JEHOJADAHS IUSTICE AGAINST MATTAN BAALS PRIEST OR THE COVENANTERS JUSTICE AGAINST IDOLATERS A SERMON PREACHT upon occasion of a SPEECH utter'd upon Tower-Hill Wherein you may finde his likenesse to Mattan rather then to Christ His place in John 11.48 charg'd upon himself The weaknesse of the choice of his Text How great cause wee have to give thanks By J. H. Minister of the Gospel JUDGES 5. 31. So let all thine enemies perish O Lord but let them that love him be as the Sunne when he goeth forth in his might And the Land had rest fortie years LONDON Printed by M. Simmons for Henry Overton and are to be sold at his Shop in Popes-head-Alley 1645. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFULL SERJEANT WILD J. H. wisheth grace and peace in CHRIST JESUS WORTHY PATRIOT THe life we live we live in God happy is the improvement of that life that is lift up to him and to his wayes It is a glory above the crowne of the worthy Kings of Judah that they prepared their hearts to seek the Lord What 's the life of man without comfort And what greater comfort doth man enjoy in life but his communion with God The life of the best is but a pilgrimage and a life of service lyes upon every man though the race be short imployment attends it if a servant neglect his Lords affairs he had the honour to be call'd a servant but lost his glory for casting by his industry how sweet is their peace that know their Lords command and chearfully take up his charge Every man is at work but many mistake their Masters business they doe their own and put his name upon it Servants that love to walk in the dark are unfit to attend upon the Lord of light light and darkness have nocommunion This present age affords us full testimony how doe the deeds of darkness vanish that past without controule not long agoe which in this time of tryall will not indure the touchstone Mens confidence of their actions is no ground of their justice the Judge will search him out that seemeth just in his own cause nor must the Judges or those that assist them in advancing Justice be discouraged though the impeached challenge them of unjust proceeding Who shall be innocent if the condemneds test may be sufficient to fix a crime Sir I reckon it a part of your honour that God hath conferr'd upon you to be an instrument to bring so great an offender to justice rather then to be ensnared by him You served our Lord Christ in helping to subdue a mountain of ambition you have suffer'd for your love and endeavour to establish a throne for Christ and a throne for the King in righteousnesse your labour of love will not be forgotten your work is with your God and your reward in the Lords hand Goe on and prosper and God that hath made the evill bow before the good and the wicked at the gates of the righteous make you every day more succesfull If this ensuing Subject may yeeld any refreshing to your spirit or provoke the church of Christ to exalt their Lords glory and sanctifie his glorious Name that hath delivered us from so great a burden my spirit hath rest rejoycing in the God of our salvation waiting for further manifestation of greater consolation The God of peace fill you with comfort in beleeving and preserve you to his heavenly Kingdome Your Worships in all service of love JEHOJADAHS JUSTICE UPON MATTAN BAALS PRIEST 2 CHRON. 23. 16 17. And Jehojadah made a Covenant between him and all the people and between the King that they should be the Lords people Then all the people went to the house of Baal and brake it downe and brake his Altars and his Images in pieces and slew Mattan the Priest of Baal before the Altars IN this History we have a cleare discovery of Gods faithfulnesse to David in keeping promise which was to support his throne by a supply of issue out of which descent the Lord Christ was to arise Here was now but one life for the house of David to hold by and that a tender one in his nurses hands hunted after by a bloudy persecutresse who thought shee had made him as sure as his brethren and so to have devolved the State of Judah to the Kingdome of Israel thereby to have made voyd the Lords Grant But God had delivered him to more faithfull hands who vertuously bred him and in time brought him forth anoynting him before all the people And after Athaliahs life had satisfied for the Kings then Jehojadah drew the people into a Covenant Nationall mercies should draw a people to renew Covenant with their God it hath in it a testimony of thankfulnesse as well as a binding act to obedience So that the omitting of it would proclaime us guiltie of swallowing downe more mercies then we are thankfull for If it be doubted whether it be not too forward to covenant till our mercies are more compleated you may observe a people entring into Covenant with God when they were in expectation of mercies when the people waited for the setling of the Arke Samuel binds them to put away their strange Gods and Astaroth and prepare to serve the Lord onely and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistims and they did and served the Lord onely 1 Sam. 7.3 4. By this wee see there is Scripture-ground for a Nationall Covenant when our mercies are made up or coming by which a people bind themselves unto a straite communion with God and to abjure all false wayes When wee esteeme the precepts of God so high as that concerning all things they are right then wee must hate every false way Psal. 119. 128. He that would raise his heart to such a degree of walking in covenant with God shall doe well to meditate Davids example Psal. 119. 105. to the 112. He sets up Gods Word for his lamp at home and lanthorn abroad he is resolved to walk by no light but Gods to fasten the bond of that resolution that he may perform and keep he binds himself by an oath to observe righteous judgements without diversion but now he must walk between strivings within and reproaches without I am afflicted very much there the carnall mind grudgeth against strictnesse My soule is continually in my hand his life in jeopardy to preserve his conscience pure In this conflict he makes his addresse to God 1. For quickning grace that he may live and hold on his progresse according to his Covenant 2. For accepting grace that he may finde in his spirit that he is approved of God in his way 3. For feeding grace that he may still be taught the things that he knoweth not 4. For preserving grace Lord said he the snare of the wicked is laid for me I have not yet erred keep me by thy strength 5. He exerciseth discerning grace and approves his choice of God to be the best heritage and
his testimonies the rejoycing of his heart 6. He acteth a powerfull inclination upon his heart continually that he may keep up the grace of perseverance By all this we may informe our selves of three things 1. That Covenanting to cleave to God is the work of such as love communion with God 2. There ariseth great hatred in the world against them that gather themselves into so strict a bond of walking with God 3. There is no possibilitie of keeping faithfulnesse and truth with God in Covenant against which there is so great opposition but by a daily renewing of communion with God and drawing neere to him for a constant supply of grace of all sorts to uphold us against the snares that are laid to bring us to apostasie But this may suffice for the 16th verse Now followeth the operations and working of the Covenant they turn reformers presently and fall to work with Baals house Here we may observe Gods Covenant will not admit communion with Idolatry or Idolaters the more the heart is leavened and sweetned with the Covenant the more it abhorreth both it self and others whatsoever derogateth from Gods glory And that it may appeare to be the dutie of a people that are entred into Covenant with God to act their zeale in rooting all that is odious unto and that offendeth God is evident by that in Deut. 12.30 31. lest the people that were the Lords by Covenant should be ensnared God forbids them to enquire how the Nations served their gods for God was wise enough to give them the dresse of his worship without borrowing nationall rites of the Heathens therefore the Lord makes a perpetuall act to destroy all their places of worship he puts words enough in the act without any proviso Mountains Hills Greene Trees Altars Pillars Groves Graven Images utterly destroy their names out of that place But suppose a Prophet should rise up and prophecy in Baal and teach the way of errour what shall be done to him must he be destroyed too Chap. 13. 5. That Prophet shall be put to death because he hath spoken to turne you away from the Lord your God So shall yee put evill from amongst you But what if sonne or daughter wife or friend goe about to seduce it's death without pitie ver. 8. When the people consented to Elijah that the Lord was God Then said he take the Prophets of Baal let not one of them escape I grant men in hypocrisie may shew a fiery disposition against false worshippers as Jehu did but it was not the effect of an holy Covenant nor the fruit of a well ordered faith but a work of the flesh and a politick envie against Ahabs way of worship to winne the more credit to that bloudy act of murthering the whole race of the Kings sonnes But if you observe the Text here it is the fruit of their Covenant and not out of pride or private spleene More especially wee may consider First What they did They went to the house of Baal So they had before but now they are of another heart before they went a whoring after Baalim from the Lord but now they went with zeale and courage for the Lord of Hosts to destroy and to demolish whatsoever had been a snare to them before This lesson is evident for our instruction It is no shame for men to desert forsake and abominate that which in former time was imbraced when God shall reveale unto us that it is a snare to our perdition it is no errour to forsake an errour If a man walking after the frame of a carnall heart had wholly neglected the sanctifying of himself and his family by a totall omission of calling upon God be now convinced that he cannot escape the powring out of Gods wrath upon him and his family it will be his shame to persist in his sloathfull neglect but his glory to raise up himself and returne to God Some men count forsaking of lying vanities and superstition ficklenesse and wavering this is a method of the Serpent to hinder conversion to accuse the growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour to be instabilitie whereas the Apostle urgeth it as a speciall help to keep up stedfastnesse Secondly The time when they went It doth not relate so much to the time of the day or the yeare nor the precise day nor yeare as from the time that they entred into Covenant It doth not appeare whether it were the same day or on the morrow or at what set season but after they had been at the house of the Lord to renew their Covenant they went to the house of Baal When God gives covenant-light men ought to walk with God in covenant-strength wee must pray and vote and give and contend and in every thing act with covenant-zeale and covenantfaith and covenant-love to exalt his glory who hath so often looked upon us with favour I say from that time that we renew our faith and love to God by Covenant wee solemnly protest to walk after God with strength and to stirre up our whole might to serve the Lord against the mighty impediments that oppose his glory When Paul was gathered unto Christ out of the wild wast of such as trusted in themselves his lot was for a season to refresh himself in Athens time was he had an Athenian wit could have jeered with the nimblest but being in covenant with Christ he acts with covenant zeale for Christ his spirit was moved when hee saw their superstition When God hath revealed unto us the glory of the Lord Christ and that the striving of men is but to oppose the brightnesse of his rising the vertue of our covenant clothes with a strength to resist oppugners of our Lords throne Iehojada haply might pitty Mattan as he was an Israelite but when an Israelite should turn Baalists justice must proceed Covenanters are tender of their Lords honour they can beare with any thing but what pollutes his name and Worship and that standeth against his glory When we are girded unto God by covenant we should look upon our selves as Temples of the holy Ghost if any defile the Temple of God as the body by drunkennesse or whoredome the tongue by blasphemy or contempt him will God destroy in fury for breach of covenant with what furious rebukes suppose yee will he proceed against them that cast from them his covenant and depart from him Increase in covenant-light that ye may renew in covenant-strength Thirdly who went All the people for all were entred into covenant they had all vowed obedience unto God to live and die together in the cause of God therefore they went as one man the Rulers zeale gave life to the people to take courage to follow their example as it is reported of David that whatsoever the King did pleased all the people 2 Sam. 3.36 They that enter into covenant with God enter into a mutuall covenant
one with another to walk with one heart toward the Lord Ezra 10.4 Arise for the matter belongeth unto thee we also will be with thee They that were for Christ after his resurrection and ascension were altogether with one accord in one place These are the dayes wherein God will assemble the Kingdoms to powre out upon them his indignation but then he promiseth to the people that engage themselves to him by covenant to turne to the people a pure language that they may all call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one consent Zeph. 3.8 9. The Lord is one his worship is one our covenant is one ought not then our hearts to agree in one If men in covenant divide against themselves and despise one another for the rage of their tongues AEgypt shall deride them Hos. 7.16 There is nothing divides men so much as when either they strangle a publick heart in the croud of private interests in seeking to secure selfe and leaving the publicke to hazard If we let Gideon conquer thinkes the house of Ephraim we shall eclipse our glory Judg. 8.1 Or else when all consent not to put away detestable things when one part is to put them away another to keep them hence growes the strife Ezek. 11.18 19 20 21. They that are of one heart will keep Gods ordinances but they whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things are liable to answer Gods vengeance for their contempt The fourth circumstance is what they did at the house of Baal They did not gaze about lamenting and crying pity that a thing of that cost should in one instant be demolisht that was a posture now fit for Babylonish Merchants Rev. 18.16 17. but they set to work with all their might first to demolish the house next to execute the Priest the house they brake down and the Altars and Images in pieces The Priest they slew before the Altars that were the delectable things of his heart their eye did not spare nor did they shew pity upon any thing that had the face of Idolatry A people covenanting for Reformation must abolish all that is idolatrous So did Iosiah 2 King 23.4 Nehemiah found that Tobijah an Ammonite had gotten him a Chamber to lodge his houshold stuff in within the Courts of the house of God Now this was contrary to law for an Ammonite might not come into the house of God for ever therfore he cast him and his houshold stuffe clean out Nehem. 13.1 8. For 1. God will not be served by the halfes Christ left not the work of redemption halfe done and halfe undone Agrippa was halfe a Christian and halfe a heathen Laodicea was halfe a Church and halfe no Church the work of salvation is a work that must be wrought out and he that will keep the feast of Christ must purge out all filibinesse of flesh and spirit 2. The house that is but halfe swept is never clean and a Church that is but halfe purged is never pure If a wife should leave many lovers and retaine but one beside her husband that 's brand enough of harlotry 3. That which is left will make way for that which is cast out to returne a stump of a broken tooth may put a man to as much pain as if the whole were hollow 4. That which is cast out will cry out of injustice if as bad be reserved favoured and set up Demolisht Abbies are grieved that Cathedrals flourish in their ruines and Cardinals quarrell at that justice that casts them out yet keep their Bishops in like Lordly honour The heart that is prepared to exalt Christ and his glory is fully bent to levell every mountain that stands in the way to his glory But if any demurre and plead We could willingly endeavour and rejoyce to have all manner of superstition and Idolatry removed but this slaying work is terrible and mens lives are pretious It must be answered 1. That malefactors lives are not to be valued 2. They that so plead may as well say I am weary of my grosse sinnes and I could wish they were all mortified but might we not get a dispensation for that old man of a corrupt nature to be preserved in life 3. Better one cut off then that a whole Nation should incurre the wrath of God for sparing one that is guilty Cruelty is the judgement decreed against rebellion Pro. 17.11 19. 19. A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment for if thou deliver him yet thou must doe it againe Sin that is unpunisht is as good as cherisht 4. The Law bindeth as well to judge the person that seduceth as to condemne idolatry Deut. 13.5 albeit Iosiah spared the lives of the Priests of Judah yet he slew all the Priests that belonged to the Idols of Samaria 2 Kings 23. 9. 20. When Hananiah had taught rebellion against the Lord God put him to death because men would not Ierem. 28. 16. 17. There 's ground therefore for this conclusion A people that have covenanted to keep righteousnesse and doe justice must not spare when God condemneth If therefore it shall be demanded why the Rulers and all in covenant with them should be so zealous and forward to have Mattan slain It was not that they delighted to shed blood as they that in their anger dig'd down a wall Iehoiadah was not moved with emulation as one that would be competitor with him for Court honour which peradventure Baals faction would suggest that he put Mattan to death that he himselfe might rule as a Lord in his stead but the truth is God had given sentence Mattan should die and they had covenanted to doe justice Object It is a bitter covenant that binds men to shed blood Answ. Gods covenant is bitter against none but such as are rebellious But what probable grounds were there why Mattan should bee put to death 1. He was a Priest of Baal and had taken Orders to serve those Idols he was a profest idolater which was death 2. He was Queen Athaliahs favourite and did strengthen and obdurate the Queen in her error 3. He was not content to infect Israel with idolatry but came over into Judah and sought to poyson that State also that under pretence of uniformity he might joyn both Kingdomes in Apostasie 4. It is probable he was of counsell with Athaliah to make away the King and afterwards to lay hands on the Kings children by affinity with Ahabs house Ahaziah was perswaded to joyn in an unnecessary warre wherein he was slain chap. 22. 9. and afterwards cruell hands seised on the Kings children hoping thereby to devolve the Kingdome of Judah to Israel for want of issue If it be objected that that was Athaliahs fact It 's like enough so but though the fact bee atttibuted to one that 's eminent in the plot yet it is probable that more were of counsell and if any it is very likely the Priest would not be
left out of the conspiracy 5. It is probable he perished in impenitencie was proud and obstinate without any remorse for his error counting it honour to die before his Altars and therefore excluded himselfe from mercy 6. It 's probable he justified the way of the house of Ahab and magnified that way of worship to be the onely true patterne opposing and scorning at the present Reformation that God had wrought by Jehojadah in the State of Judah and thereby sought to kindle sedition in the peoples heart against those whom God had raised up to be their helpers Now if these things were found in him who could without injustice cleare him from the sentence of death Peradventure this or the like might bee the plea that the Priest of Baal might use before his death You the people of this Citie are very forward to break down the house of this worship where formerly your Anoestors worshipped and you your selves not long since spent your devotions but now you cry out upon the Rulers to breake it downe and to shed the blood of the Prophets that taught you but God will require it To the former part it hath been said that it is no error to turn from dumb idols to serve the living God and that it is but just to demolish idols and their dennes To the latter clause let it be thus answered If it had been righteous blood that had been shed there had been cause to feare or if they had favoured him whom God condemned there had been equall danger For he that condemneth the just and he that justifieth the wicked even both are abomination to the Lord but to execute justice on them whom God hath sentenced to death is no crime Whereas that place of John 11. 48. is made use of thus Men are afraid that if they let this man alone the Romanes will come and that Popery will prevaile then they will take away our place and our nation but it proved the contrary for after they had put that man to death than the Romanes came and vanquisht the Citie 1. The place is alledgad to reproach the people that cry for reformation and justice but the words are the high Priests who was jealous his glory would not stand long if Christ and his reformation were tolerated and therefore rested not till hee was crucified and then the place is strong against the alledger he that under pretence if the people should beleeve in Christ the Romanes will come take occasion to persecute Christ and put him to death lieth liable to the justice of God to be taken away himselfe 2. It is true that Jerusalem was destroyed because it shed the blood of the Prophets and of the Lord Jesus but not for doing justice upon Mattan Baals Priest upon you shall come all the righteous blood that hath been shed but none of the idolatrous men shall never answer God for that which is not a crime Consider this it may be this Priest of Baal had been the occasion of the death of many of Gods messengers and servants for opposing his idolatrous courses as the high Priests were of the death of Christ for they provoked the people to cry out upon Pilate that Christ might be crucified now what way could people and Rulers take to free the nation from the guilt of the blood of Gods servants then to sacrifice him to Gods justice who was the offender which when they had done the Citie was quiet 2 Chron. 23. v. 21. Caiphas therefore hath spoken the truth in this sense It is expedient that one man should die for the people rather then that the whole nation perish by contracting the guilt of a malefactor But suppose that Mattan should take it upon his death that his conscience cleared his innocencie and that hee should comfort himselfe in the example of others that have suffered death 1. Every way of man is right in his own eyes but God pondereth the spirit Pauls conscience permitted him to make havock of the Saints was Paul therfore innocent when he was converted hee judged it persecution what will it be then at Gods tribunall 2. When God gives over men to impenitencie and to chuse their delusions answering according to the Idols and dreames of their own heart they count it their great honour to live and die in their own principles that which in the ballance of the Sanctuary is obstinacie they deem constancy and reckon it the greatest shame that is to confesse the least guilt As he that being urged to seeke peace by the merits of Christ when he was neere his death rejected the exhortation crying out that that was the way to overthrow all that they had built 3. It is the policie of the old Serpent and his great advantage to harden the condemned in their error even unto death as thereby to raise a scandall and hatred of their Judges falsly suggesting to unstable minds that those Judges cannot be innocent that condemne the guiltless so likewise to obdurate the ignorant in their blindnesse by beholding one persisting to death in maintenance of that which they think the truth 4. It is easie for men of learning to make use of any thing but yet to come short of true comfort of things they know malefactors and martyrs are not alike in their cause though they are in their sufferings strangers shall not intermeddle with their joy Steven witnessed a good confession of Christ before his Judges he that would run parallell in comfort at death must hold equal race of integrity in life else though the baptisme be equally bloody the resurrection will greatly differ First adore his divine Majesty who hath magnified his onmipotent arme and infinite wisdome in the sight of his people at this day the beleevers in Sion will no doubt worship in heart and exalt the Lord who hath done a marvellous and wonderfull thing before the Saints in one day he hath gotten himselfe the victory over Baals house images worship and Priests by one concurrent vote he hath cut off the terror of nations and the prop where on he built his religion and worship When God comes down in fury he makes the mountaines flow and tremble at his presence Since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor seene a God like thee that doth so prepare for him that waiteth for him thou meetest him that rejoyceth and worketh righteousnesse but those that turn aside to crooked paths the Lord leads forth with the evil doers that he may shut the doors and feast his Israel with peace He lookes too low that seeth no more then a man taken out of the way the horse and his rider the man and his pomp is descended hee who smote the people in wrath with a continuall stroke he that ruled the nations in anger is persecuted and none hindereth yea the whole earth is at rest and breakes forth into singing for Lucifer the sonne of the morning is cut downe to the
of glory hath taken away never to destroy his vines any more So let all thine enemies perish O Lord that when it goeth well with the righteous the Citie may rejoyce and when the wicked perish there may be shouting Prov. 11. 10. But fourthly In as much as when God chooseth to feed men with their owne delusion and to leave them under impenitency then they justifie themselves in the way of their errour and glory in their shame Mattan esteem'd it his renowne to die for his Altars and through the blindnesse of his judgement after the ransacking of his heart with his own dark lanthorne could find nothing that he had done with all his Baaliticall innovations that was contrary to the pure worship of God nor his conspiracy with Athaliah against the State nor any thing that he had done could proclaime him guiltie of that death that he suffer'd we may 1. Feare the judgement of an hardned heart for it can neither blush nor repent nor give glory to God by confessing sin but deliver up a man to the treasures of wrath 2. Let 's be carefull what foundations we lay for men live according to their principles the things that are bred with us we hardly part from when wee are call'd to question for them we are obstinate in defence of them and rather choose to suffer with them then to be severed from them an heretick will burne with his heresie when men are drunk with errour though God send plagues on every side yet they that are not slaine with the plague repent not of their murthers and their fornications Rev. 9. 20 21. they that live in errour will lie downe in the shame 3. Let the testimony of truth be dearer to us then our lives by how much the more wee see proud men love their errours to the death they dye for that which deceives them but they that dye for the truth of Christ have Christ to comfort them men that dye for their errour complement with Christ rather then call upon him to save them but they love their errour and not Christ but it's love to our Redeemer that carrieth the soule above sufferings To conclude fifthly Let us not be secure upon the remove of an enemy lest out of the Serpents root should come a Cockatrice Isa. 14. 29. When Mattan is slaine Satan is not cut off the Prince of darknes keeps his seate when the ministers of Satan are brought under cleave to Convenant and stand upon your watch remove not from your stedfastnesse but renew your graces continually coole not in your love but kindle in spirit and fervour unto Christ for ever let Rulers wax valiant for the truth for the Lord is their helper let the people rejoyce and give God the glory of subduing them that rise up against us there is nothing that we should seeke the ruine of so much as that which opposeth the advancement of Christs glory for feare the Serpents brood should break forth into a viperous generation it 's good to spoyle the vipers neast and when the people that were under a cloud see light let them confesse unto God thou hast multiplyed the nation of them that reare thee and not increast the joy of their enemies therefore wee joy before thee according to the joy of harvest he that doth lesse then joy in the downfall of Christs foes may passe amongst them for a friend let no mans heart melt as if Mattan dyed a martyr If any repent of the deeds that he hath done and seeke his peace with Christ whom he hath persecuted as well as peace with God by Christ who would not rather rejoyce then be offended at conversion breach with God Christ makes up for offence against Christ the Spirit makes intercession but if the Spirit be refused there 's none left to make request to him and so the work of mediation between God and the soule falleth If any man walk in communion with God and Christ and the Spirit of grace who would not reioyce in his peace when he lyeth downe in his bed of rest but one that is ignorant But if a person make no more profession of knowledge of God and Christ but onely because it is the profession of the Nation nor at any time makes addresses to God but in times of horrour and then rather seeking for safetie than holinesse as God is holy who would conceive that worship to proceed from faith and love but he that doth not understand the way of the Spirit of life Cloth not proud offenders with the robe of Martyrs thereby to take occasion to contemne the justice that God executeth when transgressours are cut off let God have the glory and let all that love the Lord rejoyce when the adversaries of Jefus Christ are brought to their doome To him that reigneth be glory FINIS Observ. Observ. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Observ. Consid. 2. Observ. Consid. 3. Observ. Observ. Observ. Application