his cause his people and the spiritual good of you and yours This is to lay up treasures in heaven Get grace that is durable riches which will never leave you and that better part which shall never bee taken from you VERSE 16. Samaria shall become desolate â—or shee hath rebelled against her God they shall fall by the sword their Infants shall bee dashed in peeces and their women with childe shall bee ripped up THis Verse contains the end of the Sermon and ends the Chapter and therefore those Interpreters do ill who make it to begin the next Chapter when this Verse fitly coheres with the precedent Verse there the Prophet shewed how they should bee plundred and lose their goods here hee tells them how they should bee butchered and lose their lives So that the Prophet doth not here begin any new Sermon but onely confirms what hee had spoken before of the destruction of Samaria and the overthrow of the whole Kingdome So that the words are a clear exposition of the former similies and a conclusion of the Sermon Wherein wee have 1 The dismal downfall of Samaria Samaria shall bee made desolate The Prophet labours to awaken them by fore-telling the greatness of their punishment 2 Here is the meritorious cause of this sad destruction viz. her rebellion For shee hath rebelled against her God So that shee hath no cause to complain of God as if hee dealt hardly with her for her own rebellion is the true cause of her destruction and her great provocation hath brought this upon her as the Church in the like case complains Lam. 1. 18. The Lord is righteous in sending sword plague and famine upon us for wee have rebelled against him 3 Here is the Accent or Aggravation of this their Rebellion it was not against man but it was against God yea against her God in Covenant who had been so good and gracious to her both in Temporals and Spirituals yet â—ee most ignominiously casts off him and prefers the Calves before him Hos. 13. 2. 4 Here is set forth the kinde of their destruction or what manner of death they shall dye and that is by the Sword They shall fall by the Sword They shall not onely lose their Treasure and their Land but their Lives also Hee sayes not All shall fall but indefinitly Yee shall fall i. e. many of the Inhabitants of Samaria and of the Kingdome of Israel shall bee slain by the Assyrian 5 The better yet to awaken them out of their security hee sets forth the rage of the Assyrian with its Aggravations and tells them yet further That their children should bee dashed in peeces against the walls and stones and their women with childe should bee ripped up They should not onely dye themselves but their little ones also should perish with them Samaria shall become desolate Samaria was a first a City of Syria built by Oâ—ri King of Israel who bought the hill thereof from Shemer and so from him it was called Samaria 1 King 16. 24. It was the Royal City even the chief City of the Kings of Israel where they kept their Court and had their special residence there they reigned and there they were buried This was the Metropolis and Mother-City All the other Cities of the Kingdome of Israel were called the Daughters of Samaria Ezek. 16. 46 55 In Augustus Caesars time it was called Sebâ—ste and not long after it was totally ruined And here let it bee noted once for all that when the Prophets speak of the ten Tribes onely sometimes they call them Samaria sometimes Ephraim and sometimes Israel Ioseph Iezreel Bethely Beth-aven but when they speak of the two Tribes they usually do it under the name of Iudah Ierusalem Benjamin and the house of David 2 Samaria was a populous strong well fenced fortified furnished City there were Horses Charrets Arms and Ammunition all things for defence 2 King 10. 1 2. It was every way well prepared to hold out against an enemy as appears by the three years â—iege of that potent enemy which lay against it yet notwithstanding all her fortifications Samaria shall bee made desolate because of her sin Samaria is here put for the Inhabitants of Samaria viz. the Israelites and synecdochically it is put for the whole Kingdome of Israel as distinct from the Kingdome of Iudah The Prophet names onely Samaria because it was the prime City and all the rest were taken before there was none left but Samaria and sin brings down that also This City was twice besieged first by the Syrians in Ahabs time 1 King 20. 1. and 2. 6. 24. and now by the Assyrians Phul and Tiglath-pileser had before molested Israel 2 King 15. 19 29. and now comes Salma neser a third King of Assyria the Church shall never want enemies especially when shee rebels against God hee besieges Samaria in the dayes of Hoshâ—a the last King of Israel hee takes it and carries the inhabitants into Captivity from which they never returned but were totally rooted up having continued from Ieroboam their first King about two hundred and sixty years about the year of the World 3230 and before Christ about seven hundred years Because shee hath rebelled against her God The Lord had used all means to reclaim them his Spirit had long striven with them in the Ministry of those Prophets which hee had in compassion sent amongst them as Iehu Semaiah Azariah with Elijah Elisha Ioel sonah Amos Micah and specially this our Prophet Hosea how plainly doth hee tell them throughout his Prophecie of their Idolatry Apostacy Ingratitude and of those judgements which were coming on them for those sins yet nothing will work upon them but they persist obstinately in their sins and therefore the Lord resolves to pour out his fury on them Since they had imbittered his soul with their sins Hos. 12. 14. and given him gall who had given them honey and gave him wormwood for his milk therefore he now resolves to send on them bitter punishments They shall fall by the Sword i. e. They shall dye by the Sword so the phrase is frequently taken in Scripture as Lev. 26. 7 8. Numb 14. 3 43. 2 Sam. 1. 12. Psal. 78. 64. Ezek. 5. 12. Hos. 7. 16. Their Infants shall bee dashed in peeces This sets forth the great rage and fury of the barbarous Assyrâ—ans and withall implies the greatness of Samariaes sin which provoked God to so great wrarh They should spare neither old nor young no mercy should bee shewed to women or children no sex no age should escape unpunished Their little infants and sucklings which usually are spared for their innocency and ignoscency yet now shall bee dashed in peeces Souldiers use to shew mercy to women and children unless they bee sorely provoked the Assyrians had besieged Samaria three years and therefore they dealt the more severely with them Fenced Cities use to hold out long but
17. 8 13 14 15. but rejected the counsel of his Prophets till the wrath of the Lord broke forth and there was no remedy as you may see 2 King 17 7 to 24 where you have Ephraims sins and Ephraims punishment fully set forth Now what could the Lord do less than root up such a people so obstinate under reproofs so unthankful for mercies so incorrigible under judgements so uncapable of repentance so impatient of remedies so impenitent under all the means of grace which God had afforded them Let us now reflect upon our selves and see whether Ephraims sins bee not Englands sins if so parity of sins will bring parity of judgements if our sins run parallel with those of Ephraim wee may justly expect Ephraims downfall It is said of Lot that his righteoussoul was vexed with the sins of Sodome 2 Pet. 2. 7 8. the word is in the original his soul was wracked and tormented when hee saw the abominations of the Sodomites These twenty sins which abound in England and abode some judgement approaching should even wrack and torment our souls with grief that so wee may bee marked for mercy when judgement comes Ezek. 9. 4. Hab. 3. 16. The counsel which the Lord gave to Ephraim shall I give to England Hos. 14. 1 2 3. Return O back-sliding England from thy Atheism Apostasie Heresie Blâ—sphemy Hypocrisie Formality Ingratitude Witchcraft Security Anarchy c. and take with you words of sincere confession and turn unfeignedly to the Lord so will hee receive you graciously and accept both of your persons and performances If any would see more Land-destroying sins let him peruse D. Corn. Burges on Ier 4. 14. p. 38 39. preached 1642. Perkins 3. Vol. p. 420. D. Gouge his Arrows on Numb 16. 46. Sect. 46. p. 79. and 139. Mr. Case his Sermon on Exod. 5. 22. p. 11 12. preached 1646. D. Peter Smiths Fast Sermon on Psal. 107 6. p. 30 31. preached 1644. Lastly their Rulers were corrupt their Kings Princes Judges were Idolaters Revolters Violaters of the Law Bribers c. Hos. 4. 18 19. and 5. 10. and 9. 15. and the people were corrupted by them for where the head is rotten the members cannot bee sound Of all the twenty Kings of Israel after the division of the State there was not one good from first to last they were all Idolaters which serves to clear and vindicate the Justice of God in the utter overthrow of those Kings and their Kingdome who had for the space of two hundred thirty seven or two hundred and sixty years say some abused the goodness and patience of the Lord and since there is none that I know of that hath distinctly described these twenty Kings of Israel in any set Treatise I shall briefly describe the men and their manners and give some useful and seasonable Observations from them A brief History of the twenty Kings of ISRAEL AFter the death of Solomon the twelve Tribes were divided into two Kingdomes under Rehoboam and Ieroboam Rehoboam Solomons son reigned over two Tribes viz. Iudah and Benjamin and this was called the Kingdome of Iudah because the Tribe of Iudah was the principal part of it A parte praestantiori fit denominatio This Kingdome continued in Rehoboam and his successours the posterity of David three hundred seventy two years even till the time of the Babylonish Captivity which was about six hundred years before Christ. In which space nineteen Kings of the same stock succeeded each other All their Acts and wayes are succinctly but fully published by a very good hand I shall therefore give you onely their names and the Texts with Stars on the good Kings and Daggers on the Hypocrites the rest were wicked Samuel was the last Judge of Israel and Saul the first King Note that Saul David Solomon reigned before the Kingdome was divided between Iudah and Israel 1 Saul hee reigned ten years 1 Sam. 13. 1. c. and slew himself 1 Sam. 31. 4. 2 * David reigned forty years 2 Sam 2. 4. c. 3 * Solomon reigned forty years I King 11. 42. 4 * Rehoboam reigned seventeen years I King 14. 21. 5 * Abijah reigned two years 1 King 15. 6 * Asa reigned one and forty years 1 King 15. 9 10. 7 * Ieâ—osaphat reigned five and twenty years 1 King 22. 42. 8 Iehoram reigned eight years 2 King 8. 17. Q. Athâ—liâ—h Ahabs daughter and Iehorams widow usurped the Kingdome for six years 2 King 11. 1 3. 9 †Ioash reigned forty years and was slain 2 King 11. 4 c. 10 †Amaziah reigns nine and twenty years and is slain 2 King 14. 2. 11 Uzziah alias Azâ—riah was slain 2 King 15. 1 2 13. 2 Chron. 26. 3. hee reigned two and fifty years 12 * Iotham reigned sixteen years 2 King 15. 33. 2 Chron. 27. 13 Ahaz reigned sixteen years 2 King 16. 2. 14 * Hezekiah reigned nine and twenty years 2 King 18. 2. 15 * Manasseh reigned five and fifty years 2 King 21. 1. 16 Amon reigns two years and is slain 2 King 21. 19. 17 * Iosiah reigns two and thirty years and in slain 2 Kings 22. 1. 18 Iehoahaz reigned three months 2 King 23. 31. 19 Iehojakim reigned eleven years 2 King 24. 1. 20 Iehojachin three months 2 King 24. 8. 21 Zedekiah reigned eleven years 2 King 25. 1. The other ten Tribes over which Ieroboam reigned was called The Kingdome of Israel which continued about two hundred thirty and seven years till they were carried into captivity by the Assyrian about the sixth year of Hezekiah when Hoshea the last King of Israel was carried away captive So that the Kingdome of Israel ended one hundred thirty and three years before that of Iudah In this time there were twenty Kings of Israel of ten several stocks whereof one destroyed another Ieroboams stock was cut off by Baasha and Baasha's by Zimri and Tibni's by Omri and Omri's by Iehu and Iehu's by Shallum and Shallum's by Menahem and Menahem's by Pekah and Pekah's by Hoshea and Hoshea with his were captives to Salmaneser King of Assyria The most of these Kings were cruel Tyrants and Persecutors which bred sad commotions and transported the Kingdome from one family to another Whereas in Iudah where purity of worship was preserved and the godly Kings joyned with the Prophets there were nineteen Kings of the same stock orderly succeeding each other So good it is walk in Gods waies and to take in his Ministers with us A CATALOGUE of the KINGS of ISRAEL 1 Ieroboam reigned two and twenty years 2 Nadab his Son succeeds him hee reigned two years and is slain 3 Baasha of another stock succeeds him and reigns four and twenty years 4 Elah his Son succeeds him and hee reigns two years and is slain by Zimri 5 Zimri of another stock reigns seven daies and burnt himself 6 Tibni of another stock reigns about four years and dies as it is conceived a violent death 7 Omri of
two and forty of Ahaziah the King of Iudahs Brethren 2 King 10. 13 14. And destroies all the Idols Priests and Worshippers of Baal down go all his Monuments hee burns his Images destroies the house of Baal and makes it a draught-house 2 King 10. 25 26 27 28. This was good service and such as God had commanded and approved of and therefore the Lord promiseth him a reward for his service viz. that his posterity to the fourth Generation should sit upon his Throne 2 King 10. 30. Yet this But lies on him as a blot that hee countenanced and practised that part of Idolatry which consisted in the faise worship of the true God brought in by Ieroboam who set up the Golden Calves 2 King 10. 29. And for this God punisheth him 1 In his own daies God smote him in all the coasts of Israel 2 King 10. 32 33. And because his heart was not sound in what he did but hee sought himself and the setling of the Kingdome upon himself and his posterity and did tollerate Idolatry therefore God threatens to punish him in his posterity after his death and to avenge the blood of Iezreel upon the house of Iehu Hos. 1. 4. Hee reigns eight and twenty years and then leaves the Kingdome to his Son Obs. 1 God transfers Kingdomes from one family to another as pleaseth him Hee takes it from Ioram and gives it to Iehu his servant 2 King 〈…〉 Wee may not therefore free and murmure at Gods dispensations but must bee dumb and silent since it is hee who is King of Kings that doth it Hee pulls down one and sets up another in the Throne and none may say unto him what dost thou Dan. 2. 21. 4. 35. 2 The hearts of men are in the hand of God and hee turns them as pleaseth him If hee set up Iehu hee will give him in the hearts of the people It is wonderful to see that a Captain should so suddenly and so unanimously become King of Israel 1 The souldiers they proclaim him at the City of Ramoth Gilead 2 King 9. 13. 2 Hee goes to Iezrâ—el and it yeelds 3 Hee bids throw down Iesabel and the Eunuchs presently do it 2 King 9. 32 33. 4 Hee summons Samaria and it submits 5 Hee calls for the heads of Ahabs seventy Sons and they are given him hee can but ask and have as it is said of Caesar Veni vidi vicâ—â— hee no sooner came but hee overcame Thus shall it bee done to those whom God will honour 3 What ever God threatneth or promiseth shall certainly come to pass They are all Yea and Amen true and infallible Heaven and E 〈◊〉 shall fail before one jot or tittle of Gods word shall fail 〈◊〉 all bee fulfilled Matth. 5. 18. God threatned vengeance on the house of Ahab and see how it is fulfilled in every particular 1 The Lord threatens that where the doggs lickt Naloths blood there they should lick the blood of Ahab see this fulfilled 1 King 22. 38. 2 That the doggs should eat Iesabel in the field of Iezreel see it fulfilled 2 King 9. 35 36. 3 That God would cut off Ahabs posterity for his Idolatry and wee see Ioram and the seventy sons of Ahab all cut off whereupon Iehu calls on the people to consider the truth of Gods threatnings 2 King 10. 7 10. God hath threatned many judgements against disobedient ones Deut. 28. 16 c. And there is not one of them but first or last will light upon the heads of those that go on still in their sins 2 The Lord promised Iehu that his children should sit upon his Throne to the fourth Generation and wee see it punctually performed for after him reigned his four Sons Jehoash Joash Jeroboam and Zechariah The Kingdome continued in his family about an hundred years 4 Though God for a time may defer the fulfilling of his threatnings and promises yet in his due time when men think hee hath forgot and imagine that God is like to them and approves of all their doings hee will arise and fulfil what ever hee hath said Though hee seldome come at our time yet hee never fails his own Hab. 2. 3. Heb. 10. 37. Hee lets Ahab reign two and twenty years suffers Jesabel to stone Naboth to slay his Prophets to persecute his people I but see what havock Jehu makes amongst them and how God recompenseth his patience with the fierceness of his fury and suffers not one word to fail that hee spoke against them by the Prophet Elijah Let us therefore firmly beleeve the Word of God and let us not faint in a time of trouble for then our strength is but small Prov. 24. 10. And let us not envy the prosperity of wicked men nor fret when they seem to carry all before them for they shall soon bee cut down like the grass and wither as the green herb Psal. 37. 1 2. 5 When God hath great works to do in the world and great changes to make hee raiseth up Instruments fitted for the work and gives them a spirit of activity wisdome and counsel to effect it If God will have Ahab Jesabel and Baal down hee hath a Jehu at hand ready to perform it God can no sooner command but Jehu executes Hee shoots Joram slaies Ahaziah kills Jesabel cuts off the house of Ahab and conquers all before him No doubt but many cursed and mis-called him for this great slaughter and change but hee came to do Gods work and will and hee doth it strenuously and successfully in despite of all opposition that lay in his way So good it is to act for God in our places and callings 6 Idolatry is attended with war and misery Jehu walks in Jeroboms Idolatry and see what follows 2 King 10. 31 32 33. In those daies the Lord began to cut Israel short and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel hee burnt their Cities killed their young men slaies their children 〈◊〉 ripped up the women with childe and then the Moabites distress them on the other side 2 King 1. 1. and 3. 5. and 13. 20. 7 Obs. Sin besots men that they cannot see the misery which is coming on them Iehu knew how Gods hand was upon Jeroboam and his posterity and Baasha and his posterity and Ahab and his posterity for their Idolatry yea and Jehu himself was an executioner of Gods wrath upon the house of Ahab for this sin and yet hee lived and dyed an Idolater himself and brought a curse on his posterity as his predecessors had done on theirs It is strange that men should punish others for illegal exorbitant courses and breach of priviledges and yet themselves bee notoriously guilty of the same crimes The Devil and the ambitious desire of a Kingdome had so blinded them that they walked in the very steps of those wicked Kings which they had but newly slain Hence God in his just judgement made them executioners of his wrath one upon another
first The Lord threatned to avenge the blood of Iezreel upon the house of Iehu Hos. 1. 4. and now about one hundred years after Zachariah the last of Iehu's race is slain Though God defer long yet hee comes at last though his mill grinde slow yet it is alwaies sure 3 Still see how wicked Parents bring a curse upon their children Iehu's sin helps to cut off his Son Zachariah suddenly for he reigned but six months 16 Shallum a man of a new stock having slain Zachariah reigns in his stead one month so quickly doth the hand of justice finde out bloody Usurpers and retaliate their sins for as hee slew Zachariah so Menahem slaies him As men mete to others so usually God metes to them again Mat. 7. 2. 17 Menahem slaies Shallum and reigns ten years in his stead 1 Hee was an obstinate Idolater for hee walkt in the Idolatrous steps of his predecessors whom God had punisht before him and his own hands had been the executioner of Gods wrath upon one of them 2 King 15. 18. 2 Hee was cruel to all that submitted not to him Hee came to Tiphsah a City situate in the way to Tirzah demands admitâ—ance which being denied to him an Usurper in his wrath hee puts all to the sword without distinction of old or young male or female and which adds to his cruelty hee ript up the women with childe 2 King 15. 16. Now if Menahem do thus to those that withstand and oppose him a Tyrant whaâ— shall bee done â—o Meâ—ahem who opposed God and seduced his people from him to Idols Quest But why did the people oppose Menahem Answ. They knew him to bee a Tyrant and bloody Usurper and came to the Kingdome by murder and therefore the people are not to bee blamed for shutting their gates against him till they had better satisfaction about his tiâ—le to the Crown and if Menaâ—em had been an ingenuous valiant spirit indeed hee would have loved them the better for their fidelity and constancy supposing they would have been as faithful to him when hee had been setled amongst them but men that are void of prudence piety and true valour are satisfied with nothing but blood None so cruel as the cowardly Tyrant when hee conquers 3 Hee was Tyrannical Hee exacted by force no less than a thousand talents of silver which was three hundred seventy and five thousand pounds to give to Pull the King of Assyria that so hee might settle the Kingdome faster on himself Hee came to the Crown by Treason Murder and Usurpation and having a guilty conscience hee feared lest some might rise up against him as hee had done against others and therefore hee â—abours by might and main to secure the Kingdome to himself Usurpers fear shadows many times Iudg. 9. 36. They fear where there is no cause of fear This Menahem saith Iosephus was a Captain and great Commander in King Zachariah's army hee hearing that Shallum had slain his Master came with the army and destroiâ—s Shallum as Omri destroyed Zimri and succeeded him in the Throne Obs. 1 Tyrants and Traitors seldome live to bee old In the space of one year there are four Kings of Israel succeeding one another viz. Ieroboam Zachariah Shallum and Menahem Abimelech an usurping Tyrant reigns but three years and then is killed by a woman Iudg. 9. 22 53. The Popes of Rome how quickly were many of them cut off Some reigned not a year others not a quarter otheâ—s a month others a week and some but a few daies How many Popes did Queen Elizabeth out-live though they curst her with Bell Book and Candle So true is that of Solomon Prov. 28. 2. For the transgressions of a Land many are the Princes thereof 1 There are many striving at the same time one against another for the Crown Or 2 There are many in a short time succeeding one another such sudden changes are hurtful both to Prince and people and are apt to raise tumults and insurrections because a people are unacquainted with the men and their manners When people do wickedly both they and their Kings do perish 1 Sam. 12. 25. 2 Tyrants have more care of themselves than of the people Good Rulers are men of publick spirits they serve not themselves but their Generation Act. 13. 36. But tyrannical Menahems tax and pole fleece and slay not for their peoples good but to settle the Kingdome on themselves 3 God wants not Rods to punish a perverse people When the Syrians have done with Israel now hee raiseth up the Assyrians who distressed them more than the former till they were totally ruined 2 King 17. 6. When lesser Rods do not mend a people then come greater yea rather than fail one wicked man shall bee executioner to another as wee see in these wicked Kings 4 See here how misery still attends Idolatry at the heels Menahem walkt in the Idolatrous waies of Ierobâ—am and the King of Assyria presently falls on him So 1 Chron. 5. 25 26. 5 Idolaters are barbarous bloody men Who ever saw an Idolater that was not cruel Idolatrous Menahem what cruelty doth hee exercise on all sorts and sexes Hee kills his King and now murders the people Tyrants are like dropsie-men the more blood they drink the more thirsty they are The cruelty of Papists in notoriously known to the world Ask England Scotland Ireland France Germany Savoy Poland and all Protestant Nations and they will â—ell you of many thousands that have been most inhumanly slain by that man of sin No less than thirty thousand Protestants were slain at the Parisian Massacâ—e 1572. in a months space Go to the Indians and they will tell you sad stories of the butchery and barbarous murders committed by the Papists there 6 Idolaters usually are great oppressors They impose heavy burdens upon their people so did Menahem here and so did Solomon before him when hee fell to Idolatry and Rehoboam his Son adds to their burdens 1 King 12. 4 11. It is just with God when men will not serve him with gladness of heart in the abundance of all things and submit to his easie yoak then to put an Iron yoak of oppression upon them that they may know the difference between his service and the service of Idols Deut. 28. 47 48. 2 Chron. 12. 8. Hos. 5. 11. Such as can so easily part with spirituals shall lose their temporals Those that will not have grace shall not have riches long 18 Pekahiah succeeds his Father and therein is more happy than his Father who gained the Kingdome by murder Hee reigned two years and did evil in the sight of the Lord as his predecessors had done before him and therefore hee hath the common brand set upon him 2 King 15. 22 23 24 25. Pekah the son of Remaliah a Captain of his own conspires against him and slaies him in his Royal Palace at Samaria Argob and Arieh with fifty of the Gileadites
of fire and of burning would purge out of you every thing that offends that your scumme of Blasphemy Heresie Hypocrisie Unrighteousness c. may no longer abide in you but that the Name of your great and famous City may forever bee Iehovah Shammah The Lord is there This is and shall bee the Prayer of Kingsnorton Novemb. 17. 1659. Your Servant in the Lord THOMAS HALL TO THE READER HAving occasion lately to peruse Mr. Burroughs on Hosea 13. 13. I found that his Commentary was defective and that Mr. Burroughs that Prince of Preachers died before hee had finisht the Chapter whereupon I perused the remainder of the Chapter and finding it to bee very pat and pertinent to these present drowsie dangerous times wee live in and that no man had set upon it this twelve years for so long hath Mr. Burroughs been dead I having a little respite in the strength of my God I set upon it and by his assistance have at last compleated it It is true it hath cost mee some pains the most of these five Verses being so turned and tortured so intricate and perplex admitting of so many various Lections and Senses and Interpreters are so divided amongst themselves that hee had need of a great deal of Prayer and Patience that undertakes them I think there are not many harder Verses in the Bible than some of these that I have lighted on yet by a good hand of providence I have gone thorow them and have not balked any known difficulty but have made all as plain and intelligible as possibly I could Many Posthumous works have had Supplements excelling their Predecessors this cannot bee expected here All that I can promise thee is this that I have as fully and faithfully explained the Text as possibly I could I have raised thence many useful Observations and given in References because I understand they are very acceptable to many to such as inlarge upon any point more fully Some Common places are succinctly handled and if any Controversie occur according to my custom and calling they have a lash and a pass As for the fourteenth Chapter it is piously and pithily opened by two very grave judicious men So that now you have the whole Prophesie compleated If thou reap any benefit give God the praise who is pleased to shew light in the darkness and strength in the weakness of Thine in the Lord THOMAS HALL Samarias Downfall OR A COMMENTARY By way of Supplement on the five last verses of the thirteenth Chapter of HOSEA HOSEA 13. 12. The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up by God his sin is hid with him THis Chapter contains the sum of the eleventh Sermon of Hosea wherein the Propher like the sweet Singer of Israel treats both of Judgement and Mercy and useth both drawing and driving Motives one or both of which usually work upon all ingenuous dispositions to bring them to Repentance And since God hath ordained the Law to make way for the Gospel and Humiliation to go before Consolation therefore the Prophet first denounceth Judgements against Israel and specially that of the Sword which should cut off his Kings destroy his Kingdome take a way all their pleasant things and make them a desolation neither was God to bee blamed for all this for it was their own sins that had brought those evils upon them viz. their Idolatry Pride Carnal-confidence Impenitency Stupidity 〈◊〉 and Forgetfulness of that God who had raised them to great glory and dignity 2. He sets forth the fierceness of Gods wrath against them ver 7 8. Great blessings when abused bring great judgements Their sins had turned God their great Benefactour into a Lyon a Leopard a Bear and imbittered his soul against them They dreamt they should finde him a God all of mercy he tells them they are mistaken for now they should finde him a God full of fury 3. Whereas they might think to escape because God had so long forborne them the Prophet by a Prolepsis prevents this conceit Ver. 12 13. The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up and his sin is hid q. d. Ephraim thinks now he may take his pleasure since his iniquity lyes hid and he hath so long escaped but mark what follows ver 13. The sorrows of a travelling woman shall come upon him As the pleasure of conception hath the pangs of child-birth attending it so this secure and pleasant people shall certainly meet with sorrow in the end and therefore Ephraim is but an unwise son and guilty of great folly in that he doth not speedily make his peace with God 4. Lest they should be despondent and despair he intermixeth comfort with his threatnings and allayes the terrours of the Law with the promises of the Gospel ver 14. 5. Yet lest they should grow secure after a little hyperbaton and interruption of the order of the words he returns to denounce judgements and tells them that notwithstanding the promise of deliverance yet first they must expect a desolation of the chief City and the Kingdom ver 15. 16. In this twelfth Verse we have briefly set forth the desperate and deplorable condition of Gods people they were come to that height of wickedness and grown so stupid under Gods stroaks that now they must expect no more pardon nor look that God should bear any longer with them So that in these words the Lord meets with the vain conceits of the loose persons of those times who soothed up themselves in their evil wayes and because the Lord suspended his judgements for a time therefore they never suspected them but thought that the Lord was such a one as themselves that is no way displeased with their sins but since he connived at them therefore they conclude he slept took no notice of them but had utterly forgot them But they are much deceived saith the Lord for I have seen all their wickedness and have sealed up all their sins till the due time of revealing them which is now at hand be come 'T is true I have borne long with them let that offend none for I have not forgot their provocations they are all bound and bundled up so that not one of them shall be lost but they shall dearly reckon for them all together As God hath a book of remembrance wherein he records the good deeds of his people which shall one day be publisht to their everlasting praise Mal. 3. 16. So he hath a book of remembrance wherein he records the wickedness of the wicked which shall ere long be publisht to their everlasting shame As the sin of Iudah was written with a pen of iron and an adamantine claw so that it should not easily be blotted out Ier. 17. 1. So all the sins of Ephraim from the time of Ieroboams reign to their going into captivity were bound up and sealed that they might not be lost Papers that lye loose and unbound are scattered with every wind but when they
another stock reigns twelve years 8 Ahab his Son succeeds him who reigned two and twenty years and is slain by the Syrians 9 Ahaziah his Son succeeds him and reigned two years 10 Iehoram Ahaziahs Brother and a second Son of Ahab succeeds him hee reigned twelve years and is slain by Iehn 11 Iehu of another stock reigned eight and twenty years 12 Iehoahaz his Son succeeds him and reigns seventeen years 13 Iehoash or Ioash his Son succeeds him and reigns sixteen years 14 Ieroboam the second his Son succeeds him and reigns one and forty years 15 Zachariah his Son the last of Iehu's race succeeds him hee reigns six months and is slain by Shallum 16 Shallum of another stock reigns one month 17 Menahem of another stock having slain Shallum reigns ten years 18 Pekahiah his Son succeeds him hee reigns two years and is killed by Pekah 19 Pekah of another stock regins twenty years and is slain by Hoshea 20 Hoshea the last King of Isruel reigns nine years and is carried into captivity with his people by Salmaneser King of Assyria 1 Ieroboam their first King came in by Rebellion Israel rebelled against the house of David and chose Ieroboam for their King 1 King 12. 19. hence the Lord complains that they set up Kings viz. Ieroboam and his successors but not by him Hos. 8. 4 they did it without asking his advice or staying for his command for though hee had decreed to rent the ten Tribes from Solomons race yet because they did it not in an orderly way but tumultuously therefore hee calls it rebellion and saith that hee knew it not viz. so as to approve of it and though God had fore-told that Ieroboam should bee King yet because hee came to the Crown with a proud aspiring rebellions disposition hee is called a Rebel 2 Chron. 13. 6 7. This Ieroboam the Son of Nebat so called to distinguish him from Ieroboam the second the Son of Ioash 2 King 14. 23. was Solomons servant a valiant active subtil man and so more fit to bee the head of a faction Solomon hearing that the greatest part of his Kingdome was given to Ieroboam hee was offended with him and sought to kill him Kings cannot endure corrivals Upon this Ieroboam fled into Egypt where probably hee learnt the Idolatry of the Calves for the Egyptians were great Idolaters 1 King 11. 28 40. No sooner is hee in the Throne but hee sets up a new Religion in his new Kingdome Hee begins ill the very first step hee takes is out of the way hee sets up two golden Calves and draws all Israel to worship them This crafty Achitophel fore-saw that if the people should go up to Ierusalem to worship there the glory of the Temple might allure them and the true Priests of the Lord would bee drawing them to adhere to their lawful Prince of the house of David 1 King 12. 27. hee therefore useth all means to keep them from having any thoughts of Ierusalem though this fear was vain and needless for hee had Gods promise that if hee would cleave to him and worship him onely that then hee would preserve the Kingdome to him and his posterity 1 King 12. 38. To this end hee invents a more easie and plausible kind of worship pretending that it was too much cost and pains for them to go thrice a year up to Ierusalem they should have gods of their own at home Two golden Calves to represent God to their eyes These hee sets up one in Dan a City in the North and the other in Bethel a City in the South Hee sets not up Horses or Rams but Calves as the Israelites in Egypt had done before him though to their cost Exod. 32. 4 c. The Idol Apis is worshipped by the Egyptians in the shape of an Oxe or Calf and it should seem Ieroboam here imitates them and the rather peradventure out of a politick device to ingratiate himself with Shisac the King of Egypt that hee might the sooner help him against Rehoboam and as if this were not sufficient instead of Gods Temple at Ierusalem hee set up houses of pretended devotion wherein hee appointed God to bee worshipped in his own Idolatrous fashion Hee also ordeined new Priests men that were of base condition and not of the Tribe of Levi for the Levites had left him and his Calves and went to Ierusalem 2 Chron. 11. 13 14. men of his own party and such as joyned with him in carrying on his state-design Like Lettice like lips fit Chaplains for such Calves or rather Devils as they are called 2 Chron. 11. 15. Quest. But what saith the Lord to all this Answ. Why this became a sin to the house of Ieroboam even to destroy it from the Earth 1 King 13. ult It was a sin a sin with a witness a notorious hainous complicated sin that had many other sins in the belly of it it was a sin committed against great Light for hee had the Prophets Ahijah Semaja and Iddo to instruct him and against great Love for the Lord had raised him from a servant to be King and that over his own people Israel and had instructed him what hee should do and how hee should walk that hee might prosper yet hee most ungratefully forsakes the God of his mercies to follow Calves and Devils contrary to the express command of God that they should nor make any graven Image to worship it It was also against the Judgement of God on their Progenitors whom they knew God had cut off for making such an Idol as the golden Calf Besides hee changed the time the place the manner of Gods worship 1 King 12. 32 33. and to incourage the people the more in these exorbitant waies hee himself usurps the Priests Office and offers upon the Altar which none but such as God had set apart for that work might do Yet more this sin was a scandal and ruine to all Israel it drew them from God and made the Lord to divorce them Hos. 2. 2. Yea some of Iudah also were infected with this Idolatry 2 King 17. 19. and therefore Ieroboam is so often famed with that infamous Title and branded to posterity with a This is that Jeroboam the Son of Nebat that made Israel to sin This is hee that by his Example Precepts and Power drew the people from God Hee was the first Author of this Idolatry others were but Accessaries This was that indelible sin which could never bee removed from him nor his house nor from Israel till it brought them all into captivity OBSERVATIONS 1 Idolatry rents a Kingdome in peeces Solomon fell to Idolatry and now ten Tribes fall from his immediate Successor Rehoboam his Son to Ieroboam his Servant 2 God is most true in his Threatnings Hee threatned to rend ten Tribes from Solomon for his Idolatry and here hee performs it 1 King 11. 31 33 â—5 3 A mutinous body cannot long
his Armies bee routed his plots defeated the loss of his Kingdome and utter destruction of him and his be foretold yet hee is Jeroboam still and persists in his wickedness after all this 1 King 13. 3 4 5 33. Besides hee could not bee ignorant how severely God punished the Israelites for the very same sin of worshipping the golden Calf But wilful sinners are judgement proof no plagues upon themselves or others can work upon them It is this that aggravated Jeroboams sin and made it out of measure sinful that hee did not through infirmity but wilfully hee sets up Idolatry and therefore hee is said to devise a worship of his own head the better to destroy the worship of God and draw men from his Temple at Jerusalem 1 King 12. 28 33. Now the more contrivement there is in sin the worse it is as wee see in David the kilsing of Vriah lyes as a blot upon him more than all his other sins because there was more deliberation and contrivement in that than in any of his other sins 1 King 15. 5. 15 The tolerating of such contemptible men as are neither called nor qualified for the work of the Ministry to usurp the Ministry is a God-provoking sin Ieroboam makes Priests of the lowest of the people and this provokes the Lord to root up both him and his posterity 1 King 13. 33 34. 16 Wicked men bring a curse on their posterity The poor children many times fare the worse for the fathers wickedness not onely is Ieroboam cut off but all his posterity perish with him 1 King 15. 29 30. Of this see more before on vers 16. Obs. 12. 17 Carnal policy is meer folly One grain of sincerity and real honesty will outweigh many mountains of shisting subtilty It is hee onely that walks uprightly that walks surely It is ill when Rulers are more careful of the State than of the Church of civil policy than the matters of God When they dare not promote Religion for fear of troubling the State God oft punisheth such selfishness with the loss of all Ieroboam for politick respects and self-ends sets up Calves as suiting better with his carnal projects than the pure worship of God hereby hee thought to get the hearts of the people and settle the Crown faster on his head and thereby hee lost all His Calves deceived him and cast him off Hos. 8. 5 14. hee need not to have used such indirect courses for hee had Gods hand for it that hee should bee King 1 King 11. 31 35 37. But hee like a Machiavellian trusted more to his own policy than to Gods promise and hee prospered accordingly for hee had war all his dayes 1 King 14. 30. And many of the Priests and people forsook him and went to Ierusalem and joyned with Iudah where they might worship God in purity 2 Chron. 11. 13 16. When men make Religion ftoop to their politick ends and use it no further than it may either obtain retain or augment a Kingdome such self-seekers are self-destroyers their end is miserable 1 King 14. 9 10 11. Carnal plots and projects may bee kindled with hope kept up with miserable shifts but their end is doleful 18 Idolatry brings war When men chuse New Gods then war is in their gates Iudg. 5. 8. If Ieroboam forsake God and set up Idols hee shall have war continually 1 King 14. 30. So had Bâ—asha his Idolatrous Successor 1 King 15. 32. 19 It will not excuse wicked men in the day of wrath to say their Rulers lead them in wicked paths Such Ieroboams shall bee punisht and Israel shall suffer with them 1 King 14. 15 16. Wee may not follow great men nor any men further than they follow Christ unless wee mean to perish with them See more in my Comment on 2 Tim. 3. 9. Obs. 1. p. 190 191. 20 When the enemies of the Church are most high then God cuts them off When Ieroboam is lifted up trusting in his Idols and in the multitude of his armies hee sets upon Iudah both by force and fraud intending to destroy him but in the Mount the Lord appears hee affrights the Israelites and makes them fly so that Iudah slew five hundred thousand of them and the Lord struck Ieroboam that hee died not an ordinary death but hee died by a special hand of God 2 Chron. 13. per totum Wicked men shall not alwaies escape their sin at last will finde them out 2 Ieroboam being dead Nadab his Son succeeds him both in the Throne and in his sin and therefore in the second year of his reign hee was slain 1 King 14. 20. 15. 25 to 29. Obs. 1 That wicked Parents many times have wicked children Usually like Father like Son malus corvus malum ovum As they inherit their Fathers Lands so many times their vices too God often visits the sins of the Fathers upon their Children because they are apt to imitate their sin and to plead the example of their Ancestors and Fore-fathers especially in Idolatry Ier. 11. 9 10. As a good man may have a wicked childe but the promise is for him that God will bee his God and the God of his seed So a wicked man may have a good son as Ieroboam here hath a good Abijah 1 King 14. 13. but the curse is due to him and his seed hee hath no promise of such a blessing 2 Wicked Rulers reign not long They have many temptations to wickedness and have more opportunities to vent it than inferiour persons have and so are sooner ripe for ruine as wee shall see in the following Kings 3 Baasha having slain Nadab gets into the Throne himself and to make sure work hee first cuts off all the house of Ieroboam as the Lord had threatned yet because hee had no command from God to do it as Iehu had nor was inwardly incited by his Spirit to do it as Ehud was but traiterously for base self-ends to get the Kingdome to himself hee slew him and therefore God chargeth him with murder and saith hee killed him 1 King 15. 7. yet God is said to raise Baasha from the dust for though the treachery and murder was Baasha's yet the power and disposing of the Kingdome was from God In his daies lived the Prophet Iehu Hanani and Azariah yet hee hath the common But and Blot put upon him That hee also did evil in the sight of the Lord and walkt in the way of Ieroboam and made Israel sin 1 King 15. 29 30 33 34. Hee overthrew the house of Ieroboam and God over-threw his house according to the Prophecy of Iehu 1 King 16. 1 2 3 4. Hee reigned four and twenty years Obs. 1. God wants not instruments to punish wicked men If Ieroboams posterity must bee rooted up hee hath a Baasha at hand ready to do it Though this wicked man had ambitious ends of his own yet hee doth Gods work 1
us yet if God bee against us these cannot help us Prov. 31. 30. There is no wisdome nor counsel against the Lord. 4 Such as have been cruel to others are oft-times cruel to themselves Zimri had slain his Master and now hee slaies himself Saul a bloody Persecutor at last becomes his own Executioner 1 Sam. 31. 4. So did Nero Dioclesian Sardanapalus and others Murderers especially of their Relations and Masters seldome escape in this life without some signal hand of divine Justice against them Even Iesabel could say to Iehu Had Zimri peace that slew his Master 2 King 9. 31. i. e. hee had no peace nor did hee enjoy the benefit of his conspiracy for hee was soon cut off The Question then will bee Whether it bee unlawful for a man to kill him self by fire water sword or halter c Answ. It is utterly unlawful and that for these Reasons 1 It is against the Law of God which expresly forbids killing of others much more of our selves 2 It is against the Law of Nature which teacheth every creature to love and preserve its own life 3 It is against the Law of Nations which sets a brand of infamy upon such as rob the Common-wealth of its subjects in this kinde Achitophel and Iudas with others are branded to posterity for it 4 Wee are not Lords of our lives to dispose of them as wee please but wee are all set in this world as in an army where every one must keep his station till the great Lord general of us all shall call us thence See more in Syms against Self-murder Downams Warfare l. 2. c. 2. p. 70 to 82. B. Halls CC. Dec. 2. c. 10. p. 150. Brochmand CC. Tom. 2. p. 130. Sayrus CC. p. 425. Basenbanum CC. in sextum Praecept p. 213. 5 Wicked men are dis-ingenuous men They deal unworthily oft-times with those that advance them to honour Elah had made Zimri Captain of half his Chariots 1 King 6. 9. and hee to requite the favour kills his Lord and Master and that cowardly when hee was full of drink and so unable to help himself and cruelly for dying in his drunkenness hee was a means to kill both body and soul. Men hardly care what they do so they may get Kingdomes swear and forswear poison Fathers slay Brothers kill Masters do any thing for a Crown The Popes of â—ome what witchcraft and wicked practices did they not use to get the Popedome 6 Wicked men may plot and project but God disposeth Zimri cuts off all the house of Elah even his kindred and all that so hee might enjoy the Kingdome quietly without molestation and when hee hath done all hee misseth it God gives it to another Zimri beat the bush but Omri caught the bird 6 Tibni is chosen King by the people that sate at home who disdained that the souldiers in the field should without the consent of the rest of the people set up a King they therefore would not submit to Omri whom the souldiers made King and the souldiers would not depart from their choice thereupon they were divided which division and contest lasted about four years till Tibni died as it is conceived an untimely death and then the souldiers being armed and too strong for the people set up Omri 1 King 16. 21 22 23. Obs. It is no new thing to see States and Kingdomes divided The people are for Tibni and the souldiers for Omri one is for a King another for a Council one for a Protector another for a Free-State one for a Dictator another for an Emperor c. So it was oft amongst the Romans and so it is now amongst us Mobile Vulgus the Vulgar are alwaies like themselves unstable as water 7 Tibni being dead Omri reigns quietly hee buyes the Hill of Samaria and builds a City thereon which came to bee the Mettopolis of the Land and the place of the Kings Court and residence for Zimri having burnt the Royal Palace in Tirzah Omri resides in Samaria which was stronger than Tirzah as appears by the three years siege which it endured This wicked man being exalted to the Throne walks in the steps of his wicked predecessors and exceeds them in wickedness for the Text tells us That hee did worse than all that were before him 1 King 16. 25. 1 Because hee persisted in his Idolatry notwithstanding all the judgements of God which hee had seen upon his predecessors 2 Because hee did with more violence force and press the people to Idolatry hence wee read of the Statutes of Omri viz. concerning their Idolatrous worship of the golden Calves Micah 6. 16. Obs. 1 There is no stability in earthly things They are vain uncertain mutable One while the Royal Court is in the City of Sechem anon it is removed to Tirzah and then to Iezreel and at last Samaria is the Metropolis 2 King 8. 29. 2 The successors of wicked men many times exceed their predecessors in wickedness Omri here is worse than all that were before him So the Scholars of Arminius and Socinus have out-erred their Masters The Anabaptists and Separatists of our times are far more erronious than they were in Episcopal times Errbrs in the first concoction are not amended in the second As good men do improve the choice notions of their predecessors to Gods honour so wicked men do improve the corrupt principles and practices of their wicked predecessors to God dishonour 3 Wicked men are obstinate in sin Nothing works upon them Let Ieroboam Nadab Baasha Elah Zimri bee plagued both they and their posterity for their Idolatty yet Omri stirs not unless it bee to evil but hee is Omri still as Idolatrous as vile yea worse than ever 8 Omri after twelve years reign dies and Ahab the wicked Son of a wicked Father succeeds him Hee reigns two and twenty years and is a Non-such for wickedness All the Kings of Israel before him and after him were bad but none so abominable as Ahab who sold himself to do evil 1 King 16. 30 31 32 33. A good man may bee Passively sold under sin against his will as Paul complains hee was Rom. 7. 14. But Ahab here Actively sold himself wittingly and wilfully as a slave to the service of Satan the lusts of the flesh and the cursed plots of his wife So that I cannot but wonder at a learned Commentator of our times who makes Paul to bee like Ahab that sold himself to wickedness Rom. 7. 14. No man had better Prophets in his daies to instruct him as Elijah Elisha Micah and a hundred which Obadiah hid by fifty in a cave from his wives fury nor more Miracles to convince him nor more signal Victories and deliverances to endear him yet this Ahab thus blest sets up Idolatry stones Naboth gets his Vineyard persecutes the Prophets and people of God counrenanceth eight hundred and fifty false Prophets to Ieroboams Idolatry hee adds the
worship of Baal in the Mountain of Samaria which was far worse than the Idolatry of Ieroboam for though they had Idols yet they pretended to worship the true God but in this they worshipped Baal himself as appears by that speech of Elijah of Baal bee God implying that they esteemed him so 2 Ieroboam erected the golden Calves to preserve the Kingdome to himself but Ahab peaceably possest the Kingdome yet desiberately hee sets up more Idols 3 Hee knew the Zidonians were great worshippers of Baal yet hee fears not to match with a Iesabel there that stirred him up to a greater height of wickedness 1 King 21. 25. shee was a proud cruel cursed Idolatress a fierce persecutor of Gods people and a great promoter of the worship of Baal hence St. Iohn calls that false Prophetess that seduced so many to uncleanness and Idolatry Iesabel Rev. 2. 20. And Iehu chargeth her with whoredome and witchcraft This Ahab was slain in battel by the Syrians the doggs lick his blood and hee is buried in Samaria his chief City and his posterity is cursed after him 1 King 21. 22 23 24. Obs. 1 Wicked Parents many times have wicked children An Idolatrous Omri hath an Idolatrous Ahab As I have shewed before 2 Succeeding Idolaters oft-times exceed their predecessors in wickedness Ieroboam was naught Omri worse but Ahab worst of all hee is a Non-such for wickedness No King of Israel before him nor after him like him for wickedness 3 Great sins seldome go alone Ahab here is first an Idolater then an Oppressor a Murderer a Persecutor c. and what not As there is a concatenation of virtues 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7. So usually of vices Great sins like great men have many followers as I have proved at large elsewhere 4 The best Preachers cannot work upon hardened sinners Ahab had Elijah a man of fire fit for those cold times one that had wrought many great Miracles and boldly reproves him to his face for his wickedness besides Elisha and others and yet hee is Ahab still When once men are given up to hardness of heart not all that Mount Sinah or Mount Sion can afford not all the curses of the one nor all the promises of the other can do any good Of all the plagues therefore take heed of the plague of a hard heart On this side Hell there is not a sorer judgement and therefore when the Church prayes for a direful curse upon her incurable enemies it is this Lam. 3. 65. Give them sorrow of heart or as the margin reads it Obstinacy and hardness of heart thy curse upon them See the danger of a hard heart Mr. Marshals Serm. on Zach. 7. 12. Dyke on Scandals p. 88. Bain Epist. 7. A Lapide on Exod. 7. 3. Sibbs Cordials p. 14. Hierom 1. part p. 457 and 462. Downams Guide in fine p. 8. and 72. Hâ—okers Guide of Saints p. 98. 5 Wicked men sell themselves to do wickedly They are not Passively sold under sin against their wills and the bent of their souls as the regenerate are Rom. 7. 14. But they Actively give up themselves unto it As a servant is not sui juris at his own dispose but is a living instrument to work for his Master so a wicked man that hath given up himself a servant to sin is not now himself but hee must plod contrive and act for sin with all his might though hee ruine himself by it Rom. 6. 16. Thus it was with Ahab here hee had not hired himself out to sin for a week a month a year but hee had wholly sold himself as a slave for ever to the service of sin and Satan so that hee could neither think speak or act any thing but what had a tendency to sin Hee was a King and by his place hee should have ruled others but alass hee was so enthralled to sin that hee could not rule himself Diogenes could upbraid Alexander for his lusts I am the King saith Diogenes and thou art the slave for I rule over those lusts that rule over thee 6 Misery attends Idolatry Ahab sets up Baal and God pulls down him How can they expect Peace on Earth that fight with Heaven The Kingdome is now troubled Samaria besieged a famine in the Land no dew nor rain for three years and a half Ahab and Iesabel are slain and Ahabs seventy Sons cut off These these are the fruits of Idolatry and forsaking God It is worth observing what Tumults Treasons Treachery King-killing Wars and changing of the Royal Lines there was throughout the reign of these Idolatrous Kings of Israel Solomon that first set up Idolatry had three enemies upon him 1 Hadad the Edomite 2 Rezin King of Damascus 3 Ieroboam his servant So when Ioram King of Iudah walked in the waies of Idolatrous Ahab then Edom and Libnah revolt from him 2 King 8. 18 20. But on the contrary see what success and renown Iudah had who was more faithful to God They had nineteen Kings of Israel all of the same stock succeeding each other whereas among the twenty Kings of Israel there were ten several Kings and they of several stocks and they frequently destroyed each other to get into the Throne and lived not long whereas Asa one of the good Kings of Iudah out-lived Ieroboam Nadab Baasha Elah Zimri Tibni Omri and some part of Ahabs time 7 It is a fore judgement to have an evil Wife Ahab was wicked but his Iesabel made him worse 1 King 21. 25. Hee was so awed by her and such a slave to her that what ever shee would have done bee it never so vile hee durst not but do it Ahab wanted neither wit nor wickedness and yet hee is in both a very novice to this Zidonian Dame There needs no other Devil than Iesable whether to project evil or to act it shee chides the pusillanimity of her dejected Husband and perswades him that his rule cannot bee free unless it bee licentious and that there should bee not bounds for soveraignty but will As our English Seneca excellently As a good wife is a choice mercy Prov. 19. 14. So an ill wife is a sore judgement As a good wife will incite a man to goodness so an evil one will bee provoking to wickedness Solomon the wisest of men how was hee besotted by his Idolatrous wives into what sin and mifery did they draw him 1 King 11. 3 7 8 9. And this helpt to ruine Iehoram in that hee had the Daughter of Ahab to his Wife 2 King 8. 18. As you love your souls take heed of matching with an Idolatress it is an abomination for Gods people so to do Ezra 9. 14. Neh. 13. 6. Mal. 2. 11. Israel hath committed an abomination why what hath hee done why hee hath married the Daughter of a strange God When Pompey would have ensnared Cato by bestowing one of his Daughters on him hee wisely answered Se
his praying and preaching did more for the defence and safety of Israel than all their Armies could do 1 Obs. It is dangerous following our fore-fathers in sin Iehoash doth so and is punished for his pains People are so besotted with the example of their Parents and Ancestors especially if Idolaters that they will after them what ever come of them 2 King 17. ult which made the Lord to adde that commination to the end of the second Commandement which hee doth to no other Commandement against those children which should walk in the steps of their Idolatrous fore-fathers and often forbids that sin as fore-seeing our proneness to it Ezek. 20. 18 19 20. Psal. 78. 8. Zach. 7. 4. and bids us to the Law and not to Examples Isa. 8. 20. If Ioash would have followed his Predecessors hee should have set before him the example of Abraham Isaac and Iacob and not of Ieroboam an Idolater that had mis-led so many into sin and misery Wee may follow our fore-fathers so far as they followed Christ and no further But such is the bewitching power of Superstition that when once it hath got possession and rooting in mens hearts it is seldome ever rooted up again but runs from generation to generation till all bee cut off Idolatry hath so many flesh-pleasing pompous Rites and Ceremonies such seeming sanctity and devotions such splendor of Temples Images Organs and other allurements as are very taking with carnal men besides the fat Bishopricks Denaries Cardinal-ships and Kingdomes with which they intice many from Christ. This was that which made all these Kings of Israel keep up the worship of the Calves that they might keep the people from going from them to Ierusalem 2 Obs. Men may conquer others and yet not conquer themselves Ioash here beats the Syrians three times recovers many Cities from them takes the King of Iudah prisoner and yet himself is a prisoner to sin hee pillageth Jerusalem and the Devil pillageth him Hee is called the Saviour of Israel and yet himself was not saved from his iniquity for hee lived and dyed an Idolater So true is that of Solomon Prov. 16. 32. Hee that can rule his own spirit is better than hee that taketh a City Alexander that could conquer others yet Wine and Women conquered him 3 There is none so wicked but there is some good in them Joash here a wicked King yet visits the Prophet in his sickness sympathizeth with him and weeps over him in his affliction considering the great loss that the Church and State would receive by his death hee gives him honourable Titles savouring of much respect to him How would some Atheistical Sectaries amongst us have railed at this King for calling the good Prophet Father and stiling him The Chariot of Israel i. e. The Shield and Buckler the best defence that Israel had Those Sots and Satans whom the Devil hath blinded and strongly deluded are not worthy of an Answer yet if any would see them answered let them peruse my Comment on 2 Tim. 3. 17. p. 296. Wisdome is justified of her own children and though this ungrateful world vilifie Gods Ministers whilst living yet when they are dead they are ready to adore them 4 There is no loss in shewing kindness to the Prophets of God The King comes to visit the Prophet in his sickness and the Prophet by way of gratitude assures the King of a threefold victory which hee should have against the Syrians 2 King 13. 25 c. The Lord takes the kindness which wee shew to his Prophets as done to himself Hee that honours them honours him whose Embassadors they are Ebedmelech that shewed kindness to Ieremy hath his life given him for a prey Ier. 39. 17 18. Hee that receives a Prophet in the name of a Prophet and shews kindness to him upon that account because hee is a Minister of Christ shall have a Prophets reward Mat. 10. 41. i. e. Hee shall have an eminent reward fit for such a one as hath promoted Gods service in a high degree Gaius lost nothing by such guests as Iohn nor the Shunamite or Sareptan Widow by entertaining Prophets of such Christ seems to say as Paul did of Onesimus if hee owe thee ought put it on mine account I will repay it 5 Hee died The most potent puissant successful Conquerors of the world are conquered by death As I have shewed before 14 Jeroboam the second succeeds his Father Joash and reigns one and forty years not one of his rank reigned so long hee was one of the most prosperous successful and victorious of all the Kings of Israel since the division of the ten Tribes Hee recovered the antient borders of Israel from the Syrians and made them tributary to himself The ground of all this goodness is given 2 King 14. 23 25 26 27 28. The Lord saw the affliction of Israel that it was very bitter for there was none shut up or left nor any helper left therefore the Lord out of his wonted mercy raised up Jeroboam to bee a Saviour to them Yet hee is stigmatized with the old brand that his predecessor had before him vâ—z That this New Jeroboam was a chip of the old block for hee did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord and departed not from all the sins of old Jeroboam the Son of Nebat who made Israel sin 2 King 14. 24. And that which aggravates his sin is this 1 That hee sinned against great Light for in his daies preached Jonah Amos Hosea three very famous Prophets 2 Against great Love for the Lord sent Jonah to prophesie of victory and good success unto him 2 King 14. 25. But since hee profited not by this Prophets Ministery the Lord sends him to Niniveh the chief City of the great Empire of the Assyrians Obs. 1 When a Nation is in its most prosperous and flourishing condition it may bee nearest ruine Israel never flourisht since the division of the ten Tribes under any King as it did under this Joash and Jehoahaz had done valiantly before but Jeroboam excells them all Under him the Kingdome flourisht in riches honours victories and great success But after this its honour and power still decaied till it was totally ruined It was in this Kings reign that Hosea fore-told the destruction of Samaria Hos. 1. 1. And Amos fore-told the ruine of Jeroboam and his house Amos 1. 2. and 7. 8 9 10 11. Idolatrous Kingdomes cannot stand long Babylon may think to sit as a Queen but sorrows shall at last surprize her and no worldly pomp or power shall bee able to keep off Gods judgements from her Rev. 18. 7 8. All Kingdomes have their rise and ruine and when they bee at the height then they decrease and moulder away as wee see in the Assyrian Babylonian and Persian Monarchies what vast Dominions had they yet all are vanisht and come to nothing This should keep us humble in the midst
such great places They had need to bee solid seasoned substantial peeces that have the weight of the building lying on them 4 When the Maintenance is Incompetent If a man have a great family to maintain but the means is so small that hee cannot maintain his family nor go thorow the works of his Ministery with that comfort and credit as becomes a Minister of the Gospel in such a case also it is lawful to remove Wee see it is fo in all callings if a man cannot live in one Town hee may lawfully remove to another God would have the Ministers of the Gospel not to beg but to live comfortably in their Ministery and to bee maintained not like Swine-heards but like the Ambassadors of Christ with a competent fixed honourable maintenance The Levites that had their Tythes taken from them left their stations without blame Neh. 13. 10. 5 Whereas many think that a Minister can remove at his pleasure from place to place and get what place soever pleaseth him they are much deceived for God hath decreed and fore-appointed Ministers to their places before they are born Hee hath decreed how long such a Minister shall abide in such a place and how long in such a place Act. 17. 26. and though wee are loath to remove yet when providence calls bee the means more or less it matters not wee must obey Gen. 12. 1. 4. Act. 7. 3. 5. And if a Sparrow cannot fall to the ground nor a hair from our heads without a providence much less can a Minister remove from one Congregation to another without a providence so that the quarrelling Quakers with the rest of that rout who rail at us when wee justly remove from place to place do not so much revile us as the Lord who is the disposer of us he is the Potter and we are the clay hee may raise us or ruine us plant us or transplant us as hee sees good and none may say unto him What dost thou It is not wee but the Holy Ghost that sets us over our flocks Act. 20. 28. Quest. But why doth the Lord remove men from place to place as hee did the Apostles sometimes why doth hee not fixe them to one place Answ. The Lord is a free agent and is not bound to give us a reason of his doings it may satisfie us that it is his good pleasure to have it so Psal. 39. 9. Matth. 11. 25 26. 2 If nothing will satisfie you without a Reason reasons enow may bee given 1 Sometimes people hate and persecute their Ministers and look upon them as a burden not a blessing it is fit such should bee eased and made to know the worth of the mercy by the wanting of it 2 Sometimes people are barren under the means of grace and do not value the Gospel according to its worth it is just with God to remove it to those who will prize it better When the Iews contemned the Gospel the Apostle left them and went to the Gentiles Act. 13. 46. The Kingdome of God shall bee taken from such and bee given to those that will bring forth the fruit of it 3 As for the Apostles there was great reason why they were not fixed to one place 1 Because the Church was then in planting but not planted 2 They were to spread the Gospel over the world and therefore were not confined to any fixed charge Caution Yet to prevent scandal these Cautions would bee remembred 1 Because many are apt to cavil and cry Ministers are covetous and remove without a cause let none remove rashly ambitiously self-seekingly but judiciously and piously for the profit and edification of the Church and the better to stop the mouthes of adversaries it were well if in such cases men would not bee their own judges but refer the hearing of the case with all its circumstances to the Presbytery or for want of that to some neighbour Ministers who are able to judge and determine the case 2 They must do what in them lyes to provide an able successour for the place they leave that the Church bee not unprovided of a faithful Pastor 3 If after all this any shall bee found to make it their trade to remove from place to place solely to get more means and shall refuse to refer their cause to the hearing and determination of sober pious judicious Ministers let them bear their shame for mee I shall never plead for such By all that hath been said wee may see 1 That some offend in the Defect whilst they hold it unlawful for a man upon any occasion to remove whereas Christ who is the Lord of the harvest hath not onely power to call Ministers but also to transfer them from one Church to another and therefore it is not in the power of any man absolutely to indent with any people to stay so long or so long with them 2 Others offend in the Excess when upon every light occasion without any urgent necessity or benefit to the Church they forsake their proper charge and chaffer for Parishes as Horse-coursers do for horses or as Seneca saith of sick men Mutationibus â—â—â—â—tur pro remediis they think to cure their sick souls with changing of their seats as the dropsie man thinks to cure his dropsie with change of drinks 15 Zachariah son to Ieroboam succeeds him both in the Throne and in his sin and hath therefore the common brandset upon him viz. That hee did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord as his Fore-Fathers had done Hee was so far from repenting of the wickedness of his fore-fathers Iehu Iehoahaz Ioash and Ieroboam that hee justified them in their abominations by walking in their sinful paths This his obstinacy so incensed the Lord against him that when hee had reigned but six months hee cut him off by Shallum who killed him openly so wicked was hee and so ill-beloved that the people let him bee slain before them they did not oppose but rather approve of what was done 2 King 15. 8 9 10. This was the time of the Kingdome of Israels wane things grew worse and worse with them one judgement following in the neck of another till they were quite destroyed and one wicked King rising up as Gods executioner to do justice upon another till all was over-thrown Obs. 1 God faithfully performs what ever hee promiseth God promiseth Iehu that his seed should sit upon his Throne to the fourth Generation and see it here punctually performed and if hee thus faithfully keep promise with his enemies who daily provoke him by their ingratitude and Idolatry what will hee not do for his people who serve him sincerely Hee that thus keeps touch with his enemies will never fail his friends Though for a time hee may hide himself to try and exercise their graces yet not one tittle of all that hee hath promised shall fail 2 God is faithful in fulfilling his Threatnings though it bee long
are thought to bee Pekah's partners who aided him in the murder of their soveraign Others conceive they were on the Kings side and slain with him But the first opinion is conceived to bee most genuine Obs. 1 God many times visits the sins of the Fathers upon the children especially when they walk in their steps Menahem killed his King and now God raiseth up one to kill his Son Thus wicked men that get riches and Kingdome for their children by indirect means get a cuâ—se for them and bring them into many straights and miseries which otherwise they might have avoided 2 If God bee against us no place can secure us Let Pekahiah get into Samaria the City Royal and bee guarded in his Palace there yet God hath a Pekah that shall finde him out and slay him in his own Palace for his sin and the sins of his bloody Father 3 If wee take the fifty Gileadites for the Kings friends and assistants then observe That such as side with great men in their sins must look to suffer with them No doubt but these Gileadites gloried that they were admitted to bee Courtiers and Assistant to the King but as it proved they had better have been Carters for then they had not perisht as they did It is dangerous living in Princeâ— Courts they live safely who live privately especially it is dangerous to have communion and fellowship with the wicked Good Iehosaphat joyning with wicked Ahab against the Syrians had like to have lost his life into the bargain The Geese in the Fable that joyned with the Cranes in preying upon the fields were killed for company 19 Pekah having killed Pekahiah reigns twenty years in his stead Hee also did evil in the sigâ—t of the Lord and hath the common brand 2 King 15. 27 28. Hee was born of obscure Parents his Father Remaliah was a private person and therefore by way of contempt hee is called Remaliah's Son and the tail of a fire-â—rand Isa. 7. 4. and 8. 6. Hee is punisht for his obstinacy and Idolatry I With the loss of â— great part of his Kingdome All the people of the Land of Napthali were lead into captiviâ—y by Tiglath-Pileser King of Assyria 2 King 15. 29. Two Tribes and a half beyond Iordan with Napthali and Zebulun on this sidâ— Iordan were now carried all away and this was the beginning of Israels sorrow 2 With the loss of his life Hoshea conspired against him and slew him Vers. 30. Tyrants oft come to violent ends and those that slay their Soveraigns shall have some that will slay them If Pekah kill Pekahiah Hoshea shall kill him As hee came to the Kingdome by murder so by murder hee loseth it Obs. 1 Idolatry from â—irst to last is still attended with misery Pekâ—h peâ—sists in the Idolatrous steps of his predecessors and now see how many Cities and Regions are lost 2 King 15. 29. Ijon and Abel-beth-maachah and Ianoah and Kedesh and Hazor and Gilead and Galilee and all the Land of Napthali so that upon the point five Tribes of Israel were lost This was the first captivity of Israel 2 The troubiers of Gods people many times are men of sordid and obscure Originâ—ls Pekah here Remaâ—iahs Son and the tail end of a brand which retains not fire long but after a little smoaking vanisheth it is hee that molests Iudah the people of God Isa. 7 4 5 6. It was Alexander a Smith not a Gold-Smith or a Silver-Smith but a Copper-Smith that molested Paul 2 Tim. 4. 14. David complains that the abjects and dreggs of men gathered themselves against him Psal. 35. 15 16. and Iob complains of such Iob 19. 18. and 30. 1. 20 Hoshea the last King of Israel having slain Pekah reigns nine years in his stead and though hee were the last of all the Kings of Israel yet hee also is branded for one that did evil in the sight of the Lord though hee was not altogether so bad as the other Kings of Israel that were before him 2 King 17. 1 2. Where there is any goodness God takes notice of it and commends it as I have shewed before This will appear 1 In that hee did not worship Baal nor serve the Host of Heaven as sâ—me of his predecessors had done before him Hee abandoned the grosser Idolatry of many of his Predecessors and secondly Hee suffered such of his subjects as would to go up to worship in the Temple of Ierusalem which the former Kings of Israel would not permit but laid snares for them Hos. 5. 1. But when Hezekiah proclaimed a Passeover many of the ten Tribes went up to keep it in Jerusalem 2 Chron. 30. 11. Yet see how judgement still attends upon Idolatry Murder and Treachery 1 Gods hand lies heavy upon King Hoshea himself hee is subdued and made tributary to Salmaneser King of Assyria 2 King 17. 3. See the unconstancy of worldly honours Hoshea to day a King to morrow a prisoner hence hee is called a bubble or foam that soon vanisheth Hos. 10. 7. 2 Hee breaks Covenant with the King of Assyria conspires against him and seeks to So the King of Egypt for aid refusing to pay the annual Tribute which hee had covenanted to pay Upon this Salmaneser shuts him up and bindes him in prison Vers. 4. This was done saith Sanctius after the City was taken though by a Prolepsis it is mentioned before This is the fruit of Treachery and Impatience when men seek by indirect means to get out of troubles they do but double them and multiply sorrows to themselves 3 This is not all for judgement doth not onely light on the King but on his Kingdome also Samaria the Metropolis and chief City is taken by Salmaneser King of Assyria after three years siege and the whole Kingdome overthrown The Israelites are carried captive out of their own Land into Assyria and a mixt people of forraign Nations are planted in their Land who made up a Mongrel Religion consisting of Paganism and Judaism fearing the Lord and serving their Idols too 2 King 17. 33. ult Seeing all these twenty Kings of Israel were so wicked wee may Observe 1 That few great men are good men From the division of the ten Tribes to the captivity of Israel there was not one good King of Israel that Kingdome remained Idolatrous from first to last There was a continued Series of Idolatry that did run thorow the whole race of their Rulers They should have seen to their people that they had lived in godliness and honesty and they were a means to lead them in paths of ungodliness and Idolatry They sinned directly against their office for God sets up Magistrates to rule for him but these lead their people from him All other creatures observe the word of Gods command and fulfil the end of their Creation and are therefore called Gods servants Psal. 119. 9â— All are thy servants The Sun Moon Stars Plants Brutes all act in their