abominations and so I met with a 4 h thing 4. The exactest patterne of posturing a Kingdom that ever was looked upon the very work you are upon now Shall it prosper The Lord knows I cannot tell and yet I have enquired of the Oracle I can tell it is your work and woe unto you if you do it not but how you hand-it I cannot tell nor by what line and levell you go nor do I take upon me to judge therof but till you make answer to God in that point you will never be answered Truely I cannot tell vvhat to say to men or their vvork The Oracle that is the word of God tels me they are fickle inconstant preposterous too they begin where they should end and end where they should begin the manner of Men. This only I can tell for so the Oracle tels me that when the Worthies of Israel Kings and Princes there Priest and People too in the Nonage of their King fell upon this great worke the Posturing their Kingdom they began vvith an Ordinance against Idolatry That is the Land vvasting sin nor did they mock God for vvhosoever lifted up his hand to a strange god him they cut-off d 2 Chr. 15. 13. Then behold breaking cutting burning drowning casting out of Idols all untill they had utterly destroyed them all * 2 Chro. 31. 1. Nay they cast down the talest person and Image in the Land The Queen Mothers Image her son Asa the King did not spare her no not her Then the work went on and they prospered Now as was said I take not upon me to judge by what line and levell the work is carried-on if as Iudahs vvork was we can the more heartily wish your prosperity in the name of the Lord for our lives to say no more the life of our lives is wrapt-up with it if otherwise and you work not as you have them for an ensample yet the worke of the Lord shall go-on that shall prosper He is vvorking now to make His Church a quiet habitation and He vvill bring His work about through the straits and by the crosse ways and wils of men though you should desert the work and vvith-draw your hands from should ring up the Lord Christ to His Throne He cals for your hand to honour you and wo to you if you with-draw but I say He needs you not He can set Himself in His throne without you His vvork shall go-on in despight of Devils or men As sure as the Lord lives His work shall go on What a proud word is that from a mans mouth Yes if it were not from Gods mouth Lift up thine eyes round about saith the Lord Esa 49. 14. now hearken what we say what shall we behold a company of Pillagers Robbers Spoylers It grieves our hearts to lift up our eys round about and behold The Lord give us patience that we may stand still and heare Him out and wait till He hath done His whole work for hearken what He saith to stay the heart All these gather themselvs and come to thee what to spoyle and rob the Church No to adorne and beautifie her The Church shall have many Vid calv children they shall flock-in unto her as the Chickens to the Hen as Children to their Mother and their graces shall abound and there is the Churches ornament But shall this be Yes the Lord hath sworne it shall be As I LIVE saith the LORD thou shalt surely cloath thee with them Esa 49. 19. all as with an ornament and bind them on thee as a Bride doth For thy waste and thy desolate places and the Land of thy DESTRVCTION Mark that this Land shall be glorious for all this it shall rejoyce over her enemies the Land of thy destruction shall even now be too narrow by reason of the Inhabitants and they that swallowed thee up shall be farr away As I LIVE saith the LORD And this work in His Hand shall be perfected in His time Our time is now His time not yet till His whole work be performed Bryars and thorns are now set against the Lord in battell * Esa 27. 4. As sure as the Lord liveth He will go through them and burn them together in His own time when these thornes have bin to His people as those were to Manasseh when they have humbled His people been a sanctified meanes to purge the iniquity of Jacob for that is the fruit of thorns to the servants of God when their hearts shall be therby prepared for the great work of Reformation then the Lord will goe through these Bryars and thornes there shall be no more feare of them In the meane time the Lord will helpe His people with a little helpe so much as shall revive their hopes when they be fainting and keepe up their spirits in assured Confidence That the work shall be done then when Jacob shall most rejoyce and Israel shall be right c 1 Kin. 8. 59 60 61. glad * Ps 53. 6. Amen IT is this three and twentieth day of December 1641 ordered by the Committee of the House of Commons in Parliament concerning Printing that this Book entituled The Kings Chronicle be printed IOHN WHITE THE KINGS CHRONICLE The Scope and purpose thereof To shew What the Militia is That all Kings and Princes and Nobles of the World have made it their worke To promote the same i. e. To strengthen themselves and set their Kingdome in a Posture of Defence But willing contraries and not so much missing as crossing the way They failed of the end so became great Examples THE Militia of the Kingdome is now pressing-on and advancing as great bodies moove or as we passe through a crowde or through Thornes now it putts-on-ward and then thrust-backe againe and yet it must goe-on through all oppositions and the more victoriously the greater the opposition is which must be great All that the Devills can doe to hinder it shall be done for it is a worke honourable and glorious of an immense weight and worth All conclude it to be so and this is the short description which all doe give of it The setting a Kingdome the King and People there in a posture of defence Wee may give severall descriptions of the same thing so of this though the first containes all It is the shutting in the Doores or Frontiers of a Kingdome and to shut them in so as was the doore of the Arke by GODS owne Hand a Gen. 7. 16. It is as the setting up of two Pillars 1 King 7. 21. JACHIN and BOAZ assuring the Land That in the LORD JEHOVAH is Salvation and strength b It is c. It is the maintaining the two staves b Zech 11. 10. 14. 1. The staffe of BEAUTY which I will call the ETERNALL GOSPELL being the stay and staffe of every particular Person and GLORY of the whole Nation 2. The staffe of BANDS The binding of a People
of Samuell Seven Dayes He did attend till the last and till part of that was spent too But we must keepe our selves precisely to GODS time and wait-it-out to the last minute which a faithlesse man a man of an hasty spirit ever can never doe For he will make haste as Saul did And then seeing Samuell came not and how the Case stood with him for he had pollitick reasons enough if these might Our Faith is most commendable in the last Act It is no praise to hold out untill we be hard driven D r. Halls Contempl guide us He forced d ver 12. himselfe made a breach upon his conscience first then upon GODS Command and an intrusion upon Samuels office and offered a burnt-offering Samuell comes in the Nick of Time while Saul was upon this holy worke with his unholyed hands heard Sauls excuse and plea for himselfe which helped him not No excuse will serve our turne nor plead our not observance of GODS Command from the mouth of His servant e 1 Sam 10. 8. He that would not heare this charge of the Lord to observe and doe it must heare the Judgement of the Lord denounced by the same mouth Thou hast done FOOLISHLY f Chap. 13. 13. there is folly in every sinne and the more sinne the more the folly Thou hast not kept the Commandement of the Lord therefore thou shalt not keepe still thy Kingdome Thou wouldest not establish thy selfe in the Power and Might of the Lord therefore the Kingdome shall not be established unto thee The Lord hath sought Him a Man after His owne heart to whose seed the Kingdome of Israel shall be continued for ever g ver 14. And now the Lord accounts Saul a King no longer he has the Title the Name of a King and no more in Gods account now that he hath not kept the Law the Charge of the Lord which He commanded him If Saul makes no account of the Law of GOD the King of Kings this Great King will not account Saul His Deputy King surely that is notable But yet Saul shall see a mighty Deliverance and therin what the Lord can doe for those that keepe close to Him and His command will trust in Him live upon Him by Faith when all meanes faile for there is the tryall Thus it was while the state of Israel stood in these hard termes and the Philistines full of hope that having parted their Army into three Troopes g 1 Sam. 13. 17 they might spoile and destroy many parts at once Jonathan strengthned by GOD in whom there is no restraint to save by many or by few h 1 Sam. 14. 6. and followed with his Esquire only scaled a Mountaine whereupon a Company of Philistines were lodged the rest of their Army being encamped in the plaine adjoyning Their comming was discovered to the Adversary and he playes upon them jeeres and mocks at them very insolently as men use to doe a little before their Destruction Come up to us and wee will shew you a THING i ver 12. Jonathan and his Esquire tooke the invitation as a good presage climbed up upon their hands and feet and fell upon the Adversary so the Enemies fell before Jonathan and his Armour-bearer slew after him k ver 13. then they shewed the Enemy a THING which he little looked for It is dangerous to put a scorne upon them who carry the revenge of God along with them Faith and a good conscience are the strongest guard and weapons both and the surest pollicy alwayes is what we should not make it a question To have peace with GOD for then He goes along with us and will be an Enemy to all our Enemies It followes This Allarum on the top of the Hill quickly amazed the next Companies then went downe into the Valley caused such a confusion there that they slaughtered one another instead of Enemies There was also a trembling in the Hoast and in the Field and among all the People all trembled for it was a very great TREMBLING Psal 15. 16. and the Earth quaked too and behold the multitude melted away and they went on beating downe one another When God appeares for His Church and in His Glory He will spoile the stout-hearted there will be a great Trembling mighty men shall Tremble and multitudes shall melt away as the Snow before the Sunne And remember we still Jonathans confidence in his God Faith will carry a man over rocks and mountaines no way but is passible to faith and no worke but is possible It is Jonathans confidence what can hinder God said he The Lord can doe what He will doe and it may be that the Lord will worke for us else we shall doe nothing for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or few It is possible said Jonathan it may be ver 16. nay it is very likely That the Lord will work for us now They that can trust in God can regard Armies of Men no more then Armies of Flis D r. Halls Contemp for He hath put a spirit of fortitude upon us two and being so few now He shall have all the GLORY That consideration mooves strongly and so it workes for thus it was every mans Sword was against his fellow and there was a very great discomfiture Moreover the Hebrewes that were with the Philistines became of their party fearing to be spoiled by them tooke advantage of this destruction saw ver 20. plainely now which side was strongest the manner of men fell in there to Saul and Jonathan and slew of the Philistines great numbers and they that hid themselves before came out of their holes now and hearing that the Philistines fled even they also followed hard after them in Battell So the LORD gave Saul a glorious victory that day and he ver 22. saw the prophecy fulfilled One did chase a thousand and two put ten thousand to flight And this was a good day Saul and k Deut. 32 30. his people found a great spoile they might have eate and drunke thereof and have praised God with the more chearfullnesse of heart for indeed the people were weary and faint Saul will not have it so he will be an enemy to himselfe hath a way by himselfe pleasing in his owne eye and that way he takes he adjures the people saying Cursed be the man that eateth any food untill evening l ver 24. so none of the people tasted any food No though the LORD who gave them a good day and gave them leave to be cheery and comfortable The voluntary services of Hypocrites are many times more painfull then the duties enjoyned by God but their manner is to leave that which is commanded and doe that which is not required Contmpl on that day did almost drop meate into their mouthes yet no man put his hand to his mouth Why for the people feared the Oath
fast to their GOD in the Bond of a Covenant More briefly It is the Intiteling GOD to a Kingdome The writing His Salvation upon our Gates and Barres Then they be strong holds indeed Then we may say we have a strong City and Kingdome when the LORD appoints His Salvation for Walls and Bulwarks c Esa â—6 1. This is the Militia of a Kingdome No other thing but this Then surely this worke is like the Desire in the 4 th Psalme sutable to the whole Kingdome and to every Person therein No man is such an Enemy to his owne and the publike Peace as not to desire This with all his desire The Lord our King doth say Amen to this All His good People will say Amen also and doe pray The LORD GOD of our Lord the King say so too 1 King 1. 36. Who doth not desire that the doors of his house be shut-in upon him and himselfe shut-in as Noah was If we could aske from one end of the Land to the other every man would tell us This is his desire Hee would rest at Night and sleepe at quiet which he cannot do if his Doores stand open It were then a notorious solecisme in Policie To command the Doores in private Houses to be locked against spoilers And to suffer Frontiers in Kingdomes to lye open to invasion Therefore I said It is every mans Desire and the very same that has been ever since there was a Man upon Earth Is there any thing whereof it may be said SEE THIS IS NEW Yes that it is you will say The opposition Eccles 1 10. that is made against this Glorious worke is NEW there was never such a thing like unto this since man was upon the Earth Like unto what Like to this opposition an unparalel'd and most desperate opposition managed against this worke by a most malignant party An. Indeed I cannot say and proove That this opposition can be paralel'd that we can finde the like to it running-on and holding pace with it all along But this we finde That this opposition now is not new for Evill stood crossecentered to Good ever since there were two Bretheren upon the earth and ever after that time we shall find if we consult with the Records of Time That all times of Reformation of well Posturing a Kingdome have been vexatious and troublous * Dan. 9. 25. We shall speake more to this anon we reade on now It hath been already of old time which was before us Kings and Princes and Nobles of the earth have in all ages made this their great b Prov. 8. 36. worke To fortifie themselvs and secure their Kingdom So as they might be secure at home and feared abroad I will keepe my selfe to the Sacred Chronicles and observe thence What the Kings of Judah have done touching this great businesse The different wayes they went yet all towards the same end and carrying all levell to the same marke The setting themselves and their Kingdom in a Posture of Defence Ob. But have I not spoken contradictories words and things crossing each the other I said That the Militia the Posturing of an House or Kingdome is every mans Desire he Wills it and can take God to record hee Wills it heartily and presently after we heare of an opposition against it as if a man could desire his owne good and with the same breath refuse or oppose it Answ Yes all this a man may doe he may desire good and yet crosse himselfe and his Desire in the way thereunto he may will his owne Peace and yet oppose it as a man that hates Peace and loves Death â— Naturally there are crosse Desires and crosse Wills in every man Every man desires Peace his soule desires it as it is said of the sluggard c Prov. 13. 4. The sluggard wills with his mouth wills not or puts back with his hand for it is not diligent A true desire of Grace and Glory sets all his powers of soul and body on work in pursuance of the same as an hungry soule desires bread and the thirsty water A new or regenerate will runs-on strait and even like a paralel line with Gods revealed will And wheÌ„ it crook's or runs crosse it is not that will but his other will is crosse to himselfe now that he is himselfe for what that does hee hates Châ—ys Acts 27. 8. Grace which is but Glory begun and Glory which is but Grace perfected it is every mans Desire he Wills it he thinkes with all his soule But he hath a Will crossing this Will and a Desire standing in opposition and utter enmity to this Desire which unlesse taken away by an Almighty Hand he shall never have what he seemes for he doth but seeme to Will and Desire Note we this well That Rest and Peace here and hereafter for ever with the LORD is the SABBATH and Port of all mens Labours and Intentions but with this difference It is seemingly so with the most Really and indeed so with the fewest and therefore the fewest attaine this Port they only who steere their course according to the two Poles of motion safety and a faire haven It is indeed a naturall desire and the very end of every mans thoughts The preservation of himselfe and to avoid whatever is contrary thereunto Yet such is our darknesse nothing more ordinary then to misse of the end by mistaking the way whereof I shall give anon very great Examples recording dayes of old for the benefit and instruction of the present times They are the examples of those who have willed contradictories as men in all times have done and now adayes doe and will to the worlds end They will have the end and will none of the meanes So with the sluggard as Jerom translates it very well d Prov. 13. 4 â—ult non â—ult piger They WILL and they WILL NOT They will command the end yet not endure the meanes They will have Peace and Grace and Glory they think they may have what they will they will not goe the way not tread the path that leads thereunto We shall try the possibility of this and see clearly what the end will be as crosse to their expectation as their wills were in the wayes and wills of the Kings of Judah taking the worst first for the worst Kings are the best examples to make all wiser that observe them aright which no man does that presumes to goe on in a wicked way for the examples here will open the pits mouth before him and assure him it will close its mouth upon him if he goes on There is indeed a great seducement by wicked examples for through the depravation of our natures we rather imitate the worse then the better and too ordinary it is in ill to exceed in good to come short of the example But this is for want of well weighing the example because we doe not looke through it to the
will of Saul and obeyed the holy will of GOD. A servant must not obey his Master to the prejudice of his Master he must not obey his Master against his Master his suddain will against his deliberate will And truly it appears from the Text that as the Peoples plea for Jonathan was the same which Jonathan used for David The LORD wrought a 1 Sam. 19. 5. great salvation for all Israel thou sawest it and didst reioyce wherfore then wilt thou sinne against innocent bloud to slay Jonathan without a cause So Saul better bethinking himself was as well or better pleased with it Certain it is Saul was then much encouraged then he ceased from following the Philistines and fought against all his enemies on every side and whethersoever hee turned himselfe he vexed them a ver 46 47. But he bent the strength of this battell against the Amalekites smote them and delivered Israël out of their hands b ver 48. yet so as he strengthned himself still against the Philistines with whom he had sore warre all his dayes and when Saul saw any strong man or any valiant man he tooke him unto him But yet ver 52. Saul must not leave the Amalekites so he had smote them and delivered Israel out of their hands that was well for that time But that is not enough against Amaleck an old subtill Adversary and as bloody and GOD remembers him of old how treacherously b 1 Sam. 15. 2. he dealt with His people walking along the way doing no hurt would rather dye then do wrong and pillage these poore people Amaleck smote even all that were feeble not able to make any resistance when they were faint and weary he smote them as he do's that seares not c Deut. 25. 15 18. GOD. Now this comes into remembrance with the LORD for the debts of cruelty as of mercy are never forgot they shall be repaied and with great advantage Saul stands charged with this revenge he must execute this vengeance he must wash the Churches feet in the blood of these slaine GOD has provided him a mighty Army now for this very time and end for the execution of this vengeance he numbers his Host finds them to be no fewer then two hundred 1 Sam. 25 4. and ten thousand fighting men and now he must powre down upon the Churches treacherous Adversary The fury of GODS anger and the strength of battell e Esa 42. 25. Saul smote Amaleck before now he must destroy him utterly and all that they have he left Amaleck a name before now he must blot 1 Sam. 15. 3. out the remembrance of Amaleck from under Heaven he must not forget it f Deut. 25. 19. The charge is as full from Samuels mouth and he was the mouth of the LORD as could be put into words and it is the last Proposition of Peace that Saul shall receive from the LORD if he hearkens and do's accordingly a blessing follows if not he shall heare the curse and feele it too cursed is he that doth the WORKE of the LORD deceitfully execution of judgement upon the Churches Adversary is the worke of the LORD and when the LORD gives the Sword a charge Cursed is he that keepeth backe the Sword from blood We have heard the charge The Israel of GOD have the same Adversary now as Israel Jer. 48. 10. had then not in name but in nature the same An old Adversary as treacherous as bloudy If their superstition be out of ignorance as in part it may be yet their cruelty is from malice Israel stands charged against this Adversary as fully now as Saul then this I could make as cleare as the Sunne But because I have no space to make paralells here I must let it passe and take in three things here more essentiall to the Text. 1. How Saul answers this charge Deceitfully 2. What his Defence is weak and fruitles 3. How Samuell argues the case and at length convinceth him 1. Saul heard Samuell in all this he gave him his eare but his heart went his owne way he did not obey or if he obeyed it was by halves and an half obedience in GODS account is none at all he did not obey indeed f Exod. 23. 22. as the expression is often he did not follow the command FVLLY g Numb 14. 24 he utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the Sword and every thing that was VILE and REFVSE that they destroyed utterly h 1 Sam. 15. 9. But the BEST and all that was good he would not utterly destroy Nay the chiefest head of all he spareth that delicate person the King him he spared whose ver 3. Sword had made so many women childlesse him he spared he ver 32. would not smite him with the Sword he was too precious in Sauls eyes being King and the more vile in Samuels eyes as appears afterwards for he hewed Agag in peeces before the Lord in Gilgall A murtherer whatever he be King or no King must not be spared He has Polluted the Land for bloud it defileth the Land and the Land cannot be cleansed of that bloud but by the blood of him that shed it * Num. 35. 33. Saul spared him and the sailings as we heard the same partiality is used still the greatest sinners and sins escape still that which is pleasing in our eye and desirable we will have spared Thus Saul halves out his duty and his obedience is in GODS account as his execution upon Amaleck VILE and REFVSE We must then note once for all That a right obedience is strait to the Rule carries levell to the command and does fully therafter 2. And we will take Sauls Defence and Samuels arguing against it altogether Saul has done so contrary as we heard and yet he thought in his conscience see how unable we are to see our selves and how blind we in our own ways how brawned also the conscience may be by often forcing the same Saul thought verily that he had done very well and so he pleads for himself and Samuell against him and a great while it is for it is the greatest work in the world to convince a sinner indeed it is GODS work the hand of GOD must be there before Samuell can convince Saul that in sparing the Enemies of the LORD he has committed a sin which is as the sinne of witch-craft We must heare his plea for the heart is cunning and has a thousand shifts excuses and puts-off this he sayes first The people spared d 1 Sam. 15. 15 c. Samuel fits him there a Rulers plea has not half the strength he thinks it has this excuse will Plus Peccat Author quam Actor aggravate his fault The people spared said Saul No thou didst spare saith Samuell the charge was given to thee it is not considerable what the people do in such a plain case ever 18.
When thou wast little wast thou not made the HEAD of the Tribes ver 17. The HEAD and that sees for the body and heares for the body and leads-on for the body the head has all the admirable pieces and powers within and without seated there as in a watch-Tower for that very end That the body receive no detriment for want of sound counsell and direction if the head go aright the body cannot go wrong if it do go crookedly the head can quickly rectifie it if it can do it's office The people are like Sheep they cannot lead but they will follow It follows The Lord annointed thee King over Israel Then thou must not tell me what the people did That they spared Thou hast spared Thine Eye hath pittied him when it had bin mercy indeed to have shown no pitty Let me tell my thoughts here and how I was mistaken I thought Saul could do no wrong for he was King but cleare it is as the Sun that wrong he did and that all the blame of that wrong is charged upon him Why Because he was head over the people their King But Saul is not convinced yet no not with all this See! when the conscience is brawned and hardned in it's own way and work how hard a matter is it to make it sensible Has Saul done wrong Heare him what he says Yea I have 2 Sam. 15. 21. obeyed the voyce of the Lord and have gone the way which the Lord sent me I took Agag alive and have kept him alive here he is do with him what thou pleasest he is King and I thought fit to spare him for his People they are utterly destroyed True it is the fat sheep and oxen those chief things should have bin destroyed too for that was thy charge but the people thinking themselvs wiser reserved those chief things for excellent purpose What was that To sacrifice unto the LORD thy GOD. As specious a pretence as could be Though Saul was lame in his obedience as all men are nay he was infinitly short here yet his heart was sound to GOD-ward and toward his Religion as hearty a soul as was in the world if we can believe words he had reserved the best things What to do To sacrifice unto the LORD thy GOD. Now Samuell will stop Sauls mouth and make him speechles presently For Religion is his pretence the established Religion now a Sacrifice forsooth and burnt-offerings Do's he flash so with his false light before the eyes of a Seer Now Samuell will thunder 3. Vain man Dost thou boast of Religion A binder to God and walkest loose with Him or fast but when Thou pleasest Speakest thou of a Sacrifice before the LORD the Great GOD and art a rebell before Him Wilt thou make a shew to come-up to the LORD with the Sacrifice in thy hand and yet walkest every step contrary to His command Tell me for thou shalt be witnesse in so cleare a case did the Lord or I from His mouth speak a word unto thee of a Sacrifice unto Him Thy eare is witnesse thy conscience also That the Lord said OBEY MY VOYCE d Jer. 11. 4. â— He said not Thou shalt sacrifice unto me He loathes a Sacrifice from that hand which acteth contrary to his mouth It is an abomination as Sorcery or Witch-craft in the eyes of His glory Thou hast slain an Oxe for Sacrifice it is as if thou hadst slaine a man no better in Gods account even such an abomination Thou wilt sacrifice a Lambe and the male of thy flocke that is thy pretence goe cut-off a Doggs neck it is all one one or the other in point of acceptation for Thou hast chosen THINE OWN WAYS e Esa 66. 5. It is the obedient ear that finds acceptance with the LORD and his eare open and the hand that acts according to GODS command from thence a Sacrifice has a sweet savour Saul is now as a dumb-man speaks not yet but hearkens when he shall heare a word of comfort Never If he had hearkned before he might have heard a blessing now he must heare the curse which still followes a deceitfull worke Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD He hath rejected thy sacrifice But that is not all Saul could have endured that though nothing more grievous to a true Israelite then the casting forth of his prayer Saul must heare more He hath also rejected thee from being King That went to his heart The punishment of his sinne rejection from his Kingdom High place in the world credit and esteeme in the eyes of men was Sauls glory He is touched there in the tenderest part and that opens his mouth to confession and that is full now and ingenious Indeed he spake much better than they who will not be accounted half so wicked I have sinned c. he prayes Samuell to pardon his sinne Samuell cannot Then to returne againe with him Samuell will not and he gives him Ver. 24. ver 25. his reason puts it upon the file for everlasting record Thou ver 26. hast reiected my word The word of the LORD I will not returne with thee who hast entertained me with a complement all this while not regarding my word though the word of the LORD and that all the world may know how dangerous a thing it is to reject this word Samuell adds what Saul must here the second time nay the third time if we have observed it and all that follow after him for it is written for the generations to come Thou hast cast GODS word behind thy backe GOD will cast thee from thy Royall estate GOD hath reiected thee from being King over Israel And it is twise repeated in this place because it is certaine ver 26. As Samuell was turning about to goe away Saul holds him by his skirt so desirous he was of the Prophets stay with him and to have a comfortable word from him and he held him so fast and the Prophet was so resolved to go his way that he rent the Prophets mantle and so received a sad token and sad words besides touching the fullfilling of what was threatned The word of the LORD was rejected the threat was denounced from the mouth of the LORD all created strength could not hinder the execution of the same word and now Saul had the signe in his hand Thou hast rent my mantle the LORD hath rent the Kingdome of Israel from thee this Day ver 28. and hath given it to a neighbour of thine that is better then thou Samuell could not give Saul a word of comfort now Sauls time is past his season over Samuell had spoken to him many words for his Direction he would have none of them Now he shall not have one word of comfort While the Angell of GOD His SPIRIT or His PROPHETS in His Name are with us be we well aware of it That we Exo. 23. 20 21. obey their voyce and
RIGHTEOVS And yet thus we reade HE DID EVILL Surely his VNCIRCVMCISED Heart that word is to be noted was not humbled that is his heart was not humbled for the uncircumcision thereof he did not sorrow after a godly 2 Cor. 7. 11. sort not for his sinne but for the punishment of his sinne while the viall of wrath was powring forth upon him he perhaps poured forth his prayer as the manner is all that while he humbled himselfe no longer He PREPARED not his Heart to that great worke of HVMILIATION Certainly there is some PREPARATORY worke to be done before the heart can be humbled in a right manner which worke sets the thoughts on worke makes us sad and serious so to consider with all our hearts and soules first 1. How DREADFVLL GOD is how vaine and abominable Idolls are And 2. That sinne is only and truly evill but Idolatry there is a spice of it in every sinne as there was a spice of the CALFE in every punishment that which is called abominable Idolatry is above measure sinnefull filling up the viall of wrath brim-full and then pouring it out And 3. How dreadfull a thing it is to be under this WRATH now the wrath of GOD which yet is in comparison to that which is TO COME but as a drop to the Ocean as a sparke to the fornace which hath this ingredient in it to make the flame more scorching everlasting burning eternall wrath And 4. How dreadfull a thing it is To forsake the LAW of GOD and to be exemplary thereunto as Rehoboam did and was for he carried all his traine after him there must be a sad and serious consideration thereof And 5. So also and to contract a serious consideration of the Heart I meane all that is called flesh in the outward or inward man whether in high places there or low as the darkenesse in the understanding the rockinesse in the will the sinfullnesse the deceitfullnesse the desperate wickednesse in the whole heart All this requires a serious and sad consideration as a PREPARATORY worke for humbling the heart in a right manner And 6. Then this also which is chiefest of all The goodnesse the kindnesse of that God to me whose Law I have forsaken His Law before whom our fathers have walked His Law Who fed me all my life long to this day This consideration if serious melts the heart And lastly Gen. 48. 15. 7. How the Lord himselfe is pleased to ALLVRE His Hose 2 14. people how comfortably He speaks unto them in their wildernesse He is Gracious and Mercifull He will multiply pardons He will abundantly pardon them whose uncircumcised hearts are humbled so as they can accept of their punishment can say in sincerity and truth of heart broken in the sence of all this The LORD is RIGHTEOVS in all that is come upon us and yet He is a FATHER an EVERLASTING Father c. Such considerations as these are preparatory to worke the heart to a right humiliation else the stout heart will not downe It may keepe within bounds for a time as a beast hedged in with thornes but it will breake out againe and DOE EVILL And this is the more seriously to be thought on in this place once for all Because when we reade that a King and people after their humiliations have fallenback have returned to their myre and vomit or as it is here have done EVILL after their shewes of Reformation We reade in the same place this reason given of their so fallingback which we meete with in the Text because he prepared not his heart to seeke the Lord. So also when we reade That 2 Chro. 12. 14. high places or high persons eminent and above others in their abominations yet are not taken away nor CVT off the same reason is given The people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their Fathers c 2 Chron. 20. 33. But now on the contrary we shall never reade that a Prince or people returned back to folly that they did evill purposely and advisedly there are slips and failings and fallings in the best That they did worke iniquity Homo sup after they had prepared their heart to seeke the Lord. THERE ARE GOOD THINGS FOVND IN THEE and this is the chiefest of all THOV HAST PREPARED THY HE ART TO SEEKE GOD d 2 Chro. 19 3. We shall reade anon how mightily that King went-on and prevailed There was indeed some stop in his way but that the people caused This is the point JEHOSHAPHAT returned not to folly he did no evill he wrought no INIQVITY Why for hee had prepared his heart to seeke GOD. But Rehoboam here he did evill how so because he prepared not himselfe to seeke the Lord. The heart must be prepared for that great worke of seeking the Lord else the heart will not be fixed and resolved upon the worke The Records concerning ver 15. Rehoboams Acts are lost only this we reade That there were warrs between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually for friendship once broken is hardly peeced and peeced enmity never surely sodered k Vt Christalli fragmenta sarciri nullo modo possunt Ita difficilimum cos reconciliare qui ex arctissiâ—mâ samiliaritate in mutuuÌ„ odiumvenerint Plut. But death came and tooke off Rehehoboam from that quarrell laid him and his thoughts fast asleepe so he slept with his Fathers and was buried Abijah his Son reigned in his stead a little wiser then his Father and but a little better yet because he ordered his Militia wisely I reserve him for another place Asa also and Jehoshaphat his Sonne the compleatest patternes of well-posturing a Kingdome that ever were looked upon I refer these also to their owne place only making mention of their Names here to continue the Story THE ACTS OF JEHORAM CHAP. III. JEHORAM strengtheneth himselfe against the LORD and slayeth his Bretheren He walked-on after a wicked example In a way contrary to God and God as contrary to him Edom revolted from him so doth Libnah a City of Priests They will not be compelled to Idolatry So they approve themselves the best subjects to the King He quite for sakes the Law of his GOD no man followes him but the executioner of Gods wrath Enemies 2 Chro. 21. are upon his back and sore diseases in his bowells He dyes ver 4. and carries the marke of his wickednesse to his grave ver 3. IEHORAM a very bad Sonne of a very good Father has a Kingdome disposed to him because he was the first borne b That was the only reason that perswaded with the Father there could be no other for no sooner was he risen-up therein and knew himselfe to be King but he strengthened himselfe i. e. set himselfe in a posture of warre A most unhappy and unnaturall beginning for the first Act of hostility was against those he should have tendred as a Father being King and as his owne
bowells for they were his Brethren But he slew his Bretheren with the Sword besides divers also of the Princes of Israel * He was of a mischievous nature but could dissemble deepely to win the good opinion of his Father Bretheren for closing with his Wise in her Idolatrous services and having the râ—ines in his hand we see how bloody he was S r. W R. Hist of the World ever 4. The GOD of recompences meets with him anon For the debts of Cruelty and Mercy are never left unsatisfied They may lye for a time but they shall encrease both Principall and Vse shall be payed at once he has shed blood blood will pursue him he shall be made Pro. â—8 17. drunke with it his Sword has made his Mother childlesse the Sword of the LORD will make him wivelesse and childlesse at once this we shall see anon We will observe him in his way now what way goes he He leaves the good way of his good Father traverseth his own way a way pleasing in his own eyes the way of the Kings c ver 6. of Israel The King of Judab now does just as the house of Ahab And the SPIRIT of GOD is cleare at this point giving us the reason why the Sonne left the good way of his Father a wise King and a better Man to walke in the way of the house of Ahab for he had saith the Spirit the Daughter of Ahab * Athaliah Sister to Ahab Son of Omri to wife Truely when I first read the Chapter to gather observations from it and saw such a slaughter such an effusion of blood I verily thought I should read this presently for he had the 2 King 8. 26. Daughter of Ahab to wife A pestilent woman a very firebrand ordained by God to consume a great part of the Noblest Houses in Judah even of those men or their children whose worldly wisedome regardlesse of Gods pleasure had brought her in Jehoram was imped into this wicked stock the family of Ahab he had a notorious murdresse Idolatresse and it was verily thought an Aduliresse also to his Wife Now you may reade-on without the booke And he wrought that which was evill in the eyes of the LORD f ver 6. It was very likely that would follow for he that regards not into what House he matcheth himselfe will be as regardlesse how evill his works are and that they are wrought in the eyes of the LORD Indeed he wrought that evill which consumed and ruined himselfe and his whole family and yet not all not every person there for the LORD remembring Mercy in the midst of Judgement as His manner is and promise was would not quite put-out the light of Israel because of the good word He spake to David concerning that matter d ver 7. But Jehoram shall be vexed every veine in his heart and made an example of wrath to all that will match in an Idolatrous house That we may hate Jehorams way which was the way of the House of Ahab as we doe the end of the same for it was ruine and destruction to him and his whole house and his Kingdome too we will trace Jehorams stepps in his way that we may reade with all observation what those evills were which he wrought in the way of the house of Ahab before the eyes of the Lord Then we will see how the Lord meets with him in that way how gently He deales with him at the first and how severely at the last for patience abused turnes into fierce wrath We will observe in our passage by what stepps and degrees the Lord proceeds against him smiting him in his outwards first afterwards in his bowells we will observe the order briefly and then we will treat more largely upon it The Lord plucks him by the Crowne first strikes off a piece thence not very considerable and yet not wholly contemptible then takes away a Flower the chiefe ornament of the same then holds him up to the wind his Kingdome also and so dissolved his substance For the Lord tooke away the hedge His defence throwes-open his gates and barrs and in-came the adversary from every quarter yet the Lord has not done will ye provoke the Lord to anger are ye stronger then He Jehoram takes advise of his Wife followes her way and stretcheth out his hand against the LORD At the last the Lord lifted him-up to the wind indeed dissolveth his substance shatters him and his house all to pieces he would provoke the Lord slayes his Wives and Children strikes him in the bowells and yet there is not an end That we may put all due observation upon all this we will reade it all over againe in order 1. We will pace with him in his way that we may learne to hate it It is the way of the house of Ahab and he walkes in it stoutly as if he had an arme like GOD. Whatever concerned his Kingdome he communicates to his Queene takes her counsell she was the Daughter of Ahab what she said was Law then her Lord offers violence to the Law changeth the Ordinances breakes the everlasting Covenant for thus he does he for sakes the b ver 10. Lord God of his Fathers What followes this forsaking Moreover he made high places in the Mountaines of Judah and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication ver 11. Some there were both Priests and others to whom the good King deceased observing in his life time with sorrow enough what way his Son inclined gave speciall charge both touching spirituall causes and temporall matters And these would not yeeld as we shall see anon to those illegall proceedings of Jehoram But he was King and might doe he thought as his Wife counselled him she was Daughter of Omri and Sister of Ahab for that must still be remembred she would counsell him to do as he listed he made innovations in Religion used compulsion there and was if not the very first the first that is registred to have set-up irreligion and Idolatrous services BY FORCE and compelled Judah thereto d ver 11. Then the good Priests began to looke about them for their eyes were open and upon Jehoram long before but now they lay their heads together and consult what is to be done and what way they must take now that they see which way their King takes Speake to him they dare not they durst as well shake a Lyon by his clawes his Queene a woman of a Masculine spirit and very wicked had so raised the spirit of her King against GOD and good Men that he was now such a son of Belial that a man could not speake to him f 1 Sam. 25. 17. A cruell persecutor he for he murthered his owne Bretheren and divers of the Princes as we heard who then durst stand before him or speake the truth unto him or trust him after these bloody executions Certaine it is the
each the other at the highest point the point of service and homage to their GOD It is legible to all the world that one of these walks as a Rebell most contrary to GOD and good-men Then the other doe walk as becometh obedient children It is not possible That they walking crosse in the same way should meet together in point of Rebellion But the Text is yet clearer The Priests forsake Iehoram nor the King And why forsake they Iehoram Because he had forsaken the LORD GOD of his Fathers * Gods command makes them deafe to the command of Iehoram Disobedience here is the truest obedience And the greatest Rebell here is the best Priest Looke ye The case is cleare for God has cleared it He has given us the clearest account of this matter that ever was given The King had forsaken his LORD paramount LORD of Lords The Priests must forsake Iehoram in his way or forsake GOD That they will not doe He is the Fountaine of their life their light their comfort He is their praise their feare for He is their God and He is ALL. They will not forsake Him A good God has done them good all their dayes nor can they forget or neglect the charge their good old Master layed upon them d 2 Chron. 19. 9 Deale couragiously in the worke and way of the LORD and the LORD shall be with you for He will be with the good e ver 12. They durst not follow Iehoram downe a precipice They knew also there was a pit at the bottome that had no bottome Let Iehoram venture his necke the Priests would not much lesse their eternall souls Should they follow him that had forsaken GOD GOD forbid Thus we see it cleare now as the beaten way that here was no resistance of the Kings Power for that is of GOD and for GOD holy iust and good Here was a resistance only of Iehorams power unholy unjust and naught mannaged cleane against GOD and forcing his people to rebell against Him too A resistance I say not against the officiall power of the King but the humane power of Iehoram a wicked and Idolatrous man and as Vxorious we have not a fitter word one that ruled not but let his Wife doe and rule all The Priests resisted not Iehorams power but his wives power tyranny rather for she did all after the Line and Law of Ahabs house whose Sister she was and Daughter of Omri and that was no Law to Israel but most crosse unto it They resisted the FORCEING will of Iehoram for it had no Reason whereby he would force the freest people in the world and the freest Thing in the world which can be no more imprisoned then can the Sunne-beame and as much without the verge of Iehorams juris-diction as a Starr is above his finger they resisted this Will and obeyed GODS Will Holy Holy Holy blessed for ever Thanks be to GOD Who has so cleared unto us the practise of these Priests and Levites in Jehorams dayes that he must say as a bold fellow did The sacred Text is seditious who will accuse those Priests and honest men of raising sedition because they forsooke the way of Jehoram when he had forsaken the LORD and His good way We must give men leave who have their eyes open and can discerne a pit before them to turn out of the way that leads to death and follow on in the way of the LORD Wee reade on 4. The Priests can doe Jehoram no more service he stops his eare to their word the word of GOD and bends his fist he will compell them to doe as he does they will not be forced therein let Jehoram goe his owne way as his wife leads him they will goe theirs and yet not theirs it is the way of the LORD So now the best flower of his Crowne is gone the honest Priests a good Kings best jewels The supporters of his Crowne were gone before judgement and justice his wife made him stampe those under his foot What will become of this man You shall heare anon and very quickly Judgment and justice are set under foot The Law of GOD is forsaken a contrary Law is forced now GOD will forsake Jehoram and He will take peace away with Him His Priests pack-after Then vengeance comes powring down for all will forsake Jehoram but the executioners of GODS justice The poorest King that was in the world and more miserable because the King of Judah Now the LORD for He has held His peace a great while is returning upon him will shatter Jehorams Crowne and even break the man to peeces He will hold him up to the wind and that shall carry away his Substance He will throw open the gates of his Kingdom He will take away his defence The weake shall come-in upon him and take the prey It is most observable how GOD pursues the quarrell of His Covenant against this man no King now in GODS account and of very small account in all Israel Iehoram had forsaken the Fountaine the LORD dashes to peeces all his Cisternes He makes holes in them all the comfort shall run out thence his Cisternes shall hold no water not a drop I meane the LORD confounds his strength and his counsell both nothing should do him good for besides the blood that he shed the violence he offered to the Law his forcing men to break it his advising with his wife a wicked woman Besides all this he forsooke the Lord he went out from the presence of the LORD as it is said of Cain Let me aske how can that be A man may forsake Gen 4. 16. the LORD as Iehoram did but how can he goe out from the presence of the LORD as Cain did Who is wholly in Heaven and wholly in Earth not by interchanged times but all at once and so David witnesseth If I be in Heaven thou art there if in Hell thou art there also How then must it be understood or what is the meaning that Iehoram as Cain went-out from the presence of the LORD This is the meaning Cain and so Iehoram and so every wicked man hardned in evill goes out from the presence of GOD that is from out of the King of Heavens high-way wherin only is safety and a Commission granted and sealed for his protection He is gone from under GODS roofe as I may say from out of His Angels hands he is left to himselfe delivered up into his owne hands he had better be delivered up to the Devill to be his owne Keeper disfavoured now and bereaved of GODS protection This was Iehorams case a forlorne and forsaken man for he hath forsaken GOD and now no man followes him but the Ministers of GODS vengeance And they come-in upon him from every quarter for the Defence is gone and the doores of his House and Kingdome lye open in comes the Adversaries GOD stirred up their spirit c ver 16. The Philistines
first who had no power till now since Davids time but now Iehorams sinnes make them strong d Nostris peccatis Barbari fortes sunt Hier Epist 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isid Pet. l. 1. Ep. 294. The Arabians with them a naked people these despicable Enemies take his fenced Cities spoyle his strong holds pillage his House carried away all the substance that was found therin and his sons also and his wives So that e ver 16 17. there was never a sonne left him save one And then to make his sorrows compleat for when GOD begins He will make an end either bend the man or breake him too peeces And that the terrible Sentence in that threatning Epistle whose it was I know not but it was the word of the LORD might be fullfilled to a Letter he that smit his brethren is smit in his bowels which shortly after fell out by reason of his sicknesse so he dyed of sore diseases g ver 19. Surely the wound and place therof commands our observation and our mark Iehoram was smitten in his bowels we must remember whom Iehoram had smitten his Brethren the sons of his Mother his Sonnes were smitten too and he in his bowels Our Divines have a saying very notable Tell me thy punishment and I will tell thee thy sinne For the LORD the GOD of Recompences d Jer. 51 56. tenders to a sinner his Measures e Jer 13. 15. and the very ingredients which he puts into his sinne GOD puts into his punishment That the sinner smarting under the stroake of his sin and punishment both together may be humbled for the one more then under the other and say from his heart The LORD is righteous The Retaliation of the Lord is wonderfull here we must put the more observation upon it even how He did return Jehorams recompence upon his owne head f Joâ—l 3. 7. 1. He had concealed hatred he had spoken fair and peaceable words when warr was in his heart he is punished openly in the sight of all Israel and before the Sun 2. He had slain All his Brethren and every one of them better then himselfe g ver 4 ver 13. The Princes also divers of them the worst could not be worse then himself only complying with him in his abominable way all these he had slain The Lord doe's recompence him He stirred-up the spirit of the Philistines and of the Arabians and they came up into Judah and brake into it And what did they They carried away ALL the substance that was found in the Kings House and his sons also all save one and his wives except Athaliah that wicked woman she must be left to recompence All Iudah for the blood-shed there and the abominable services done there but the enemies carried away all the rest leaving him but one son nor that one for his sake but for David His servants sake 3. He did not only countenance irreligious services performed to the Devill but established them by a Law and by compulsive authority did enforce them he shall feele force enough This Adversary did force him and the other did force him even in his own house and carried out thence All his substance that was found there with his sons and with his wives Why he would FORCE Judah to doe as he did evill before the eyes of the Lord he had an Arme like God he could command nay compell the freest thing in the world and against God to do wickedly d Ezek. 6. 9. worse then the Heathen See his recompence he feels force after force breach upon breach but the last is the forest 4. He had broken the Lord with his whorish heart d Ezek. 6. 9. like as was the heart of his Queen for so the Lord complains to shew unto us how He is wearied and pressed with those abominable services in Iudah the LORD GOD of Recompences breaks his heart with sorrows for He smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease wherof he lay lingring two yeares All that long time an hundred years so they seemed to him lying in extremity day by day complaining night and day O my bowels Then they fell out by reason of his sicknes and so at once he died twise for ought we can gather the first and second death together He committed much sin in a little time 8 years he paced over his own way quickly and more quickly passed the pleasure of it but the pain is lasting Certainly this is written for the instruction of all the Kings of Iudah that came after him who beholding this Recompence might abhorre the worke And looking through to the end of the way of Ahabs-house they might not dare to set their face or foot that way in taking the daughter of Ahab to wife for she will rule all and give counsell like her selfe wicked counsell to the ruine of King and Kingdom and all All this will be legible in the next Chapter so soon as I have shut-up this Iehoram departed this life without being desired m ver 10. as his Subjects had small cause of comfort in his life so had they not the good manners to pretend sorrow for his death Then we reade his buriall and there is all of him but that he was not buried in the Sepulchers of the Kings n 2 Chron. 22. 9 The like is said of others like him we will set this note once for all upon his grave He that walked so contrary to his good Father all the day long shall not lodge with him at night They buried him but not in the Sepulchers of the Kings 2 Chro. 21. 20. THE ACTS OF AHAZIAH CHAP. IV. Ahaziah his short reigne he walked in the wayes of Ahabs house and after wicked counsels the end therof The good old King the grand-father is at rest in his bed but in his life time joyning in affinity with Ahab he made Judah restlesse till all his house and Kingdome was destroyed IEhoahaz called also Ahaziah the youngest of Iehorams sonnes for the Arabians had slain all 2 Chro. 21. 17. the eldest began to raigne when he was â—â— 42 a 2 Kin 8. 26. years old and ended his raigne within the year 2 Chro. 22. 1 2. after Vid. Tremel He had a great example before his eyes in a sore wrath powred downe upon his Father his children his 2 Chro. 21. 14. wives and all his goods which bad him look well to his stepps and yet he was not warned He walked also in the wayes of the house of Ahab and was guided by the same spirits that had 2 Chro. 22. 3. been his Fathers evill Angels His Story is short but very lamentable very exemplary also to bid others beware they tread not in the wayes nor after the counsels of the house of Ahab The first yeare of his raigne was the last of his life for he hasted-on in the most compendious wayes
enough to lick up that handfull of Syrians as an Oxe licketh up the grasse But what disaster or amazement happened amongst the Israelites I know not but they had for saken GOD and blood was upon them and these handfull of Syrians gave the Army of Judah a notable overthrow So that great Host was delivered-up into their hands What became of Joash the King He did not escape sure He thought it a token of his liberty to despise the service of GOD and a manifest proof of his being King because he could command to the block the Sonne of that Father to whom he stood most deeply engaged for singular and unrecountable benefits Certainly he did not escape and so we find it in the Text These Adversaries executed iudgement against Joash * ver 24. IGNOMINIOVS iudgement saith the old Translation It is evident enough they had him in their hands and handled him ill-favouredly not as Ioash the King but as Ioash the murtherer And being not worth the carrying away for he was a diseased man and the worst luggage they dismissed him leaving him in sore diseases to be cured thereof by his mercilesse vassals and they finding him on his bed quickly dispatched him out of the way and so cured him of all his worldly ver 25. pain But see how GOD meated forth the punishment to Ioash the King 1. Ioash gave commandement to slay the best servant he had in the world his owne servants execute judgement upon Ioash for the blood of the Sonnes whether Ioash had slain more or no I do not well understand but so we reade the sons of Jehojada the Priest 2. Ioash slew that Prophet in the Court of GODS House He defiled that house with the Priests blood now his house shall be polluted with his own blood 3. Ioash slew him neare that place of refuge not long before Ioash his Sanctuary In the Court of GODS House His Servants slay him on his bed a place deputed for repose and quiet rest Have me to bed saith the wearied sick-man when he is tyred out with paine and sorrows yet have me to bed though he can but count the clock there yet there he lies waiting when the LORD will command sleepe for him and give him some refreshment there There on his bed Ioash feeles the hand of the murtherer Sitting in a chaire saith Austin is a safe Posture but we know who fell out thence 1 Sam. 4. 18. and brake his necke He was indeed an old man and heavy but the newes of the Arke bowed him downe and brake his heart first The Father would assure us thereby That Death may meet us when and where we lesse looke for it I would Aug. de Civ 22 adde this more pertinent to this place A Summer parlour f Judg. 3. 20. seemes a safe place for repose and quiet And a Brothers feast g 2 Sam 13. 23. hath no shew of danger A Bed seemes a safe place also specially then when the Enemy is departed and there are none about the bed but a mans owne servants and yet the hand of Justice hath met with the sinner in all these places and meeted forth unto him according to his measures But that Ioash was slaine on his bed certainly there the Holy Ghost hath set a mark The good Priest thought himselfe safe Where In the Court of GODS House and he expected no violence to be offered him there much lesse from Ioash who found that place his Sanctuary Yet Ioash his hand does execution upon the Priest there for he commanded it in the Court of GODS House Now Ioash shall have his measures he is lying upon his Bed The Enemy is departed those of his owne house his Servants are round about him if he can sleep that has blood for his pillow he lookes for it on his bed But behold instead of sleep he sees the Sword reaching to his heart Ioash expected his own servants were about him for another purpose To turn him on his bed for he could not turne himself being left in great distresses and to make it as easie for his tyred body and wasted spirits as they could But they are there for another purpose to execute GODS vengeance for the blood of the sonnes of Jehojada They that have shed blood to their power will not consider this for their heart is hardned and brawned in villanies and now they have drunke blood their thirst thereof cannot be quenched But he that is wise layes this to heart and stoppeth his eare from hearing of blood remembring by this example That GOD makes inquisition for blood He finds it out and repayes it in a full measure pressing downe and running over So the just GOD meeted forth his measures to Ioash His owne Servants flew him upon his bed and he died Then they buried him nothing carefull in the choyce of the place They would remove so unsightly an object from before their eyes and find out some hole for him in the City there about but they were carefull not to lay him in Bed with his good Fathers They buried him but not in the Sepulchers of the Kings And Amaziah his sonne raigned in his stead THE ACTS OF AMAZIAH CHAP. VI. Amaziah begins well does that which is good but not with a good heart He executes Judgement and Justice He expects strength by those from whom the GOD of Power is departed and helpe from helplesse things So hee provokes GOD invites and hastens his owne destruction AMAZIAH begins well for he did that which 2 Chro. 25. 1. was right in the sight of the LORD But there was one grace wanting the chief grace ver 2. of a Christian that was SINCERITY or truth of heart which we may call a Christians perfection in this life his Perfection is a striving after perfection in sincerity and with an upright heart This Sincerity the King wanted and that is all which GOD accounts of He did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD no fault for the matter and substance of his work Where was the fault then In the manner of performance and that is all in all with the LORD He did right but not with a perfect heart This requires our marke Actions may be very faire and the heart may be foule Actions may be strait and right when the heart stands crooked and perverse Looke we to our hearts what sincerity and truth is there for that is greatly to be regarded not what I doe but with what heart I doe it What say we then to those men who regard neither the matter nor manner of their worke neither what they doe nor how they doe it Mighty Hunters before the LORD who shed blood to their power and with a rage that reacheth up unto Heaven What say we to such bloody men Not a word The LORD will speake unto them in His wrath and vex them in His sore displeasure He will require of them what they have done