the Devils Eye was evil Oh the admirable workings of Divine Compassion in 2 Kin. 14. 26 27. The Lord saw the affliction as well as the transgression of Israel that it was very bitter when they had neither safety nor a Saviour Oh the yernings of Gods Bowels in that Word The Lord said not that he would blot out the Name of Israel from under Heaven God had not then said it yet though afterwards he both said it Hos 1. 6 9. and did it 2 Kin. 17. 18. 'T was a long time and upon great provocation as is related from v. 7 to the 18. before he removed them out of his sight that is out of the Land of Promise upon which the eyes of the Lord were continually after an especial manner Notwithstanding all this the Devil got not all nor did the Lord lose all he divided the spoil with the strong Devil Esa 53. 12. As God had his Witnesses 1. At the beginning of the Apostacy so 2. All along afterwards he had both Witnesses and people too that had a blessed tenderness towards their two hundred thousand Captives at the powerful preaching of the Prophet Oded whom God had as a Witness in the worst of times 2 Chron. 28. 9 to 16. so mightily did the Word of God work upon this armed Army that they shewed a great work of mercy to their distressed Brethren c. though they had but one Prophet to press them to it in so great an Host And as God had his seven thousand of people in Ahabs time 1 Kin. 19. 18. so he had great multitudes in Hosea's time their last King out of Ephraim Manasseh Issachar Zebulon and Asher who humbled themselves under the sight and sense of their sins and came to Jerusalem at Hezekiahs Proclamation to keep the Passover according to the Word of the Lord 2 Chron. 30. 1 6 11 13 18. though some jeered showing themselves ready ripe for ruine in their last Kings time yet many others feared v. 10 11. And though those which came out of the ten Tribes out of the fear of God were ignorant of due preparation having been long without God Law and Teaching Priest 2 Chro. 19. 3. came rudely and irreverently to the Passover and probably smarted for it as 1 Cor. 11. 30. Matth. 22. 12 13. yet at Hezekiahs godly Prayer for them God Healed them and accepted their Service v. 18 19 20. Yea and Gods Pitty was such to his Covenanted people that the Old Stile and Title The Lord God of Israel is kept up even by Abijam 2 Chron. 13. 5. and such was Gods Respect to Israel under the Revolt that he sent sometimes Saviours to them as 2 Kin. 13. 5. Obad. 21. Neh. 9. 27. All which doth plainly Demonstrate Gods Care of his Church even in the worst of times let the Devil and his Imps do all they can And though there hath been such a Revolt from the Ture Christian-Religion by the Papacy as this of the Ten Tribes from the Temple-Worship the Foundation whereof was laid in Blood to wit the Blood of Adoram 1 Kin. 12. 18. as that of the Romish-Revolt much more Yet the Lord secureth his own Interest Rev. 12. 6 14. Maugre the Malice of Men and Devils both in Witnesses and People as I have shown at large in my Discovery of Antichrist Moreover 3ly at the End of this Revolting Kingdom when God had cast the Ten Tribes out of Canaan because they had cast him off and his good Laws yet God had respect 1 to the very Land out of which they were cast for when the King of Assyria had Conquered Samaria and the Cities of the Ten Tribes which he carried Captive into his own Countrey and had Planted his Colonies of mixt People in their place The Lord sent Lyons among them which Slew some of them 2 Kin. 17. 25. because those New-Planters as themselves say knew not the manner of the God of the Land v. 26. foolishly thinking that each Land had its proper God Indeed the Land of Israel had another God than the Gods or Idols of those Lands from whence they came it was a Land which Jehovah had Chosen as an Habitation for himself and saith The Land is mine Levit. 25. 25. Hence it is called the Lords Land Hos 9. 3. and Immanuels Land Isa 8. 8. and by their Seventh-Year Sabbath they Acknowledged that their Land belonged to God and that they were onely Gods Tenants and Tythe-men now seeing those Assyrians that came into Canaan in Israels Room made no such Acknowledgment nor Own'd him in a Land which the True God was pleased to Own therefore he sent this Judgement of the Lyons upon them to let them know that the God of this Land had all Creatures even the most Ravenous at His Command wherewith to be Avenged for their not-Fearing him Thus it appears God did not Hate the Ground as some say that Israel trode upon though they were Revolters 2ly God had Respect to themselves much more if so much to their Land so that they were in a sort Ammi while they were Lo-Ammi and Ruhamah while they were Lo-Ruhamah Hos 1. 6. Yea when the name Israel was too good and too Honourable a name for them but they must be called Jezreel that is a People devoted to Dispersion v. 4. and such as God would scatter into the four Winds of Heaven Zerang as the Seeds-man scatters his Seed so that the Ten Tribes never return'd out of Captivity yet sure I am neither the Devil got all nor God lost all for God did not lose Israel but onely laid them up in an Unknown Sepulchre with his own Hands as he had done their Mediator Moses in sure and certain Hope of a Resurrection God did not cast off his People for ever 1 Kin. 11. 39. Though the dry Bones of Israel lye in Babylon c. as in a Sepulchre and were as it were Buryed Alive at their final Abdication yet the Lord Promises These Graves shall be opened This is spoken over and over again Ezek. 37. 11 12 13 14. to the whole House of Israel the Lord saith Behold Oh my People God owneth them still though they little deserv'd it This is Alledged as an Allay to those Dreadful Desolations so loath is the Sun of Righteousness to sett under a Cloud that in the midst of Judgement he remembers Mercy Hab. 3. 2. Thus while the Lord wrote Jezreel Lo-Ruhamah and Lo-Ammi upon Israel In the Invasion made by Tiglath-Pilneser upon the Tribes beyond Jordan 2 Kin. 15. 29. 1 Chro. 5. 6. and by Salmaneser upon the rest of the Ten Tribes on this side Jordan Yet behold how graciously God comes off in that Direful Sentence Yet the Number of the Children of Israel shall be as the Sand of the Sea that cannot be Numbred and where it was said Ye are not my People there it shall be said Ye are the Sons of the Living God Hos 1. 4 6 9 10. to shew Gods great
Kin. 21. 19 22 23. with Ch. 22. 38. and 2 Kin. 9. 35 36 37. So they who sold themselves to work evil and might have been sure they should in time rue the bargain at length as they had made a Match with mischief so God gave them both their Belly-fulls of it and fill'd them with the evil of their own ways Prov. 14. 14. Gods Arrow found out wicked Ahab under his disguise which he did to evade Micaiah's Prophecy of him a certain man drew a Bow at a venture and smote Ahab 'twixt the joynts of his Harness 1 Kin. 22. 30 34. This casual and contingent shot was guided by God to hit the mark to an hairs-breadth whereas the cast of Sauls Javelin was three times guided by the same hand of God to miss the mark of holy Davids body Micaiah was imprisoned for foretelling this fate v. 26 28. Who would not rather be a Micaiah in the Goal than an Ahab in the Chariot God preserved the one in the former but wounded to death the other in the latter Then was God even with him for all his Idolatry and impieties in persecuting the Prophets murdering of Naboth who doubtless had hope in his death as righteous and so in a far better condition now than Ahab was who had no hope but was driven away in his wickedness Prov. 14. 32. Wicked men may have some advantage of the way but godly men have their advance at the end as Ahab had sold himself to sin so God sold him to destruction and Ahaziah the eighth succeeds him who was a soft-pated Prince and low-spirited in losing no mean part of his Kingdome in the beginning of his Reign by the Rebellion of Moab 2 Kin. 1. 1. with Ch. 3. 4 5. and 2 Chro. 20. 1. but above all he was a wicked King like Bird like Egg he had as black a Soul as his Father Ahab to live in his white Ivory Palace that Ahab had built 1 Kin. 22. 39 52. His sin finds him out Num. 32. 23. as he was walking upon the Leads of this stately Palace he falls through a Grate and catches his death which Baalzebub of Ekron could not prevent or rather the Devil of Acheron as Hell is call'd by the Poet Virgil as above Flectere si nequeo superos Acheronta Movebo This Beelzebub or Baalzebub is call'd the God of Flies or Jupiter Stercorarius a Dunghill Deity for out of the Dunghill have the Flies their Natural Generation This Devil could not take off that sickness which the God of Israel had laid on him and whereby he was disinabled to attempt any thing against rebelling Moab This pusillanimous Prince Jehoram the ninth succeeded who was more active than his Brother Ahaziah and not all out so bad as his Parents Ahab and Jezabel for he destroyed Baal out of Samaria yet not very much better than they for he continued Jeroboams Calves 2 Kin. 3. 2 3. God likes not that men should make a straight furrow here and a balk there partial Reformation discovers Hypocrisie wherefore Gods Arrow finds him at Ramoth-Gilead as it had done Ahab his Father at the same place and coming to be healed of his wounds at Jezreel is there slain by furious Jehu the tenth whom God raised up extraordinarily to destroy Ahabs Posterity 2 Kin. 9. 1 to 30. 37. and 10 to 15. He had a zeal indeed for the Lord as Jehoram had against Baal v. 16 to 28. yet proves he but an half Reformer putting down Baal yet keeping up the Calves v. 29. lest it should cost him his Kingdome by Israels repairing to Temple-worship notwithstanding this his Dispensatory Conscience because he had done well for the matter God gives him the favour of his fourth Generation v. 30. which was not granted to any other King of Israel after the Revolt to wit Jehoaaz the eleventh who doth wickedly and Joash the twelfth who rides in the same rode 2 Kin. 13. 2 6 11. and Jeroboam the thirteenth who did Patrizare also and walkt in his forefathers steps Ch. 14. 24. for which cause Amos prophecied against him and was banished from Bethel for it Amos 7. 10 11 12. fore-telling a dreadful Earthquake Amos 1. 1. and Jeroboams death by the Sword Ch. 7. 9. him succeeded Zecharias the fourteenth and the fourth from Jehu to whom God would not be indebted for his good actings but gave him this reward yet this his last Branch being wicked he was slain for his wickedness by Shallum the fifteenth Ch. 15. 9 10. who was paid home in his own Coyn by Menahem the sixteenth whose cruelty ending with himself Pekaiah the seventeenth comes on the Throne but he not degenerating from his evil Ancestors was soon put off by Pekah the eighteenth who being no better than the rest was trayterously slain by Hoshea the nineteenth who being wicked also was carried Captive by Salmanezer of Assyria 2 Kin. Ch. 15. and 16. and 17. Thus Israel provoked the Lord to anger as if they had done all this for that very purpose of causing God to cast them off and to write Lo-Ammi upon them by the forementioned Earthquake the Lord did plainly foreshew that God would shake terribly the Heaven of that Church and the Earth of that State And as God forewarned them by his works both ordinary and extraordinary so all along by his Word in the mouths of all his both the greater and lesser Prophets saying to them that if they would not live by Gods good Laws they should not live in Gods good Land c. Hos 9. 3. This Hosed who forewarns Israel that their Land would spue them out as God had threatned Levit. 18. 26 28. was the first of the Race of those Prophets before Isaiah in the days of Jeroboam Hos 1. 1 2. And thus as under an Hosea Israel was possessed of Canaan Numb 13. 16. and under an Hosea they were dispossessed of it 2 Kin. 17. 1 6. so the Lord sent an Hosea to blame their unthankfulness for the former and to declare the dreadfulness of the latter No doubt but the Devil was much delighted with this sad Catastrophe of Israels Ejection out of Canaan he always makes mirth and merriment out of Israels mourning he makes Comedies of their Tragedies he had indeed so rooted and riveted Idolatry in Israel that it could not be rooted out but by rooting up the corrupted Stock yet all along the Reign of those twenty Kings of Israel for so many Tibni Corrival to Omri 1 Kin. 16. 21 22. doth exactly make and often several Stocks yet all agreeing in Jeroboams sin God raised up a Race of Prophets to give warning even from the Man of God that cryed against Jeroboams Altar 1 Kin. 13. and from Elijah and Elisha down to the last-of those Kings very few whereof died a dry or natural death 2 Kin. 17. 13 23. God wanted not his Witnesses though in Sackcloth all that time His Eye to Israel even under great provocations was good while
Intended reformation 2 Chro. 29. 20 21 c. and with whose Concurrence he not onely Accomplisheth the Removeal of the High-places and of the Brazen-Serpent aforesaid but also the Cleansing of the Temple and Kingdom of all the Idols and of all their Trinkets Trash and Trumpery he would leave nothing behind that might make Idolaters Hope for a Desired Day of return 2 Chron. 29. 15 16 18 19. and Ch. 31. 1. ☞ Oh that our Reformers had cast all Romish-Reliques into the Town-Ditch or Kidron The 3d. Famous Remarque is his consenting to an Act of Parliament for Keeping a Passeover according to Gods Law and Inviting his Brethren of the neighbour-Neighbour-Kingdom thereunto 2 Chron. 30. 1 5. 6. at which Celebration this good King 1 Prayed heartily for the People that God would pardon their Unpreparedness and 2 he spake comfortably to the Ministers to encourage them in their work ☞ Oh how few such Princes are found in the World Therefore hath he the Honour of a None-such None like Hezekiah before him among all the Kings of Judah nor after him 1. for his miraculous Healing-Prayer 2 Chro. 30 20. and 2. for his Early Essay of reformation beginning in the first Y. and Day of his reign but Josiah began in his Eight 2 Chro. 34. 3. 3. neither is it found that any other K. so Prevailed with God as he did 2 Kin. 19. 15. and 20. 2. all 3 Considered make him a None-such No wonder if the Devil look upon all this with an Envious Eye so falls to Work in his plotting against him and 1 he stirrs up Senacherib whose Father Salmanezer had Captivated the Ten Tribes 2 Kin. 17. 3. to come and Beleagure Jerusalem Ch. 18. 17. Observe the Time when the Devil did this 't was after these things 2 Chron. 32. 1. to wit Immediately after Hezekiah had set all things in Order by the Advice of his Grand Council both in Church and State and immediately after the Glorious Celebration of the Passeover Up comes Senacherib with his Army and thought to swallow up Iudah as his Father had Israel He thought to win them for himself but did this Design of the Devil take No the Lord laugh'd it to Nothing for He sent his Angel v. 21. at Hezekiahs Prayer 2 Kin. 19. 15 35. in that very Night when they were preparing for a storm the next morning who smote with a Plague 185000 of them with their Leaders Captains and mighty Men of Valour 2 Chron. 32. 21. and Railing Rabshakeh among if not above the rest for his Abominable Blasphemies against the God of Israel for we hear no more of him Yea and Senacherib himself hardly escaped having his Head and Beard as the Rabbins say singed by the Fire of God according to Isa 33. 11 12. However his Preservation from the stroke of Gods Angel was but a reservation for the stroke of his own Sons for he returning with shame of Face to his own land 2 Chron. 32. 21. as he was Worshipping Nisroch his Tutelar God to whom he Ascribed his preservation his Two Eldest Sons that came forth out of his own Bowels and yet neither of them having Bowels for their own Father nor awe to his Idol Conspire together and smote him with the Sword even in the very Act of Worshipping a God that could not preserve him 2 Kin. 19. 37. ☞ As this Fatal End of Senacherib sounds a loud Alarum to all proud and Blasphemous Princes and Persons so it Discovers their Vassalage and Slavery far worse than that of the Turks to a Cursed and Cruel Master who loves Treasons but hates Traitors As it is most sure that Satan stirr'd up Senacherib to war against the Church of God so 't is no less sure that he also stirr'd up those his Two Sons to Murder their own Father for he is a Murderer from the beginning Joh. 8. 44. Such as dare be his Drudges and do his Devilish Work can expect to have at last no better than such Devilish Wages Oh who would wear his Cursed Livery 2ly When Satan saw himself Bassled in Senacharib his Extrinsick Engine against Hezekiah he makes an Experiment of an Intrinsick in Tempting him to Pride and self Admiration This he successfully effects in the Matter of the Embassadors of Babylon wherein God left him to himself to let him see what was in his Heart 2 Chron. 32. 25 31. the Occasion and Opportunity of the Temptation was this Hezekiah had been mortally sick of the Plague that had seized upon his Vitals and he had likely the Tokens also so that in humane apprehension a Miserere mei was Writ upon him he was as a Dead Man yet at his Prayers and Tears God gives him a new Lease of his Life even a Lease of Two Lives Two Seven Years and one more to wit Fifteen Years so that 1st his Recovery in Three Days was miraculous by a Cataplasme or Plaister of Figs applyed to his Carbuncle 2ly to him alone and to none else in Scripture God makes known the Term and Period of his Life 3ly As a Sign of his sudden and supernatural Cure and of his super-added Term of Life The Sun in the Firmament must not know the time of his going down that Hezekiah might know his 4ly The Caldeans Observing how the Sun their God had honoured him in its retrograde motion come 680 miles to Honour him in their Courtship and kind Congratulation All these Four peculiar Priviledges Tickled his Depraved Nature God for this once withdrawing and Satan improoving blows up this Bladder of Pride and makes him Act like a petty-God within himself without Dependency upon his God he shews the Embassadors all his Treasures 2 Kin. 20 12. 13. Hereby Gold-thirsty Babylon knew where to have a full Draught where to have a fit and fat Booty Oh sublime Folly yet the Devil is Disappointed of his Design God forsakes not Hezekiah utterly Psal 119. 8. but sends Isaiah to prick this Bladder le ts Pride out of his Heart which had been lifted up net as Jehosaphats in the ways of God 2 Chron. 17. 6. but in self-Admiration and Ambition which is the Work of the Devil Ch. 32. 25. hereat Hezekiah is Humbled Hearing how his ostentation Contributes to the Babylonish-Captivity 2 Kin. 20 16 19. Satans Snare is broken and his Soul is Delivered Psa 1â—4 7 For the very last thing we hear of Hezekiah is of his goodness 2 Chron. 32. 32. But the Devil plaid a better Game upon his Son Manasseh the 14th King whom he wrought and brought up to become a Sinner of the largest size 1. in his Defying of God 2. in his Destroying of Men 3. in his Deifying of Devils yet lost he his Game at last though it lasted longest Manasseh having the longest Reign we read of in the Holy History even 55 Years 2 Kin. 21. 1 to 12 16. 2 Chron. 33. 1 to 10. This Degenerate Plant of a noble Vine this Manasseh was a Matchless Man in Sin
purity of Religion to his Posterity becomes himself Effeminate and Emasculates himself so far as to be intangled by them into great evils 1. In tolerating at least their Idolatrous practices 2. In allowing places for their Idols 3. In his complying with them and conforming to them in their worshipping of Venus Bacchus Saturn c. and all this as it were under Gods very eye so nigh the Temple the place of Gods residence for this the Lord was angry and says he will rend the Kingdome v. 9 10 11. and does it as well as says it afterwards The Devil is as much pleased as God is angry hopes to win the Game and to damn Solomon yet that wicked one could not touch him to wit with his deadly touch of final Apostacy for the Seed of God was in him 1 Joh. 3. 9. and 5. 18. the Root of Grace remain'd wrought in him and brought him to repentance his Book of Ecclesiastes is his Penitential Palinody so ought he not to be pictur'd by Papists half in Heaven and half in Hell 'T is remarkable that David and Solomon are conjoyn'd in one Commendatory Sentence 2 Chron. 11. 17. to shew that Holy David is as much in Hell as Solomon and Solomon as much in Heaven as Holy David And 't is not possible that the beginning of Rehoboams Reign could be like Davids as that Clause affirms if Solomon had left his Kingdome in so corrupt a condition as his Apostacy caused and not have reform'd it after his return to the Lord. The Devil having lost this first after-game for eclipsing the glory of the Church which gain'd that blessed Book of Ecclesiastes by Solomons fall upon Solomons self he trys conclusions upon Solomons Son as his second after-game and no better Tool could he have to work withal than Childish Rehoboam 'T is a wonder that so wise a Father as Solomon should have only such a foolish Son as Rehoboam and that of seven hundred Wives and three hundred Concubines Many a Fool hath had a wiser Son than this wisest Father assuredly Solomon did prognosticate his Sons future folly in his saying Who knows whether he that comes after me will be a wise man or a fool c. Eccles 2. 18. yea the holy Scripture calls him a Child at forty years old 2 Chron. 13. 7. All this he did prove himself in the Parliament held at Shechem 1 Kin. 12. 1. where an humble Address is made to him that he would lighten their grievous Yoaks and lessen their great Taxes which his Father had laid on them for the maintenance of his vast Retinue of strange Women especially and say they we will be thy servants for ever which promise annexed anticipates a tacit Objection for it might be said if the King had once submitted himself to the request of his Subjects they would prove Lords over him but here they shew the contrary and promise to accept of him and to be subject to him he being less wise than his Father who advised him by a soft Answer to pacifie wrath Prov. 15. 1. but more wilful rejects the advice of his Fathers old experienc'd Counsellors with whom was wisdom Job 12. 12. and whom he consulted only for fashion sake and follow'd the device of his own green-headed Companions and Courtiers who parasitically perswade him to stand upon his Pantoffles and not at all to stoop to his people for that would make him a King without a Kingdome and a Subject to his Subjects Thus they humour him into a conceit of Absoluteness Hereupon he threatens Tyranny to the people who hear of nothing from him but Scourges and Scorpions v. 13. Oh foolish and childish King whose very words have Stings was this the way to gain a discontented people No but rather to disoblige even a willing people who could not but think how cruel will this mans hands be who thus draws blood with his Tongue Thus he fondly loses ten Tribes from his Crown with his churlish words and rough answers which he would and might not have recover'd with the blood of a great Army v. 21 22 23. Then saw he when too late that strife is easier stirred than stinted and that the people is a most Heady Water when once out of their Banks which now were broken down by his indefinite profession of rigour and severity upon their purses and persons ☞ Sad consequences ever accompany those Princes that would be Absolute in Power will be Resolute in Will and dare be Dissolute in Life The wicked one had a double advantage for promoting this Plot not only Rehoboam to work on who was green-headed at forty though the Son of Solomon who was grey-headed at twenty year old 2 Chro. 13. 7. and 1 Kin. 3. 3. 7. with 2. 6. and 1 Chro. 14. 21. but also Jeroboam to work by who was as wily as wicked plotting a revolt from former affronts forming a Religion accommodated to his Rebellion and designedly marring the Israel of God for the better making them his own Subjects By both those two helps of childishness in the one and craftiness in the other Satan that Schismatical Spirit who made the first Schisme or Rent in the City of God at the first being of the World now made 1. The largest Schisme or Rent 2. The longest that ever had been made in the Church of God under any Government 1. It was the largest for here the Devil got more than nine parts even the ten Tribes leaving God only his tythe his tenth his one Tribe to wit the Tribe of Judah only so 't is expressed 1 Kin. 11. 13. with 12. 20. and it 2. was the longest also for it was a Rent that could never be stitch'd together again neither by force of arms nor by the most forward Reformers but lasted till the Captivity However 't is a work of wonder a Miracle of Mercy and a matter of great admiration that the Devil made not the ten Tribes to swallow up the one Tribe ten to one is great odds the Kingdome of Israel to devour the Kingdome of Judah so called though Benjamin was included in Judah No God had promis'd that his mercy should not depart away from Solomon as he took it from Saul 2 Sam. 7. 15. that is I will not quite cast him out of my favour or wholly deprive him of his Kingdome as I did Saul This spoil'd the Devils design of destroying the Church for Solomons Seed was not rejected of God as Sauls was to give way to Davids succession yea and that which spoil'd Satans project yet more was when God was angry with Solomon his Jedidiah his Darling for his sin and threatned to rend the Kingdome which is as a glorious Mantle upon the Kings shoulder 1 Sam. 15. 28. 1 Kin. â—1 29 30. from him yet the severity of that Sentence God was pleased to sweeten with some mitigation and mixture of mercy as 1. I will not do it in thy days c. 2. I will not rend away
got his design in debauching Israel when he had got a Divine Service set up 1. In another place 1 Kin. 12.29 2. At another time v. 3â— 3. After another manner v. 28. 4. And by other Priests v. 31. than God had appointed Proud Lucifer the Devil was well pleased with this Devil-worship This sin not only brought a black Brand upon its abominable Author to all succeeding Generations that the phrase frequently rings in our reading the Scripture Jeroboam the Son of Nebat that made Israel to sin but also had such an Indelible Character in it as could never be removed neither from his own Family nor from any of his Successors though of other Families when his was rooted out all the Kings of Israel after him by his example grew worse and worse and Israel with them until they were all carried away Captive out of their own Land in the days of Hosea their last King 2 Kin. 17. 1. to 6. Here the Devil plaid like a cunning Gamester with notable seeming success yet God is not an idle Spectator all this time and permits Satan to carry it on without any Counterbuffs but now and then he is a swift witness against and a severe rebuker of this Plot 1. Both at the beginning 2. Afterwards and 3. At the end â— At the beginning Jeroboam must not manage his new Rebellion without a Testimony from Heaven against his new Religion And 1st The Lord stirred up a select number both of Priests and people that abhorred Jeroboams Idolatry and fled from all the Coasts of Israel though Jeroboam way-laid them Hos 5. 1. to cleave close unto the true God in his worship at Jerusalem 2 Chron. 11. 13 14 16. The godly Priests gave a good example to the godly people of every Tribe in their self-denial and leaving their Livings rather than violate their Consciences Their voluntary Exilement after their Ejection ab officio beneficio drew much good people after them v. 16. whereby not only Rehoboam was much strengthened v. â—7 but also the Church was preserved in despight of Jeroboam and his Segnirim or Hairy Devils v. 15. insomuch that God had his seven thousand in wicked Ahabs day that bowed not the knee to Baal nor those to the Golden Calves and God preserved them in their slight to the holy City though wicked Watchers laid Traps to catch them upon Mizpeh and Tabor in their passage thither as the Papists in the Marian days watch'd all those that be took themselves to Basil Geneva c. yet the Lord marvellously preserv'd them for his Church in a better day as he did those in a better place 2. Gods Testimony was not for his servants Innocency only but against Jeroboams Idolatry when he stood at his new Altar at Bethel with a Scepter in one hand and with a Censer in the other invading the High-Priesthood as well as usurping the Kingdome 1 King 12. 33. and 13. 1. God sends a Prophet out of Judah possibly one of his banish'd servants to Jeroboam in the midst of his great Assembly and Solemnity at Bethel to cry against the Altar v. 2. that one Josiah should be raised up to destroy it and its Priests And because 't was long too more than two hundred year he gives them a present Sign of the certainty of his Prophecy to wit the rending of the Altar at present to shew its downfall afterwards which accordingly was accomplished v. 3 5. At this Jeroboam rageth crys Lay hold of him and himself would have been the first man in doing it had not God by another Miracle manacled him by withering his hand which though restor'd again by a third Miracle at the Prophets prayer yet hands not its owner into repentance and while the Altar of Stone rends yet his Heart being harder than any stone in the Altar remains still without any rending or relenting This God foresaw and therefore the Man of God was directed to direct his speech to the Altar and not to Jeroboam seeing the former would receive impression sooner than the latter who had forgot how Israel had startled at an Altar of the Reubenites which was only for a Monument and Memorial Josh 22. when they were newly come out of affliction now an Altar for Idolatry startles neither him nor them being setled upon the Lees of a long abused peace in Solomons day and this same Bethel where one of his Calves stood and the rent Altar being now become a Beth-Aven the House of God an house of wickedness as the two Hebr. names signifie was recovered again out of Jeroboams hands 2 Chron. 13. 19. His Golden Calfish God could not protect its own Seat and City from its Enemy This Divine Testimony from Heaven against Jeroboam was manifold 1. Against his Altar 2. Against his Arm which he stretched out to apprehend the Lords Prophet who had born witness against his Idolatry contrary to Gods Special Command Touch not mine Anointed ones and do my Prophets no harm Psa 105. 15. 'T is safer to anger a Witch than provoke a Prophet for if any man will hurt such fire proceedeth out of their mouth to devour them Revel 11. 5. To touch these is to touch the Apple of Gods Eye Zech. 2. 8. Therefore doth God say to Kings not of Kings Touch not those that have the Vnction of the Father which when King Jeroboam offered to do God shrank his sinews and makes him stand like an Antick Statue pointing out the way to Travellers with an hand stretched out but cannot pull it in 1 Kin. 3. 4. So facile a thing it is with God to cool the courage and restrain the rage of the proudest Prince or Persecutor Psa 76. 10. This very Arm that had been burning Incense to his Idol in his playing the Priest himself to give some Grace to his sordid Priests made of the Dregs of the Vulgar God dried up as the arm of an Idol-Shepherd Zech. 11. 17. and because his Eye was darkned too according to that threatning so that he would see nothing of Gods Hand in withering his hand Therefore Gods third Testimony was against his Heir and as Gods Wrath was upon his first Son so on his best Son who was also his Right Hand indeed for he was his Heir and hopeful for good 1 Kin. 14. 13. Now God strikes at the Father for his sin upon the Back of the Child in his sickness Jeroboam seeks to Ahijah the Lords Prophet what would be the issue not what was the cause of his good Sons sickness which none of his wooden Priests could tell him v. 3. He receives heavy tidings and that by the hands of his own Wife that this only gracious Son must die but all his other graceless Sons must live he must die to afflict them they must live to afflict them because Jeroboam was bad therefore was he unworthy of so good a Son and because the Son was good therefore was he worthy to be removed from so bad a
care of his Church and of his Promise to Abraham even when he seems to have Utterly Abandon'd them The same Graciousness that had sent Prophets to them all along their Revolt and a Promise of the Messiah at the same time their Rejection was foretold Isa 7. 8. within 65 Y. of its comming to pass That the Lord would not quite cast off the House of David till a Virgin have born a Son and he to be God in our Nature v. 14. and this Son to be Born in Bethelem One that should tread down all the Churches Enemies and be her Peace c. Micah 5. 1 2 3 4 5. yet would be War to the Assyrians in sending Lyons among them as before all which doth show That this Antient People of the Ten Tribes are not altogether Abandon'd and Abolish'd but God reserves this Honour for them to Vouchsafe them a Call to the Participation of Christ but more of that in New-Testament-times Ezek. 37. 16 19. Jer. 3. 12 13. c. Isa 11. 12 13. Obad. 20. Rom. 11. 15 26. The Seventeenth Plot against the CHURCH in Judah Defeated by GOD. CHAP. XVII WHen the Devil saw how successful he had been in Debauching and Destroying the Ten Tribes of Israel He falls upon his 17th Plot against the Kingdom of Judah which yet Ruled with God and was Faithful with the Saints Hos 11. 12. God was sincerely served amongst them and they Held fast their first integrity the True Religion was Publickly Professed and the True Worship of God was Purely Preserved in the Temple at Jerusalem This made Abijah the next to Rehoboam though none of the best to boast so boldly and therefore prevailed 2 Chro. 13. 10 17. Israels Apostacy was not onely Aggravated but also Vanquished by Judahs Integrity yea and Judah was Kind Courteous and Communicative to those good Souls that left the Ten Tribes and came thither to Injoy the Pure and Publick Worship of God This the Envious One espying and Envying Endeavours to Corrupt Jerusalem as he had done Samaria that so Aholah and Aholibah might be both Alike nay the latter to be worse than the former as afterwards Ezek. 16. 2 45 48. and 23. 4 11. Yea that Prince of the Ayr the Devil never gave over his stormy Blasts with his stinking Breath until he had Blown out that Lamp which God had promis'd to give David in Jerusalem 1 Kin. 15. 4. at the last which did fall out about the 3420 Y. of the World in the 11th Y. of Zedekiah when Ezekiels 390 Y. mentioned Ezek. 4. 5. were exactly accomplish'd in that fatal Fall of Jerusalem for which Jeremy Writt his Book of Lamentations to Condole the sad Condition of the Church because the Crown was faln from her Head Lam. 5. 15 16. and her Light or Lamp was Extinct by the Devils Extinguisher then was she brought into darkness and not into light Lam. 3. 2. and removed into dark places as they that be dead v. 6. so put into the Dark Graves of Babylon until the Time of their Opening came Ezek. 37. 12. c. Now to Reduce the Church to this faln and Extinct Estate The Devil Designs against her many Maladies and 't is remarkable God sent her as many Remedies in Raising up a good King for a bad a good King for a bad almost all-along whereas those of Israel were all bad Universally until they had sinned themselves beyond the Reach of all Remedies Prov. 22. 1. 2 Chro. 36. 16. Oh Dreadful and Direful Divine Sentence Satans first Blast against the Lamp of the Church in this 17th Plot was in Rehoboam who at 41 Y. old was Childish and Simple 2 Chro. 12. 13. with 13. 7. but of an Haughty and Hard-oppressing Spirit so prooved himself a very Fool Eccles 2. 19. though he were the Son of so Wise a Father a very fit Tool for the Devil and though for 3 Y. he did Well 2 Chron. 11. 17. yet after he did Evil and Judah with him which brought up Shishak K. of Aegypt to Plunder Jerusalem 1 Kin. 14. 22 23 24. Upon this the Devil got the Golden Shields of Solomon changed into Brazen ones v. 27. as he had made the faithful City now to become an Harlot No Wonder therefore that her Silver was become Dross and her Gold turned into Brass Isa 1. 21 22. Shishak prompted to this Enterprize by Jeroboam who had lived in the Court of Aegypt and as some say Married a Wife of the Blood-Royal easily prevaileth through the Pusillanimity and Effeminacy of Rehoboam but especially because Judah had Transgressed against the Lord 2 Chron. 12. 2. His Prevalency could not have happened without the Church's Prevarication Notwithstanding at the Preaching of the Prophet Shemaiah which was a great Divine favour both Princes and People Humbled themselves v. 5 6. which was a greater Divine favour but the greatest of all was that God did not then pour out his whole Wrath but granted them some Deliverance v. 7 8. So that things went well in Judah v. 12. The Devils 2d Blast against Davids promised Lamp was in the Reign of Rehoboams Son call'd Abijah 2 Chron. 12. 16. so his Father named him signifying The Lord is my Father with Respect to that Promise made to David 2 Sam. 7. 14. but because he Walked not in the ways of David therefore is Abijah called Abijam 1 Kin. 15. 1. which signifies My Father is a Sea Indeed his Father was as Inconstant in good as the Fluctuating Sea because he Prepared not his Heart to seek the Lord 2 Chro. 12. 24. he had only some slashy and fleeting Resolutions in his aforesaid Humblings but he did not draw them out into Execution because they Sprang not from his Heart that right Spring of all True goodness so they were soon off again and he wavering like a wave of the Sea Jam. 1.6 was driven by the Wind of Temptation to do Evil and so Dyes leaving a Diminish'd and Impoverish'd Kingdom to his Son Abijah or Abijam who did Evil like his Father Though the Book of Chronicles layeth no Wickedness to his Charge so joyns Jah the Name of God to his name Abijah yet the Book of Kings Chargeth him with the Wickedness of his Fathers ways and therefore calls him Abijam as above 1 Kin. 15. 3. Though at first when he went out to War against Jeroboams vast Army he seemed to be good pretending to and pleading hard for Religion 2 Chron. 13. 5 10 12. and praying to God in his Distress v. 14. and believing in God v. 18. but being puffed up with this great Victory he falls away and shew'd himself in his Colours treading in the same Dirty steps of his Idolatrous Father who when he Recover'd Bethel from Jeroboam 2 Chron. 13. 19. did not Destroy the Calf and Idolatry there for which cause 't is probable God shorten'd both his Reign and his Life Oh what a sad Aspect had the Church in that Day when not onely Israel Worship'd Jeroboams
to 14. and 30. 17. 'T is very remarkable that those Jews who were in Babylon though as Buryed there Fared far better than those that were left and liv'd in Canaan for God Spoke in the hearts of their Enemies for the Former and made their Foes to Favour them God Interceeded for them with the Chaldeans Jer. 15. 11. Verily it shall be well with thy Remnant Hebr. If it be not well c. and If I do not cause c. as if the Lord had said Then never Trust Me more never look on Me as Lord or Master of My Word more But the latter that still liv'd in their own Land were within a little while Involv'd in Woful Misery by Ishmaels Murdering of Gedaliah many of them were Massacr'd and the rest went down to Aegypt expresly contrary to Gods Command Deut. 17. 16. and the Prophets Counsel Jer. 42. 14. where they found no such Graves to Rest in as their Brethren found in Babylon but while they sought to run from Death they run to it v. 22. and Jer. 43. 9 11. and 46. 13 15 17 24. Yet so compassionate is God to his Church's-Relick there that while he is denouncing the Doom and foretelling the Conquest of Aegypt yea and of Babylon too afterwards for Persecuting the Church Jer. 50. 1 9. c. The Lord Intermingles his Comminations against Aegypt and Babylon with sweet Consolations to Sion Jer. 46. 27. but Fear not thou Oh my Servant Jacob c. I will make an End of all the Nations whither I have driven thee but I will not make a full End of thee but Correct thee in measure ☞ Oh the Bleeding of Divine Bowels over his Captivated Church in this consolatory Clause God could not find in his Heart to make a full End of her as Hos 11.8 but keeps their Room empty all the 70 Y. till the return of the Natives his Church The Devil undoubtedly gave Judahs land as he had given the land of the Ten Tribes primo occupaturo to him that could catch and Conquer it first he was a Blasphemous Usurper in his saying to Christ To whomsoever I will I give it Luk. 4. 6. wherein he Robbs God of the chiefest Jewel in his Imperial Crown Dan. 4. 32 17 25. Thus the Pope like the Devils Heir takes upon him to be Lord of all that Incommunicable Attribute of Christ Act. 10. 36 both Temporals and Spirituals in all Countries and Kingdoms So Boniface the 8. that Antichrist stiled himself to Phillip King of France and so did his Successor to our Henry the 8. whom he Excommunicated from the Church Deposed him from his Crown and Disposed of his Kingdom to him that could first Win it so far as his Roaring Bull which yet proov'd but a brute Thunder-bolt might Accomplish no less had the Devil his Master Father and God done concerning the Kingdom of Judah Nevertheless the God of Israel would not suffer any of those Warlike Adversaries that surrounded Judea so much as to Desire their Land Exod. 34. 23 24. when they left it unmann'd thrice in the Year much less Invade it and this Providence is yet more marvellous that while their land was empty of its Inhabitants for 70 Y. together yet none of those Neighbour-Nations which always Watched yet never Catched an Opportunity do make a Seizure of that tempting Glory of all Lands Ezek. 20. 6. when the Prophet Jeremiah hath done Denouncing dreadful Woes against Aegypt and all other Adversaries of the Church nine in number he comes to his 10th even Babylon and oh how amazing it is to Consider how in his giving out Confounding Corrasives to Proud Babylon He still scatters most Comfortable Cordials to drooping and distressed Sion as Ch. 50. 4 19 20. The Iniquity of lacob shall be sought for and there shall be none Ch. 51. 5. Judah hath not been for saken c. v. 44 45. God will make Babel spue up his Church as too Hot a Mouthful and that cannot be disgested and still My People no reason can be rendred why Iudah was not consumed as well as the Ten Tribes and the Ten Nations but Gods never-failing Compassions Lam. 3. 22. his mindfulness of the Covenant of giving David a Lamp alway 2 Kin. 8. 19. the Lord said not that he would blot out the Name of Israel from under Heaven 2 Kin. 14. 2 7. Hereupon he sent Prophets all along 2 Chron. 24. 19. to comfort the good Figs as to Confound the bad ones Jer. 24. 25 8. Finally when the Devil had got the Church the good Figs in Babylon as the bad Figs in Aegypt yea and Fetter'd them there until she was become as very dry bones and in a deep Grave too with a great Stone upon it insomuch that she looks upon her self in a forlorn Condition and that no Created power or Natural means could possibly recover her saying Can these dry Bones live c. Ezek. 37.3 11. they say as it were Let them Hope that Hope can There is now no Hope Ier. 2. 25. the less Hope that the Church had the more Hope the Devil hath to win the Game but the great and Gracious God comes with a Liberate serves a Writ of Quare Impedit upon the Devil for Detaining them this spoils all his Sport God Commands his Angels to Roul away the great Stone that lay upon the Mouth of his Churches Tomb Sealed down with the Devils Seal upon it as Daniels Den was with that of Darius Dan. 6. 17. then Opened he the Graves according to his Promise Ezek. 37. 12. the same God who vouchsafed to be a Grave-maker for Moses Person Deut. 34. 6. vouchsafes now to become a Grave-Opener for Moses People when he had opened their Graves with a Non-obstante-Writ the People were there preserved Alive as they had been buryed Alive for God had sent his Angel to shut the Mouth of that all-Devouring Lyon Death as he did to the Lyons in Daniels Den Dan. 6. 22. Hebr. 11. 33. so that the Savage and Hunger-starv'd Death had not seiz'd upon them Psal 55. 15. with a Writ of Habeas Corpus or taking their Bodies like as an austere and over-Lordly Landlord attaques his poor Tenants or as a cruel Creditor doth his failing Debtor or as that merciless Man in the Gospel who took his Fellow by the Throat and said Pay that thou owest me Matth. 18. 28 33. neither had the Devil that Roaring Lyon seeking whom he may Devour 1 Pet. 5. 8. serv'd the other Writ of Habeas Animam or attaching their Souls to carry them away into his Dungeon of Darkness Oh what a miracle of Mercy was here manifested that neither the Cold Grave could contain their Bodies nor Hot Hell catch their Souls Death had not fed upon them neither was their Beauty consumed in the Grave as Psal 49. 14. but those Vpright ones had dominion over Death and Devil in the Morning after the long Night of their 70 Y. Captivity was ended in a dawning
the Wheel of Providence to Move most apparently in order to the Church's Deliverance God loves to come 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the very nick and Opportunity of time God will be seen in the Mount when there is a damp upon our Hopes and a death upon our Helps when We are low enough and our Adversaries High enough Never was the Church lower nor Haman her Enemy higher than that very Night wherein God began to stirr and to take those following famous steps all added to the the Two former 1. of Esthers Advance in Vasthi's Throne and 2ly Mordecai's Saving the Kings Life from the Traitors Hands for Advanceing Mordecai to Honour whom Haman had Devoted to Hang up and that before his own Door to feed his Eyes the better upon so Happy a Hang'd Spectacle upon a Gallows fifty Cubits high which was well nigh Thirty Yards in height for the greater Disgrace of Mordecai to be seen thereon far and near The 3d. famous Step God takes is the takeing away of the Kings Sleep from him that very Night Sleep is a Gift of God which he giveth to Man and taketh from him according to his good Pleasure Psa 127.2 This great King that commanded an 127 Provinces cannot command so much as an Hours Sleep for himself when he pleaseth It was God that kept him awake for excellent Ends. Gods 4th Step was The Kings Commanding to bring the Book of Records to be Read before him the better to deceive that Tedious time of his lying Awake Had not God over-rul'd him he might have call'd for his Wives Concubines Musitians c. whereof he had abundance Nothing but History must be call'd for to Comfort him and thereby God put small Thoughts into his mind for great Purposes as the Scruple God cast into the Head of our Henry the 8th about his Marriage became the occasion of Unhorsing the Pope in England c. The 5th Step God takes here Esth 6. 1 2. that the Reader of that Persian History or Chronicle should be by Gods Secret Providence directed to Read that very Story of Mordecai's Saving the Kings Life by Discovering the Treason against him like as the Eunuch was Act. 8. 30 32. to that place in Isaiah Ch. 53. 7 8. and Austin to Rom. 13. 14. the main means of their Conversion not turning to that place purposely neither the one nor the other of all the Three no doubt but Gods Hand in the Margin pointed him to it The 6th Step God takes in his Providence is That Noble and right Royal Mind God stirr'd up in the King to enquire What Honour hath been done to Mordecai for this v. 3. Turpe est Regi Beneficijs Vinci 't is too sordid for mighty Kings to be Ungrateful to their most Loyal Subjects and not to Reward those that have been Instruments of Saving their Lives God makes Ahasuerus Reflect upon the great Crime of his own Ungratefulness to Mordecai for so great a Service Gods 7th Step is his Ordering it so that those Gentlemen of the Kings Bed-Chamber should be by who were Ingenious and had a Kindness for Mordecai whom yet they knew a great Eye-sore to Prince Haman and had those young Courtiers been as envious as Haman and disaffected to Mordecai they might have extenuated his good Service and minded the King of his Decree against the Jews or have told Ahasuerus as the Apocryphal Additions Esth 12. 5 6. telleth that he had been Rewarded but they candidly Answer There is nothing done for him not Grudging as 't is common with Courtiers to have others come over their Heads Gods 8th Step is That Mordecai should not have any present Recompence for that eminent Service but that he should wait Six Y. saith Lyra and yet have no Reward especially from a King of Persia whose Kings had used to be very Bountiful to those that Deserved well of them as Herodotus Xenophon and Plutarch largely Relates 'T is probable a Reward was at first Decreed for him but he being a Jew its Execution was for some time through Hamans Insluence obstructed and at last it was altogether forgotten till now However Haman and the Devil his Master had a Wicked the great God had an Holy Hand in it that it should be deferr'd to a fitter opportunity wherein he might be more Glorifi'd in the Preservation of his People and in the Destruction of his Enemies at the Due Season Gal. 6. 9. Let us not therefore be weary of Well-doing God Times all his Mercies well and well sees when they will be most Sweet and Seasonable Isa 30. 18. Gods 9th Step is The Marvellous Providence that Haman himself should be present at that Juncture when God had corrected the Kings Forgetfulness and now had put it into his Heart to Reward Mordecai Esth 6.4 'T is true his carnal Friends had put this Revengeful Wretch onward in his pride and revenge adding fuel to his flameing sire They said to him To Morrow speak thou to the King c. Ch. 5. 14. Hereupon he gets early up sleeping that Night as badly as Ahasuerus comes by Morning-light to procure a Warrant for Mordecai's Execution yet all this was of God for it is not in Man to order his own way Jer. 10. 23. that Haman himself should to his greater Vexation prescribe the Honour that must be done to Mordecai and that at a time when he was come to get him Hang'd yea and with full confidence to compass his Design though for no other Crime but not cringing to him neither Haman nor the Devil himself had any thing else to accuse Mordecai of for he is One of those few in Scripture-Record that both lived and dyed in Glory being no where taxed for any Gross sin that we read off Gods 10th Step is The Wonderful Disappointment he brought upon this Wicked Ambitionist Haman comes merrily into the Kings Presence as soon as called 't is strange Ahasuerus Consulted not with his Courtiers who then attended upon his person no God will have Haman to be the Counsellour comming in for another purpose a mischievous one against Mordecai and is assured it would be but Dictum Factum the King would not say him Nay but God Over-rul'd all Ahasuerus asks Hamans Advice What shall be done v. 6. by an over-powering Providence he names not the Man whom he would Honour Haman mistaking himself to be the Man meant doth most liberally Advise to all Punctilio's of Honour and as Aspiring to the Kingdom he affects the Crown-Royal it self v. 8. which because it was not practicable the King leaves it out of his Commission All this Honour he expected to himself he is commanded to conferr upon Mordecai whom he hated and would have Hanged Thus had he made a Bridge of his own Shaddow and down he falls into the Ditch which was but a Praelude to his final fall at last Thus Quos Deus Destruit Dementat when God hath a mind to Vndoe a Man he first Infatuate him Oh
what a Fool God made of Haman here he comes in to the King with his Head full of Hopes but goes out with his Heart full of Blanks as in a Cheating Lottery his big Expectations ends in gross Disappointments the Kings own Horse must be the Gallows on which Mordecai must safely and stately Ride in Triumph and the lofty Gallows which Haman had erected for Mordecai now groaneth for himself Hamans malice which would bear no delays for he could neither Sleep in Quiet nor Eat with Content against Mordecai is miraculously Converted to a conferring such an Honour upon him as the King or his Courtiers would never have thought on to have done him had not Haman himself Counsel'd it to be done it is easie to be Imagined how the Kings peremptory Precept v. 10. did Stabb Haman to the Heart who must now perforce Honour him whom he Hop'd to Hang Cloth him with Royal Robes whom he Hop'd to Strip of his own ordinary Raiment Help him Vp upon the Royal Horse whom he Hop'd to Help Vp upon the lofty Gallows and then when put down into his Grave to Hop and Dance over him Prepare a Triumph for him for whom he had prepared Ruine Proclaim his Loyalty the cause of that Honour as a Cryer for whom he had procured a Destroying Decree of a Traytor and lastly he must run at Mordecai's Stirrup as a Lacquey and as his Slave and Underling being then a Great Prince and the Kings greatest Favourite Oh what a Cutting and Killing Cordolium must all this needs be unto Hamans Haughty Heart 't is a Wonder his Heart burst not but that God would not have him to save the Hangman his labour and therefore his sordid Spirit truckles and crouches to do all those Offices of Honour which he would have Monopoliz'd to himself * Oh turn aside with Moses to gaze a while upon this Work of Wonder The King had no Intention in all this to cross Hamans Humour or to thwart him in his malicious Ambition not knowing any thing as is supposed of the Difference between him and Mordecai but Gods all-powerful Providence brought all this about for effecting his own ends which cannot but ever be exceeding good seeing his Will is not onely Recta but Regula the Rule Ruleing never sever'd from his Wisdom 1 Behold here how Men by a secret Working of the Divine Hand accomplisheth the Will of God which they think not of but are fulfilling their own wills 2 Behold here as in a Mirrour how the Holy God over-rules the Wicked Wills and Wiles of Men in all their Affairs Counsels Times and Turns for the fulfilling of his own Will and Decree even then when they think least of Serving his Providence 3 Behold here the Excellency of True Piety 't is a constant and unchangeable Blessing whether Advanced or Abased Godly Mordecai's Motto was Semper Idem always the same Man neither Puff'd up with Honour nor Press'd down with Dishonour as too many be a small wind blows up a Bubble all this Honour no whit over-joys Mordecai he comes again to his old place v. 12. and in his old habit sits quietly down there neither envying his Superiours nor Insulting over his Inferiours nor molesting his Equals c. but committing his Concerns to Gods good Pleasure and Providence this is the Godly Mans Guise Psal 131. 1 2. and his Goodness to do so 1 Pet. 4. 19. 4 Behold here the Baseness of base Impiety every Disappointment Unhinges their Dispositions as this did Hamans he hasted to his House mourning he fretted at himself that he should be such a Fool as to prescribe such Honour to a Man before he knew who the Man was that should be so Honoured he made account to have gone merrily to the Queens Banquet when he had Truss'd up Mordecai but now this Fortunae Ludibrium Fortunes Play-fool not onely missing of Mordecai's murder but made to do him publique Honour in ample manner and all by his own Direction this went like a Dagger to his Heart and Gall'd him above measure he pulls his Cap over his Eye as ashamed to look any in the face so Bladder-like is the mind of a proud Carnal man that filled with Earthly Vanities which are but Wind it grows great and swelleth to a None such but if prick'd with the least Pin of a piercing Disappointment it presently shriveleth into nothing Thus Haman retires Home for his Privacy there his own Wife and his Wizzards whom he Consulted for his Lucky Day when he expected Counsel and Comfort from them Read him his Doleful Destiny v. 13. they all prove as cold Comforters now as they had been bad Counsellors before while Haman is grieving at this Disappointment at Home as well as at that abroad he is Hurried away the King and Queen staying for him to that fatal Feast where Haman pays the Reckoning of all with his own Life v. 14. Harbonah Hastens him whose Stomach was now full enough already and would rather have been excused Now the Churches Deliverance draws near being thus notably Provided for by 1. those Preparing Means and no less notably Promoted by 2 those Performing Means Used 1. to God 2. to the King 1. to God so the Jews and Mordecai falls upon 1. Weeping 2. Fasting 3. Lying in Sack-cloth and Ashes Ch. 4. 1 2 3. This was the way to get in with God though they might not come to the Court this shows God had his Remnant of Godly Jews even in Persia such as now were mourning before the Lord but dare not be murmuring or mutinying against the King and Haman such as begin at the right end of Duty to wit Humiliation before God then 2. to the King an Address is made by Esther not without some Reluctancy that God might make it successful Esther Injoyns a Three Days Fast 1. by her Self 2. by her Maids 3. by Mordecai 4. by all the Jews in Shushan Ch. 4. 12 16. God Accepts of all their Prayers and the King of Esthers Address at her Feast Haman is hang'd before his Lucky Day came upon his own Gallows and Mordecai is Honour'd all turns to the contrary God Laughs the Plot to Nothing and the Church is Advanced See Prov. 4. 16. and 11. 8. Psal 83. 3. Deut. 21. 34. Esth 7. 9. and 9. 1 3 4. the Church in City and Countrey keep Yearly Two Days of Joy to God for this Great Deliverance v. 17 to 29. Now when God by his Wonder-Working Providence had brought Godly Esther to be Queen She came to the Kingdom designed by a Divine Decree for the Churches Deliverance Esth 4. 14. and had made Mordecai the Second Man in the Kingdom being next unto the King Esth 10. 3. and Advanced Higher than ever Haman was for he wore a great Crown of Gold Esth 8. 15. which we Read not Haman had any like Then the Church had Light and Gladness v. 16. Light is sweet saith Solomon Eccles 11. 7. especially to those that
'T was a marvellous Providence that God should preserve the High-Priest-hood all the Captivity to this time as Neh. 12. 11. but more to have this Pledge of Gods Grace in Jaddus time The 4th Allay was though Antiochus who sprung out of Alexanders Successors became a fierce Fiend to the Iews yet God told them by Daniel that his standing up against the Prince of Princes to wit God Almighty in Destroying the Dayly Sacrifice and in setting up Idolatry in the Temple would quickly bring Gods Vengeance upon him He shall be broken without Hand Dan. 8. 25. and though for a few Y. as above he shall do according to his wicked Will in the Holy Land Dan. 11. 36. not Regarding any God v. 37. yet shall he come to his end v. 45. a loathsome and lamentable end a Visible Hand of God laid upon him a loathsome Disease and wrapt him up in the Sheet of Shame 1 Macc. 6. 8. and 2 Macc. 9. 5. not so much because he would have spoiled the Temple of Diana but because he did Spoil the Temple at Jerusalem The 5th Allay was that Spirit of God and of Glory which Rested upon the Godly Jews both for Doing Gods Work and for Suffering Gods Will 1. In Doing Oh what a Blessed Zeal did blow up Matthias the Father and Judas Maccabeus his Son who with the Help of his Brethren and other Iews drove the Enemy out of the Countrey and cleansed the Land of all the Uncleanness which had been brought into it Yea and with a very small Handful of Men did mighty Exploits against this Vile Antiochus's great Armies so that the Church was in those Worst of Times most Graciously Holpen with a little Help Dan. 11. 34. in which Weaker Means God Manifested to them his Greater Strength In whose name and by whose Conduct the People that knew their God were strong to do Exploits and to out-doe those Exploits of Antiochus Dan. 11. 28 32. The Apostle seemeth to speak of these Maccabees who wrought Righteousness both Civil and Military Obtained Promises of Glorious Victories and Escaped the edge of the Sword of their Cursed Enemies which sometimes Conquerours do not but purchase their Conquests with the loss of their own Lives as it happened to those brave Brethren at last Hebr. 11. 32 33. and 2ly in Suffering and no less Glorious Spirit did Act the Godly Jews in their Undergoing Cruel Mockings and most exquisite Torments they were Tempted and they were Tortured too yet being got above both the Allurements and Affrightments of the World they would not Accept of Deliverance upon Sordid and sinful terms but as willing to Dye as to Dine they commit themselves to their God in their Martyrdom That they might obtain a better Resurrection Hebr. 11. 35 37. Where that time seems to be Related to God had even then an Holy Remnant whereof the World was not Worthy They were fitter to shine as Stars in Heaven than to be torn in pieces by those Dogs and Hogs on Earth as Josephus the Book of Maccabees and of Martyrs tell us The 6th Sweet Allay the Church had in this Doleful Day was that miracle of the Pool of Bethesda graciously granted by God to corroborate Her in the True Worship of God under the sad persecutions of Antiochus and other Tyrants until the days of John Baptist and of the Lord Christ Joh. 5. 2 3 4. This held up the fainting Spirits of the good people in those bad Times when Prophecy failed and Prosperity too Yea and in the general all true Piety Prophaneness comming in its stead as Malachi their last Prophet declares at large The Rabbins indeed tell us of a Bath-Kol or Eccho that was heard in the Temple which serv'd them for an Oracle c. but waving Jewish Fancies and Fables the Scripture of Truth tells us how an Angel went at certain times to give Healing Vertue to that Water wherein their Sacrifices were washed Here many Impotent Folk lay Languishing at Hopes Hospital and looking after all other means had been ineffectual for God to say to them In the House of Mercy as the Word Bethesda signifies I am thy God that Healeth thee Exod. 15. 26. Jehova Ropheka a Gyant-like Healer Omnipotenti Medico nullus Insanabilis Occurit Morbus No Disease is but God can Cure it This Beneficial Pool was supplyed with Water from the Fountain of Siloam which Represented the Kingdom of Christ Isa 8. 6. The 7th and last Allay was the Promise of the Messiah that Mercy of Mercies who was to be a more Soveraign Bath than this of Bethesda or House of Bounty Christ is the Royal Fountain or Kings Bath Zech. 13. 1. ever-flowing and over-flowing such as Wash herein Believingly shall be both Clean and Whole not Healing at the times of the Iewish Feasts onely as that Pool did but all times of the Year and not one at once as if one only had Suck'd up all the Healing Vertue from all others there but here 3000 persons were Healed together at one Sermon Act. 2. 41. when the Angel of the Covenant Descended to move the Waters that were drawn out of the Wells of Salvation Isa 12. 3. for no other moving but that of an Angel who are Ministring Spirits to heirs of Salvation Hebr. 1. 14. could Dispence to the Diseased any such powerful and immediate Cure the Waters were at all times of a cleansing Property as to their Sacrifices but onely at that time had they a Cureing Power as to themselves When this Beneficial Vertue began in this Pool is uncertain 't is supposed to begin when Eliashib Joshua's Grand-Child with the godly Priests Built the Sheep-gate and Beautify'd it then Consecrated it with their godly Prayr Neh. 3. 1. Hereupon as Tremellius saith probably followed that Miracle of an Angels Descending into the Pool there at their several Solemn Feasts and Healing all Diseases how old great or Desperate soever and that immediately and in a moment 't is as Uncertain likewise when this Miracle of Healing Ceased 't is supposed not till the Destruction of Ierusalem which did fall out about Forty Y. after Christs Healing this Cripple at Bethesda it being so many Y. 'twixt this Passeover Ioh. 5. and that Passeover when Titus Vespasian laid Siege to the City yet this is more than probable that this Miraculous Gift of Healing was given to this Pool before the Comming of Christ as a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or famous fore-Runner of him who was to be the Opened Fountain Zech. 13. 1. for Healing all Diseases and Cureing all Sins Matth. 1. 21. even Jesus the Greek Word comes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sano to Heal as the Hebr. Word of Jashang to Save and this is most certain that the time when this Famous Fountain was opened is well known though concerning the Pool aforesaid the Beginning of its Miracle be unknown to wit to be about the four Thousand Y. of the World according to the Latitude of Time and latest
therefore exactest Computations The Temple of Solomon was Erected about the 3000 Y. of the World as above and the Temple of Christs Body Joh. 2. 19. 21. whereof Solomons Temple was a Type was Reared up a 1000 Y. after about the 4000d Y. of the World after 2000 more say the Rabbins comes the Sabbatical 1000 See before of Solomons Temple Christ calls his most Exquisitely Framed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hebr. 10. 5. Ephes 4. 9. Psa 139. 14 15. Body a Temple wherein the God-head dwelt Bodily Col. 2. 9. that is Personally as God dwelt in the material Temple Sacramentally and in our Hearts Spiritually Eph. 3. 17. to mind the Iews there that their Second Temple wanted the Ark Vrim and Thummim which the first Temple had therefore they must look for another Temple that would correspond in all things to that Compleat Temple of Solomon and that was the Temple of his Body No sooner was this Fountain opened this Temple Erected but the Devil begins to play his pranks in plotting how to Stop up this Well of Salvation as the Philistims at his Instigation had done the Wells of the Patriarch Isaac Gen. 26. 15. one of those Wells is call'd Sitnah of Satan v. 21. for Satan Hindred it as he did the Word that Well of Salvation 1 Thess 2. 18. and this Prince of the Power of the Ayr Ephes 2.2 and 6. 12. and so hath a power to move the Ayr and to raise Storms as he did to Blow the Feasting-House of Jobs Children down and to Sink the Ship wherein Christ was Embarqued Matth. 8. 24. Doth now Raise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a mighty Storm wherewith to Blow down this Temple as soon as ever it was Reared and Herod the Askalonite or cursed Edomite was a fit Tool for the Devil to Work this Wicked Will and Wile with This Herod was Troubled at the Birth of Christ Matth. 2. 3. whereat the Sages and the Shepheards with sundry Saints so much Rejoyced hereupon he pretends to go and Worship him when as he Intends to go and Worry him but God did marvelously Bassle and Befool this Fox so that with all his Craft and Cruelty he could not Worry the Holy Child Jesus for he was Over-Witted by the All-Wise and over-powr'd by the All-powerful God in those following Respects 1. Though Herod wrought Wilily with the Wise-men Transacting all privately with them that his purpose of Killing Christ might not be prevented Matth. 2. 7 8. yet all his Wicked Wisdom prevails not against God Prov. 21. 30. because his Wisdom was but Folly otherwise 't is a Wonder he went not himself with the Wise-men or sent some cruel Cut-Throat along with them privily 2. Though Herod had charg'd the Wise-men to bring him Word again v. 8. yet after the Payment of their Homage to this Holy Babe and little King v. 9 10 11. They being Warned of God an Higher power than that of Herods Returned not to Herod Thus God Kept them from Betraying Christ and themselves as well as Christ were pull'd out of the Mouth of this Lyon by this sweet and marvellous providence 3. Though he sent forth Souldiers which Slew all the Male-Children in all the Coasts about as well as in Bethlehem from Two Y. Old and Vnder c. Matth. 2. 16. yet he deferr'd his Murdering Work so long until the Bird he sought to Kill was flown into Aegypt by Gods Direction v. 13 to 15. Thus though it was the Devil in Herod that sought to Destroy the Young Child Matth. 2. 13. Revel 12. 4. yet God was aware of it prevents it by providing a Sanctuary for his Son in Aegypt which had been cruel to Gods first Born even Israel Exod. 4. 22 23. There Christ was preserv'd in Safety though the Crafty Fox Herod and the subtle Serpent the Devil Clubb'd their Wits together to contrive his Death until God brought Word of Herods Death v. 20. according to his promise v. 13. ☞ And some say at Christs comming into Aegypt all the Idols of the Land which abounded with them did fall flat to the ground 'T was not onely this that enraged the Devil against Christ but also because he had Silenc'd all his Oracles as that at Delphos especially where Augustus Coesar urging the Devil for an Answer was told That an Hebrew Child had stop'd his Mouth and sent him with a Mittimus to Hell and therefore he might spare both his Labour and Cost to Consult his Oracle any more The like Lamentation was made for the Death of the great God Pan as Plutarch relates in Arcadia which Rustick God and Hairy Satyr with his Horns was no other but an Apparition of the Devil And as the Cause of the Devils Rage was his feeling the loss of his Kingdom so the Cause of Herods Rage was his fearing the loss of his Kingdom for as soon as he had heard from the Wise-men of Christ Born King of the Jews he was Troubled Matth. 2. 2 3. fearing that he himself being a Stranger of Idumea not of Israel might be Deposed by the Iews whom he thought would be glad enough to have a King of their own to whom they would contribute their best Assistance therefore he goes about to Murder the Messiah before his time was come 'T was a marvellous providence that preserv'd the Line of David in the Tribe of Judah all that Troublesome time from the 2d Temple to Christ as both Matth. 1. and Luk. 3. doth in their Genealogies Demonstrate the former by the Pedigree of Joseph the latter by that of Mary Maries Genealogy is put upon Joseph because the Hebrews do reckon them not by Women but by Men onely Shewing that Christ was of the Line-Royal of David as well as that Seed of the Woman which should break the Devils Head and though those mentioned there that lived in those Calamitous Days after the Captivity were not formal Kings being Subject to other Nations yet were they Principal Men among their People and Law-givers as Iacob had Prophecyed Gen. 49. 10 Vntil Shilo came not a tittle of Gods Word can fail or fall to the Ground In this Herod the Askalonite or Raskalonite the Scepter departed from Iudah and least it should depart from him because Shiloh was come he Racks his Wit in Divelish Devices to secure himself but at last he wracks his own Weal for though he had escaped many Conspiracies yet soon after his Bloody Butchery in and about Bethlehem the Hand of God seizes on him so that he Dyes of an execrable and most loathsome Disease And God himself takes care to send his Holy Angel to Christ and his Parents with those glad Tydings of cruel Herods Death and of all his cursed Complices and Conspiratours too for the merry Message is Deliver'd in the plural Number They are Dead that sought the Young Childs Life Mat. 2. 19 20. * And the like good News God hath in store to send his Distressed Church in due time that all they
Confronter and Confounder 11 't is sad to a sensible Soul when Christ seemeth to pass by him Mark 6. 48. This Affrights them still more and made them think he was some Walking Night-Devil when he seem'd to pass by them and to take no notice of their Deplorable Estate which Christ might do onely to try them whether they would Intreat him to come aboard for Joh. 6. 21. they would have so some Read it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Willingly Receiv'd him into the Ship and did so Mark 6. 5. 12 Oh how sweet a Cordial to those words It is I even I with an Emphasis Be not Afraid either of the Phantasme ye Fear or of the Furious Sea ye Feel It is I whom ye need not be afraid of for I am not the evil Angel that comes to Harm and Hurt you but I am the good Angel of the Covenant who comes to Help you and to Hand you safe to Land I am he that keeps the Ensuring Office both by Sea and Land and my Right Foot the stronger of the two is upon the Sea the more Unruly Element in all its Sea-Quakes as my Left Foot is upon the Land in all its Concussions and Earth-quakes Revel 10. 2. therefore I shall lose nothing of all that the Father hath given me Joh. 6. 39. So he tells them soon after this Marvellous Deliverance for the Working of which he had purposely withdrawn himself from them until now All this is comprised in this Concise Kind of Speech It is I he doth not say I am Jesus as he said to Persecuting Saul who had never heard his Voice before Act 9. 5. but onely It is I as speaking to those who well knew his Voice and thus Abruptly as Importing his Hast to come and comfort them behold he commeth leaping over Mountains the Hills of Bether or Separation Cant. 2. 17. Those lofty Mountains the high-swoln Surges of the Sea he leaps over they shall not Separate him from his Spouse the Church And no sooner was Christ whose Absence troubl'd them and whose Presence Terrify'd them come Aboard but Immediately the Ship was at Land Joh. 6. 21. and those Half-Dead Disciples came lively ashore where they would willingly have been * There wants nothing to Help our Ship the Church through this Stormy Sea safe to Land save Christs comming to us both for calming the storm and for conveying Home the Ship * Things oft go backward e're they go forward Christ did come here but while he was Vnknown neither his Disciples were comforted nor the Sea becalmed the comming of him in whom all their comfort was contain'd caus'd them to cry out for fear Matth. 14. 26. their Fears befool'd them but Christ straightway heard their Cry and makes himself known to them yet doth not becalm the Sea for them Peters Faith Requiring a Sign must be tryed first and after this Christ himself yea a known Christ must come up into the Ship and then comes the calm Oh that it were thus with us now v. 32. The ending of Peters Tryal was the ending of the Disciples Trouble Christ will have an Hand to Hand Peter both out of the Sea and into the Ship yet not without a check for his looking too much on the Sea and too little on his Saviour before the Storm cease 't was not onely Christs Presence but his Praecept that Allay'd it The Disciples must be better Awakened both to Hope and Desire this favour from Christ before it be done yet their Delivery was at hand while they apprehend nothing but Destruction both from the Raging Sea makeing no way with all their Rowing and from the frightful Apparition * others took Shipping then Joh. 6. 24. yet met no Storm Satans spight is against the Church Those Two By-Blows of the Devil against Christ in his forerunner the Baptist and in his followers his Disciples being Dispatched come we now to the Devils Down-right Blow at Christ himself which was much about the same time to wit his Divelish Design he proposed and promoted of makeing Christ a King Joh. 6. 15. Here he was a white Devil indeed as to Appearance but as Black as His Hell as to the Design for had Christ been content that the People stirr'd up thereunto by the Devil should have King'd him then the proud Priests and Pontius Pilate would have had the Law on their sides to have Kill'd him and have found Hundreds of Witnesses against him whereas they earnestly sought for Witnesses against him yet found they none Mat. 26. 60. then they might have lay'd Treason against Coesar to his Charge indeed for at this time they were Vassals to the Romans of whom they stood in fear Joh. 11. 48. This therefore was one of the Devils Master-Stratagems which yet had Christ accepted of it had been far below that Universal Kingship that the Devil had tendred in his Temptations to Christ Matth. 4. 8 9. yet now he puts the People on to make him King of the Jews a Kingdom that was but a little Spot of Earth and but one Tribe of Twelve that he might be Arraign'd at the Bar by a Bill of Attainder afterwards Matth. 27. 11. 1st This Design the Devil Manag'd by a moveable Multitude whose Bellies Christ had fill'd with Meat by a Miracle which had rarely been filled by their own hard Hand-labour Hereby Satan Transported them so as to cry up Christ whom after he made them Cry down as a Deceiver far above Moses Joh. 6. 14. who thus multiply'd Bread even to a greater quantity of Reversions this must be the Messias promised and therefore in an heat and Hurry they must take him by force and make him their King That this Praecipitant People were Satans Instruments herein Appeareth 1 Inasmuch as Christ is a Born King not to be made one Matth. 2. 2. where is he that was Born King of the Jews He was a King before he came into the World Behold thy King commeth c. Zech. 9. 9. 2 Christ was a King by God himself Psal 2. 6. and not to be made so by Man he is Gods King not Mans. I have set my King upon my Hill 3 Those same look'd only at a carnal Kingdom their Belly was their God they would make him King because he had fill'd their Bellies not because he had Preach'd to them the Word of Eternal Life They followed him for Loaves not for Love as Christ told them Joh. 6. 26. they did not love Iesus for Iesus-sake but dreamt all of Plenty under him 4 They would have Run Christ into a Praemunire as to the Roman Power which did then Lord it over the Iews to which Christ paid Tribute Rendring unto Coesar the things that were Coesars Matth. 17. 27. and 22. 21. but their Bellys had as few Eyes as Eares so could not discern this Danger 5 The Devil well knew though they did not that Christs Kingdom was not of this World Joh. 18. 36. nor commeth with Observation of
common Notice Luk. 17. 23. 6 Those praeposterous Persons as they were thus soon so Hot so they were as soon Cold when they cry'd Crucifie him in their Affections to him 2ly As the Devil had notably Manag'd this Design so Christ as notably broke the Neck of it both by breaking the Confederacy and by Avoiding the Occasion and Opportunity 1st Christ broke the Confederacy 1. by packing away his Disciples who probably might Abett this Tickling Motion of the Rude Multitude for they were oft Harping upon an Earthly Kingdom in their Day Luk. 24. 21. Act. 1. 6 7. wherein the two Aspiring Sons of Zebedee desired to sit the one on King Christ's Right Hand and the other on his Left They dream'd of a Distribution of Honours and Offices as in David and Solomons Days but Christ calls them Fools for it Luk. 24. 25. 2ly Christ pack'd away this over-zealous Multitude Matth. 14. 26. that he might shun all Suspition of any Treasonable Sedition Christ avoids all Appearance of Evil 1 Thess 5. 22. he commanded them to be gone by his Almighty Power which they though a Multitude could not Resist and he tells them at their next Meeting they must expect no other Food to be provided for them by him then his own Flesh and Blood Joh 6. 53 54 57. This was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an hard Saying it sounded so harsh in their Ears that they fall quite off from their former project of makeing him King and would not so much as follow him any more v. 66. but suppose this many-Headed Multitude would not Disperse themselves yet 't is said 9ly Christ withdrew himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Privily into a Mountain Joh. 6. 15. to avoid the very occasion of being Impos'd upon by the People as to a Kingship for those following Reasons 1 Christ came not into the world to be Ministred unto but to Minister Matth. 20. 28. 2 He was not to Receive a Kingdom from Men but to give a Kingdom to Men Luk. 12. 32. 3 He was the Noble-Man that was to Travel into the far Countrey of Heaven while all his Servants even the Elect in all Ages did Trade with their Talents upon Earth there he was to Receive a Kingdom from God Luk. 19 12 and then the Lord Returns and His Servants Reckons Matth. 24. 15 19. 4 Christ withdrew to Teach us that his Kingdom is not carnal consisting of Pleasures Treasures and Honours of Meat and Drink c. but 't is a Kingdom of Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy-Ghost Rom. 14. 17. 5 to shew that the Kingdom of God was within us Luk. 17. 21. which teacheth to contemn the Vanities of a Kingdom without and meerly External 6 He withdrew to disappoint the Devil of all just occasions of Offence against him for if the Devil in his Instruments did so prosecute Christ for a Mover of Sedition though he rejected this Royal proffer from the People how much more would he have done had he Accepted of it how would this Act have been an Article of High Treason and with much seeming Justice Improov'd against Christ Thus the Devil call'd Diabolus from Calumniating was confounded in this Design of procuring a just cause of Calumniating against Christ This Assault is fruitless and frustrate also as all his former Assaults had been before After this the Devil made many other petty-Assaults against the Church in Christ Her Redeemer well knowing could he but Cut off the Head Christ his Body the Church would soon Dye before his great and Grand Assault when Christs Hour was come and that fatal Hour and Power of darkness Luk. 22. 53. for extinguishing the Lamp of David and the Light of the World When the Devil saw how Christ carry'd on the Kingdom of the Gospel not onely by the Preaching of the Twelve but also of the Seventy sent out to confirm their Doctrine by Miracles Matth. 10. and Luk. 10. Insomuch as Satan was seen to fall like Lightning from Heaven v. 18. to wit Viewably Violently and Velociously or Swiftly as Lucifer did Isa 14. 12. from Mens Hearts which the Devil accounts his Heaven but is cast out by the mighty Gospel 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. This Enrages Satan Hereupon he sets the Iewish Sanhedrim on Work they seek to Kill Christ Joh. 7. 1 11 19 25 30. but no Man had power to lay hold on him at that Feast of Tabernacles not onely because his Hour was not yet come as is there Expressed v. 30 44. but also because he was so Marvelously Matchless in His Preaching v. 46. and so uncontroulably Innocent and Inoffensive in His Practice v. 21 31. Act. 10. 38. This Convincing Life which Christ led paying all his Church-Duties Matth. 17. 27. the half Sheckel that went to the Repair of the Temple and likewise his Tribute to Coesar Matth. 22. 21. did so confound the Devil and his Tools that they went away as it were with a Flea in their Ear an Unseen Coercive Hand of Divine Power and Providence binding their Hands at this time The Counsel being confused consisting of Sadducees which Approved Nicodemus's Seasonable saying as well as Pharisees was also Confounded and Dismissed Re Infectâ Every Man went Home disappointed ver 2 3. laying aside not leaving or losing their Mischievous Malice onely till the next Opportunity which was Joh. 8. 59. where they took up Stones to Stone Christ The pretended Provocation whereunto this was 1. Christ had Avoided their Entangling Question they ask'd him about the Adulteress v. 6. the Snare lay here on both Hands if he Condemn'd her he then would seem to Assume Judicial Power if he Condemned her not he would then seem a Contemner of Moses Law Levit. 20. 10. so could not be the True Messias Christ in His Divine Wisdom Uses such Means as neither Reflected upon the Authority of Moses Law nor Retracted His own Doctrine so oft Sounding in their Ears concerning the Remission of Sin and Sinners He who had stooped down from Heaven to Earth stoops down Here to Write as some suppose this Penitent Womans Sin in the Dust which he Wiped out again according to the Promise I even I am He that Blotteth out Transgressions c. Isai 43. 25. He did not Write her Sin with a Pen of Iron upon the Pavement of Stone as he did the Law and as he doth the Sins of the Impenitent for Duration and for their Obduration but upon the Ground whither his Adversaries Verily Thought they had Knock'd Him down to Hereupon they more Insolently Urge him for an Answer At this Christ Lifts up himself Woe to them against whom he doth so Psal 68. 1. and 44. 23. Deut. 32. 40. Saying ver 7. He that is without Sin let them cast the first Stone with this Word as with a Stone he knockt those Stoners for such they would have been to the Woman on the Head for Christ Stooping down again to give them Opportunity of Consulting with their own Convicted
bestow a Dowry on his Sister Magdalen and so did his Cardinal to pay for his New-Pall both those Summs must be raised by Indulgences sent into Germany Tecelius a Dominican Fryar brings them to be sold saying His Commission was so large from the Pope that if a Man had Defloured the Blessed Virgin he could Pardon the Sin for Money yea he could Pardon all Sins to come as well as any that were past Indeed much what alike Luther's Godly Zeal takes Fire at those Popish-Cheats Inveighs against the Popes Pardons that his Huckster had brought He crys down after the Popes Supremacy and all his Popish Trash so Works in God a Wonderful Reformation The 4th Eminent Remark was that God should provide such a Protector as Frederick the Duke of Saxony to preserve poor persecuted Luther out of the Hands of Pope Leo the 10th and of the Emperor Charles the 5th whom the Pope provok'd against him sometimes in his Patmos as he call'd Wartenburg-Castle and sometimes Disputing with Cardinal Caietan and with those Devils in the Court at Worms yet was he kept secure by Gods good Providence till he had Fulfill'd his Ministry and Finish'd the Work his Father gave him to do Living to the Age of Sixty-Three then Dyed in his Climacterical Year Bequeathing his Detestation of Popery to his Friends and Followers with this Verse Pestis eram Vivus Moriens ero Mors tua Papa In English I Living stop'd Romes Breath In English And Dead will be Romes Death The 5th Marvelous Remark was That not One of those Three Angels forementioned to wit Waldus Wickliff and Luther should Dye a Violent Death Considering the Rage of Rome and Hell against them all That They should all Three Dye quietly in their Beds in the midst of their mortal Enemies to whom they all Three were so mischievous was little below a Miracle Well therefore are they Named More than Men even Angels Rev. 14. 6 8 9. Bloody Rome may Murder Men but cannot Angels Now when the Lord raised up Luther the 3d. Angel to thrust in his sharp Sickle into the Harvest of Reformation Revel 14. 14 15. and began to Reap Rome which was now ready Ripe to have the Seaven Vials of Gods Indignation powred down upon her for the Wine of her Fornication wherewith she had made so many Nations Drunk then Rome Raged with her Red Letter being prompted thereto by the Red Dragon insomuch that the Pope Roars against him as an Heretick with his Bull the Emperour stirr'd up by the Pope Wars against him as a Rebell with his Army and King Henry the 8th of England Writes against him with his Pen for which the Pope Dignifyed him with Defender of the Faith a Title which K. James better Deserved for Writing against the Pope Luther's Case having all the World the many as well as the Mighty against him seem'd now Desperate so that Cranzius said to him Go into thy Cell and cry Miserere Mei for thou art an Vndone Man Yet Behold His Work being of God he Weathers out the Point Spreads the Gospel into many Lands and comes safe to Shore and Dyes in peace as before after he had exceeded the 12 Labours of Hercules as Beza saith of him Rome tam'd the World the Pope tam'd Rome so great Rome Rul'd by Power the Pope by deep Deceit But how more large than theirs was Luther 's Fame Who with one Pen both Pope and Rome doth Tame Go Fictious Greece go tell Alcides then His Club is Nothing to Great Luther 's Pen. Observe again the Foot-steps of Providence following Luther The 1st Remark is the Miraculous Increase of the Gospel after this 3d Angel Revel 14. 9. we Read of another Angel v. 17. and of another Angel v. 18. and of Seven Angels too Revel 15. 1. such as Melancton Zuinglius Zanchy Beza Marlorat c and above all Calvin who at Twenty-Five Y. Old Writ his Institutions to Mall Rome withall of which Book this High Encomium is given Praeter Apostolic as post Christi tempora Chartas Huic peperere Libro Saecula nulla parem Since Christ and the Apostles time no such Book was ever Writ as Paulus Melissus long since Sang In a Word at that time the Lord Rais'd a whole Army of braye Heroick and Angelical Men or Angels as Melchior Adamus and Illyricus largely Demonstrate at least preparing to powr out the Seven Vials being the several parts of the Seventh Trumpet for the Fall of Babylon Revel 14. 8. and 15. 1. for in the 2d Angel's time Babylon began to Fall and some Countries did fall off from Rome but when the 3d. Angel came and with him an Army of many other Angels then was the Temple to wit the Church of Rome filled with Smoak Revel 15. 8. The Temple wherein the Man of Sin is said to sit 2 Thess 2. 4. is not now filled with a Cloud as Solomons Temple was 1 Kin. 8. 10. 2 Chron. 5. 13. and as Moses Tabernacle was Exod. 40. 34. but with Smoak which accompanies Consuming Fire that God is to Babylon Hebr. 12. last Revel 14. 11. Psal 18. 8. and 74. 1. Denoting how the Church of Rome shall be filled with Darkness and Confusion and consequently with the Wrath of God The 2d Memorable Remark is the prodigious Progress of the Gospel which came first from Jerusalem by the Apostles and so may well be called the Jerusalem-Artichoke a Plant that Over-runs the Ground wheresoever it is planted So was the Gospel carryed as on Angels Wings wonderfully over all the World at first by the Apostles and now again by the late Reformers as by those Three Angels aforesaid Waldus Wickliff and Luther our Wickliff Wrote more than Two Hundred Volums against the Pope before Luther was Born and Q. Ann Wife to our Richard the 2d and Sister to Wenceslaus K. of Bohemia by living here became acquainted with the Gospel yea many Bohemian Courtiers comming to the English Court convey'd Wickliff's Books into Bohemia whereby a Good Foundation was layd for a future Reformation After this John Hus and Jerom of Prague did so notably Propagate the Truth in that Kingdom that in the Y. 1451. the Church of Christ at Constantinople Congratulates the Happy Beginnings in the Vniversity of Prague and Exhorts them to perseverance in persecution which the raging Romanists soon rais'd against them though Q. Sophia who favour'd them had by her Mediation with the King procur'd a free Exercise of their Religion throughout the Realm and though the Popish Persecutors could say no more of them than this In their Lives they are Modest in their Love one to another Fervent and in their Speeches True but their Religion is stark Naught saith Jacobus Leilenstemus the Dominican and why is it so Naughty Reinerius another of their persecutors shall tell you 1. Because of so long Standing 2. because so far Spread and 3. for their appearance of Purity c. Alsted Chronol pag. 375. and Jacob. Revius de
better half in short for Gods protecting her for her protecting the Netherlands for procureing a Settlement to Henry the 4th of France in his Kingdom until he turn'd Romanist and then was soon turn'd out of his Life by the Romanists for quelling the Irish Rebells for Conquering this supposed Vnconquerable Armado c. She was highly Honoured both by Turk and Pope the proud Turk Desired her Amity by his Embassadors and the proud Pope Sixtus the 5th whom Bellarmin sagely Censures thus at his Death Quantum Sapio quantum Capio Dominus noster Papa Descendit in Infernum Oh strange how can Holiness of his Holiness go to Hell Yet this same Pope as bad as he was could Commend Q. Elizabeth for an Excellent Governess yea she became Renowned throughout the World as the Glory of her Sex and the Lustre of her Land and a Poet stiles her on Earth the first Virgin or Chief as she was a Queen and in Heaven the second next to the Virgin Mary yea at Venice she was tearmed St. Elizabeth whereupon the Lord Carleton English-Embassador there said Although he were a Papist he would never pray to any other Saint but to that St. Elizabeth Assuredly her Zeal for the Reformed Religion Sainted and Renown'd Her most of all No sooner was K. James come to the Crown but the Roman-Conclave Consult against him Pope Clement the 8th out of his Clemency had success against Henry the 4th of France and Hopes for the same against King James by Interdicting him from the Crown without his License but it proved not to be at the Popes Disposal his Gowty Golls or Toes which Arch-Duke Maximilian could not Cure by Kissing them serv'd to carry him off the Stage after Watson and Clark Two Priests the former Design'd to be Lord Chancelour c. just as our present Plotters had Distributed Honours and Offices with others some of good Rank seduced by them had Complotted against this King knowing his Ability to Maintain the Truth of the Gospel against Popery but this 1st Plot being Blasted by the Execution of the Two Priests and their Complices The Conclave Projects that most prodigious Plot of the Gun-Powder Villany Pope Paul the 5th Employ'd Garnet the Jesuit Catesby Piercy Faux and many other Cronies to Blow up the King and whole State in the Parliament but this 2d Plot was Blown up it self by a blind Letter which marvelously brought all to light and though afterwards this same Pope by his Breves forbad that Allegiance which the King justly requir'd of his Subjects yet his own Learned Pen did so Vindicate his own Vndoubted Right that his Holiness soon Declin'd the Encounter yea and God made Use of this Kings Pen and Power to Baffle those Two lesser Games of Socinus and Arminius How God hath likewise Confounded hitherto all the Popish Plots both in the Reign of Charles the 1st and of the 2d as yet may be better Remembred it being yet fresh in the Minds and Memories of many still Living than can be fully Related In the Reign of King Charles the 1st the Conclave of Rampant Jesuits those Cup-bearers of Romes Wine of Fornication and Froggs going out to the Kings of the Earth Revel 16. 12. had their Consult to bring Brittany to Babylon or those Three Kingdoms into Confusion as they had done the Palatinate Bohemia and Germany c. Hereupon Card. Barbarino dispatches Cunaeus the Popes Legat to London and joyns with him an Assistant one not onely bred up in the Romish Church but preferr'd in it and promis'd greater preferment upon his Diligence in the Design to Reduce those Three Realms to Rome In Order hereto It was Resolv'd that the King and Arch-Bishop should both be Cut off for Standing then in the way of that Work This Cunaeus showing to His Assistant an Indian Nut stuffed full of the strongest Poyson and Boasting they would with that Dispatch the King as they had done his Father The Horrible Nature of this Bloody Plot God set so Home upon this Assistants Conscience that he had no Rest from his Remorse until he had reveal'd this Damnable Design to the Q. of Bohemia's Physitian Andreas ab Habernfield that he might Disclose it to the English-Embassador at the Hague Sir William Boswel who Informs the Arch-Bishop of it and He the King this was a most Admirable Act of Divine Providence that this Assistant sent from Rome to be a Principal Promoter of this Hellish Plot should be Over-ruled by Almighty God through his own Remorse to become the Prime Discoverer not onely of the Plot it self but also of the Persons Places Time Method and Manner thereof as Dr. Habernfield's Latine Letter doth fully Demonstrate Jacula praevisa minùs feriunt Darts foreseen if warily shun'd are Dintless 'T is true Prevision here not Rightly Improved was not Prevention neither of the Kingdoms Misery in those late Civil Uncivil Wars nor of the Kings Death at which a Grand Jesuit Triumph'd saying Now is the Enemy of God and of his Church faln yet the Lord preserv'd his Church in Despight of the Devil Now in the Reign of K. Charles the 2d that the like Damnable Design hath been Hatched by the same Heads Hearts and Hands 't is supersluous to Declare seeing there be about Ten several Narratives hereof even by such as should have been Actors in it and this so confirmed by the Kings many Proclamations by the Testimony of Two several Parliaments by the Sentence of so many Judges and by the Execution of so many Plotters c. The like Miracle of Mercy that made Remorse to Discover the former hath done no less in this latter and to Disappoint hitherto the Popes Design though He hath Depos'd the King as an Heretick sent Card. Howard to possess for him his Consiscate Kingdoms c. yet still the Church is Marvelously preserved yea Undoubtedly shall be so though this Discovery through Male-Administration may cause the Church to have many Sharp Throws in her Travel as in the former before She can bring forth the Man-Child of Reformation Alas the Child is come to the Birth and there is not Strength to bring forth 2 Kin. 19. 3. Heavens Hand will Help at a Dead Lift Where Man ends there God begins Psal 21. 13. Much more might be Added were there not a Noli m◠Tangere in the Case Controversal Truth seldom goes without a Scratch'd Face I shall Conclude the Historical part with some Memorable Remarks 1 The Pope who is the Devils By-blow was Worthily Thrust out of England as he was also out of France and Arragon it being said of him That He was like a Mouse in the Sachel or like a Snake in the Bosom Speed pag. 622. England had been long his Asse Otto the Popes Mouse-catcher so Drained this Land of Money that he left not so much behind him as he carry'd hence to Rome with him or sent thither before him but at length this Asse cast her Rider and would no