and enquired not of the LORD ver 14. Therefore he slew him and turned the Kingdome unto David the sonne of Jesse He succeeds Saul and him his Sonne Solomon of them in their own place Solomons Wives turned his heart from GOD d 1 King 11. 3 therefore the greatest halfe of his Crown must be rent from his head for the greatest part of his people turned from Jerusalem but not in Solomons dayes He had many Wives and almost halfe as many Concubines yet but one Sonne to whom hee must leave with sorrow enough all the labour he had taken under the Sunne e Eccles 2. 18. At that time Solomon made it a question though we thinke he was too well resolved at that point who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a g ver 19. foole The man that came after him a child in understanding resolves that question and puts it out of doubt before all Israell in the next Chapter THE ACTS OF REHOBOAM CHAP. II. Rehoboam is petitioned by all Israel about the easing of yoaks The Petition is said to want Reason it is proved to have Reason and Law both For a yoake was upon Israels necke grievous and servile Rehoboam adviseth about it which he should not have done much lesse have taken the worst counsell the markes thereof the mischiefe therefrom His Militia how he bent the force thereof he is warned and desisteth Who they are that strengthen a King and the Kingdome He is strong so long as he kept to GOD and no longer What his Adversary did against him what his confession was to the LORD is recorded ingenious but not full nor deepe enough because not from a prepared heart therefore he returned to folly and teacheth us to discretion touching the point of preparing the heart to seek the LORD REHOBOAM begins his raigne well for he begins with Counsell which as it may be and be taken a Chron. 10. gives safety and establishment a Prov. 11. 14. But Pro 20 18. though he was now fourty years old b 2 Chr. 12. 13 A man in years may be a child in understanding The Temporacerta virtutem nec prima negant nec ultima donant Word of GOD made his Grand-father wiser then the Ancients c Psa 119. 100. yet had he not the judgement to discerne of Counsells the very test of wisdome in Princes and all men els That those are ever best and surest which make a Kingdom sure to the King and the King to the Kingdom by desiring him to carry himselfe so that he may rather be beloved then feared d Sic firmius ei fore imperium si amari mallet quam metui Jos Ant. lib. 8. cap 3. Now I have againe hudled-up and throng'd together great matters which concerne us not a little to consider of now for the not considering therof when time was lost Rehoboam more then halfe his Kingdome With GODS leave and we have His leave and command both we will lay all our heads together ponder the PETITION which ALL ISRAEL put up to their King the justice and equity of it the Counsells about it and the determination there No doubt of it the sure WORD of GOD will direct us our way here and instruct us to discretion for by His grace we are resolved to keep close to that Guide The Petition is for the King only made it a question about the easing of burdens and TAKING OF THE 2 Chron. 10. 4. YOAKES from Israels neck the freest people in the world and cannot endure yoaks nothing that tends to servitude THY FATHER PVT AN HEAVY YOAKE VPON VS He made it GREEVOVS now therefore make our yoke SOMEWHAT easier and we will serve thee There is the Petition It will appeare anon to be a Petition of Right Hearken now what is said against it An unreasonable Petition as ever was heard the people complain and would have ease and cannot tell what aileth them they were grown wanton with ease and peace What yoake had the Father put upon their necks What that they can call servitude A grave Divine sayes and we will heare him out none but what were easie and ingenious The people are querilous full of complaints still they whine and cry for nothing It is granted GODS house and the Kings and other magnificent buildings could not rise without many a shoulder True but not of any Israelites There were enough of Amorites Hittites Perizzites Hivites and Jebusites remaining in the Land too many the more too blame was Israel to ease the Israelites shoulders and take upon them the drudgery of these works the tasks of Israel were ease and ingenuous free from servility free from painfullnesse But the charge was theirs Whose-soever was the labour The diet of so endlesse a retinue the attendance of his Seraglio the purveyance for his fourty thousand Stables the cost of his Sacrifices must needs weigh heavy True if it had layed on none but his owne But Salomon had rich supplies from other Countries so as he made silver and gold as plenteous as Stones and Cedars in abundance e 2 Chro. 1. 15. These are Bishop Halls words but we have not all yet The Reader may take leisure to observe his following words which lay great blame upon the people He has said I will not say he has spoken like a Bishop in his own sense but this I will say and make good he has in all this spoken nothing to purpose and yet not a little to the scorn of Israel 1. Nothing to purpose for he has mistaken the time He speaks of Solomon in his glory I meane worldly glory I shall speake of Solomon so farre is pertinent to this place in a most inglorious condition when his heart was turned from the GOD of Israel and then sure enough from the people of Israel and then hee might lay yoakes upon the neckes of Israel 2. Nothing to the purpose He spake of burdens and servile workes and restrains them to the drudgery about the Temple-work and other buildings and cals it so a drudgery I shall account the work there to be honourable and prove from Gods mouth other services to be drudgery indeed the lowest the basest that can be imagined and most unbeseeming Israel I say againe not a word has he spoken to purpose for to speake more plainly to the lowest capacity What though no true Israelite be imployed in the repairing of Pauls and they that do their own service there have a full and fat requitall Do's it therefore follow That no yokes lye upon the necks of Israel I doe not say what yokes there are but I say the Labourers there may have their wages for their worke and they that do a kind of service there may have a full allowance for that and yet for all that there may be a greevous servitude upon Israel He has not spoken to purpose but he has spoken 2. Not a little to
abominations and so I met with a 4 h thing 4. The exactest patterne of posturing a Kingdom that ever was looked upon the very work you are upon now Shall it prosper The Lord knows I cannot tell and yet I have enquired of the Oracle I can tell it is your work and woe unto you if you do it not but how you hand-it I cannot tell nor by what line and levell you go nor do I take upon me to judge therof but till you make answer to God in that point you will never be answered Truely I cannot tell vvhat to say to men or their vvork The Oracle that is the word of God tels me they are fickle inconstant preposterous too they begin where they should end and end where they should begin the manner of Men. This only I can tell for so the Oracle tels me that when the Worthies of Israel Kings and Princes there Priest and People too in the Nonage of their King fell upon this great worke the Posturing their Kingdom they began vvith an Ordinance against Idolatry That is the Land vvasting sin nor did they mock God for vvhosoever lifted up his hand to a strange god him they cut-off d 2 Chr. 15. 13. Then behold breaking cutting burning drowning casting out of Idols all untill they had utterly destroyed them all * 2 Chro. 31. 1. Nay they cast down the talest person and Image in the Land The Queen Mothers Image her son Asa the King did not spare her no not her Then the work went on and they prospered Now as was said I take not upon me to judge by what line and levell the work is carried-on if as Iudahs vvork was we can the more heartily wish your prosperity in the name of the Lord for our lives to say no more the life of our lives is wrapt-up with it if otherwise and you work not as you have them for an ensample yet the worke of the Lord shall go-on that shall prosper He is vvorking now to make His Church a quiet habitation and He vvill bring His work about through the straits and by the crosse ways and wils of men though you should desert the work and vvith-draw your hands from should ring up the Lord Christ to His Throne He cals for your hand to honour you and wo to you if you with-draw but I say He needs you not He can set Himself in His throne without you His vvork shall go-on in despight of Devils or men As sure as the Lord lives His work shall go on What a proud word is that from a mans mouth Yes if it were not from Gods mouth Lift up thine eyes round about saith the Lord Esa 49. 14. now hearken what we say what shall we behold a company of Pillagers Robbers Spoylers It grieves our hearts to lift up our eys round about and behold The Lord give us patience that we may stand still and heare Him out and wait till He hath done His whole work for hearken what He saith to stay the heart All these gather themselvs and come to thee what to spoyle and rob the Church No to adorne and beautifie her The Church shall have many Vid calv children they shall flock-in unto her as the Chickens to the Hen as Children to their Mother and their graces shall abound and there is the Churches ornament But shall this be Yes the Lord hath sworne it shall be As I LIVE saith the LORD thou shalt surely cloath thee with them Esa 49. 19. all as with an ornament and bind them on thee as a Bride doth For thy waste and thy desolate places and the Land of thy DESTRVCTION Mark that this Land shall be glorious for all this it shall rejoyce over her enemies the Land of thy destruction shall even now be too narrow by reason of the Inhabitants and they that swallowed thee up shall be farr away As I LIVE saith the LORD And this work in His Hand shall be perfected in His time Our time is now His time not yet till His whole work be performed Bryars and thorns are now set against the Lord in battell * Esa 27. 4. As sure as the Lord liveth He will go through them and burn them together in His own time when these thornes have bin to His people as those were to Manasseh when they have humbled His people been a sanctified meanes to purge the iniquity of Jacob for that is the fruit of thorns to the servants of God when their hearts shall be therby prepared for the great work of Reformation then the Lord will goe through these Bryars and thornes there shall be no more feare of them In the meane time the Lord will helpe His people with a little helpe so much as shall revive their hopes when they be fainting and keepe up their spirits in assured Confidence That the work shall be done then when Jacob shall most rejoyce and Israel shall be right c 1 Kin. 8. 59 60 61. glad * Ps 53. 6. Amen IT is this three and twentieth day of December 1641 ordered by the Committee of the House of Commons in Parliament concerning Printing that this Book entituled The Kings Chronicle be printed IOHN WHITE THE KINGS CHRONICLE The Scope and purpose thereof To shew What the Militia is That all Kings and Princes and Nobles of the World have made it their worke To promote the same i. e. To strengthen themselves and set their Kingdome in a Posture of Defence But willing contraries and not so much missing as crossing the way They failed of the end so became great Examples THE Militia of the Kingdome is now pressing-on and advancing as great bodies moove or as we passe through a crowde or through Thornes now it putts-on-ward and then thrust-backe againe and yet it must goe-on through all oppositions and the more victoriously the greater the opposition is which must be great All that the Devills can doe to hinder it shall be done for it is a worke honourable and glorious of an immense weight and worth All conclude it to be so and this is the short description which all doe give of it The setting a Kingdome the King and People there in a posture of defence Wee may give severall descriptions of the same thing so of this though the first containes all It is the shutting in the Doores or Frontiers of a Kingdome and to shut them in so as was the doore of the Arke by GODS owne Hand a Gen. 7. 16. It is as the setting up of two Pillars 1 King 7. 21. JACHIN and BOAZ assuring the Land That in the LORD JEHOVAH is Salvation and strength b It is c. It is the maintaining the two staves b Zech 11. 10. 14. 1. The staffe of BEAUTY which I will call the ETERNALL GOSPELL being the stay and staffe of every particular Person and GLORY of the whole Nation 2. The staffe of BANDS The binding of a People
fast to their GOD in the Bond of a Covenant More briefly It is the Intiteling GOD to a Kingdome The writing His Salvation upon our Gates and Barres Then they be strong holds indeed Then we may say we have a strong City and Kingdome when the LORD appoints His Salvation for Walls and Bulwarks c Esa â—6 1. This is the Militia of a Kingdome No other thing but this Then surely this worke is like the Desire in the 4 th Psalme sutable to the whole Kingdome and to every Person therein No man is such an Enemy to his owne and the publike Peace as not to desire This with all his desire The Lord our King doth say Amen to this All His good People will say Amen also and doe pray The LORD GOD of our Lord the King say so too 1 King 1. 36. Who doth not desire that the doors of his house be shut-in upon him and himselfe shut-in as Noah was If we could aske from one end of the Land to the other every man would tell us This is his desire Hee would rest at Night and sleepe at quiet which he cannot do if his Doores stand open It were then a notorious solecisme in Policie To command the Doores in private Houses to be locked against spoilers And to suffer Frontiers in Kingdomes to lye open to invasion Therefore I said It is every mans Desire and the very same that has been ever since there was a Man upon Earth Is there any thing whereof it may be said SEE THIS IS NEW Yes that it is you will say The opposition Eccles 1 10. that is made against this Glorious worke is NEW there was never such a thing like unto this since man was upon the Earth Like unto what Like to this opposition an unparalel'd and most desperate opposition managed against this worke by a most malignant party An. Indeed I cannot say and proove That this opposition can be paralel'd that we can finde the like to it running-on and holding pace with it all along But this we finde That this opposition now is not new for Evill stood crossecentered to Good ever since there were two Bretheren upon the earth and ever after that time we shall find if we consult with the Records of Time That all times of Reformation of well Posturing a Kingdome have been vexatious and troublous * Dan. 9. 25. We shall speake more to this anon we reade on now It hath been already of old time which was before us Kings and Princes and Nobles of the earth have in all ages made this their great b Prov. 8. 36. worke To fortifie themselvs and secure their Kingdom So as they might be secure at home and feared abroad I will keepe my selfe to the Sacred Chronicles and observe thence What the Kings of Judah have done touching this great businesse The different wayes they went yet all towards the same end and carrying all levell to the same marke The setting themselves and their Kingdom in a Posture of Defence Ob. But have I not spoken contradictories words and things crossing each the other I said That the Militia the Posturing of an House or Kingdome is every mans Desire he Wills it and can take God to record hee Wills it heartily and presently after we heare of an opposition against it as if a man could desire his owne good and with the same breath refuse or oppose it Answ Yes all this a man may doe he may desire good and yet crosse himselfe and his Desire in the way thereunto he may will his owne Peace and yet oppose it as a man that hates Peace and loves Death â— Naturally there are crosse Desires and crosse Wills in every man Every man desires Peace his soule desires it as it is said of the sluggard c Prov. 13. 4. The sluggard wills with his mouth wills not or puts back with his hand for it is not diligent A true desire of Grace and Glory sets all his powers of soul and body on work in pursuance of the same as an hungry soule desires bread and the thirsty water A new or regenerate will runs-on strait and even like a paralel line with Gods revealed will And wheÌ„ it crook's or runs crosse it is not that will but his other will is crosse to himselfe now that he is himselfe for what that does hee hates Châ—ys Acts 27. 8. Grace which is but Glory begun and Glory which is but Grace perfected it is every mans Desire he Wills it he thinkes with all his soule But he hath a Will crossing this Will and a Desire standing in opposition and utter enmity to this Desire which unlesse taken away by an Almighty Hand he shall never have what he seemes for he doth but seeme to Will and Desire Note we this well That Rest and Peace here and hereafter for ever with the LORD is the SABBATH and Port of all mens Labours and Intentions but with this difference It is seemingly so with the most Really and indeed so with the fewest and therefore the fewest attaine this Port they only who steere their course according to the two Poles of motion safety and a faire haven It is indeed a naturall desire and the very end of every mans thoughts The preservation of himselfe and to avoid whatever is contrary thereunto Yet such is our darknesse nothing more ordinary then to misse of the end by mistaking the way whereof I shall give anon very great Examples recording dayes of old for the benefit and instruction of the present times They are the examples of those who have willed contradictories as men in all times have done and now adayes doe and will to the worlds end They will have the end and will none of the meanes So with the sluggard as Jerom translates it very well d Prov. 13. 4 â—ult non â—ult piger They WILL and they WILL NOT They will command the end yet not endure the meanes They will have Peace and Grace and Glory they think they may have what they will they will not goe the way not tread the path that leads thereunto We shall try the possibility of this and see clearly what the end will be as crosse to their expectation as their wills were in the wayes and wills of the Kings of Judah taking the worst first for the worst Kings are the best examples to make all wiser that observe them aright which no man does that presumes to goe on in a wicked way for the examples here will open the pits mouth before him and assure him it will close its mouth upon him if he goes on There is indeed a great seducement by wicked examples for through the depravation of our natures we rather imitate the worse then the better and too ordinary it is in ill to exceed in good to come short of the example But this is for want of well weighing the example because we doe not looke through it to the
each the other at the highest point the point of service and homage to their GOD It is legible to all the world that one of these walks as a Rebell most contrary to GOD and good-men Then the other doe walk as becometh obedient children It is not possible That they walking crosse in the same way should meet together in point of Rebellion But the Text is yet clearer The Priests forsake Iehoram nor the King And why forsake they Iehoram Because he had forsaken the LORD GOD of his Fathers * Gods command makes them deafe to the command of Iehoram Disobedience here is the truest obedience And the greatest Rebell here is the best Priest Looke ye The case is cleare for God has cleared it He has given us the clearest account of this matter that ever was given The King had forsaken his LORD paramount LORD of Lords The Priests must forsake Iehoram in his way or forsake GOD That they will not doe He is the Fountaine of their life their light their comfort He is their praise their feare for He is their God and He is ALL. They will not forsake Him A good God has done them good all their dayes nor can they forget or neglect the charge their good old Master layed upon them d 2 Chron. 19. 9 Deale couragiously in the worke and way of the LORD and the LORD shall be with you for He will be with the good e ver 12. They durst not follow Iehoram downe a precipice They knew also there was a pit at the bottome that had no bottome Let Iehoram venture his necke the Priests would not much lesse their eternall souls Should they follow him that had forsaken GOD GOD forbid Thus we see it cleare now as the beaten way that here was no resistance of the Kings Power for that is of GOD and for GOD holy iust and good Here was a resistance only of Iehorams power unholy unjust and naught mannaged cleane against GOD and forcing his people to rebell against Him too A resistance I say not against the officiall power of the King but the humane power of Iehoram a wicked and Idolatrous man and as Vxorious we have not a fitter word one that ruled not but let his Wife doe and rule all The Priests resisted not Iehorams power but his wives power tyranny rather for she did all after the Line and Law of Ahabs house whose Sister she was and Daughter of Omri and that was no Law to Israel but most crosse unto it They resisted the FORCEING will of Iehoram for it had no Reason whereby he would force the freest people in the world and the freest Thing in the world which can be no more imprisoned then can the Sunne-beame and as much without the verge of Iehorams juris-diction as a Starr is above his finger they resisted this Will and obeyed GODS Will Holy Holy Holy blessed for ever Thanks be to GOD Who has so cleared unto us the practise of these Priests and Levites in Jehorams dayes that he must say as a bold fellow did The sacred Text is seditious who will accuse those Priests and honest men of raising sedition because they forsooke the way of Jehoram when he had forsaken the LORD and His good way We must give men leave who have their eyes open and can discerne a pit before them to turn out of the way that leads to death and follow on in the way of the LORD Wee reade on 4. The Priests can doe Jehoram no more service he stops his eare to their word the word of GOD and bends his fist he will compell them to doe as he does they will not be forced therein let Jehoram goe his owne way as his wife leads him they will goe theirs and yet not theirs it is the way of the LORD So now the best flower of his Crowne is gone the honest Priests a good Kings best jewels The supporters of his Crowne were gone before judgement and justice his wife made him stampe those under his foot What will become of this man You shall heare anon and very quickly Judgment and justice are set under foot The Law of GOD is forsaken a contrary Law is forced now GOD will forsake Jehoram and He will take peace away with Him His Priests pack-after Then vengeance comes powring down for all will forsake Jehoram but the executioners of GODS justice The poorest King that was in the world and more miserable because the King of Judah Now the LORD for He has held His peace a great while is returning upon him will shatter Jehorams Crowne and even break the man to peeces He will hold him up to the wind and that shall carry away his Substance He will throw open the gates of his Kingdom He will take away his defence The weake shall come-in upon him and take the prey It is most observable how GOD pursues the quarrell of His Covenant against this man no King now in GODS account and of very small account in all Israel Iehoram had forsaken the Fountaine the LORD dashes to peeces all his Cisternes He makes holes in them all the comfort shall run out thence his Cisternes shall hold no water not a drop I meane the LORD confounds his strength and his counsell both nothing should do him good for besides the blood that he shed the violence he offered to the Law his forcing men to break it his advising with his wife a wicked woman Besides all this he forsooke the Lord he went out from the presence of the LORD as it is said of Cain Let me aske how can that be A man may forsake Gen 4. 16. the LORD as Iehoram did but how can he goe out from the presence of the LORD as Cain did Who is wholly in Heaven and wholly in Earth not by interchanged times but all at once and so David witnesseth If I be in Heaven thou art there if in Hell thou art there also How then must it be understood or what is the meaning that Iehoram as Cain went-out from the presence of the LORD This is the meaning Cain and so Iehoram and so every wicked man hardned in evill goes out from the presence of GOD that is from out of the King of Heavens high-way wherin only is safety and a Commission granted and sealed for his protection He is gone from under GODS roofe as I may say from out of His Angels hands he is left to himselfe delivered up into his owne hands he had better be delivered up to the Devill to be his owne Keeper disfavoured now and bereaved of GODS protection This was Iehorams case a forlorne and forsaken man for he hath forsaken GOD and now no man followes him but the Ministers of GODS vengeance And they come-in upon him from every quarter for the Defence is gone and the doores of his House and Kingdome lye open in comes the Adversaries GOD stirred up their spirit c ver 16. The Philistines
reade for I will not make an enumeration of singulars he had abundance of all we commonly call good things to enrich his Coffers and to fortifie his Kingdom We have now passed over one or two remarkeables in this Chapter which we must recall Vzziah had the care of an holy man over him an honest Priest to a King as a Diamond in his Crowne the glory thereof was not wanting to Vzziah a great blessing to the King and Kingdome as the contrary an ungodly man a vile counsellour a wicked Priest though but one is a plague to both what are many Vzziah had a good Tutour a learned man he had understanding in the visions of GOD c ver 5. and no doubt tooke care that the young King should understand them too for in the dayes of his good Tutour Zechariah he sought GOD and so long as he sought the LORD he was no looser for GOD made him to prosper That was it there goes the blessing this seeking of the LORD that made him to prosper Let us observe how prosperous he was Then GOD helped him d ver 7. made him victorious against the Philistines and against the Arabians GOD made the Ammorites fall at his foote and present him with gifts e ver 7 8. God helped him his enemies should fall before him He would seeke the LORD he would advance His Name as his good Tutour taught him The LORD would make him a man of renowne his Name should spread abroad even to the entring in of Egypt f ver 8. We have read the best concerning Vzziah prosperous still how long As long as he sought the LORD GOD of his Fathers We reade no more of his prosperity not a word more for we doe not reade that he sought the LORD no then we must not looke to reade of his prosperity nor what his Militia did either for defence or offence just nothing Time was when Vzziah sought the LORD his successe was answerable GOD made him to prosper He helped him He made his Name to spread The Priest dies and the Kings zeale dies But the LORD had lifted up the poore man and the man lifted up his heart so high that he lost the sight of himselfe and the ground he stood upon and of the Hand that helped and advanced him he lifted up his heart not to the Lord but against Him to HIS DESTRVCTION as if he himselfe had done all this Ol it is a hard matter to be lifted up high and yet with Mordecai to keepe his station and returne to the GATE g Host 6. 12. A hard matter to be lifted up on high in the world with the glory of the same and yet to keepe the heart low he must be more then a man that can doe this an impossible worke to this heart within us to ascribe salvations all unto GOD. There is a foolish and a wretched pride wherewith men being transported can ill endure to ascribe unto GOD the honour of those actions in which it hath pleased Him to use their own industry courage or fore-sight Therefore it is commonly seene That they who entring into Battell are carefull to pray for aid from Heaven with due acknowledgement of His power who is the giver of victory when the field is won doe vaunt of their own exploits Man when his mountaine is strong will be so strong and stout and firme upon it as if it could not be moved he will cling fast to the Arme of flesh forgetting the Arme of the Almighty and then his Arme prooves it selfe flesh no better but worse if worse can be like an Egiptian Reed deceives and pierceth both together So it was when Vzziah was strong his heart was lifted up to his destruction Note this He that lifteth up his heart and not to the Lord lifteth it up to some lying vanity and so lifteth it up to his destruction And the higher he lifteth up himselfe the lower will his fall be Then againe He that lifteth up his heart will transgresse against the Lord A proud heart will be rebellious It followes Then he transgressed against the LORD his GOD for whereas he should have maintained the Temple the Lawes and priviledges thereof he did cleane contrary corrupted the ordinances of the same and did there most presumptuously So we reade on and of nothing his Militia did after he had done so proudly only this we reade That the Priests remembred their duty when their King forgat his and reprehended his presumption roundly and roughly That was enough the rest GOD Himselfe performed as we may reade and the addition Josephus makes to the Story not very materiall yet it may be true and then it is very notable That while the King Antiq 9. chap. 11. was in the Temple prophaning the sacred worke there at the same time there was an earth-quake which did teare down an hill and that rouling downe spoiled the Kings house and his garden The same time the roofe of the Temple rent and through the cleft a Sun-beame lighted upon his face which was presently leaprous But thus far only we have assurance That while Vzziah was wroth with the Priests who withstood him sayes the Text the leaprosie rose up in his fore-head before the people which assureth us first of all 1. That it is dangerous for a King to contend with his faithfull servants maintaining their office which God hath intrusted them with And 2. That an heart lifted up to his destruction will venture upon some inglorious and unhollowed actions specially such which strike at the Law and worship of GOD as our Lord-Bishops did putting a scorne upon the Lords Day 3. That no Militia how compleated soever can secure any person or his house when he doth deale proudly against the LORD and His House the established Lawes and Ordinances there And 4. The LORD will lift-up His Hand against that man who will lift-up his heart against Him and if he will be so venterous as to doe dishonours to His House to His Services and Servants there he shall beare the markes of those dishonours to his dying day and they shall not part with him at his grave neither It was just so with Vzziah and so his Story is concluded Vzziah the King was a leper unto the day of his death and being a leper he dwelt in a severall house for he was cut off from the House of the LORD Set a marke upon it all we that have changed the Ordinances in GODS House and prophaned the Lawes there he was cut off from the House of the LORD And so having wasted out a miserable life with sighs and complaints he slept with his Fathers and was buried with them in the same burying-place But yet as he dwelt being alive in a severall House being a LEPER So being dead he must sleepe in a Bed severall and a-part from the bodies of other Kings for they said HE IS A LEPER d Chro. 26. 21 In eodem
end we see what is done but we doe not see what will be the issue of the act Here in this Chronicle we may behold all together The Proud Man in his Throne with his Princes about him and presently after dwelling with the beasts of the field there eating grasse as Oxen d Dan 4. 32. We may behold him here drinking wine in bowles the sacred vessells of the Temple and the same houre seeing a hand-writing upon the wall and within an houre after feeling the Sword in his bowells e Dan. 5. 4. We may behold the Man here even as a wild-Asse f Jer. 2. 24. snuffing up the wind or as the expression is sowing the wind and with the same glance of the eye behold him reaping the whirle wind g Hose 8. 7 12. 13. And then we can consider how gratious the proud Man will be in the eye of the beholder at that time when pangs come upon him the paine as of a woman in travell h Jer. 22. 23. for then we shall see him ashamed and confounded for all his wickednesse i ver 22. Of infinite use this To looke thorow the example to the end and then nothing better instructeth then the worst examples for therein we shall see wicked wayes and Idolatious counsels leading to ruine and destruction and all this together Mans heart is desperately wicked and so pursues his owne way as the two Captaines with their fifties k 2 King 1. 9. 10 11 12. with the Sword in his hand threatnings and menacies in his mouth thinking to command the end which he hath vainly conceited But when he lookes-on forward and considers his way to be a perishing way and that not two Captaines with their fifties but thirteene Kings with their people so many we shall reade of went traversing the same way and fier from Heaven consumed them When he considers this heartily it will check him in his way and put supplications in his mouth not only to the Man of God for he may be sought to also But to GOD-MAN The LORD JESUS CHRIST whom we persecute marching in our owne way so bespeaking mercy from the LORD in the words of that wise and considerate Captaine before him Fier from Heaven hath consumed these Kings with their People and their Land once the Eden of the World Let my life and the life of Thy servants and the peace of this Land be pretious in thy sight Amen We see the scope and purpose of this Chronicle I shall not now crave the Readers attention I know the weight and excellency of the matter will command it for I shall set before Kings and People what I must correct my selfe first els I shall spoyle all What can I set before them which the meanest man will regard Alas silly man when he saith what he will doe he doth but disadvantage himselfe and the cause I should have said the LORD the HIGH the DREADFVLL GOD Hee will this Day in the examples which follow set before Kings and their People DEATH and EVILL LIFE and GOOD If our hearts turne away so that we will not heare if we will be drawne away and worship strange Gods then behold Death and Evill For surely we shall perish But if we will love the LORD our GOD obey His voyce cleave unto Him then we choose Life and Blessing for He is our life and length of our dayes Behold Death and Evill is set before us in the following examples of the Kings who though dead yet speake much to the Instruction of the lâ—ving how destructive Idolatrous wayes are and he beaten pathes of humane policies as the other tell us how safe and good the holy way is wherein never any man miscarried Before we reade their doings I would say this for the length of the Chronicle That when my thoughts were first upon it I did not intend it so but more contracted and abrid ed into a narrow roome But then I considered what a worke I had in hand and what my scope therin My worke was well to ponder the wayes and workes of bad and good Kings wherin nothing can be found small or of light account Then again The Scope is as we heard the Instruction of the living Kings and their People all I thought it then my duty to ponder matters yet more and to looke over their History again and againe And the more I read the more I found even mighty things and wheron the LORD Himselfe had set a marke with His owne Hand like an hand in the road-way pointing the passenger This way thou must goe for this is the strait way and tends to life And here thou must forbeare for it is a destructive way and tends to death Truly I find so many marks in my travell here that I could not tell where to picke and chuse finding all so remarkable of so great and excellent use to marke out the way of LIFE and DEATH unto us all whether high or low great or small I would adde this also That the Chapters in this Chronicle are enlarged as the Story of the Kings there is continued where thorow two whole bookes and more as is the Story of the two first Kings there are the Chapters lengthened Where thorow three Chapters as the Story of Asa or foure as the Story of King Jehoshaphat and Hezekiah for these wrought effectually to edisie strengthen and establish themselves and their Kingdomes which is a worke evermore of difficulty labour and time accordingly are their Chapters enlarged The Story of the bad Kings is begun in one Chapter and there ended except the Story of Saul which fils a Booke and of Rehoboam which is continued through three Chapters for a King in an Idolatrous way doth not goe but runne and is quickly at the end posting-on himselfe and his people to ruine and destruction Therfore though the Story be short yet the observations therupon may be long and of infinite use It is our wisdome to set our hearts thereunto And sith DEATH and EVILL LIFE and GOOD are before us well to consider looking well before us that we chuse the good way the way of good men walke therein and keepe the pathes of the Righteous That wee love the LORD our GOD obey His voyce and cleave unto Him For it Prov. 2. 20. followes Hee is thy LIFE and length of thy Dayes Deu. 30. 19 20. Hee is thy Praise and Hee is thy GOD That hath done for thee the great and terrible things which thine eyes have seene Therefore thou shalt feare the LORD Deut. 10. 20. thy GOD Him shalt thou serve and to Him shalt thou cleave Amen THE KINGS CHRONICLE THE ACTS OF SAVL SECT I. The Chronicles of the bad Kings of Judah are read their mistakes about their Militia The contrary waies and motions to their owne ends are recorded CHAPT I. A Change in the mind and ways of the Judges makes the Elders of Israel aske a change
of Governement they aske a King are shewen the manner of their King Saul is given them He is well advised and ruled by Samuell and is prosperous An Ammonite deales proudly with Israel and is accordingly dealt with and confounded GOD gives Saul a glorious victory over the Philistines and his sonne fullfills a Prophecy He is charged concerning Amaleke and does contrary Then he heares of his rejection David gaines him another victory as wonderfull as the former therein gives the Church assured confidence for ever he is ill requited for it Saul envied him to the day of his death bent the strength of his Militia against David Sauls life was all along contrary to the rule of grace and his death contrary to the light of Nature SAmuell is Israels last Judge and Saul their first King called to that high office and inabled thereunto by GOD Himselfe raised quickly in his thoughts and disposition to the pitch of a King Samuell doe's not rule now though well read and experienced in that Art but orders and directs gives Saul the honour of that hardest worke The ruling of the people but tels him how to doe it Samuell speakes and Saul hearkens and all this while it was well So long as Samuell ruled-out the way of government to Saul and he followed the Rule it was well with Saul and with all the people The Lord made their Militia strong and successefull to a wonder When he transgressed that Rule his spirits fell and he from his princely dignity thrusting himselfe besides the throne with his own hands Notwithstanding the LORD wrought a wonderful deliverance for Israel by the hand of David for which David was ill requited for therefore Saul envied him and turned the edge of his Militia against him Saul should have fought the battels of the Lord and have strengthened himselfe against the Lords and Israels enemies he does the contrary fights against the Lord and his servant David Quickly after his sinne finds him out and the Philistines who gathered strength while Saul strengthened himselfe against the LORD drove Saul into the straits and being there he sought for Death from anothers hands and obtaines it not his owne hand shall doe him that favour since he counts it so and so is his own Executioner Thus I have this once for I shall doe so no more hudled-up and crowded together a large and famous Story which contains many Remarkables of infinite use That is it I intend Therefore I will draw them out one after another if at more length then is expected the intent is good that we may put the more observations upon them The History begins AGe bath overtaken Samuell and his carefull government which is a burden too heavy for him he puts off from himselfe laying the weight thereof on his Sonnes shoulders Joel and Abiah a 1 Sam. 8. 1 2. who judged the people at Bersheba the very utmost City towards the South of Judea The place was inconvenient and very remote so were these two brothers no lesse removed from the justice and virtue of their Father They turned aside after lucre and tooke bribes Bribes in the plurall ver 3. number he that opens his hand to a bribe once seldom shuts it afterwards for the thirst of covetousnesse the more it swalloweth the more it drieth and desireth finding taste in nothing but gaine and so for in-comes that way they set the Law at a price and sold Judgement and Justice to the best Chap-men them that would give the best bribes for it it follows tooke bribes and perverted judgement This injustice in their Judges makes the Elders of Israel very earnest with Samuell to give ver 4. them a King they might justly ask a King now they thought an alteration and change in government now that their Judges were so changed from what they were and so wicked had quite perverted judgement and justice And so importunate they are that they are resolved upon it and will have no denyall They might aske a King but they should not have been so importunate their request was good but it was too hasty and then good things may be ill desired GOD purposed to raise up a King to his People the People after the manner out-pace GOD they will have a King when they please The government by Judges was of GODS institution and at this time setled amongst them they shall have a change of government but they are over-forward to a change and they shall be well check'd for that The Request is put up to Samuell with much importunity he knowes what to doe he enquires of his Oracle asketh the LORDS ver 6. mind in this matter The LORD resolves him saying I was indeed their King before and it was well with them They have reiected Me and not thee that I should not reigne ver 7. over them Now therefore hearken to their voyce but tell them moreover the manner of their King he will know himselfe to be King and then thinke hee may doe what hee listeth The People must know this then perhaps they will understand that ever to be the best kind of Government which God appoints over a people and that if the government be heavy as an yron yoake upon the necks of the People it is but meet for their neckes which are stiffe as an Iron sinnew and because their iniquity is heavy upon them whereof they stand charged to complain and not of the government which the Lord hath set over them Samuell does according to his charge speakes unto the people in the same words And they like themselves turned a deafe eare to all the perswasions and threats which Samuell used and they said Nay but there shall be a King over us e ver 19. The people will not be denied As before so they might have a god of their owne chusing and so soone as they pleased if it were a Calfe they cared not They were as indifferent about their King give them a King that they may be like the Nations and then they were well enough for the manner of their King no matter at all for that Men like their owne time best and their owne choise then Samuell hearing the People say so tooke a viall of oyle and powred it upon Sauls head who was gone forth to seeke Asses and such was the Providence found a Kingdome and said The Lord hath annointed thee to be Captaine over His inheritance a 1 Sam. 10. 1. Then shortly after having well rebuked and disciplined the people b ver 18. he shews them their King openly And all the people shouted and said GOD save the King c ver 24. Then Samuell told the People the Law and Statutes of the Kingdome and wrote it in a book d ver 25. and laid it up before the LORD so dismissed the People and they whose hearts GOD had touched went home with their ver 26. King others but they were children of
Beliall evermore as deeply in love with vice as good men are with vertue and as over-hasty in their choyce so as quickly out of love with it despised him saying This is a King indeed as little helpe can be expected from him as from one of us Shall this man save e ver 27. us Saul was so wise as to hold his peace at that time for he could not value himselfe as yet he tooke no notice of their contempt Then Nahash the Ammonite came up 1 Sam. 11. 1. and encamped against Jabesh Gilead the People there fall presently upon Propositions for Peace Make a Covenant with us say they and we will serve thee Agreed said the Ammonite ver 1. but upon this condition that I may thrust out all your RIGHT-EYES f ver 2. That is the condition of an Ammonite you must never expect better from him Hard termes indeed The Ammonite was perswaded no doubt of an advantage sufficient against Israel for 1. He knew that many of the Israelites did not willingly submit to their new King 2. He remembred that the Philistines had not long before slaine thirty foure thousand of their men of warre g 1 Sam 42. 10 Besides he had used great care and diligence that the Israelites should have no Smithes to make them Swords and Speares d 1 Sam. 13. 19. Neither was it long before that the Bethshemites perished by the hand of GOD more then fifty Thousand e 1 Sam. 6. 19. These respects and what els I know not made the Ammonite so proud in his Demands He will have their Eyes and their right-Eyes It would lay a reproach upon all Israel indeed and utterly disinable them for the Warre for though a man may doe much by the help of the left-Eye as some did with the left-Hand yet these Gileadites using to carry a Target upon their left-Armes which could not but shaddow their left-Eyes should by loosing their right be utterly disinabled to defend themselves Better a just Warre then a dishonourable Peace Gold may be bought too deare so may peace Had Israel given their right-eyes for peace they had done then as some would doe now purchase peace with the losse of Faith and a good Conscience Give Israel peace Good LORD but let them not accept of it upon an Ammonites termes with the losse of their right-Eyes We reade on Saul observes the people weeping enquires the reason understands it was because the Ammonites had made such a proposition for peace Marke now And the Spirit of GOD came upon Saul Now there is question about Israels parting with their right-Eyes The Spirit ver 6. of GOD came upon Saul raised up Sauls spirit to the height of indignation so that his anger was kindled GREATLY ver â— And that his indignation might appeare he hewes his Oxen in peeces summons all his people thereby assuring them their Oxen shall be served so too if they doe not every man of them fit for Warre make their appearance presently for they must venture the best blood in their veines to preserve their right-Eyes The people will doe it for though the blood in their veines is deare unto them yet their right-Eyes are dearer But wee must note as followes The feare of the LORD fell on the people What then And they came out with one consent And so the Warre began and was quickly ended for this unreasonable Demand put courage into the King and people both So Saul set his Army in Battell-aray Then he put 1 Sam. 11. 11. the people in three Companies and they came into the midst of the Hoast in the morning watch and slew the Ammonites untill the heate of the Day f. And they that remained of the Enemies were so scattered that they who demanded the two Eyes from the people were not left no not two of them together And that was notable for as Samson said GOD avenged them of the Ammonites for demanding their two Eyes Judg 16. 28. And so let all Thine enemies perish O Lord who thinking they have an advantage against Israell will not give him peace unlesse he will give them his right-Eye Now the People were well pleased with Saul for they judge of Persons and things by the issue and successe they have violent lovers of the Prosperous are base vassalls to him that flourisheth and as dispitefully cruell against those whom any worldly accident hath throwne downe we have a valiant King said they and who are they that spoke so contemptuously of him bring the men that we may put them to Death And Saul said there shall not a man be put to Death this Day for to Day the Lord hath wrought salvation for Israell d 1 Sam. 11. 13 He had indeed hee gave Israel courage and glorious victories over that insolent adversary who delighted in proud wrath and Saul did his duty in making acknowledgement and giving the Glory to GOD. All this while Saul prospers for Samuell a good man and well experienced in Government do's all and all to render Saul Prosperous and confirmed in his Kingdome So according to Samuells advice King and people went downe to Gilgall made Saul King before the LORD there and there they sacrificed Sacrifices of Peace-offerings before the LORD ver 15. and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoyced greatly In the next Chapter Samuell reasons with the People before Chap. 12. the Lord of all His righteous Acts Convinceth them mightily touching his own Innocency and uprightnesse in judging them and the Lords Goodnesse towards them from the dayes of Moses unto that day Adviseth them to continue in His Goodnesse and quickens them thereunto with a mighty threat and so concludes the Chapter Now Saul the third time is acknowledged King having Reigned two Yeares over Israel he did Reigne many Yeares Chap. 13. but no more in Gods account He computes him but two 1 Sam. 13. 1 Yeares a King for a Reason which followes strengthened himselfe with a Guard of Three thousand chosen men of which he assigned a thousand to attend upon his Sonne Jonathan Jonathan with his small Regiment surpriseth a Garrison of the Philistines smites them so that he did but enrage the Enemies with that surprise for presently the Philistines assembled Thirty thousand Charrets and six Thousand Horse-men and ver 5. People as the Sands in multitude and so Invade Judea This suddaine Invasion strikes such a terrour into the Israelites that some hid themselves others fled and went over Jordan others for they were all in a strait and distressed went trembling to Saul yet in Gilgal who feared as much as they And now ver 6 7. was the time when Saul should have cleaved fast to GOD and His Command for he was affraid and then said David I will trust in Thee and waite for my hope is in Thee And this Saul seemes to doe and but seemes for being appointed to attend the comming
of Samuell Seven Dayes He did attend till the last and till part of that was spent too But we must keepe our selves precisely to GODS time and wait-it-out to the last minute which a faithlesse man a man of an hasty spirit ever can never doe For he will make haste as Saul did And then seeing Samuell came not and how the Case stood with him for he had pollitick reasons enough if these might Our Faith is most commendable in the last Act It is no praise to hold out untill we be hard driven D r. Halls Contempl guide us He forced d ver 12. himselfe made a breach upon his conscience first then upon GODS Command and an intrusion upon Samuels office and offered a burnt-offering Samuell comes in the Nick of Time while Saul was upon this holy worke with his unholyed hands heard Sauls excuse and plea for himselfe which helped him not No excuse will serve our turne nor plead our not observance of GODS Command from the mouth of His servant e 1 Sam 10. 8. He that would not heare this charge of the Lord to observe and doe it must heare the Judgement of the Lord denounced by the same mouth Thou hast done FOOLISHLY f Chap. 13. 13. there is folly in every sinne and the more sinne the more the folly Thou hast not kept the Commandement of the Lord therefore thou shalt not keepe still thy Kingdome Thou wouldest not establish thy selfe in the Power and Might of the Lord therefore the Kingdome shall not be established unto thee The Lord hath sought Him a Man after His owne heart to whose seed the Kingdome of Israel shall be continued for ever g ver 14. And now the Lord accounts Saul a King no longer he has the Title the Name of a King and no more in Gods account now that he hath not kept the Law the Charge of the Lord which He commanded him If Saul makes no account of the Law of GOD the King of Kings this Great King will not account Saul His Deputy King surely that is notable But yet Saul shall see a mighty Deliverance and therin what the Lord can doe for those that keepe close to Him and His command will trust in Him live upon Him by Faith when all meanes faile for there is the tryall Thus it was while the state of Israel stood in these hard termes and the Philistines full of hope that having parted their Army into three Troopes g 1 Sam. 13. 17 they might spoile and destroy many parts at once Jonathan strengthned by GOD in whom there is no restraint to save by many or by few h 1 Sam. 14. 6. and followed with his Esquire only scaled a Mountaine whereupon a Company of Philistines were lodged the rest of their Army being encamped in the plaine adjoyning Their comming was discovered to the Adversary and he playes upon them jeeres and mocks at them very insolently as men use to doe a little before their Destruction Come up to us and wee will shew you a THING i ver 12. Jonathan and his Esquire tooke the invitation as a good presage climbed up upon their hands and feet and fell upon the Adversary so the Enemies fell before Jonathan and his Armour-bearer slew after him k ver 13. then they shewed the Enemy a THING which he little looked for It is dangerous to put a scorne upon them who carry the revenge of God along with them Faith and a good conscience are the strongest guard and weapons both and the surest pollicy alwayes is what we should not make it a question To have peace with GOD for then He goes along with us and will be an Enemy to all our Enemies It followes This Allarum on the top of the Hill quickly amazed the next Companies then went downe into the Valley caused such a confusion there that they slaughtered one another instead of Enemies There was also a trembling in the Hoast and in the Field and among all the People all trembled for it was a very great TREMBLING Psal 15. 16. and the Earth quaked too and behold the multitude melted away and they went on beating downe one another When God appeares for His Church and in His Glory He will spoile the stout-hearted there will be a great Trembling mighty men shall Tremble and multitudes shall melt away as the Snow before the Sunne And remember we still Jonathans confidence in his God Faith will carry a man over rocks and mountaines no way but is passible to faith and no worke but is possible It is Jonathans confidence what can hinder God said he The Lord can doe what He will doe and it may be that the Lord will worke for us else we shall doe nothing for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or few It is possible said Jonathan it may be ver 16. nay it is very likely That the Lord will work for us now They that can trust in God can regard Armies of Men no more then Armies of Flis D r. Halls Contemp for He hath put a spirit of fortitude upon us two and being so few now He shall have all the GLORY That consideration mooves strongly and so it workes for thus it was every mans Sword was against his fellow and there was a very great discomfiture Moreover the Hebrewes that were with the Philistines became of their party fearing to be spoiled by them tooke advantage of this destruction saw ver 20. plainely now which side was strongest the manner of men fell in there to Saul and Jonathan and slew of the Philistines great numbers and they that hid themselves before came out of their holes now and hearing that the Philistines fled even they also followed hard after them in Battell So the LORD gave Saul a glorious victory that day and he ver 22. saw the prophecy fulfilled One did chase a thousand and two put ten thousand to flight And this was a good day Saul and k Deut. 32 30. his people found a great spoile they might have eate and drunke thereof and have praised God with the more chearfullnesse of heart for indeed the people were weary and faint Saul will not have it so he will be an enemy to himselfe hath a way by himselfe pleasing in his owne eye and that way he takes he adjures the people saying Cursed be the man that eateth any food untill evening l ver 24. so none of the people tasted any food No though the LORD who gave them a good day and gave them leave to be cheery and comfortable The voluntary services of Hypocrites are many times more painfull then the duties enjoyned by God but their manner is to leave that which is commanded and doe that which is not required Contmpl on that day did almost drop meate into their mouthes yet no man put his hand to his mouth Why for the people feared the Oath
provoke them not if we do they will depart from us and then woe unto us we shall heare heavy newes at the parting So when Samuell had done execution upon Agag very confident that having escaped Sauls Sword he should escape the Prophets weake hand also but it was not so when Agag said The bitternesse of death is past when he was at the height of his hopes then Samuell laid him ver 32. low and hewed him in peeces and when he had done so he left Saul and saw him no more neverthelesse Samuell mourned for Saul Indeed it was a sad case And ponder it well all we that forget GOD and reject His word for if so the next newes we must looke to heare is a rejection from the Kingdome And if it were from out of a Kingdome that may be shaken the news would be more tolerable but it is a casting-out from that Kingdome which shall never be shaken But as Saul was shaken so shall we be shaken out of it if we walk as he did so contrary The LORD doth not blame Samuell for this his mourning but tels him he may mourne too long for him whom He hath rejected * 1 Sam. 16. 1 Fill thine horne with oyle and annoint him whom I have provided A man after Mine own Heart and most pleasing in Mine eyes but the most unlikely in mans eyes and amongst his brethren for man chooseth by the Eye and I the LORD by the heart The Prophet startled at this goes a little backward for the best Prophet that ever was in the world had his infirmities How can I go says he if Saul heare it he will kill me a 1 Sam. 16. â— Doe as I bid thee sayes the LORD winking at his infirmity go the way I set thee in and be not affraid of a man if there were a hundred Sauls and every haire on their heads a Sword they could not hurt thee doe thy duty goe as I bad thee and feare not Take all cautious wayes be as wise as a Serpent for that allowance is given thee so thou beest as innocent as a Dove Samuell went and did accordingly David designed to the Kingdome before is now annoynted with fresh oyle but soft he is not King yet he must go as every true Israelite to his Crown he shall passe through the straites hee shall fetch many a weary step before he comes thither up and downe then up againe and then againe so low that he thinkes he shall never rise againe he thought Samuell a very lyar b Ps 116. 11. Video Samuelem non Dei spiritu Prophetice c. Jun. that told him of a Crown But more of this in a fitter place Saul is in the Throne now and having turned his backe against the LORD the Philistines turne their faces upon him Their late Disasters they impute to second causes A Philistin cannot see the Hand of GOD unlesse it be as plaine as was the writing upon the wall c Dan. 5. 5. so visible it was a chance a mistaken Alarum whereby their Army possessed with a panique feare had fallen to rout They have mustered their Army againe and encamped themselves so neare Sauls Army that they must try it out in a Battle But yet to save shedding much bloud they would decide the matter by single combat and out-steps Goliah a mighty fellow that feared neither GOD nor Man he under-takes to defie the whole Host of Israel provokes them with despightfull words as a Philistine will doe who perswades himself that all power in heaven and earth is in his hands and so he blasphemed the LIVING GOD David heard all this and more for he was come up to the host to spie d 1 Sam. 17. 28 there in the PRIDE and NAUGHTINESSE of his heart said his naughty brother for he envied David he shall have as many discouragements from man as may be yea from the sonnes of this Master Thou shouldest be with thy sheepe that is thy worke what makest thou heare He came downe to enquire of their welfare in this dangerous time and he brought them Bread and Cheese that might have stopped a brothers mouth for that was his arrand from their father But GOD had another businesse for David to doe now he shall make a famous entrance into publike notice of the People And so David stands out notwithstanding all the pull-backs he will encounter with Goliah that he will for he remembred well what GOD had done for him he had taken a Lyon by the beard and a Beare too both rose up against him but he pluck'd them downe and laid them both low enough Did Davids hand gaine this Deliverance No GOD with him gave him this victory * ver 35 36 37 a little before as an experiment that David must trust him now and so David will trust in GOD for ever So he puts himselfe in a posture of offence buckles his Armour about him What Armour Armour of proofe it was I cannot shew it to your Eye so Spirituall it is That which was in sight was very weake as the Churches Armour is and contemptible both his Person and his Armour Yet David said to Saul let no mans heart faile because of this Philistine ver 32. Thy servant will goe and fight with him Then reade the reasonings betwixt Saul and David as are the reasonings betwixt flesh and spirit David answers all with an experience of Gods good hand with him Learne we of David to treasure-up experience from Time past and promises for the Time to come and goe he will and fight with the Philistine Why then said Saul goe and the LORD be with thee d ver 37. A gratious word but goe like a Warriour in compleate Armour take mine and on with it so David did But he could not goe in it e ver 39. No indeed for no Armour will fit David but Armour of Gods appointing be it never so contemptible and that he had provided before and being well girt with that intimated before he tooke a staffe in his hand and some Choyce stones cut of the Brooke and when the Philistine thought verily to swallow David up he darted a stone which the Lord carried to the Philistines forehead made it sinke down therein f ver 49. and down he falls upon his face to the Earth Then David skipt to him and having no Sword in his Hand g ver 50. that made the conquest more glorious drew out the Philistines Sword and therewith shaved off his crown by the neck And having discomfited the whole Hoast now and exposed them to slaughter away he brought the head to Jerusalem but the Armour he put in his Tent h ver 54. Now we must turne backe and looke over all this againe for mighty reason for as Davids slaying the Lyon and the Beare made him confident he should serve the Giant so too So Davids victory over Goliah then gives the Church assured
In the meane time I would aske the man that is best read in the Chronicles whether ever he read such a thing as this That the Daughters of strange gods came into a Land brought their gods with them for that is the manner their Lord joyned his heart to them and turned away from the Living God So did Solomon And yet notwithstanding all this the Reader consulting with the Records of Time finds not any Yoake upon the people at such a time no services done by them but what were easie and ingenious I will not trust to my reading though this I can say I have read the Chronicles and this is the result from my reading That when abominable Idolatries were countenanced were practised in a Land I meane Israels Land though I need not restraine it so for I have read somewhat in the Chronicles of other Nations also but Israels Land where Idolatry is established by a Law and so it might be said to be in Solomons dayes for what Queens and their King do's is a Law to the people But I will say no more but this when Idolatry is practised is countenanced in a Land Queenes serve abominable Idolls and their King too It followes in the Chronicle not Israels only but English French and Spanish That at that time there were grievous Yoakes upon the peoples necks illegall pressures unjust commands that have neither ground of Law nor reason then neither easie nor ingenious Nay let me add this here from out of the Sacred Chronicle that is the Oracle he that reads shall find it true That when a Daughter of a strange god came into Israels Land she wrought effectually there to the destruction of her King their seed and the people there GOD is a Righteous GOD Holy and Just Thinke we that His Law may be contumeliously used trod under foot and so contemned and the peoples Law their just Liberties their heritage their birth-right That this shall be maintained in honour shall stand-up in full strength force and virtue Surely it cannot be Can Israel thinke he may provoke God to His face with Images and strange vanities and yet feele no yoake upon his neck nothing that shall be to him as Thornes in his side or pricks in his eye Consult we with the records of Time and we shall be cleare in this matter I meane in point of judgment As God has given-up abominable Idolaters unto abominable and vile affections as we reade a Rom. 1. 1â— So hath he given them up unto the hands of their Enemies to serve a grievous servitude there It is Gods manner so we never reade it to be otherwise And just it is That he who will enthrall his spirit that Lord-like thing to serve vile things which should not be named should have his neck brought under a grievous servitude that we may know what it is to depart from the Living GOD the service also of the LORD and the service of other Kingdomes b 2 Chro. 12. 8 Israel took the Daughters of strange gods to be their Wives reade on and served their gods still the strange god was served by Judg. 3. Husband and Wife both reade on And the children of Israel did evill forgat the LORD their GOD and served Baalim and the ver 6. groves What followed then Therefore the anger of the LORD ver 7. was hot and presently there was a grievous yoake clapt upon their necks Observe it when you will and you will observe ver 8. it if you will observe any thing That the Sonnes and Daughters of strange gods never came alone to Israel they came accompanied still they brought yoakes with them for Israels necks They chose new gods What if they did Doe you make but a what of it You may heare and feele what followed at that time as the Traine of those gods Then was warre in the gates The new gods brought Swords with them as their Traine Iudg. 5. 8. to cut Israels throats And Israel could not defend themselves a naked people they was there a Speare or Shield found among forty thousand in Israel The Lord help Israel and deliver him from strange gods for these make Israel naked then they bring upon him the Sword and oh what oppression then You never reade of a Sword which the strange god has brought but you Ier. 26. 16. 50. 16. reade OPPRESSING there and bathing in blood Object But this makes no proofe that Solomon laid an heavy yoake upon Israel and made their servitude greivous Answ I confesse it does not therefore we must looke better into the Sacred Text to see what may be collected thence by necessary deduction True it is I remember nothing touching the weight of Solomons hand upon the people nor what that yoake might be which the people said was grievous but this we shall draw from the Text plaine enough For this is most legible Solomons heart was turned from GOD his Wives had turned him That the LORD glorious in Power and abundant in shewing Mercy turned his heart againe shall be cleared in a fitter place and then in what a posture it stood towards Israel is imaginable This I take to be a cleared truth That when a Kings heart is turned from GOD it is turned also from the Israel of God And if from the Israel of GOD it is probable to say no more he did turne his hand upon them and layed upon their necks yoakes grievous to be borne The heart of Solomons Queene did cleave to her strange god The Kings heart clave to her in love Then his heart was estranged from the True GOD nay quite turned from Him a 1 King 11. 2 3 4. What then The intelligent Reader will conclude then That Solomon cleaving in love to strange Wives and serving strange gods these Wives and these gods turning his heart from Israels GOD turned his heart also from the Israel of GOD to put heavy yoakes upon them so heavy that as was said of the Kingdome of France we may say now of the Kingdome of Israel when their Kings heart was turned from GOD There is more justice I in Hell in respect not of the Plus justitiae est in inâ—erno habit but execution of it then in that Kingdome for in Hell the innocent are not punished the wicked are not freed from punishment But in Israel when the King there is an abominable Idolater there was never any question of his Queenes his heart turned from the True GOD and then the true Israel shall be yoaked and made to serve a grievous servitude and the wicked there they that doe as their King does serve abominable Idolls they shall be free so far as their King can free them from that which is the just merit of their sinne But suppose for we may suppose what we please That King Solomon in the goodnesse of his disposition which Israel could never trust when his heart was turned from GOD would not be
FOR THE DEVILS m ver 15. Reader marke that and FOR THE DEVILS and carry it home to the idolaters of our dayes But they will never beleeve you That when they serve GOD after their owne way they doe not serve Him but Devils and when they doe ordaine Priests for their Masse they doe ordaine them for the Devils They will not beleeve you in this That they doe now as Jeroboam did sacrifice to the Devils and make Priests to the Devils No not they they are wiser then so They make Altars and Priests and Sacrifices too all of their owne making as Aaron made a Feast to a Exod. 32. 5. JEHOVAH so indeed they say and they thinke they have a strong proofe from that which Aaron said not weighing what the LORD saies a little after They worshipped the Calfe they sacrificed to the Calfe That they did saith the LORD Why then they sacrificed to the ver 8. Devill and worshipped the Devill saith the Lord. Tell 1 Cor. 10. 20. them this though they will not regard it for they regard not what the LORD says but when you have told them so and bid them consider on it you have told them the truth and done your Duty Reade on After the fore-mentioned others also even such as set their hearts to seek the LORD GOD of Israel came to Jerusalem to sacrifice unto the LORD GOD of their Fathers c ver 16. What followes now That whereon we must set a Marke So they strengthened the Kingdome of Judah They were the very MILITIA of the Kingdome Who such as set their hearts to seeke the LORD Here we must put the marke When they come to a City Towne or Country who set their hearts to seeke the LORD they bring a blessing along with them They fortifie the place exceedingly they make the City EXCEEDING STRONG they are the MILITIA of the City So it followes So THEY strengthened the Kingdome of Judah and made Rehoboam STRONG Yes Prince and people all are STRONG now why now Now that Priests and Levites are come unto them SUCH AS SET THEIR HEARTS TO SEEKE THE LORD It is notable also to consider how long the Prince and people continued Strong How long It is answered THREE YEARES o ver 17. for so long they walked in the way of David and Solomon What way was that GODS way sure an holy way and wee must set a marke there also The way a Prince must take to make himselfe and his Kingdome strong is to WALKE in the first p 2 Chro. 17. 3 WAY OF DAVID AND SOLOMON when David performed the Wills of GOD * Act. 13. 22. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We will note no more but this in this Chapter concerning Rehoboam that he did against the Commandement for he multiplyed wives to himselfe q Deut. 17. 17. After this time when Rehoboam had established the Kingdome r 2 Chron. 12. and strengthened himselfe HE FORSOOK THE LAW of the LORD What followed that bad example Multitudes what way soever the King takes he goes not alone the people will presse and throng after him as here Chap. 12. in this place And ALL ISRAEL with him s ver 1. Note we therefore what a traine followes the King Jeroboam commands a CALVISH worship All Israel follow the Commandement Jeroboam is never mentioned but with his traine after him A Ruler hearkens to lyes What if he does or what is that to his Servants Yes for it followes ALL HIS SERVANTS are wicked t Pro. 29. 12. They will doe as their Master doth and thinke they doe well they will find a way or make a way after the Commandement they will goe REHOBO AM FORSOOKE THE LAW OF THE LORD AND ALL ISRAEL WITH HIM What then Then all was turned upside downe Bury me with my face downe-ward saith Diogenes Why so man Because said he the Rulers are naught and all will be nought presently now all will be turned upside downe and then my face will be upward againe in the fittest posture Just so with Rehoboam upside downe a marvellous alteration presently He that was strong before is now weake as water That which was sound is now become as rottennesse his Strength which seemed INFINITE u Nah. 3 9. mouldred away and became rottennesse his MILITIA fainted his strong-holds were like the first ripe figgs which fall into the mouth of the Eater x Nah. 3. 12. See there Rehoboam forsakes the Law of his GOD GOD forsakes him breakes downe his hedges takes away his DEFENCE from his Cities and strong holds exposeth him to the WILL of his Adversary which yet the LORD sets bounds unto and that we must note SHISHAK and he was Successour of that Aegyptian whose Daughter Solomon had married thereby the better to assure his estate which while he served GOD was by GOD assured against all and the greatest neighbouring Kings And when he forsooke Him it was torne asunder by his meanest vassals This Shishak distressed Judah for THEY HAD TRANSGRESSED AGAINST THE LORD a 2 Chron. 12. 2 and He left them in his hand But this helped the King and the people very much even their humbling themselves under Gods mighty hand and submitting saying THE LORD IS RJGHTEOVS b ver 6. Therefore the LORD did not stirre up all His wrath He would not destroy them altogether Neverthelesse because Rehoboam and his people would serve strange gods therefore they should be under the yoake of a strange King SERVANTS VNTO HIM c ver 7 8. And because they would change so good a Master they should know His service and the service of other Kings Judah should not get his neck from under the Egiptian yoake Moreover Shishak pilliged the house of the LORD and the Kings house for he TOOKE ALL thence his Shields of gold also instead of which Rehoboam made ver 9. Shields of brasse and they were good enough for him who had embased the Temple and impured the service there and a change fit enough for him too who was so ready to change the worship of his God Notwithstanding the Lord graunted to Prince and people SOME DELIVERANCE He would not destroy the King ALTOGETHER g ver 12. and also in Judah THINGS WENT WELL. But not long sure for the KING DID EVILL h ver 14. he humbled himselfe while the stroake was upon him he turned himselfe to the Lord till the Lord turned the wrath from him so long he did seemingly well But when the wrath was turned away he turned to his Idoll HE DID EVILL sayes the Text and renders a reason withall BECAVSE HE PREPARED NOT HIMSELFE TO SEEKE THE LORD And he did evill this is to be noted with the reason of the same The King humbled himselfe that is expressed his heart seemed to be humbled so as he could ACCEPT OF THE PVNISHMENT of his iniquiry a Lev. 26. 41. for he said The LORD is
RIGHTEOVS And yet thus we reade HE DID EVILL Surely his VNCIRCVMCISED Heart that word is to be noted was not humbled that is his heart was not humbled for the uncircumcision thereof he did not sorrow after a godly 2 Cor. 7. 11. sort not for his sinne but for the punishment of his sinne while the viall of wrath was powring forth upon him he perhaps poured forth his prayer as the manner is all that while he humbled himselfe no longer He PREPARED not his Heart to that great worke of HVMILIATION Certainly there is some PREPARATORY worke to be done before the heart can be humbled in a right manner which worke sets the thoughts on worke makes us sad and serious so to consider with all our hearts and soules first 1. How DREADFVLL GOD is how vaine and abominable Idolls are And 2. That sinne is only and truly evill but Idolatry there is a spice of it in every sinne as there was a spice of the CALFE in every punishment that which is called abominable Idolatry is above measure sinnefull filling up the viall of wrath brim-full and then pouring it out And 3. How dreadfull a thing it is to be under this WRATH now the wrath of GOD which yet is in comparison to that which is TO COME but as a drop to the Ocean as a sparke to the fornace which hath this ingredient in it to make the flame more scorching everlasting burning eternall wrath And 4. How dreadfull a thing it is To forsake the LAW of GOD and to be exemplary thereunto as Rehoboam did and was for he carried all his traine after him there must be a sad and serious consideration thereof And 5. So also and to contract a serious consideration of the Heart I meane all that is called flesh in the outward or inward man whether in high places there or low as the darkenesse in the understanding the rockinesse in the will the sinfullnesse the deceitfullnesse the desperate wickednesse in the whole heart All this requires a serious and sad consideration as a PREPARATORY worke for humbling the heart in a right manner And 6. Then this also which is chiefest of all The goodnesse the kindnesse of that God to me whose Law I have forsaken His Law before whom our fathers have walked His Law Who fed me all my life long to this day This consideration if serious melts the heart And lastly Gen. 48. 15. 7. How the Lord himselfe is pleased to ALLVRE His Hose 2 14. people how comfortably He speaks unto them in their wildernesse He is Gracious and Mercifull He will multiply pardons He will abundantly pardon them whose uncircumcised hearts are humbled so as they can accept of their punishment can say in sincerity and truth of heart broken in the sence of all this The LORD is RIGHTEOVS in all that is come upon us and yet He is a FATHER an EVERLASTING Father c. Such considerations as these are preparatory to worke the heart to a right humiliation else the stout heart will not downe It may keepe within bounds for a time as a beast hedged in with thornes but it will breake out againe and DOE EVILL And this is the more seriously to be thought on in this place once for all Because when we reade that a King and people after their humiliations have fallenback have returned to their myre and vomit or as it is here have done EVILL after their shewes of Reformation We reade in the same place this reason given of their so fallingback which we meete with in the Text because he prepared not his heart to seeke the Lord. So also when we reade That 2 Chro. 12. 14. high places or high persons eminent and above others in their abominations yet are not taken away nor CVT off the same reason is given The people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their Fathers c 2 Chron. 20. 33. But now on the contrary we shall never reade that a Prince or people returned back to folly that they did evill purposely and advisedly there are slips and failings and fallings in the best That they did worke iniquity Homo sup after they had prepared their heart to seeke the Lord. THERE ARE GOOD THINGS FOVND IN THEE and this is the chiefest of all THOV HAST PREPARED THY HE ART TO SEEKE GOD d 2 Chro. 19 3. We shall reade anon how mightily that King went-on and prevailed There was indeed some stop in his way but that the people caused This is the point JEHOSHAPHAT returned not to folly he did no evill he wrought no INIQVITY Why for hee had prepared his heart to seeke GOD. But Rehoboam here he did evill how so because he prepared not himselfe to seeke the Lord. The heart must be prepared for that great worke of seeking the Lord else the heart will not be fixed and resolved upon the worke The Records concerning ver 15. Rehoboams Acts are lost only this we reade That there were warrs between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually for friendship once broken is hardly peeced and peeced enmity never surely sodered k Vt Christalli fragmenta sarciri nullo modo possunt Ita difficilimum cos reconciliare qui ex arctissiâ—mâ samiliaritate in mutuuÌ„ odiumvenerint Plut. But death came and tooke off Rehehoboam from that quarrell laid him and his thoughts fast asleepe so he slept with his Fathers and was buried Abijah his Son reigned in his stead a little wiser then his Father and but a little better yet because he ordered his Militia wisely I reserve him for another place Asa also and Jehoshaphat his Sonne the compleatest patternes of well-posturing a Kingdome that ever were looked upon I refer these also to their owne place only making mention of their Names here to continue the Story THE ACTS OF JEHORAM CHAP. III. JEHORAM strengtheneth himselfe against the LORD and slayeth his Bretheren He walked-on after a wicked example In a way contrary to God and God as contrary to him Edom revolted from him so doth Libnah a City of Priests They will not be compelled to Idolatry So they approve themselves the best subjects to the King He quite for sakes the Law of his GOD no man followes him but the executioner of Gods wrath Enemies 2 Chro. 21. are upon his back and sore diseases in his bowells He dyes ver 4. and carries the marke of his wickednesse to his grave ver 3. IEHORAM a very bad Sonne of a very good Father has a Kingdome disposed to him because he was the first borne b That was the only reason that perswaded with the Father there could be no other for no sooner was he risen-up therein and knew himselfe to be King but he strengthened himselfe i. e. set himselfe in a posture of warre A most unhappy and unnaturall beginning for the first Act of hostility was against those he should have tendred as a Father being King and as his owne
to his destruction What wayes In the wayes of the house of Ahab ver 3. and after the Counsels of his Mother that wicked woman c 2 Chron. 24. 7 to doe wickedly So in one yeare he lost himself and his Kingdome I meane not Ahaziah only but the King was destroyed for the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the Kingdom ver 9. His story is short but the collection thence is large of the same use I will make it as short as I can conclude it That all Kings and Princes may be warned not to joyn in Affinity with Ahab norwalkafter the counsels of the house of Ahab Good Iehoshaphat joyns in Affinity a 2 Chro. 18 2. with Ahab matched his Son Iehoram to Athaliah Ahabs Sister the Daughter of Omri b 2 Chron. 22. 2 moved thereunto by politick reasons no doubt to strengthen his Kingdome by joyning in Affinity with a Neighbour King Iehoram walkes after his Wives counsells commits folly in Israel and compells Judah thereunto is smitten with plagues as we heard and so died 2 Chron. 21. Ahaziah his Son walked-on after the Father and according to the counsell of his Mother to doe wickedly Commited the Scepter into his Mothers hands and went with his brother King Jehoram the Son of Ahab King of Israel to warre 2 Chro. 22. â— against Hazael King of Syria where the Syrians smote Joram there is a letter taken from his Name which ever more implyes that the Lord takes away His defence from that Person as the putting to of a letter notes the adding of a Blessing and he returned to be healed in Jezreel where Ahaziah visits him and there meets with his destruction which was of GOD by comming to Joram d ver 7. for Jehu being Annointed c ver 6. of the LORD to cut off the house of Ahab and while he was executing judgement there he finds the Princes of Judah and slew them e ver 8. Then Ahaziah hid himselfe in Samaria but they found him out and slew him there Looke ye there and then ye looke through to the end Ahaziah walked in the wayes of Ahab followes after the counsels of the house of Ahab Now he must perish in the very same way with the house of Ahab He thought to out-run the vengeance and to hide himselfe It cannot be the executioner of wrath finds him out and he is slaine See againe what a slaughter here is Jehoshaphat the Grandfather joyned house to house to make his house the stronger by Affinity with Ahab It was the means to root out all his Posterity here Iehu slew at one blow two and Forty of his Issue Male And then Athaliah the Mother of 2 King 10. 13 14. Ahaziah seeing her Sonne was dead hoped to make cleane 1 Chro. 22. 10. riddance for She arose and destroyed all the seed Royall of the house of Judah And yet not all he that suffered the seed of ver 10. good Jehoshaphat to be destroyed by her hand in whose affinity he offended will have a branch of Jehoshaphats stock saved Doct. Contem. for the sake of so faithfull a progenitoâ— and for His promise 2 Kin 8. 19 sake The decree of the LORD must stand not one word from 2 Cro. 21. 7. 22. 11. His Mouth shall faile Athaliah did to her utmost to reverse c Iosh 23. 14 15. that Decree and to make the promise void but it could not be But she made a foule way to the Throne and there she sate till c 2 Kin 8 56. the appointed time We must returne once more to Ahaziah to gather-up one observation from his buriall and then a short use of all See what mischiefe Ahabs house and their counsells did unto this poor King their Nephew to whom they wished so well They counselled him to doe wickedly and that must needs be to his destruction He lived a King not a full yeare then he lost himselfe and his Kingdome altogether A dishonour followes him to the grave also for when they had slaine him they buried him sayes the Text likely with some such honour as was sutable to a King but not in Jerusalem nor for his own sake neither They said he is the Son of Jehoshaphat who sought the LORD with all his heart THEREFORE THEY BVRIED 2 Cro. 22 9. HIM A faire warning to all Kings and Princes that they joyne not in Affinity with Ahab if they doe more then probable it is that they will walke in the wayes of the house of Ahab after their counsells to doe wickedly and that is the ready way evermore to destruction The wayes of Ahab and the counsells from that wicked house did provoke the LORD exceedingly they stirred-up the heate of His displeasure which did burne to the lowest Hell Deut. 32. 22. Jehoshaphat and his house found it so A great example to all after him he joyned in Affinity with Ahab and thereby hazarded his own life and kindled a flame which consumed his house and all his posterity Ahaziah was his only Grand-child as was thought that was left of his house and after he was slaine the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the Kingdome The wayes of the house of Ahab are the same still their counsels the same against the LORD and against His CHRIST to doe so wickedly And the end of those wayes are the same destruction to King and Kingdome we cannot but be well aware of that for GOD Is and the same * Sicut Deus est semper sic justitâ—a Del sent per c. Salv. l. 2. p 60. for ever True and Righteous are Thy wayes LORD GOD Almighty d Rev. 16. 7. Just and True are Thy wayes Thou King of Saints and Thy judgements are made manifest e 15. 3 Athaliah that had the Scepter in her hand before steps into the Throne over the shooes in blood now and there she sate six yeares and in the seventh the vegeance of the LORD overtooke her and tooke her away in a whirle-wind when this 2 Chro. 22. 9. word was doubled in her mouth Treason Treason who was as fowle that way as her hands were bloody you will have a sight of her in the next Chapter and no more and that is enough for she was the most hated object that ever was seen in Judah and so she perished so we shall reade in the Story of Jehojada an excellent man of whom in his own place among the Good Kings THE ACTS OF JOASH CHAP. V. JOASH a good Prince for he was under an excellent Tutour but a bad King He proved himselfe unthankefull and so disproved all his best actions He gave abloody command for a bloody execution and hath a full cup of blood measured out unto him IOASH had a loving and tender Nurse Jehorams Daughter his Aunt and as carefull a Tutour her 2 Chro. 24. Husband that honourable
man Iehojadah the Priest his Protectour under GOD It must needs follow that youth so seasoned in its minority will doe something worthy of such a Tuterage So he did and the first act he tooke in hand was the reparation of Faire beginnings give faire hope but no sound proof of good proceedings and ending well the Temple a ver 4. fallen into decay through the wickednesse of ungodly Tyrants There was the greatest reason in the world that so he should doe repaire the breaches there which Athaliah that wicked woman b with her Sonnes c ver 7. had made there taking the dedicate things of the LORDS House and bestowing them upon Baalim for the Temple by GODS appointment had preserved him to make-up the many breaches made also upon the house of David And indeed the King followed the businesse with so earnest a zeale That not only the Levites were more slack then he b ver 5. but even Iehojada his Tutour was faine to be quickned by his admonition c ver 6. He would uphold that place with the greatest zeale which he had learnt by good information had upheld him But his zeale was fained and the good precepts his good guardian distilled into him did not sinke downe into his he art they made no other impression there but what a short time could weare out Iehojada that good Councellour dies full of dayes and the people buried him who had preserved the race of the Kings and restored the true Religion among the Kings of Judah d ver 15 16. That excellent Priest is gone from the Court to his Crowne he had the gaine the Court and Kingdome had the losse a losse unspekeable for then the Princes of Iudah acted their parts flattered their King able enough to flatter himselfe drawed him-on to their side who stood bent before by his own inclination so he hearkned unto them e ver 17. and left the house of the Lord and served Idolls What then Then wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem WRATH CAME Ai ver 18. A Land-wasting wrath comes powring down upon a King and Kingdom when they fall down before Idols then wrath comes and will not spare for it is the wrath of the LORD whose Glory they have given to stocks and stones They were served in their kind for they served Idols Prince and people they all chose new gods Then was warre in the gates as we heard before and their Militia could not keepe it off yet the Lord appointed meanes which could have done it for he sent Prophets unto them g ver 19. but they would not give care As a wayward and impatient sick-man they were angry with the remedy and at the Commandement of their King who ever saw an Idolater that was not cruell they smote their Physitian They conspired against GODS Messenger and stoned him with stones h ver 21. What had he done the best service that is imaginable hee contested with the King and people and yet not he but the Spirit of GOD upon him saying why doe you stand in your own light why goe you crosse to your own happinesse Why transgresse you the Commandement of ver 20. the LORD that you cannot prosper All the wayes you take to thrive and prosper in the world is lost labour or labour in the fire You transgresse the Commandements of the LORD yee cannot prosper you have forsaken the LORD He hath also forsaken you This was all the good man had done in these words he had spoke unto the people And they after their manner and lot evermore befalling faithfull Prophets answer him with stones They conspired against him and stoned him with stones at the commandement of the King What a King is this ver 21. The likest to the ungratefull snake that ever was heard of His Son is slaine at the commandement of the King whose Father and Mother was the Kings Nurse in his infancy was his Guardian when he was young his faithfull Councellor when he was growne up The Son of such a Father that had done so much for the King was stoned at the commandement of the King What will not that King doe that has left the house of the LORD GOD of his Fathers Serveth Idolls we see by Joash what he will doe he will shed blood to his power but that is not all if he can make his choice it shall be the blood of those who are most faithfull and therefore must crosse him in his way Whoever saw an Idolater that was not a most ungratefull man to GOD and Man both I will not adde and cruell too for he that hath said VNGRATEFVLL hath said all Note withall A counterfet zeale will degenerate into the deadliest hatred and no such enemies to the house and Quod later in herba manifestatur in spica c. Chrys Ser. 97. p. 342. houshold of GOD as friends once but now turned adversaries Such an adversary was Joash and the most unthankfull man that ever we reade of I cannot except one for his ingratitude did exceed Benhadads King of Syria Fight not against small or great save only with the King of Israel g 2 Chron 18. 30. this was Benhadads charge A most unkind requitall of Ahabs foolish pitty to him giving him his life at an easie rate h 1 King 20. 34 Benhadad returnes that kindnesse with that bloody charge touching the taking away Ahabs life and it was done accordingly but according to the threat of the LORD because Ahab had let Benhadad goe whom He had appointed to utter destruction I looked into that place to see whether it could be a paralell for this 1 Kin. 20. 42. mans ingratitude but it cannot be the like is not to be found in all the Records of Time Good Zechariah and the Son of as good a Father to whom Joash was more beholding then to all the men in the world and no lesse to his Son for he told him the truth which is the greatest kindnesse a Prophet can doe unto a King This true Prophet was stoned with stones â—â— the commandement of the King whom his Father had done such a kindnesse unto saved his life and his Crowne both Where was he slaine In the Court of the House of the LORD Oh! he should have spared him there for it was neare the place which was Ioash his sanctuary but when a man is resolved to doe wickedly he will make no choice of places or if he does that place pleaseth best which is most before the LORD and in the face of the whole Congregation of Prophets consulting about a way and resolving upon it how they may establish his Crowne and make his Kingdome sure for ever This place pleased Ioash best in the Court of GODS House the place for that great assembly And yet it was well for Zechariah that he was slaine there where he had done so much service to God and His people So
and how they have done it We reade on So soon as Amaziah felt himself strong and his Kingdom established He slew those servants that had killed the King his Father A good beginning in the execution of judgement and justice upon such murtherers that had killed the LORDS annoynted and their Master I may aske here as the LORD doth in another place Did not the Sonne doe judgement and justice d Jer. 22. 15. We must needs answer he did so he slew his servants that killed the King his Father It followes Then it was well with him d Jer. 22. 15. The note is The ready way a King can take to establish himselfe and his Kingdome is to seatter the wicked from his Throne and to bring the wheele over them Then by the rule of contraries To take the wicked 2 Chro. 25. 3. by the hand to countenance them To delight in them is the most compendious way to destroy the Throne to spread Prov. 20. 26. confusion over it Amaziah do's otherwise cleares his way to his Throne not only in point of justice but of wisdome and found discretion and that must be noted The people might have some jealousies touching the old Kings death he was a diseased man a very burden to himselfe he lay languishing his bones full of the sinnes of his youth might not the servants know their young Masters mind who was ready for the Crowne and they looked now upon the Sun-rising for it was night with the Father Amaziah now according to the counsell of the Heathen but it is good counsell will quit himselfe from the suspition of wickednesse all Israel should know That what ever Joash the King was yet he was his Father and he honoured him as a Father All Israel should see how his heart rose up against those bloudy villains that slew his Father by seeing him lift up his hand against them to cut them off from the Earth He was now stepping to his Throne and sitting down there He had had an uneasie seat of it had any drop of his Fathers blood bin there for his Cushion And there doubtles it had bin even the blood of his Father if he had not washed it clean out by cutting off such notable murtherers and so he cleared his owne Innocency his discretion and his Throne altogether And now this is not inconsiderable which follows he waited for a Crown twenty five years and in all that time it appears not That he was sick of the Father And he wore his Crown four years longer then he waited for it It is true The beauty of his Crown withered 15. years before he died as we shall reade anon he might thanke himself for that But this is it which I would put to the consideration of any man whether he has not observed some remarkable blessing accompanying an obedient child that had this good in him if no more he did honour his Parents Certainly the experience of all ages will evidence this truth That a dutifull child never went away without a Blessing nor a child stubborn and undutifull without a Curse Amaziah has cleared his Innocency and his honour at this point and how much he honoured his Father Nor was it possible for him to make all this cleare any other way to all Israel but by slaying those wicked Servants who slew their Master It follows Amaziah orders his MILITIA gathered JUDAH together a 2 Chron. 25. 5 made them Captaines over thousands c. He hired a hundred thousand mighty men out of Israel b ver 6. to strengthen his MILITIA But they could not strengthen him for GOD WAS NOT WITH ISRAEL c ver 7. We must set a mark there It is GODS being with a people that strengthens them Mighty men out of Israel could not strengthen JUDAH for GOD WAS NOT WITH ISRAEL no NOT WITH ALL THE CHILDREN of EPHRAIM Therefore if Ephraim stood with Judah Judahs King must fall before the enemy d ver 8. for GOD do's all He hath power to HELPE AND TO CAST DOWNE e ver 9. as the good Prophet said and so he advised Note the words well before we passe them over The LORD is not with ISRAEL not with ALL the children of EPHRAIM Why not with all them Because Ephraim willingly walked after the Commandement They served Devils 2 Chron. 25. 7. They humbled themselves before Calves They lifted-up their eyes and hearts to lying vanities as we to Crucifixes Hos 5. 11. therfore not with ALL the children of EPHRAIM And therfore said the good Prophet to the King Take Ephraim to thee if thou wilt make thy selfe strong with Ephraims Arme if it be thy will to doe it and BEE STRONG in thy own conceit FOR THE BATTELL but know ô King GOD IS NOT WITH ISRAEL for Israel is slidden backe as a back-sliding heifer d Hos 4. 16. NOT WITH ALL THE CHILDREN OF EPHRAIM for they are ioyned to Idols therefore shall they be oppressed ver 17. and broken in iudgement Doe not thinke then to strengthen thy selfe with a broken arme with those from whom GOD is departed Remember still That GOD He only makes a people stand or fall He has Power to helpe or to cast downe So Amaziah hearkning to the man of GOD though not content to loose the hundred Talents separated them to wit the Army that was come to him out of Ephraim to goe home againe f ver 10. So they returned home in great anger fell upon the Cities of Judah in the way smote three thousand of them and tooke much spoyle g ver 13. See how mischievous idolatrous Israel is to Judah They are a curse to Judah if they stay with him if according to the charge they be sent away they will pillage Judah and take away much spoyle You can never come fairly off from an idolatrous people Notwithstanding Amaziah hearkning to the Prophet and dismissing those Souldiers is the better strengthened for the warr he led forth his people smites his enemies ten thousand of them at a blow and prevailes over as many more carrying them away captives to the top of a Rock and thence he broke them to peeces h ver 11 12. That was a cruell execution Then returning from the flaughter he brought the gods along with him and set them up to be his gods bowed before such things which could not deliver their owne out of his ver 14. hands and so he broke himselfe and his Kingdome for this the Prophet rebuked this besotted King and the King reproached the good Prophet giving him a churlish and threatning answer Asking the Prophet who made him a ver 16. Counsellour and bidding him forbeare else he should feele his hand See how mad this King is upon his gods The Ier. 50. 38. Prophet reproved him from the Lord for falling downe before stocks and stones and he riseth up against the Prophet ready Eccles 4.
13. to strike him in the face Then the Prophet forbare and yet he will speake out his words If thou art such a foolish King that thou wilt no more be admonished it is because thou must certainely be destroyed If thy eare be shut against good counsell so as it cannot enter The judgements of GOD shall enter and thou shalt lay thy selfe and thy Kingdome open unto them As the Prophet said so it fell out as the Lord had determined and the Prophet had threatned from His Mouth The threatning of the King could not make void the threatning of the LORD but must hasten the execution thereof as the Prophet knew very well Amaziah had fallen downe in his devotions before the Edomites gods he rose as high in the confidence of his own strength as he had dealt foolishly like an Idolater to provoke the LORD by his devilish worship so he would deale as proudly too after the manner in provoking an enemy he that could place helpe in stocks and stones the Edomites gods would put trust also in the companies of men Cum completis iniquitatibus suis peccator quis meretur ut pereat providentia ab eo tollitur ne peri. turus evadat Salv. de gub l. 6. p. 29. for thus he does he rings the last peale to call in judgement upon himselfe he prosecutes that way which shall be to his destruction he rusheth upon his own ruine and invites it saying to the King of Israel after he had taken ADVICE from his flattering Counsellours who would flatter him that was so wise as to flatter himselfe first come let us see one another in the face The King of Israel more out of scorne then love bids him forbeare being no fitter a match for him then ver 17. a Thistle for a Cedar This was a notable scorne and sure enough Amaziah tooke it so but it was good counsell and it had beene better if the King had taken the same But Amaziahs eare was shut up against sound counsell he would not heare ver 20. How so The reason is rendred for it came of GOD that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies because they SOVGHT AFTER the GODS of EDOM Let us note this Amaziah would hearken what Idoll-gods would say unto him he would seeke help from such despicable and helplesse things that could not wipe the dust from their eyes could neither see nor heare nor speake nor stand such despicable things this besotted King sought unto for he sought after the gods of Edom. Therefore he should be left to his own seekings to seeke and pursue his own destruction And so he did he thrust himselfe into his enemies hands This enemy carried him captive and in triumph to the gates of Jerusalem forceth the captive King to betray his own City to open the gates of the same that his enemy with his Army might enter-in When the gates were opened the conquering King would not enter thereby But the more to despise his cowardly Brother and the more shamefully to despight his Militia he caused foure hundred cubits of the Wall to be throwne downe entred the City in his Chariot Note how a proud Adversary will insult over a despicable coward who had a mighty Militia now on foote but had not an heart to use it his sinnes had taken off his spirit and made him as a silly Dove without a heart through that breach carrying the King before him in triumph over those ruines The Reader must marke that and withall observe what followes how weake that Militia is which hath nothing more then Charets and Horses Men and Ammunition to fortifie the same The King of Israel breaks all Judahs strength for it became as flax that was burned with fire he sack't the house of the LORD and the Kings house takes away ALL that was pretious there then gives the poore creature the King of Judah his life for a prey which he was exceeding glad of and then returned to Samaria ver 2. 5. but lived not long after Amaziah out-lived his glory fifteene yeares p ver 24. after this miserable destruction but could not out-live his misery that followed him still after he did turne away from following the Lord q ver 27. He had Adversaries from without these spoiled him and from within these conspired ver 27 against him he that serves the Edomites gods must feele the Edomites plagues The King thought to out-run all so he fled to Lachish But judgement was too quick for him and overtooke him we cannot out-run the judgements of GOD They sent to Lachish after him and slew him there You shall never reade that an Idolater escaped out of the Hand of GOD sooner or later His Hand finds him out and is heavy ver 28. upon him And now being slaine he must be buried they doe him this little honour they brought him upon Horses and buried him I have observed it all along that an Idolatrous King will have honour from his people while he lives or he will force it from them as he did an Idolatrous service but when he is dead he shall have no more honour then what is given to a dead Lyon such as fitts very well that body which when that immortall thing was with it did humble its selfe before the gods of the Edomites those dunghill things They brought him upon Horses and buried him they cared not where d 2 Kin 14. 21. for when time was he cared not how hee did dishonour his body in a voluntary humility before the Edomites gods They buried him and made his Son Vzziah called also Azariah King in his Roome THE ACTS OF VZZIAH CHAP. VII UZZIAH is very prosperous so long as he hearkened to the good word of GOD and to the good Priests that had understanding in the visions of God Prosperity lifts him up he is stout against the Lord in His own House The Lord meets with him there smote him with an uncurable stroake to the terrour of all the stout-hearted after him NOtwithstanding the hatred borne to Amaziah his Son Vzziah succeeded him when he was 2 Chro. 26. sixteene yeares old he lived a few yeares a Prince many yeares a King he reigned 52. yeares a ver 3. He builds and restores what was lost and broken downe in his Fathers dayes he strengtheneth himselfe exceedingly b ver 8. he warred and was very victorious over the Philistines he dismantled their Townes then proceeded unto the Arabians and Amorites brought them to pay him Tribute c ver 6 7 8. As his victories were farre more important then were the atchievements of all that had reigned in Judah since David so were his riches and magnificent works equall if not superiour to any of theirs that had beene Kings between him and Solomon He had a Militia even A-NON-SVCH so fully furnished with all provision to verses 10 11 12 13 14 15. compleate the same as we
to the gods of Damascus which smote him and he said THEY MAY HELPE ME. Did they helpe him Yes after their manner as such gods use to doe they helped-on an utter desolation they helped to bring Judah low to make the Land 2 Chro. 28. 19. and her King NAKED And then having exposed Ahaz and his Land as a naked man to the rage and fury of Adversaries they were the Ruine of him and of all Israel Some things must be observed from this Story of Ahaz by way of Caution first and then for Instruction here is a great deale for Caution first 1. Be well aware whether high or low great or small be we aware That we set not our foot in an Idolatrous way if we doe likely it is we will walke therein stand in it and then sit downe there having made an entrance we cannot tell where we shall stay It were worth the noting if here were time and place to set it downe the pedegree of Idols and then the rise of Idolatrous services In one word the Idolater began with the offering a graine of incense at the first What Error minimus in principio fit maximus in fine Nat. Con. did he offer at the last The sonne of his body for the sinne of his soule Ahaz himselfe is a great example of all this Hee walked in the wayes of the Kings of Israel he made also molten Images 2 Chro. 28. 2. for Baalim Moreover he burnt Incense in the valley The ver 3. Calves of Jeroboam drew him on to the gods of the Heathen and now Bulls and Goates are too little for his new gods his owne flesh and blood is but deare enough He that burnt Incense but now now burnes his Children in the fire When a man has ver 3. set footing in an ill way he knowes not where he shall stop And 2. Beware we set not up an Altar which GOD commands not though it be but one and we can make it a gaudy one and patterne it as neare as can be to GODS Altar yet beware of this one for this one will draw on a second and a second a third Ahaz is a great example here also he set up an Altar in the holy place Did he cease there No Now he gathers all his precious things together and all to make and adorne his Altars he made him Altars in every corner of Jerusalem nor ver 24. there only but in every severall City of Judah he made high places to burn Incense unto other gods and provoked to anger the LORD ver 25. GOD of his Fathers And 3. Beware we shut not up the eye against the light Of all the Creatures GOD has created it is not safe to play with the light I have read of one who would not be beholding to the Sunne for it's light to walke or to worke by he would close up his eyes and put a cover over At length he be thought himselfe and was content to see the light and to take benefit from it but he had covered his eyes so long that taking off the cover he found his eye in the same place but the sight was gone He had dallied with light too long It is excellent which Augustine saith what good dost thou to the fountaine Aug. 10. 5. when thou drinkest of it Thou art refreshed from it and that is thy benefit So also from the fountaine of light thou seest by it thou maist walke and worke by it and that is thy benefit Be not proud then doe not shut thine eye against the light though it be but the light of nature yet let it in and make we much of it then GOD will entrust us with a greater light He that is faithfull in a little shall be Ruler over much but he that improveth not his little shall have that taken from him which he hath neglected or not improved to his owne good and the glory of the giver Ahaz is a great example of this also he playd with light he thrust it from him he would not take the benefit of that common light which as a common dole the LORD gives out to every man He put confidence in man Come said he and save me then in stocks and stones abominable Idols saying these may helpe me he trusted in them How then Then he had eyes and saw not an heart but understood not as a silly Dove without an heart he was as senslesse as the stocks he trusted in They that make them are like unto them So is every one that trusteth in them Psa 135. 18. Then from that time he sought helpe from those despicable things to the day of his death he walked in the world as a man in a Dungeon groping his way as in the thickest darknesse So much in way of Caution now wee must receive Counsell hence and sound Instruction First That Strange gods will blind a King strangely they will degrade 1. a man they take away his Excellency and Crowne his understanding judgement reason nay his sense also and leave him in the darke So as he shall blunder on in the face of the Angell and his drawne Sword to his owne destruction and to the ruine of his Kingdome And secondly That Idolatry which is an humbling a mans selfe before dumb 2. Idols is a sore transgression against the LORD and brings sore judgements upon a Land puts it into a forlorne and helpelesse condition from out of the KINGS protection so as no person nor thing can be a cover unto it whereby to hide it's filthy nakednesse It brings a Nation low and makes a people naked And thirdly That The whole Host of Heaven and Earth will be our Enemies till we make GOD our friend The King of Israel 3. said well if the LORD doe not helpe neither person nor any thing can doe us any good And GOD never 2 Kin. 6. 27. helpes them who expect helpe from persons and things which GOD hath cursed And fourthly That Wherin we put confidence whether person or thing will do us all the mischiefe and so avenge the quarrell of GODS 4. Covenant It was so here Tiglath from whom Ahaz expected salvation distressed him Israel was a scourage to Judah Assiria a Scorpion to Israel and Judah both but the gods of Damascus which he thought would helpe him were the ruine of him and of all Iudah 5. A heart hardned in sinne especially brawned in the sinne of Idolatry is seldome wrought upon either by mercies or 5. miseries though the mercies be exceeding abundant and sweet and the miseries exceeding bitter and sharpe Ahaz was wooed allured and tryed both wayes yet he continued as hard as a Rock This is King Ahaz In the time of his distresse in that considering time he considered not but blundred on and trespassed yet more against the LORD Therefore there is a marke set upon him This is that King Ahaz for he sacrificed unto
the gods of Damascus he turned himself to them from the living GOD to stockes and stones which smote him yet he said they may helpe me This is that King Ahaz we learne also hence 6. That stripes and sore stroakes will not make a foole wise No though thou shouldest bray him in a morter among wheate with a pestle yet will not his foolishnesse depart from him Pro 27. 22. Afflictions tribulations may breake the bones and the spirits and the heart too with worldly sorrow but the stroakes must be sanctified else they will not supple this rocky thing they will not breake the heart with a godly sorrow Ahaz had blowes enough because of his transgression The Lord delivered him into the hand of the King of Syria and they smote him and into the hand of the King of Israel and he smote him with a great slaughter The Edomites they smote him so did the Philistines he was smitten before and behind and on every side he had blowes enough but they did him no good his heart was gone after his Idolls and joyned to them then nothing can do him any good for he that is joyned to Idols is departed from GOD. We learne also hence That 8. A man can harden his own heart and does so daily he can lye in the grave of sinne and roule a stone over that grave that he can doe he can encrease the rockinesse of his heart he cannot soften it doe he what he can And that he must doe he must use the meanes for the softening of the heart which GOD affords unto him But all is made effectually by the good Hand of GOD unto him Who speakes and drawes too for He speakes with a strong hand The conclusion is man is as dead as a doore naile to his own conversion he can no more raise himselfe from the death of sinne then a dead man can raise himselfe from the grave of his corruption But GODS voice he can heare for that is a creating voice that called Lazarus out of the grave and that voice he can heare Wee must take one note more from the Retaliation of the LORD for that is remarkeable in the powring out of wrath upon Ahaz 9. Ahaz sacrificed his Childeren to Molech in the fire so he 2 Chron 28. 30. tooke the Children whom GOD had given him and offers them up to that abomination The LORD will be avenged on him for that He will give-up one of his Sonnes the stoutest of them and with him his chiefe servant and favourite also unto the Sword of his enemy And Zichri a mighty man of Ephraim slew MAASEJAH the Kings Son And AZRIKAM 2 Cro. 18. 7. the governour of the house and ELKANAH that was next to the King Ahaz said to a man come and save me That Man came for his owne advantage distressed him but strengthened him not He sought helpe from the gods of Damascus These smote him strooke out his eye and tooke away his heart were the ruine of him and of all Israel So ends the Story of his life A dishonour followes him to the grave how little the people regarded him appeares at his death Ahaz slept with his Fathers but not in the same roome with them he was too bad a Sonne to rest at night where his good Father lay a sleepe he had brought Judah low he had made Judah naked he had transgressed sore against the LORD Therefore they denied him roome in the Sepulchers of the Kings They buried him in the City even in Jerusalem but they brought him not into the Sepulchers of the Kings of Israel and Hezekiah his Son reigned in his stead We shall reade much of his Goodnesse in his place the ver 27. next Section there also of Manasseh a great sinner but greatly humbled he began very ill but ended wondrously well he obtained mercy that in him the Lord CHRIST for He was the same yesterday might shew forth as to his servant Paul all long-suffering for a patterne to them who should hereafter repent and beleeve on Him to life everlasting But of him after his Father and his Goodnesse Amon followes here after 1 Tim. 1. 16. him excellent Iosiah in his place Then a continued succession of wicked Kings and a miserable destruction For Judah halfe had changed her God and she hath a change of Kings one quickly after another quickly-up and as quickly-downe till they and their Kingdome fell to peeces The supporter of the Throne was gone and they had so heated their seate with their abominable Idolatries that quickly after they were sate downe in it they were consumed with the heate of Gods displeasure That I may conclude this section with the more profit we will looke back as farre as to King Solomon thence recollect the Story that we may take a short view of the wayes of Israel and thereby amend our owne Thus it was King Solomon in his declining yeares declined the true worship of God Rehoboam followes-on in the last wayes of Solomon like his Father in every thing except the best things his Wisedome and Repentance For he doted upon Idolls joyned himselfe to them and so rent from himselfe the greatest halfe of his Kingdome Abijah his Son was wiser not much better Asa sets all to rights againe and has a good Jehoshaphat He has a bad Jehoram he walked in the wayes of Ahab for he had taken the Daughter of Ahab to wife a wicked woman she poisoned her Husbands posterity their wickednesse is propagated to their Son and their Sons Son Unthankfull Joash we need say no more has almost as bad an Amaziah and he an Vzziah Then there is a good descent in Jotham and that is from above Goodnesse is not propagated wickednesse is for Jotham has an Ahaz there we are but I goe on Then there is a descent from Heaven againe Ahaz hath an Hezekiah Then there is a naturall descent againe Hezekiah hath a Manasseh And the naturall descent goes-on for Manasseh hath an Amon he continues the Story Then the descent from Heaven for Amon hath a Josiah And after him the naturall descent holds till all was broken to peeces Thus in the Throne of Judah there was a succession and interchange of Good and evill Evill Princes succeed to good for the exercise of the Church And good succeed to evill for her comfort And thus the Wise GOD orders it that the Church may not looke for her Heaven here but in the World affliction Here the Church is afflicted and tossed with tempests and so she is spoken Esa 54. 11. unto and comforted with an expectation of an interrupted peace for a time even here below but of rest for ever in Heaven We went purposely back to take a view of Judah's wayes and the rise of her Idolatries and in short thus we reade These abhominable services were first countenanced in Judah then practised by Judah after that forced upon Judah then tooke fast rooting there
We shall now reade-on and this conclusion quickly cleered unto us That where Idolatry is rooted-into a Kingdome it will not be rooted-out till that Kingdome be rooted out so it followes THE ACTS OF FIVE KINGS CHAP. IX Five other Kings of Judah as bad as the former did as ill and fared as ill as they walking after their own counsels in their own way to the utter ruine of themsolves and the Kingdome FIve other Kings of Judah yet remaine which I will but Name as exemplary for wickednesse and judgment as the former 1. Amon a 2 Chro. 33. 12. Son of Manasseh who did evill as his Father did but was not humbled for it as his Father was b ver 2â— he trespassed more and more so his raigne was short but two yeares then his servants conspired against him and slew him in his owne house 2. Jehoahaz the Son of Josiah is made King instead of so lamented a Father his reigne is very short but three Moneths 2 Chr. 36. 2. then the King of Egipt deposed him condemned the Land in an hundred Talents of Silver and a Talent of Gold and made ver 3. Eliakim his Brother King over Judah turned his Name to Jehojakim ver 4. and tooke Jehoahaz his Brother and carried him into Egipt 3. Jehojakim reigned eleven yeares did that which was ver 5. ver 8. evill after the abominations of his Fathers then the King of 2 King 24. 1. This was hee that cut the Râ—ll and then cast it into the fire Jer. 36. 23. Babilon came up distressed Jehojakim and he became his servant three yeares Then hee turned and rebelled against him broke covenant with the King of Babell which he should not have done though an Heathen King But see the retaliation of the Lord Jehojakim like the man possessed with a Devill as those in our dayes infamous this way all over the world breakes the band of his covenant That band though the greatest binder on earth cannot bind him he breakes that sacred band the Oath of GOD. Does he carry it away so does he escape I pray you marke what followes and resolve your selfe He shall have bands enough which shall hold him fast and breake him too that will breake such sacred bands It followes the LORD sent against him BANDS of the Chaldees and BANDS of the SYRIANS and BANDS of the Moabites and BANDS of the children of Ammon Looke you there The Band of a Covenant could not hold him these 2 Chron. 36. Bands held him fast But Nebuchadnezzars Bands were the strongest they bound him in fetters to carry him to Babylon But his burden of sorrow was too heavy for him so as his spirits fainted under it and died in the way was Buried with the buriall of an Asse drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem c Ier. 22. 19. Non autem eo usque dedactus est sed in itinere moriuus Irem 2 Chro. 26. 6. The Acts of Iehojakim and his abominations that he did and that which was found in him are written in the Bookes of the ver 8. Kings but more fully by Jeremiah in the fore-mentioned place Chap. 22. 17. 18. 4. And Jehojachin his Son reigned in his stead a very short time three Moneths and ten Dayes In that time he did that which was evill in the sight of the LORD And when the yeere 2 Chro. 36. 9 10. was expired the King of Babylon sent and brought up the young King in iron bands to him His attendance thither shall adde to his misery for the Kings Mother and his Wives his 2 King 24. 12 13 14 15 16. Servants his Princes his Officers all the mighty men of valour none remained save the poorest sort of the people accompany him manacled and chained to their perpetuall bondage 5. The King of Babylon made Mattaniah his Fathers Brother 2 Kin 24. 17. changing his Name to Zedekiah King in his stead taking an Oath of him That he should be Tributary and servant 2 Chro. 36. 13. unto him Zedekiah considering not though Jeremiah had put it upon his thoughts againe and againe That he had bound Ier. 27. himselfe with the Oath of GOD he also rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar 2 Chro. 36. 13. who had made him sweare by GOD he stifned his neck and hardned his heart from turning to the LORD and rebelled against the King of Babylon to whom he had sworne obedience He shall pay deare for this breach of covenant Marke that An Iron yoake is put upon his neck and his stiffe neck is made to bow to it he is brought before Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon where his eyes shall behold the slaughtering his Sons before him then those lights are put out after they had let in that sight which would never goe out till his spirits went-out so he is left in the darke to contemplate in his saddest thoughts the saddest spectacle that ever Father looked upon And it is the complement of his misery there That though his eyes are out yet he cannot but behold that woefull slaughter in the darke No more sorrow can come in by the windowes of his body more shall come-in at his doores he heares that which will make his eares tingle That Jerusalem is taken and Judah cast out from the presence 2 King 24. 20. of the LORD 2 Chro. 36. 17. We can proceed no farther we are come to the utmost of evils a casting out from the presence of the LORD It is next to the casting into Hell the very suburbs the brim of that bottomlesse pit And who is cast out I pray you Judah Give us leave to aske one question more Why was Judah cast-out wherefore did the LORD doe so and so unto Judah The Nations asked this question some thousand yeares ago and where they asked there they have an Answer given them which will satisfie all the world I professe Deut. 29 24 25 26 27 28. unto you we had need stand still indeed and cause enough to stand astonied If we reade on we must reade a miserable destruction by fire sword and captivity O terrible example of vengeance on that City which GOD had chosen to set His Name there How is it become like one of us might the Heathen say even like the Cities which God overthrew Ier. 10. 16. and repented not It was so because they sinned worse then the Heathen when Judah humbled themselves before Devils stocks and stones This was a City the Lord had chosen for Himselfe out of all the world All the world were witnesses of their favours their miraculous deliverances and protections All the world should be witnesses and stand astonied at their just confusion Her sister Samaria was not mentioned by her mouth in the day of her pride Her Kings also would walke in the wayes of the house Ezech. 16. 56. of Ahab and after their counsels to provoke the LORD Therefore the LORD hath done to her as He threatned I will stretch over Jerusalem c. And now we have a great 2 King 21. 13 14 15. example of wrath before our eye and it strikes sadly to our hearts that wee may heare and feare and doe no more so presumptuously If after such a destruction as this and beholding of it with our eyes we doe as Iudah did how great and swift will our judgement be The end must answer the beginning The wayes of Israel and the counsels of the house of Ahab were to the destruction of Iudah He that sowes the wind reapes the whirle-wind We cannot gather grapes of thornes or figgs of thistles Prov. 11. 19. As Righteousnesse tendeth to life so hee that pursueth evill pursueth it to his owne death The Copy being somewhat scattered this was omitted which should have beene inserted pag. 82. line 32. Then there was an hot contention The King striving with the Priests they with their King What incivility is this Was not Vzziah King why might not he meddle with the Priests office He will doe the Priests an honour if they will see it he will stoope so much below his Crowne as to take then Censer into his hand But if the Priests will not take it for an honour yet they must not take it for a wrong Vzziah was King he tooke the Censer into his hand he might have taken away their Censer their Sacrifice and Sabbath and all and have bidden the people goe dance the while for he was King and might take the liberty of a King so he was perswaded He is answered for God hath made answer to him by Himselfe as in such cases concerning His worship He useth to doe The Priests had done Ezech. 14. enough at that time c. FINIS
agro sed seorsim a cadavertibus aliorum regum Irem Jotham was over the Kings house and judged the people of the Land in his Fathers life time and when his Father was dead reigned in his stead 2 Chro. 26. 23. Of him in his owne place amongst the Good Kings THE ACTS OF AHAZ CHAP. VIII AHAZ his contrary walking with GOD and GODS contrary walking with him Service to strange gods procures strange punishments It darkens the mind It hardens and brawnes the heart in evill It hastens a mans pace to his utter ruine and destruction of all this Ahaz is a very great and miserable example AHAZ Jothams Son and Grand-child to Vzziah was twenty yeares old when he began to reigne 1 Chron. 28. such an Idolater as exceeded all his predecessors they walked in the wayes of the Kings of Israel so did he but in this he exceeded for he offered that most unnaturall cruell and divelish oblation called an abomination which GOD hateth a Deut. 12. 31. even the Son of his body for the sin of his soule he burnt his Children in the fire b ver 3. Therefore that MUCH which his Father JOTHAM builded whereof anon all those strong places could not strengthen the Sonne Notwithstanding his Militia the King of Syria smote him and the King of Israel smote him both with a very great slaughter c ver 5. But the King of Israel layed load upon him the smartest blowes for he was a neighbour and a brother offended c Pro. 18. 19. there the contentions will be bitter and mighty as here where they slew their bretheren with a rage that reached up to Heaven * Chro. 28 5. The King of Israel slew in Judah an hundred Gen. 32. 11. and twenty Thousand in one day which were all valiant men d 2 Chro. 28. 6. because they had forsaken the LORD GOD of their Fathers There was the old quarrell and these Kings were the viols through which the LORD powred downe the wrath and avenged the quarrell of His broken Covenant e Levit 26. 25. And marke we there Prince and people all forsake GOD GOD forsakes them breaks downe the Hedges takes away His Destnce that is done first after that He takes away peace then one Enemy comes in then another breach upon breach like the Sea smititg upon smiting one blow after another and full one smarter then the other till all are consumed and yet ALL VALIANT MEN. Amongst these slain was the Kings own Sonne the Governour of his house and he also that was next to the Kings ver 7. person The most valiant men were slain so were they that were nearest to the King in love and trust Besides all this ver 8. Israel carried away captives of their Brethren two hundred thousand women sonnes and daughters with much spoyle and brought it to Samaria ODED a good Prophet speaks to ver 9. the Host of Samaria very well bids them remember and consider on it That there were with them even with them sinnes against the LORD GOD for which they must looke for a day of reckoning even they who would show no pitty to ver 10. their brethren in the day of their trouble and treading down Nay said the Prophet the day of reckoning is come or as good as come FOR THE FIERCE WRATH OF GOD IS VPON YOV These words with certain others The heads of the children of Ephraim prevailed for ver 11. the sending-backe Judahs Captives warme-clad and well arayed ver 12. with their owne spoyles And all the feeble of them ver 13. they carried upon Asses and brought them to Jericho A ver 15. man will remember to show mercy to his Brother when he well remembers himselfe what his own case and deservings are and what need he may stand in of mercy to be showne unto himself Thus Israel relents at the stroake he had given Judah and shewes mercy unto him which doubtlesse moved Ahaz very much to cease from thoughts of revenge But he bends himselfe against Rezin King of Syria and that he may be avenged on him he sent to Tiglath the King of Assiria saying I am thy Servant SIR and more also Thy Sonne Come-up and SAVE ME out of the hand of the King of Syria A 2 Kin. 16. 7. strange speech but not so strange from Ahaz for he will anon ascribe salvations to stocks and stones much rather might he he thought ascribe salvations to a man Come up and save me So he calls in a forraigne King to his helpe who knew very well how to make profit by the troubles that rose in Palestina But yet Tiglath seemes not moved with a complement Your Servant SIR and your Sonne If Ahaz will have him come to save him he must bribe him well to his advantage and so he do's presenting him with the silver and the gold taken out of GODS house and his owne Silver and gold is full of Rhetorick can perswade mightily and make a man to hearken so it followes Then Tiglath hearkned unto ver 8. Ahaz for he had the treasures of Jerusalem in his hand and having there with prepared his Army he invaded the Territory of Damascus wonne that City carried away captive the people there and killed Rezin the King thereof who had so ver 9. smitten Judah a little before Now Ahaz thinkes his Treasure well bestowed for Tiglath had avenged him of his Adversary and up Ahaz goes to Damascus to meet Tiglath there and to behold the ruine of that King and his City who had so distressed him and all Iudah See how bloudy an Idolatrous King is he feeds his eyes with rue-full spectacles thinking now his chiefest enemy was taken away not considering that himselfe was he Ahaz being now at Damascus saw an Altar ver 10. there falls in love with the forme and fashion of it more gaudy then was that of Solomons made by the patterne shewed to Moses in the Mount An Idolater ever is better pleased with that Altar and Service which he hath devised 1 Kin. 12. 33. of his owne heart then he is with that which the wisdom of GOD hath commanded So is Ahaz here as Ieroboam before him and as all like him much taken with this Altar and forme of it sends a modell of this excellent frame to Vriiah the Priest that it may be sampled in Ierusalem according to the patterne The Priest was as ready to make it as the King his Master was to worship before it before the King was returned from Damascus the Priest had hoisted up an Altar according to the patterne and finished it An Idolatrous King shall not want an Idolatrous Priest Thus did Urijah the Priest according to all that King Ahaz commanded 2 King 16. ver 16. Then he was an obedient Servant you will say No the most unfaithfull in all the Kingdome and the deepest in Rebellion there next to
the King his Master who was so stout against the LORD This Vrijah was indeed a servant of servants the basest servant and did the basest service that is imaginable for he served his Masters lusts which warr against the soule and so did the greatest dis-service to his Master that possibly could be done That servant who obeyes his Masters commands against the command of his Master in Heaven which is to obey the lusts of men doth his Master on Earth the greatest dis-service that can be for he helpes on his Masters Rebellion against GOD and hastens on his Masters ruine and with him the ruine of all the people committed to his Masters charge Accursed be such unfaithfull servants evermore that are so plyable to their Lords will against the will and command of their MASTER in Heaven Vrijah did as King Ahaz commanded Oh well had it been with the King if the Priest had disobeyed his Master at that point for then he had done as GOD had commanded but the Priest did as the King commanded made an Altar according to the patterne sent from Damascus reared up this strange pile then thrust it up between GODS Altar and the Temple gives it an apparent precedency saying in his heart Let the GOD of JUDAH come behind the gods of Syria Then this Idolatrous King layes downe his Scepter and takes up the Censer and sacrificeth on his new Altar to his new gods the gods of Damascus Why will he doe so He gives us his reason for that Because the gods of the Kings of Syria helpe them See 2 Chro. 28. 23. I pray you the King speakes as a man quite forsaken of his wits His abominable Idolatries have taken away his understanding and his sense too HELPE THEM said he I Did the gods of the Kings of Syria helpe them His eyes told him if he could have seen that they were the ruine of Damascus and of the King there yet saith he I will sacrifice to the gods of Damascus that they may helpe me Now we must enquire what need he stood in of help and how these new gods helped him But first we may observe That the fashion and manner of worship which GOD prescribed Ahaz do's not please him he will have a way of his owne something like to that GOD commanded So he fashioned an Altar and paterned it Mark we now how GOD paternes him in judgement a very like ruine shall now befall him as had befallen Damascus whence he tooke his patterne and so we shall see what need he stands in of help Ahaz brought new gods with him to Ierusalem What follows Warre was in his gates He was distressed on every side the LORD against Whom he rebelled mightily powred down wrath upon him through this violl and through that both on the right-hand and on the left As Israel and Aram vexed him on the North So the Edomites and the Philistins ever more attending the ruine of Iudea entred upon 2 Chro. 28. 17 18. his Country from the South smit Iudah carried away captives invaded their Cities and dwelt there To whom then should Ahaz have looked in the day of such distresse when viols of wrath were emptied upon him from every quarter That is easie answered To the GOD of Salvations yea unto the GOD of desolations also for those He makes in the Earth c Psal 46. 8. men are but His viols but rods and swords and battle Axes in His hand d Esa 10. 5. Surely saith the LORD Himselfe e Zeph. 3. 7. therfore we will hearken Thou wilt heare me now now Thou wilt receive instructions Why now Because now He hath cut-off Nations Their Towers are desolate their Streets waste their Cities destroyed their Kings slaine now Thou wilt feare me now Thou wilt receive instruction surely it is meet to be said unto GOD I have borne chastisement and I will not offend any more f Job 34. 31 32 That which I see not teach thou me If I have done iniquity I will doe no more Surely now in distresse Ahaz will say for it is the voyce of Nature O GOD helpe me Should not a people seeke unto their GOD Ahaz do's not so he will purchase the helpe of Tiglath King of Syria againe with the sacrilegious pillage of the house of 2 Kin. 16. 17 18 GOD. Tiglath had helped Ahaz for so the Scriptures are reconciled in his first on-set he had smote Damascus and slaine Rezin the King there and so had served Ahaz his turne for that present and satisfied his thirst of Revenge Now Tiglath will serve his owne turne he will not returne back againe but followes his victory to satisfie his owne thirst of enlarging his Dominions he possesseth himselfe of all Basan and all the rest beyond Iordan which belonged to the Tribes of Reuben Gad and Manasseh and then passing the River he invades the Kingdome of Israel makes them his vassals And now he is within Iudah and possessed of a great part there So Tiglath came to Ahaz indeed invited with treasures and a faire prospect of all Canaan besides He came unto him sayes the Text And what good did he doe him None at all but hurt rather and DISTRESSED HIM but 2 Chron. 28. 20 STRENGTHENED HIM NOT. Now Ahaz is in distresse what will he doe now he sees that man is a vaine thing there is no trusting him he hoped he would helpe him and he hath distressed him What do's he now Worse and worse In the time of his distresse he did trespasse yet more against the LORD He was made most miserable and yet he remained most wicked he lost the fruit of all his sore afflictions Though he was invironed though his way was hedged Aug. de l. 1. c. 33 Vos neque contriti ab hoste c. perdidist is utilitatem calamitatis miserrimi facti est is pessimi permansist is with thornes round about yet like a wild Asse used to the wildernesse he brake loose and traversed his way even in his month they could not find him e Jer. 2. 24. Though he was fast cooped up in GODS fetters as with the northerne iron and brasse yet he thought to escape by his owne wisdome g 2 Chro. 28. 21. Ashur would save him he thought he could ride upon horses h Hos 19. 3. therefore his persecutours were swift Certainly for the sacred Scriptures set acertaine note upon him never was any King more madde upon his Idols nor did any King before him blunder on so against the Angell and upon the drawne Sword as he did so went looking forward and backward on this side and on that but the Angell crossed him every way and yet he went on This was King Ahaz But whether went he For the living to the dead Ahaz had said before to the King of Syria Come up and Esa 8. 19. SAVE ME. Now he saith as much to stocks and stones Arise and HELPE ME He sacrificed