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
hinting that there is no God Giddily Impiously Prophanely and Blasphemously striking if not at the Being yet at his Attributes Works Word and Providence express it in their Discourses and Coversation and some in their Writings whereby they seduce and corrupt the Judgment of some influence the Weak and give a great Scandal to those who fear God and have an awful reverence for his Holy Name when they happen to hear them in their Atheistical fits This is a presumptuous and defying Sin which among us too many are guilty of such teach the way to Hell and were taught in the School of Vanninus and of such abominable Wretches for he who owns not the true God and hath not the right Notion of and due Reverence for him is as if he believed no God This is so odious and shameful that Men take it as a great Injury to be call'd Atheists and thô the thing be really in them yet hate to be call'd by its Name and we have cause to remember how because the Title of a Bill was against Atheism c. great exceptions were taken against it as of a great stain upon the Nation that we thereby should declare to Foreign Countries how we have Atheists among us which is too true thô some whom there is cause to suspect to be such would not have it said But I would have such to answer me one question Which of these two brings a greater Scandal and Reproach to England either not to forbear saying we have Atheists when we have and not to punish them or else to own the Truth that we have some but care not to restrain and punish them David declareth Ps 53.1 that where abominable Iniquity is committed and no regard had to Virtue or Vice there is no God Next we have the Deists whose Religion consists only in acknowledging one God and think that is enough to be Saved Who thô they own a God yet fancy him to be other then he is and to act otherwise then he doth they are for a Natural Religion without and against Revealed they think all Religions to be equal and that any one is at liberty to chuse which he pleases and that he may be saved in any Idolatry is another Sin of the Nation I mean not only the Spiritual one of those whose God is their Riches Honour Pleasures and their Belly but gross and material Idolatry of those who believe Religious Worship to be due to the Creature and actually render it and in too many Places there are too many Books that justifie it I thank God Protestants here are not of that Opinion but Papist are own and practise it and that Abomination is in the sight of all still committed in the Land which is thereby defiled Priests contrary to Laws do every where even out of Foreign Parts swarm as much as ever Papists are as free as can be whilst poor Protestants against the Laws of their Country are barbarously Persecuted in Popish Dominions yet one would think we might somewhat better their Condition with threatning here Papists with the like Usage I shall not say as to Liberties and Lives for our Religion like theirs doth not bind us to be Sanguinary but as to Estates and Fortunes with our Neglecting to take the same care to Defend our Religion as they do to Promote theirs we seem to intimate that theirs is better than ours but if we whosoever we are under the Notion that we are not Persecutors be ashamed of Christ and of his Cause in his due time he will be ashamed of and disown us I may say I remember the time when here it was not so Is it not the height of impudence for Popish Priests to go as of late they have done to dying Men To Doctor Connor after they by Protestant Ministers had been prepared for Death to disquiet them and not give over till they had made them do what upon such occasions is usual for Papists yet this hath been winked at no inquiry made no examination taken against those who so notoriously break the Laws of the Land The following Paper in French was on a Lord's Day April 24. 1698. posted up over the French Chapel door in St. James's and other Places in these words Hereby notice is given that in case any French Refugee be willing to go back into France there to abjure Heresie he may address himself to the French Ambassador and according to his Quality he shall be rewarded By this beginning we may see what we must expect from his being here one would think such things should not belong to his Instructions or Commission but what would they say if our Ambassador in Paris had attempted any thing of the like nature Never till of late any Foreign Minister was allowed two Popish Chapels one Private for Himself and Family which no Man will question and to the great grief of many another Publick one for all that have a mind to come to 't with Four or Five Priests belonging to it and neither Legislarive nor Executive Powers would take any notice of it but God will in his due time and may be punish us by such Snakes as we keep in our Bosom For these many years together we have had very near this City a Nunnery hitherto undisturbed and one more near about the same distance but another way is a forming or rather already formed Another Mass-Chapel in Town is as much frequented by hundreds at this time as it was when in the hands of Benedictine Friars And now Priests to seduce People as much as ever do transform themselves into all shapes and too often do prevail upon Servants Prentices and Masters too Yet by the Laws it is Treason to intice any one to be reconciled to the Romish Church as well as to be reconciled to 't But as yet it doth not appear that any effectual care hath been taken to hinder that great Evil and to prevent this Venom of Popish Idolatry from spreading farther to the Ruine and Destruction of precious Souls the Scandal of Religion and Shame of the Nation Blasphemy unhappily we have here Socinians who would be called Vnitarians and others have in every possible way taken great care to infect the Nation and spread among us their Blasphemous Opinions against the most Holy Trinity they are so well known by their impious Doctrines and unwarrantable Practices to propagate them that there is no need any longer to mention them here in this Place 'T is pity they have not been taken notice of in the way of Punishment as in their presumptuous Offences against God's Cause Another sort of Blasphemers as execrable as can be do impiously in their Discourses ridicule the adorable Mystery of the Incarnation our Saviour's Birth of a Virgin the Holy Scripture and the whole Christian Religion which they call Priest-Craft a Forgery of Melancholick Brains and such other abominable things as makes one's Hair stand on end Libertinism is here
Prince to get nis House Establish'd is to take care of God's he is that good Master who provideth for those Servants of his who approve themselves to be Faithful in his Service But when they are more Solicitous for their own Concerns than for his he then leaves them to shift for themselves but former and later Experience shew how ill they speed that do so Now let us see what that King did which was Right in the Eyes of the Lord (a) v. 12. He took away the Sodomites out of the Land that abominable and unnatural Sin which God hath so highly declared against he punished but stopped not there he set himself against Idolatry too for (b) v. 13. He removed all the Idols that his Father had made and went farther for he spared not his Mother and also Maachah his Mother even her he Removed from being Queen because she had made an Idol in a Grove and Asa destroy'd her Idol and burnt it by the Brook Kidron No Relation nor Quality should be regarded when it causes the Dishonour of God through Idolatry Blasphemy or otherwise 'T is a great Brand put upon Rehoboam's Reign and a high aggravation to his other Sins (c) Chap. 14.24 There were also Sodomites in the Land which to his praise Asa his Grandson took away and removed the Monuments of Idolatry for (a) 2 Chro. 14.3 4 5. He took away the Altars of the strange Gods and the high Places and broke down the Images and cut down the Groves Yet he went farther for he commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their Fathers and to do the Law and the Commandments Also he took away out of all the Cities of Judah the high Places and the Images All this is by the Spirit of God called (b) v. 2. that which was good and right in the Eyes of the Lord his God Pious Kings not only serve God themselves but also take care to see their Subjects do so And we find that when in Judah there was a good King the People was also good or at least restrain'd from doing evil so much were People influenced by Commands and Examples from the Throne Asa did not serve God in vain but found the fruits and effects of his Zeal for 't is added (c) v. 5. Therefore the Kingdom was quiet before him Whereby 't is declared that the Rest and Quietness of Kingdoms depends upon abolishing Idolatry setting up the true Worship of God and suppressing all that is contrary to Piety 't is further said of him (d) v. 6. He had no Wars in those Years because the Lord had given him hest And by the Prophet Agariah God told him and all fuâ—â—ah the cause of it (e) Chap. 15.2 The Lord is with you wouldst you be with him But if ye forsake him he will forsake you Thus the just and gracious God rewardeth those Princes who make use of the Authority he hath given them to promote his Honour and Glory This King went on further for after a great Victory (f) v. 9.10 c. He gathered all Judah and Benjamin and they entred into a Covenant to seek the Lord God of their Fathers with all their Heart and with all their Soul that whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel should be put to death whether small or great whether Man or Woman Whereupon they took an Oath for they sware unto the Lord c. and all Judah rejoyced at the Oath for they had Sworn withall their Hearts and sought him with their whole desire and he was found of them and the Lord gave them Rest round about after great disorders in matters of Religion what a happy Union of King and People towards a blessed Reformation O that we might Here see the like in Parliament where the King meets with his People in their Representatives Here among other great Sinners we have execrable Sodomites and Idolaters not only those who adore Riches Honours and Pleasures and in their hearts and practises make them their Gods but also Idolaters those who adore a piece of Bread as they do God and are not minded thô contrary to Divine Laws and to those of the Land Asa's Son Jehoshaphat continued the Reformation and carried it further on for (a) 1 Kin. 22.46 The Remnant of the Sodomites which remained in the days of his Father Asa he took out of the Land also (b) 2 Chr. 19.3.4 He took away the Groves out of the Land and prepared his Heart to seek God Also He went out again thorough the People from Beersheba to Mount Ephraim and brought them back unto the God of their Fathers He not only would serve God but also took great care that others should do so and 't is written of him (c) Chap. 17.7 8 9. He sent Men to teach in the Cities of Judah For he knew it to be in vain to profess Religion except such were appointed who would instruct the People in the same and had power to remove all that is contrary to Piety that is Men good in them-themselves and able to do others good I wish all Princes would by the Example of Jehoshaphat take notice how plentifully God rewardeth those who serve him in Truth and Sincerity Thus they might see how much it consists even with their worldly Interest to perform their Duty towards God this Character Scripture gives of him that (a) v. 4.5 He sought the Lord God of his Father and walked in his Commandments therefore the Lord Established the Kingdom in his hand and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat Presents and he had Riches and Honour in abundance Furthermore (b) v. 10. the fear of the Lord fell upon all the Kingdoms of the Lands that were round about Judah so they made no War against Jehoshaphat The Reason is given and 't is this (c) v. 3. And the Lord was with Jehoshophat and why was God with him 't is in the same Verse because he walked in the First ways of his Father David So is any Prince desirous to be at Peace at home and abroad to have Riches and Honour in abundance Let him like Jehoshaphat walk in God's Commandments promote his Service and enlarge the Kingdom of Christ who is King of kings Lord of lords and by whom Kings Reign But as nothing is perfect in this World so those two Kings wanted not their flaws for not to speak fo their particular ones as that of Asa for relying on the King of Syria for which Hanani reproved and said to him (d) 2. Chr. 16.7 8 9. Herein thou hast done foolishly therefore from henceforth thou shalt have Wars as a Punishment and also because (e) v. 12. In his Disease he sought not to the Lord but to the Physicians That of Jehoshophat was for (f) Chap. 18.1 joyning Affinity with Ahab and for helping him which by a Prophet he was rebuked for who went to meet the King and
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