are those not the Wise except it be in their own Conceit but Fools for long ago by Solomon's Pen God hath proclaimed them for such when he said Fools make a mock at Sin Prov. 14.9 now in Solomon's and David's stile the Fool is the Wicked Man who at the latter end shall appear to be the greatest Fool of all No jesting with Holy Things nor with God who will not be mockt and Men who believe otherwise are much deceived and if their Conscience tells them not before shall at last find they were so Sabbath-breaking is one of the Chief and Epidemical Sins of the Nation Every one that can read Scripture may know how strict and severe God was against Sabbath-breakers by his immediate command they were (a) Numb 15.32 35. stoned to death The holy Observation of that day was what he mostly required of that People not only now and then here and there but he made it the Fourth Commandment of the first Table of the Law greatly complain'd of the breach thereof and severely punish'd it upon Persons and the whole Nation There is the same reason for the Christian Sabbath in Scripture call'd the (b) Rev. 1.10 Lord's Day and several breakers thereof God hath in the Christian Church made Examples of his Judgments A great one we had in this Nation of that Prince who at several times having with Stage-Plays polluted the Lord's-Day and by means of a Book of Sports allowed and encouraged others to do so was out of the same Place where he had seen them acted brought upon the Scaffold where he lost his Life I do not pretend to dive into the secret Causes of God's Judgments but I must take notice how the Circumstance of the Place is very remarkable and we may be allowed to say how upon that Ground as well as upon others (c) Ps 76.12 God is terrible to the Kings of the Earth This is Matter of Fact Thô in his Son's Reign Piety was little regarded yet then we saw Acts of Parliament for the better Observation of the Lord's-Day to come out but now 't is thought not to be worth looking after in (d) That of 29 Ch. II. 1677. one of those Acts the Sale of any Wares Merchandizes Fruits Herbs Goods or Chattels whatsoever upon the Lord's Day or any part thereof was forbidden upon pain that every Person so offending shall forfeit the same Goods so cryed or shewed forth or exposed to sale Sabbaths were never more prophan'd then of late and now The generality of People make Play and Sport Days of them On that day we see Markets set up in many Places Children publickly at play Taverns Alehouses Coffee and Chocolate-Houses doors open and full of People and those Beasts which in the 4th Precept God had a regard to must not rest upon that day though upon every other in the Week they labour with all imaginable hardness which is a Cruelty for (e) Prov. 12.10 a righteous man regardeth the life of his beast Yet these must be for the Service of many Sabbath-breakers When the Drunkard is so fuddled that he without Reeling and Staggering cannot go he must have a Coach to carry him home We have but one true Christian Holy-day which ought to be employ'd only for Holy uses He who makes no Conscience to break the Lord's Holiday will make no Scruple of breaking any of the Ten Commandments and he who delights to observe it will the use Authority to make others observe it too 'T is strange yet true that some who in the Church have been and still are most fond after the reading of every Commandment of the fourth as well as of every one else to say Lord have merey upon us and incline our hearts to keep this law such as Pocklington Heylin and the Highest Church-men in their Writings Sermons and Discourses declared much against the Morality of the Sabbath or Lord's-Day how then can they pray to God to incline their Heart to keep a Law which they believe and profess to be abrogated But if herein one was to consult with Man's Opinion besides the Judgment of several Divines that of the good Pious and Learned James Vsher Primate of Ireland is with me of greater weight then the Authority of all Anti-Sabbatharians and all know how much in his judgment and practice he was for the strict observation of the Lord's Day One thing more though by the by and not to my present purpose I shall observe out of the Words Incline our Hearts to keep this Law it appears how the Opinion of those who compiled the Common-Prayer-Book and appointed these words to be said after every Precept was that Men cannot incline their Hearts to keep God's Law but must pray to God to do 't and consequently that to believe and obey doth not depend upon Man's Will but upon God's working upon and inclining it There is another crying Sin in the Nation which hath several branches as Lying Swearing Cursing and Perjury We have a sort of People who in this kind offend in the least Degree yet thereby contract a Guilt upon themselves out of an ill Habit and Custom upon most or any trivial account saying O Lord O God which is to take that Holy Name in vain and a Breach of the Third Commandment But others worse impiously take the Lord by his Bloud Wounds c. and swear by the Creatures 't is abominable sometimes to hear in the Streets Children of Eight and Ten years old and upwards to Curse and Damn themselves and others which ought to be the Care of Parents to prevent a horrid Sin God hath given us a Tongue to Bless not to Curse him nor our Neighbour or our selves yet some as soon as they are able to speak rap out Oaths A Curse in God's Name never falls without an Effect either against the Curser or Cursed That abominable Sin of Perjury and Swearing falsly in God's Name is too common Forswearing Covenant-breaking and Burning are so grievous a Sin as that in every judgment we undergo we may therein see a Grain of it as the Jews did in theirs in relation to the Golden Calf The Sin of Vncleanness is Loud and Epidemical in its several branches of Fornication and Adultery and there is too much cause to name Incest and Sodomy for which the Earth affords no sufficient Punishment therefore in Fire and Brimstone God as it were rained down Hell from Heaven upon Sodom and Gomorrah Uncleanness is among People of all Conditions Ages and Kinds now as common frequent and publick as between Dogs and Bitches without Curb and Restraint put upon 't so that Whoredom is certainly one of the Master Sins of the Nation Bawdy-Houses are tolerated and even in high Places want no Advocates to speak for them at any time specially towards the Evening one can hardly go up and down the Street but he meets with Inticements and Temptations Sometimes an honest Woman who goes about her
and Country too and what doth the Lord say v. 10 11 12. hear ye the rod and who hath appointed it and for what cause There the Prophet makes an enumeration of several sins the same as now we are guilty of namely Treasures of wickdness in the house of the wicked Scant Measure wicked Balance and Weights Violence Oppression a lying and deceitful Tongue but mind the punishment (c) v. 13. Therefore will I make thee sick in smiting thee in making thee desolate because of thy sins (d) 14 15 16. And so proceedeth to the several kinds of sensible punishments which shall be inflicted upon them These things were written for our instruction that we might mend and be the better for it Therefore before it be too late let us hear the voice of the Rod which saith that according to God's Truth and Justice (e) Psal 137.17 Fools because of their transgressions and because of their iniquities are afflicted Which in David's and Solomon's stile is the sinner this ought to stop our mouth and the consideration that we deserve much more at the hand of God removes all ground of complaint (f) Lam. 3.39 Wherefore doth a living man complain for the punishment of his sins Seeing God doth not in the least proportion reward us according to our Sins nor punish us after our Iniquities The voice of God and of the Rod are but one with this only difference that one is of Precept the other of Providence and say the same thing how (a) Eph. 5.6 Because of those things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience That is the things he named before Fornication uncleanness covetousness filthiness foolish talking jesting which with many more are now the Sins of the Nation The same voice saith to Whormongers Thieves Drunkards and every other sinner remember that God sees thee that thou must Die yet knowest not the time when then thou must (b) 2 Cor. 5.10 come to judgment before Christ that every one may receive things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad Then will God set all thy Sins (c) Psal 50.21 in order before thine eyes as it were in order of Battel to fight against thee If Men would seriously mind this and with David say in Truth (d) Psal 16.8 I have set the lord always before me and in whatsoever we do to eye him as present I am persuaded it might be a great preservative to keep many from Offending No Servant will willingly do before his Lord and Master that which he knows will displease him but hides from him as much as he can but with God no Man can he is every where sees knows and rewards all things and when he punisheth for Sin with Paul we may say (e) Rom. 2.2 We are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things Now when I am upon this punishment for Sin before I proceed to another I must out of Scripture bring such examples of God's Judgments upon it as should make all Kings and People to tremble Joash King of Judah I shall begin with during the Life of Jehojadah he did well but after the Princes made obeysance to courted and flattered the King who hearken'd unto them and fell a sinning against God who to reclaim him and them (f) 2 Chro. 24.17 Sent prophets to bring them again (g) v. 19. unto the lord but they would not give ear and killed one of them which highly aggravated the Sins and hastened the Punishment (a) v. 23. For at the end of that year the Army of the Syrians came against Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the Princes of the People from a mongst the People who had been the evil Counsellors and that which is remarkable God delivered a very great Army into the hands of a handful of Men for the Syrians were but few and the reason is given (b) v. 24. Because they had forsaken the Lord so they executed Judgment against Joash v. 25 But this is not all His own servants conspired against him and killed him on his bed Abijah said of Rehoboam his Father (c) 2 Chro. 13.7 That he was young when he came to the Throne yet 't is recorded that he was Ch. 12.13 One and forty years old when he began to Reign At that Age no Man may be call'd young therefore 't is to be understood in relation to the ill management of his Concerns to the Succession of the Kingdom over all Israel wherein indeed he acted the part of a young Man But I go farther and find that (e) v. 14. he did evil because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord so that he was a raw Man no wiser in matters of Religion than in those of State For 't is farther said in the beginning of that Chapter that he forsook the law of the lord v. 1,2 and all Israel with him therefore God punish'd them for Shishak came up against Jerusalem after he had taken the fenced Cities of Judah and took away the Treasure of the Lord's House and of the King's House and the reason was (f) 2 King 15.29 Because they had transgressed against the lord For in God's name a Prophet said to them (g) 2 Chro. 12.6 Ye have forsaken me and therefore also have I left you in the hand of Shishak Here is a punishment for Sin for Solomen's Idolatry and his Son's and People's Apostasie whereby the Glory of the Kingdom already reduced within a narrow compass was Eclypsed and its Riches carried away Which yet was a lighter punishment than that which afterwards was inflicted upon Manasseh whom the Assyrians took and bound him with Fetters and carried him to Babylon So that God spareth neither People nor Princes nor Crown'd Heads when provoked by their Sins This in these times we cannot pretend Ignorance of therefore ought to take warning by In the Kingdom of Israel after the rending of the Ten Tribes by reason of their Sins nothing but destruction and killing one another this among themselves also God brought Foreigners among them for he stirred up Tiglath-Pileser King of Assyria who took several places (a) 2 King 15.29 and all the Land of Naphtali and carried them captives to Assyria (b) Ch. 17.6 And in the next Reign of Hoshea who had killed his Predecessor Pekah came up r Shalmaneser who carried away captive the Ten Tribes and put an end to the kingdom of Israel And the Spirit of God hath left upon Record the cause of it namely their Sins whereof in that Chapter is an enumeration from ver 7. till the 19th So of the Kingdom of Judah when the measure of the Sins of their Kings 2 Chron. 36. and of the People was filled up God sent up Nebuchadnezzar who took Jerusalem ruin'd and destroy'd the Temple bound Zedekiah
Prince to get nis House Establish'd is to take care of God's he is that good Master who provideth for those Servants of his who approve themselves to be Faithful in his Service But when they are more Solicitous for their own Concerns than for his he then leaves them to shift for themselves but former and later Experience shew how ill they speed that do so Now let us see what that King did which was Right in the Eyes of the Lord (a) v. 12. He took away the Sodomites out of the Land that abominable and unnatural Sin which God hath so highly declared against he punished but stopped not there he set himself against Idolatry too for (b) v. 13. He removed all the Idols that his Father had made and went farther for he spared not his Mother and also Maachah his Mother even her he Removed from being Queen because she had made an Idol in a Grove and Asa destroy'd her Idol and burnt it by the Brook Kidron No Relation nor Quality should be regarded when it causes the Dishonour of God through Idolatry Blasphemy or otherwise 'T is a great Brand put upon Rehoboam's Reign and a high aggravation to his other Sins (c) Chap. 14.24 There were also Sodomites in the Land which to his praise Asa his Grandson took away and removed the Monuments of Idolatry for (a) 2 Chro. 14.3 4 5. He took away the Altars of the strange Gods and the high Places and broke down the Images and cut down the Groves Yet he went farther for he commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their Fathers and to do the Law and the Commandments Also he took away out of all the Cities of Judah the high Places and the Images All this is by the Spirit of God called (b) v. 2. that which was good and right in the Eyes of the Lord his God Pious Kings not only serve God themselves but also take care to see their Subjects do so And we find that when in Judah there was a good King the People was also good or at least restrain'd from doing evil so much were People influenced by Commands and Examples from the Throne Asa did not serve God in vain but found the fruits and effects of his Zeal for 't is added (c) v. 5. Therefore the Kingdom was quiet before him Whereby 't is declared that the Rest and Quietness of Kingdoms depends upon abolishing Idolatry setting up the true Worship of God and suppressing all that is contrary to Piety 't is further said of him (d) v. 6. He had no Wars in those Years because the Lord had given him hest And by the Prophet Agariah God told him and all fuâ—â—ah the cause of it (e) Chap. 15.2 The Lord is with you wouldst you be with him But if ye forsake him he will forsake you Thus the just and gracious God rewardeth those Princes who make use of the Authority he hath given them to promote his Honour and Glory This King went on further for after a great Victory (f) v. 9.10 c. He gathered all Judah and Benjamin and they entred into a Covenant to seek the Lord God of their Fathers with all their Heart and with all their Soul that whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel should be put to death whether small or great whether Man or Woman Whereupon they took an Oath for they sware unto the Lord c. and all Judah rejoyced at the Oath for they had Sworn withall their Hearts and sought him with their whole desire and he was found of them and the Lord gave them Rest round about after great disorders in matters of Religion what a happy Union of King and People towards a blessed Reformation O that we might Here see the like in Parliament where the King meets with his People in their Representatives Here among other great Sinners we have execrable Sodomites and Idolaters not only those who adore Riches Honours and Pleasures and in their hearts and practises make them their Gods but also Idolaters those who adore a piece of Bread as they do God and are not minded thô contrary to Divine Laws and to those of the Land Asa's Son Jehoshaphat continued the Reformation and carried it further on for (a) 1 Kin. 22.46 The Remnant of the Sodomites which remained in the days of his Father Asa he took out of the Land also (b) 2 Chr. 19.3.4 He took away the Groves out of the Land and prepared his Heart to seek God Also He went out again thorough the People from Beersheba to Mount Ephraim and brought them back unto the God of their Fathers He not only would serve God but also took great care that others should do so and 't is written of him (c) Chap. 17.7 8 9. He sent Men to teach in the Cities of Judah For he knew it to be in vain to profess Religion except such were appointed who would instruct the People in the same and had power to remove all that is contrary to Piety that is Men good in them-themselves and able to do others good I wish all Princes would by the Example of Jehoshaphat take notice how plentifully God rewardeth those who serve him in Truth and Sincerity Thus they might see how much it consists even with their worldly Interest to perform their Duty towards God this Character Scripture gives of him that (a) v. 4.5 He sought the Lord God of his Father and walked in his Commandments therefore the Lord Established the Kingdom in his hand and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat Presents and he had Riches and Honour in abundance Furthermore (b) v. 10. the fear of the Lord fell upon all the Kingdoms of the Lands that were round about Judah so they made no War against Jehoshaphat The Reason is given and 't is this (c) v. 3. And the Lord was with Jehoshophat and why was God with him 't is in the same Verse because he walked in the First ways of his Father David So is any Prince desirous to be at Peace at home and abroad to have Riches and Honour in abundance Let him like Jehoshaphat walk in God's Commandments promote his Service and enlarge the Kingdom of Christ who is King of kings Lord of lords and by whom Kings Reign But as nothing is perfect in this World so those two Kings wanted not their flaws for not to speak fo their particular ones as that of Asa for relying on the King of Syria for which Hanani reproved and said to him (d) 2. Chr. 16.7 8 9. Herein thou hast done foolishly therefore from henceforth thou shalt have Wars as a Punishment and also because (e) v. 12. In his Disease he sought not to the Lord but to the Physicians That of Jehoshophat was for (f) Chap. 18.1 joyning Affinity with Ahab and for helping him which by a Prophet he was rebuked for who went to meet the King and