church a Living Head at the Right Hand of God Hence the Church can never be Drowned so long as her Head Christ is lifted above the Waters neither doth God ever starve his work for want of Instruments Moses Dyes Joshua who had been train'd up with him from a Child is his Substitute God will not leave his Church Destitute as one is broke off another Rises up in his Room and that with Commission and Qualifications suitable for his Work so that Israel might follow him with Confidence as they must with Obedience Deut. 31. 1 8. and 34. 9. and Josh 1. 1 2 16. who after his Inauguration Renews the Two Sacraments of Circumcision and the Passcover Conquers all Canaan settles Israel in it and all this after Moses Death a Figure of Christ who brings into Eternal Rest after the ending of Moses Law Thus the Church at last Landed in the Land of Promise maugre the Malice of angry Men and of Enraged Devils The Eleventh Plot against the CHURCH in Canaan Defeated by GOD. CHAP. XI NOw though the Church had lost Moses and at his Death the Cloudy Pillar too which
Manners 1. In Neglecting God's Command of Driving out the Canaanites who became Thorns in their sides Judg. 2. 2 3. in their Conversing and Commercing with them they did draw Israel to Participate both of their Sins and of their Plagues 2. In Contracting Marriages with those Canaanites they thus spared against God's Command Josh 23. 13. Judg. 3. 4 6. expresly contrary to God's Law Exod. 34. 16. Deut. 7. 3. Those Interchangeable Matches marr'd their Manners and produced many Enormities as 3. that Prodigious Sodomy and Villany in Gibeah aforesaid Yea 4. Obstinacy in their Impieties Judg. 2. 19. They would Persist and Persevere in their Stubborn way and would not Repent either 1 at the Rebuke of the Angel Christ who had offer'd Himself to be Captain of the Lord's Host Josh 5. 13 14. and had led the Field in all the Wars of Joshua yea and of Judah too till he spared the Canaanites Judg. 1. 18. 19. for this and other Sins the Angel of the Covenant did Reproove them Judg. 2. 1 2 and for this Departs from them Hereupon the People fall a Weeping as they had good cause for the loss of such a Captain-General as Christ and call'd the place Bochim that is Weeping v. 4 5. yet this blessed and Hart-bleeding Frame was soon lost for they Forsook the Lord v. 12. and Corrupted themselves v. 19. and Stubbornly Walked in their own Wicked Ways Neither would they Repent 2 at the Reproof of the Prophet whom Christ though Himself was gone sent with a Message Judg. 10. 11 12 13 14. Thus Israel having broke both the Tables of the Law The 2d thing to wit Punishment must follow as the Thread follows the Needle God is Angry though Satan is pleas'd and God's Anger brings Revenge God sold his People into the Hands of their Enemies Judg. 2. 14. and 3. 8. and 4. 2 c. that is he Renounc'd his Right in them writing Lo-Ammi on them he gave them over as the Seller doth the Matter Sold into the Hands of the Buyer yet without that Complement I wish you good of it or as the Turk sells his Slaves and the Conquerour his Captives And this is Aggravated in Two Circumstances 1. God made not his Best of them but took his first Chap-man as the Pope gave England upon the Abolishing of Abbies primo occupaturo to the first that could Conquer it which he thought might easily be done and won when he withdrew his Protecting Papal Benediction from it and put his charming Curse upon it God Sold his People for nought and did not encrease his Wealth by their Price Psal 44. 12 13. he plainly gave them away gratis for whom he was wont to give great Nations Isa 43. 3. They had sold themselves as Ahab did 1 Kin. 21 20. to work Wickedness Isa 50. 1. and now they are sold by the Lord also And as they had sold themselves for nought Isa 52.3 so they are sold by God for nought he had not so much as Thanks from the Enemy and as little from the Devil that set them on 2ly They were sold as to the first so to the worst Chapmen not to their Brethren who would have shown some pitty as the Israelites did to Benjamin Judg. 21. 2 3 6 7 15 16 17 22. nor to Strangers comming in as Conquerors for then common Humanity would have taught them some Mercy but unto such Neighbouring Enemies as they had highly Incensed in their former Wars and therefore breath'd forth nothing but the worst of Rage and Revenge against them Judg. 7. 3. Here the Devils Design against the Church was promising and prosperous and no doubt he had a fair Prospect of this Plot yet the Lord notwithstanding all Laughs all to Nothing and Works which is the 2d thing the Church's Deliverance from this Danger for 1. though they were sold as Slaves to their Adversary yet even then were they precious as Sons to their God Isa 50. 1 10. Though the Mother had Divorc'd her self yet God owns himself the Husband and he owns them to be his Children yea Children of light even then when they Walked in Darkness And though they had sold themselves for nought he would accordingly Redeem them without Money Isa 52. 3. and love them freely Hos 14.4 2 Though the Church was then under great Distress Judg 2. 15. and 4. 3. God Strengthening their Enemies Iudg. 3. 12. as Ezek. 30. 24. and weakening their Arms and Armies and God Prospering that Wickedness in their Adversaries which he Punished in them being Professors yet had she as oft great Deliverances as many Salves as Sores upon their Repentance God had one Hand to Help them as well as another to hurt them pittying his People for his own sake he Rais'd them up Iudges Iudg. 2. 15. 16. as Othniel Ehud Shamgar Deborah Gedion Tola Jair Jephtah Ibzan Elon Abdon and Sampson all Twelve to save his Church one by an Oxe Goad as Shamgar another by the Jaw-Bone of an Ass as Samson and Gideon was but a Barley-Cake Judg. 7. 13. God never starves his Church for want either of Instruments or of Agents 3 Though the Church was oft Sighing yet as oft Singing God goes in a Circle with her as oft as she Repented of her Sins so oft God Repented of his Judgements Judg. 2. 18. and quite through the Book of Iudges The whole History of the Book of Judges for 450 Y. the Church lived all that time as may be said at the Sign of the Chequer God Chequered his Providences towards her with the Black of Misery and with the White of Mercy and all Chequer'd Work is accounted Beautiful Work God Speckled his Dispensations to his Church as is set forth by those speckl'd Horses among the Myrtle Trees in the bottom Zech. 1. 8. Crosses and Comforts are Interwooven while she is in her Militant-state in this Vale of Misery and Valley of Tears Psal 84. 6. God hath set the one over-against the other Eccles 7. 14. As there is a Vicissitude of Night and Day so of Adversity and Prosperity God turns the Church's Night into Day and the Vpright hath Dominion in the Morning Psal 49. 14. No sooner doth the Church alter her course from Sin and Return to God by Repentance but presently God alters his course from Wrath and returns to Her with his Mercy Zech. 1. 16. Oh that it were the present practice as it was then the Continual Course of God with his Church and his Church with him in this our Day God would soon turn our Mourning into Mirth Heaviness might endure for the Night but Joy would come in the Morning Psal 30. 5 No Doubt but God Wishes his Church's Welfare as the Loving Bridegroom doth his Beloved Bride's otherwise He had never Sighed out those sad Words Oh! that my People had Hearkened unto me c. I should soon have Subdued their Enemies c. Psal 81. 13 14 15 16. God with a bare turn of his Hand can
overturn both the Many and the Mighty of them and Rescue his Little Ones out of all their Hands Zech. 13. 7. Isa 25. 11. none shall Pluck them out of Christs and His Fathers Hands Joh. 10. 28. 29. The Thirteenth Plot against the CHURCH in Canaan Defeated by GOD. CHAP. XIII THe Church's Restless Wretched Adversary Satan seeing he cannot still Hinder the Being of God's Church Trys again his 13th Experiment against the Well-Being of it and that once more before Israels Aristocracy was chang'd into Monarchy to wit in the time of Eli and Samuel the Two last Judges of Israel yet such was the Over-ruling Providence of God above the Devil that whatever Ground he Won upon the Church in Old Eli's Male-Administration he Lost it All again in Young Samuel's Godly Reformation So that here again Divine Dispensations towards the Church concerning Sorrows and Joys were most beautifully Chequered with Interchangeable Colours Magistracy is what the Pole is to the Hop or the Tree to the Ivy or the Wall to the Vine the former gives Support to the latter which cannot stand alone without something to Sustain them The Church's Word to the State is Te Stante Virebo While thou Stands I Flourish This Blessed Nail as Eliakim that Godly Magistrate Keeps all the Vessels of the Lord stedfastly and Holds them from falling to the Ground Isa 22. 24. This the Devil knew well and therefore play'd his Pranks against the Church in that Interval of Magistracy betwixt Joshuah and the Judges in which Interspace Satan wrought and brought down Israel to that gross Idolatry Impiety and Apostacy mentioned in the Five last Chapters of the Book of Judges The Stories whereof there Related that the History of the following Judges might be continued without any Interruption as before did all Befall Israel soon after Joshuah and some 100's of Y. before Sampson whom this Eli immediately succeeded unless we make Phinehas mentioned in Iudg. 20. 28. to live far beyond Moses term Psal 90. 10. even above 300 Y. who was at Mans estate at his Killing Zimri and Cozbi in the Wilderness and therefore could not out-live Samson 'T is said expresly in those Five last Chapters no less than Three times to wit Iudg. 17. 6. and 18. 1. and 21. 25. In those Days there was no King in Israel that is not a King in its proper Sense for so Israel never had a King in any of those Days until Saul's time but no Judge or supream Magistrate to keep Israel in Awe and Order This time of Israels Anarchy before their Aristocracy the Devil Improv'd as his Golden Opportunity wherein to propose and promote his Hellish Projects and to bring All to an Horrible Confusion when there was no publick Power to controul or restrain their Extravagancies Yea this Daring Devil though over-Witted and over-Powered by the onely Wise and Almighty God even upon that Advantage-Ground Durst Attempt the Church when under the Protection of Her Godly Governours as under Sampson of whom 't is said He shall onely Begin to Deliver Israel Iudg. 13. 5. He made some essays to save them from the Oppressing Philistines yet that Oppression lasted 40 Y. v. 1. to wit During the Days of Samson and of Eli his next Successor though Samson was Destroying them all his life and Destroyed more at his Death Iudg. 16. 20. wherein he was a Type of Christ who by his Death overcame Death and him who had the power of Death the Devil Hebr. 2. 14. yet did he onely Begin and kept Doing at the Church's Deliverance both all his Life and at his Death the Perfecting whereof was Reserved for David the Father and Figure of Christ who is both the Founder and Finisher of Faith and Salvation Hebr. 2. 10. and 12. 2. So under Eli who undoubtedly was a Godly Man as is Apparent 1 by his Godly Prayers whereby he made her Amends for his Uncharitable Censure for Disconsolate Hannah The God of Israel Grant thee thy Petition 1 Sam. 1. 17. He having a particular Faith that God would grant her Request if she compos'd her self and cast her Burden or Petition upon the Lord Psal 55. 22. promises his own Prayers for that purpose and hids her Go in Peace which she did taking the High-Priest's Answer for an Oracle being Comforted with this Comfort and having Pray'd down her Discomfort as David oft did 2 by his Humble and Hearty Submission to the Will of God when Declared to him 1. by the Mouth of the Man of God 1 Sam. 2. 27. and 2ly by the Mouth of his Young Minister Samuel Chap. 3. 11. 17. Eli said upon the Hearing thereof v. 18. It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good id est His Holy Will be done I and my House have Deserved All God hath Just cause to punish but not I to murmur I must patiently bear what God pleases to Inflict He is too kind to do me harm too just to do me wrong he will turn Temporal evil to my Everlasting good 3 by his Trembling for the Ark of God Chap. 4. 13. out of his Zeal for God's Glory and the Church's Good lest Israel should lose and Philistines get the Sign of God's Presence He loved his Spirituals better then his Temporals he could hear with patience of the loss of some Thousands and of the loss of his Two Sons but when he heard of the loss of the Ark this goes like a Dagger to his Heart and 't is a Question whether his Neck or his Heart were first Broken v. 18. Like a godly Man he cannot live without the Ark of God no Sword of the Uncircumcised could have given him a more Mortal Blow than the Report of this Loss that struck him down into a deadly swound Yet was he not Driven away in his Wickedness as is a Wicked Man but he had Hope in his Death as a Righteous One Prov. 14. 32. He that could not Live without the Ark of God how could he Dye without the God of the Ark The Sins of his Sons Displeas'd his godly Soul and he Reproov'd them for it yet more Mildly than was meet hence God Writ his Sin upon his Punishment He that minded not in time to Break the stiff Neck of his stubborn Sons while Young Prov. 19. 18. had now his own Neck broken And though he was not a good Father to his Sons yet was he Himself a good Son to God and his Memory is Blessed among all the other Godly Judges saith Wisdom or Eedus Chap. 46. 11. in the Apocrypha Although Eli was a Godly Man and both Judge over Civil and High-Priest over Ecclesiastick Affairs and so had a most Precious Price put into his Hands for promoting the Church's Weal yet the Devil made a Fool of him so that he hath no Heart to it Prov. 17. 10. and this Satan did Accomplish 1. by Prompting him to too much Indulgency towards his Dissolute Sons 2ly by Tempting him to a too much Neglect of
his own Duty towards them and that in his Threefold Capacity 1. As a Father 2. As the High-Priest 3. As the Chief Magistrate or Judge 1st As a Father So the Devil made use of his Candid Constitution and his sweet Natural Disposition even to a Cockering of his Sons and to a too much Tenderness towards them as he did David's afterwards towards His 1 Kin. 1. 6. c. both in their Younger and Elder years over-much Mercy marrs many a Child Pro. 13. 24. and 23. 13 14. 'T is likely Eli had always been a Fond Father to his Sons and brought them up in his Doting Indulgency till he brings down his House by their Diabolical Impiety 2ly As High-Priest which added more Authority to him over his Wicked Sons yet doth he so gently Reproove them for their Sins so exceeding sinful even to Black Sins under a White Ephod as if he had been Afraid to Hurt them 1 Sam. 2. 22 23. A Gentle Reproof can never be a Salve broad and sharp enough for such a Sore as is Notorious and Abominable Wickedous He did it as Hierom saith Lenitate patris non Authoritate pontisicis by the Gentle Lenity of a Father not by the grave and Severe Authority of an High-Priest who should have expell'd them out of their Sacred Function for their sinful Practices and Excommunicated them out of the Church of God 3. As the Judge or Chief Magistrate which gave him power most of all to punish those prosligate Varlets yet he onely Shaves the Head which Deserved Cutting off he should have punish'd them for their Adultery they having Wives of their own 1 Sam. 4. 19. according to the Law yet comes off onely with Why do ye such things and Nay my Sons c. whereas he should have Instanc'd and Aggravated their evil Doings for their Shame and Horror and Executed Justice upon them as Degenerate Sons of Belial rather than of Eli 1 Sam. 2.23 24. 25 c. Hereupon he is blamed for Gratifying his Sons more then Glorifying God v. 29 chusing rather to please them than him and not punishing those prophane Priests either by Ecclesiastick Censures or by Civil Penalties Fearing possibly least by this means the High-Priesthood should go from his Family of Ithamar as it had from Eleazar's for the like Misdemeanour which also did befall him afterwards 1 Kin. 1. 26. 1 Chron. 29. 22. Thus Eli by seeking to prevent that Evil in an evil manner and by evil means did the sooner procure it For God became highly Displeased and the Devil took this Advantage and powr'd in three Grand Mischiefs and Maladies upon the Church of God all which had most Blessed Remedies in Samuel Successor to Eli to wit 1. The Abhorring of the Lord's Sacrifice 2. The Failure of all Prophetick Visions 3. The Captivity of the Ark by the Philistines 1st Of the 1st Those Prosligate Priests made the People to abhorr the Offerings of the Lord 1 Sam. 2. 17. and to Transgress v. 24. where the Prophane Clergy so called laid a Stumbling-Block before the Sober Laity not onely in their sinning so presumptuously and scaping Scot-free in so Doing against God himself and Dishonouring the Lord in prophaning his Worship and Abusing his Ordinances but also in giving such an evil Example to God's People by their wicked Practices whom they should have Instructed in the good ways of God according to their Office so as to make them withdraw from God's Worship when they saw it so much prophaned by their Impieties This God Complains of as a Spiritual loss to his Peoples Souls more than of the Honour of his own Name dishonoured thereby Hence 't is said the People Transgressed in Neglecting to come to God's Worship in Shilo The Men would not come while those prophane Priests Theevishly and Sacrilegiously Abused God's Sacrifice 1 Sam. 2. 13 to 16. And the Women durst not come for Fear of a Rape v. 22. for those lewd losels though they had Wives of their own were sick of a Plurisie for knowing more Women And like the Devil their Master lov'd to Sow their Seed upon other Mens Ground Matth. 13. 25. The 2d Malady was The Failure of Prophecy in those licentious times of Eli 1 Sam. 3. 2. The Word of the Lord was Precious in those Days though there was some secret Vision as to Manoah and his Wife Judg. 13. yet there was no open Vision the Spirit of Prophecy was Rare and Scarce and therefore Pretious Rara Praeclara in those Days of Detestable Debauchery and both Neglect and Contempt of God's Worship for which God Inflicted this fore Judgement upon them that they should have a Famine of the Word Amos 8. 12. and that there should not be a Prophet among them nor any that could tell them how long Psal 74. 9. 'T is very sad with the Church when there is a Sealing up of Prophecy Dan. 12. 4. and she is plainly benighted in this way-less Wilderness This Darkness upon Israel who were Children of light and of the Day 1 Thess 5. 5. could not but please the Prince of Darkness and give him both light and fight of the Success of his Plot to make them both stumble and fall Joh. 3. 20. 1 Joh. 2. 11. The 3d. Malady is the Captivity of the Ark which was first Touched for which Vzzah perished 2 Sam. 6 6. 7. and also taken by the Hands of the Uncircumcised 1 Sam. 4. 11. which made the Wife of Phinehas to cry out Ichabod that Glory was departed from Israel the greatness of her Grief made her Repeat it Twice v. 21 22. seeing the Sign of God's presence and Protection which was therefore call'd their Glory Psal 78. 61. the Face of God Psal 105. 4. Yea God himself Psal 122. 5. was carried Captive as if the Devil had been too strong for God and as if God could keep the Ark no longer but was Constrained to let it go out of Canaan into the Countrey of the Philistines who verily Thought they had taken the God of Israel Prisoner v. 8. Indeed Israel ascrib'd that Honour to the Ark of God which was Due onely to God himself for upon their Defeat knowing no other Cause though there was enough Psa 78. 58 61 62 63. but the want of the Ark. They send for it to Shilo that it might save them v. 3 4. 1 without Consulting with God 2 they brought it into the Camp without due Reverence 3 and that by the Hands of Two prossligate Priests All which was more likely to bring a Curse upon them and not a Blessing When this Ark of Wood was made an Idol by the Israelites they fare worse and not better v. 2 10. Notwithstanding its presence external priviledges rested and Trusted in are more Destructive than Saving Rom. 2. 9. and God justly suffers it to be taken from them by the Philistines Now the Devil having got the Ark of God into his own Temple to wit the Temple of Dagon which they had
Rebuilt since Samson pull'd it Down Judg. 16. 23 25. and the Two Cherubims now Spreading their Wings under the Roof of an Ugly Image Half a Fish and Half a Man no doubt but he had a further and fairer Prospect of prospering in his Project yet even Then God Awakes who had been Asleep as it were all this time Psal 78. 65 60. puts forth his Power Beats Dagon upon his own Dunghill yea Beats him down to the Ground as if he had met his Worshippers to Worship them and falls down to them that came the next Morning to fall down to him 1 Sam. 5. 3. and when their Superstition had made them more Senseless than their Senseless Idol Psal 115. 8. they become Patrons to their God and as if it had been onely a Chance Helps him up into his place He is a miserable God that cannot Rise alone but stands in need of Helping up by his own Worshippers and craves more Help from them than ever he could give to them Dagon is again rais'd up into His Rood-loft to Affront the Ark and hath those very hands lifted up to him which had helped to lift him up Will a Jealous God who Winks and sits still on purpose to behold their mad Folly and stupid Confidence and to Fetch about his own Glory put up this Injury shall this Lifeless Stone continue as a sit Companion with the Living God and scape Scot-free with an Harmless Fall No God cannot Brook Corrivals Dagon Falls again and Breaks his Neck His Head the Seat of Wisdom and His Hands the Seat of Power were both Cutt off v. 4. to shew them their God could neither Consult nor Act for them yea God had chopp'd them off upon the Threshold of his own Temple as a Cook sometimes doth the Head and Leggs of a great Fowl for his Masters Dinner and now those that came to Worship him might Tread those parts they most Trusted in under foot as unsavoury Salt and Dagon was now no better than a Dunghill-Deity They might now set their Foot upon the best parts of their Idol whereon they had set their Heart and now those chiefest pieces met them at the Threshold to tell them how much they were mistaken in their Headless Handless and ever Footless God Nothing but the Stump remained to wit the Fishy part that had no Feet and that also sadly Bruised and Battered by the Fall And because those obstinate Idolaters instead of giving Glory to God who had Destroy'd their Idol gave Honour to the Threshold which their Dagon had Touched v. 5. whereby however God perpetuated the Memory of the Miracle in the minds of Posterity as if the Broken Head and Hands of the Idol had Hallowed it They had it in great Veneration Thus the Pagans of Old Kissed the Threshold of their Temples and the Papagans at this Day do Kiss the Threshold of Peters-Church in Rome when they enter into it Suppose it were done as some say by way of Detestation and not by way of Veneration as Dear Relations will Detest to touch that Sword wherewith their neer Friend hath been Murthered yet even so the Romanists do Symbolize with those Uncircumcised inasmuch as the Pope in his Solemn Procession declineth to Walk that Street in Rome wherein Pope Joan was Delivered as a Street unhappy to the Credit of their Church Thus the Priests of the Devil might forbear to Tread upon the Threshold that was so Unhappy as to break the Head and Hands of their Supposed Deity However the Lord was Angry for no better Improoving the Fall of their Idol neither the first nor second therefore Falls he foul upon themselves pays their Posteriours like so many Puniboys and Plagues them with Emrods yea and as some think with the Foul Disease and likewise with Mice that Marr'd their Land as the Blind Piles Marr'd themselves Their Dagon could not drive so much as a poor Mouse from them insomuch that their own Mouths Confessed The Lord's Hand is sore upon us and upon Dagon our God v. 7. The Ark is too Hot for them to Hold They carry the Ark of God and with it the Plague of God up and down to their Neighbours any whither they would bear it rather than Home to Israel until God forced them to yield saying Let the Ark Return to its own place v. 11. Yea and that City which first said so fared the best for the Men there Dyed not as they did in other Cities Thus God's Revenge Works out Nolens Volens the Ark's Return and not without a Trespass-Offering though Ridiculous such as Satan in Contempt of God had suggested to their Diviners 1 Sam. 6. 2 4. The Ark is carryed Home by two Untamed and Untrained Kine that had Calves at Home which Naturally they break through All to come at and that without a Driver All this made the Miracle greater God Himself drove the Cart and made the Kine know their Owner Isa 1. 3. which Hophni and Phinehas Two Priests had not done 1 Sam. 2. 12. This was no doubt The Fruit of Samuel's Pray'r in whom the Lord Restored the lost Spirit of Prophecy hence is he called the first of the Prophets after that Failure Act. 3. 24. Hebr. 11. 32. and of Israel that Lamented after the Ark not being Contented with an Empty Tabernacle but thought themselves forlorn without the Ark in it Thus Gracious was God to his poor People to make the presence of the Prisoner the Ark Grievous to the Philistines and being set at Liberty Joyful to Israel Even so will the Lord do with all those that Deal thu with the Gospel as they did with the Ark he will make them Smart for it and Laugh all their Plots to Nothing Especially if God give his Samuels to his Church that cease not to Cry to the Lord for her at her Request 1 Sam. 7. 8 9. And the Spirit of Repentance be powr'd out upon his People so that All Universally Lament after the Lord even with Storms of Sighs and Shours of Tears though after 20 Y. Bondage and Backslidings v. 2 to 6. Weeping before the Lord abundantly that their Sorrowing might be proportionable to their Sinning Samuel's Sermons to Israel in his Itinerary Circuits wrought so powerfully upon them as to fetch Groans out of their Hearts Tears out of their Eyes Vows out of their Mouths and Idols out of their Hands Oh! for such a Divine Dispensation in our Day then though the Five Lords of the Philistines 1 Sam. 6. 16. those Five Lords in the Tower do Plot against us and Assault us in our Fasting and Praying If our Samuels do but Cry as he was Excellent at that Work Psal 99. 6. Jer. 15. 1. and Offer up the Lamb of God with their Prayers as he did v. 7 9. God will Hear and Thunder upon them with a great Thunder as v. 10. and Ch. 2. 10. and Josh 10. 10. Judg. 4. 15. and smite them so at Beth-car the House of the
Lamb as to make them come no more v. 10 11 12 13. the same God is our Eben-Ezor or Stone of Help v. 12. The Fourteenth Plot against the CHURCH in Canaan Defeated by GOD. CHAP. XIV WHen God had Graciously given a Suitable Remedy to that great Malady by Eli's Sons in Holy Samuel and so had Establish'd his Church Ark and Worship again Satan play'd his Pranks and plys his Plots again in the Days of Saul David and Solomon 1st of Saul The Wicked One never Idle Debauches Samuel's Sons as he had done Eli's notwithstanding their stricter Education Samuel could not well be guilty of that Sin of fond Indulgency which he from God had Reprooved in Eli. This gave the Occasion to Israel for changing their Aristocracy or rather Theocracy 1 Sam. 8. 7. into a Monarchy and Saul of Wicked Gibeah Judg. 19. was set over them for his Stature as David was after for his Heart Saul at first Reigned as a King well and Orderly but being Rejected of God for Disobedience he turn'd a Tyrant and Rul'd with Rigour 1 Sam. 13. 1. with 14. 47. Then the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and an evil Spirit from the Devil by the Lord's leave possessed him Ch. 16. 14. which cast him into Fits of Phrenzy and Fury Here began the 1st Branch of this 14th Plot in Saul's Reign as the other Two did in David's and Solomon's which all Three in Conjunction makes up this 14th Diabolical design against the Church of God By Israels 1st King Satan labours to Hinder the Church By the 2d God Advances her By the 3d. God brought her to her greatest Glory 1st In Saul who at his first Entry quitted himself nobly in the overthrow of Israels Enemies but when scarce well warm in his Kingdom he Hears of losing it 1. For his Incroaching into the Priests Office of Sacrifising 1 Sam. 13. 8 9 13 14. where his distrust made him praecipitant he should have stay'd for Samuel one Hour or two longer had he done so his Kingdom had been Establish'd upon him but his Rotten Heart was Discover'd by this Delay and his Doing foolishly in Thrusting himself among the Priests as he had done among the Prophets procures him tydings of its Translation to Another whose Heart was Vpright Psal 57. 7. and who would do all Gods wills Act. 13. 22. 2ly For his sparing Agag with his Amalekites and Cattel contrary to God's express Command 1 Sam. 15. 2 3 8 9 26 28. out of foolish pitty to his fellow-King he spared the one and because he Feared the People he spared the other therefore Samuel said to him The Lord hath Rejected thee c. And this Doubly Declared Rejection brings him into a sad Melancholick Dejection Discontent is called the Devil's Bath wherein he Delights to Wade The old Man-slayer takes this Advantage and turns his Melancholly-dumps into a mad Phrenzy inasmuch as in his frantick Fits he Transports him outragiously to Slay all in his way Friends as well as Foes even his own dear Jonathan once Ch. 20. 33. as well as his Deserving David often sometimes covertly as Ch. 18. 17 25. and sometimes overtly as v. 11. and Ch. 19. 10. The Devil that Evil Spirit possessing him had filled Saul's Heart from Corner to Corner with his own Disease to wit Envy which is call'd Morbus Satanicus Vitium Diabolicum against David whom he knew God had Raised up to Raise up the low Estate of His Church 1 Sam. 24. 20. Yet by the over-ruling Hand of God The Spirit of the Lord that rested upon David from his first Anointing ch 10. 13. by the power of which he Kill'd a Bear and a Lyon Chap. 17. 34. was all along too hard for Sauls Devil not only when Davids Musick drove away Sauls Melancholly Chap. 16. 23. but also in all Sauls both Secret Craft and open Cruelty 1st In his Craft How many Plots did the Devil in Saul contrive to cut off David from advancing the Church yet God Laughs them all to nothing and 't is very Remarkable God Extracts Happy Remedies out of the very Loins of Wretched Saul against all Davids Vnhappy Maladies once Michal and often Jonathan Sauls own Son and Daughter God makes use of his own Children to disappoint him of his Wicked Design and to deliver Innocent David whom he foolishly followed as his Adversary Chap. 19. 2 4 12 13 c. and 20. 27 29 30. 34 to 42. Jonathan shot over David that Saul might shoot short of him And 2dly in his Cruelty When he threw his Javelin three times to Kill David yet the Lord Interposes as oft and he who Guided the Stone which David did sling unto Goliah's Forehead for his Destruction Diverts Sauls Javelin from Davids Body though a fairer Mark and nearer hand for his Deliverance This was Sauls Cordolium or Heart-ake when he could not come at and compass Davids Heart to destroy it whose onely Fault was Faithfulness and who must dye onely because he made Israel Live Saul as is the Nature of Envy feeds upon his own heart Ch. 18. 12 15. Invidia Siculi non Invenêre Tyranni majus Tormentum Envy exceeds all the Torments the Tyrants of Sicily ever Invented it destroys its own Habitation as the Worm doth the Nut wherein it is bred Thus God made Saul his own Inward Executioner by sending this Fire into his Bosom to burn him and this Worm to be continually gnawing upon his Intrals long before he was his own Outward Executioner at last And Sauls Frantick Devil did not hurry him into Outragious Cruelty against David onely but against the Priests of the Lord for shewing kindness to David Chap. 22. 12 13 16 c. Oh what a Mad Phrensy was manifest in his cruel Commission Turn and slay the Priests of the Lord Ver. 17. His malice was bent against the Lord himself for taking away his Kingdom and giving it to another and because he could not come at the Lord who was out of his reach he spends his Spleen and vents his mad Fury upon his Priests 'T is a wonder that the very Word the Priests of the Lord in his Mouth did not make his Hands tremble to Murther them and that without two or three Witnesses according to the Law but only upon the bare single Testimony of a falie and flattering Sycophant hence some say that this Damnable Hypocrite Saul did commit herein the Sin against the Holy Ghost Massacreing such a multitude of Innocents as 8 Priests as the Scripture and 300 persons more as Josephus tells us Chap. 18. ver 18 19. and though his own Servants durst not do such a Villany vers 17. obeying God rather then the King yet Doeg that bloody Edomite of Esau that had been as far in Gods Sanctuary as David Chap. 21. 7. sticks not at this Desperate Villany yet in this Horrid Act of Cruelty God baffles the Devil that acted Saul and his Swine-herd Doeg in two respects 1st While this
all 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.
all 1 Kin. 11. 11 12 13. 1. For Davids sake which is five times repeated there for his honour and 2. For Jerusalems sake both which had peculiar promises as 1. David 2 Sam. 7. 9 10 11 12 16. all performed by the promiser either in the Types ' or Antitypes 2. Jerusalem that holy City Neh. 11. 1. 18. Isa 52. 1. wherein Zion and the Temple stood and was the special Type of the Church Psal 51. 18. Isa 62. 1 7. and 66. 20. Revel 21. 2. and therein God promis'd to David his servant that he should have a light or Lamp always 1 Kin. 11. v. 36. to wit a Royal Successor that should shine before his people which was most properly accomplish'd in Christ Luke 2. 32. The Scepter could not be taken either by men or Devils from Judah until Shilo came Gen. 49. 10. and then was he a light to the Gentiles as he had been and still was a glory to Israel Now though the Devil that Grand Make-bate of the World had a great hand in this Rent or Division together with his Impious Instrument Jeroboam yet the Lord had a greater hand in it to ordain order and over-rule all For thus saith the Lord This thing is from me and the cause was from the Lord as well as from the Devil 1 Kin. 12. 15.24 As it was a sin call'd Rebellion Ch. 12. 19. so it was from the Devil but as it was a punishment of sin both of Solomons Idolatry Ch. 11. v. 11. and of Rehoboams insolency so it was from God as an Act of Justice from the Supreme Judge Am. 3. 6. God here withdraws the Spirit of Wisdom from Rehoboam and leaves him to his own egregious folly as Chap. 22. 23. 2 Chron. 25. 20. and 32. 31. God knows how to order the disorders of the World to his own glory as having an over-ruling Providence beyond mans purpose and an over-pouring power still to preserve his poor Church though Solomon had been sharing himself betwixt God and Idols and therefore his servant Jeroboam shall share the Kingdome with his Son Rehoboam yea and bear away the better half from him yet Judah still rules with God and God with them and is faithful with the Saints When Ephraim the ten Tribes compassed God about with lyes Hos 11. v. 12. that is while back-sliding Israel went after their Leaden Priests made by Jeroboam of the basest of the people and their Golden Calves Judah kept tite to the Temple-worship and firm in the true Religion Thus the most gracious God even in the midst of wrath remembers mercy and leaves this blessing soon repenting of the evil behind him that a Lamp should be lighted in Jerusalem which the most boistrous blasts of the Devil and his Instruments should not blow out The Sixteenth Plot against the CHURCH in Canaan Defeated by GOD. CHAP. XVI NOw when the Devil had divided so great a share of Davids Kingdome to himself by Divine Permission the Lord of the Soyl Hos 9. 3. Isa 8. 8. giving way for his own glory to such sad Incroachments he falls upon sowing the cursed seed of his Tares upon the Lords Land among those Tribes who disdain'd to live any longer by the Lords Law Oh wonderful there was no visible Church upon Earth at this time but in the Land of Promise and yet the only wise God gives up to Satan when all the World lay in wickedness 1 Joh. 5. 19. and so in the possession of that wicked one even the largest share of his own Land also though it was but a little spot of Land no bigger than our Wales in all Thus the Lords Land Levit. 25. 23. became the Devils Land too in the greatest part with all the rest of the Habitable World Oh how unsearchable are the ways of the Lord and his works past find-out Rom. 11. 33 34 35. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oh the bottomless depth of Divine Wisdome the Devil having got this leave against Israel as once against Job when Gods Hedge was gone begins to lay waste Gods Vineyard Isa 5. 5 6. He now falls to work for debauching Israel he first makes them cast off their true Soveraign and chuse a false one Jeroboam the Son of Nebat must be the man one that wanted neither Craft nor Courage to back this Horse which had cast his Rider Next to Achitophel the Devil had not a craftier Head to plot against the Church than this Leader of the Faction and Fraction As the subtil Serpent infused into him his subtilty for stealing a Scepter so for securing it to him when he had stoln it His Plotting Head had this considering Cap upon it 't was but a pang of discontent that made me King violent things are not permanent sudden Paroxysmes or Fits of passion have as sudden Relaxations and recoveries the Revolters cannot return thrice a year to the Temple in Jerusalem as God commands them Exod. 34. 23. but 't will make them revolt from me and return to Rehoboam I must either keep them off from God or I shall never keep them off from Loyalty and Piety Therefore to give them a pleasant Diversion when he durst not offer a direct Restraint and Prohibition he changes and adulterates that Religion which he dare neither inhibit nor abolish Hereupon this new King plots to make Israel a new God and for their ease nearer home too that they might not be toiled with going so far as the Temple pretending to be more merciful to the people than the most merciful God yea and more prudent than he in his more compendious and plausible way of worship altogether accommodated to the ease and humour of the people Aaron had humour'd Israel with one Golden Calf such as they had seen long in Egypt Exod. 32. 4. Now Jeroboam who had lately lived there 1 Kin. 11. 40. judges it proper after Aarons example to humour them with two which he sets up at Dan and Bethel at both the ends of the Land North and South 1 Kin. 12. 27 28 29. Thus took he crafty counsel of his cursed Courtiers and so he might secure his Realm and Region he matter'd not though Religion were run down to ruine And this thing became a sin to Israel v. 30. a most heinous sin though it was but a base thing this Image was one of the basest Psal 106. 20. The Image of a Calf eating Hay Oh what Brutish Creatures were Israel made by an Intoxicating Devil Psal 115. 8. so as to fall down and worship such a Brutish Creature as a Calf as soon as it was set up yea that service which was only due to God was performed to Devils in this base thing 2 Chron. 11. 15. all Idolatry is Devil-worship all Devotion that is not done to God nor by a Divine Warrant is done to the Devil there is no Medium or Mean betwixt them 1 Cor. 10. 20 21. Revel 9. 20. Now the Devil that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Idol-lover had
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
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.
The Father was good but the Son was better inasmuch as he Repented when he was Reprooved which his Father did not but Raged Ch. 19. 2 4. where the Son Jehu succeeded better than his Father Hanani Ch. 16. 7. Now for this his great Goodness the Devil envyed him sinding him more forward and forth-putting in religion and reformation than his Father Hereupon Satan sets upon his over good Nature and over-facile Disposition seduces him into an Assinity with Wicked Ahah 1 Kin. 22. 44. to a Match 'twixt Jehoram his Son and Athaliah Ahab's wicked Daughter 2 Kin. 8. 18. and to a Courtly Complyance in Ahabs Warring against Syria which had like to have cost him his life 1 Kin. 22. 2 4 31. Here the Devil had Entangled good Jehosaphat into most desperate Danger but God Disappoints the Devils Design Jehosaphat Cryed out that is to the Lord 1 Kin. 22. 32. and the Lord Helped him 2 Chron. 18. 31. So he returned to his House in Peace Ch. 19. 1. which his Ally Ahab did not as Micaiah fore-told him 1 Kin. 22. 28. finding it True but too late that a whole Council of false Prophets especially may Err in telling him the contrary Jehosaphat now is a Brand pluck'd out of the Fire so dare not do as he had done 2 Chron. 19. 4. and 1 Kin. 22. 49. he now stays at Jerusalem making no more any courtly goings on Progress to Samaria 2 Chron. 19. 4. This good Man made Peace with bad Ahab the Father 2 Chron. 19. 3. and with bad Ahaziah the Son Ch. 20. 35. but better he had not done so for God was deeply Displeased with it therefore was Wrath upon him 2 Chron. 10. 2. A Man had better be at Variance with all the World than with God and his own Conscience He that parts with his inward peace to purchase the outward pays too dear a rate for it one may buy Gold too dear as Jehosaphat did for his Desired and Designed Gold While his Conversation was Godly God blest him with a most Signal Victory over Moah Ammon and Mount-Seir 2 Chro. 19. 20. then God was highly pleased with him but when his Confederacy was once wicked then God was highly Displeased with him and broke his Ships even in the very Harbour before setting out with a Tempest 2 Chron. 20. 36. as the Lords Prophet foretold him v. 37. and upon this fore-warning though Ahaziah did sollicit him to a 2d Attempt as looking upon the miscarriage of the 1st to be onely a Casualty not Eying the Hand of God against it yet Jehosaphat would not for upon the Prophets Reproof he Repented and Refused 1 Kin. 22. 49. he dare not Venture upon a 2d Expedition when God had Blasted the first and though Wicked Ahaziah would not behold the Hand of God in his Judgements yet good Jehosophat heard the Voice of the Rod Mic. 6. 9. and knew that this Breaking Blast came from God who holdeth the Winds in his Fists Prov. 30. 4. and that it came from Gods Faithfulness Psal 119.75 who will not prosper the evil Enterprizes of his own Children Thus the Devil lost his Design against Jehosaphat as Jehosaphat lost his about Gold and though he Contrived New Plots against the Church by the following Kings of Judah finding them fitter Instruments for him than their fore-Fathers yet did the Lord Laugh them to Nothing in those better Kings whom God Rais'd up to destroy the Devils Designs 'T is true Jehoram the 5th King of a pious Father was an impious Son than whom a worse could hardly be found who being an Idolater like all such laid the Foundation of his Kingdom in the Blood of his Brethren because as Rabbins say they Walked in the good ways of Jehosaphat and would not yield to his Idolatries Athaliah his Wife who was now the Jezabel of Jerusalem stirred him up to all Villany 2 Chron. 21. 4 5 6 13. yet all this moved not God to gratifie the Devil in casting off his people Oh the yerning of Divine Bowels in that Howbeit the Lord would not do it but preserv'd a Lamp or Light for the Church v. 7. out of which there came at length that Sun of Righteousness the Lord Jesus that light of the World and the Devil in Jehoram shall not carry it without a Controul from Heaven both 1 by that Letter brought to him from one that was then in Heaven v. 12. to Convince him of and to Confound him for his Abominable Impiety which Writing some say an Angel handed to him out of Paradise to his greater Confusion not unlike the hand-writing upon the Wall in Belshazzar's Palace Dan. 5. and 2 by the stroke wherewith the Lord from Heaven smote him in his Bowels v. 18. which incurable Disease and torturing Malady lasted Two full Years v. 19. a long time to lye under intollerable Torment and yet all this was but a typical Hell and a fore-tast of Eternal Misery prepared for him who was all that while an incorrigible Wretch he lived wickedly and dyed wishedly There was no Healing for his Body and as little for his Soul he dyed under the Displeasure both of God and Men for he Departed without being Desired v. 20. his Subjects had no Bowels for him who had no Bowels for them much less for his own Brethren whom he flew and who dyed loath somely of a Disease in his Bowels therefore they afford him neither Subjects Tears nor a Royal Tomb Be Wise now therefore Oh ye Kings c. Psal 2. 11 12. Fugite ergò Reges ejusmodi exitum fugienâ—o hujusmodi flagitium saith Ambrose Overthrow not your selves and your Houses by lifting up your Horns on high against God Neither did Ahaziah Azariah Jehoahaz that Man of Three names the 6th King of Judah fare better because he prooved so bad though by a marvellous Providence he was preserved as a Lamp promised to David from the Rigid Murders of the Ragged Arabians 2 Chron. 21. 17. with Ch. 22. 1 6. he was made King by the chief City of the Kingdom the Inhabitants of Jerusalem while Jehoram lay miserably under the Gripes and not minding the matters of Succession Notwithstanding the Kindness both of God in his Preservation and of Men in his Preferment he also walked in Wicked ways wicked Athaliah his Mother and other wicked ones being his Counsellers to do wickedly to his own Destruction 2 Chron. 22. 3 4 5. He confederates with his wicked Cozen Jehoram of Israel in the War against the Syrians wherein his Cozen being wounded went to be Cured of his wounds This cursed Sprig of Athaliah goes to Complement him and to Condole with him which cost him his life by the hands of furious Jehu whom God raised up to Ruine and Root out Ahabs cursed Family 2 Kin. 9. 14 15 16 27. and 2 Chron. 22. 7 8 9. Thus as he had joyn'd with Jehoram in Sin he was joyned with him in Slaughter and that by the Appointment of God even at
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
Intended reformation 2 Chro. 29. 20 21 c. and with whose Concurrence he not onely Accomplisheth the Removeal of the High-places and of the Brazen-Serpent aforesaid but also the Cleansing of the Temple and Kingdom of all the Idols and of all their Trinkets Trash and Trumpery he would leave nothing behind that might make Idolaters Hope for a Desired Day of return 2 Chron. 29. 15 16 18 19. and Ch. 31. 1. ☞ Oh that our Reformers had cast all Romish-Reliques into the Town-Ditch or Kidron The 3d. Famous Remarque is his consenting to an Act of Parliament for Keeping a Passeover according to Gods Law and Inviting his Brethren of the Neighbour-Kingdom thereunto 2 Chron. 30. 1 5. 6. at which Celebration this good King 1 Prayed heartily for the People that God would pardon their Unpreparedness and 2 he spake comfortably to the Ministers to encourage them in their work ☞ Oh how few such Princes are found in the World Therefore hath he the Honour of a None-such None like Hezekiah before him among all the Kings of Judah nor after him 1. for his miraculous Healing-Prayer 2 Chro. 30 20. and 2. for his Early Essay of reformation beginning in the first Y. and Day of his reign but Josiah began in his Eight 2 Chro. 34. 3. 3. neither is it found that any other K. so Prevailed with God as he did 2 Kin. 19. 15. and 20. 2. all 3 Considered make him a None-such No wonder if the Devil look upon all this with an Envious Eye so falls to Work in his plotting against him and 1 he stirrs up Senacherib whose Father Salmanezer had Captivated the Ten Tribes 2 Kin. 17. 3. to come and Beleagure Jerusalem Ch. 18. 17. Observe the Time when the Devil did this 't was after these things 2 Chron. 32. 1. to wit Immediately after Hezekiah had set all things in Order by the Advice of his Grand Council both in Church and State and immediately after the Glorious Celebration of the Passeover Up comes Senacherib with his Army and thought to swallow up Iudah as his Father had Israel He thought to win them for himself but did this Design of the Devil take No the Lord laugh'd it to Nothing for He sent his Angel v. 21. at Hezekiahs Prayer 2 Kin. 19. 15 35. in that very Night when they were preparing for a storm the next morning who smote with a Plague 185000 of them with their Leaders Captains and mighty Men of Valour 2 Chron. 32. 21. and Railing Rabshakeh among if not above the rest for his Abominable Blasphemies against the God of Israel for we hear no more of him Yea and Senacherib himself hardly escaped having his Head and Beard as the Rabbins say singed by the Fire of God according to Isa 33. 11 12. However his Preservation from the stroke of Gods Angel was but a reservation for the stroke of his own Sons for he returning with shame of Face to his own land 2 Chron. 32. 21. as he was Worshipping Nisroch his Tutelar God to whom he Ascribed his preservation his Two Eldest Sons that came forth out of his own Bowels and yet neither of them having Bowels for their own Father nor awe to his Idol Conspire together and smote him with the Sword even in the very Act of Worshipping a God that could not preserve him 2 Kin. 19. 37. ☞ As this Fatal End of Senacherib sounds a loud Alarum to all proud and Blasphemous Princes and Persons so it Discovers their Vassalage and Slavery far worse than that of the Turks to a Cursed and Cruel Master who loves Treasons but hates Traitors As it is most sure that Satan stirr'd up Senacherib to war against the Church of God so 't is no less sure that he also stirr'd up those his Two Sons to Murder their own Father for he is a Murderer from the beginning Joh. 8. 44. Such as dare be his Drudges and do his Devilish Work can expect to have at last no better than such Devilish Wages Oh who would wear his Cursed Livery 2ly When Satan saw himself Bassled in Senacharib his Extrinsick Engine against Hezekiah he makes an Experiment of an Intrinsick in Tempting him to Pride and self Admiration This he successfully effects in the Matter of the Embassadors of Babylon wherein God left him to himself to let him see what was in his Heart 2 Chron. 32. 25 31. the Occasion and Opportunity of the Temptation was this Hezekiah had been mortally sick of the Plague that had seized upon his Vitals and he had likely the Tokens also so that in humane apprehension a Miserere mei was Writ upon him he was as a Dead Man yet at his Prayers and Tears God gives him a new Lease of his Life even a Lease of Two Lives Two Seven Years and one more to wit Fifteen Years so that 1st his Recovery in Three Days was miraculous by a Cataplasme or Plaister of Figs applyed to his Carbuncle 2ly to him alone and to none else in Scripture God makes known the Term and Period of his Life 3ly As a Sign of his sudden and supernatural Cure and of his super-added Term of Life The Sun in the Firmament must not know the time of his going down that Hezekiah might know his 4ly The Caldeans Observing how the Sun their God had honoured him in its retrograde motion come 680 miles to Honour him in their Courtship and kind Congratulation All these Four peculiar Priviledges Tickled his Depraved Nature God for this once withdrawing and Satan improoving blows up this Bladder of Pride and makes him Act like a petty-God within himself without Dependency upon his God he shews the Embassadors all his Treasures 2 Kin. 20 12. 13. Hereby Gold-thirsty Babylon knew where to have a full Draught where to have a fit and fat Booty Oh sublime Folly yet the Devil is Disappointed of his Design God forsakes not Hezekiah utterly Psal 119. 8. but sends Isaiah to prick this Bladder le ts Pride out of his Heart which had been lifted up net as Jehosaphats in the ways of God 2 Chron. 17. 6. but in self-Admiration and Ambition which is the Work of the Devil Ch. 32. 25. hereat Hezekiah is Humbled Hearing how his ostentation Contributes to the Babylonish-Captivity 2 Kin. 20 16 19. Satans Snare is broken and his Soul is Delivered Psa 1â—4 7 For the very last thing we hear of Hezekiah is of his goodness 2 Chron. 32. 32. But the Devil plaid a better Game upon his Son Manasseh the 14th King whom he wrought and brought up to become a Sinner of the largest size 1. in his Defying of God 2. in his Destroying of Men 3. in his Deifying of Devils yet lost he his Game at last though it lasted longest Manasseh having the longest Reign we read of in the Holy History even 55 Years 2 Kin. 21. 1 to 12 16. 2 Chron. 33. 1 to 10. This Degenerate Plant of a noble Vine this Manasseh was a Matchless Man in Sin
to 14. and 30. 17. 'T is very remarkable that those Jews who were in Babylon though as Buryed there Fared far better than those that were left and liv'd in Canaan for God Spoke in the hearts of their Enemies for the Former and made their Foes to Favour them God Interceeded for them with the Chaldeans Jer. 15. 11. Verily it shall be well with thy Remnant Hebr. If it be not well c. and If I do not cause c. as if the Lord had said Then never Trust Me more never look on Me as Lord or Master of My Word more But the latter that still liv'd in their own Land were within a little while Involv'd in Woful Misery by Ishmaels Murdering of Gedaliah many of them were Massacr'd and the rest went down to Aegypt expresly contrary to Gods Command Deut. 17. 16. and the Prophets Counsel Jer. 42. 14. where they found no such Graves to Rest in as their Brethren found in Babylon but while they sought to run from Death they run to it v. 22. and Jer. 43. 9 11. and 46. 13 15 17 24. Yet so compassionate is God to his Church's-Relick there that while he is denouncing the Doom and foretelling the Conquest of Aegypt yea and of Babylon too afterwards for Persecuting the Church Jer. 50. 1 9. c. The Lord Intermingles his Comminations against Aegypt and Babylon with sweet Consolations to Sion Jer. 46. 27. but Fear not thou Oh my Servant Jacob c. I will make an End of all the Nations whither I have driven thee but I will not make a full End of thee but Correct thee in measure ☞ Oh the Bleeding of Divine Bowels over his Captivated Church in this consolatory Clause God could not find in his Heart to make a full End of her as Hos 11.8 but keeps their Room empty all the 70 Y. till the return of the Natives his Church The Devil undoubtedly gave Judahs land as he had given the land of the Ten Tribes primo occupaturo to him that could catch and Conquer it first he was a Blasphemous Usurper in his saying to Christ To whomsoever I will I give it Luk. 4. 6. wherein he Robbs God of the chiefest Jewel in his Imperial Crown Dan. 4. 32 17 25. Thus the Pope like the Devils Heir takes upon him to be Lord of all that Incommunicable Attribute of Christ Act. 10. 36 both Temporals and Spirituals in all Countries and Kingdoms So Boniface the 8. that Antichrist stiled himself to Phillip King of France and so did his Successor to our Henry the 8. whom he Excommunicated from the Church Deposed him from his Crown and Disposed of his Kingdom to him that could first Win it so far as his Roaring Bull which yet proov'd but a brute Thunder-bolt might Accomplish no less had the Devil his Master Father and God done concerning the Kingdom of Judah Nevertheless the God of Israel would not suffer any of those Warlike Adversaries that surrounded Judea so much as to Desire their Land Exod. 34. 23 24. when they left it unmann'd thrice in the Year much less Invade it and this Providence is yet more marvellous that while their land was empty of its Inhabitants for 70 Y. together yet none of those Neighbour-Nations which always Watched yet never Catched an Opportunity do make a Seizure of that tempting Glory of all Lands Ezek. 20. 6. when the Prophet Jeremiah hath done Denouncing dreadful Woes against Aegypt and all other Adversaries of the Church nine in number he comes to his 10th even Babylon and oh how amazing it is to Consider how in his giving out Confounding Corrasives to Proud Babylon He still scatters most Comfortable Cordials to drooping and distressed Sion as Ch. 50. 4 19 20. The Iniquity of lacob shall be sought for and there shall be none Ch. 51. 5. Judah hath not been for saken c. v. 44 45. God will make Babel spue up his Church as too Hot a Mouthful and that cannot be disgested and still My People no reason can be rendred why Iudah was not consumed as well as the Ten Tribes and the Ten Nations but Gods never-failing Compassions Lam. 3. 22. his mindfulness of the Covenant of giving David a Lamp alway 2 Kin. 8. 19. the Lord said not that he would blot out the Name of Israel from under Heaven 2 Kin. 14. 2 7. Hereupon he sent Prophets all along 2 Chron. 24. 19. to comfort the good Figs as to Confound the bad ones Jer. 24. 25 8. Finally when the Devil had got the Church the good Figs in Babylon as the bad Figs in Aegypt yea and Fetter'd them there until she was become as very dry bones and in a deep Grave too with a great Stone upon it insomuch that she looks upon her self in a forlorn Condition and that no Created power or Natural means could possibly recover her saying Can these dry Bones live c. Ezek. 37.3 11. they say as it were Let them Hope that Hope can There is now no Hope Ier. 2. 25. the less Hope that the Church had the more Hope the Devil hath to win the Game but the great and Gracious God comes with a Liberate serves a Writ of Quare Impedit upon the Devil for Detaining them this spoils all his Sport God Commands his Angels to Roul away the great Stone that lay upon the Mouth of his Churches Tomb Sealed down with the Devils Seal upon it as Daniels Den was with that of Darius Dan. 6. 17. then Opened he the Graves according to his Promise Ezek. 37. 12. the same God who vouchsafed to be a Grave-maker for Moses Person Deut. 34. 6. vouchsafes now to become a Grave-Opener for Moses People when he had opened their Graves with a Non-obstante-Writ the People were there preserved Alive as they had been buryed Alive for God had sent his Angel to shut the Mouth of that all-Devouring Lyon Death as he did to the Lyons in Daniels Den Dan. 6. 22. Hebr. 11. 33. so that the Savage and Hunger-starv'd Death had not seiz'd upon them Psal 55. 15. with a Writ of Habeas Corpus or taking their Bodies like as an austere and over-Lordly Landlord attaques his poor Tenants or as a cruel Creditor doth his failing Debtor or as that merciless Man in the Gospel who took his Fellow by the Throat and said Pay that thou owest me Matth. 18. 28 33. neither had the Devil that Roaring Lyon seeking whom he may Devour 1 Pet. 5. 8. serv'd the other Writ of Habeas Animam or attaching their Souls to carry them away into his Dungeon of Darkness Oh what a miracle of Mercy was here manifested that neither the Cold Grave could contain their Bodies nor Hot Hell catch their Souls Death had not fed upon them neither was their Beauty consumed in the Grave as Psal 49. 14. but those Vpright ones had dominion over Death and Devil in the Morning after the long Night of their 70 Y. Captivity was ended in a dawning
great Man still with the Kings of Persia as he had been long with the Kings of Babylon and so marvellously Useful to the Churches Preservation during her Captivity though still he was in great Account after her Return out of Babylonish-Bondage yet was he not now Great enough at Court so as to Defeat the Devilish Designs of Cambyses his Bribed Counsellours who had now put a Stop to the Temple-Building at Jerusalem This Disaster casts Holy Daniel into his Melancholly-Dumps Dan. 10. 1 2 3. in the 3d. Y. of Cyrus which was the first of Irreligious Cambyses Reigning as a Vice-Roy in his Fathers absence as above Ezra 4.6 Daniel Understanding the Stop to Temple-Work falls a Fasting and Praying Three Weeks because the Prince of the Kingdom of Persia withstood him v. 13. for so long a time even Three Weeks or One and Twenty Days This Him thus withstood is the Angel Gabriel as well as the Prophet Daniel and this Prince that withstood them both is Wicked Cambyses or that Evil Angel the Devil who had an Hand in the Stop and set Cambyses on Work to Restrain the Re-edifying of the House of the Lord. Yet may we not Imagine that any Earthly Prince hath any power over an Holy and Heavenly Angel No not though he hath the Devil to Help him as here Cambyses had but inasmuch as Cambyses this New King of Persia had Hindred the Temple-Work by Divine Permission he had thereby Hindred Gabriel from bringing Daniel the glad Tidings which otherwise he had sooner brought him seeing his Prayers were both Heard and Granted from the first of those 21 Days v. 12. Though this Grant was not made known by Gabriel to Daniel until Daniel had been Tugging hard with God for an Answer all that Three Weeks at the End whereof Gabriel comes flying swiftly as Dan. 9. 21. Hebr. with weariness of Flight as if glad of the Good News himself thinking as it were his Wings could not carry him fast enough to Comfort Disconsolate Daniel as Ahimaaz who over-ran Cushi thought his Leggs could not carry him over-fast to Comfort Distressed David 2 Sam. 18. 23. 'T was Gabriel that brought the good Tidings but 't was Daniel that brought him who brought them by his Prayers the Angel saith Now I am come for thy Word v. 12 14. Though I have stayed thus long further telling him Cambyses and the Devil by him had so strongly withstood his Ministring Office for the Churches Good in the Persian Court that he stood in need of the Help of Michael that Angel of the Covenant or Lord of Angels One of the Chief Princes v. 13. One of the Three Persons of the Trinity or Chief of the Angels or Sept. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Chearful Ones who serve the Lord Chearfully in his Wars this Chief One was the Messiah who is Elegantly Describ'd v. 6. answerable to that Description of Christ Revel 1. 10 13 to 15. and 19. 12. Hence observe that Gabriel stood in need of the Help of Michael or Messiah which is a better Help than that of Angels against the Adversaries of the Church to Repress and Suppress their further Crafty Counsels and Cruel Contrivances against her This is a standing Cordial to the Distressed Church That She hath a Champion who will stand by her and for her though all Wicked Men on Earth and all the Wretched Devils in Hell stand against her and withstand her Thus the Angel Gabriel Comforts Dejected Daniel who Sadly Sympathiz'd with the Sad Suffering-Church v. 15. that none Help'd the Angels against the Churches Enemies but Michael her Prince v. 21. and Dan. 9. 25 26. He is the King and Head of his Church and Saviour of his Body Ephes 5. 22 23. see Josh 5. 14. Ezek. 34. 24. Act. 5. 31. Revel 1. 5. and 19. 16. This is Comfortable that when the poor Church hath no Humane Helps yet hath she Angelical The Angel Gabriel telleth Daniel I will Return now I have Delivered my Joyful Embassage to thee and Fight against the King of Persia v. 20. Ch. 10. to wit Cambyses and all his Wicked Counsellours who are sett on by the Devil and who setts on their Instruments which went up in haste to cause the Work of the House of God to cease Ezr. 4. 23 24. the Devil driving them and their own Malignant Disposition like a strong Byasse drawing them thereunto but saith Gabriel I will withstand them who hath hitherto withstood me and Confound all their Plots and Proceedings against the Church I will Return and Finish that War which I have lest to come with Tydings to thee Unfinished and though not One of the Princes or Potentates joyn with me to Answer thy Prayers and Favour the Church yet know the Arch-Angel Michael or Christ concerns himself and this is enough Oh how many must we Reckon the Messiah for as Antigonus said of himself to his timerous Army that Trembled at the multitude of their Adversaries This Michael signifying who is like thee is of himself a whole Army of Men Van and Rear both Isa 52. 12. If he be for us 't is no matter who 's against us Rom. 8. 31. Hence the Devils Plot began to be Spoiled this Mighty Michael stirs up Two Prophets Haggai and Zechariah to Stir up the People to Return to their Building Ezr. 5. 1. Zerubabel and Jeshua the Prophets of God Helping them carry on the Temple-building which had been begun before then the Devil Rages against them being ever an Adversary to the House of God and to the things thereof He Stirs up Tatnai and Shether-Boznai with their Complices to Interrupt them in Building Gods House though they never opposed them in Building their own Houses by Asking their Authority and just like our Informers requiring their names Ezr. 5. 3 4. but the Eye of their God was upon the Elders that Eye not onely of general Providence but also that of Special Grace to Animate them in their Work so that they could not make them to cease v. 5. And hereupon those Governours Write a Letter to Darius Hystaspes who Succeeded Cambyses wherein they give a fair Relation but with a foul Intention The Devil and his Instruments had now the Ball upon their Foot thinking to carry the Game before them having now got the Governours on their sides and that none could come neer to overtake them but behold the Triumph of the Wicked is short Job 20. 5. The Pillar of Providence pursues them as with an Hue and Cry comes up to them at Darius Court-Rolls Ezr. 5. 17. and 6. 1. There that Commission of Cyrus for rebuilding the Temple was found which they had suggested in their Malicious Letter would not be found hoping the Jews would be found Lyars the Contents whereof was That none should come at them to Hinder them none should meddle with them to make disturbance if any durst Disturb let his House be pull'd down for a Penalty and let all Kings and People
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
1 Shemaiah the Prophet Neh. 6. 10 12 13. and 2ly Noadiah the Prophetess c. v. 14. All these had Linguam Venalem were meerly Mercenary ☞ Thus the Churches Adversaries can be at Cost and Charge to Corrupt Gods People and such Hypocritical persons may easily by Hire be Corrupted the Suffrages of a great many Bribed Prophets are not so much to be Numbred as Ponder'd their concurring Consent in an evil Matter was not so much Vnity as Conspiracy neither did the Devil Rest here in giving Disturbance from Without but 2ly the Church must have Disturbance from within also by their own People and Brethren and that 1. by Mutiny Neh. 5. 1. and there was a great Cry of the People as if it had been the outragious Uproar of a Seditious Faction which is as Dangerous and as Threatning a Deluge as the Head-strong Water when once it is out of its Banks 2. by Treachery some of the Nobles Maintain a private Correspondency with their Enemies just as it is at this Day Neh. 6. 17. Tobiah that Cursed Adversary of the Church had his Pensioners among the Jews and such as were his Sworn-Servants to be true to him and to promote his Designs because he was Son-in-Law to Shecaniah Ezra 2. 5. whose Son had Marryed the Daughter of Meshullam a Zealous Builder Neh. 3.4 This Mischief mix'd Marriages brought upon them Neh. 6. 18. and 3. 5. The Sooty Souls of those Nobles or Hebr. White Ones under their White Garments were too Stiff to Stoop to Gods Service but not to the Devils Notwithstanding all this The Lord Laughs all the Devils Design to nothing Nehemiah under all his Difficulties directs his Prayer to God Neh. 4. 4 5. This was his Sanctuary he slyes to Easing his own Grieved Heart by Breathing Heaven-ward and turning over all the Churches Adversaries into the Hands of the Captain of his Salvation he looking upon himself but as a private Souldier under him to take them all to Task ☞ Woe to those Enemies against whom Saints do Pray as he did Turn their Reproach upon their own Heads Give them for a Prey and Cover not their Iniquity If they onely be Blessed whose Sin is covered Psal 32. 1. Oh what a Curse do they lie under whose Condition is contrary Nehemiah makes Prayr all along his City of Refuge His Anchor in all Storms His Salve for all Sores Neh. 4. 9. and this brought all the Counsel of the Devil and his Imps to nought v. 15. Psal 33. 10 11. God Strengthned his Hands in his Work as he Weakened the Hands of their Enemies Neh. 6. 9. So that he Finished the Wall of Jerusalem maugre their Malice v. 15. The Feasts of Tabernacles was kept Ch. 8. and a Solemn Fast Ch. 8. and 9. a Solemn Covenant is Entred into Ch. 10. Offices are Ordered Ch. 12. The Temple Purged and Religion Reformed Ch. 13 c. See more of this further on Nehemiah in the 20th Plot next Following The Twentieth Plot against the CHURCH in Persia Defeated by GOD. CHAP. XX. THe 3d. and last Plot of the Devils in the Old Testament was against the Church that Return'd not with their Brethren out of Captivity but continued 1 in Babylon and 2 in Shushan where they had Built Houses and Planted Gardens c Jer. 29. 6. and so were unwilling to leave them and their Estates they had gathered with Gods Blessing upon their Obedience to Gods Prophet in them There were indeed a Sordid sort to wit the Posterity of Selab who preferr'd the Service of the King of Babylon above the Freedom of the Land of Promise 1 Chron. 4. 23. They could be content to drudge in making Pots in Babylon as their fore-Fathers had made Brick in Aegypt both those Works were but Mortar-Works Exod. 1. 11. There they stay'd with the King of Babylon for his Work 1 Chron 4. 23. which Scripture shows ☞ that Ezra Wrote those Two Books of the Chronicles after the Jews Return from their Captivity but there were others that might stay there upon more Noble Accounts as 1 Daniel did and his Three Noble Companions whose continuance there conduced more 1. for Gods Glory for though those Four eminent Servants of God were not Delivered from their Captivity yet God got greater Glory to himself in Delivering Daniel from the Den of Lyons and the Three Nobles from the Fiery Furnace 2. 'T was also more for the Churches Comfort to have Four such Friends and Favourites in the Court of Babylon where her Adversaries were Unweariedly Circumventing her than any Service they could do her in their own Land 3. And 't was likewise more for the Worlds Advantage seeing by this very means those same Heathenish and Idolatrous Kings and their People came to some Knowledge of the True God as appears by Nebuchadnezzar's Cyrus's and Darius's Proclamations 2ly Ezra himself and his Company came not all of them out of Babylon at the first Return upon Cyrus Proclamation Ezra 1. 3. and 2. 2 to 60. and 7. 1. and 8. 35. with Zerubabel nor 3ly did Nehemiah come up with Ezra it being 13 Y. after his Return Ezra 7. 1. and Neh. 2. 1. and 't is much he should Return at all being the Kings Cup-Bearer a place of great Trust and Credit yet a Man of Religion is marvellously trusted with it even by an Heathen King 't was a strange Work of God that Artaxerxes should shew Favour to a stranger a Prisoner and one of a strange Religion which he himself knew not and which his Subjects Hated And 't is as strange a Work of God that Nehemiah a Courtier should leave his Wealth Ease Honour and Authority that he was in and go so far from Court as many Hundred Miles to Dwell in a Tatter'd and Decay'd City among a poor People there to Drudge like a Day-Labourer and that in dayly danger of his Life Therefore is he most deservedly called and counted the 3d. Founder of that Church and Common-Wealth after Joshua and David though Zerubabel began the Temple and Ezra Restor'd the Law yet Nehemiah comes after and Compleats All so became The Comfort of the Lord to his Church according to the signication of his Name 4ly God had his Mordecai which signifies Pure Myrrhe or Bitter Contrition 1st in Babylon and then 2 in Shushan he was carried Captive to Babylon about Ten Y. Old in Jeconiahs Captivity 2 Chron. 36. 10. Jer. 24. 1. Ezra 22. 2. Esth 2. 6. according to Junius Dr. Willet and Dr. Lightfoot's Opinion living about 110 Y. This Mordecai Returns to Jerusalem when the Captivity was sent back again to their own Countrey by Cyrus Ezra 2. 2. and there had Helped forward their Settlement so long as the Temple-Work was allow'd to go forward but when that was Hindred by Cambyses all his Life time He with many others Return back again to their Old Residence into Babylonia or Persia As soon as Darius had Conquer'd Babylon Dan. 5. 34. he Models his
Monarchy into 120 Provinces under 120 Princes Dan. 6. 1. over these he setts a Triumvirate or Three Praesidents being Principal Princes whereof Daniel so well known in Babylon was the Chief v. 2. so was Removed from Babylon to Shushan the Metropolis of Persia compare Dan. 7. 1. then Daniel was in Babylon with Dan. 8. 1 2. there he was in Shushan which signifies a Lilly so called for its Beauty and Delectable Scituation There was Nehemiah as well as Daniel Neh. 1. 1. waiting upon his Honourable Office of the Kings Cup-bearer and upon promoting the Churches Weal There got he his Commission to go Governour to Jerusalem for 12 Y. Neh. 2. 6 7. and 5. 14. In no less space of time could he hope to Rectifie the Churches Deformation by a Glorious Reformation which when through the Good Hand of his God upon him he had Accomplish'd he then Returns to his Office in Shushan again Neh. 13. 6 7. whose Back was no sooner turn'd but all Return'd into Disorder again as Exod. 32. 8. Gal. 1. 6. notwithstanding their better purposes and promises Neh. 10. 30 39. he stays in Shushan about 12 Months and yet the Devil that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or great Church-Troubler had in less than a Y. time notoriously Disjoynted what Nehemiah had so Happily Settled Neh. 13. 7 8 c. as he was Inquisitive how it fared with the Church Neh. 1. 2. The Church was his greatest Care Omnis in Ascanio cari stat Cura Parentis His Honour in Shushan could not Satisfie him so long as it went Ill with Sion he still Enquires how his Reformation Remain'd and he Vnderstood Neh. 13. 7. it was Deformed again this puts him on getting another Congedelere or Commission at Court and Hastening to Jerusalem where his Heart was before him Reforms all Disorders v. 8 9 to 31. so leaves the Church in a most Blessed Estate in despight of the Devil and his Instruments which continued so for a long time after ☞ And 5 Gods care of his Church whom he be speaks in the Phrase of My People Jer. 50. 4 6. even in Babylon sendeth Ezekiel thither among the Captives to Nourish the Seed of God among them Ezek. 1. 1 2 3. who had his Comfortable Vision by a Branch of the River Euphrates those Waters of Babylon where many Godly Souls sat down and Wept at the Remembrance of Sion Psa 137. 1 2 3. Now that the Church was planted in a Forreign Countrey for a long time even for 70 Y. The Lord most Graciously shewed her such a Glory as he had show'd her at her first Constitution into a Church-state in the Wilderness by that Pillar of Glory God sheweth himself Here as he had done There out of a Cloud and Fire v. 4 5. and from between Living Creatures Here as there from between the Cherubims God gives his Oracles to this Prophet Ezekiel who calls this Captivity Our Captivity Ch. 40. 1. and besides him â—6 many other Good Men as Heldai Tobijah Jedaiah and Josiah Zech. 6. 10 14. who were Embassadours from the Godly Jews in Babylon together with those Tradesmen and Carpenters Religion being most really found amongst the Laborious carried away in Jeconiah's Captivity whom Jeremy calls his Basket of Good Figs Ch. 24. 2. and to whom God gives many Gracious Promises v. 5. I have sent them out of Canaan for their Good and v. 6. I will set mine Eyes upon them for Good and v. 7 I will give them an Heart to know me and they shall be my People for they shall Return unto me Thus the falling out of Lovers is the renewing of Love their Afflictions were Sanctify'd to them God Enforces them from Evil and Entices them to Good He saw to their Safety in Babylon and provided for their Necessity there Jehoiakim call'd also Jeconiah was Spoke Kindly to and done Kindly for by Evil Merodach at length 2 Kin. 25. 27 28. having his Prison-Rags changed into Princely Robes v. 29 30. and as the Rabbins tell us was truly Converted having his Heart changed as well as his Habit and Allowance as Manasseh had been before him 2 Chro. 33. 12 13. And those Good Figs no doubt did share in his Comforts getting good Estates and Respect in the Land of their Captivity Jer. 29. 4 to 16. but the other Basket of Bad Figs v. 17. was not Happyer because at Home were cast away as naughty Figs or rotten Apples and became most miserable by Zedekiahs and Ishmaels Treachery the 1st against Great Nâ—buchadnezzar Ezek. 17. The 2d against Good Gedaliah Jer. 41. 2. God gather'd the Good Figs as his scatter'd Jewels and strung them Mal. 3. 17. but the Bad Figs he quite cast away though good and bad Figs were carry'd out yet in Differing Baskets and for Differing Purposes The Two Baskets of Figs resembled Two Breasts as the Hebr. Word Dodaim or Dudaim Baskets comes from Dodim or Dudim Breasts Thus the Church at that time was like the Nurse-Woman who hath one Breast sound good and strutting out with much Milk for Nourishing her Tender Babe but the other is naughty rotten shrunck up and dryed away And yet even in this Basket of bad Figs God had his Methe-Mispar a small Number a poor Few of good Figs even among the bad ones Jer. 44. 28. a small Reserve God had yet among them to whom he was a little Sanctuary Ezek. 11. 16. wheresoever they were scattered Still God Reserveth a Remnant for Royal Use even in the bad Basket and in Aegypt where no good Figs should have come it being Expresly contrary to Gods Command Deut. 17. 16. and his Commination as the last and greatest Plague Deut. 28. 68. and as expresly contrary to his Prophets Counsel Jer. 42. 19. saying to them Be Ruled or you will Rue it 'T is better for you to be in cold Irons Prisoners at Babylon where ye may serve the Lord among the good Figs than to be serving the Idols of Aegypt at never so much Liberty your Fathers brought one Golden Calf thence Jeroboam Two what may you bring thence if you should escape but know All that learn their evil Manners shall Perish in their Punishments v. 22. To save this little Remnant alive both from Aegypts Sin and Punishment God by a marvellous and Special Providence sends Jeremy and Baruc along with them thither Jer. 43. 6. in Order to Accomplish that Gracious Promise Isa 27. 13. They shall come which are ready to Perish in Assyria and the Out-easts in the Land of Aegypt and shall Worship the Lord in the Holy Mount at Jerusalem When the Jubilee-Trumpet of Cyrus's Proclamation sounded God most Graciously promiseth to Protect those good Figs that were among the bad in Aegypt and in due time to bring them back again Yea and God further Promiseth There shall be not onely an High-way out of Aegypt c. as well as out of Assyria but also that Israel shall be a Third with both in the Communion of
Fumigabunt Touch the Mountains and they will smoak Psal 104. 32. Touch a great Man upon the Sore as the Baptist here did Herod and he fumes casts the Toucher into Prison without Bail or Mainprize and there he lies for half a Year without ever coming to a fair Tryal or Hearing John Baptist knew well Gods Truth must be told however it be taken and not to be Betrayed as too oft it is by a Cowardly and Sinful Silence Here John lies in Fetters while the Fear of Man more than of God Restraineth Herod from Murdering him Mark 6. 17 20. Matth. 14. 4 5. he feared Johns Innocency which shone in his Face and he feared the People who Hated him already for his many Crimes and Cruelty least they should move a Mutiny at the Death of so Innocent and so much Honoured a Person Hereupon the Plot was layd 'twixt Herod and his Harlot Herodias to cut him off when their convenient Day Herods Birth-day did come Mark 6. 21. that day had been appointed long before for craftily Acting this cruel Tragedy a great Feast must then be made the Nobles Invited the Damosel-Daughter must Dance the King must Swear and must gratifie the Queen with the Baptists Head All this was done as if God had not been concern'd at all but God did so far concern himself that Herod was struck with Horror upon it with Terrour and Torment Luk. 9. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he stuck fast in the Mud and could find no way out yet God made him find a way out of his Kingdom the half whereof he had promis'd to the Damosel for Tripping Wantonly upon the Toe as Josephus Relateth and probably out of Gods Kingdom too So Father and Son be both alike in their Sin and Punishment The 2d By-Blow the Devil gave Christ was to cut off his Followers the Disciples as he had done his Forerunner John Baptist And this he endeavoured to effect when he had got the Disciples to Sea apart from Christ Matth. 14. 23 c. Mark 6. 45 c. Joh. 6. 16. Very loth were the Disciples to Lanch out to Sea alone and to leave his Sweet and Safe Company but Christ constrains them to do so 1 that he might the sooner dismiss the Multitude 2 he dismisseth his Disciples to Sea least they also should strike in with that Rash-many-Headed Multitude who would have made him King 3 Though they were loth to leave their best Friend behind them so neer Night in a Desart and all alone too yet this was Christs Choice that He might have an Opportunity of Solitary Prayer for their Safety and of his Miraculous Walking upon the waves to their Relief by the Want of Christ for a few Hours of Danger onely they learnt the Worth of Christ no sooner had the Devil caught the Disciples at Distance from Christ but to Work he falls then down comes the Storm and up goes the Sea another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or mighty Storm which is a Wind saith Aristotle that Rouls in a Circle with such Violence insomuch as it swallows up whole Towns in Italy c. and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a great Tempest a very Sea-Quake of the same Nature with an Earth-Quake which hath the Formidable force of removing Mountains and of casting down Strong Castles that stand upon them Descends from the Stinking Breath of the Prince of the Ayr the Devil upon now the poor and Christless Apostles with a malicious Intention to Drown them all that they might never trouble his Kingdom any more as with an Horrible Wind Satan had Brain'd all Jobs Children so by the like means he would have Drown'd all Christs Disciples Christ being absent in this latter as Job himself was in the former Instance Behold with me a little 1. The Churches Calamity 2. Her Comfort in the 1st See the sad Circumstances of this History of the Church * as 1 in this little Ship was embarqued all the Hopes of a Church that now God had in the whole World as in Noahs Ark couped up in a little compass 2 The Winds were contrary Matth. 14. 24. as Act. 27. 4. So 't is mostly with the Church that is so often blown back from the Cape of Good Hope and from the Haven of Heaven in her Militant-State she is ever and anon as in the Straits of Magellan wherein which way soever a Man Bends his Course he is sure to have the Wind sit cross to him 3 Those Contrary Winds were not so much Ordinary as Extraordinary so that those Apostles who were Fishermen and thereby experienced in ordinary Sea-Storms cryed out We Perish for 4 they were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mark 6. 48 49. which signifies not onely that they were Tossed with the Tempest but also Tormented with it so the Word is used Luk. 16. 23. The Rich Glutton was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Torments Thus the Afflicted Church was here not onely tossed with Tempests and not Comforted as Isa 54. 11. but also Tormented as those miserable Men are by the Tormentors in the Spanish Inquisition tossing them too and fro up and down till they be Ready to loose one Limb from another So this Wind was far unlike the sweet Gales of the Spirit of God which always blows Good to the Church out of every Quarter North and South Cant. 4. 16. but more like that Ruach Gedolah strong and mighty Wind 1 Kin. 19. 11. which had not the Lord in it for his Voice is a Voice of Mercy and Clemency and Natural to him Micah 7. 18. and his Voice of Justice against Jezebel which was not to be yet is called his strange Act Isai 28. 21. yea more then so for this Tempestuous Wind had the Devil in it and therefore it tossed the Church up and down hither and thither so it Toiled and Tormented them as if it had been Extorting as upon a Rack a Denyal of Christ and of all Christianity from them 5 They were in the Deep the Ship was now in the midst of the Sea Matth. 14.24 Mark 6.47 the Syriack Adds They were many Furlongs from each Shore agreeable to Joh. 6. 19. where 't is said they Rowed about Thirty Furlongs so deep was the Sea here that they could not Fathom or Feel the Bottom and here the Devil Hoped to carry it by carrying them down into this Deep and not onely so but to carry them also down still lower into his own Deep even to the Deep and Bottomless Pit of Hell 6 It was very Dark as well as very Deep Joh. 6. 17. which is a time very Terrible to Marriners to whom the Water affords them mostly a little Light now Darkness of it self was their Danger not knowing how to Steer their Course safely from Rocks and Quick-Sands Sailing was then Dangerous as Act. 27.9 when no Stars appeared v. 20. but this was more Dangerous in it self it being a Darkness from the Prince of Darkness the Devil who Hoped to Drown them
in the Deep and in the Dark a right Divelish deed of Darkness that they might not Discern their own Destruction Oh how doleful was all this to the Disciples 't was so deep they could not feel Bottom and so dark they could not discern Shore and whether this the Devils Hericane would drive them to drown them either by swallowing up the Ship in the midst of the Sea or by splitting her upon the Rocks or Sands of the Shore they knew not Oh what a sad Takeing was Judas whom Christ calls a Devil soon after this Joh. 6.70 in at this sad Bout But the 7 was the saddest Circumstance of all to wit Christ was Absent from them in this Storm who was present with them in the other And Jesus was not come to them Joh. 6. 17. This was worse to them than the Storm their best Pilot and Protector whose Presence had Protected them from the last late Storm was wanting Though Christ was Asleep in the former Storm yet was heat hand they could quickly Awake him but now was he out of their Call and they knew not when he would come Oh what can they do no doubt but the Devil might make them doubt of the Truth of Christs Words to them Ye shall bear by Name among the Gentiles as Act. 9. 15. 't was now more likely they should bear it down into the Deep and unto the Dead yet mark it they altogether Despond not they do not betake themselves to their Boat as those Desperado's did Act. 27. 30. but to their Oars Rowing hard about Twenty-Five or Thirty Furlongs Joh. 6. 19. They had so learnt of Christ Ephes 4. 20. that God must be Trusted but not Tempted by a wilful Neglect of Due means he is not tyed to them yet doth he usually Work with them their Sails they could not Hand out the Wind was too Boisterous therefore they keep Tugging with Hands all at their Oars even all the Three long Watches of the Dark and stormy Night for the Stress of Weather and the Disciples Distress lasted from Evening to Midnight and from thence to Cock-crow then after Cock-crow the 4th Watch of the Night God Blessed their Endeavours so far as to bring them to a Sight of their Dear longed and long-looked for Saviour Joh. 6. 19. * This doth Teach us In greatest storms to use all lawful Means and Practicable Helps for our own Deliverance as the Disciples here Non Navem Deserunt sed Remigando Laborârunt Deserted not their Stations but did their utmost at their Oars when they could do nothing with their Sails Try all things 1 Thess 5.21 if one way may not another may avail Having Viewed 1. the Churches Calamity in those Seven sad Circumstances now take a View of the Churches Comfort Christ will not leave her Comfortless 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Orphans Joh. 14. 18. as his Disciples seem to be now during Christs Absence who was not onely their Lord but their Father also for he calls them his Children Matth. 5. 45. but more plainly and distinctly he saith to his Disciples Children have ye any Meat Joh. 21. 5. ☞ Oh the Boundless and Bottomless Bowels of this Heavenly Father to his poor Children ever saying Compassionately to them Have ye Food and have ye Raiment Have ye this and Have ye that our Heavenly Father knoweth that we have need of these things Matth. 6. 32. both for our Souls the good things of the Throne and for our Bodies those of the Foot-stool he Careth and Catereth in every thing that is good for us Oh Happy we did we but know Believingly our own Happiness Psal 139. 14. and 22. 9. and 144. 15. Numb 11. 13. Hos 2. 8 21 22. Psal 50. 10. Rom. 8. 28. Oh Happy Disciples that had such a Father present or absent even when plung'd into the Deep of Misery we have seen their sad Suffering or Passion in the Circumstances aforesaid now View a little Christs Compassion for Comforting the Church in Calamity the Disciples could not well be Ignorant of the yerning of Divine Bowels over his Church in such a like Condition as theirs then was Isai 54. 11. Oh thou Afflicted c. and it could not but comfort the Disciples to consider they had not step'd out of Gods way when they met with this Storm for Christ had Constrained them to go this Voyage and that without him 'T is very Comfortable to take along with us in all our Journeys and Voyages Christs sweet and saving Company but Christ Commands them to go without him to this place where they were in this Jeopardy ☞ Hence Observe 1 Storms may be met with in ways of Obedience in going where and whether Christ bids us go 2 If Storms meet those that Walk in ways of Obedience what can they expect that Walk in ways of Disobedience but Sodoms Storm of Fire and Brimstone 3 Storms may well be expected if Christ be Absent as here Yea 4 they are not exempted from Fears and Dangers by the presence of Christ Matth. 8. 25. 5 Christ may seem to be Careless of the Cause Case and Condition of his Church and Children he falls asleep in the first Storm and had withdrawn himself in the second 6 Christ was tugging and toiling as earnestly in his Prayer for them Matth. 14. 23. as they did for themselves in their Perilling and almost Perishing condition with all their Hard Rowings 7 Astormy Sea cannot Separate Christ from his Church in Danger Rom. 8. â—5 Christ comes Walking upon the Sea showing himself herein to be greater than Moses who onely Walk'd through a Sea Dryed up but the Messiah Walks upon the surface of a Full-Sea yea Notoriously Raging Christ steps from off one proud Wave upon another his Godhead all along bearing up the Natural weight of his Manhood he well knew that his Absence made their Sufferings Unsufferable so takes he long and more than Mortal strides towards them Matth. 14. 25. 8 When Christ on the Shore saw them toiling in the Sea then out of compassion he came upon the Sea to comfort them Mark 6. 48. Christ is now landed upon the Shore of Glory in Heaven and thence he beholds all the Toilings of His Church upon this Troublesome Sea on Earth then comes he down to Deliver her Exod. 3. 7 8. 9 yet not till the 4th Watch of the Night then and not till then he commonly keeps his hand for a Dead lift and his Help is always sweet because whatever we think of it 't is always Seasonable Isa 30. 18. 10 How apt are Men to mistake their Comforts when they come to them as here they were troubled at the comming of their onely Comforter Matth. 14. 26. They Feared this Spectrum or Apparition as well as the Storm they might think it was the Devil who had rais'd that Storm and was come himself to sink them out-right thus mistook they their Saviour for Satan and their Choicest Comforter for their chiefest
a downright Pharisee and published that pestilent Prayer call'd the Prayer against Christians which he commanded to be constantly said in their Synagogues wherein they Curse the Gospel and the Professors of it No doubt but the Tutors Prayer prick'd on the Pupils Principles to Persecution Yea and 3 This Pupil became a notable Proficient in this proud Pharisees School as we have an Account both from Gods Mouth and his own 1. From Gods Mouth Act. 8. 3. Saul made Havock of the Church being as some think that Ravening Wolf of the Tribe of Benjamin Prophecyed of by the Patriarch Jacob Gen. 49. 27. never any Benjamite Ravened more in Wolfish Worrying Cruelty than this Saul of the Tribe of Benjamin Phil. 3. 5. did who brake into Christians Houses Dragg'd out Men and Women sparing no Sex to Prison 2. out of his own Mouth Act. 22. 3 4 19 20. I was saith he of himself Metubak or Disciple to Gamaliel and aptly learnt from his form of Prayer Maledic Domine Nazaraeis to Curse Christians Nazarites Hereticks Bastard-Gentiles in my Dayly Devotion and I was Zealous to practice as well as to Pray against them yea my blind Zeal which was no better than Mettal in a Blind Horse than Fire on the Chimney-top than the Devil in the Demoniack that threw him sometimes into the Fire and sometimes into the Water so Transported me into Malice and Madness that I was as Violent against Christians as the worst of you are and Act. 2◠9 11. I being saith he exceedingly mad persecuted them to Death and which was worse I compelled them by Cruelties to Blaspheme Thus Saul was fit enough to be Satans prime and principal Agent in his Persecuting-Work and thus far the Devil had a fair Game before him when the Church the first gospel-Gospel-Church was Dispersed by his Devilish Instruments yet behold the Lord looks on and laughs yea laughs all to nothing God overshoots the Devil in his own Bow here also and makes Satan himself break his own Design * God would never suffer Evil to be or the Devil to do evil unless he knew how to extract Good out of that Evil * Mark the marvellous Miracle of Gods mercy to Consound the Devils Device in those particulars 1. Satan with all his Savage Sanhedrims could not yet Scratch Christs Apostles out of their Mansions 't is said expresly the Twelve stayed by it at Jerusalem as in the Furnace to Cherish and Comfort the Church there in so sad a time while Saul was makeing such Havock of it Act. 8. 1 3. Christ had commanded them first to Preach the Gospel at Jerusalem Luk. 24. 47. there the Church must succeed the Synagogue as the Gospel follow'd the Law and there God marvelously maintain'd the Twelve Apostles in Safety even among the midst of their most pestilential Enemies 2. The 120 Ministers mention'd Act. 1. 15. more noble than those 120 Princes set over 120 Provinces Dan. 6. 1. being of a more Noble Extract as Heaven-Born and of a more Noble Employ as all Designed to the Ministry and so became Princes of the Provinces of that Universal Kingdom of the Gospel were indeed all Dispersed saving their Lives which Steven had lost by Flight yet they Preach all along in all places where they were scattered the Dispersed Disperseth the Light of the Gospel every where and whereas before they were like Candles tyed up in a Pound and gave no light now they are scatter'd one from another and one is lighted up in one place and another in another so gave they saving Light to a Dark World in Despight yea and by the Spight of the Prince of Darkness for that Scattering Persecution which the Devil contriv'd on purpose to smother the Gospel God over-rules and makes Use of that very Means to spread it the more 3. Hereby also the partition-Wall was broken down betwixt Jew and Gentile Eph. 2. 14. Christ had forbid them before of going into the way of the Gentiles Matth. 10. 5 6. and he bid them flee to other Cities when Persecuted v. 23. This they do now Act. 8. 4. being driven from Jerusalem they carry the Gospel to the Gentiles which redounded to the Churches great Advantage Ecclesia Augetur quant◠Magis Premitur The Church like Israel in Egypt the more they were Molested the more they Multiplyed Exod. 1. 12. The Church is like the Sea what Ground it loseth in one place it getteth and gaineth in another and thus hath oft God order'd it Vnius Ecclesia Destructio ceu potiùs Dispersio Multarum fuit Aedificatio The Destruction or rather Dispersion of one Church hath been the Aedification of many as this at Jerusalem was 4. Hereby likewise Satan maketh the Jews to convey the Gospel among the Samaritans who of all People under Heaven were most Odious to them Ioh. 4. 9. and 8. 48. The Iews Hated them because Sanballat saith Iosephus had open'd a Sanctuary in Samaria for all Renegado-Jews c. Hence they call'd Christ the worst word in their minds and mouths a Samaritan yet could they not have sent to this People whom they so much Abhorred a better Blessing than the Gospel thither they Drove Phillip the Deacon and one of the 120 who Industriously Preach'd Christ unto them Act. 8. 5. This Corrupt City and long bewitched by the Sorceries of Simon Magus yet having never blown upon the Gospel as the Iews had done Unanimously Attend and readily Receive it And there was great Joy in that City Samaria v. 8. while nothing but Rage against the Gospel was found among the High-Priests and great Councils at Ierusalem Herein the Despised Samaria exceeded and excell'd that once Holy City Ierusalem 5. By this means lastly Satans chief Engineer Simon Magus was quite Cashier'd for though this Conjurer had a long time bewitched the People carrying them out of themselves as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signisies making them Adore him as a God Act. 8. 9 10 11. Yet such was the power of God in Phillips Ministry that it breaks through all those Difficulties and both the Seduced and the Seducer are gained over to it v. 12 14. yea and this Magus or Master of the Magicians Simon so far submitted unto Peters reproof that he begs Peters Prayers for the pardon of his Sin least he should be smitten with Death as Ananias was by him The Devils 5th Assault against the Church was in this Ravening Wolf Saul aforesaid not below his Name-sake King Saul in Rage and Malice though he was in Honour who like a tyred Wolf well-weary'd with Worrying Christs Flock in their Golden-Fleeces lies down panting for Breath Saul yet Breathing Act. 9. 1. but in as much as he Breathed out Threatnings and Slaughter c. it shews the Vehemently Flameing Heat of his Hellishly Enraged Heart who like a Bruitish Blood-Hound being Blooded in the Butcher'd Body of Steven c. he pursueth after others with utmost Out-rage and when he cannot Glut himself with Blood enough at
and by an Honest shift Disappointed it Act. 9. 23 24 and 2 Cor. 11. 32. 2 God delivers him his Danger from the Graecians or Helenists Stephens great Adversaries Act. 6. 1 9. with whom then Saul was a Collegiate and Companion who now looking upon Paul as an Apostate by turning Christian sought his Death as he with them had sought Stevens and the more Zealous he was now against them the more Enraged they are against him more than against Peter James c. in Jerusalem and is forced by them to flye to Tarsus for his Life Act. 9. 29 30. 3 From those of Iconium where the Malignant Jews Incensed the Ignorant Gentiles to Stone him for cutting the City into Contrary Factions Act. 14. 1 6. 4 From those at Lystra whether he sled and where he Heal'd the born Cripple for which they first Deifi'd him a wile of the Devil tempting him to accept of Divine Honour which Device being disowned then Satan stirrs them up to Stone him so that he was Stoned unto Death as to appearance yet by a Divine Miracle he Revived for further Work Act. 14. 8 10 12 14 20. 5 God Delivers him also from the Danger he was in by those at Philippi for casting out a Divining Spirit out of a Gainful Damosel for which he was both Whipp'd and Imprison'd both by an Earthquake and by the Conversion of his Goaler Act. 16. 12 18 20 23 26 30. 34. 6 So likewise he was saved from the Uproar at Thessalonica Act. 17. 1 5. made by the Rascality of the City which pursued him to Berea where he found Nobler Auditors v. 11. and Drove him thence 7 He was also Deliver'd from Demetrius and his Silver-Smiths that made Shrines for Diana at Ephesus by the Wisdom of the Town-Clark Act. 19. 23 28 35 39. 8 From those Beasts he found and Fought with as at Ephesus 1 Cor. 15. 32. so at Jerusalem where Beastly Men laid hold of him and would have Kill'd him but the Chief Captain Rescued him from them Act. 21 27 31. Those Asian-Jews were Satans Blood-Hounds Chasing Paul from Asia Hither 9 From those Forty Bloody Butchers that would have pull'd Paul in pieces binding themselves under a Curse that they would neither Eat nor Drink till they had Kill'd him God Defeats the Plot 1. by casting a Bone of Dissention 'twixt the Pharisees and Sadducees Act. 23. 7 8. 2. by the Captains Rescuing him again v. 9 10. 3. by sending a Guard with him to Cesarea as the first was a Godly Policy in Paul to Divide his Enemies so the Two last were Effects of Gods great Power and Providence in making Heathen-Captains to become Pauls Patrons v. 13 15 23 33. 10 God saves him 1 from their Wiles Act. 25. 3 4. 2 from Shipwrack Act. 27. 44. 3 from the Viper Act. 28. 5. 4 from Nero the Lyon 2 Tim. 4. 17. at Rome he Preached Two Y. and Converted some of Nero's House and from thence Wrote Epistles to Confirm the Churches to the End of the World Satans 7th Assault was against Peter the first of the Apostles against one of the Prime Pillars of the Church which the Devil had oft been shaking to throw it down seeing the Gospel of the Circumcision was committed to him as that of the Uncircumcision was to Paul Gal. 2. 7 9. both being Equal in Office and Dignity God giving them alike Success both to Jews and Gentiles v. 8. 1 Cor. 9. 1 23. and 2 Cor. 13. 4 5. This the Romanists do Deny though more Failings be Recorded in Scripture of Peter than of any other Apostle whatsoever Matth. 16. 23. Gal. 2. 14. Matth. 26. 70 72 74. and Joh. 21. 17 c. Yet this Peter or Cephas was a great Eye-sore to Satan being always a stout Stickler and a Couragious Champion for Christ therefore doth he Desire leave to put Peter into his Sieve of Temptation and therein by tossing him too and fro to make Chaffe of him Luk. 22. 31. but the Devil was Deceived and Disappointed in all his Tossings and Temptings of Peter by the Prayer of Christ v. 32 and by the Power of God as 1 no sooner had Christ given Peter the Keys of the Church as he did also to all the other Apostles Matth. 10. 2. and 20. 24. and 18. 18. and Joh. 20. 23. making them All the Stewards of His House 1 Cor. 4. 1. Isa 22. 22. Matth. 16. 19. but immediately Satan tempts Peter to become as Satan himself to wit an Hinderer of Redemption-Work v. 22 23. no doubt but Peter had a good meaning in his taking Christ by the Hand and leading him aside as we do an Intimate Friend for imparting some Secret to him and in his saying to him Master spare thy self c. Rebuking him for his carelesness of himself being still strongly prepossessed with a fond Conceit of an Earthly Kingdom yet to Humble him under that Honour put upon Peter v. 17 18 19. he is call'd a Devil for his Rash Incogitancy and Arrogancy as well as Judas is for his Malicious Obstinacy Joh. 6. 70. He was the Devils Instrument in Diswading Christ from Dying for his Church and so became an Offence to him Notwithstanding all this Christ graciously brings Peter off out of Satans Sieve Teaching him his proper place of following his Lord as a Disciple and not to Run before him as a Teacher all along v. 23 to 26. and also taking him to his Transfiguration Mat. 17. 1. as one of his best Beloved and 26. 37. 2 When this brave Champion who out of a preposterous Zeal could cut off Malchus's Ear with his Sword that he might stand to his Master according to his Word and stout Stickler stood at the Door and by the Fire yet was Daunted by a silly Damosel Joh. 18. 16 18 25. Matth. 26. 69 70. to Deny his Lord Three times and that with Swearing and Cursing himself v. 72. 74. notwithstanding all Christ had a Look of Love to melt Peters Hardened-Heart Luk. 22. 61. he had a Plaister Prepared before the Wound was Received v. 32. and he had an Hand to save sinking Peter Mat. 14. 30. Now when he was like to Shipwrack Faith and a good Conscience and when Satan had like to have made Chaffe of him indeed in his Sieve of Temptation through Gods Helping-Hand he comes out good Corn and when Converted he Strengthens his Brethren by his Two notable Epistles 3. When Satan sought to Kill him after he had been a Marvelous Instrument in long promoting the Gospel by his Vassal Herod as Bloody as the 1st Herod that would have been a Christ-Killer and as the 2d that was John Baptists-Killer this Herod-Agrippa was a James-Killer Act. 12. 2. and according to the Old Trick of all Tyrants willing to Curry Favour with the Wicked by Shedding the Blood of the Godly he Attempts to be a Peter-Killer also v. 3. but Deferrs his Execution God over-ruling his Bloody Intention by his own fond Superstition out
lastly Christ was not gone from them much less had deliver'd them up unto Satan but still Walked in the midst of His Golden Candlesticks Revel 1. 13. and standing at the Door Knocking both by Outward Means and Inward Motions by the Hammer of his Word and by the Hand of his Spirit Revel 3. 20. with those Seven Epistles together with His own Return and Personal Preaching to them after the Death of Domition he marvelously Repaired Refreshed and Established those Seven Churches well-nigh laid waste by the Cruelty and Tyranny of that Persecuting Emperour In that Isle also whither he was Banish'd from all Humane Society Christ came to him and gave him to Write not onely that Excellent Gospel so useful for Defence of Christs Divinity against the Blasphemies of Cerinthus c. And those Blessed Epistles of His the 1st 2d and 3d. but also the Revelation of things to come Rev. 1. 19. and 4. 1. Even all the Wretched Maladies that should befall the Church and all the Blessed Remedies for Her Deliverance to the End of the World Thus in all this also God over-Shoots Satan in his own Bow and left not himself without Witness Act. 14. 17. This Bloody Wretch Domitian was Murder'd by his own Men and the stiff-necked Jews which had all along oppos'd Christ and his Gospel with the utmost Outrage were pay'd Home at last with Matchless Miseries as before both under Vespasian the Father and Titus his Son that were Predecessors to Domitian and this John onely of all the Apostles lived to see in Despight of the Devil and all his Cruel Cut-Throats the Wrath of God come down upon those Christ-Killers to the utmost as Christ had foretold The Twenty-Seventh Plot against the Church-Primitive by the Ten first Persecutions Defeated by God CHAP. XXVII SAtans 27th Plot against the Primitive-Church was manag'd by Rome-Heathen when now Grown Great under her Coesars and became the Lady of Kingdoms and the Imperious Domineering Mistris of the World The Provocation was this 1. The Churches of Asia were Recover'd from their aforesaid Apostacy which it seems began in Pauls time 2 Tim. 1. 15 16. All they which are in Asia are turned from me c. being ashamed of his Bonds by Johns Ministry 2. The Gospel was spread all the World over by the scatter'd Apostles at the Destruction of Ierusalem until which at least some of them had their Residence there as by Andrew into Scythia Phillip into Pâ—rygia by Bartholomew into Judea by Thomas into Parthia and Persia by Matthew into Aethiopia by Simon Zelotes into Mauritania and Affrica by Judas Brother of James into Edessa by Matthias into Macedonia c. but that which provok'd the Devil and his Imps most of all was 3. that the Gospel should so Prevail and Prosper even in Rome it self where Satans Principal Throne was and that by Paul who was there a Prisoner at large for Two Years Act. 28. 16. Preaching the Kingdom of God v. 23 24 30 31. whereby the Roman-Gentiles were brought into the Obedience of Faith and a Famous Church was Constituted there of those called to be Saints whose Fame was spread for its Faith all the World over by that Resort which was to Rome the Queen of Cities now from all parts of the Earth Rom. 1. 5 to 8. and 16. 19. And still that which was of Greatest Provocation is that not onely the Beloved of God therefore Hated of the Devil were found in Rome it self Rom. 1. 7. but even in Nero's very Family Phil. 4. 22. This Cursed Leaven of Christianity as they call'd it had not onely Leavened Rome the best and chiefest City in the world but also Caesars own Royal Pallace which was the best and chiefest Building in that best and chiefest City All Nero's Court Rang of Paul the Prisoner and the Preacher Hereby the Lord ordered the Futherance of the Gospel Phil. 1. 12. 13. even where Satans Seat or Throne was what could the Court of such a Cursed Caitiff and Cast-away as Nero was be but a Barathrum and Brothel-House abounding with all Abominations quite contrary to the Prince of Anhalts which was call'd Academia Ecclesia Curia a Court a Church and an University And what was this but to Depose the Devil from his Dignity and Dominion and to set up Christ in his Throne No Wonder if this provok'd him to do as John had foretold in his Seal-Prophecy that after the White Horse with Christ upon him to wit the Gospel had spread it self like a Sun-beam Conquering every where and also Crowned for its Conquests by those Primitive Preachers Hâc non Successit aliâ Aggrediendum est Viâ The Devil would then come forth Riding upon his Red Horse together with his Black and with his Pale Horse to bring War Famine of the Word especially yea Death and Hell too in those 1st Ten Bloody Persecutions Revel 6. 2 3 5 7. This is the 1st Branch of the 2d part of that Book which Iohn divides into Two parts 1st an History of things then present 2d a Prophecy of things to come Ch. 1. 19. Now this Rage of this Mad Rider was the first of those things that should be hereafter the whole of the Prophecy being as a Comedy Represented on a Theatre in a Dramatick Dress as in Three Acts the 1. is the Tragical Misery of the Church 2. Her Deliverance 3. Her Doxology or Magnifying her Deliverer So that though the Beginning be the Devils yet always the End is the Lords Jam. 5. 11. and that a Good End for his own Glory and the Churches Comfort As Daniel Assured the Church how it should be preserved to Christs first Comming so John assures no less Preservation to Her from his time to Christs 2d Comming Indeed all the Ten Primitive Persecutors were as Red Horses whom the Devil Rode upon so Bloody that for every Day in the Y. excepting one 5000 were Murder'd as Jerom Writes and the 1. was Bloody Nero that Monster of Mankind notwithstanding his Vtinam Nescirem literas I wish I could not Write my Name to the Execution of any during his Plausible Quinquennium or Five Y. Reign whom the Devil spurr'd up to burn Rome his own Imperial City Singing upon his Harp all the Nine Days it was Burning the Song of Homer about the Burning of Troy and then charg'd it upon the Christians to avoid the Odium of it from himself who had Hired several Villains to Fire it in several places openly casting Fire-Brands if not Fire-Balls amongst the Oyl-Shops and Drugsters yea some of his own Bed-Chamber were seen to carry Flax Toe Torches c. to promote it and his Pretorian Souldiers or Life-Guard Men did not onely further it but even Threaten'd those that Attempted to Quench it crying They knew what they did they had one to bear them out * Now the Christians many of which Paul Salutes in Rom. 16. goes to the Pot Yea Paul himself as he had foretold 2 Tim. 4. 6. to
be his Free-will offering Phil 1. 23. in Rome and all over the Empire yea he cut off also many of his richest Citizens meerly to make up his own Wants out of their Wealth when he had wasted his own Treasure but this made him unsufferable the Senate Condemns him for a Traitor he stole out of the City at Midnight having seen a Blazing-Star preaching from Heaven his fall and being Affrighted with an Earth-quake and with most gastly Apparitions of those he had Murthered crying out Have I neither Friend nor Foe left to Dispatch me so Drinks a Glass of Poyson and as if that had not been enough he falls upon his own Sword Dying Miserably as he Lived Wickedly ☞ How escaped Peter at Rome if he sat Bishop at Rome when Nero Burnt it as the Romanists Affirm 't is more probable he Dyed by the Mad Jews in Babylon literal where he was at the Writing of his 1st Epistle 1 Pet. 5. 13. and which he fore-tells in his 2d 2 Pet. 1. 14. Suppose this was Babylon Mystical or Rome as some Romanists say thereby to prove Peter Romes Pope then this far-fetch'd-Notion grants Rome to be the Babylon that has so many Woes against it in the Revelation 'T is not unlikely that the Jews must Murder Peter for the Devil made them exceeding Mad with Malice against the Gospel immediately before their final Down-fall now knowing their time was so short and that in the Caldean Babylon from whence many being conveniently seated return'd not at Cyrus Proclamation as above in Chap. 20. and there became a great people yea and that Babylon was the Metropolis of that Dispersion to whom Peter Writes to wit Pontus Galatia c. 1 Pet. 1. 1. The 2d Red Horse Domitian follows the fore-Horse of the Team in his Bloody Plowing Psal 129. 3. in whom there was onely this one good that he punish'd Informers saying That not to Punish such were to Encourage them he Banish'd John c. The 3d. was Trajan the Spaniard who Murder'd many Ministers as Magicians because of their Miracles The 4th was Antoninus Verus or rather Severus Polycarps shining Piety Justin Martyrs Apology and the Prayers of his Thundring Legion of Christians stop'd his Career The 5th was Severus whose Name answer'd his Nature this Hellish Horse was Dyed Red with the Blood of Christians he poyson'd himself at York to end the Dolor of his Gout The 5th Maximinus who Eat Fifty pound of Flesh at a Supper and for his Drink he must have the Blood of Saints especially of Ministers saying Kill the Captains and their followers fall too The 7th Decius who Murder'd Millions yet being beaten by the Goths leaps into a Whirlpit where his Body was never found The 8th Valerian whom an Aegyptian Conjurer made Cruel because he could not Conjure in the presence of Christians Sapores takes him Captive and justly made a Foot-stool of him The 9th Aurelian who was frighted from it by a Thunder-bolt falling hard by him The 10th Diocletian the Devils last Bite was the worst yet God Preserv'd and Increas'd His Church by all having all along Lucid Intervals and Testimonies from Heaven against all those Tygers none of them Dying a Dry Death but like the Devils Red Post-Horses all Posted away to Death and Hell their proper place the Pale and the Black Horse must follow the Red the Lord said it Revel 6. 5 7. The Twenty-Eighth Plot against the Church by Arrianisine Defeated by God CHAP. XXVIII NOw when after the 2d 3d and 4th Seal bringing War Famine Death and Hell the 6th Seal had brought an Earth-quake upon the Pagan-Roman Empire for bringing so many Souls Under the Altar in the 5th even such Horrible Commotions and Confusions for the Ten Persecutions Insomuch as the Persecutors Killed one another Rev. 6. 4 9 12. The Reward they all got was onely ut Citiùs Interficerentur to be Cut off the sooner Then the 7th Seal brings in Silence in Heaven for half an Hour Rev. 8. 1. that is some little Breathing time of Rest and Peace which the Church call'd oft The Kingdom of Heaven had when Constantine came to the Crown Imperial This was 1. as a Dooms-Day to the Dung-hill Dâ—ities and to the Chemarims or Chimney-Chaplains of Rome-Heathen as Describ'd Rev. 6. 12 13 to the end but 2. 't was a Day of Refreshing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Refrigerationis a Cooling time to the Church after Hot Persecutions Act. 3. 19. 't was a Time of Restitution of all things ver 21. Now the Church Militant on Earth became as it were Triumphant in Heaven This Constantine was the Man-Child which the Church brought forth by her Prayers and which the great Red Dragon would have Devoured Rev. 12. 1 to 5. 1 He was the Answer and Fruit of her prayrs She had been a Garden Enclosed a Spring shut up and a Fountain Sealed to wit under Restraint and even in Fetters as the Word signifies all the time of the Ten Persecutions Cant. 4. 12. Hereupon she prays for an Inlargement by the Blowing of the North-wind upon her that her Spices not still Destroy'd by all her Sufferings might slow forth v. 16. It may be read Awake O Northwind and come Southwind to cool my hot persecutions God Answers the Northward arises even Constantine Born at York in the North comes into the South breaths upon her with a Blessed Gale Eats and Drinks abundantly of her fruits and thereupon the Devil began his 28th game when the Church is lull'd asleep upon the Lap of Ease and Honour Cant. 5. 1 2. The Lamb Christ opening the 7th Seal brings forth the Seven Trumpeis Rev. 8. 1 2. Those sounded such a Dreadful Alarum with their Thundrings against the Roman-Pagan-Empire now ready to be Ruin'd at the earnest suit of the Martyrs Rev. 6. 10. by the Christian Emperours This Awaken'd the Church whose heart was awake even while she Slumber'd or Slept Cant. 5. 2. yet for her thorow-Awakening the same Angel of the Covenant that had Perfumed her Prayers Rev. 6. 10. with his own sweet Odours Rev. 8. 3 4. lets out again the Angel of the Bottomless Pit upon Her in the Arrian Heresie for out of the same Cenâ—er he scarters the Fire of the Altar abroad upon the Earth ver 5. Insomuch that the Arrian Bishops persecuted the Orthodox with most monstrous Malice and Malignity especially in the times of Constans Constantius and Valens the Arrian-Emperours this might be the Hail and Fire mingled with blood after the 1st Trumpet v. 7. and till that Woe was over one part of the Answer to the Martyrs Prayer was that they should Rest yet for a little season until their Fellow-Servants were Killed by those Cursed Arrians Rev. 6. 11. and under this 2d Period of Events it may be said at least by way of Exemplification as in the 2d and 3d. Trumpet Revel 8. 8 13. that a great Star fell from Heaven to wit Arrius a great Mountain fell
into the Sea to wit his Heresie who being in the Gall of Bitterness himself did not onely Embitter the Doctrine of the Church but turn'd it into blood making it plainly Mortal to Drink of and Destructive to the Soul by his Denying the Deity of Christ in his turning 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Possessed into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Created Prov. 8. 22. as if Christ were only a meer Creature and not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God-Man as if Jacobs Ladder Christ had not Two Sides and a top and a bottom to wit his Divine and Humane Nature as if he were onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 like-God and not also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Co-Equal Co-Essential with God Ioh. 10.30 the Express Image of his person Hebr. 1.3 in whom the God-Head dwell'd bodily Col. 2. 9. this his making Christ onely a Diminutive-God was a Soul-Damning Doctrine for this is the Rock and Foundation of our Faith that Christ is God-Man Matth. 16. 16. Ioh. 1. 1. Phil. 2. 6. If we believe it not there is no Heaven to be had for us 1 Joh. 5. 20. ☞ Therefore this Truth Men must hold as their Lives that Christ 1 hath the Incomunicable Attributes of God Joh. 8. 58. and 20. 28. as Eternity Joh. 1. 1 3 9 11 14. and 17. 5. Infiniteness Joh. 3. 13. Omniscience Joh. 2. 24. and 2â— 17. 2 that He is one with the Father in Essence and Power â—oh 10. 30 â—8 and 14. 23. 3 Doing the Works of God as Creation Ioh. 1. 3. Conservation Ioh. 5. 17. Matchless Miracles Ioh. 7. 31. and 8. 32. 4 and taking to himself Divine Honour Ioh. 9. 38. and 14. 1. and 20. 28 c. Now Arrius in Denying the Deity of Christ Deny'd the Redemption of the Church for 't is not the Work of a meer Mortal but of a Divine Power to take away the sins of the World and to satisfie the Curse of the Law and the Wrath of God for them The Express Image of God must restore that Lost Image in Man The Son of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Substance must Recover Adam the Son of God Luk. 3. last and all Believers to be the Sons of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of Priviledge onely Ioh. 1. 12. No Wonder then that this Doctrine of Devils did Darken as 't is said Rev. 8. 12. the 3d. part of the Sun the Prelates of the Moon their Curats and of the Stars the Common-Professors Under the 4th Trumpet accordingly it may be said That this Arrian-Heresie was that Flood which the Dragon when Dethroned by Constantine the Churches chief Champion cast out of his Mouth to Drown her for bringing forth such a Man-Child Rev. 12. 9 15. which Flood was so Impetuous and Universal an Innundation ut totus Mundus Ingemuit se Arrianum Miratus est The whole World Groaned under the Pressure of it saith Jerom the Devil did more Mischief to the Church by the Arrian-Hercticks than ever he had done by Pagan-Persecutors Still the Devil or Dragon cannot carry His Game and 't is a Wonder he did not considering How the Roman-Emperours who had so lately given their Names to Christ might have cast of all Profession of Christianity when they saw such Desperate Digladiations and Bloody Contentions among Christians so called about so abstruse yet fundamental a point yet God over-rul'd this enough probable occasion of Offence he fixed Constantine Martianus Theodosius Sen. and Jun. Arcadius Justinian c. to Suppress it though Constantine himself Declined in his latter Day through his Sister Constantia's Influence upon him and by Arrius's Cheat in Subscribing and Swearing to the Nicen Creed when he meant both to another under his Arm a right Jesuits Trick whereby he was owned by the Emperour yet could not this Wretch so cheat the Great God who set this Black Brand upon him that when he was going in great pomp to be Reinvested into his Church at Constantinople by the Command of his Cheated Constantine and stepping aside to Ease himself his Excrements Guts and Soul went all out together this was ut Precationis opus non Morbi the effect of faithful Prayers calling for full and final Vengeance rather than of any former Distemper for Alexander the good Bishop of that place and fearing his Return earnestly Pray'd the Night before that God would prevent it and this was Gods Answer He who had made so Dreadful a Rupture in the Church Christs Body Dyes himself of a Dismal Rupture by his Bowels and Life breaking all out together Thus the Lord Branded this Wretch as he had done Judas Act. 1. 18. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All his Bowels gushed out because he had no Bowels for his Master in Betraying him and worse for that Rupture Cum quodam Singulari Crepitus fragore comming off with a great Crack as the Word signifies befalls Judas when he had gone sneaking to confess his Sin to the Priests Matth. 27. 3 4. which yet were but Miserable Comforters but this be fell Arrius as he was going in his Pontisicalibus and proudly strutting to reassume his Dignity out of which he had been Ejected even then did he send out his Soul wrap'd up as it were in his Excrements to be his Harbinger unto Hell to provide Room for his Body * By this 1 Divine Testimony against Arrius many were Admonish'd and Renounc'd their Arrianism 2 The like Testimony God gave against that Grand Arrian Emperour Valens who Consulted with the Devil about his Successour and the Older the fiercer against the Church when about Subscribing an Edict to Banish Basil his Hand was smitten with such a Trembling that he was forced to desist and when both Beaten and Wounded by the Goths and flying into an obscure Cottage to dress his Wounds these Barbarians the Goths pursued him thither and there Burnt him Alive with the Cottage to leave his Name a Curse to all Ages Besides 3 the Church had and Heard the Voice of her beloved Knocking even while she was Sleeping under Arrianisme Cant. 5.2 that her Heart might be kept Waking by all Her Woundings from the Heritical Watch-men v. 7. Christ put in his Hand by the Hole of the Door v. 4. in stirring up so many Orthodox Emperors who all were Nursing Fathers to the Church Isa 49. 23. calling Synods 1. against Arrius Denying the Deity of Christ 2. against Nestorius Dividing the Persons in Christ 3. against Eutiches Confounding their Natures 4 against Macedonius Denying the Deity and Person of the Holy-Ghost And for this very Cause of Comforting the Church that She might not Sink under her many and sad Sufferings the 7th Chap. of the Revelation seems to be Interlac'd in the whole of it betwixt the 6th and 7th Seal wherein is expressed 1 Gods great care in preserving a competent Company even 144000 Sealed Servants v. 4. a great Multitude v. 9. and more than most thought they had been in Despight of the Devil 2 Gods great kindness
a Year Revel 9. 15. from which Words Mr. Brightman gathereth that the Turkish Empire shall last no longer than about 1696. See my Discovery of Antichrist Pag. 115. line 12. for that Y. and Pag. 21. However it holds out that there is a Divine Determination in particular even to a Year a Month a Day and an Hour when this Plot and Plague shall be Determined And if Gog and Magog mentioned Ezek. 38. and 39. and Rev. 20. 8. have Relation to the Great Turk as is supposed then we have an Account of his End Ezekiel is bid to set his Face against Gog and say to him again and again for the better Support and Comfort of the Church All thy Possession in the Lords Land shall be a Grave onely Ezek. 38. 2 14. and 39. 11. One of the last Enemies of the Church before Christs first Comming was that Heathen Antiochus and God brought him down to his Grave So one of the last Enemies of the Church before the 2d Comming of Christ is this Mahometan Adversary and as sure as God Dispatch'd the former he will the latter also 2 God would have his Church to know also that the Great Turk is not Absolute to do all what he will but onely what God will he cannot Conquer beyond his Commission nor Kill beyond it his Commission was Limited not onely 1. as to Time as before but 2. as to Persons he must not Kill all before him as he would do no 't is onely a 3d. part of Men to wit onely such as were not Scaled Revel 7. 3. God would Hide his Sighing ones from him Ezek. 9.4 and 6. Come not near any upon whom is the Mark what ever is Sealed is excellent in its kind as Hordeum Signatum is Excellent Barley Isa 28. 25. These Sealed and Sighing Ones that Sighed both out of Pitty and out of Piety for the Abomination of the Times were the Precious Sons of Sion and the Excellent Ones of the Earth Lam. 4. 2. and Psal 16. 3. they are Gods Darlings and Heavens Favourites therefore the Turk must not Touch those Anointed Ones Psal 105. 15. they are Sacred Persons to Touch these is to Touch the Apple of Gods Eye Zech. 2. 8. and that is a tender part God will not suffer it ☞ 'T is very Observable that as yet the Turk hath not done much Harm to the Reformed Churches those Sealed Ones all the Hurt he hath done is mostly upon the Supercilious Greeks and the Superstitious Romists They both Providentially lying betwixt the Protestants and the Turk and 't is Italy Italy from whence Principally the Popes Holy War was Promoted against him is the main Mark he Shoots at 3 This Eastern Antichrist is Limited as to Place also for though he be that Land-Leviathan who hath Swallow'd up many Countries as the Whale doth Fishes to wit 1 the Name and Empire of the Saracens 2 the most Glorious Empire of Greece 3 the Renowned Kingdoms of Macedonia Peloponesus Epirus Bulgaria Servia Boznia Armenia Cyprus Syria Aegypt Judea Tunis Argiers Media Mesopotamia with a great part of Hungary as also some part of Persia all Chaldea c. in a Word a great part of Asia Africa and Europe as before Yea Keckerman saith Mahometanism is more and larger spread than Christianity yet never could he yet set his Foot upon any part of America God puts an Hook into this Leviathan's Nose Job 41. 1 2. so that he cannot Conquer the Gold Mines of the Indies nor the Golden Gospel of Christendom The Great Power of God hath set Barrs and Bounds to him saying Thus far shalt thou go and no further and here shall thy proud Waves be stayed Job 38. 10 11. and in Due time God will break the Head of this proud Leviathan in pieces and give him to be Meat to his People Inhabiting the Wilderness Psal 74. 14. 4 God would have his Church to know that the Grand Seignior is Limited also as to things he cannot do every wicked thing he would do he would Undoubtedly Blow out the Light of the Gospel and lessen the Limits of the Church of God but this God will not permit him saying to those Churches of Asia Repent or I will Remove thy Candlestick Revel 2. 5. 'T is Christs Work not the Turks to do and though this be done now by the Turk not onely to them Seaven but to all the other mentioned in Scripture except the Roman which He Dayly Threatneth yet all this is done by Commission from Christ as a Punishment for their Apostacy which Paul both told and foretold 2 Tim. 1. 15. Act. 20. 29 30. yet was it onely a Blowing away the Gospel and not a Blowing it out The Candle was not put out onely the Candlestick was Removed The Kingdom of Heaven was taken from them Matth. 21. 43. It was not Lost or Destroyed but Given to another place Thus the Church is still like the Sea what it loses on one side it gains upon the other what ever it lost in Asia then it hath Gained in America since It goes with the Sun from East to West 5. And to know that though the Western Church were not wasted by the Turk as the Eastern was for Idolatry yet would she not be Warn'd thereby nor Repent of her Idolatry Revel 9. 20. that must be meant of Romanists for neither Jews nor Turks much less Protestants make Images for Worship and therefore Reserved for the Seventh Trumpet Revel 11. 15. that brings in the Seven Vials upon it and while the Pope Stands the Turk cannot Fall as more Tolerable of the Two in these Respects 1. He Hates Images 2. He Forces none in Matters of Religion Hence our Martyrologies mentions no Persecutions by him 3. He is a Bridle to the Pope as to Protestants in general but when he falls upon the True Church then Fire from Heaven falls upon him Rev. 20. 8 c. The Thirtieth and last Plot against the Church by Popery Defeated by God CHAP. XXX THE Devils Thirtieth and last Plot consisting of many parts call'd Vltimus Diaboli Crepitus is Antichristianism or Popery in the Western Antichrist which is the worst of all inasmuch as Corruptio optimi est Pessima The Golden Church of Rome-Christian is Degenerated not onely into Brass and Iron but into Clay yea into the Dung and Dirt of Rome-Antichristian as I have largely Demonstrated 1 in my Christian-Walk p. 9. 2 in my Hearts Treachery pag. 85. 3 in my Antidote against Popery all along and 4 in my Discovery of Antichrist quite thorough to all which Four Books I shall Referr the Reader and therefore I shall say the less of this Subject which indeed would make up a Distinct Volum of it self in this place As the Turk is that great Sea-Monster Leviathan so the Pope is that great Land-Monster Behemoth Hebr. Faemin plural that is Beasts for his prodigious Hugeness as if he were made up of many Beasts and so he is cal'd the Great
of whose bitter Potions the Church hath been long Drinking-still is so and not yet come to the Dregs thereof Here began the Devils general Game after the Declining Age wherein the Thirty-Three Bishops of Rome Sylvesters Successors can scarce pass for Tolerable much less Laudable When the Star which was Wormwood 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of Eminency did fall to the Earth and set up the Earthly Kingdom of the Apocalyptick Beast When the first of the Usurping Nimrods to wit Boniface the 3d. began with his Volumus Jubemus We Will and Command instead of the Holy Apostles Stile We Beseech you Brethren ☞ 1 Mark all along 1. the Churches Malady by Satan 2. the Churches Remedy by Christ and 2 Mark also How the Prophecy in the Revelation shows the Progress of the Church all along to the 2d Comming of Christ 3 Mark likewise how the Pillar of Divine Providence hath both Secured and safely Conducted the Sealed Ones his Church to this present Day and will do so to the end of the World and all this sweetly and exactly Concurring all along with the Revelation-Prophecy As this Book will shew at the End in Chapter the last The 1st Malady of the Church at that time Y. 606. presaged by a prodigious Comet as well as by Mahomets then publishing his Alcharon was when the Key of the Bottomless-Pit was given to this faln Star usher'd in by that Blazing-Star aforesaid to wit Boniface and his Successors who pretend to a power of Damning or Delivering whom they will Here the Pope is made the Angel of the Bottomless-pit Revel 9. 1 11 or the Devils Lieutenant-General call'd Abaddon or Abadone as the Devil his Lord-General is a bad Angel Hereupon the Pope casts away the Key that Christ gave to his Holy Predecessors of binding and looseing according to the Word and takes up the Devils Vsurped Key with his Tripple Crown and therewith opens Hell which the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles had hitherto shut then Arose the Smoak of those Doctrines of Devils and of that Black and Diabolical Divinity Preach'd and Practic'd in the Church of Rome ever since which so Darkened the Sun and the Ayr the Doctrine of Christ of the Church and of the Scriptures and then came out of that Smoak those Devouring Locusts the Monks and Fryars the Priests and Jesuits c. call'd so both for their Numerosity the last of which alone hath sometimes maintained Two Hundred Thousand Schollars Oh what Swarms of those Locusts are there then in all and for their Votacity those Popish Flesh-Flyes do so pester many Princes Houses which do receive them that not onely the Duke of Bavaria's Court notwithstanding his Vast Revenue but many other Princes and places are kept poor by them that lye Lurking as Scorpions in their Cells and Obscure Residencies Revel 9. 2 3. and which is worst of all Stinging Incureably the Souls of Men c. Yet 2ly Christ hath his Antidote and Remedy against this Divelish Malady for though God permitted this bad Angel or Apollyon to punish those that Obey'd not the Truth Rom. 1. 24 26. 2 Thess 2. 10 11. Insomuch that this Key of the Bottomless-pit was so notably Improved by all the Vsurping Nimrods Luxurious Sodomites and Aegyptian Magicians unto Hildrebrand or Brand of Hell in the 10th Century as that in his Popedome Letters were set forth as sent from Hell wherein the Devil and his Angels gave the Popish Clergy many Thanks for sending them so many Souls as they never had sent them in any Age before Though the Devil and his Locusts play'd Flush in this general Game yet the Lord limits them both in their Task and in their Time and in their Torments 1 In their Task Those Locusts or Scorpions must not Sting whom they will but whom Christ will none of his Sealed ones must be Stung by them 't was Commanded them not to hurt the Grass of the Earth nor any Green thing Ch. 9. 4. Whatever charge Satan gave those Locusts Sure I am this was Christs Charge in the behalf of His Redeemed not unlike unto Davids Charge to his Captains Deal kindly with the Young-man Absolom So and much more than so Sollicitous is Christ the Son of David for the Safety of all his Sons and Servants none of those whose Names were Written in the Lambs Book of Life were stung no not those young Christians who were as Tender as Grass nor any Green Plant though never so weak Christ Secured his Church and the Kernel of Christianity maugre the Malice of that Man of Sin 2. In their Time Those Locusts must not last so long as they list but as the Lord listeth who hath limited them to Five Months v. 5. which is justly the Life time of the Natural Locusts that are Bred in April and Dye in September and though those be Craftier in having a King over them ver 11. than they Prov. 30. 27. so might better secure themselves over Winter yet Five Months must be their Term which they cannot exceed The Question is How long is that 1. Answ Suppose a Definit and Certain time be set down for an Indefinite and Uncertain Here however it holds out this Comfort 1. that it shall not be for Ever 2. it shall be onely for a short Time as this phrase Five Months plainly Imports 2. Answ 'T is True Antichrists Lease is much longer than Five Months even Forty-Two Months Rev. 13. 5. and his beastly biting hath lasted much longer yet this term may hold out the five Ages of the Beasts biting Life 1. Infancy 2. Childhood 3. Youth 4. Middle-Age 5. Old Decrepit or Dote-age and so his last Bite is not yet over 3d Answ by the five Months may be Understood the five Hundred Y. wherein the Pope stood in his prime pride and plenary power that is from the 6th Century to the 11th when God stirr'd up the Waldenses c. to call the Pope Antichrist which is exactly 500 Y. and Bellarmin himself confesseth that ever since the Pope was so called Non Modò non Crevit ejus Imperium sed Magis ac Magis Decrevit He hath lost a great part both of his Command and of his Commodity more and more Dayly De pap Rom. lib. 3. cap. 1. So long was he Trump and Triumphant in the World and why his Term is Reckon'd by Months See my Discovery of Antichrist p. 200. 4th Answ Those five Months hold an Exact Correspondency with the time of Noah's Deluge prevailing over the Earth which was 150 Days which make up five Months Compleat Gen. 7. 24. Now Noah's Deluge and this which the Dragon powr'd out of his mouth to Drown the Church Revel 12. 15 do Symbolize together after a most singular manner in sundry particulars 1. as that was a General Flood over all the Habitable World so is this over all the Christian World 2. As that began in April and lasted to September in the prevalency of it Gen.
Vit. Pont. pag. 151. This Paved the way for the Great Work of Luther in Germany begun Y. 1517. which was Wonderfully carry'd on even in a little time through all Germany and some Forreign Countries as it were upon Angels Wings though by weak means yea by casual and cross means as here by Henry the 8ths Scruple about his Marriage and afterwards further promoted 1. by Publick and powerful Preaching 2. by Printing good Books 3. by Translating the Bible into Vulgar Tongues 4. by Catechising of Youth 5. by Offering open Disputations 6. by Martyrologies and all this was done against the Powers of a most potent and politick Adversary ☞ This was such a Miracle of Mercy as the former Age Despaired of the present Age Admireth and the future Following Age shall be struck with Astonishment at The 3d. Marvelous Remark was the Strange Removal of Remora's or Impediments God was much seen in Removendo prohibentia Rouling away the great Stones that lay in the way of the passage and progress of Reformation as 1st when all Mens minds as it were stood upon their Tip-toes gazing to see the Issue of Pope Leo's Rage and of Luther's Courage This Leo the 10th Throws his Thunderbolts at Luthers Head Brave Luther Braves it out bravely protesting Quò Magis Ille furit eò Amplius procedo the more Mad the Pope is in his outragious Pelting me with his Pot-Guns the more Couragious I am both to proceed and to prosper Hereupon he casts the Popes Bull into the Fire and Burns it saying Because thou Troublest Christ the Holy One of God therefore Eternal Fire shall Trouble thee Now while the whole World was wondring and waiting what all this would end in Behold Pope Leo who would have Thunderstruck Luther with his but Imaginary Thunderbolts was himself Thunder-struck with a real one by God out of Heaven He Dyes and Luther Lives He Dyes without Comfort which Bembus offer'd him out of the Gospel Blasphemously Rejecting it saying Apage ist as Nug as de Christo Away with those Triffles of Christ Here he was Antichrist indeed who had said to this Cardinal Bembus at the Return of those Vast Summs rais'd by his Indulgencies the occasion of Luther's Revolt from Rome Quantùm nobis profuit haec de Christo Fabula This Fable of the Gospel brings us in much Gain This Wretch Dyes like a Toad with Earth in his Claw yet without Hope from his Fable the Gospel and his Plot against Luther Dyes with him in Y. 1521. the same Y. Luther Lives and goes Resolvedly to the Court at Worms as before and did much Service to the Church many even Twenty-Five Y. after 2ly After the Pope the Emperour for good Orders sake not so much because Lords Spiritual are placed before Temporal as because Accessorium sequitur Principale The Pope was the Principal in Obstructing Reformation the Emperour was but the Popes Accessory This Emperour Charles the 5th by the Popes continual Instigations carry'd an Hard Hand against the Protestants As to himself and to his own Inclinations Candid enough all Christendom had not a more prudent Prince yet through Romes Influence upon him the Church of Christ scarce had a sorer Enemy but the same power and providence which had removed the great Rub that great Stumbling-Stone Pope Leo the Great gives this Great Emperour 1. a Diversion and 2. a Cessation from being the Popes Drudge in persecuting Work 1. God Diverts him by his being called into Spain to Suppress Seditions there and afterwards was so taken up in his Wars with the French King that he had no leisure to look after Luther After this having taken the French King Prisoner he releas'd him upon Condition he would joyn with him in rooting out the Protestants but God broke this Design for the French-King returning Home from his Confinement in Spain and Considering the Conditions of his Release were unequal he Consederates with Pope Clement the 7th and the State of Venice against the Emperour who upon this provocation Abolishes the Popes power though he had call'd Knave first over all Spain and sends his Armies against him under the Duke of Burbon who Sacks Rome Claps up the Pope with his Cardinals close Prisoners in the Castle of St. Angelo This Evil Spirit the Lord sent betwixt Abimelech and the House of Shechem or the Romish-Church gave an Opportunity for the Reformed Religion to get Ground all these Providences did fall out rather for the furtherance of the Gospel Phil. 1. 12. I might Tyre both my Self and my Reader in Relating all those strange Diversions God gave this Great Prince from his Doing Romes Drudgery as the Avocation he had by the Great Turks Invading the Skirts of his Empire How the Project of the Interim which was a Hodg-podg of the Romish and Reformed Religion mingl'd together an Inter-Religion not unlike our Comprehension-Bill the Devil will Compound when he cannot Conquer was broken with all other Popish-plots by the Patience and Perseverance of the Protestants at Passaw's Pacifical Transaction Many Intervenient Crosses took off his Edge 't is very Observable This mighty Conquerour who in Wageing Fifteen Wars was for the most part Successful never prosper'd in any Undertaking after he had Imprison'd the Duke of Saxony and the Lantgrave of Hassia those Two Prime Patriots of the Protestants After all those Diversions God brings him 1st to a Voluntary Cessation for being Wearied with the Worlds Vncessant Troubles he Divests himself of his Imperial Authority and betakes him to the Repose of a Monastery where the 2d Cessation that is Unavoidable seizeth soon on him to wit Death The 4th Eminent Remark was in Raising up Patriots and Promoters of Religion God was much seen in this Applicando Adiutoria as after Charles the 5th God sends good Ferdinand to Succeed who quite Spoil'd the Project of the Trent-Councel Cum magna Moliuntur while they carry'd on their Consults against the Simplicity of Christ with such Infinite Guile and Craft as that themselves will even Smile in the Triumphs of their own Wits when they hear it but mention'd as at a Master-Stratagem Insomuch that it passed in France on which that Councel could never be Imposed in manner of a Proverb that the Synod of Trent had more Authority than that of the Apostles Act. 15. because their own Pleasure was a Sufficient Ground for their Decrees without Admitting the Holy Ghost yet this good Emperour Ferdinand the 1st Granted Liberty of Conscience to all the Professours of the Augustan Confession in Germany and it was granted to them in Bohemia also for receiving the Lords Supper in both Kinds This put a Curb upon that Trent-Conventicle who had now no power to Disturb any Imperial City upon the Account of Religion and then Maximilian the 2d Curb'd them still more by his Constancy to that Tenent That Mens Consciences ought not to be Compell'd in Matters of Religion for that is saith he to Invade Heavens-right c. And after him
God rais'd up Rodulphus the 2d in Y. 1610. a good Patriot too And after him Matthias under whom the Protestants kept a Jubilee in Y. 1617. And not to overlook our own Land in this time 't is marvelous to consider how God Used Henry the 8th as an Instrument in this Work though He had Writ against Luther and though the Reformed Religion which he scornfully call'd The New Sumpsinius he Envyed yet the Romish Religion calling it Sarcastically The Old Mumpsimus he Despised The Occasion was the Bone of Contention God cast betwixt Him and the Pope Clement the 7th about the Y. 1528. Deluded him in the Divorce from his Brothers Wife Q. Katherine his great Stomach not enduring to be cross'd Hereupon casts off the Popes Supremacy he went so far as would serve his own Turn and though he still persisted in being a Papist himself yet commanded others under great Penalties to be no Papists and while by the Six Articles that Whip with Six Lashes he on the one side of the Hedge Burn'd Protestants for Denving the Transubstantiation c. yet on the other side of the Hedge he Hanged Papists for Denying his Supremacy but God rais'd up his Son Edward the 6th to purge the Church from Popery and to settle the Reformed Religion And this Series of Divine Providence towards the English-Church is very Observable that though Henry the 7th Courted the Pope yet Henry the 8th Vnhors'd him Edward the 6th Banish'd him and though Q. Mary recall'd him and with some Hot-Waters Reviv'd him yet brave Q. Elizabeth set him packing again and K. James so Stabb'd and Branded him with his Pen that he could never since be permitted to have any publick Countenance much less any firm Settlement in this Land The 5th Remark is the Marvelous Preservation of Persons Places and People from the utmost Craft and Cruelty of their Implacable Enemies 1 Instances of Gods Hiding Holy Persons as he hid Jeremy and Baruc those Two Innocent Subjects from their Enraged Soveraign Jerem. 36. 26. from the Hands of those Blood-Hounds that Hunted for their very Lives are indeed Innumerable even in all Ages God hath provided an Hiding-place for some of his Servants in some good Mans House or other or in some safe Land or other when the Case hath been such that there hath been no Fence but Flight no Councel nor Cover but Concealment to Secure them as was that Case of Jeremy and Baruc's 2 As to Places I shall Instance onely in that of Geneva which is at this Day but a very small place yet Invironed round about with their Inveterate Adversaries as French Spanish Savoy Italy and the Pope yea 't is Barred out from all Assistance of Neighbours Cities Churches notwithstanding by the Mighty Arm of God 't is as strangely and strongly Upheld and Defended as Judea that Land of Promise was though Surrounded on the North with Syrians Assyrians and Babylonians on the East with Moab and Ammon on the South with Edom and Aegypt and on the West with the Philistines 3 As to People Christ preserv'd a Church even in the Bloody times of Q. Mary here in London Congregating sometimes 100 sometimes 200 to serve the Lord in Power and Purity and an Informer being sent as our Martyrologist saith to Espy out their Liberty Gal. 2. 4. and to take their Names as Ezra 5. 4. 10. yet He being among them to Catch was Catched and Converted yea and cry'd them all Mercy Besides in the beginning of her Reign almost all the Prisons in England were become right Christian-Churches wherein the Word was Preached and Sacraments were Administred and God had his Remnant Reserv'd in Forraign Lands for Royal Vse to return under Q. Elixabeth yea and in other Nations as well as in this God Reserved a Remnant for himself even in Spain and Italy both which are most Rammishly Romish there being no fewer than Twenty Thousand Protestants in Cevil the Chief City of Spain and in Italy the very Nest of Antichrist there be full four Thousand professed Protestants according to Sands his Relation Thus this Lilly among Thorns Cant. 2. 2. is preserved by a Miraculous Power so as that it could never be nor ever shall be cut up by the Sword of Persecution nor Burnt down by the Fire of Martyrdom Behold and Admire the Churches Picture to wit a poor Helpless Damosel sitting in a Wood or Wilderness compassed about with Hungry Wolves Lyons Leopards Bores and Bears yea with all sorts of Bloody Beasts and in the midst of many monstrous and mischievous Men all running upon Her with open Mouth every moment and minute to Worry this Maid must it not be said that this Virgin is preserv'd by a Miracle 't is the Messiah who Rescue this Maid from all those Monsters Both Time and Room fail for Inlarging upon the other following Famous Remarks to wit The 6th is the Remarkable Vengeance God hath Executed on all the Churches grand Enemies not onely Inferiours as Morgan the Judge who Dyed Raving Twiford the Executioner who Rotted above Ground Bonner the Bloody Bishop who was Buryed among common Thieves and Murtherers as one Hated of God and Man Steven Gardiner who Dying outragiously cry'd out He was Damn'd as well as his Tongue hanging out all black and swoln could express it and many more too long to Relate but also on Superiors as Falix of Wartenburg Minerius the Popes prime Champions Charles the 9th of France the Author of the Parisian Massacre who were all Choaked with their own Blood for Drinking the Blood of Saints Yea and our Q. Mary was not onely punish'd with Barrenness but also with an Vntimely Death for Sacrificeing the Lives of 800 Innocents to her Idols therefore Q. Maries Reign was one of the shortest of all the other after the Conquest Bloody ones shall not live out half their Days Psal 55. 23. The Churches Motto is Nemo me Impunè Lacessit No Man can be her Enemy and scape Scot-free They may Read their own Destiny in that Cup of Trembling Burdensome Stone and Hearth of Fire mention'd Zech. 12. 2 3 6. The 7th Notable Remark is The Churches Valour and Victory in all her Sufferings her Posie is Nec Premor nec Perimor Nothing Hurteth or Hindreth me for she Conquereth even when Conquered her Lord Christ over came as well by Patience as by Power Oh what a Spirit of Glory Rested on the holy Martyrs 1 Pet. 4. 14. which plainly Transported them beyond themselves so that their Suffering-Work was thereby made as Contenting and Delightful to them as ever their Doing Work had been or which is more their Receiving Wages would be 't is Wonderful to Observe How the Valour of the Martyrs and the Villany of their Tormentors strove together till both exceeding Nature and Belief did breed Wonder and Astonishment both in Beholders and Auditors still Sanguis Martyrum was Semen Ecclesiae the Church won Ground by every even the forest Persecution while the Lord
better half in short for Gods protecting her for her protecting the Netherlands for procureing a Settlement to Henry the 4th of France in his Kingdom until he turn'd Romanist and then was soon turn'd out of his Life by the Romanists for quelling the Irish Rebells for Conquering this supposed Vnconquerable Armado c. She was highly Honoured both by Turk and Pope the proud Turk Desired her Amity by his Embassadors and the proud Pope Sixtus the 5th whom Bellarmin sagely Censures thus at his Death Quantum Sapio quantum Capio Dominus noster Papa Descendit in Infernum Oh strange how can Holiness of his Holiness go to Hell Yet this same Pope as bad as he was could Commend Q. Elizabeth for an Excellent Governess yea she became Renowned throughout the World as the Glory of her Sex and the Lustre of her Land and a Poet stiles her on Earth the first Virgin or Chief as she was a Queen and in Heaven the second next to the Virgin Mary yea at Venice she was tearmed St. Elizabeth whereupon the Lord Carleton English-Embassador there said Although he were a Papist he would never pray to any other Saint but to that St. Elizabeth Assuredly her Zeal for the Reformed Religion Sainted and Renown'd Her most of all No sooner was K. James come to the Crown but the Roman-Conclave Consult against him Pope Clement the 8th out of his Clemency had success against Henry the 4th of France and Hopes for the same against King James by Interdicting him from the Crown without his License but it proved not to be at the Popes Disposal his Gowty Golls or Toes which Arch-Duke Maximilian could not Cure by Kissing them serv'd to carry him off the Stage after Watson and Clark Two Priests the former Design'd to be Lord Chancelour c. just as our present Plotters had Distributed Honours and Offices with others some of good Rank seduced by them had Complotted against this King knowing his Ability to Maintain the Truth of the Gospel against Popery but this 1st Plot being Blasted by the Execution of the Two Priests and their Complices The Conclave Projects that most prodigious Plot of the Gun-Powder Villany Pope Paul the 5th Employ'd Garnet the Jesuit Catesby Piercy Faux and many other Cronies to Blow up the King and whole State in the Parliament but this 2d Plot was Blown up it self by a blind Letter which marvelously brought all to light and though afterwards this same Pope by his Breves forbad that Allegiance which the King justly requir'd of his Subjects yet his own Learned Pen did so Vindicate his own Vndoubted Right that his Holiness soon Declin'd the Encounter yea and God made Use of this Kings Pen and Power to Baffle those Two lesser Games of Socinus and Arminius How God hath likewise Confounded hitherto all the Popish Plots both in the Reign of Charles the 1st and of the 2d as yet may be better Remembred it being yet fresh in the Minds and Memories of many still Living than can be fully Related In the Reign of King Charles the 1st the Conclave of Rampant Jesuits those Cup-bearers of Romes Wine of Fornication and Froggs going out to the Kings of the Earth Revel 16. 12. had their Consult to bring Brittany to Babylon or those Three Kingdoms into Confusion as they had done the Palatinate Bohemia and Germany c. Hereupon Card. Barbarino dispatches Cunaeus the Popes Legat to London and joyns with him an Assistant one not onely bred up in the Romish Church but preferr'd in it and promis'd greater preferment upon his Diligence in the Design to Reduce those Three Realms to Rome In Order hereto It was Resolv'd that the King and Arch-Bishop should both be Cut off for Standing then in the way of that Work This Cunaeus showing to His Assistant an Indian Nut stuffed full of the strongest Poyson and Boasting they would with that Dispatch the King as they had done his Father The Horrible Nature of this Bloody Plot God set so Home upon this Assistants Conscience that he had no Rest from his Remorse until he had reveal'd this Damnable Design to the Q. of Bohemia's Physitian Andreas ab Habernfield that he might Disclose it to the English-Embassador at the Hague Sir William Boswel who Informs the Arch-Bishop of it and He the King this was a most Admirable Act of Divine Providence that this Assistant sent from Rome to be a Principal Promoter of this Hellish Plot should be Over-ruled by Almighty God through his own Remorse to become the Prime Discoverer not onely of the Plot it self but also of the Persons Places Time Method and Manner thereof as Dr. Habernfield's Latine Letter doth fully Demonstrate Jacula praevisa minùs feriunt Darts foreseen if warily shun'd are Dintless 'T is true Prevision here not Rightly Improved was not Prevention neither of the Kingdoms Misery in those late Civil Uncivil Wars nor of the Kings Death at which a Grand Jesuit Triumph'd saying Now is the Enemy of God and of his Church faln yet the Lord preserv'd his Church in Despight of the Devil Now in the Reign of K. Charles the 2d that the like Damnable Design hath been Hatched by the same Heads Hearts and Hands 't is supersluous to Declare seeing there be about Ten several Narratives hereof even by such as should have been Actors in it and this so confirmed by the Kings many Proclamations by the Testimony of Two several Parliaments by the Sentence of so many Judges and by the Execution of so many Plotters c. The like Miracle of Mercy that made Remorse to Discover the former hath done no less in this latter and to Disappoint hitherto the Popes Design though He hath Depos'd the King as an Heretick sent Card. Howard to possess for him his Consiscate Kingdoms c. yet still the Church is Marvelously preserved yea Undoubtedly shall be so though this Discovery through Male-Administration may cause the Church to have many Sharp Throws in her Travel as in the former before She can bring forth the Man-Child of Reformation Alas the Child is come to the Birth and there is not Strength to bring forth 2 Kin. 19. 3. Heavens Hand will Help at a Dead Lift Where Man ends there God begins Psal 21. 13. Much more might be Added were there not a Noli m◠Tangere in the Case Controversal Truth seldom goes without a Scratch'd Face I shall Conclude the Historical part with some Memorable Remarks 1 The Pope who is the Devils By-blow was Worthily Thrust out of England as he was also out of France and Arragon it being said of him That He was like a Mouse in the Sachel or like a Snake in the Bosom Speed pag. 622. England had been long his Asse Otto the Popes Mouse-catcher so Drained this Land of Money that he left not so much behind him as he carry'd hence to Rome with him or sent thither before him but at length this Asse cast her Rider and would no
longer bear his Burdens One would think England e're this should be so Awakened and made Wiser than ever to become the Popes Asse any more A 2d Remark is Those Princes who have Trusted God with their Lives and Lands and kept Rome c. at Distance and Defiance hath Speeded the Best and Flourish'd the most and the longest in their large Dominions Q. Elizabeth is a pregnant Instance hereof who could never be perswaded to Favour the Papists though she was to Disfavour the Puritans but she ever kept a Vigilant Eye over the former as being rightly Informed that they and not the latter were the worst Enemies to Royal Power and God Wonderfully Preserv'd this Heroick Lady from all the Romish Bulls Interdicts Poysonings Assassinations c. as before A 3d. Remark is Such Princes as Relyed upon their own politick Projects in Conniving at if not Complying with the Romish Interest for their personal preservation have ever fared the Worst to omit K. James who though not blown up yet was so Shaken as some say How True I know not with the Powder-Plot that his naturally Timerous Spirit was drawn into some Connivences c. point-Blank against Arch-Bp Abbot's Advice and not long after he was taken out of the way by whose Hands God onely knows But Henry the 4th of France is a clear Instance who being bred up a Protestant Turn'd Papist upon politick Grounds and being Disuaded by a great Duke from re-Admitting the Jesuits which justly had been Banish'd the Realm he Angrily Answered Give me then Security for my Life Hereupon he not onely Restoreth them but Demolisheth the Pillar Erected in Paris as a Standing Monument of their Treasons against their Soveraigns yea received them into his Bosome giving them his Pallace for their Colledge and in a publick Speech saying That they were Timothys in the House Chrysostoms in the Chair and Augustins in the Schools c. But what was the Issue Those Timothys proved Judas's those Chrysostoms Cataline's and those Augustins Assassins one of those Slaughter-Slaves Stabb'd him in the Mouth another in the Heart Thus things Men Fear come upon them by trusting their own Politicks more than Gods Providence Lastly Other Nations that have seen so little of their Wiles and Wickedness have seen enough as not to trust them as China it self God forbid that We who have Felt so much should See so little as now to be Cheated with them especially after such a Chain of Providence link'd together on which we may Hang our Hope for prevention thereof In a Word Gods Word is his Will and his Will is his Work and neither Man nor Devil can Disappoint it The good Lord give still more Evinceing Proofs of his Providence The Scripture-Prophecy Shewing how the Church shall be Preserved to the End of the World CHAP. XXXIV HAving shown How it hath been with the Church from the Beginning of the World to this present time let me now make a short-Inspection How it shall be with Her Until Time shall be no more but turned into Eternity A Narrative hereof cannot be Deduced out of any Chronicle or History either Civil or Sacred but out of the Apocalypse or Revelation which Book is a Manifestation of many Mysteries by the Mediatour to John who had the Mind of Christ shew'd to him that he might shew it to the Church what things should shortly come to pass Revel 1. 1 19 20. and 4. 1. and 1 Cor. 2. 16. The Divine Project of John therein is a Contiguous and Continued Prophecy of the Churches Progress through all Times after Christ to his 2d Comming as that of Daniel was before Christ to his 1st Comming both of them Divinely Declaring how God would preserve his Church in the Worst Times of Apostacy both under Antiochus before Christ and under Antichrist after Him as is aforesaid and that in no Age shall ever the Gates of Hell prevail against the Church Matth. 16. 18. on which both their Books be a Conspicuous Comment I have already shewn how John's Seal-Prophecy and his Trumpet-Prophecy hath had their Exact Accomplishment in our fore-going Ages and how Time the best Expounder of Dark Prophecies hath turned those abstruse Misteries into plain and legible Histories Now I come unto the Book-Prophecy that Ushers in the 7th Trumpet Revel 10. 2 7. and 11. 15. and the Seven Vials having the Seven last Plagues which are the several parts of that 7th Trumpet Chap. 15. 1 7. Here for brevity's sake take those following Famous Remarks The 1st is The Church of God is always under some special Prophecy Promise and Providence and therefore is her State so stedfast and Unmoveable as the Mountains of Brass Zech. 6.1 neither Men nor Devils can remove her Psal 125. 1 2. The 2d Remark is The Book which made John Weep is call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Book of some Bulk and bigness while it had all the Seven Seals upon it and the great Concerns of the Six Trumpets within it Rev. 5. 2. But now when the Seal-Prophecy was Accomplish'd in its Events as likewise Six parts of the Trumpet-Prophecy 't is call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Word is a double Diminutive signifying a little little Book or a very little Book containing onely the Seven last Plagues whereby Gods last Wrath should be filled up on the Antichristian-State and Time should be no longer for him Rev. 10. 2 6 7. and 11. 15. and 15. 1. The 3d. Famous Remark is such is Christs Compassion to his Church and Chosen that in the worst of times he leaves her not comfortless Joh. 14. 18. but Secures her from Swounding with Soveraign Cordials as 1st He gave the Comforts of the Fifth Seal and the Intercession of Christ giving Acceptance to that Prayer Rev. 6. 10. Ch. 8. 3. under the Evils of the former and following Seals 2ly While the Church lay under the Wo-Trumpets Christ gave the comforting Vision of Revel the 10th where the Churches Redeemer is Represented as supream Lord of Sea and Land and that he sets his Feet as a Conquerour upon the Neck of that Double-Beast the Political Rising out of the Earth and the Ecclesiastical Rising out of the Sea Limiting the Time and Finishing the Lease of that Mystery of Iniquity and in the mean time Christ keeps his Right foot upon Antichrists Clergy and his Left foot upon his Layity so that all their Exploits are what Christ not what Antichrist Willeth 3ly Under the 3d. Wo-Trumpet where there is a Recounting of the Churches Evils both by the Beast and by the Dragon Chap. 11. and 12. and 13. yet some Allays of Comfort are Annexed Chap. 11. 14. c and Ch. 14 2 3 12 13. and Ch. 15. 3. The 4th Remark is The little little Book in the Hand of Christ sheweth tkat he hath but a little more Work to do in the World after the Seal and Trumpet-Prophecies be fulfilled Christ hath then but a few Things more to Accomplish to
Resigns his Throne and Power to the Beast which did his Masters work throughly Ch. 13. till the Lamb conquer'd and cast him into the Lake Chap. 19. Till then the Dragon was not onely a Spectator but also an Instigator Hissing on the Beast to his Beastly Work till he got his Beastly Wages Slaughter at last Now after the Judgement of the Beast comes that of the Dragon the Master of his Misrule 3 As the 5th Vial is Reassumed to declare the Ruine of Rome more fully after Ch. 17. 18. and the 6th Vial that of the Beast after that Ch. 19. So this 7th that of the Dragon who set them on work Ch. 20. for it would be Improper to relate so largely the Ruine of the Instruments and to say nothing of the Principal Agent Our Michael hath something to say to and do with the Devil as well as to and with Antichrist to wit 1 Something before the 1000 Y. when a gradual Doom is Executed upon him as 1st Christ in fury Arrests the same Dragon whom he had cast into the Earth before Rev. 12. 9. 2ly He Chains him up as Men do mad Mastives for a long time 3ly He claps him close Prisoner in the Abyss which before he feared Luk. 8. 31. and 4ly He set a Seal upon him as Dan. 6. 17. and Matth. 27. last that his Range abroad might not Molest Christs Reign for a 1000 Y. Rev. 20. 1 2 3. ☞ Where the Church hath as good Security for a long-lasting Tranquillity as Christ who keeps the Ensureing Office can possibly give her 2 Something after the 1000 Y. when he was loosed for a little season v. 3.7 to Engage Gog and Magog or all covert and overt Enemies in a War against the Church v. 8 9. then Fire from Heaven falls upon the Devils Army and consumes them in the very Attempt and the Devil himself is Arrested the 2d time and then cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone whither the Beast and False Prophet were cast before there to be Tormented for ever whence he shall never any more be loosed to Torment the Church after this Thus as the Plots against the Church did begin in the Devil Ch. the 1st of this Church-History so they all End in and with the Devil in this The Gates of Hell cannot prevail against Her When Pope Turk and Devil are all gone and in Torments The Church that New Jerusalem consisting of the Converted Jews and Fullness of the Gentiles remains after All in a Flourishing State and is Marry'd as a Bride to the Lamb Rev. 21.7 22. where the Triumphant Estate of the Church after her Militant Estate at the Destruction of all her Enemies is ended is most Graphically Described 1st Generally 1. by things seen as a New 1 Heaven 2 New Earth Ch. 21. 1. 3 New Jerusalem Descending from Heaven v. 2. and 10. 2. By things Heard as 1 of Gods Presence with Men v. 3. 2d of removing all fears and tears v. 4. 3d. of making all things new v. 5. 2ly More particularly the Transcendent Glory of the Church hath a most Exact and Special Delineation as 1st her Advancement above all Hills ver 9. 10 11. Isa 2. 2 2ly her Dimensions of Longitude and Latitude c. v. 12 to 17. 3ly her rich Materials of Gold and Jewels v. 9 to 22. 4ly The Confluence of the Gentiles to this New Jerusalem v. 24 26. Isa 60. 3 c. 5ly The Affluence and plenty of all things that may make the Church-State Happy Typify'd 1 by the River of living Water Ch. 22. 1. 2 by the Tree of Life a Type of Christ that beareth Fruit every Month v. 2. 6ly The Perpetuity of this Happy Estate which is Illustrated 1st by a freedom from all Evil not only from Sorrow Death c. Ch. 21.4 but also 1. from Danger v. 25. 2. from Sin v. 27. and 3. from the Curse Ch. 22. 3. and 2ly by a Fruition of all Good as 1. an Immediate Communion with God and Christ who will be 1. a Temple 2. a Light Ch. 21.22 23. 3. A Throne Ch. 22. 1 3. to this Holy City 2. A Beatifical Vision of both They shall see the face c. v. 4. As the former Evils had disturb'd so those Good Priviledges will Preserve the Churches peace to perpetuity 3. yea Reign for Ever ver 5. Finally Those few Remarks shall shut up the Whole ☞ The 1st is The marvelous Manifestation of Christs love to his Church in Revealing to her the Fata Ecelesiae all that should befall her in all Ages to the end of the World this he doth as her Prophet and Mediator Ch. 22. 16. 2ly That what Christ Revealed herein should be Written Litera Scripta Manet for the Churches Comfort at Christs command Chap. 21. 5. and 14. 13. and 19.9 The Spouse hath the Heart-love of Christ with her better then Dalilah had Samsons Judg. 16. 15. and therefore she shall know even out of his Fathers Bosom Joh. 1. 18. all that is in his Heart and have it also Under his Hand upon Record as Her Cordial alway 3ly That this Writing must not be Shut up or Sealed as Daniels was Dan. 8. 26. and 12. 4 9. till 300 Y. after for Sealing is concealing but here John is bid Not to Seal this Prophecy as he had the Seven Thunders Revel 10. 4. Chap 22. 10. because the Time was at Hand and All this he must not Monopolize to himself but Shew them to Christ's Servants Rev. 1. 1. 4ly This Prophecy is Faithful and True in all its parts Ch. 22. 6. as much as the History from Genesis to this Revelation is and as sure as the former part of this Prophecy in the Seals and Trumpets is performed already so sure shall the latter part of the Vials and of the Brides Marriage be Accomplish'd also The Scripture-Testimony of it self is true 5ly This Prophecy Symbolizeth with that of Ezekiel who in his latter End hath a Resurrection Ezek. 37. a Gog and Magog Chap. 38 and 39. and a New Jerusalem Ch. 40 and forward So in the latter end of the Revelation There is a Resurrection Ch. 20. 5. a Gog and Magog v. 8. and a New Ierusalem Ch. 21 and 22. And as sure as that was fulfill'd in part by Ezra c. so shall this be 6ly This Book as it was last Writ so it contains a Revelation of the whole will of God concerning the Riches of the Church as well as the Ruine of all her Enemies as 't is said of the latter It is Done Rev. 16.17 All the Churches Foes are Vndone by the 7th Vial So of the former It is Done Ch. 21.6 As to the Riches and Reward of the Righteous Christ Swore that Time should be no longer Ch. 10.6 7. to wit of Delaying beyond the 7th Trumpet the Execution of those Divine Mysteries 1 the Call of the Iews Rom. 11.25 2 the Fullness of the Gentiles Eph. 3.3 4 6. 3 the Kingdom of the Saints Dan. 7.18 Rev. 20.4 22.5 4 All Kingdoms of the World become Christs Ch. 11.15 7ly As we are not to expect any New Revelation no more than any New Gospel so we ought onely to believe and pray for the Accomplishment of all that is revealed being assured from Truth it self Rev. 1.5 that 1 â—he who was the Alpha to confound the 1st Plot Gen. 3. will be the Omega to conquer the last Rev. 22.13 2 the Kings of the Earth that gave their power to the Beast shall bring their Glory to the Church Rev. 17.13 and 21.24 3 The Brides Feast and Felicity shall be either in Heaven as Piscator or on Earth as Alsted or in both as Perkins say 't is good in either place Refer that to God making a Common and Constant Cry Come Lord Jesus come quickly to Accomplish all that is Vnaccomplished 1 Thes 1.10 Rev. 22.20 21. FINIS BOOKS Published BY THE AVTHOR 1. THe Crown and Glory of a Christian 2. A Christian's Walk and Work on Earth till he come to Heaven 3. A Protestant-Antidote against the Poyson of Popery 4. A Chrystal Mirrour or Christian-Looking-Glass discovering the Treason and Treachery of the Heart 5. A Distinct Discourse and Discovery of the Person and Period of Antichrist 6. This Compleat and Compendious Church-History
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