Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n
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A85880
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The trumpet in Sion, sounding a general alarm in the nation. By J.G.G.
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Gailhard, J. (Jean).
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1700
(1700)
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Wing G42A; ESTC R232835
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76,533
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said to him (a) Chap. 19.2 shouldst thou help the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord There was besides a common fault in both worse than the others which were personal and hindred not God's Work from going on for thô they had done much for God's Service in the way of Reformation yet they did not enough not so much as they ought and might have done for both their Reigns are branded with this (b) Chap. 15.17 But the high Places were not taken away out of Israel This as to Asa as to his Son (c) Chap. 20.33 howbeit the high Places were not taken away which might partly be through want of a full Zeal in them partly through the neglect of their Officers and partly through the Superstition of the People because it is said for as yet the People had not prepared their hearts unto the. God of their Fathers However those good Kings may not be deprived of a due commendation for that only thing excepted they went through the work of Reformation O that we might but see here actually some Attempts and Steps towards it Hezekiah hath in Scripture the Character of a (d) Chap. 32.32 good King He began his Reign with taking care of Religion for he reformed the great and many abuses crept into 't during the several bad Reigns between Jehoshophat's and his 'T is said (e) Chap. 29.2 3. He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord according to all that David his Father had done 'T is observed that he in the First year of his Reign in the First Month without delay the First thing he did opened the Doors of the House of the Lord and repaired them which is a remarkable Example for all Princes first of all to settle the true Religion and to procure that God may be well served But this good King stopt not there he restored the true Worship according to God's Institution Advised Exhorted and Commanded the Levites and Priests to do their Duty about it his own Diligence and giving good Example is mentioned for 't is said (a) v. 20. He rose early and gathered the Rulers of the City and went up to the House of the Lord and what they went upon was heartily cheerfully and speedily performed for 't is observed that (b) v. 36. the thing was done suddenly the Reason is given For God had prepared the People Whereat both King and People rejoiced O that now Here God were pleased to prepare King's and People's hearts to seek unto and serve him But I fear all our Minds and Hearts are so crouded and affected with worldly thoughts and affections that there is hardly room left for heavenly concerns except out of his infinite goodness God be graciously pleased to make it But let us hear what that pious and zealous King did and I wish all Kings of the Earth were like him He went on further in the work of Reformation than his good Predecessors had done for he removed all Monuments of Idolatry and every Idol of Jealousie even the high Places which others before him had not meddled with for of him 't is Recorded how (d) 2 Kings 18.4 he removed the high Places and the Images and cut down the Groves and brake in pieces the brazen Serpent that Moses had made for unto those days the Children of Israel did burn Incense to it and he called it Nehushtan that is a piece of Brass in contempt because it had been made a Tool of Idolatry thô at first it had by God's immediate and special Command been erected in the Wilderness and Miracles had been wrought by it This he did and for this special Zeal of his in every thing obtained this Character that (a) v. 5.6 after him was none like him among all the Kings of Judah nor any that were before him And to shew that all this was acted in Sincerity and from his Heart 't is said he trusted in the Lord God of Israel and he clave unto the Lord and departed not from following him but kept his Commandments He was not content to shew his zeal in Judah within his Kingdom but also invited others to do the like To that purpose (b) 2 Chr. 30.1 He sent Letters to all Israel and Judah and wrote Letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh that they should come up to Jerusalem to keep the Passover which (c) v. 18.24 many out of the other Tribes did And the King as also his Princes gave the Congregation thousands of Bullocks and Sheep which liberality shews how Kings Princes and others whom God hath given means to ought readily to bestow it upon his Service and to enable others to do the like But to perfect what had been so well begun for in Religion there must be no trimming nor doing things only by halves 't is Recorded (d) Chap. 31.1 Now when all this was finished all Israel that were present went out to the Cities of Judah and brake the Images in pieces and cut down the Groves and threw down the high Places out of all Judah and Benjamin in Ephraim also and Manasseh untill they had utterly destroyed them all They began in Jerusaiem and followed all the Country over This Head I shall conclude with this remark how God is graciously pleased plentifully to reward not only in the World to come but also in this a sincere zeal for his Honour and Service as he did to Hezekiah for 't is said (e) 2 Kings 18.7 8. and the Lord was with him and he prospered whithersoever he went forth Furthermore (a) 2 Chr. 32.27 28 29. Hezekiah had exceeding much Riches and Honour and he made himself Treasuries for Silver and for Gold and for precious Stones and for Spices and for shields and for all manner of pleasant Jewels c. Let all Men take notice how there are Rewards for those who promote God's Interest and within their Station procure others to do so also Punishments for those who do not In the Person of Josiah we have a pattern of a compleat Reformer There are such extraordinary circumstances relating to him as make us look on him with admiration for by (b) 1 King 13.1.2 a Prophet his Birth was foretold his Name mentioned and his zeal prophesied of about 300 years before he was Born Then he was but Eight years old when he began to Reign and those tender years of his were in a high degree seasoned with Grace for then (c) 2 Chr. 34.1 c. He began to seek the God of his Father David and declined neither to the right hand nor to the left Happy is the Country where such Kings are Born and Reign who assoon as they Sit upon the Throne take care of Religion and to suppress Sin The zeal of this good King Scripture sets forth as an example to others to teach what God requireth of them When he was but Sixteen years old he shewed himself
very zealous for the Glory of God and when he was Twenty he abolished Idolatry and restored true Religion in Jerusalem and in Judah and so continued to do in the (d) v. 6. Cities of Manasseh Ephraim Simeon and Naphtali which belonged not to his Kingdom and because he would not trust others to do 't without him this great Work he would see it done with his own Eyes For 't is said (e) v. 4. They brake down the Altars of Baalim in his presence and the Images that were on high above them he cut down and the Groves and the carved Images and molten Images he broke in pieces and made dust of of them and strowed it upon the Graves of those that had sacrificed unto them The Altar in Bethel which Jeroboam had built and the high places he brake down he defiled Tophet put down the Chemarims or Idolatrous Priests whom the Kings of Judah had ordained to burn Incense in the high Places He brake down the Houses of the Sodomites and so we may think he did of Baudy Houses if there were any for he aimed at a general Reformation whereof we (a) 2 King Chap. 22. and 23. read the particulars How much grieved was he when he heard the Words of the Law seeing he thereupon rent his Clothes This his tenderness of heart as of having humbled himself the Lord took notice off by the mouth of (b) 2 Chr. 34.27 Huldah the Prophetess Now judge of the happiness of having pious Kings by the good effects and consequences thereof for not only they do good but by their example influence others to do so Often the good King makes his Subjects good Regis ad exemplum many times the People follows the King's Example hence it is that in Scripture we read that when the Kings were good or bad the Subjects were commonly such as they so like Prince like People Because (c) Chap. 35.7 8 9. Josiah gave to the People of the Flock Lambs and Kids all for the Passover-offerings to the number of Thirty thousand and Three thousand Bullocks and 't is expressed these were out of the King's Substance So in the next verse we read how that good example was followed and his Princes gave willingly unto the People to the Priests and to the Levites And to their immortal Praise not only their gifts are specified but also the givers Names are upon Record Josiah's Princes were acted by the same Zeal and they not only worshipped God but helped others to do so These examples are insisted upon in hopes that at this present Time and in this Conjuncture when Sins overflow and there is a necessity of a speedy Remedy it will not be in vain Neither can any just exceptions be taken against what I say for 't is not I that speak but God all is out of his holy Word The Trumpet of Sion must Speak or Sound in the Language of Sion Happy those who can understand the Language of Canaan 't is a gracious promise as a Blessing to the Gentiles (a) Isai 19.18 In that day shall Five Cities in the Land of Egypt speak the Language of Canaan and Swear to the Lord of Hosts I write as a Christian for Christians about the things of Christ therefore I lay aside human Reason Wisdom Considerations and Stile to express my self in Christs that is Scriptural Phrase to please God and not Men (b) Gal. 1.10 for if I yet pleased Men I should not be the Servant of Christ But my design is if possible after (c) Rom. 10.19 God's Example without distinction of Persons to move Men to Emulation and Godly jealousie to out-do one another and upon this as upon every other occasion to practise the Apostles exhortation (d) 2 Cor. 14.31 Whatsoever ye do do all to the Glory of God Chiefly Rulers who are publick Springs whence the People draw whose carriage the Subjects Eyes are fixed upon and when the Princes heart is affected with zeal for God's Honour and Service it commonly passeth upon and influenceth the People whose Head he is Therefore he should be careful of the way he leads them by either into Salvation or Destruction In the Christian Church also after many Persecutions Heresies and wicked practises God raised Instruments to do his Work suppress Errors defend his People and purge his Church of notorious Vices Such were the Constantines the Theodosius's and other Christian Emperors whom God made Nursing Fathers to the Church So in the last Age at the beginning of and since the Reformation from the abominations of the Romish Church some pious Princes in Germany and other Northern Countreys and in some Southerly parts of Europe whose Names are to their high Commendation Recorded in History And here Pious young King Edward VI. never to be mention'd without Elogy who for Zeal in his tender years might have been compared to Josiah if God had been pleased to have allowed him a longer Life he upon all occasions expressed his Piety and Abhorrency of Popish Idolatry besides that Providence made this Conformity between those Two good Kings both died young One by the Sword the other as strongly suspected by Poison Josiah not long before the Destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian Captivity And Edward just before the Judgment and violent Persecution under Bloody Queen Mary Commonly such matters as these admit of necessary Cautions thus when I was upon the point of Slander to which what I intend now to say hath some affinity I spake of some who under specious pretences as that they hate not the Person but the Hypocrisie or such other thing which they invent do put abuses upon others and thus to satisfie their Hatred Malice Revengefulness or some other disordinate Passion would bring in their false accusations under the Name of the cause of God and by these means impose upon imprudent and credulous Men or easily perswaded those that are as ill disposed as themselves whom Solomon sets this brand upon A wicked doer gives heed to false lips (a) Prov. 17.4 and a lyar gives ear to a naughty tongue for similis simili gaudet Now in this place I must enter a Caveat which is this That about the great Work of Reformation of Life Manners and other Abuses the Magistrates in the Execution of the Laws must be very Cautious how they receive Accusations and Informations from private Men against their Neighbour specially when the accused are for one quality or other Eminent above the Vulgar sort thus the Apostle charges his disciple against an Elder receive not an Accusation (b) 1 Tim. 5.19 but before two or three Witnesses They ought not to believe every thing they hear but must first endeavour to know who the accuser is and whether he is biassed for in such Cases sometimes (c) Gal. 2.4 to speak in the Apostles Words false Brethren creep in privily to spie out occasions of doing mischief and avenging their grudges