and people of the Lord that mourned for the sins of the Land Yea so exemplary they were in their outward holiness and obedience This piece of â—olicie is one of â—he chief recreâ—tions of our â—ehu's that the Prophet takes up a parable from them to condemn the house of Israel in vers 14. Now Iehu engages these holy men and of what advantage is it to him Verily it 's of exceeding great advantage to him How acceptable is it to the people when the good men of their times are countenanced nourished and exalted Yea doth it not savour of much piety that he will have the good and holy men for his Counsellors Yea they must be the men that must plead for him in case he slip or discover his nakedneses they with the credit of their words with the people must cover all they must trumpet out his excellencies and pray for him and speak of him as if he were the onely Protector and Deliverer of the Lord's people from their great oppressions Yea he is not contented to have the Lords Prophets on his side from whom he had his Commission but good man he must have all good men satisfied or he will not be satisfied not so much as a Iehonadab shall be dissatisfied if he may have his will Iehu was a good and sweet-temper'd man now it 's true he was hot and furious in the field like a Lion in God's work there but is like a Lamb in his Chamber and Palace his words are smoothe as butter and oil he will maintain all good mens liberties though of different opinions and profession they are all alike dear to him O heavenly Iehu that hast such a large heart to hold all good men in it wherewithal shall we honour thee what service shâ—â—l we do thee We will joyn our selves to thee and make thy hands stâ—ong to do whatsoever thou deâ—â—est But stay good soule Iehu will turn separatist shortly and let you know when you proceed to the taking away his golden Calves his sins â—ounded on State-polâ—cy that he can tell how to separate and divide yâ—u and keep only those in his favour that will serve his turn although he turn from God 6. And lastly Iehu's policie appears in the matter of the worshippers of Baal Jehu was now at a stand he knew not what to do to root out all the Priests and worshippers of Baal he knew well enough that he could not be secure in his Throne if they continued in the Land and he forsake Baal they would remember their old friend Ahab and avenge his death if by any means they could accomplish it and he might think too that if he performed not the chief ends of God God would remove him himself and some sparks of light of conscience might tell him it was his duty and one chief end why God had anointed him King that he might destroy Baal out of Israel But it was his corrupt and deceitful heart that drew him to play the hypocrite and dissemble Now Jehu's chief motive that carried him on in all his work being his own outward glory and security in it he thought himself not safe unless Baal and his worshippers were destroyed To take courage to himself That this is an exact embleme of this present season a little time will discover and do it openly according to the command of the Lord by the voice of his Prophets his wisdom would not suffer him no that was too dangerous a course that would ruine all but he must deal wisely forsooth use policie and beat the devil with his own staff And what was this good piece of policie but to play the hypocritical dissembler In vers 18. Ahab served Baal a little but Iehu shall serve him much Jehu was acquainted with that Princely Maxime Qui nescit dissimulare nescit regnare He that knows not how to dissemble knows not how to reign Ahab served Baal a little he gave a little encouragement to his worship priests and worshippers small gifts and riches it may be to a favourite or here and there some eminent man he would give largely But I will serve him much I will have all to taste of my fatness and feel of my warmth enjoy the benefit of my good-will to Baal they shall all be the better for me those that could not live on the short commons of their Tythes and Oblations shall now have more In this shameful business Iehu had his Jehonadabs his outwardly-holy men to assist and counsel him but not one Prophet of the Lord appeared in it they were mourning I 'll warrant you for the sins of the Land for that black cloud that was coming over them which at best did foretel no likelihood of going up to Jerusalem to worship without more earthquakes first And now he proclaims a solemn assembly of all those idolatrous worshippers of Baal and he sends thorow all Israel that none might be wanting for he would make a great feast for Baal So that by this he set them on such work as fitted them for slaughter and destruction they must offer sacrifices to Baal put on their vestments be in all their gallantry They must take to themselves their full power not suffer one of the Lords people not one against their opâ—nion to be among them Oh how zealous a King have we Ahab was not to be compared to him for zeal for our God we shall have happie days we shall see no sorrow we shall never be removed long live Jehu let thy days be as the sand of the sea for number But stay Sir Priest make not your selves drunk in the conceit of your Elysian joys your joy shall be turned into mourning there 's death in the pot though the broth seem never so pleasant your sacrifices shall be dyed in your blood and your Baal shall be buâ—ied in your ruines But Jehu did it in subtilty to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal And thus he destroyed Baal out of Israel Good God! what vicissitudes and changes are here how mutable and uncertain is the heart of man This little world man ruling over the greater makes false deceitful reeling work Come Lord Iesus come quickly and take away this sinful wicked mouldering tottering world and give us new heavens and new earth that thy people may live to sing Hallelujahs to thee for evermore But in the Jehu's Zeal Fourth place Let us view Iehu this mighty man in his zeal O how gloriously zealous is he full of zeal and good works his heart seems on fire for God and his glory not one tittle of the word of the Lord shall fall to the ground he will slay all that belongs to the house of Ahab not leave a man to pass against the wall and as hath been before observed he will deliver the people of God fully from their oppressions and take off every heavie yoke But let us view the particulars wherein his zeal shews it self so
ominously First against the sins and wickedness of the times When he met Joram saith the King Is it peace Jehu Peace saith he What peace so long as the whoredoms witchcrafts of thy mother Jezebel are so many Peace belongs not to thee no peace with thy abominations I will not sheath my sword until I have destroyed all those Oppressions in the State and Innovations in the Church Was not this our practice in our first motions that have provoked God to wrath against the Land and hindered the people from worshipping the true God What peace with Ahab peace with Iezebel No you shall know I am raised up and inspired by God to avenge the blood of his servants upon your heads correct your tyrannies and destroy the cause of them out of the Land I will not withdraw my hand until I have purged the Land from all those things that pollute it and Cursed be he that withholdeth his hand from shedding of blood Well said Iehu thou art hot now but thou wilt be cool enough anon when thine own turn is serv'd when thou hast done as much as is needful for thy own designes then thou wilt let Gods work go whither it will for thee they are fools and asses that mind THEN any thing more then setling the State in peace and quiet that they may enjoy the fruits of their labours Secondly his zeal puts forth it self in this He would not have one to remain alive of Baals priests he would kill them all every mothers childe yea whosoever let one of them escape his life should go for it But have a care Iehu thou art not at last as furious against the Lords own Prophets as thou art now against Baals Thirdly his zeal appears in this These things have been done visibly before our eyes That he brake down all the images of Baal and brake down the house of Baal and made it a draught house How zealous was this man for God! one would have thought that surely this man liv'd in heaven and his thoughts were always upon Jerusalem and his heart thitherward Can it be imagined how glad the hearts of the unfeigned servants of the Lord were at the sight of this Will it be counted an errour to think that their hearts heads mouths were filled with the thoughts of their going up to Jerusalem to worship and behold the glory of God in his Ordinances But alas poor hearts you are mistaken in Iehu the golden Calves in Dan and Bethel will stop you there 's no passiâ—g those ancient bounds founded upon so much State-wisdom He departed not from the sins of Ieroboam the son of Nebat Jehu's Profession In the fifth place let us view him in his profession he profest himself to be one that studyed much the minde and will of God to regulate all his actions by that model he had received from God by his Prophets Thus saith the Lord This is the word of the Lord as you may observe all along the history When he met the King what was the profession he made but that his work was the rooting out all those abominations that had provoked the Lord to anger What peace so long as the whoredoms and witchcrafts are so many When he had slain Ioram he profest he did nothing but what he was commanded of the Lord Cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Iezreelite for remember how that when I and thou rode together after Ahab his father the Lord laid this burden upon him c. He would have a Word for all his actions and nothing would he seem to do This is a true and compleat Character of some in these our reforming times but what was consonant to the minde and will of the Lord. Again when he had slain Jezebel and she was eaten by the dogs what application did he make It was the will of the Lord This is the word of the Lord which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite saying c. O heavenly man whose tongue is tipt with Scripture the experiences of the Saints and the Revelations of the Prophets When he had subtilly caused the seventy sons of Ahab to be slain what was the conclusion That the people should know that nothing of the word of the Lord should fall unto the earth which he had spoken by Elijah concerning Ahab And when he met with Iehonadab what was his profession but to be zealous for God What a profession of sincerity and plainness of heart in the cause of God did he make How curious was he of his associates and companions He would have none but such as were like himself holy men in appearance If thy heart be right as my heart come and see my zeal for the Lord be my companions otherwise not By the way observe how poor Iehu praises himself if thy heart be right as my heart he praises his own sincerity his zeal come and see my zeal there 's none like mine his grace his conformity to the will of God his performance of the Word of the Lord the effects of the Spirit upon his heart O none like his Surely he had forgot Solomon's counsel Let a stranger praise thee And did not that Pharisee write by this copie that said Lord I thank thee that I am not as that Publicane is c. And Iehu was a great Preacher too whether he were in the field or in the palace or in the gate of the city he was always preaching as the story mentions This is the word of the Lord Remember what the Lord said c. He seem'd as if he could speak no other language but the words of God Notwithstanding all this he walked not in the law of the Lord with all his heart Jehu's Hypocrisie Sixthly Let us view him in his hypocrisie How close a hypocrite was this seeming-heavenly Iehu Who could discern him to be counterfeit till he came to the touch He had as fair an outside as ever man had yet he was as a whited sepulchre full of dead mens bones within nothing but corruption and deceit lodging in his heart This man's hypocrisie appeared clearly in his dealing with Baal and his priests playing the counterfeit and dissembler with them Now what a case may we think the poor people of God were in in this time of temptation and trouble what could they do but make their complaints to their all-seeing God and Father who they knew would hear their sighs and groans Is not this the case now disputed in these our dissembling times and give an answer full of grace and love Well but when he had discovered himself but to dissemble with Baal and his Priests and to mean otherwise then he at that time pretended how could he shift off the guilt of hypocrisie before the people of God who knew by the experience they had of their own hearts that it could not stand with a sincere spirit with Water-men to look one way and
with me it seems you know the man you say he is a mad fellow and his communication you know what can be expected from a mad-man though the matter may never so much concern me yet for my part I shall bury it in my brest and think of it no more By this answer he did not onely give them to understand at present the humility of his minde but also laid a ground-work that when they should hear the message â—th not this 〈◊〉 the practice some of the 〈◊〉 of our 〈◊〉 to seem â—eny strive â—inst those hoâ—s and digniâ— which men â—uld cast upâ— them yet â—â—en they see â—ir time they 〈◊〉 follow after â—â—â—m with greeâ—ess they should admire the vertue in him that would deny himself a Crown And which sets forth his policie the more he orders his speech so as that it was a close reproof of them for calling the Prophet a mad-man by which he sets their desire on edge to know the business their earnestness they express denying their former opinion by professing their ignorance of him It 's false tell us now It 's true we term'd him a mad-man but now we profess to thee we know him not he may be a good and a wise man for ought we know Having thus ordered the matter he hath a further shadow of humility which is a Second piece of his Politicks Engaging the souldier to himself by an If it be your minde O how tender is Iehu of seeming proud to desire Soveraignty He will lead them on in the Lords battels but do nothing that may displease or be grievous to any If it be your minde He will not stir a foot nor go one step but by their advice and counsel he would give them to understand that when he came to the throne he would be as meer a lamb as ever was in the world have no absolute Soveraignty no Prerogative but be subject to their Laws onely be their servant for their good If it be your minde But he had a further reach in it to engage them in the action as much as possible Do you do so and so set the watch keep a strict guard make all things ready and let none go forth to tell it in Iezreel If it be your minde â— to rememâ—ce the coursâ—e men took â—e first and â—pare consiâ—tely that 〈◊〉 this and 〈◊〉 take your â—â—â—â—ment from â—remises He knew well enough of what importance it was to have them engaged in this voluntary sort and how efficacious this maner of dealing with them would be to the unanimous binding of them to himself as to his present work Is it a crime to think that Iehu had some project like Agitators to accomplish his ends by O humble well-meaning Iehu thou wilt not have the ordering of things thy self alone but lay the reins of government upon others thy inferiours that the work of the Lord may go on with more speed strength and power If it be your minde Publike-spirited Iehu that proclaimest liberty in all thy actions Oh what a blessed change is here whereas the people were wont to hear nothing but This is Our will and pleasure now their ears sound with an If it be your minde O happie Jehu long live Jehu we will help thee to pull down Ahab and Jezebel with all her Priests with their Baal too Well good people praise and dream on but Jehu knows how when he hath made the place empty for himself to stop your carreer lest you overthrow the ancient fundamental Jeroboam 's politick bounds and so endanger the security of his kingdom Jehu's Policie Thirdly his policie appears in this in that when he met with the King at the first he pretends the removal of the most gross evils of the State to be the ground of his quarrel What peace so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many We will have no peace so long as they remain Have not oâ— Jehu's steereâ— their course 〈◊〉 this point of thâ— compass also What encouragement is here put into the hearts of his men of War by such a Declaration as this Righteous and holy Jehu what not have peace with the wicked not put up thy sword till all the whoredoms and witchcrafts be removed till all the wickedness of the Land be done away all oppressions and burdens taken off every yoke broken and the people be set wholly free from those tyrannies that they groan under Surely now we shall go up to Jerusalem to worship the true God the provocations of his wrath being done away he will dwell with us and we shall enjoy the upper and the nether springs by the blessing of our God upon us Stay good people do not surfet with hope and joy Jehu will keep up Jeroboam's calves in Dan and Bethel for all this and keep you within your old bounds lest you like rebels translate the kingdom to the son of David 4. Iehu's policie appears in the matter of Ahab's seventy sons How handsomely did he bring in the Rulers and chief men of the Kingdom to be co-actors with him in the enterprise Something oâ— this nature hatâ— been alreadâ— attempted anâ— more is likely tâ— follow Two kings stood not before him how then shall we stand This is a crowning victory indeed And see how the Fox improves this to his advantage Ye be righteous saith he to the people I conspired against my master and slew him but who slew all these See how he taunts now I am the guilty man you say and you are righteous and innocent free from blood but who is most guilty I that slew one or they that slew all these By this act Iehu justified himself much in the eyes of the multitude and weakned the hands of his enemies And so Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel 5. His policie appears in this in ingratiating himself into the most strict and most holy societies of men in getting to his side and engaging to himself the most eminent men for sanctity and holiness in that age in vers 15. He met with Jehonadab the son of Rechab c. he made him to ride in his chariot to behold his zeal for God and as appears by the story he would not suffer Jehonadab to depart from him but he must remain with him for counsel And Jehu went and Jehonadab into the house of Baal and said unto the worshippers of Baal Search and look that there be with you none of the servants of the Lord. So that it 's clear Iehonadab's counsel was in this matter And who this Iehonadab was Ieremiah tells us Ier. 3 5. he was of the strictest sect of men like unto the Pharisees in Christs time they would not transgress the least tittle of the Law of their tradition and liv'd in outward contempt of the world there was none like unto them in all Israel but here and there one of the Prophets
row another Why he had his Iehonadabs with him that had a great reputation and esteem for their holiness and sanctity among the people to plead his cause and tell them His meaning and end was good and that it was a wise course for by this means he prevented further opposition that in all likelihood would be made for many of the people without question did cleave to them and he knew he should finde it a more difficult thing to root out Baal and his Priests then Ahab's posterity Superstition makes the heart more stout and sets upon more hazardous and desperate attempts then love to a King or Prince will and so in the quarrel the blood of some others of the people might be shed which were not appointed to destruction It 's a good and commendable thing to prevent shedding of innocent blood and it 's a course of quick dispatch too drawing them into a snare altogether doing that at once which would otherwise take up a great deal of time trouble and difficulty to do and so in stead of furthering the work of God prevent it and make it longer in the birth by creating new troubles and new disturbances among the people and if there were a failing in the way to the accomplishing that good end why failings are incident to the best of men and nothing can be expected perfect here in this world to come from men Excellently pleaded Iehonadab thou shalt have two Crowns or a flap with a Fox tail when Iehu is setled in his kingdom for thy great and faithful services Thus they skin over the sore that it appears not to every eye Well Iehu but this will not serve thy turn thy hypocrisie will be made evident by and by and God will discover thy nakedness and thou shalt know what it is to sin against and provoke the God of heaven and earth to great jealousie and wrath who hath done so much for thee and exalted thee from the dust to govern his people A full discovery of this man's hypocrisie and apostatizing heart we have in the words we have chosen mainly to insist upon and that by undeniable demonstrations When the peoples expectations were full and high and there wanted nothing but a command or license for their going up to Jerusalem to worship behold the golden Calves stood in the way and hindered Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin Jehu departed not from after them to wit the golden Calves that were in Bethel and that were in Dan. But Jehu took no heed to walk in the Law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam which made Israel to sin Poor Jehu could go no further in stead of going to the true God he runs to his golden Calves and takes up his resting-place there Why because that notwithstanding all his glorious outward appearance he had not the root of the matter in him and his heart not being of a heavenly nature what should he do there or in the ways that lead effectually to it Therefore it was most sutable to him to abide here belowe amidst the vanities of a depraved world Jeroboam's sins that Jehu departed not from That so we may be acquainted with the minde of God in this Scripture it 's necessary for us to enquire and consider First What these sins of Jeroboam are that Jehu departs not from Secondly The aggravations of this mans sins beyond those that went before him Thirdly The reason why Jeroboam and this Jehu would not depart from their sin For the first What those sins of Jeroboam are that Jehu answered not the expectation of God in departing from We shall consider them 1. More generally 2. More particularly First more generally which relate to Jehu more particularly then to Jeroboam â—s not this sin â—ritten in large â—haracters in â—ur foreheads 1. Cleaving to the sins of his fore-fathers He departed not from the sins of Ieroboam the son of Nebat yea though they were such as became national sins through their imposition upon the people yet from them he would not turn and this became a sin c. because his predecessor Ieroboam had set up Political bounds of his kingdom beyond which the people should not go to worship at Jerusalem that so he might secure the kingdom to himself and because there was so much reason of State for it therefore he would run the hazard of the hot displeasure and wrath of God against him rather then venture the loss of his kingdom in his carnal and unbelieving apprehensions Saith he If the Calves be taken away those ancient Political bounds and fortresses of the kingdom then shall the kingdom return to the house of David and I what shall I do How then shall I reap the fruit of my labours and enjoy the purchase of my hardships and dangers that I have run into and blood that I have shed No all will be lost if once I go over this bank and pull down this hedge Indeed Iehu went as far as can be expected for a hypocrite to do he went to the very borders of heaven there was but one thing wanting he could not overcome his worldly interest and live by faith upon God for the disposal of that and so he made this world his god all that provok'd God should go down but that Baasha's and Ahab's sins too but when once Ieroboam's sin came to be medled with that touch'd him to the quick it was of so neer concernment as he thought to his kingdom Do any thing but that I would please God and do his will but I must not lose my kingdome My outward worldly interest is very dear to me I pray spare that Unbelief will carry a man though he be never so outwardly glorious in profession to the greatest precipices of apostatizing danger And is not this the very picture of our times How zealous were we many years for God! and pull'd down all before us that stood in our way we pull'd down and utterly destroyed Ahab and his whole house and left none remaining but now we are gotten to the Calves and alas they are golden ones have a great deal of good gold in them it 's pity to destroy them We pull'd down King and House of Lords yea and Commons too and pull'd down many gross Tyrannies in Worship and Commonwealth yet now how is our heat and zeal cool'd with Iehu's We can go no further Oh if we do we shall bring all things into confusion we say The kingdom will be lost presently And I could wish this gall of bitterness were not at the bottom of many glorious professors hearts saying Lest the son of David come to reign over us The sins of the generation before us we explode but the old sins of the Ancients Ieroboam's sins those inventions they made to maintain their kingdom those foundations that they laid for their children to
Christ himself lived their policy kept them from receiving Christ the true God caused them to reject him for say they If we receive him IF WE LET HIM THVS ALONE ALL MEN WILL BELIEVE ON HIM and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation And what great afflictions and destructions it brought upon them we see in the story of the Macchabees yea what utter ruine at last overwhelmed them is evident have they not been as dung upon the face of the earth for more then 1200 yeers So that there 's nothing more clear then this That the ruine of States and Kingdomes is founded in and bottomed upon their State-policy at one time or other first or last their walking by the rules and maximes of this policy breaks them to pieces and brings them to their utter ruine Secondly consider The pernicious loathsome abomination of Jehonadabs counsel Hypocrisie is most odious to God most provoking yet Iehonadab counsels to that the righteousness of thy counsellors will not save thee ô Iehu although they have been exemplary for holiness and as a beacon upon a hill to shew men the way of life yet now they commit adultery with this grand strumpet State-policy God leaves them and they are become abominable by how much the more close and spiritual their iniquities are by so much the more wicked and abominable they are to God as the most excellent things once depraved are most vile base and abject most destructive so these men now going astray no counsel so destructive so contrary to God in the aggravations of it as theirs But now Iehu at parting I shall leave to your serious consideration some few of the words of God it may be you may get meat out of them 〈◊〉 15. â—3 28. And Samuel said Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord Behold â—o obey is better then sacrifice and to heaâ—ken then the sat of rams 〈◊〉 6.14 Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord he hath rejected thee from being king The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day and hath given it to a neighbour of thine that is better then thou 〈◊〉 â—3 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord even against the word of the Lord which he kepâ— not And also by the hand of the Prophet Jehu the son of Hanâ—ni 2 Kin. 16.7 came the word of the Lord against Baasha and against his house even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the Loâ—d in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands in being like the house of Jeroboam AND BECAVSE HE KILL'D HIM And he said unto him 1 King 20.42 Thus saith the Lord Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction therefore thy life shall go for his life and thy people for his people Hosea 1.4 And the Lord said unto him Call his name Jezreel for yet a little while and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel Gal. 2.18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed I make my self a transgressor 1 Chron. 28.3 But God said unto me Thou shall not build an house for my name because thou hast been a man of war and hast shed blood 2 Chron. 19.2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the Seer went out to meet him and said unto King Jehosaphat Shalt thou help the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord therefore wrath is upon thee from before the Lord. 2 Chron. 26.16 But when he was strong his heart was lifted up to his destruction for he transgrest against the Lord his God ch 32.25 But Hezekiâ—h rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him for his heart was lifted up therefore was wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem ch 28.10 11. And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bond-men and bond-women to you but are there not with you even with you sins against the Lord your God now hear me therefore and deliver the captives again which ye have taken captive of your brethren for the fierce wrath of God is upon you Wherefore it shall come to pass Isa 10.1 13. that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon Mount Sion and on Jerusalem I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the King of Assyria and the glory of his high looks For he saith By the strength of my hand I have done it and by my wisdom for I am prudent and I have removed the bounds of the people and have robbed their treasuries and I have put down the inhabitant like a valiant man The Lord of hosts hath purposed it to stain the pride of all glory ch 23.9 and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth And it came to pass 2 Chron 25.16 as he talked with him that the King said unto him Art thou made of the Kings counsel forbear why shouldst thou be smitten then the Prophet forbare and said I know that God hath determined to destroy thee because thou hast done this and hast not hearkened to my counsel Now the good Lord help thee Iehu that upon reading this the maist understand the minde and will of God and repent and do tâ— first works lest c. A word to Jehonadab Jehu's counsellor In the second place I have a word to speak to Iehonadab hâ— excellent hast thou been how perspicuous hath thy glory shin'd the face of men insomuch that the Princes have taken notice of thâ— and have chosen thee for their counsellour thinking surely they shoâ— be happy and prosper if such counsellors as thou art teach theâ— Thou hast been counted worthy to ride in the chariots of the noâ— of the earth and thou hast been so far taken and ravished with tâ— sight of worldly glories from those mounts that thou hast fallen down and done worship to them notwithstanding all thy excellencies and perfections thou art overcome and fallen Repent and do thy first works or else saith the Lord I will come quickly and take that away that thou hast take away thy candlesticke Thou hast climed up the ascending steps to those Altars which are not of Gods appointment and your feet have slipt and you are fallen to the discovering of all your nakedness Remedies against this thou thy self O Jehonadab hast taught the people but now the disease hath overtaken thy self may we not justly say Physitian cure thy self but thy unskilful dealing with and carelesness towards thine own soul and thy being so slightly and so easily overcome makes it appear thou art really ignorant
after him go up the mount towards him he will lead us to his Father and make us partake of the same glory he possesses at his right hand Who would not follow such a leader and venture a little to seek him out if at any time we lose sight of him through the terrible and uncouth shakings of earth-quakes 3. We have set before us the sins and iniquities of Iehu with their aggravations and it 's evident how neer these our times are allied to them It 's worthy our serious consideration whether the differences between the times and the dispensations of God in the times or any other circumstance accompanying our deviations may give us any good and sound ground to hope that Iehu's punishment the consuming wrath of that age will not be the portion of this generation seeing they have so notoriously espoused his adulterous deviations and apostacy We finde what sudden sad effects Iehu's apostacy brought forth In those dayes in the dayes of Iehu's apostacy the Lord began to cut Israel short and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel We finde already how our liberties begin to be cut short witness the persecution of the Lords people in Wales and other places In the margin it 's rendered to cut off the ends if the ends of the body the head and the feet be cut off what is the trunk able to do but roll in its own blood Come my people enter thou into thy chambers and shut thy doors about thee â—hide thy self as it were for a little moment Isa 26.20 and 63.4 until the indignation be overpast For the day of veangeance is in mine heart and the yeer of my redeemed is come 4 Again We here see the portion of those that joyn themselves to comply with Iehu in his abominable deviations RVâ—NE as soon as ever Iehu had accomplished his purposes and through Iehonadab's help kept the people within the ancient bounds and limits of the Idolatrous kingdom sad effects follow The Lord cuts Israel short Hazael smites Israel in all their coasts eastward and by that time there came to be a general compliance of the people and God had given them a little time to fill up the cup of their iniquity full then comes VTTER RVINE and behold they are not Is it not a great dispute among the learned what is become of them where the ten Tribes are the place of their abode is hid from the whole earth This is most certain That all those that cleave to comply with Iehu in his apostacies shall be partakers of that great wrath that God in due time will pour down from heaven upon the head of Jehu and all his companions in inquity Rev. 18.4 Come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues 5. It 's worthy our observation That Jehu never afterward made use as we read of those Prophets of the Lord that anointed him that first did his work for him and help'd him to his power by which he got the throne When they had done so much as he could expect from them knowing their principles were not suitable to his design farewel then he had no more to say to them their hearts were too honest and brains too shallow for his deep politick designs they would walk answerable to their professions the glory of which affected the peoples hearts perform all their promises and engagements but these things stood not with Jehu's interest therefore no more of them adieu those half-witted fellows whose conscience cannot swallow a lye sealed with the highest asseverations that by such fine slights of State-wisdom we may clime the steps of honor But come thou Jehonadab thou art a righteous person and hast more wisdom then Myriads of those Idiots And indeed what can you expect more from a Jehu who sets up an interest contrary to God's never expect friendship or friendly dealing from him till God hath changed his heart and of a Jehu made him a David of a Saul a Paul Consider Jehonadab a little further then judge He was one that came to meet Jehu when he had made a sure progress in his work he was not at the beginning among the Prophets of the Lord to strengthen Jehu's hand in the work no but when he had slain the King and Jezebel and by a wile destroyed the Kings seventy sons and was going with power sufficient to make a full end of all his enemies Then comes good Iehonadab to congratulate Iehu to have a finger i' the pye before it 's put i' the oven And Iehu he strikes in with this holy man and engages him easily enough poor soul to be on his side Iehu knew full well that this wary wise man that knew the way to sleep in a whole skin till Iehu had almost made sure work and then comes and proffers his congratulatory service to his greatness would be a fitter instrument for his turn then those hardy simple-hearted fellows the Prophets of the Lord that to fulfil the minde of God would run through such hazards and dangers as they did to lift up Iehu into a capacity to do the will of God It 's this Iehonadab that Iehu is so eager to engage The text saith he lighted on him like a bird of prey and with his tallons he hoisted him up into the chariot a high place that diz'd poor Jehonadab's brains so as they could never get into their right posture again And what sweet complements past between them his whole discourse was about sincerity and uprightness of heart when God knows it was that he least cared for but Jehonadab understood him well enough and knew what counsel would please as appears in the matter of Baals Priests It 's this Jehonadab that Jehu loves and hugs in his bosome for you the Lords people who have not a Jehonadab's wisdom farewel he will have no more to do with you such fanatick silly fellows that are good for nothing but to ruine a State As we cannot finde it in the story that Jehu took any friendly notice of the Lords people to whom he was so much engaged after he came to the Throne so we shall never finde it in experience that a Jehu will be a friend indeed to those who in sincerity of heart look Sion-ward 6. From hence the Saints and people of God may see what their work is To bear the cross of Christ in bearing witness against those deviations and apostacies that are too too likely to over-run this generation of men to seek after the Lamb the Lord Jesus Christ for their Leader and follow him whithersoever he will lead them there 's no doubt nor Question to be made but his designes are right and adequate to the will of his Father who hath promised him the throne of his father David Much might be said to you the children of the most High of that full redemption and great glory
which draws nigh to be given to you for an inheritance but I shall leave that as the work of one more knowing in those great and deep mysteries of the Fathers love then my self being one who hath more need to learn and to be taught of the meanest and weakest amongst you and indeed none can make you sensible of these things but the Spirit himself Onely I have out of that feast of far things of marrow and wine upon the lees well refined that God hath prepared for his chosen ones I say Out of that feast I have gathered a collation for you made up of such dainties as I conceive most suitable to your present state and condition Mal. 3.16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkened and heard it and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon his name Mic. 4.13 Arise and thresiâ— O daughter of Sion for I will make thy â—orn iron and I will make thy hoofs brass and thou shalt beat in pieces many people and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth Isa 17.13 14. The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters but God shall rebuke them and they shall flee far off and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the winde and as a rolling thing before the whirlwinde and behold at evening-tide trouble and before the morning he is not this is the portion of them that spoil us and the lot of them that rob us Isa 4.2 3 4 5. In that day shall the Branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel and it shall come to pass that he that is left in Sion and he that remaineth in Jerusalem shall be called holy even every one that is written among the living in Ierusalem when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughter of Sion and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgement and by the spirit of burning and the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Sion and upon her assemblies a cloud and smoak by day and the shining of flaming fire by night for upon all the glory shall be a defence Yea the Lord will answer Joel 2.19 32. and say unto his people Behold I will send you corn and wine and oil and ye shall be satisfied therewith and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen and it shall come to pass that whosover shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered for in mount Sion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance as the Lord hath said and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call For unto us a child is born Isa 9.6 7. unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of peace Of the encrease of his government and peace there shall be no end upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it and to estabish it with judgement and with justice from henceforth even for ever Fear thou not for I am with thee ch 41.10 11. be not thou dismaid for I am thy God I will strengthen the yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness Behold all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded they shall be as nothing and they that strive with thee shall perish Since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honourable ch 43.4 and I have loved thee therefore I will give men for thee and people for thy life And the ransomed of the Lord shall return Isa 35.10 and come to Sion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away The meek also shall encrease their ch 29.19 20 21. joy in the Lord and the poor among men shall rejoyce in the holy One of Israel for the terrible one is brought to nought and the scorner is consumed and all that watch for iniquity are cut off that make a man an offender for a word and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate and turn aside the just for a thing of nought ch 54.17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is of me saith the Lord. Mal. 4.1 2 3. For behold the day cometh that shall burn as an Oven and all the proud yea and all that do wickedly shall be stubble and the day that cometh shall burn them up saith the Lord of hosts that it shall leave them neither root nor branch but unto you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with heaâ—ing in his wings and ye shall go forth and grow up as calves of the stall and ye shall tread down the wicked for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this saith the Lord of hosts Fear not O land Joel 2.21 be glad and rejoyce for the Lord will do great things The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this Isa 9.7 What shall one then answer the messengers of the nations ch 14.32 that the Lord hath founded Sion and the poor of his people shall trust in it Make hast my beloved Cant. 8.14 and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountaines of spices I am come into my garden Cant. 5.1 my sister my spouse I have gathered my myrrhe with my spice I have eaten my hony-combe with my hony I have drunk my wine with my milk eat O friends drink yea drink abundantly O beloved Zac. 12.3 And in that day I will make Jerusalem a burthensome stone for all people all that burthen themselves with it shall be cut in peices though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it Luke 21.34 And take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts he overcharged with surfeting and drunkenness and cares of this life and so that day come upon you unawares FINIS