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
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
3. 8 9. It is as easie with God to destroy a world of men as one man they are al but as a drop and a little dust to him Isa 40. 15 17. Multitudes of sinners increase wrath When the Iews assembled themselves by troops into the Harlots houses then God would pardon them no longer Ier. 5. 7 8. The more wicked the times and places are that wee live in the greater our praise will bee if wee bee godly To bee good in good times and places an hypocrite and formalist may bee but with Lot to bee good in Sodome and Iob in the Land of Vz and with Noah Gen. 6. 9. and Elijah to bee righteous and zealous in the midst of an unrighteous and perverse generation that is praise-worthy indeed and argues much sincerity It was the commendation of the Church of Pergamus that she professed Christs Name where Satan had his throne and did not deny him in the days when Antipas his faithful Martyr was slain Rev. 2. 12 13. Flye sin then which brings destruction not only on the sinner but also on the very Towns Cities Castles and places where they dwell As God hath promised that peace and prosperity shall bee in the dwellings of the righteous Iob 5. 24. and 8. 6. Prov. 3. 33. and that hee will make a hedge about them and all that they have to preserve them from robbery fire molestation by evil spirits and other calamities Iob 1. 10. So on the contrary sin makes a man naked and exposeth him and all that hee hath to the curse of God Hee will destroy the very dwellings of Idolaters Swearers Cursers Bribers c. Iob 12. 6. and 15. 34. Zach. 5. 4. The wickedness that hath been practised in the great houses and Castles of this Land hath said so many of them in the dust and wee may look to bee brought yet lower wee have brought God low in our judgements low in our affections low in our actions low in his Ordinances low in his Vicegerents and Ambassadors and therefore it is just with God to lay us low and to debase us who have so many wayes debased him 7 Obs. No Fortifications can preserve a sinful people from ruine Let them make walls as high as heaven and ditches as deep as hell yet if sin reign within it will bring all down It is not a Fleet by Sea nor Forces by Land it is not a Magazine of Treasures nor an Arsenal of Armour that can preserve a wicked Kingdome from ruine As Samaria was a well fortified so it was a rebellious Idolatrous sinful place and this brought it down Ezek. 16. 46. and 23. 4 5. Hos. 7. 1. Amos 3. 9 10. Mic. 1. 5 7. though it were strongly fortified both by Art and Nature and very large about three miles in compass yet Samaria's sin was Samaria's ruine Niniveh was a populous antient great strong wealthy City yet her great sins laid her in the dust and made all her strong holds drop like ripe figs with little ado into the mouth of the Caldeans Babylon a most ancient ample wealthy well fortified potent populous pompous City yet abounding with sin all her power and policy could not keep her from ruine Ierusalem that strong City encompassed with Mountains Towers and Bulworks fortified both by Art and Nature and so powerfully protected by the Lord himself for many years together to the admiration of all the world that it was judged invincible Lam. 4. 12. The Kings of the earth and all the Inhabitants of the world would not have beleeved that the enemy should have entred into the gates of Ierusalem yet Ierusalems sin was Ierusalems ruine and therefore for her sake let none confide in Cities or any Priviledges whatsoever Wee are apt in our distresses to run to well-fortified places but in vain is salvation looked for from those creature-confidences if the Lord help not how should these help This is to forsake God the fountain of living waters Almighty and All-sufficient a present help in trouble and to go to Cisterns broken Cisterns of creature-comforts that will fail and forsake them in a time of trouble 8 Obs. Sin is a bitter thing Samaria hath rebelled or imbittered as the word is in the fountain God and provoked him to anger most bitterly by her sin Hos 12. 14. Ephraims sins were bitter to God yea they were bitternesses in the abstract and in the plural number also This may discover to us the cursed nature of sin and the iniquity of our iniquities which turns Gods sweetness into bitterness his patience into wrath and his bowels into wormwood If any thing can sadden God and imbitter his soul it is sin To see every base lust preferred before him to see Satan in the Throne the heart and the Spirit of God kept out must needs imbitter his Spirit against us The Lord that made heaven and earth and sustains the Pillars of it yet never complains of that burden but sin is such a burden that hee oft complains of that as tyring him out Isa. 1. 14 24 43 24. Amos 2. 13. and the bitterness thereof is as gall which hee cannot indure Deut. 32. 32. God is all love and sweetness and would not deal thus bitterly with us did not our bitter sins provoke him to it Sin is bitter 1 To God 2 To Christ 3 To the Spirit of God 4 To Angels both good and bad 5 To Men both good and bad 6 To Kingdomes and States 7 To Creatures 8 In its effects Privative Positive 1 Sin is bitter to God as wee have seen before 2 To Christ it made him cry in the bitterness of his soul My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee And made his soul heavy unto death So bitter were our sins to him that they made him a man of sorrows Isa. 53. 4. and made him sweat non guâ—tas sed grumos clods of blood Luke 22. 44. When Christ hung upon the Cross they gave him gall and vinegar to drink every sin is as gall to him Lam. 1. 18. The Lord is righteous for I have rebelled against him or as it is in the fountain because I have imbittered him hee is righteous in all his judgements on mee for I have imbittered him against mee by my bitter sins 3 It is bitter to the holy Spirit of God Nothing grieves it and drives it out of the soul but sin Gen. 6. 3. Ephes. 4. 29. To the Angels 1 To the good Angels it is bitter and displeasing to them to see their Lord and Master daily provoked by a company of sinful rebellious creatures and should the Lord give them but a word of Command they would suddenly smite all the wicked dead and revenge the dishonours done to him as wee see in Senaâ—heribs blasphemous Camp where one Angel in one night killed an hundred fourscore and five thousand men 2 It is bitter to the evil Angels it hath thrown them from heaven to hell and of
mens inventions before the wheat of Gods word Let the ablest Minister in the land preach in some Towns yet how many are there that prefer a rayling seducing Sectary that preacheth the fancies and dotages of his own brain before the faithful servants of God that dispense his word sincerely This also is a sad presage of some approaching Judgement 3 Contempt of the true Prophets It was a rare age of Prophets they had the best preaching a little before their ruine So great was the Lords care over them and so loath was hee that they should perish that hee sent extraordinary Prophets to them more in number than hee did to the Kingdome of Iudah and by them hee supplied the defect of the ordinary Ministry of Priests and Levites They had Elijah Elisha Ionah Amos Micah Ioel and Hosea who prophesied about seven and forty years unto them besides these Prophets Ahijah Semaja Iehu Iddo Amani Azariah c. yet such was their obstinacy and perversness that no wooings nor warnings could work upon them instead of hearkning to those Messengers which the Lord in great compassion sent unto them to reclaim them from their Idols they mocked jeered mis-used and persecuted them and looked upon them as a pack of Cheats and deceivers that frighted people without a cause till the wrath of the Lord broke forth against them and there was no remedy his anger was so fierce it could not bee extinguished When David sent messengers to comfort Hanun and hee abused them Davids anger was kindled against him and it cost him dear 2 Sam. 10. 4. Contempt of the word is an infallible fore-runner of judgement When Elies sons hearkned not to the counsel of their father God cut them off When Amaziah contemned the counsel of the Prâ—phet it was a sign the Lord had a purpose to destroy him 2 Chron. 25. 16. And if this bee an infallible sign of a Nations ruine the Lord bee merciful to England never was the land so full of pious painful learned Ministers and never were any so coorsely and ingratefully dealt withall by many as these are What loads of reproaches and floods of bitter raylings are cast out against us not for any evil that wee have done but solely for discharging our duty and stopping men in their sinful heretical destructive wayes Wee are their enemies onely because wee tell them the truth Those that formerly were ready to pull out their own eyes to do us good now they are ready to pull out our eyes Thus have wee been wounded in the house of our friends To bee derided by Egyptians is threatned as a misery Hos. 7. ulâ— but to bee reproached by friends and professors is very grievous The good Lord lay not this ingratitude and contempt to their charge Though wee bear yet God will not alwayes bear When Moses is silent then God ariseth when hee is dumb then God speaks when hee is deaf then God hears and stirs Numb 12. 1 4. God will smite through the loyns of those that rise against his Messengers and of those that hate them that they rise not up again Deut. 33. 11. It is not so much the Minister as the Ministry that is cried down that which they should principally love us for viz. for our work sake that is the ground of these mens hatred As it was not the Baron but the Barony that was the Traytor so foâ— the most part it is not so much the man that they smite at as the Maintenance the Tythes the Glebe and the Ordinances of God wherewith they are intrusted 4 As the true Prophets were contemned so they delighted in false ones Elijah is persecuted when eight hundred and fifty false Prophets are entertained and fed I King 18. 4 19. Though they were fools and mad-men Hos. 9. 7. The daies of Visitation are come how doth that appear why the Prophet the false Prophet is a fool and flatters the people with vain hopes yea the spiritual man is mad i. e. Hee who braggs so much of the Spirit and falsly boasteth that hee is inspired by the holy Spirit and that hee speaks all by the Spirit this man is mad hee is smitten with a spiritual frenzy doating upon his own dreams and lunatick illuminations and venting his brain-sick notions instead of Gods Word These Priests Ieroboam in his carnal policy chose out of the meanest of the people fit servants for such gods Calves suit well with Calves which were not of the Sons of Levi who were set apart by Gods special command for the service of his house but whosoever would might thrust himself into the office how unworthy soever I King 13. 33. But see what follows in the next vers 34. This thing became a sin to the house of Ieroboam even to cut it off from the face of the Earth This even this was that indeleble sin which ruined both him and his Family And is not this the sin of England are not false Prophets by many thousands preferred before the true will not many go ten miles to hear a deceiver that will not go two to hear a faithful Minister of Christ when men go by troops to such harlotrymeetings the Lord will visit for this as well as for corporal harloâ—â—y Ier. 5. 7 9. The quaking Seducers are certainly lead by this spirit of the Devil as will easily appear if wee consider the Men the Matter or the Manner of their speaking 1 The Men both Speakers and Hearers are generally a prophane Generation they are mordaces mendaces notorious Railers and Lyars as like their Father the Devil as ever they can look 2 What is the Matter of their Speaking why it is against Ministers and their Maintenance or against the Coercive power of the Magistrate against Scripture Ordinances c. 3 The Manner of their Meeting is prophane and tumultuous A rout meet together on a Mountain a Common or under some Hedge and there without any praying before some speak others jeer some dispute some quarrel and fight others take Tobacco amidst such an unsavoury company they had need of some better Antidote so that one would think they were at some Bear-baiting and not at the Service of God That men should bee tolerated yea and commanded to serve God is commendable but that men should bee tollerated to blaspheme and worship the Devil is abominable 2 What folly and madness hath seized on the false Prophets of our times the swarms of blasphemous Pamphlets do sufficiently testifie to the world and the thousands and ten thousands that have been infected by them do plainly fore-tell that some judgement is at hand 3 How many of Ieroboams Priests have thrust themselves into the work of the Ministery who vent heresies and blasphemies instead of truth and what tolleration and countenance hath been given to such is known now to all the world and forreign Churches complain against us for it and what cause wee have to fear that wrath is coming upon
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
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
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
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