had been some Months shut up by Haman in the Dark Dungeon of Deep perplexity Esth 3. 15. from that time walking in the very Vale of the shaddow the Darkest side of Death Psal 23. 4. yet there God takes his Church by the Hand and leads her through that Dark Entry into Light and Gladness The Churches Light had been Sown for her upon a safe Soil Psal 97. 11. All the time of Haman's Heart-grieving Grandeur it lay under the Clods as Seed under-ground for a while Unseen but now 't is Risen up for the Righteous and their Seed-time brought in a Blessed Harvest Psal 126. 2 5 6. when Haman was faln from the Pallace to the Gallows and from the highest Stage of Honour to the lowest Stair and Step of Ignominy thus Sings the Poet Ludit in Humanis Divina potentia Rebus Gods Providence often tosseth Great Favourites like a Tennis-Ball now up and now down from the highest Honour to extream Infamy when Hamans Greatness was Hang'd up and himself wrap'd up in a Sheet of perpetual Shame then Shushan the Lilly Hebr. and the Church the Lilly Cant. 2. 3. now look'd most Lightsome and Lovely and that Lucky Day as Haman had Deem'd it but was Deluded by the Devil had Deceived the Hamanists and by a swâ—â—â— and Gracious Providence was turn'd to 〈◊〉 contrary to wit an unlucky and Bloody Day to themselves who had design'd it a Destructive-Day to the Church Esth 9. 1 4 6 10 16. Now the jollity of the Iews began being deliver'd from their perplexity by Standing for their Lives upon the Thirteenth day Hamans Lucky Unluckyday on the very next the 14th day they made a Day of Feasting and Gladness v. 17. not deferring one day longer while the mercy was fresh and yet of Recent Remembrance they Proclaim the Praises of their Delivering-God and speak good of his Name covering Gods Altar with the Calves of their Lips and paying their Vows to the Lord Yea and on the 15th too they do the same as if one day the 14th had been too little wherein to Magnifie Gods Mercy in Psalms and Sacrifices of Praise and to Testifie their own Thankfulness to him for their Lives Liberties and Estates so lately and so Liberally Restored to them v. 18. and the Observation of those Three Days the former as a Fasting the latter as Feasting Days as say some became a Standing Law for both City and Countrey v. 20 21. not as any Addition to the Word of God but onely as a Sacred Memorial of this so Remarkable and Memorable Mercy in turning them from Mourning to Mirth c. v. 22. from the Jaws of most dreadful Death into the Joys of a most Glorious Deliverance Thus God can turn and hath often turned the Churches Sadness into Gladness her Sighing into Singing and her Tears into Triumph all Hamans and Hamanists notwithstanding all their Fraud and Force Craft and Cruelty shall find to their Cost that there is no Inchantment against Jacob nor any Divination against Israel Yea it shall be said of the Church Oh what hath God wrought Numb 23. 23. Such Savoury Discourse the Godly Iews were Appointed to have upon those Days of Purim so called for a Brand on Hamans casting Pur or Lots for a Lucky Day as we should have for our Deliverance from the Devils Water-Works in Eighty-Eight and from his Fire-Works on that famous Fifth of November This Annual Festivity Esth 9. 23 26 28. was so Solemnly enjoyned that Yearly the Jews kept it until the Comming of Christ and do indeed though Abusively Keep it to this Day counting and calling all that Cross them so many Humans and Fondly please themselves with Hopes of being Revenged of them as their Fathers were of this Haman The Memorial of the Matter of their Fasting v. 31. most probably on the 13th Day and of their Feasting on the Two following Days was not to Perish from their Seed but to be perpetuated from one Generation to another and therefore was Registred for Posterity that the People which should be Created might Praise the Lord Psal 102. 18. Popish Persons keep not the 14th of February so well in their Vain Valentines and least they should sleight and slack this Sacred Service Queen Esther and Prince Mordecai did Confirm the Letter Writ in the Y. foregoing in the Y. following v. 20 29. And Mordecai all his Life kept his Dignity Seeking the Weal of his People and Speaking Peace to all His Seed v. 30 31. and Ch. 10. 3. God Rais'd him up for the Comfort of his Church not onely in Speaking Good of and for His Countrey-Men then Living in the 127 Provinces to the King Promoting their Prosperity to the Utmost all his Days but also in Speaking Prosperity to all their Posterity providing for Future that after his Death the Weal of the Church might be Continued How long this lasted the Scripture-History which extendeth no further doth not Express To know therefore how it Fared with the Church after we must have Recourse to Scripture-Prophesie for Scripture-History gives onely some short Intimations thereof as Gen. 49. 10. tells us How the Scepter should not Depart from Judah until Shiloh or Christ come and Luk. 3. in the Genealogy of Christ Sheweth how Gods Providence made Good that Precious Promise in giving David a Lamp or Light in Jerusalem until Christ the Son of David was Born into the World Even all the Prophets the Greater and the Lesser do Prophecy of the future Estate of the Church from their own present Time and of the Comming of Christ which should make the Glory of the latter House to Exceed the Glory of the former But more especially the Prophet Daniel Writes a Prophetical History of the Church during that Interspace of Time in Chap. the 7th he Declareth his Vision of the Four Monarchies which troubled the World especially the Church from the First Rising of Nebuchadnezzar till the Comming of the Everlasting Kingdome of Christ in the Gospel In Chap. 8 9 10 11 and 12. Christ Himself comes to him and gives him a Revelation as he did to John in Patmos how it should Fare with the Jewish-Church under their Powerful Enemies until the Fury of Antiochus Epiphanes Polybius calls him Epimanes the Mad-Man their worst Adversary was over Daniel Declares How this Mad Antiochus would Violate the Sanctuary and Cast down Religion into the Dirt for Three Y. and an Half or 1290 Days yet Comforteth the Church with this Cordial That He who Waiteth and Liveth Forty Five Days more should see an End of Antiochus and of all his Crafty and Cruel Plots against the Church and that in Fullness of Time the Messiah would come to Finish Transgression and to bring in Everlasting Righteousness c. Dan. 9. 24. and Change the National Church of the Jews therefore much Wasted then because Shortly to be Changed into Congregational-Churches by the Gospel Gal. 1. 22. 1 Thess 2. 14. To know more particularly how God
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
with God in Knowledge and Wisdom Thus the Devil abused the very name of the Tree of Knowledge to her making it far better than indeed it was as if it would make them as Omniscient as God Thus he mused as he used and would have made God as envious as himself who envyed that either God should be honoured or obeyed by Man or that Man should be Gifted and Graced by God Hereupon he tells her Your Eyes shall be Opened pretending to Divine Contemplation but intending to Horrible Confusion as it proved afterwards when ashamed of their Nakedness So that in v. 5. this Lyar from the beginning was not so much Mendax a Lyar as Fallax a Deceiver according to that Antient saying Et si semel videatur Verax Millies Mendax semper Fallax Though he sometimes seem to speak truly yet will he lye a thousand times for it and be always Fallacious and Deceitful 8thly He promises to her Ye shall be as Gods which was more likely to make them Devils like himself or at least Beasts that Perisheth Psal 49. 12 â—0 What God said Ironically and by a sad Sarcasm Gen 3. 22. The Man is become as one of us The Beasts might say most truly and without any figure The Man is become as one of us Thus while Satan makes her Free from Fear it was only designed by him to make her Free to Sin hereupon She took of the Fruit and gave it also to her Husband v. 6. to whom she Related all Satans Promises concerning the force of the Fruit c. whereby she seduced him v. 17. in hearkening to her Voice hoping that according to her suggestion from Satan he might become a God and his Wife a Goddess Thus the plurality of Gods was first taught by the Devil whose Grammer Deum pluraliter declinare Docuit first learnt to Decline God in the Plural Number and thus he transforms his own sin upon them Ero sicut Altissimus I shall be like the most High Isai 14. 12. saith he of himself and Eritis sicut Dij Ye shall be as Gods saith he of them The 9th and last part of his Plot is the Timeing of his Temptation herein this subtile Serpent hath a singular sagacity no sooner was he cast out of Heaven but he Resolves to be Reveng'd of his Maker for this expulsion and because he could not come at his Creator God with his Revenge he Falls immediately upon his Creature Man the Master-piece of the Creation upon the same Day wherein he was Created he loses no time but about high-Noon the same Day which was Dinner or Eating-time he Attempts his Ruine by tempting him to Eat Forbidden-Fruit and so flatters them out of the True Paradise into a Fools Paradise of their own Dreams and Dotage Thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the cogging of a Dye Eph. 4. 14. like a cheating Gamester he gives them an Apple for Happiness and Sin Misery for a state of Innocency not suffering them to Rest so much as one Night upon the Bed of Honour and Happiness This the Psalmist according to some Interpreters doth Insinuate Psal 49. 12. Adam being in Honour Bal Jalin non pernoctavit abode not or lodged not one Night in Paradise 'T is the saying of a Greek-Father That Adam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was made and marr'd all in one Day Thus he who thought to become a God became a Beast that perisheth Yea Carrion saith Junius Here the prime Plot of the principal Plotter the Prince of Darkness hath a shrewd seeming success yet the Lord laughs at it and Ridendo irritum Reddidit he Defeats the Devils Design and that with Disgrace for there was a Covenant transacted betwixt God the Father and God the Son ab Aeterno from all Eternity 1 Pet. 1. 20. Joh. 17. 6. Tit. 1. 2. and 2 Tim 1. 9. This Covenant the Devil knew nothing of and it was this that spoiled all his Plot Indeed our first Parents were under this dedolent and disconsolate Condition from Noon to Night or at least to the cool of the Day having now most woful Experimental Knowledge both of the Good which they had lost and of the Evil wherein they lay Then commeth Jehovah to Judge them V. 8. Satan assuredly expected that the Greatly Offended Creator God would have met his Greatly Offending Creature Man in as much Fury as he did afterwards Moses in the Inn when he had much ado as it were to forbear Killing him Exod. 4. 24. Or that he would have come to Adam as the Angel came to Balaam with a drawn Sword in his hand wherewith to destroy him Numb 22. 32. or that he would have rushed upon this Rebel as David ran upon Goliah and cut off his head 1 Sam. 17. 51. No such Fury is in God against faln Man Isai 27. 4. The Devil is disappointed for God comes to Man indeed but not so much a Judge as a Father and as a Physitian 1st As a Father saying as it were Though Man be faln by the Devils malevolence yet he shall be raised up again by my Benevolence by my Good will to Man Luk. 2. 14. 2dly As a Physitian God hath prepared a Soveraign Plaister to Apply to the wound that Man had receiv'd from the Devil God promiseth Christ to be a Redeemer to Man and withal to be a Destroyer of the Devil Hebr. 2. 14. and of all his Works 1 Joh. 3. 8. This Plaister was prepared by the good pleasuro of God the Father Covenanting with God the Son long before Man was in being much more before he was wounded No such Plaister was provided to Cure the Fall of Angels for they sinned upon their own accord and without a Tempter Therefore Gods 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 did out-shine his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His love to Men was greater than his love to Angels for in coming to Judge Man such was his Graciousness towards him that in Wrath he Remembred Mercy Habb 3. 2. And giving the Promise of Christ in the Seed of the Woman Adam takes hold of the Promise and in Faith therein he calls his Wife Eve which signifies Life He instead of Dying the same Day of his Eating Forbidden-Fruit Lives 930 Y. after and she became the Mother of all Living and though they brought in Death by their Disobedience yet God Taught them the Ordinance of Sacrificing so the first thing that Dyed in the World was a Sacrifice or Christ in a Figure the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World Rev. 13. 8. And who opens a passage into a better Paradise than that which they had Forfeited Luk. â—3 43. 2 Cor. 12. 4. Rev. 2. 7. And if that Rabbinical Notion no way dissentaneous to Truth be Received to wit That the Tree of Knowledge stood upon Mount Calvary Paradise being placed in Canaan the Glory of all Lands Ezek. 20. 6. where Christ was after Crucified on a Tree then it follows that in the same place and by
Rebuilt since Samson pull'd it Down Judg. 16. 23 25. and the Two Cherubims now Spreading their Wings under the Roof of an Ugly Image Half a Fish and Half a Man no doubt but he had a further and fairer Prospect of prospering in his Project yet even Then God Awakes who had been Asleep as it were all this time Psal 78. 65 60. puts forth his Power Beats Dagon upon his own Dunghill yea Beats him down to the Ground as if he had met his Worshippers to Worship them and falls down to them that came the next Morning to fall down to him 1 Sam. 5. 3. and when their Superstition had made them more Senseless than their Senseless Idol Psal 115. 8. they become Patrons to their God and as if it had been onely a Chance Helps him up into his place He is a miserable God that cannot Rise alone but stands in need of Helping up by his own Worshippers and craves more Help from them than ever he could give to them Dagon is again rais'd up into His Rood-loft to Affront the Ark and hath those very hands lifted up to him which had helped to lift him up Will a Jealous God who Winks and sits still on purpose to behold their mad Folly and stupid Confidence and to Fetch about his own Glory put up this Injury shall this Lifeless Stone continue as a sit Companion with the Living God and scape Scot-free with an Harmless Fall No God cannot Brook Corrivals Dagon Falls again and Breaks his Neck His Head the Seat of Wisdom and His Hands the Seat of Power were both Cutt off v. 4. to shew them their God could neither Consult nor Act for them yea God had chopp'd them off upon the Threshold of his own Temple as a Cook sometimes doth the Head and Leggs of a great Fowl for his Masters Dinner and now those that came to Worship him might Tread those parts they most Trusted in under foot as unsavoury Salt and Dagon was now no better than a Dunghill-Deity They might now set their Foot upon the best parts of their Idol whereon they had set their Heart and now those chiefest pieces met them at the Threshold to tell them how much they were mistaken in their Headless Handless and ever Footless God Nothing but the Stump remained to wit the Fishy part that had no Feet and that also sadly Bruised and Battered by the Fall And because those obstinate Idolaters instead of giving Glory to God who had Destroy'd their Idol gave Honour to the Threshold which their Dagon had Touched v. 5. whereby however God perpetuated the Memory of the Miracle in the minds of Posterity as if the Broken Head and Hands of the Idol had Hallowed it They had it in great Veneration Thus the Pagans of Old Kissed the Threshold of their Temples and the Papagans at this Day do Kiss the Threshold of Peters-Church in Rome when they enter into it Suppose it were done as some say by way of Detestation and not by way of Veneration as Dear Relations will Detest to touch that Sword wherewith their neer Friend hath been Murthered yet even so the Romanists do Symbolize with those Uncircumcised inasmuch as the Pope in his Solemn Procession declineth to Walk that Street in Rome wherein Pope Joan was Delivered as a Street unhappy to the Credit of their Church Thus the Priests of the Devil might forbear to Tread upon the Threshold that was so Unhappy as to break the Head and Hands of their Supposed Deity However the Lord was Angry for no better Improoving the Fall of their Idol neither the first nor second therefore Falls he foul upon themselves pays their Posteriours like so many Puniboys and Plagues them with Emrods yea and as some think with the Foul Disease and likewise with Mice that Marr'd their Land as the Blind Piles Marr'd themselves Their Dagon could not drive so much as a poor Mouse from them insomuch that their own Mouths Confessed The Lord's Hand is sore upon us and upon Dagon our God v. 7. The Ark is too Hot for them to Hold They carry the Ark of God and with it the Plague of God up and down to their Neighbours any whither they would bear it rather than Home to Israel until God forced them to yield saying Let the Ark Return to its own place v. 11. Yea and that City which first said so fared the best for the Men there Dyed not as they did in other Cities Thus God's Revenge Works out Nolens Volens the Ark's Return and not without a Trespass-Offering though Ridiculous such as Satan in Contempt of God had suggested to their Diviners 1 Sam. 6. 2 4. The Ark is carryed Home by two Untamed and Untrained Kine that had Calves at Home which Naturally they break through All to come at and that without a Driver All this made the Miracle greater God Himself drove the Cart and made the Kine know their Owner Isa 1. 3. which Hophni and Phinehas Two Priests had not done 1 Sam. 2. 12. This was no doubt The Fruit of Samuel's Pray'r in whom the Lord Restored the lost Spirit of Prophecy hence is he called the first of the Prophets after that Failure Act. 3. 24. Hebr. 11. 32. and of Israel that Lamented after the Ark not being Contented with an Empty Tabernacle but thought themselves forlorn without the Ark in it Thus Gracious was God to his poor People to make the presence of the Prisoner the Ark Grievous to the Philistines and being set at Liberty Joyful to Israel Even so will the Lord do with all those that Deal thu with the Gospel as they did with the Ark he will make them Smart for it and Laugh all their Plots to Nothing Especially if God give his Samuels to his Church that cease not to Cry to the Lord for her at her Request 1 Sam. 7. 8 9. And the Spirit of Repentance be powr'd out upon his People so that All Universally Lament after the Lord even with Storms of Sighs and Shours of Tears though after 20 Y. Bondage and Backslidings v. 2 to 6. Weeping before the Lord abundantly that their Sorrowing might be proportionable to their Sinning Samuel's Sermons to Israel in his Itinerary Circuits wrought so powerfully upon them as to fetch Groans out of their Hearts Tears out of their Eyes Vows out of their Mouths and Idols out of their Hands Oh! for such a Divine Dispensation in our Day then though the Five Lords of the Philistines 1 Sam. 6. 16. those Five Lords in the Tower do Plot against us and Assault us in our Fasting and Praying If our Samuels do but Cry as he was Excellent at that Work Psal 99. 6. Jer. 15. 1. and Offer up the Lamb of God with their Prayers as he did v. 7 9. God will Hear and Thunder upon them with a great Thunder as v. 10. and Ch. 2. 10. and Josh 10. 10. Judg. 4. 15. and smite them so at Beth-car the House of the
all sculking away Their Plot being laid open and timely prevented laid them open to the scorn of the people and to the anguish and horrour of their own guilty Consciences Thus doth the most wise and righteous God befool insolent men in their never so secretly projected and promoted Plots wherein they do hope to supplant the Son of David our Lord Jesus that Prince of Peace as those did Solomon here and the Church in him But what became of the Plotters Adonijah himself flies to the Horns of the Altar which probably so prophane a Prince had hitherto despised and was pardon'd by this peaceable Prince but upon his good behaviour v. 52. which when he broke in seeking the Kingdome with Abishai Ch. 2. 22. being no small Petition as Bathsheba call'd it v. 20. for Solomons sagacity saw the depths of the Devil in it which his Mother could not dive into for this he lost his life v. 24. as Joab did after him v. 30. where the very Altar could not secure him from Just Vengeance and as for Abiathar he was thrust out from the High-Priesthood v. 37. his Linnen Ephod or sacred Function did not exempt him from Civil Censures as the Romanists plead and so was fulfill'd the Word of the Lord upon Ely's House 1 Sam. 2. 31 35 and had he not been afflicted in all wherein David had been afflicted which was for above forty year he had been also a dead man with Adonijah and Joab for this Conspiracy David dies full of days riches and honour 1 Chron. 29. 28. and leaves the state of the Church honourable Solomon succeeds and brings the Churches State to its 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or highest pitch of Glory while Militant which is a Figure of the Kingdome of Christ one greater than Solomon here on Earth David had advanced the splendour of the Church in his Religious provision for the portable Temple to wit the Tabernacle erected in the City of David and also in his Religious preparations for the Fix'd Temple 1. Knowing the place where it should stand to wit on Mount Moriah where Abraham offer'd Isaac Gen. 22. 2 9. and 2 Chro. 3. 1. 2. Receiving the pattern of it by Divine Inspiration 1 Chron. 28. 19. he gave it to Solomon Ch. 29. 11. who by the help of Davids prepar'd materials to wit 1. Spoils of Enemies Ch. 18. 11. 2. An hundred thousand Talents of Gold 3. A thousand thousand Talents of Silver 4. Hewn stone and Timber 5. Iron and Brass without measure Ch. 22.14 6. Precious Stones Ch. 29. 2. 7. His own offerings and those of the Princes and people Ch. 29.4 c. though Solomon added much more of his own store built the most stately and costly Structure the most sumptuous and glorious Edifice that ever was in the World therefore justly called the Worlds Wonder the House of the most High God 2 Chron. 2. 5. and a Type of the Church Triumphant in Heaven as the Tabernacle had been of the Church Militant upon Earth This Temple was twice so long and large every way as was the Tabernacle Exod. 26. as the Temple in Ezek. Ch. 40. 41 42 c. setting forth Gospel-times is described as much bigger than all the old Jerusalem and a new Jerusalem bigger than all the Land of Canaan Solomon finish'd his Temple in the year of the World 3000. Hence some gather that the Spiritual Temple shall be compleated in 3000 more and then the Sabbatical year shall take place as the Sabbath succeeds the six days of the Week In the building of this Magnifical House of the Lord all the materials were made ready before they were brought thither so that there was neither Hammer nor Axe nor any Tool of Iron heard in the House while it was in building 1 King 6. 7. to teach us three things 1. That all true Members of Churches must be sanctified and called to be Saints 1 Cor. 1. 1 2. hewn by the Word and Spirit and made living Stones before Admission 2. That in the Church Militant upon Earth all noise of jars and contentions which are as the knocking of Iron Instruments must be declined 3. That in the Church Triumphant in Heaven there shall be no sorrows nor sufferings all noise of fears and tears shall be done away the State then shall be peaceable and joyful for which the Saints are fitted by the Hammer of Gods Word and the Hand of his Spirit upon the Mountains of this lower World there to enjoy rest and glory The Sanctum Sanctorum of the Temple or Oracle so called because there God used to deliver Divine Answers or Oracles Exod. 30. 5. and Levit. 16. 2. was the place prepared for the Ark of the Covenant to rest in after its many removes and wandrings 1. From the Desart to Gilgal 2. From Gilgal to Shilo 3. From Shilo to the Philistims 4. From thence to Bethshemesh 5. From thence to Kiriath Jearim 6. From thence to the House of Obed-Edom And 7. From thence to Sion the City of David Now Solomon provides a resting place to wit the best part of the Temple the Holy of Holies for this best and most precious piece which had the Law within it and the Mercy-Seat upon it far more precious than the Palladium at Troy the Pessinuntium at Rome or the Image at Athens made by Canetias the Artificer yet said by the covetous Priests to be dropt down from Jupiter Act. 19. 35. as it was the principal Evidence of Gods gracious presence and the lively Type of Christ in whom are hid as in an Ark or Coffer all the Treasures of Gods goodness Col. 2. 3. So that when Solomon dedicates his glorious Fabrick which as Josephus saith dazled the eyes of all its beholders by Sacrifice and Supplication he concludes his Prayer saying Arise now therefore O Lord God into thy resting place thou and the Ark of thy strength 2 Chron. 6. 41. whereby he invites the Lord to take possession of his Temple where his Ark should be no more transportative but setled for a long season Psal 1 â—2 8 9 10. And the Lord testifies his acceptation of all both by Fire from Heaven which was kept alive till the Captivity of Babylon and by filling the House with his Glory 2 Chro. 7. 1. Now was the Church of God by his good hand upon her brought up to such a beauty of Holiness and to such a perfection of dazling splendour like that of the Temple that Religion was had in great Veneration both by Domesticks and Forreigners 1. His own Israel went home so refreshed with the Prayer and the Blessing that they adored the Lord for his goodness to them 1 Kin. 8. 66. and both Hiram King of Yyre praised God for the Blessing that the Church had in Solomon 1 Kin. 5. 7. saying Because the Lord hath loved his people he hath set a Solomon over them 2 Chro. 2. 11. Hence some verily think this Hiram was a Proselited Prince and 2.
Mackeda Queen of Sheba coming from a far Country Mat. 12. 42. falls into an Extasie of admiration 1 Kin. 10. 5. and coming to her self she blesses the Lord God that had loved Israel so as to set Solomon on the Throne saying the reality of Israels glory in him far exceeded all the Reports she had received v. 7. 9. yea and not only those two Forreigners but even all the Earth sought to Solomon c. v. 24. both Princes and People Ch. 4. 31. 34. The Devil put Israel upon casting off God and desiring a King 1 Sam. 8. 7. Now God uses a King to raise his Church to her highest glory Thus God over-shoots Satan in his own Bow The Fifteenth Plot against the CHURCH in Canaan Defeated by GOD. CHAP. XV. HAving shown how the Pillar of Providence hath usher'd and over-shadow'd the Church of this lower World from Adam to Solomon in whose Reign she arrived at her greatest Splendour and Beauty notwithstanding all the Devils Fore-games he plaid to prevent it Now come we to speak of his After-games whereby he brought an abatement of her glory and a declension of her lustre in this her Militant state upon Earth As it is the course of Nature in Coelestial and Terrestrial things there is a time of their rising and growth to their perfection gradually carried on for Nature makes no leaps and there is a time of setting and gradual declining also Thus 't is in Coelestial Bodies the Sun riseth and runs its course till it come to its Zenith at High-noon or Mid-Summer and then it descends and goes lower to the Earth observing its Apogaeum and Perigaeum The Moon hath not only her Ortum occasum Rising and Setting but also her Plenilunium Novi lunium Increase and Decrease and therefore is the Embleme of the Church in sacred Writ as having her filling and weaning times and Terrestrial things both Animate and Inanimate have their seasons of attaining their perfection both of parts and degrees and then follows their declining time yea the Kingdoms of the World have their times and their turns their points and their periods beyond which they cannot pass Even so it is with the Kingdom of Christ his Church there is nothing here below that can always say I am but the unchangeable God Go tell Pharaoh that I am hath sent me unto thee Exod. 3. 14. The Creator only can say I am that I am but the Creature is to day and is not to morrow being a changeable thing and so the Church here upon Earth is changeable as the Moon which hath her Eclipses her Obumbrations under a black Cloud and when silled round with light borrowed from the Sun hath her time of a gradual losing that lustre again Thus the Old Testament Church came to her Full-Moon of light and glory borrowed from the Sun of Righteousness Mal. 4.2 Vxor fulget Radiis Mariti the Spouse shines with the Beams and Bracelets such as Isaac sent Rebekah Gen. 24. of her Bridegroom Ezek. 16. 14. in the days of Solomon for about thirty years together In his last ten years the Devil begins his first after-game to bring a decrease of her glory upon her It is observable that Gods promise of establishing the Throne of Israel for ever 2 Sam. 7. 13 16. as it was Typical and so temporary relating to Christ the Son of David who should build a Mystical Temple the Church called the House of God 1 Tim. 3. 15. whose essential and natural Kingdom shall never have an end though his Mediatory hath 1 Cor. 15. 24. yet not till he hath put down all contrary Powers and made all his Foes his footstool so it was 2. Conditional relating to Solomon who built the Material Temple which should flourish for ever upon condition of his perseverance in Piety If he commit iniquity v. 14. which Solomon did but Christ could not in the latter end of his Reign by falling into Idolatry 1 Kin. 11. 9 14 23 26. therefore the Lord corrected him with the Rod of men by stirring up Adversaries against him which would not have been had he been constant as at that day when another promise was propounded upon that condition in the good ways of God 1 Chron. 28. 7. Solomon had been well educated both by his Father Prov. 4. 4. and by his Mother Prov. 31. 1. and at that day while young kept the Commandments of the Lord and brought both Church and State to the highest point of sublunary happiness So that as Davids Reign represented the Church Militant upon Earth so Solomons Reign resembled the Church Triumphant in Heaven yet as man that is in honour abideth not Psal 49. 12. so Solomon according to the manner of all temporal things and by the means of mans corruption abode not in this Honourable and happy estate but when he was old 1 Kin. 11. 4. and then should he have been best Job 32. 7. Having had so long Communion with God and so much experience of his goodness in his appearing to him twice after an extraordinary manner which was a great Evidence of Divine favour and laid a great ingagement upon him to cleave close to God who twice appeared 1 Kin. 3. 5. and 9. 2. and 11. 9. Some make Solomon's old age the extenuation of his sin inasmuch as it brings along with it many weaknesses which exposed him to be over-witted by Outlandish Women upon which he so fondly doted But surely his Age was an aggravation of his sin his last days should have been his best days and his Graces like good liquor should have run fresh to the bottom Some do give the Flower of their Youth to the Devil and reserve the Dregs of their Old Age for God This is bad enough but Solomon did far worse in doing quite contrary as if he expected to find the Devil a better Master to serve in his old age than he had sound God to be in his youth ☞ Oh what need we have to stand upon our watch little do we know what the Devil may tempt us to before we die if God leave us Satan may sift us worse in his Sieve of Temptation when we are old than ever he could do while we were young The Innocentest man Adam the Strongest man Sampson and the Wisest man Solomon were all undone by Satan and all by Women especially Solomon who had hitherto the character of a None-such from 1 Kin. 3. 1. to the end of Ch. 10. then Ch. 11. begins with a But like that of Naaman 2 Kin. 5. 1. he was Captain of the Syrian Host a great man with his Master and Honourable he was also a mighty man of Valour But he was a Leper So here after all Solomons glory is graphically described in the foregoing Chapters it follows Ch. 11. 1. But King Solomon loved many strange Women hereby he who should have been the man for establishing the Church in its perfection of beauty and for perpetuating the power and
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
Kin. 21. 19 22 23. with Ch. 22. 38. and 2 Kin. 9. 35 36 37. So they who sold themselves to work evil and might have been sure they should in time rue the bargain at length as they had made a Match with mischief so God gave them both their Belly-fulls of it and fill'd them with the evil of their own ways Prov. 14. 14. Gods Arrow found out wicked Ahab under his disguise which he did to evade Micaiah's Prophecy of him a certain man drew a Bow at a venture and smote Ahab 'twixt the joynts of his Harness 1 Kin. 22. 30 34. This casual and contingent shot was guided by God to hit the mark to an hairs-breadth whereas the cast of Sauls Javelin was three times guided by the same hand of God to miss the mark of holy Davids body Micaiah was imprisoned for foretelling this fate v. 26 28. Who would not rather be a Micaiah in the Goal than an Ahab in the Chariot God preserved the one in the former but wounded to death the other in the latter Then was God even with him for all his Idolatry and impieties in persecuting the Prophets murdering of Naboth who doubtless had hope in his death as righteous and so in a far better condition now than Ahab was who had no hope but was driven away in his wickedness Prov. 14. 32. Wicked men may have some advantage of the way but godly men have their advance at the end as Ahab had sold himself to sin so God sold him to destruction and Ahaziah the eighth succeeds him who was a soft-pated Prince and low-spirited in losing no mean part of his Kingdome in the beginning of his Reign by the Rebellion of Moab 2 Kin. 1. 1. with Ch. 3. 4 5. and 2 Chro. 20. 1. but above all he was a wicked King like Bird like Egg he had as black a Soul as his Father Ahab to live in his white Ivory Palace that Ahab had built 1 Kin. 22. 39 52. His sin finds him out Num. 32. 23. as he was walking upon the Leads of this stately Palace he falls through a Grate and catches his death which Baalzebub of Ekron could not prevent or rather the Devil of Acheron as Hell is call'd by the Poet Virgil as above Flectere si nequeo superos Acheronta Movebo This Beelzebub or Baalzebub is call'd the God of Flies or Jupiter Stercorarius a Dunghill Deity for out of the Dunghill have the Flies their Natural Generation This Devil could not take off that sickness which the God of Israel had laid on him and whereby he was disinabled to attempt any thing against rebelling Moab This pusillanimous Prince Jehoram the ninth succeeded who was more active than his Brother Ahaziah and not all out so bad as his Parents Ahab and Jezabel for he destroyed Baal out of Samaria yet not very much better than they for he continued Jeroboams Calves 2 Kin. 3. 2 3. God likes not that men should make a straight furrow here and a balk there partial Reformation discovers Hypocrisie wherefore Gods Arrow finds him at Ramoth-Gilead as it had done Ahab his Father at the same place and coming to be healed of his wounds at Jezreel is there slain by furious Jehu the tenth whom God raised up extraordinarily to destroy Ahabs Posterity 2 Kin. 9. 1 to 30. 37. and 10 to 15. He had a zeal indeed for the Lord as Jehoram had against Baal v. 16 to 28. yet proves he but an half Reformer putting down Baal yet keeping up the Calves v. 29. lest it should cost him his Kingdome by Israels repairing to Temple-worship notwithstanding this his Dispensatory Conscience because he had done well for the matter God gives him the favour of his fourth Generation v. 30. which was not granted to any other King of Israel after the Revolt to wit Jehoaaz the eleventh who doth wickedly and Joash the twelfth who rides in the same rode 2 Kin. 13. 2 6 11. and Jeroboam the thirteenth who did Patrizare also and walkt in his forefathers steps Ch. 14. 24. for which cause Amos prophecied against him and was banished from Bethel for it Amos 7. 10 11 12. fore-telling a dreadful Earthquake Amos 1. 1. and Jeroboams death by the Sword Ch. 7. 9. him succeeded Zecharias the fourteenth and the fourth from Jehu to whom God would not be indebted for his good actings but gave him this reward yet this his last Branch being wicked he was slain for his wickedness by Shallum the fifteenth Ch. 15. 9 10. who was paid home in his own Coyn by Menahem the sixteenth whose cruelty ending with himself Pekaiah the seventeenth comes on the Throne but he not degenerating from his evil Ancestors was soon put off by Pekah the eighteenth who being no better than the rest was trayterously slain by Hoshea the nineteenth who being wicked also was carried Captive by Salmanezer of Assyria 2 Kin. Ch. 15. and 16. and 17. Thus Israel provoked the Lord to anger as if they had done all this for that very purpose of causing God to cast them off and to write Lo-Ammi upon them by the forementioned Earthquake the Lord did plainly foreshew that God would shake terribly the Heaven of that Church and the Earth of that State And as God forewarned them by his works both ordinary and extraordinary so all along by his Word in the mouths of all his both the greater and lesser Prophets saying to them that if they would not live by Gods good Laws they should not live in Gods good Land c. Hos 9. 3. This Hosed who forewarns Israel that their Land would spue them out as God had threatned Levit. 18. 26 28. was the first of the Race of those Prophets before Isaiah in the days of Jeroboam Hos 1. 1 2. And thus as under an Hosea Israel was possessed of Canaan Numb 13. 16. and under an Hosea they were dispossessed of it 2 Kin. 17. 1 6. so the Lord sent an Hosea to blame their unthankfulness for the former and to declare the dreadfulness of the latter No doubt but the Devil was much delighted with this sad Catastrophe of Israels Ejection out of Canaan he always makes mirth and merriment out of Israels mourning he makes Comedies of their Tragedies he had indeed so rooted and riveted Idolatry in Israel that it could not be rooted out but by rooting up the corrupted Stock yet all along the Reign of those twenty Kings of Israel for so many Tibni Corrival to Omri 1 Kin. 16. 21 22. doth exactly make and often several Stocks yet all agreeing in Jeroboams sin God raised up a Race of Prophets to give warning even from the Man of God that cryed against Jeroboams Altar 1 Kin. 13. and from Elijah and Elisha down to the last-of those Kings very few whereof died a dry or natural death 2 Kin. 17. 13 23. God wanted not his Witnesses though in Sackcloth all that time His Eye to Israel even under great provocations was good while
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
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
Friendly Visit whom he Feasted as familiar Friends Jer. 41. 1. not unlike to Psal 41. 9. Luk. 14. 1. Mat. 26.23 Then those Judas's assaults him when he and all his Guests were as Josephus saith merry with Wine and so less able to Resist and slew him and all that were with him v. 23. and Seventy Samaritan Proselytes who had not in the least offended this Brutish Butcher v. 5 6 7. All this befalls this good Governour by his own fond Credulity for he had a faithful Information of this Bloody Plot by Johanan and the Captains Jer. 40. 13. Discovering to him How the King of Ammon was the prime Engineer out of his Inveterate Hatred to Israel in pussing up this young Gallant and his Ten Desperado Hectors with Promises of Preferment as before v. 14. not unlike to that Influence our present Plot hath had from the French-Court Yea and those Discoverers of the Plot do offer their Service to Prevent it v. 15. but this Just Man too much Ingenuous too little Suspicious was too secure and would believe nothing v. 14. 16. * Qui omnia Credit qui nihil Credit ex Aâ—quo peccat 'T is no less a fault to believe nothing than to believe every thing As Reports are not to be over-heeded so neither are they to be over-slighted especially where Life is concern'd and most especially the Life of the King or chief Governour the latter whereof was Gedaliah's Case and the former is this of Ahasuerus who like a Wise King makes Inquisition to wit a Thorough Enquiry and Searching out to the Bottom whether the Report were True or No Esth 2. 23. well-knowing that the Weal of the whole Land Depended mainly upon One Mans Safety and though Cruel and Crafty Ishmael was successful so far as by his Deep Dissimulation to cut off good Gedaliah through his want of an Honest Jealousie and many others to whom he made a shew of a mournful Mind with them in his Crocodile-Tears that they might not mistrust him Jer. 41. 6. Yet God Laugh'd his Plot to Nothing he lost his Design of makeing himself King or Vice-Roy for though he did what he could to conceal his Wickedness Jer. 41. 4 9. yet God will have all Barbarous Murthers to come out to light though never so closely carryed Rumour out-ran him before he could get away with his Prize Johanan hears of all his Butcheries comes and makes a Rescue to the Joy of the People v. 10 to 13. Ishmael escapes to Ammon as our Conspirators do to France * which Defeat could not but be a greater vexation to his proud Heart there than Death it self with what Peace Honour or Conscienbe could this base Judas live in the Court of the Ammonites King who had sett him on to Raise himself by the Ruine of Gedaliah and to give him an Opportunity of Invading the Countrey when they had none to protect them Here I cannot pass over in Silence those four Famous Remarques The 1st is That Divine Vengeance pursued Ishmael to Ammon as appears Jer. 49. 1 2 3. Amos 1. 14. and 2. 2. which had always Infested Israel and now Grossly Injur'd as if Heir-less so is put under an Irreversible Decree of Destruction for Three and Four Transgressions God knows what may in due time befall France for the like Sins The 2d Remarque is Gods Freedom in his Choice of Instruments for Deliverance This Johanan was not Right no more than Ishmael out of whose Wicked Hands he Deliver'd the People for though he pretended fair in that Act and in his Address to Jeremy Jer. 42. 1 2 3. yet this was all but Hateful Hypocrisie v. 20. and 43. 2 4. The 3d. Remarque is Divine Vengeance Pursues this Deliverer when he step'd out of Gods way into Aegypt as appeareth Jer. 43. 11. and 46. 1 2 c. Thither those persidious Persons are pursued Hot foot for refusing to live in Gods good Land and according to Gods good Laws as they had feignedly promised The 4th famous Remarque is this God suffers some Secret Plots and Cursed Conspiracies to Succeed more and farther than others yet all Baffled and Blasted at last Thus that against Gedaliah had a farther Success than this against Ahasuerus for Gedaliah did fall by that against him because of his Remissness to find out the Treason but Ahasuerus did not fall by His for it was found out Esth 2. 23. as all Treason usually is for Mordecai had so prudently Manag'd the Matter that he could punctually prove the Information and did so whereupon the Traitors who like Bells will never be well Tuned until they be well Hanged were both Hanged on the Gallows wearing a Tyburn-Tippet as Father Latimer phrased it * whereof some such like in our day seem to be Ambitious but much Joy have they of that Ambition to themselves though they be Canoniz'd for Saints thereby in the Romish-Kalendar Mordecai's Discovery becomes the Kings Deliverance and the Traitors Destruction This memorable Act is Entred into the Journal-Book or publique Records of Persia the King being an Eye-Witness of its Registring yet Mordecai's Good Service was soon forgotten God forgat not Ahasuerus to Recompence him for his Love to Esther and Kindness to her People by Detecting and defeating the Damnable Plot of the Conspirators against his Life but he soon forgets Mordecai who from a Conscience of Duty and Fear of God became the Instrument of saving his Life though the whole matter was in his Chronicle-Book before him However God who had an Holy Hand in all this forgat not Mordecai but brought to pass great things by his Providence even out of the Kings forgetting him and that Nothing was yet Done for Mordecai Esth 6. 1. c. as is there at large related * God 's time is the best and we shall one day say so let us leave our All believingly with the Lord never is there any thing lost by waiting Gods Leisure and Pleasure who both Bottles up the Tears and Books up the Groans of his People Psal 6. 8. Yea Writes down all their Prayers in his Roll of Remembrance Mal. 3.16 and will not forget them as the Butler did Joseph Gen. 40. 23. nor as Ahasuerus did Mordecai here therefore all things went Sadly with the Church after this forgetfulness Haman gets the Kings Decree to Destroy all the Jews in the 12th Month upon his Lucky Day Esth 3. 13. and his revengeful Heart being too Impatient of so long Delay till that Day came goes in the mean time to get a Grant of Ahasuerus to Hang Mordecai the Kings Deliverer before hand Esth 5. 14. and 6.4 Now the Devils game was at the fairest the Church brought to a low ebb Haman is come unto the King for an Order to Hang Mordecai very early in the Morning yea so early that Esther could not possibly prevent him by begging of his Life had she been never so Desirous Here was the low-Water Mark now the Tide begins to turn and
'T was a marvellous Providence that God should preserve the High-Priest-hood all the Captivity to this time as Neh. 12. 11. but more to have this Pledge of Gods Grace in Jaddus time The 4th Allay was though Antiochus who sprung out of Alexanders Successors became a fierce Fiend to the Iews yet God told them by Daniel that his standing up against the Prince of Princes to wit God Almighty in Destroying the Dayly Sacrifice and in setting up Idolatry in the Temple would quickly bring Gods Vengeance upon him He shall be broken without Hand Dan. 8. 25. and though for a few Y. as above he shall do according to his wicked Will in the Holy Land Dan. 11. 36. not Regarding any God v. 37. yet shall he come to his end v. 45. a loathsome and lamentable end a Visible Hand of God laid upon him a loathsome Disease and wrapt him up in the Sheet of Shame 1 Macc. 6. 8. and 2 Macc. 9. 5. not so much because he would have spoiled the Temple of Diana but because he did Spoil the Temple at Jerusalem The 5th Allay was that Spirit of God and of Glory which Rested upon the Godly Jews both for Doing Gods Work and for Suffering Gods Will 1. In Doing Oh what a Blessed Zeal did blow up Matthias the Father and Judas Maccabeus his Son who with the Help of his Brethren and other Iews drove the Enemy out of the Countrey and cleansed the Land of all the Uncleanness which had been brought into it Yea and with a very small Handful of Men did mighty Exploits against this Vile Antiochus's great Armies so that the Church was in those Worst of Times most Graciously Holpen with a little Help Dan. 11. 34. in which Weaker Means God Manifested to them his Greater Strength In whose name and by whose Conduct the People that knew their God were strong to do Exploits and to out-doe those Exploits of Antiochus Dan. 11. 28 32. The Apostle seemeth to speak of these Maccabees who wrought Righteousness both Civil and Military Obtained Promises of Glorious Victories and Escaped the edge of the Sword of their Cursed Enemies which sometimes Conquerours do not but purchase their Conquests with the loss of their own Lives as it happened to those brave Brethren at last Hebr. 11. 32 33. and 2ly in Suffering and no less Glorious Spirit did Act the Godly Jews in their Undergoing Cruel Mockings and most exquisite Torments they were Tempted and they were Tortured too yet being got above both the Allurements and Affrightments of the World they would not Accept of Deliverance upon Sordid and sinful terms but as willing to Dye as to Dine they commit themselves to their God in their Martyrdom That they might obtain a better Resurrection Hebr. 11. 35 37. Where that time seems to be Related to God had even then an Holy Remnant whereof the World was not Worthy They were fitter to shine as Stars in Heaven than to be torn in pieces by those Dogs and Hogs on Earth as Josephus the Book of Maccabees and of Martyrs tell us The 6th Sweet Allay the Church had in this Doleful Day was that miracle of the Pool of Bethesda graciously granted by God to corroborate Her in the True Worship of God under the sad persecutions of Antiochus and other Tyrants until the days of John Baptist and of the Lord Christ Joh. 5. 2 3 4. This held up the fainting Spirits of the good people in those bad Times when Prophecy failed and Prosperity too Yea and in the general all true Piety Prophaneness comming in its stead as Malachi their last Prophet declares at large The Rabbins indeed tell us of a Bath-Kol or Eccho that was heard in the Temple which serv'd them for an Oracle c. but waving Jewish Fancies and Fables the Scripture of Truth tells us how an Angel went at certain times to give Healing Vertue to that Water wherein their Sacrifices were washed Here many Impotent Folk lay Languishing at Hopes Hospital and looking after all other means had been ineffectual for God to say to them In the House of Mercy as the Word Bethesda signifies I am thy God that Healeth thee Exod. 15. 26. Jehova Ropheka a Gyant-like Healer Omnipotenti Medico nullus Insanabilis Occurit Morbus No Disease is but God can Cure it This Beneficial Pool was supplyed with Water from the Fountain of Siloam which Represented the Kingdom of Christ Isa 8. 6. The 7th and last Allay was the Promise of the Messiah that Mercy of Mercies who was to be a more Soveraign Bath than this of Bethesda or House of Bounty Christ is the Royal Fountain or Kings Bath Zech. 13. 1. ever-flowing and over-flowing such as Wash herein Believingly shall be both Clean and Whole not Healing at the times of the Iewish Feasts onely as that Pool did but all times of the Year and not one at once as if one only had Suck'd up all the Healing Vertue from all others there but here 3000 persons were Healed together at one Sermon Act. 2. 41. when the Angel of the Covenant Descended to move the Waters that were drawn out of the Wells of Salvation Isa 12. 3. for no other moving but that of an Angel who are Ministring Spirits to heirs of Salvation Hebr. 1. 14. could Dispence to the Diseased any such powerful and immediate Cure the Waters were at all times of a cleansing Property as to their Sacrifices but onely at that time had they a Cureing Power as to themselves When this Beneficial Vertue began in this Pool is uncertain 't is supposed to begin when Eliashib Joshua's Grand-Child with the godly Priests Built the Sheep-gate and Beautify'd it then Consecrated it with their godly Prayr Neh. 3. 1. Hereupon as Tremellius saith probably followed that Miracle of an Angels Descending into the Pool there at their several Solemn Feasts and Healing all Diseases how old great or Desperate soever and that immediately and in a moment 't is as Uncertain likewise when this Miracle of Healing Ceased 't is supposed not till the Destruction of Ierusalem which did fall out about Forty Y. after Christs Healing this Cripple at Bethesda it being so many Y. 'twixt this Passeover Ioh. 5. and that Passeover when Titus Vespasian laid Siege to the City yet this is more than probable that this Miraculous Gift of Healing was given to this Pool before the Comming of Christ as a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or famous fore-Runner of him who was to be the Opened Fountain Zech. 13. 1. for Healing all Diseases and Cureing all Sins Matth. 1. 21. even Jesus the Greek Word comes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sano to Heal as the Hebr. Word of Jashang to Save and this is most certain that the time when this Famous Fountain was opened is well known though concerning the Pool aforesaid the Beginning of its Miracle be unknown to wit to be about the four Thousand Y. of the World according to the Latitude of Time and latest
which he reserv'd for the last and that not like himself the Prince of Darkness a Fowl Fiend of Hell but as an Angel of Light tempting Christ in the first temptation as a faithful Friend pittying to see him Famish'd in the Wilderness and with seeming compassion counsels him to change Stones into Bread Matth. 4. ◠that is Distrust Gods Providence for Relieving thy Hunger by Working a preposterous Miracle this was Intendsd though better was Pretended In the 2d he comes not as a Friend to Advise but as a Divine to Direct v. 6. quoting Scripture most Gravely to corroborate his Directions but in this though his Words were the Smooth Voice of Jacob yet his Sense was the Rough Hands of Esau The old Lyar spake Truth here but for Divelish Ends yet in his Apish Imitation of Christs Alledging Scriptum est he fallaciously Clipps off that Clause In all thy Ways and so marrs the Masculine-Sense thereof for if a Man be out of his way appointed him by God to walk in if out of Gods Precincts he is out of Gods Protection Deut. 23. 6. Prov. 27. 1. In the 3d. he comes not like a faithful Friend to furnish him in his Famine as in the 1 nor like a Grave Divine to Direct him from Scripture how he might get Immortal Applause by his Flying in the Ayr from the top of the Temples Pinacle down to the Ground as in the 2d but like a Mighty Monarch to Seduce our Saviour with great and goodly Gifts v. 8 9. Shewing him all the Kingdoms of the World and the Glory thereof all in their Beauty and Bravery and doubtless a most Bewitching Object Hoping hereby to Dazle our Redeemers Eyes those Windows of the Soul and so to Conjure his Affections especially offering all this Rule and Riches as his Royal Bounty to him and according to the Centurists to make him Pope to wit of a Christ he would make him Antichrist but that which Spoil'd the Devils Game he backs his Prosser'd Beneficence which in its self was but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Opinion or Imagination and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act. 24. 23. a meer Phancy or Shaddow or an Empty Apparition with a loud Lye saying All this is Deliliver'd unto me Luk. 4. 6. This as a Lying Spirit he Spake of his own self Joh. ◠44. 't is not to whom the Devil will the Kingdoms of the World are given but 't is to whom God Willeth Dan. 2. 44. and 4. 25. and 5. 21. the most High sets up and takes down appoints and bestows on whomsoever he will the Prince of Hell can do no more in giving to or taking from than the God of Heaven permits Revel 13. 7. Jer. 18. 4. and 27. 5. 4ly The Patient The Lord Christ our Blessed Redeemer was the Sufferer as the Devil was the Agent and Inflicter for Forty Days and Nights too our Lord was continually and uncessantly Buffeted not by the Messenger of Satan as Paul was 2 Cor. 17. 7. but by Satan himself in Person with all sorts of Temptations during that time not Recorded Luk. 4. 2. but these three which are upon Record were certainly the worst as before In quibus Diabolus omnes suos Astus Fraudis suae Sacculos Exoneravit wherein the Devil did his Utmost and turn'd up the bottom of his Bagg and Budget wherein were all manner of Hellish Weapons wherewith to Wound this Blessed Babe of Bethlehem As our Great Grand-mother Eve was tempted by Satan to the Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life 1 Joh. 2. 16. for She saw the Fruit of the Forbidden Tree was good for Food that it was Pleasant to the Eyes and to be Desired for making one Wise Gen. 3. 6. So by all these had it been possible would the same Old Serpent have Seduced the Seed of the Woman for Satan tempted our Saviour first to turn Stones into Bread for satisfying the Hunger of his Flesh 2ly to fall down and Worship him for that goodly Catch a shining Nothing or Scheme wherewith he would have bewitched his Eyes and 3ly to flye in the Firmament in a way of Pride that all Men might adore him as they did his Sorcerer Simon Magus for so doing in Samaria Act. 8. 9 10. therefore 't is probable Luke laid the three Temptations in this Order answerable to that Order 1 Joh. 2. 16. that the Parallel 'twixt the two Adams Temptations might more plainly be Observed Luk. 4. 1 to 14. Now come we from the 1st Part The Strange Act to the 2d Part the Strange End the Issue of the Act yet discoursing all along upon those mighty Means in tendency to the End The Upshot of all was our Lord Vanquished the Devil Blunting all his Weapons weelded against him Isa 54. 17. not one spark of Satans Hell-sire would take upon Christs Wet Tinder neither the 1st nor the 2d nor the 3d. no more than the many before the End of the forty Days Christ keeps his Ground maintains his Standing resists the Devil and puts him at last to the Flight by these following Means Christs Defensive Weapons against the Devils Offensives in the General 1 was not to thrust the Tempter away by his Divine Power which by Vertue of his Godhead he might have done at the first nor 2 doth he Use a Revelation against Satan nor an Inward Word as some pretend to nor 3 doth He Argue him away by Strength of Reason when he could easily Reduce the Seducer to this Undenyable Dilemma If I be the Son of God I can Live without Bread and 't is Impossible for thee a Creature to overcome Me thy Creator if I be not the Son of God why dost thou doubt of it and why dost thou propose a Miracle to be done by Me which no meer Son of Man can possibly perform by his own Power Nor 4. doth he plead Tradition as the Romanists that are more for their Traditum est than for Scriptum est to plead Scripture is according to Christ but to plead Tradition in neglect of and opposition to the Scripture is according to Antichrist but 5 his Weapon was the Word Written such as we may weeld by his Example and must do so by his Command yet 6 not by making a Charm of the bare Letter of the Word as the Superstitious and Magiquely-minded Men do thinking the naked Rehearsal of the Words in Joh. 1. 1 c. is an exorcism Strong enough to Conjure away the Devil but 't was the Sword of the Spirit drawn out of the Sheath of the Letter wherewith Christ Answer'd all the three Assaults It is Written It is Written It is Written Three times over v. 4 7 10. this was his Sore great and Strong Sword of the Spirit wherewith our Lord Punishes Leviathan that Crooked Piercing Serpent Isa 27. 1. He Draws Three Arrows out of the Divine Quiver of Sacred Scripture and chuses three Smooth Stones with David out of those Silver
is his Encountring with and Casting out a whole Legion of Devils that he might be Reveng'd of the Devil who had endeavour'd to drown both Him and all His Matth. 8 28. Mark 5. 2. and Luk. 8. 27. The 3d. Assault or rather a Meeting through the Devils being Out-dared was when a certain Man which had Devils met Christ one that was more noted more bewailed and more outragious than the other having a whole legion of Devils in him which among the old Romans was Six Thousand Armed Souldiers or as Dr. Hammond saith more than twice as many even Twelve Thousand Five Hundred so many Devils were gotten into this one poor Man All Pharaohs Cruelties exercis'd upon the Israelites and all the most exquisite Torments the most Savage Persecutors put Gods people to were all nothing to this 't is a wonder that this poor Man having so many Devils cramm'd up all together in him did not crack asunder both in Soul and Body This Man had his Dwelling among the Tombs There the Devils kept him to Terrifie him the more with the fear of Death all his Life Hebr. 2. 15. and indeed he was as Dead while he Lived so that Burying place which the Devil Haunts and plays his pranks there to enhaunch a Superstition of Praying to and for the Dead was the sittest place for him thither had those Devils driven him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 driven as the Horse is by the Spur of the Rider Luk. 8. 29. 't is a Wonder they drove him not into the Tombs as well as among them and that they made him not Run Violently down a steep place into the Sea to Choak him as they did the Herd of Swine Matth. 8. 32. This the Devils would have done with him and more than this they would have Run him down to the Bottomless Deep of Hell had not God Preserv'd him from all that he might meet his Saviour who durst meet him though no Man else durst do so because of his Fierceness Matth. 8. 28. notwithstanding his Legion of Devils in him Those Devils had driven him to Assault and Batter many Passengers Travelling that way yet dare they not though so many Devils Venture upon one Christ for upon his first Approach they feel a Beam of his Divine Power comming forth to Torment them crying Art thou come hither to Torment us and what have we to do with thee v. 29. but Christ had somewhat to do with them that is to Dispossess them letting them know their Unclean Company was sitter for Unclean Swine than for Man Gods noblest Creature Thus Christs Presence was the Devils Torment yet the poor Mans Happiness * 12500 Devils cannot match one Christ and this poor Possessed Man becoming by Grace Dispossessed and comming to his Right mind was so sadly Affrighted as he had good cause sits down at Jesus Feet and Intreated him that he might continue with him Luk. 8. 35. 38. Mark 5. 18. not onely to Testifie his Love to his Redeemer but also his Fear that upon Christs Departure from him he might Fall under the Devils Power again and so be Repossessed Thus Christ Conquers a great Army of Devils and makes this Man whom the Devils had made the most miserable of Mankind more Holy and so more Happy than all his Countrey-men who besought Christ to Depart from them Matth. 8. 34. preferring a Swine-stye before a Sanctuary and Swines Company before a Saviors whereas this onely Man besought Christ not to Depart from him and the Devils besought Christ that he would not command them to go out into the Deep Luk. 8. 31. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Bottomless-Pit 2 Pet. 2. 4. Joh. 12. 31. * The matter is well amended now not long ago the Devil Assaults Christ with all might and malice in the Wilderness but here in the Gadarens Countrey none of the best a whole Legion of Devils dare not Threaten Christ but joyns all in one Petition and besought him not to pack them away to Hell They had no mind out of this Country that loved the Devils Company better than Christs and less mind out of this World where they are as it were Respited and Reprieved till their full Torment come they are suffred as Free Prisoners in Liberâ non Arctâ Custodiâ to Flutter in the Ayr and to Course about the Earth Ephes 2. 2. Job 1. 7. Matth. 12. 43. 1 Pet. 5. 8. yet all this they do in Chains 2 Pet. 2. 4. Jude v. 6. until the last Day which they Tremble to think on I am 2. 19. And which they that mock at 2 Pet. 3. 3. or make light off Matth. 22. 5. are herein worse than Devils ☞ Behold here this great Wonder that our Lord Christ so lately Tossed in the Sea as well as Tempted in the Wilderness hath here even in his State of Humiliation brought above 12000 Devils down upon their Knees when they Besought him finding themselves over-powered not onely the Hoggish and carnal Gadarens Besought Christ whom they durst not Threaten out of their Coasts Matth. 8. 34. but even those Principalities Powers and Spiritual Wickednesses in High places Eph. 6. 12. do bow before this Ab-rech Gen. 41. 43. which signifies Tender Father This Joseph our Brother to whom Men and Devils must bow the Knee How much more may he make every Knee bow to him in his State of Exaltation Phil. 2. 8 9. The same power of Christ when He Pleaseth can now make the Tempter to change his Tone to us and all Incarnate Devils their Cruel into Kind and Candid Carriages undoubtedly He will Tread Satan under our Feet shortly Rom. 15. 20. If it were Shortly in Pauls Day wherein the Mystery of Iniquity did but begin to Work and the long Lease of the Beasts-Kingdom was not yet begun How much more is it Shortly in our Day wherein the Beast hath been playing Rex in his Pranks for above a 1000 Y. surely 't is not long e're this Word shall be Accomplish'd The 4th Assault the Devil makes upon Christ after his Departure from Him for a Season Luk. 4. 13. was in his taking New Measures being Hitherto at every turn over-match'd and putting the People upon makeing Christ King whom he could neither Kill nor Conquer Joh. 6. 14 15. 'T is true before this Satan made Two dangerous By-blows at Christ the 1st was in Cutting off John Baptist who had Witnessed him into the World that so Christ might stand upon his own Legs onely and not be any longer shored up by the Baptist whom all People believ'd to be a Prophet Matth. 21. 26. The Occasion was this John Baptist had not onely Preach'd up Christ and his Kingdom which Enrag'd the Devil but also had told Herod the Truth about his Darling-Sin which none others though they knew it durst tell Herod so but the Baptist onely this Herod the less was as fit a Tool for the Devil now as his Father Herod the great was at Christs Birth Tange Montes