the King his Master who was so stout against the LORD This Vrijah was indeed a servant of servants the basest servant and did the basest service that is imaginable for he served his Masters lusts which warr against the soule and so did the greatest dis-dis-service to his Master that possibly could be done That servant who obeyes his Masters commands against the command of his Master in Heaven which is to obey the lusts of men doth his Master on Earth the greatest dis-dis-service that can be for he helpes on his Masters Rebellion against GOD and hastens on his Masters ruine and with him the ruine of all the people committed to his Masters charge Accursed be such unfaithfull servants evermore that are so plyable to their Lords will against the will and command of their MASTER in Heaven Vrijah did as King Ahaz commanded Oh well had it been with the King if the Priest had disobeyed his Master at that point for then he had done as GOD had commanded but the Priest did as the King commanded made an Altar according to the patterne sent from Damascus reared up this strange pile then thrust it up between GODS Altar and the Temple gives it an apparent precedency saying in his heart Let the GOD of JUDAH come behind the gods of Syria Then this Idolatrous King layes downe his Scepter and takes up the Censer and sacrificeth on his new Altar to his new gods the gods of Damascus Why will he doe so He gives us his reason for that Because the gods of the Kings of Syria helpe them See 2 Chro. 28. 23. I pray you the King speakes as a man quite forsaken of his wits His abominable Idolatries have taken away his understanding and his sense too HELPE THEM said he I Did the gods of the Kings of Syria helpe them His eyes told him if he could have seen that they were the ruine of Damascus and of the King there yet saith he I will sacrifice to the gods of Damascus that they may helpe me Now we must enquire what need he stood in of help and how these new gods helped him But first we may observe That the fashion and manner of worship which GOD prescribed Ahaz do's not please him he will have a way of his owne something like to that GOD commanded So he fashioned an Altar and paterned it Mark we now how GOD paternes him in judgement a very like ruine shall now befall him as had befallen Damascus whence he tooke his patterne and so we shall see what need he stands in of help Ahaz brought new gods with him to Ierusalem What follows Warre was in his gates He was distressed on every side the LORD against Whom he rebelled mightily powred down wrath upon him through this violl and through that both on the right-hand and on the left As Israel and Aram vexed him on the North So the Edomites and the Philistins ever more attending the ruine of Iudea entred upon 2 Chro. 28. 17 18. his Country from the South smit Iudah carried away captives invaded their Cities and dwelt there To whom then should Ahaz have looked in the day of such distresse when viols of wrath were emptied upon him from every quarter That is easie answered To the GOD of Salvations yea unto the GOD of desolations also for those He makes in the Earth c Psal 46. 8. men are but His viols but rods and swords and battle Axes in His hand d Esa 10. 5. Surely saith the LORD Himselfe e Zeph. 3. 7. therfore we will hearken Thou wilt heare me now now Thou wilt receive instructions Why now Because now He hath cut-off Nations Their Towers are desolate their Streets waste their Cities destroyed their Kings slaine now Thou wilt feare me now Thou wilt receive instruction surely it is meet to be said unto GOD I have borne chastisement and I will not offend any more f Job 34. 31 32 That which I see not teach thou me If I have done iniquity I will doe no more Surely now in distresse Ahaz will say for it is the voyce of Nature O GOD helpe me Should not a people seeke unto their GOD Ahaz do's not so he will purchase the helpe of Tiglath King of Syria againe with the sacrilegious pillage of the house of 2 Kin. 16. 17 18 GOD. Tiglath had helped Ahaz for so the Scriptures are reconciled in his first on-set he had smote Damascus and slaine Rezin the King there and so had served Ahaz his turne for that present and satisfied his thirst of Revenge Now Tiglath will serve his owne turne he will not returne back againe but followes his victory to satisfie his owne thirst of enlarging his Dominions he possesseth himselfe of all Basan and all the rest beyond Iordan which belonged to the Tribes of Reuben Gad and Manasseh and then passing the River he invades the Kingdome of Israel makes them his vassals And now he is within Iudah and possessed of a great part there So Tiglath came to Ahaz indeed invited with treasures and a faire prospect of all Canaan besides He came unto him sayes the Text And what good did he doe him None at all but hurt rather and DISTRESSED HIM but 2 Chron. 28. 20 STRENGTHENED HIM NOT. Now Ahaz is in distresse what will he doe now he sees that man is a vaine thing there is no trusting him he hoped he would helpe him and he hath distressed him What do's he now Worse and worse In the time of his distresse he did trespasse yet more against the LORD He was made most miserable and yet he remained most wicked he lost the fruit of all his sore afflictions Though he was invironed though his way was hedged Aug. de l. 1. c. 33 Vos neque contriti ab hoste c. perdidist is utilitatem calamitatis miserrimi facti est is pessimi permansist is with thornes round about yet like a wild Asse used to the wildernesse he brake loose and traversed his way even in his month they could not find him e Jer. 2. 24. Though he was fast cooped up in GODS fetters as with the northerne iron and brasse yet he thought to escape by his owne wisdome g 2 Chro. 28. 21. Ashur would save him he thought he could ride upon horses h Hos 19. 3. therefore his persecutours were swift Certainly for the sacred Scriptures set acertaine note upon him never was any King more madde upon his Idols nor did any King before him blunder on so against the Angell and upon the drawne Sword as he did so went looking forward and backward on this side and on that but the Angell crossed him every way and yet he went on This was King Ahaz But whether went he For the living to the dead Ahaz had said before to the King of Syria Come up and Esa 8. 19. SAVE ME. Now he saith as much to stocks and stones Arise and HELPE ME He sacrificed
and how they have done it We reade on So soon as Amaziah felt himself strong and his Kingdom established He slew those servants that had killed the King his Father A good beginning in the execution of judgement and justice upon such murtherers that had killed the LORDS annoynted and their Master I may aske here as the LORD doth in another place Did not the Sonne doe judgement and justice d Jer. 22. 15. We must needs answer he did so he slew his servants that killed the King his Father It followes Then it was well with him d Jer. 22. 15. The note is The ready way a King can take to establish himselfe and his Kingdome is to seatter the wicked from his Throne and to bring the wheele over them Then by the rule of contraries To take the wicked 2 Chro. 25. 3. by the hand to countenance them To delight in them is the most compendious way to destroy the Throne to spread Prov. 20. 26. confusion over it Amaziah do's otherwise cleares his way to his Throne not only in point of justice but of wisdome and found discretion and that must be noted The people might have some jealousies touching the old Kings death he was a diseased man a very burden to himselfe he lay languishing his bones full of the sinnes of his youth might not the servants know their young Masters mind who was ready for the Crowne and they looked now upon the Sun-rising for it was night with the Father Amaziah now according to the counsell of the Heathen but it is good counsell will quit himselfe from the suspition of wickednesse all Israel should know That what ever Joash the King was yet he was his Father and he honoured him as a Father All Israel should see how his heart rose up against those bloudy villains that slew his Father by seeing him lift up his hand against them to cut them off from the Earth He was now stepping to his Throne and sitting down there He had had an uneasie seat of it had any drop of his Fathers blood bin there for his Cushion And there doubtles it had bin even the blood of his Father if he had not washed it clean out by cutting off such notable murtherers and so he cleared his owne Innocency his discretion and his Throne altogether And now this is not inconsiderable which follows he waited for a Crown twenty five years and in all that time it appears not That he was sick of the Father And he wore his Crown four years longer then he waited for it It is true The beauty of his Crown withered 15. years before he died as we shall reade anon he might thanke himself for that But this is it which I would put to the consideration of any man whether he has not observed some remarkable blessing accompanying an obedient child that had this good in him if no more he did honour his Parents Certainly the experience of all ages will evidence this truth That a dutifull child never went away without a Blessing nor a child stubborn and undutifull without a Curse Amaziah has cleared his Innocency and his honour at this point and how much he honoured his Father Nor was it possible for him to make all this cleare any other way to all Israel but by slaying those wicked Servants who slew their Master It follows Amaziah orders his MILITIA gathered JUDAH together a 2 Chron. 25. 5 made them Captaines over thousands c. He hired a hundred thousand mighty men out of Israel b ver 6. to strengthen his MILITIA But they could not strengthen him for GOD WAS NOT WITH ISRAEL c ver 7. We must set a mark there It is GODS being with a people that strengthens them Mighty men out of Israel could not strengthen JUDAH for GOD WAS NOT WITH ISRAEL no NOT WITH ALL THE CHILDREN of EPHRAIM Therefore if Ephraim stood with Judah Judahs King must fall before the enemy d ver 8. for GOD do's all He hath power to HELPE AND TO CAST DOWNE e ver 9. as the good Prophet said and so he advised Note the words well before we passe them over The LORD is not with ISRAEL not with ALL the children of EPHRAIM Why not with all them Because Ephraim willingly walked after the Commandement They served Devils 2 Chron. 25. 7. They humbled themselves before Calves They lifted-up their eyes and hearts to lying vanities as we to Crucifixes Hos 5. 11. therfore not with ALL the children of EPHRAIM And therfore said the good Prophet to the King Take Ephraim to thee if thou wilt make thy selfe strong with Ephraims Arme if it be thy will to doe it and BEE STRONG in thy own conceit FOR THE BATTELL but know ô King GOD IS NOT WITH ISRAEL for Israel is slidden backe as a back-sliding heifer d Hos 4. 16. NOT WITH ALL THE CHILDREN OF EPHRAIM for they are ioyned to Idols therefore shall they be oppressed ver 17. and broken in iudgement Doe not thinke then to strengthen thy selfe with a broken arme with those from whom GOD is departed Remember still That GOD He only makes a people stand or fall He has Power to helpe or to cast downe So Amaziah hearkning to the man of GOD though not content to loose the hundred Talents separated them to wit the Army that was come to him out of Ephraim to goe home againe f ver 10. So they returned home in great anger fell upon the Cities of Judah in the way smote three thousand of them and tooke much spoyle g ver 13. See how mischievous idolatrous Israel is to Judah They are a curse to Judah if they stay with him if according to the charge they be sent away they will pillage Judah and take away much spoyle You can never come fairly off from an idolatrous people Notwithstanding Amaziah hearkning to the Prophet and dismissing those Souldiers is the better strengthened for the warr he led forth his people smites his enemies ten thousand of them at a blow and prevailes over as many more carrying them away captives to the top of a Rock and thence he broke them to peeces h ver 11 12. That was a cruell execution Then returning from the flaughter he brought the gods along with him and set them up to be his gods bowed before such things which could not deliver their owne out of his ver 14. hands and so he broke himselfe and his Kingdome for this the Prophet rebuked this besotted King and the King reproached the good Prophet giving him a churlish and threatning answer Asking the Prophet who made him a ver 16. Counsellour and bidding him forbeare else he should feele his hand See how mad this King is upon his gods The Ier. 50. 38. Prophet reproved him from the Lord for falling downe before stocks and stones and he riseth up against the Prophet ready Eccles 4.
FOR THE DEVILS m ver 15. Reader marke that and FOR THE DEVILS and carry it home to the idolaters of our dayes But they will never beleeve you That when they serve GOD after their owne way they doe not serve Him but Devils and when they doe ordaine Priests for their Masse they doe ordaine them for the Devils They will not beleeve you in this That they doe now as Jeroboam did sacrifice to the Devils and make Priests to the Devils No not they they are wiser then so They make Altars and Priests and Sacrifices too all of their owne making as Aaron made a Feast to a Exod. 32. 5. JEHOVAH so indeed they say and they thinke they have a strong proofe from that which Aaron said not weighing what the LORD saies a little after They worshipped the Calfe they sacrificed to the Calfe That they did saith the LORD Why then they sacrificed to the ver 8. Devill and worshipped the Devill saith the Lord. Tell 1 Cor. 10. 20. them this though they will not regard it for they regard not what the LORD says but when you have told them so and bid them consider on it you have told them the truth and done your Duty Reade on After the fore-mentioned others also even such as set their hearts to seek the LORD GOD of Israel came to Jerusalem to sacrifice unto the LORD GOD of their Fathers c ver 16. What followes now That whereon we must set a Marke So they strengthened the Kingdome of Judah They were the very MILITIA of the Kingdome Who such as set their hearts to seeke the LORD Here we must put the marke When they come to a City Towne or Country who set their hearts to seeke the LORD they bring a blessing along with them They fortifie the place exceedingly they make the City EXCEEDING STRONG they are the MILITIA of the City So it followes So THEY strengthened the Kingdome of Judah and made Rehoboam STRONG Yes Prince and people all are STRONG now why now Now that Priests and Levites are come unto them SUCH AS SET THEIR HEARTS TO SEEKE THE LORD It is notable also to consider how long the Prince and people continued Strong How long It is answered THREE YEARES o ver 17. for so long they walked in the way of David and Solomon What way was that GODS way sure an holy way and wee must set a marke there also The way a Prince must take to make himselfe and his Kingdome strong is to WALKE in the first p 2 Chro. 17. 3 WAY OF DAVID AND SOLOMON when David performed the Wills of GOD * Act. 13. 22. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We will note no more but this in this Chapter concerning Rehoboam that he did against the Commandement for he multiplyed wives to himselfe q Deut. 17. 17. After this time when Rehoboam had established the Kingdome r 2 Chron. 12. and strengthened himselfe HE FORSOOK THE LAW of the LORD What followed that bad example Multitudes what way soever the King takes he goes not alone the people will presse and throng after him as here Chap. 12. in this place And ALL ISRAEL with him s ver 1. Note we therefore what a traine followes the King Jeroboam commands a CALVISH worship All Israel follow the Commandement Jeroboam is never mentioned but with his traine after him A Ruler hearkens to lyes What if he does or what is that to his Servants Yes for it followes ALL HIS SERVANTS are wicked t Pro. 29. 12. They will doe as their Master doth and thinke they doe well they will find a way or make a way after the Commandement they will goe REHOBO AM FORSOOKE THE LAW OF THE LORD AND ALL ISRAEL WITH HIM What then Then all was turned upside downe Bury me with my face downe-ward saith Diogenes Why so man Because said he the Rulers are naught and all will be nought presently now all will be turned upside downe and then my face will be upward againe in the fittest posture Just so with Rehoboam upside downe a marvellous alteration presently He that was strong before is now weake as water That which was sound is now become as rottennesse his Strength which seemed INFINITE u Nah. 3 9. mouldred away and became rottennesse his MILITIA fainted his strong-holds were like the first ripe figgs which fall into the mouth of the Eater x Nah. 3. 12. See there Rehoboam forsakes the Law of his GOD GOD forsakes him breakes downe his hedges takes away his DEFENCE from his Cities and strong holds exposeth him to the WILL of his Adversary which yet the LORD sets bounds unto and that we must note SHISHAK and he was Successour of that Aegyptian whose Daughter Solomon had married thereby the better to assure his estate which while he served GOD was by GOD assured against all and the greatest neighbouring Kings And when he forsooke Him it was torne asunder by his meanest vassals This Shishak distressed Judah for THEY HAD TRANSGRESSED AGAINST THE LORD a 2 Chron. 12. 2 and He left them in his hand But this helped the King and the people very much even their humbling themselves under Gods mighty hand and submitting saying THE LORD IS RJGHTEOVS b ver 6. Therefore the LORD did not stirre up all His wrath He would not destroy them altogether Neverthelesse because Rehoboam and his people would serve strange gods therefore they should be under the yoake of a strange King SERVANTS VNTO HIM c ver 7 8. And because they would change so good a Master they should know His service and the service of other Kings Judah should not get his neck from under the Egiptian yoake Moreover Shishak pilliged the house of the LORD and the Kings house for he TOOKE ALL thence his Shields of gold also instead of which Rehoboam made ver 9. Shields of brasse and they were good enough for him who had embased the Temple and impured the service there and a change fit enough for him too who was so ready to change the worship of his God Notwithstanding the Lord graunted to Prince and people SOME DELIVERANCE He would not destroy the King ALTOGETHER g ver 12. and also in Judah THINGS WENT WELL. But not long sure for the KING DID EVILL h ver 14. he humbled himselfe while the stroake was upon him he turned himselfe to the Lord till the Lord turned the wrath from him so long he did seemingly well But when the wrath was turned away he turned to his Idoll HE DID EVILL sayes the Text and renders a reason withall BECAVSE HE PREPARED NOT HIMSELFE TO SEEKE THE LORD And he did evill this is to be noted with the reason of the same The King humbled himselfe that is expressed his heart seemed to be humbled so as he could ACCEPT OF THE PVNISHMENT of his iniquiry a Lev. 26. 41. for he said The LORD is
agro sed seorsim a cadavertibus aliorum regum Irem Jotham was over the Kings house and judged the people of the Land in his Fathers life time and when his Father was dead reigned in his stead 2 Chro. 26. 23. Of him in his owne place amongst the Good Kings THE ACTS OF AHAZ CHAP. VIII AHAZ his contrary walking with GOD and GODS contrary walking with him Service to strange gods procures strange punishments It darkens the mind It hardens and brawnes the heart in evill It hastens a mans pace to his utter ruine and destruction of all this Ahaz is a very great and miserable example AHAZ Jothams Son and Grand-child to Vzziah was twenty yeares old when he began to reigne 1 Chron. 28. such an Idolater as exceeded all his predecessors they walked in the wayes of the Kings of Israel so did he but in this he exceeded for he offered that most unnaturall cruell and divelish oblation called an abomination which GOD hateth a Deut. 12. 31. even the Son of his body for the sin of his soule he burnt his Children in the fire b ver 3. Therefore that MUCH which his Father JOTHAM builded whereof anon all those strong places could not strengthen the Sonne Notwithstanding his Militia the King of Syria smote him and the King of Israel smote him both with a very great slaughter c ver 5. But the King of Israel layed load upon him the smartest blowes for he was a neighbour and a brother offended c Pro. 18. 19. there the contentions will be bitter and mighty as here where they slew their bretheren with a rage that reached up to Heaven * Chro. 28 5. The King of Israel slew in Judah an hundred Gen. 32. 11. and twenty Thousand in one day which were all valiant men d 2 Chro. 28. 6. because they had forsaken the LORD GOD of their Fathers There was the old quarrell and these Kings were the viols through which the LORD powred downe the wrath and avenged the quarrell of His broken Covenant e Levit 26. 25. And marke we there Prince and people all forsake GOD GOD forsakes them breaks downe the Hedges takes away His Destnce that is done first after that He takes away peace then one Enemy comes in then another breach upon breach like the Sea smititg upon smiting one blow after another and full one smarter then the other till all are consumed and yet ALL VALIANT MEN. Amongst these slain was the Kings own Sonne the Governour of his house and he also that was next to the Kings ver 7. person The most valiant men were slain so were they that were nearest to the King in love and trust Besides all this ver 8. Israel carried away captives of their Brethren two hundred thousand women sonnes and daughters with much spoyle and brought it to Samaria ODED a good Prophet speaks to ver 9. the Host of Samaria very well bids them remember and consider on it That there were with them even with them sinnes against the LORD GOD for which they must looke for a day of reckoning even they who would show no pitty to ver 10. their brethren in the day of their trouble and treading down Nay said the Prophet the day of reckoning is come or as good as come FOR THE FIERCE WRATH OF GOD IS VPON YOV These words with certain others The heads of the children of Ephraim prevailed for ver 11. the sending-backe Judahs Captives warme-clad and well arayed ver 12. with their owne spoyles And all the feeble of them ver 13. they carried upon Asses and brought them to Jericho A ver 15. man will remember to show mercy to his Brother when he well remembers himselfe what his own case and deservings are and what need he may stand in of mercy to be showne unto himself Thus Israel relents at the stroake he had given Judah and shewes mercy unto him which doubtlesse moved Ahaz very much to cease from thoughts of revenge But he bends himselfe against Rezin King of Syria and that he may be avenged on him he sent to Tiglath the King of Assiria saying I am thy Servant SIR and more also Thy Sonne Come-up and SAVE ME out of the hand of the King of Syria A 2 Kin. 16. 7. strange speech but not so strange from Ahaz for he will anon ascribe salvations to stocks and stones much rather might he he thought ascribe salvations to a man Come up and save me So he calls in a forraigne King to his helpe who knew very well how to make profit by the troubles that rose in Palestina But yet Tiglath seemes not moved with a complement Your Servant SIR and your Sonne If Ahaz will have him come to save him he must bribe him well to his advantage and so he do's presenting him with the silver and the gold taken out of GODS house and his owne Silver and gold is full of Rhetorick can perswade mightily and make a man to hearken so it followes Then Tiglath hearkned unto ver 8. Ahaz for he had the treasures of Jerusalem in his hand and having there with prepared his Army he invaded the Territory of Damascus wonne that City carried away captive the people there and killed Rezin the King thereof who had so ver 9. smitten Judah a little before Now Ahaz thinkes his Treasure well bestowed for Tiglath had avenged him of his Adversary and up Ahaz goes to Damascus to meet Tiglath there and to behold the ruine of that King and his City who had so distressed him and all Iudah See how bloudy an Idolatrous King is he feeds his eyes with rue-full spectacles thinking now his chiefest enemy was taken away not considering that himselfe was he Ahaz being now at Damascus saw an Altar ver 10. there falls in love with the forme and fashion of it more gaudy then was that of Solomons made by the patterne shewed to Moses in the Mount An Idolater ever is better pleased with that Altar and Service which he hath devised 1 Kin. 12. 33. of his owne heart then he is with that which the wisdom of GOD hath commanded So is Ahaz here as Ieroboam before him and as all like him much taken with this Altar and forme of it sends a modell of this excellent frame to Vriiah the Priest that it may be sampled in Ierusalem according to the patterne The Priest was as ready to make it as the King his Master was to worship before it before the King was returned from Damascus the Priest had hoisted up an Altar according to the patterne and finished it An Idolatrous King shall not want an Idolatrous Priest Thus did Urijah the Priest according to all that King Ahaz commanded 2 King 16. ver 16. Then he was an obedient Servant you will say No the most unfaithfull in all the Kingdome and the deepest in Rebellion there next to