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
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
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
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
Beliall evermore as deeply in love with vice as good men are with vertue and as over-hasty in their choyce so as quickly out of love with it despised him saying This is a King indeed as little helpe can be expected from him as from one of us Shall this man save e ver 27. us Saul was so wise as to hold his peace at that time for he could not value himselfe as yet he tooke no notice of their contempt Then Nahash the Ammonite came up 1 Sam. 11. 1. and encamped against Jabesh Gilead the People there fall presently upon Propositions for Peace Make a Covenant with us say they and we will serve thee Agreed said the Ammonite ver 1. but upon this condition that I may thrust out all your RIGHT-EYES f ver 2. That is the condition of an Ammonite you must never expect better from him Hard termes indeed The Ammonite was perswaded no doubt of an advantage sufficient against Israel for 1. He knew that many of the Israelites did not willingly submit to their new King 2. He remembred that the Philistines had not long before slaine thirty foure thousand of their men of warre g 1 Sam 42. 10 Besides he had used great care and diligence that the Israelites should have no Smithes to make them Swords and Speares d 1 Sam. 13. 19. Neither was it long before that the Bethshemites perished by the hand of GOD more then fifty Thousand e 1 Sam. 6. 19. These respects and what els I know not made the Ammonite so proud in his Demands He will have their Eyes and their right-Eyes It would lay a reproach upon all Israel indeed and utterly disinable them for the Warre for though a man may doe much by the help of the left-Eye as some did with the left-Hand yet these Gileadites using to carry a Target upon their left-Armes which could not but shaddow their left-Eyes should by loosing their right be utterly disinabled to defend themselves Better a just Warre then a dishonourable Peace Gold may be bought too deare so may peace Had Israel given their right-eyes for peace they had done then as some would doe now purchase peace with the losse of Faith and a good Conscience Give Israel peace Good LORD but let them not accept of it upon an Ammonites termes with the losse of their right-Eyes We reade on Saul observes the people weeping enquires the reason understands it was because the Ammonites had made such a proposition for peace Marke now And the Spirit of GOD came upon Saul Now there is question about Israels parting with their right-Eyes The Spirit ver 6. of GOD came upon Saul raised up Sauls spirit to the height of indignation so that his anger was kindled GREATLY ver â— And that his indignation might appeare he hewes his Oxen in peeces summons all his people thereby assuring them their Oxen shall be served so too if they doe not every man of them fit for Warre make their appearance presently for they must venture the best blood in their veines to preserve their right-Eyes The people will doe it for though the blood in their veines is deare unto them yet their right-Eyes are dearer But wee must note as followes The feare of the LORD fell on the people What then And they came out with one consent And so the Warre began and was quickly ended for this unreasonable Demand put courage into the King and people both So Saul set his Army in Battell-aray Then he put 1 Sam. 11. 11. the people in three Companies and they came into the midst of the Hoast in the morning watch and slew the Ammonites untill the heate of the Day f. And they that remained of the Enemies were so scattered that they who demanded the two Eyes from the people were not left no not two of them together And that was notable for as Samson said GOD avenged them of the Ammonites for demanding their two Eyes Judg 16. 28. And so let all Thine enemies perish O Lord who thinking they have an advantage against Israell will not give him peace unlesse he will give them his right-Eye Now the People were well pleased with Saul for they judge of Persons and things by the issue and successe they have violent lovers of the Prosperous are base vassalls to him that flourisheth and as dispitefully cruell against those whom any worldly accident hath throwne downe we have a valiant King said they and who are they that spoke so contemptuously of him bring the men that we may put them to Death And Saul said there shall not a man be put to Death this Day for to Day the Lord hath wrought salvation for Israell d 1 Sam. 11. 13 He had indeed hee gave Israel courage and glorious victories over that insolent adversary who delighted in proud wrath and Saul did his duty in making acknowledgement and giving the Glory to GOD. All this while Saul prospers for Samuell a good man and well experienced in Government do's all and all to render Saul Prosperous and confirmed in his Kingdome So according to Samuells advice King and people went downe to Gilgall made Saul King before the LORD there and there they sacrificed Sacrifices of Peace-offerings before the LORD ver 15. and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoyced greatly In the next Chapter Samuell reasons with the People before Chap. 12. the Lord of all His righteous Acts Convinceth them mightily touching his own Innocency and uprightnesse in judging them and the Lords Goodnesse towards them from the dayes of Moses unto that day Adviseth them to continue in His Goodnesse and quickens them thereunto with a mighty threat and so concludes the Chapter Now Saul the third time is acknowledged King having Reigned two Yeares over Israel he did Reigne many Yeares Chap. 13. but no more in Gods account He computes him but two 1 Sam. 13. 1 Yeares a King for a Reason which followes strengthened himselfe with a Guard of Three thousand chosen men of which he assigned a thousand to attend upon his Sonne Jonathan Jonathan with his small Regiment surpriseth a Garrison of the Philistines smites them so that he did but enrage the Enemies with that surprise for presently the Philistines assembled Thirty thousand Charrets and six Thousand Horse-men and ver 5. People as the Sands in multitude and so Invade Judea This suddaine Invasion strikes such a terrour into the Israelites that some hid themselves others fled and went over Jordan others for they were all in a strait and distressed went trembling to Saul yet in Gilgal who feared as much as they And now ver 6 7. was the time when Saul should have cleaved fast to GOD and His Command for he was affraid and then said David I will trust in Thee and waite for my hope is in Thee And this Saul seemes to doe and but seemes for being appointed to attend the comming
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
enquire now and have no answer Saul enquired of the LORD the ver 6. LORD answered him not neither by Dreames nor by Vrim nor by Trophets What will he doe now He is resolved to enquire of the Devill to see what he will say See here a sad case That man is in straits indeed who expects enlargement from the Devill But marke his complaint that he puts up to the Devill I am sore distressed he took a bad way for ver 15. help to seek for it from his greatest Enemy But what troubles him The Philistines make warre against me Nay that was not it so they did before the Moabites too the Ammonites Amalekites the Arabians also all the world warred against Israel therefore the trouble was not in that No but here it was this was the trouble and sore affliction which was like a Sword in his bowels yea like the gall of Aspes there GOD is departed FROM ME This was it I-cabod the Glory is gone the Nations are angry they will come upon the Land from every quarter Let them come they shall not distresse the Land with all their strength But does this follow God is departed from a Land then all created strength cannot safeguard the same if the Enemies were all wounded men yet they shall destroy all the Land and take the spoile And this was Sauls case God is departed from me The saddest complaint that ever was heard Consider well of it and you will say so too suppose the Adversary entring the doores treading upon the mans heele pangs are come upon him the paine as of a woman in travell his Soule is upon his lipps he is entring into the chambers of Death and his case is the same with Sauls here GOD is departed from him He answers him not Certainly neither teares nor sighs nor sobbs can point out this mans complaint the grievousnesse of this case exceeds all comparison And this was Sauls case then that it may not be our case anon Let us consider with all our hearts how equall and just it was that God should leave Saul at this time and afford him no answer God was with Saul prospered him exceedingly gave him glorious victories Saul was not aware of all this God answered him againe and againe told him what His expresse will was Saul rejected it now God departs from him and answers him no more A man will drive hard for comfort at such a time but he will mistake his way as Saul did his goes for the living to the dead nay worse from Esa 8. 16. God to the Devill he seekes answer there at the Devils Oracle And behold worse and worse Saul cannot endure to heare it but falls straight-way all along on the Earth c ver 20. When he sought counsell of God he was alwayes victorious Now that he sought counsell from the Oracle of the Devill this was the answer Who can be thy friend now God is thine enemy Thou didst not execute the fierce wrath of the Lord upon Amalek * A dangerous omission not to execute the wrath of the Lord upon His Churches Adversaries old fierce and treacherous therefore must that wrath be executed upon thee and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me c. And so it was for answerably it follows That both himselfe and his three sons with his neerest and faithfull servants were all slaughtered by the Philistines his body with the bodyes of his Sonnes as a spectacle of shame and dishonour were hung over the walls of Bethsan and there had remained till they had found buriall in the bowells of ravenous Birds had not the gratefull Gileadites of Jabes stolne their carcasses thence and interred them This was the end of Saul such as might tell all the world That now the blood of Gods Priests * 1 Sam. 22. 19 which Saul shed and of David which he would have shed was required and requited Let us note it more particularly What was his end very desperate The Battell went sore against him and he was sore wounded of the Archers Then he said unto his Armour-bearer draw thy Sword and thrust me * 1 Sam 31. 4. throw therewith His Armour-bearer refused Did he well in disobeying Yes for he disobeyed the desperate will of Saul which a man may doe and yet doe the greatest right See Childs Patrimony p. 36. and justice to the King Yes though he had held Saul from falling upon his own Sword and so restrained him from being a selfe-murtherer But Saul was left to himselfe and so he died he tooke a Sword and fell upon it A desperate execution He was an Enemy to good men while he lived and now he died he is an Enemy to himselfe He lived and died a murtherer he fell upon his own Sword and so Saul died His buriall we reade before His life death and buriall all three well agree together The greatest part of his life was spent in persuance of Gods friend see the Relation all along The last Act of his life was violence upon himselfe from his own hand He had driven David the head of his Tribes and after Oyle had been powred upon him and who so faithfull among all Sauls servants as David was d 1 Sam. 22. 14. from abiding in the Inheritance of the Lord Sauls head was taken off and his body exposed to the weather fastned to a wall no more accounted 1 Sam. 31. 9 10. of then a despised broken Idoll or a vessell wherein is no pleasure Saul had slaine the chiefe Priest and all his Fathers Ier. 22. 28. house then Priests of the Lord he had smitten their City with 1 Sam. 22. 16 17. the edge of the Sword and all therein with the edge of the Sword it is twice repeated to shew the bloodinesse of that ver 19. execution Now his lot shall fall-out unto him and this the portion of his measures All Sauls Sonnes are slaine he is Ier. 13. 25. written a Man Childlesse to all Generations some of his seed remained but none prospered to sit upon the Throne and Rule any more in Judah * Ier. 22. 30. We must repeate this once more for so I find it in the Sacred Writ because we may receive from it a sure instruction That we doe not transgresse against the ANGELL of the LORD nor reject His Word That we continue seeking Exod 23. 20. Counsell at His mouth and if He answer not yet wait if we die let us die seeking while we waite there is hope depart from Him there is no hope goe after other gods and then certaine destruction as to Saul So Saul died and his three Sonnes and all his House died together for his transgression which 1 Chro 10. 6. ver 13. he committed against the Lord even against the word of the Lord which he kept not and also for asking Counsell of one that had a familiar spirit to enquire of it
FOR THE DEVILS m ver 15. Reader marke that and FOR THE DEVILS and carry it home to the idolaters of our dayes But they will never beleeve you That when they serve GOD after their owne way they doe not serve Him but Devils and when they doe ordaine Priests for their Masse they doe ordaine them for the Devils They will not beleeve you in this That they doe now as Jeroboam did sacrifice to the Devils and make Priests to the Devils No not they they are wiser then so They make Altars and Priests and Sacrifices too all of their owne making as Aaron made a Feast to a Exod. 32. 5. JEHOVAH so indeed they say and they thinke they have a strong proofe from that which Aaron said not weighing what the LORD saies a little after They worshipped the Calfe they sacrificed to the Calfe That they did saith the LORD Why then they sacrificed to the ver 8. Devill and worshipped the Devill saith the Lord. Tell 1 Cor. 10. 20. them this though they will not regard it for they regard not what the LORD says but when you have told them so and bid them consider on it you have told them the truth and done your Duty Reade on After the fore-mentioned others also even such as set their hearts to seek the LORD GOD of Israel came to Jerusalem to sacrifice unto the LORD GOD of their Fathers c ver 16. What followes now That whereon we must set a Marke So they strengthened the Kingdome of Judah They were the very MILITIA of the Kingdome Who such as set their hearts to seeke the LORD Here we must put the marke When they come to a City Towne or Country who set their hearts to seeke the LORD they bring a blessing along with them They fortifie the place exceedingly they make the City EXCEEDING STRONG they are the MILITIA of the City So it followes So THEY strengthened the Kingdome of Judah and made Rehoboam STRONG Yes Prince and people all are STRONG now why now Now that Priests and Levites are come unto them SUCH AS SET THEIR HEARTS TO SEEKE THE LORD It is notable also to consider how long the Prince and people continued Strong How long It is answered THREE YEARES o ver 17. for so long they walked in the way of David and Solomon What way was that GODS way sure an holy way and wee must set a marke there also The way a Prince must take to make himselfe and his Kingdome strong is to WALKE in the first p 2 Chro. 17. 3 WAY OF DAVID AND SOLOMON when David performed the Wills of GOD * Act. 13. 22. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We will note no more but this in this Chapter concerning Rehoboam that he did against the Commandement for he multiplyed wives to himselfe q Deut. 17. 17. After this time when Rehoboam had established the Kingdome r 2 Chron. 12. and strengthened himselfe HE FORSOOK THE LAW of the LORD What followed that bad example Multitudes what way soever the King takes he goes not alone the people will presse and throng after him as here Chap. 12. in this place And ALL ISRAEL with him s ver 1. Note we therefore what a traine followes the King Jeroboam commands a CALVISH worship All Israel follow the Commandement Jeroboam is never mentioned but with his traine after him A Ruler hearkens to lyes What if he does or what is that to his Servants Yes for it followes ALL HIS SERVANTS are wicked t Pro. 29. 12. They will doe as their Master doth and thinke they doe well they will find a way or make a way after the Commandement they will goe REHOBO AM FORSOOKE THE LAW OF THE LORD AND ALL ISRAEL WITH HIM What then Then all was turned upside downe Bury me with my face downe-ward saith Diogenes Why so man Because said he the Rulers are naught and all will be nought presently now all will be turned upside downe and then my face will be upward againe in the fittest posture Just so with Rehoboam upside downe a marvellous alteration presently He that was strong before is now weake as water That which was sound is now become as rottennesse his Strength which seemed INFINITE u Nah. 3 9. mouldred away and became rottennesse his MILITIA fainted his strong-holds were like the first ripe figgs which fall into the mouth of the Eater x Nah. 3. 12. See there Rehoboam forsakes the Law of his GOD GOD forsakes him breakes downe his hedges takes away his DEFENCE from his Cities and strong holds exposeth him to the WILL of his Adversary which yet the LORD sets bounds unto and that we must note SHISHAK and he was Successour of that Aegyptian whose Daughter Solomon had married thereby the better to assure his estate which while he served GOD was by GOD assured against all and the greatest neighbouring Kings And when he forsooke Him it was torne asunder by his meanest vassals This Shishak distressed Judah for THEY HAD TRANSGRESSED AGAINST THE LORD a 2 Chron. 12. 2 and He left them in his hand But this helped the King and the people very much even their humbling themselves under Gods mighty hand and submitting saying THE LORD IS RJGHTEOVS b ver 6. Therefore the LORD did not stirre up all His wrath He would not destroy them altogether Neverthelesse because Rehoboam and his people would serve strange gods therefore they should be under the yoake of a strange King SERVANTS VNTO HIM c ver 7 8. And because they would change so good a Master they should know His service and the service of other Kings Judah should not get his neck from under the Egiptian yoake Moreover Shishak pilliged the house of the LORD and the Kings house for he TOOKE ALL thence his Shields of gold also instead of which Rehoboam made ver 9. Shields of brasse and they were good enough for him who had embased the Temple and impured the service there and a change fit enough for him too who was so ready to change the worship of his God Notwithstanding the Lord graunted to Prince and people SOME DELIVERANCE He would not destroy the King ALTOGETHER g ver 12. and also in Judah THINGS WENT WELL. But not long sure for the KING DID EVILL h ver 14. he humbled himselfe while the stroake was upon him he turned himselfe to the Lord till the Lord turned the wrath from him so long he did seemingly well But when the wrath was turned away he turned to his Idoll HE DID EVILL sayes the Text and renders a reason withall BECAVSE HE PREPARED NOT HIMSELFE TO SEEKE THE LORD And he did evill this is to be noted with the reason of the same The King humbled himselfe that is expressed his heart seemed to be humbled so as he could ACCEPT OF THE PVNISHMENT of his iniquiry a Lev. 26. 41. for he said The LORD is
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
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
man Iehojadah the Priest his Protectour under GOD It must needs follow that youth so seasoned in its minority will doe something worthy of such a Tuterage So he did and the first act he tooke in hand was the reparation of Faire beginnings give faire hope but no sound proof of good proceedings and ending well the Temple a ver 4. fallen into decay through the wickednesse of ungodly Tyrants There was the greatest reason in the world that so he should doe repaire the breaches there which Athaliah that wicked woman b with her Sonnes c ver 7. had made there taking the dedicate things of the LORDS House and bestowing them upon Baalim for the Temple by GODS appointment had preserved him to make-up the many breaches made also upon the house of David And indeed the King followed the businesse with so earnest a zeale That not only the Levites were more slack then he b ver 5. but even Iehojada his Tutour was faine to be quickned by his admonition c ver 6. He would uphold that place with the greatest zeale which he had learnt by good information had upheld him But his zeale was fained and the good precepts his good guardian distilled into him did not sinke downe into his he art they made no other impression there but what a short time could weare out Iehojada that good Councellour dies full of dayes and the people buried him who had preserved the race of the Kings and restored the true Religion among the Kings of Judah d ver 15 16. That excellent Priest is gone from the Court to his Crowne he had the gaine the Court and Kingdome had the losse a losse unspekeable for then the Princes of Iudah acted their parts flattered their King able enough to flatter himselfe drawed him-on to their side who stood bent before by his own inclination so he hearkned unto them e ver 17. and left the house of the Lord and served Idolls What then Then wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem WRATH CAME Ai ver 18. A Land-wasting wrath comes powring down upon a King and Kingdom when they fall down before Idols then wrath comes and will not spare for it is the wrath of the LORD whose Glory they have given to stocks and stones They were served in their kind for they served Idols Prince and people they all chose new gods Then was warre in the gates as we heard before and their Militia could not keepe it off yet the Lord appointed meanes which could have done it for he sent Prophets unto them g ver 19. but they would not give care As a wayward and impatient sick-man they were angry with the remedy and at the Commandement of their King who ever saw an Idolater that was not cruell they smote their Physitian They conspired against GODS Messenger and stoned him with stones h ver 21. What had he done the best service that is imaginable hee contested with the King and people and yet not he but the Spirit of GOD upon him saying why doe you stand in your own light why goe you crosse to your own happinesse Why transgresse you the Commandement of ver 20. the LORD that you cannot prosper All the wayes you take to thrive and prosper in the world is lost labour or labour in the fire You transgresse the Commandements of the LORD yee cannot prosper you have forsaken the LORD He hath also forsaken you This was all the good man had done in these words he had spoke unto the people And they after their manner and lot evermore befalling faithfull Prophets answer him with stones They conspired against him and stoned him with stones at the commandement of the King What a King is this ver 21. The likest to the ungratefull snake that ever was heard of His Son is slaine at the commandement of the King whose Father and Mother was the Kings Nurse in his infancy was his Guardian when he was young his faithfull Councellor when he was growne up The Son of such a Father that had done so much for the King was stoned at the commandement of the King What will not that King doe that has left the house of the LORD GOD of his Fathers Serveth Idolls we see by Joash what he will doe he will shed blood to his power but that is not all if he can make his choice it shall be the blood of those who are most faithfull and therefore must crosse him in his way Whoever saw an Idolater that was not a most ungratefull man to GOD and Man both I will not adde and cruell too for he that hath said VNGRATEFVLL hath said all Note withall A counterfet zeale will degenerate into the deadliest hatred and no such enemies to the house and Quod later in herba manifestatur in spica c. Chrys Ser. 97. p. 342. houshold of GOD as friends once but now turned adversaries Such an adversary was Joash and the most unthankfull man that ever we reade of I cannot except one for his ingratitude did exceed Benhadads King of Syria Fight not against small or great save only with the King of Israel g 2 Chron 18. 30. this was Benhadads charge A most unkind requitall of Ahabs foolish pitty to him giving him his life at an easie rate h 1 King 20. 34 Benhadad returnes that kindnesse with that bloody charge touching the taking away Ahabs life and it was done accordingly but according to the threat of the LORD because Ahab had let Benhadad goe whom He had appointed to utter destruction I looked into that place to see whether it could be a paralell for this 1 Kin. 20. 42. mans ingratitude but it cannot be the like is not to be found in all the Records of Time Good Zechariah and the Son of as good a Father to whom Joash was more beholding then to all the men in the world and no lesse to his Son for he told him the truth which is the greatest kindnesse a Prophet can doe unto a King This true Prophet was stoned with stones â—â— the commandement of the King whom his Father had done such a kindnesse unto saved his life and his Crowne both Where was he slaine In the Court of the House of the LORD Oh! he should have spared him there for it was neare the place which was Ioash his sanctuary but when a man is resolved to doe wickedly he will make no choice of places or if he does that place pleaseth best which is most before the LORD and in the face of the whole Congregation of Prophets consulting about a way and resolving upon it how they may establish his Crowne and make his Kingdome sure for ever This place pleased Ioash best in the Court of GODS House the place for that great assembly And yet it was well for Zechariah that he was slaine there where he had done so much service to God and His people So
agro sed seorsim a cadavertibus aliorum regum Irem Jotham was over the Kings house and judged the people of the Land in his Fathers life time and when his Father was dead reigned in his stead 2 Chro. 26. 23. Of him in his owne place amongst the Good Kings THE ACTS OF AHAZ CHAP. VIII AHAZ his contrary walking with GOD and GODS contrary walking with him Service to strange gods procures strange punishments It darkens the mind It hardens and brawnes the heart in evill It hastens a mans pace to his utter ruine and destruction of all this Ahaz is a very great and miserable example AHAZ Jothams Son and Grand-child to Vzziah was twenty yeares old when he began to reigne 1 Chron. 28. such an Idolater as exceeded all his predecessors they walked in the wayes of the Kings of Israel so did he but in this he exceeded for he offered that most unnaturall cruell and divelish oblation called an abomination which GOD hateth a Deut. 12. 31. even the Son of his body for the sin of his soule he burnt his Children in the fire b ver 3. Therefore that MUCH which his Father JOTHAM builded whereof anon all those strong places could not strengthen the Sonne Notwithstanding his Militia the King of Syria smote him and the King of Israel smote him both with a very great slaughter c ver 5. But the King of Israel layed load upon him the smartest blowes for he was a neighbour and a brother offended c Pro. 18. 19. there the contentions will be bitter and mighty as here where they slew their bretheren with a rage that reached up to Heaven * Chro. 28 5. The King of Israel slew in Judah an hundred Gen. 32. 11. and twenty Thousand in one day which were all valiant men d 2 Chro. 28. 6. because they had forsaken the LORD GOD of their Fathers There was the old quarrell and these Kings were the viols through which the LORD powred downe the wrath and avenged the quarrell of His broken Covenant e Levit 26. 25. And marke we there Prince and people all forsake GOD GOD forsakes them breaks downe the Hedges takes away His Destnce that is done first after that He takes away peace then one Enemy comes in then another breach upon breach like the Sea smititg upon smiting one blow after another and full one smarter then the other till all are consumed and yet ALL VALIANT MEN. Amongst these slain was the Kings own Sonne the Governour of his house and he also that was next to the Kings ver 7. person The most valiant men were slain so were they that were nearest to the King in love and trust Besides all this ver 8. Israel carried away captives of their Brethren two hundred thousand women sonnes and daughters with much spoyle and brought it to Samaria ODED a good Prophet speaks to ver 9. the Host of Samaria very well bids them remember and consider on it That there were with them even with them sinnes against the LORD GOD for which they must looke for a day of reckoning even they who would show no pitty to ver 10. their brethren in the day of their trouble and treading down Nay said the Prophet the day of reckoning is come or as good as come FOR THE FIERCE WRATH OF GOD IS VPON YOV These words with certain others The heads of the children of Ephraim prevailed for ver 11. the sending-backe Judahs Captives warme-clad and well arayed ver 12. with their owne spoyles And all the feeble of them ver 13. they carried upon Asses and brought them to Jericho A ver 15. man will remember to show mercy to his Brother when he well remembers himselfe what his own case and deservings are and what need he may stand in of mercy to be showne unto himself Thus Israel relents at the stroake he had given Judah and shewes mercy unto him which doubtlesse moved Ahaz very much to cease from thoughts of revenge But he bends himselfe against Rezin King of Syria and that he may be avenged on him he sent to Tiglath the King of Assiria saying I am thy Servant SIR and more also Thy Sonne Come-up and SAVE ME out of the hand of the King of Syria A 2 Kin. 16. 7. strange speech but not so strange from Ahaz for he will anon ascribe salvations to stocks and stones much rather might he he thought ascribe salvations to a man Come up and save me So he calls in a forraigne King to his helpe who knew very well how to make profit by the troubles that rose in Palestina But yet Tiglath seemes not moved with a complement Your Servant SIR and your Sonne If Ahaz will have him come to save him he must bribe him well to his advantage and so he do's presenting him with the silver and the gold taken out of GODS house and his owne Silver and gold is full of Rhetorick can perswade mightily and make a man to hearken so it followes Then Tiglath hearkned unto ver 8. Ahaz for he had the treasures of Jerusalem in his hand and having there with prepared his Army he invaded the Territory of Damascus wonne that City carried away captive the people there and killed Rezin the King thereof who had so ver 9. smitten Judah a little before Now Ahaz thinkes his Treasure well bestowed for Tiglath had avenged him of his Adversary and up Ahaz goes to Damascus to meet Tiglath there and to behold the ruine of that King and his City who had so distressed him and all Iudah See how bloudy an Idolatrous King is he feeds his eyes with rue-full spectacles thinking now his chiefest enemy was taken away not considering that himselfe was he Ahaz being now at Damascus saw an Altar ver 10. there falls in love with the forme and fashion of it more gaudy then was that of Solomons made by the patterne shewed to Moses in the Mount An Idolater ever is better pleased with that Altar and Service which he hath devised 1 Kin. 12. 33. of his owne heart then he is with that which the wisdom of GOD hath commanded So is Ahaz here as Ieroboam before him and as all like him much taken with this Altar and forme of it sends a modell of this excellent frame to Vriiah the Priest that it may be sampled in Ierusalem according to the patterne The Priest was as ready to make it as the King his Master was to worship before it before the King was returned from Damascus the Priest had hoisted up an Altar according to the patterne and finished it An Idolatrous King shall not want an Idolatrous Priest Thus did Urijah the Priest according to all that King Ahaz commanded 2 King 16. ver 16. Then he was an obedient Servant you will say No the most unfaithfull in all the Kingdome and the deepest in Rebellion there next to
the gods of Damascus he turned himself to them from the living GOD to stockes and stones which smote him yet he said they may helpe me This is that King Ahaz we learne also hence 6. That stripes and sore stroakes will not make a foole wise No though thou shouldest bray him in a morter among wheate with a pestle yet will not his foolishnesse depart from him Pro 27. 22. Afflictions tribulations may breake the bones and the spirits and the heart too with worldly sorrow but the stroakes must be sanctified else they will not supple this rocky thing they will not breake the heart with a godly sorrow Ahaz had blowes enough because of his transgression The Lord delivered him into the hand of the King of Syria and they smote him and into the hand of the King of Israel and he smote him with a great slaughter The Edomites they smote him so did the Philistines he was smitten before and behind and on every side he had blowes enough but they did him no good his heart was gone after his Idolls and joyned to them then nothing can do him any good for he that is joyned to Idols is departed from GOD. We learne also hence That 8. A man can harden his own heart and does so daily he can lye in the grave of sinne and roule a stone over that grave that he can doe he can encrease the rockinesse of his heart he cannot soften it doe he what he can And that he must doe he must use the meanes for the softening of the heart which GOD affords unto him But all is made effectually by the good Hand of GOD unto him Who speakes and drawes too for He speakes with a strong hand The conclusion is man is as dead as a doore naile to his own conversion he can no more raise himselfe from the death of sinne then a dead man can raise himselfe from the grave of his corruption But GODS voice he can heare for that is a creating voice that called Lazarus out of the grave and that voice he can heare Wee must take one note more from the Retaliation of the LORD for that is remarkeable in the powring out of wrath upon Ahaz 9. Ahaz sacrificed his Childeren to Molech in the fire so he 2 Chron 28. 30. tooke the Children whom GOD had given him and offers them up to that abomination The LORD will be avenged on him for that He will give-up one of his Sonnes the stoutest of them and with him his chiefe servant and favourite also unto the Sword of his enemy And Zichri a mighty man of Ephraim slew MAASEJAH the Kings Son And AZRIKAM 2 Cro. 18. 7. the governour of the house and ELKANAH that was next to the King Ahaz said to a man come and save me That Man came for his owne advantage distressed him but strengthened him not He sought helpe from the gods of Damascus These smote him strooke out his eye and tooke away his heart were the ruine of him and of all Israel So ends the Story of his life A dishonour followes him to the grave how little the people regarded him appeares at his death Ahaz slept with his Fathers but not in the same roome with them he was too bad a Sonne to rest at night where his good Father lay a sleepe he had brought Judah low he had made Judah naked he had transgressed sore against the LORD Therefore they denied him roome in the Sepulchers of the Kings They buried him in the City even in Jerusalem but they brought him not into the Sepulchers of the Kings of Israel and Hezekiah his Son reigned in his stead We shall reade much of his Goodnesse in his place the ver 27. next Section there also of Manasseh a great sinner but greatly humbled he began very ill but ended wondrously well he obtained mercy that in him the Lord CHRIST for He was the same yesterday might shew forth as to his servant Paul all long-suffering for a patterne to them who should hereafter repent and beleeve on Him to life everlasting But of him after his Father and his Goodnesse Amon followes here after 1 Tim. 1. 16. him excellent Iosiah in his place Then a continued succession of wicked Kings and a miserable destruction For Judah halfe had changed her God and she hath a change of Kings one quickly after another quickly-up and as quickly-downe till they and their Kingdome fell to peeces The supporter of the Throne was gone and they had so heated their seate with their abominable Idolatries that quickly after they were sate downe in it they were consumed with the heate of Gods displeasure That I may conclude this section with the more profit we will looke back as farre as to King Solomon thence recollect the Story that we may take a short view of the wayes of Israel and thereby amend our owne Thus it was King Solomon in his declining yeares declined the true worship of God Rehoboam followes-on in the last wayes of Solomon like his Father in every thing except the best things his Wisedome and Repentance For he doted upon Idolls joyned himselfe to them and so rent from himselfe the greatest halfe of his Kingdome Abijah his Son was wiser not much better Asa sets all to rights againe and has a good Jehoshaphat He has a bad Jehoram he walked in the wayes of Ahab for he had taken the Daughter of Ahab to wife a wicked woman she poisoned her Husbands posterity their wickednesse is propagated to their Son and their Sons Son Unthankfull Joash we need say no more has almost as bad an Amaziah and he an Vzziah Then there is a good descent in Jotham and that is from above Goodnesse is not propagated wickednesse is for Jotham has an Ahaz there we are but I goe on Then there is a descent from Heaven againe Ahaz hath an Hezekiah Then there is a naturall descent againe Hezekiah hath a Manasseh And the naturall descent goes-on for Manasseh hath an Amon he continues the Story Then the descent from Heaven for Amon hath a Josiah And after him the naturall descent holds till all was broken to peeces Thus in the Throne of Judah there was a succession and interchange of Good and evill Evill Princes succeed to good for the exercise of the Church And good succeed to evill for her comfort And thus the Wise GOD orders it that the Church may not looke for her Heaven here but in the World affliction Here the Church is afflicted and tossed with tempests and so she is spoken Esa 54. 11. unto and comforted with an expectation of an interrupted peace for a time even here below but of rest for ever in Heaven We went purposely back to take a view of Judah's wayes and the rise of her Idolatries and in short thus we reade These abhominable services were first countenanced in Judah then practised by Judah after that forced upon Judah then tooke fast rooting there
We shall now reade-on and this conclusion quickly cleered unto us That where Idolatry is rooted-into a Kingdome it will not be rooted-out till that Kingdome be rooted out so it followes THE ACTS OF FIVE KINGS CHAP. IX Five other Kings of Judah as bad as the former did as ill and fared as ill as they walking after their own counsels in their own way to the utter ruine of themsolves and the Kingdome FIve other Kings of Judah yet remaine which I will but Name as exemplary for wickednesse and judgment as the former 1. Amon a 2 Chro. 33. 12. Son of Manasseh who did evill as his Father did but was not humbled for it as his Father was b ver 2â— he trespassed more and more so his raigne was short but two yeares then his servants conspired against him and slew him in his owne house 2. Jehoahaz the Son of Josiah is made King instead of so lamented a Father his reigne is very short but three Moneths 2 Chr. 36. 2. then the King of Egipt deposed him condemned the Land in an hundred Talents of Silver and a Talent of Gold and made ver 3. Eliakim his Brother King over Judah turned his Name to Jehojakim ver 4. and tooke Jehoahaz his Brother and carried him into Egipt 3. Jehojakim reigned eleven yeares did that which was ver 5. ver 8. evill after the abominations of his Fathers then the King of 2 King 24. 1. This was hee that cut the Râ—ll and then cast it into the fire Jer. 36. 23. Babilon came up distressed Jehojakim and he became his servant three yeares Then hee turned and rebelled against him broke covenant with the King of Babell which he should not have done though an Heathen King But see the retaliation of the Lord Jehojakim like the man possessed with a Devill as those in our dayes infamous this way all over the world breakes the band of his covenant That band though the greatest binder on earth cannot bind him he breakes that sacred band the Oath of GOD. Does he carry it away so does he escape I pray you marke what followes and resolve your selfe He shall have bands enough which shall hold him fast and breake him too that will breake such sacred bands It followes the LORD sent against him BANDS of the Chaldees and BANDS of the SYRIANS and BANDS of the Moabites and BANDS of the children of Ammon Looke you there The Band of a Covenant could not hold him these 2 Chron. 36. Bands held him fast But Nebuchadnezzars Bands were the strongest they bound him in fetters to carry him to Babylon But his burden of sorrow was too heavy for him so as his spirits fainted under it and died in the way was Buried with the buriall of an Asse drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem c Ier. 22. 19. Non autem eo usque dedactus est sed in itinere moriuus Irem 2 Chro. 26. 6. The Acts of Iehojakim and his abominations that he did and that which was found in him are written in the Bookes of the ver 8. Kings but more fully by Jeremiah in the fore-mentioned place Chap. 22. 17. 18. 4. And Jehojachin his Son reigned in his stead a very short time three Moneths and ten Dayes In that time he did that which was evill in the sight of the LORD And when the yeere 2 Chro. 36. 9 10. was expired the King of Babylon sent and brought up the young King in iron bands to him His attendance thither shall adde to his misery for the Kings Mother and his Wives his 2 King 24. 12 13 14 15 16. Servants his Princes his Officers all the mighty men of valour none remained save the poorest sort of the people accompany him manacled and chained to their perpetuall bondage 5. The King of Babylon made Mattaniah his Fathers Brother 2 Kin 24. 17. changing his Name to Zedekiah King in his stead taking an Oath of him That he should be Tributary and servant 2 Chro. 36. 13. unto him Zedekiah considering not though Jeremiah had put it upon his thoughts againe and againe That he had bound Ier. 27. himselfe with the Oath of GOD he also rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar 2 Chro. 36. 13. who had made him sweare by GOD he stifned his neck and hardned his heart from turning to the LORD and rebelled against the King of Babylon to whom he had sworne obedience He shall pay deare for this breach of covenant Marke that An Iron yoake is put upon his neck and his stiffe neck is made to bow to it he is brought before Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon where his eyes shall behold the slaughtering his Sons before him then those lights are put out after they had let in that sight which would never goe out till his spirits went-out so he is left in the darke to contemplate in his saddest thoughts the saddest spectacle that ever Father looked upon And it is the complement of his misery there That though his eyes are out yet he cannot but behold that woefull slaughter in the darke No more sorrow can come in by the windowes of his body more shall come-in at his doores he heares that which will make his eares tingle That Jerusalem is taken and Judah cast out from the presence 2 King 24. 20. of the LORD 2 Chro. 36. 17. We can proceed no farther we are come to the utmost of evils a casting out from the presence of the LORD It is next to the casting into Hell the very suburbs the brim of that bottomlesse pit And who is cast out I pray you Judah Give us leave to aske one question more Why was Judah cast-out wherefore did the LORD doe so and so unto Judah The Nations asked this question some thousand yeares ago and where they asked there they have an Answer given them which will satisfie all the world I professe Deut. 29 24 25 26 27 28. unto you we had need stand still indeed and cause enough to stand astonied If we reade on we must reade a miserable destruction by fire sword and captivity O terrible example of vengeance on that City which GOD had chosen to set His Name there How is it become like one of us might the Heathen say even like the Cities which God overthrew Ier. 10. 16. and repented not It was so because they sinned worse then the Heathen when Judah humbled themselves before Devils stocks and stones This was a City the Lord had chosen for Himselfe out of all the world All the world were witnesses of their favours their miraculous deliverances and protections All the world should be witnesses and stand astonied at their just confusion Her sister Samaria was not mentioned by her mouth in the day of her pride Her Kings also would walke in the wayes of the house Ezech. 16. 56. of Ahab and after their counsels to provoke the LORD Therefore the LORD hath done to her as He threatned I will stretch over Jerusalem c. And now we have a great 2 King 21. 13 14 15. example of wrath before our eye and it strikes sadly to our hearts that wee may heare and feare and doe no more so presumptuously If after such a destruction as this and beholding of it with our eyes we doe as Iudah did how great and swift will our judgement be The end must answer the beginning The wayes of Israel and the counsels of the house of Ahab were to the destruction of Iudah He that sowes the wind reapes the whirle-wind We cannot gather grapes of thornes or figgs of thistles Prov. 11. 19. As Righteousnesse tendeth to life so hee that pursueth evill pursueth it to his owne death The Copy being somewhat scattered this was omitted which should have beene inserted pag. 82. line 32. Then there was an hot contention The King striving with the Priests they with their King What incivility is this Was not Vzziah King why might not he meddle with the Priests office He will doe the Priests an honour if they will see it he will stoope so much below his Crowne as to take then Censer into his hand But if the Priests will not take it for an honour yet they must not take it for a wrong Vzziah was King he tooke the Censer into his hand he might have taken away their Censer their Sacrifice and Sabbath and all and have bidden the people goe dance the while for he was King and might take the liberty of a King so he was perswaded He is answered for God hath made answer to him by Himselfe as in such cases concerning His worship He useth to doe The Priests had done Ezech. 14. enough at that time c. FINIS