Kin. 1. 5. Those two Sons were David's Darlings whom he had honoured above the Lord as Eli had done his two wicked Sons 1 Sam. 2. 29. and therefore they proved sad Cordoliums and singular crosses to him Such as love over-much shall be sure to grieve over-much strong affections bring strong afflictions The Devil manages the first part of his fore-game by Absalom and the latter part of it by Adonijah both of them goodly men of a comely countenance both personable and of a Princely presence 2 Sam. 14. 25. 1 Kin. 1.6 upon whom Nature had spent all her strength in beautifying their bodies saith one but she had left their Souls altogether unbeautified they had both of them foul fouls in fair bodies so were both the fitter Tools for Satan to work with to prevent Solomon from the Throne and thereby the glory of the Church David had always cockered them when he should have corrected them and because they were both personable and Prince-like as the Children of a King Judg. 8. 18. therefore were they made to think better of themselves and their ever too-fond Father to think too well of them their Father had not displeased them at any time in their Childhood and therefore they displeased their Father in his Old Age and made no bones of breaking his heart when now decay'd and even Bed-ridden as in the last by their Disloyalty and Usurpation yet all was that it might be fulfilled what was fore-threatned 2 Sam. 12. 11. 1st Arrogant Absalom was hammering and hatching his part of the Plot two full years 2 Sam. 14. 28. with 15. 1. after David had kissed him being perswaded by Joab that he was a true Penitent when he should rather have kicked him and not have harden'd him for further Villany by his fond credulity 1. He gains a guard that he might be put into the Port of a Prince being the Kings Eldest Son that so the people might look upon him as Heir of the Kingdom and by counterfeit courtesie wherein he slander'd David he soon stole away their hearts from his Father the Right Owner slily and secretly 2. He makes Religion a Cloak for his Rebellion as is usual in the Papaey Ch. 15. 6 7 8. Let me go and pay my Vows c. well knowing that his Pious Father would promote rather than prevent any act of Piety in his Son and Hebron was the sittest place for his purpose because antient and famous the place of his Fathers first Crowning of his own Birth and where he had many Friends to assist him 3. He calls Achitophel to be his Counsellour that old Fox laid close till the Plot was ripe yet probably he paved the way from the first by his perswading to take two hundred Principal Citizens along with him the better to conceal the Plot and that other Cities might make Jerusalem their pattern to follow Absalom those are said to follow Absalom in their simplicity to wit to his Gratulatory Oblation knowing nothing of his villanous and rebellious intention Even so it may be said of our Forefathers they followed Antichrist in their simplicity for they being kept by him in gross ignorance had this happiness not to know the depths of Satan in the most principal and most pernicious points of Popery Gods Providence so over-ruling the matter that the people of Christ might not perish under the Priests of Antichrist 4. The Conspiracy was strong by a mighty confluence of the common people who were but over-ready to worship this Rising Sun and to be weary of David the Setting Sun whose Credit the Conspirators had blacked and blasted to them Neutrum modò mas modò Vulgus The many-headed multitude cry even to Christ himself of whom David was both Father and Figure Hosanna one day and Crucisie the next day This put holy David to such a fright that he was forced to take his slight to save himself from slaying according to Achitophels counsel 2 Sam. 17. 3. and his chief City from sacking Now was the Devil undoubtedly most highly pleased not doubting here but having got the Ball upon his foot he should carry it cut and dry'd and prevent Solomon from the Crown and the Church from her Glory But behold God over-matches the Devil here David pours out his Prayer made in Psal 3. on the top of Mount Olivet where he prays himself into a particular Faith of his own deliverance and of his Enemies destruction And when Davids case seem'd so desperate as if Salvation it self could not save him v. 2. yet even then did God arise at his pray'r v. 7. and gives David a Prophetick prospect not only of the death but also of the manner of the death of his two grand Adversaries Achitophel and Absalom Thou hast smitten them upon the Cheek-bones as if he had seen Achitophel knock'd with the Knot of the Rope and Absalom with the Bough of the Oak wherein they were hanged by the heavy Hand of God 'T is very observable that no sooner had David prayed Lord turn the counsel of Achitophel into foolishness 2 Sam. 15. 31. but presently God sends him in Hushai as a return of his prayer a Man who could match Achitophel in any of his deepest reaches and who did defeat his counsel which might very probably have destroyed David by starching an Oration every way accommodated to Absaloms ambitious humour Ch. 17. 7. to 15. and when Davids deliverance depends all upon the faithfulness of a Wench v. 17. God delights to work by weak means to confound the Mighty 1 Cor. 1. 27. and to help his servants with a little help Dan. 11. 34. Though the Devil at that time had a Lad he never wants tools to work mischief by in such cases v. 18. yet the issue of this first part of Satans fore-game was this the Grand Counsellor of the Conspiracy Achitophel seeing his counsel basled sadled his Ass when he should have bridl'd his anger got him home to his house and as Josephus saith told his houshold that Absalom would be undone and himself should be hanged wherefore he thought it better to save Davids Hangman the labour and to prevent him with dying manfully by his own hands He set his house but not his heart in order he took care of his Family after his death but no care of his Soul for Eternity he hanged himself as Judas did after him for the like Crime so strangl'd he those very Chaps wherewith he had given wicked counsel against David as Judas did against Christ both despairing of mercy 2 Sam. 17. 23. Mat. 27. 3 4. The like fatal end to the like froward Counsellors the good Lord send in our day saith Dr. Willet In all this Achitophel did but answer the signification of his own name for Achi Hebr. signifies Brother or Cousin-German and Tophel Hebr. a Fool. Thus this Arch-Artist in Hellish Policy c. whose counsel was as the Oracle of God the Event usually answering his Advice with suitable
had been some Months shut up by Haman in the Dark Dungeon of Deep perplexity Esth 3. 15. from that time walking in the very Vale of the shaddow the Darkest side of Death Psal 23. 4. yet there God takes his Church by the Hand and leads her through that Dark Entry into Light and Gladness The Churches Light had been Sown for her upon a safe Soil Psal 97. 11. All the time of Haman's Heart-grieving Grandeur it lay under the Clods as Seed under-ground for a while Unseen but now 't is Risen up for the Righteous and their Seed-time brought in a Blessed Harvest Psal 126. 2 5 6. when Haman was faln from the Pallace to the Gallows and from the highest Stage of Honour to the lowest Stair and Step of Ignominy thus Sings the Poet Ludit in Humanis Divina potentia Rebus Gods Providence often tosseth Great Favourites like a Tennis-Ball now up and now down from the highest Honour to extream Infamy when Hamans Greatness was Hang'd up and himself wrap'd up in a Sheet of perpetual Shame then Shushan the Lilly Hebr. and the Church the Lilly Cant. 2. 3. now look'd most Lightsome and Lovely and that Lucky Day as Haman had Deem'd it but was Deluded by the Devil had Deceived the Hamanists and by a swâ—â—â— and Gracious Providence was turn'd to 〈◊〉 contrary to wit an unlucky and Bloody Day to themselves who had design'd it a destructive-Destructive-Day to the Church Esth 9. 1 4 6 10 16. Now the jollity of the Iews began being deliver'd from their perplexity by Standing for their Lives upon the Thirteenth day Hamans Lucky Unluckyday on the very next the 14th day they made a Day of Feasting and Gladness v. 17. not deferring one day longer while the mercy was fresh and yet of Recent Remembrance they Proclaim the Praises of their Delivering-God and speak good of his Name covering Gods Altar with the Calves of their Lips and paying their Vows to the Lord Yea and on the 15th too they do the same as if one day the 14th had been too little wherein to Magnifie Gods Mercy in Psalms and Sacrifices of Praise and to Testifie their own Thankfulness to him for their Lives Liberties and Estates so lately and so Liberally Restored to them v. 18. and the Observation of those Three Days the former as a Fasting the latter as Feasting Days as say some became a Standing Law for both City and Countrey v. 20 21. not as any Addition to the Word of God but onely as a Sacred Memorial of this so Remarkable and Memorable Mercy in turning them from Mourning to Mirth c. v. 22. from the Jaws of most dreadful Death into the Joys of a most Glorious Deliverance Thus God can turn and hath often turned the Churches Sadness into Gladness her Sighing into Singing and her Tears into Triumph all Hamans and Hamanists notwithstanding all their Fraud and Force Craft and Cruelty shall find to their Cost that there is no Inchantment against Jacob nor any Divination against Israel Yea it shall be said of the Church Oh what hath God wrought Numb 23. 23. Such Savoury Discourse the Godly Iews were Appointed to have upon those Days of Purim so called for a Brand on Hamans casting Pur or Lots for a Lucky Day as we should have for our Deliverance from the Devils Water-Works in Eighty-Eight and from his Fire-Works on that famous Fifth of November This Annual Festivity Esth 9. 23 26 28. was so Solemnly enjoyned that Yearly the Jews kept it until the Comming of Christ and do indeed though Abusively Keep it to this Day counting and calling all that Cross them so many Humans and Fondly please themselves with Hopes of being Revenged of them as their Fathers were of this Haman The Memorial of the Matter of their Fasting v. 31. most probably on the 13th Day and of their Feasting on the Two following Days was not to Perish from their Seed but to be perpetuated from one Generation to another and therefore was Registred for Posterity that the People which should be Created might Praise the Lord Psal 102. 18. Popish Persons keep not the 14th of February so well in their Vain Valentines and least they should sleight and slack this Sacred Service Queen Esther and Prince Mordecai did Confirm the Letter Writ in the Y. foregoing in the Y. following v. 20 29. And Mordecai all his Life kept his Dignity Seeking the Weal of his People and Speaking Peace to all His Seed v. 30 31. and Ch. 10. 3. God Rais'd him up for the Comfort of his Church not onely in Speaking Good of and for His Countrey-Men then Living in the 127 Provinces to the King Promoting their Prosperity to the Utmost all his Days but also in Speaking Prosperity to all their Posterity providing for Future that after his Death the Weal of the Church might be Continued How long this lasted the Scripture-History which extendeth no further doth not Express To know therefore how it Fared with the Church after we must have Recourse to Scripture-Prophesie for Scripture-History gives onely some short Intimations thereof as Gen. 49. 10. tells us How the Scepter should not Depart from Judah until Shiloh or Christ come and Luk. 3. in the Genealogy of Christ Sheweth how Gods Providence made Good that Precious Promise in giving David a Lamp or Light in Jerusalem until Christ the Son of David was Born into the World Even all the Prophets the Greater and the Lesser do Prophecy of the future Estate of the Church from their own present Time and of the Comming of Christ which should make the Glory of the latter House to Exceed the Glory of the former But more especially the Prophet Daniel Writes a Prophetical History of the Church during that Interspace of Time in Chap. the 7th he Declareth his Vision of the Four Monarchies which troubled the World especially the Church from the First Rising of Nebuchadnezzar till the Comming of the Everlasting Kingdome of Christ in the Gospel In Chap. 8 9 10 11 and 12. Christ Himself comes to him and gives him a Revelation as he did to John in Patmos how it should Fare with the Jewish-Church under their Powerful Enemies until the Fury of Antiochus Epiphanes Polybius calls him Epimanes the Mad-Man their worst Adversary was over Daniel Declares How this Mad Antiochus would Violate the Sanctuary and Cast down Religion into the Dirt for Three Y. and an Half or 1290 Days yet Comforteth the Church with this Cordial That He who Waiteth and Liveth Forty Five Days more should see an End of Antiochus and of all his Crafty and Cruel Plots against the Church and that in Fullness of Time the Messiah would come to Finish Transgression and to bring in Everlasting Righteousness c. Dan. 9. 24. and Change the National Church of the Jews therefore much Wasted then because Shortly to be Changed into Congregational-Churches by the Gospel Gal. 1. 22. 1 Thess 2. 14. To know more particularly how God
success 2 Sam. 16. 23. proves no better than a Brother or Cousin-German to a Fool and no better proof can they make that follow the Popes Placit as Infallible as Ipsissimum Dei Verbum the very Word of God when they are most damnably wicked like that pernicious and pestilent counsel of Achitophel which brought Absalom into the bryars and could never get out until this Grand Commander in the Conspiracy follow'd in the same Fate and came to the same end with his Grand Counsellour only with some difference As 1. God himself was his Executioner giving him a just reward for his unjust Rebellion 't was of the Lord that he should be reserved from the Sword to be intangled in the Oak 2. This Divine Execution doth make his Hair to be his Halter and that wherein he had so much prided to be the means of his own destruction His long Locks he had possibly plaited as Samsons Judg. 16. 13. and those being blown up by a strong wind wound about the Bough and became his Halter to hang by He had wont to weigh his Hair and was proud to find it so heavy Now his Hair poiseth the weight of his body and makes his burden his torment 3. His own Mule he rode on as it were turns him off the Ladder Achitophels Ass carries him to the place of his Execution and he turns himself off when be had tyed his Halter for his turn and put his Head into it But Absaloms Mule not only beans her Master to that place but when all was ready for Execution runs from under him with the Reins uncurbed as the Cart at Tyburn drives away when the Tippet is fast about the Necks of the Condemned Thus this Plot ends in the cursod and ignominious Death Deut. 21. 23. of both those Grand Conspirators who were both hanged between Heaven and Earth as if rejected of both and as unworthy to live in either of them Behold Absalom whose name signifies Hebr. his Fathers plaâ—â—â— whereas he breathed out nothing but War and Rebellion against him is hanged by that Head which had plotted against so good a Father His haughty Head is now in its proper Exaltation and his arrogant heart hath no less than three Darts thrust through it En Admirandum Dei Judicium Divine Vengeance over-takes him with a revengeful hand for his detestable disloyalty who would needs be a King before Davids death and now hath he an Oak to be his Throne his twisted Hair for his Crown the Darts in his heart for his Scepter and Joabs ten Armour-bearers for his Guard 2 Sam. 18. 9. Oh wonderful And little better was the end of the Devils second part of his fore-game in Adonijahs than was his first part in Absalom 'T is true 'twixt those two the Devil was not idle but did disturb the Church 1. By instigating Sheba a man of Belial to blow up another blub of Rebellion at the very heel of Absaloms 2 Sam. 20. 1. He himself being Tuba Rebellionis a Trumpet of Rebellion blew a Trumpet taking an occasion of the unhappy difference 'twixt Israel and Judah Ch. 19. but he was soon suppressed by Davids Forces suddenly surprizing him in a Siege at Abel where a wise Woman wrought upon the timerous Citizens to throw over the Head of the Traytor to General Joab 't were happy if all such Traytors might hop headless 2. By provoking David that Man of God to number the people 1 Chron. 21. 1. He prick'd him up to a pride both in the magnanimity of his Worthies and in the multitude of his Army which was no better than Creature-confidence This sin brought a Plague upon Israel to lessen their number which David began to make his pride and probably intended to make his profit by Polling them This Plague was threatned to last three days but in the beginning not in the midst of wrath God remembred mercy Hab. 3. 2. For as Vatablus noteth on 2 Sam. 24. 15. God repented and bad the destroying Angel hold his hand at the evening of the first day which commendeth Gods good eye to his Church while it was under the Devils evil eye who for three days threatned sends the Pestilence one day only Yea and Divine Mercy extracted this great good out of this great evil that in the very place where the Angel was bid to put up his Sword David builds an Altar offers Sacrifice and God answers him by Fire from Heaven to betoken his acceptance and reconcilement and he pointed out from Heaven the place where the Temple should be built which whole plat of ground David purchased for six hundred shekels of Gold 1 Chron. 21. 25. Now as to Adonijah the Rabbins say David was so frighted at the Dreadful Apparition of the Destroying Angel that he became Bed-rid ever after and his impatient ambitious Adonijah would gladly have buried him alive and wishing his Bed his Grave Hereupon he exalts himself saying I will be King 1 King 1. 5. Though David had declared Solomon to be designed King even from God himself 1 Chron. 22. 9 10. and 28. 5. and 2 Sam. 7. 12. and Adonijah knew it to be so and therefore he call'd not Solomon and his Friends to his Feast v. 19. The Plot and Conspiracy was strong in him as it had been in Absalom being strengthened by the hands of Joab the General and Abiathar the High-Priest both under some disgust and so more easily ingaged Joab was conscious of his own demerit and Abiathar might fear the extinction of Elies House Those two Grandees having an influence upon both Church and State could not but give a fair prospect of the Plot and hope of success v. 7. especially considering all the other Sons of David did joyn with them in the exploit respecting Adonijah as now the Eldest more than Solomon and all the men of Judah the Kings servants v. 9. Hereupon the Plotters fall on feasting jovially and undoubtedly many a merry Health was drunk to their new King Adonijah who had got his Guards as Absalom had done v. 5. many a Taunt was cast on the old King and many Acclamations to the new But the Triumph of the wicked is short Job 20. 5. David upon this Emergency hastily Anoints Solomon tydings of this mars all Adonijahs mirth after the Meal comes the Reckoning that damps the mirth v. 41. yea when the Plotters were at the very height of their joys and jollities God comes and confounds all their contrivances and serves up for their last Dish at this Feast a Cup of Horrour Astonishment and fearful expectation of righteous revenge this dreadful sound in their ears Job 15. 21 24. The Feasters had heard at Solomons Coronation v. 40. was a doleful Knell to them and like the Knuckles upon the Wall Dan. 5. made them as Belshazzar did knock their knees one against another The Guests were all afraid and rose up and went c. v. 49. as well as their trembling legs could carry them
Prospect of his 5th Plot as to its success but still the mischief of it was he Reckon'd without his Host even the Lord of Hosts that Man of War Exod. 15. 3. who giveth Victory not as the Devil but as himself pleaseth For though the Lord permitteth Amalek to oppose Israel for the Chastizement of their Murmurings yet had he other Designs then onely to Chastize his Church whom he had allur'd into the Wilderness He must also Speak Comfortably to her Heart Hos 2. 14. Amalek must Fall and therein the Devils Project before the People of his Promise and they must not onely be Encouraged by their Victory over the Amalekites as they had been with that over the Aegyptians but also Enriched with their Spoils and Furnished with their Arms and Ammunition God hath in his Design not onely the want of Innocency in his People to Chastize with Rods but also the Guilt of Insolency in his Enemies to Scourge with Scorpions Amalek indeed comes forth to meet Israel but it was to meet his own ruine and to fetch in his own destruction which Moses Precando by Praying and Joshua Praeliando by Fighting brought upon him Moses in the Mount lifts up the Rod to God as a Standard against Amalek and Joshua in the Valley Engages them and Moses Prayers gave most-effectual Pushes as well as Joshua's Pikes against the Enemy Moses Orat Vincit Cessat Vincitur v. 12. While Moses Devotion goes down Amaleks Courage gets up and prevaileth but when it goes up and keeps up being sustained upon Christ the Stone of Israel then Amalek is discomfitted v. 13. And being the first Nation that Warr'd against the Church after her deliverance from Aegypt Gods Hand is upon his Throne Swearing That he will have a perpetual War with Amalek and wipe out the Remembrance of them from under Heaven v. 14 16. Amaleks Hand had been lifted up against Gods Throne his Church so call'd Jerem. 14. 21. Now Gods Hand is lifted up upon his own Throne in taking this Solemn Oath That he would wage War against Amalek for ever This present Discomsiture was but a praelibamen or Pledge of this perpetual War As a lasting Monument of Gods great Mercy to Israel in this first Victory Moses Builds an Altar and calls it Jehovah Nissi that is The Lord is my Banner under whose Standard he had got the Victory And as a lasting Memorial of Gods great Wrath against Amalek in this first Opposition Moses must Record this of them either in the Book of the Wars of the Lord Numb 21. 14. which is latent or in the Pentatuch which he was then Writing and now Extant That they should utterly be destroyed This Saul should have done 1 Sam. 15.7 c. destroying onely some David destroyed more 2 Sam. 8. 12. Such as escaped those Destructions were destroyed by the Simeonites in Hezekiah's time 1 Chron. 4. 41 42 43. Lastly Haman and his Ten Sons were slips of this cursed Stock and Hanging was their end and the end of that Race of Rebels being the last that we read of to be Rooted out Oh how dangerous it is to Anger the Antient of Days his Forbearance for many Hundred Years is no Forgiveness 'T was 400 Y. after when God gave Command to destroy them utterly 1 Sam. 15. 2. and long after that God made a War against them and at last did Root them out Root and Branch thus Amalek Hebrew signifying Populus Lingâ—us a Licking People that had licked up the Hindmost of Israel the Wrath of God licked them all up as Fire doth Stubble who can stand before Everlasting burnings Isa 33. 14. The Church's Protestaâ—â—â— is Consuming fire to them Hebr. 12. last who not onely Laughs but Burns not onely their Plots but their Persons to nothing A Man had better Anger all the Witches in the World Yea all the Devils in Hell as Anger this One Jealous God the Heat of whose Wrath lasts longer and Burns deeper than the Coals of Juniper Psal 120. 4. His Judgements are severe and durable never Rots in the Sky 'T was this Divine Wrath that waged War against Amalek from one Generation to another until it came at last to an utter Extirpation Haman the Agagite of the Blood-Royal of Amalek descending from Agag their King whom Saul spared is Hanged no more of that Rebellious Race that Warr'd against Israel without Cause or Provocation do we Read of the Wicked are forgotten Eccles 8. 10. Yea the Devil that set them on work is Chain'd and Defeated The Church by her Champions help abides for ever The Sixth Plot against the Church in the Wilderness Defeated by GOD. CHAP. VI. 'T Is said Luk. 4. 13. That Satan Departed from Christ onely for a Season no more doth he depart from his Church he will have his Returns to do her all the ill turns he can Thus doth he here to the Church in the Wilderness that almost as close did he Dogg her behind as the Pillar of Glory did Conduct her before and though Christ whom she Tempted there 1 Cor. 10. 9. suffered her thus to be Proved and Tryed yet it was always to do her Good at the latter end Deut. 8. 16. The 6th Plot against the Church which was the 2d in her Wilderness-State was the Tempter tempting Israel to Set up the Golden-Calf Exod. 32. 1. which the Devil knew well would make God disown Discard and Discovenant his People This is one of Satans Grand Wiles that when he cannot play his Game upon the open Stage of the World by an Extrinsick Adversary as by Amalek then he trys his Skill by an Imrinsick-Engine Screwing himself into the Minds of Israel this piece of Ingenuity he taught the Jesuits and being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Lover of Idol-Worship as being Devil-Worship 1 Cor. 10. 20 21. he puts them upon making an Idol to make God cast them off and destroy them for such a God-provoking Sin v. 22. as provoked God to Jealousie The Advantage Satan took for promoting this his Project was Moses Absence Non-Residents do little consider this though Moses had Warrant for his Absence both from God and his People for 1st God call'd him up into the Mount Exod. 24. 12. and 2d The People consented that he should be as an Ambassadour and Mediator 'twixt them and God Exod. 20. 19. Moses the 40 Days faster staid longer with God in the Mount than the People expected though all the while he was Negotiating their Weal in bringing the Two Tables of the Decalogue both of Gods Writing and Workman-ship Exod. 31. 18. and 32. 16. The Heavenly Pattern of the Tabernacle with all the Ordinances concerning Legal Worship to them They grew Impatient of Moses delay The Devil no doubt did suggest to the Worser sort That he was torn of Wild Beasts and to the Better sort That as Enoch was he was Translated into Heaven as Josephus saith Or That he had deserted his Charge and mocked them as some
Manners 1. In Neglecting God's Command of Driving out the Canaanites who became Thorns in their sides Judg. 2. 2 3. in their Conversing and Commercing with them they did draw Israel to Participate both of their Sins and of their Plagues 2. In Contracting Marriages with those Canaanites they thus spared against God's Command Josh 23. 13. Judg. 3. 4 6. expresly contrary to God's Law Exod. 34. 16. Deut. 7. 3. Those Interchangeable Matches marr'd their Manners and produced many Enormities as 3. that Prodigious Sodomy and Villany in Gibeah aforesaid Yea 4. Obstinacy in their Impieties Judg. 2. 19. They would Persist and Persevere in their Stubborn way and would not Repent either 1 at the Rebuke of the Angel Christ who had offer'd Himself to be Captain of the Lord's Host Josh 5. 13 14. and had led the Field in all the Wars of Joshua yea and of Judah too till he spared the Canaanites Judg. 1. 18. 19. for this and other Sins the Angel of the Covenant did Reproove them Judg. 2. 1 2 and for this Departs from them Hereupon the People fall a Weeping as they had good cause for the loss of such a Captain-General as Christ and call'd the place Bochim that is Weeping v. 4 5. yet this blessed and Hart-bleeding Frame was soon lost for they Forsook the Lord v. 12. and Corrupted themselves v. 19. and Stubbornly Walked in their own Wicked Ways Neither would they Repent 2 at the Reproof of the Prophet whom Christ though Himself was gone sent with a Message Judg. 10. 11 12 13 14. Thus Israel having broke both the Tables of the Law The 2d thing to wit Punishment must follow as the Thread follows the Needle God is Angry though Satan is pleas'd and God's Anger brings Revenge God sold his People into the Hands of their Enemies Judg. 2. 14. and 3. 8. and 4. 2 c. that is he Renounc'd his Right in them writing Lo-Ammi on them he gave them over as the Seller doth the Matter Sold into the Hands of the Buyer yet without that Complement I wish you good of it or as the Turk sells his Slaves and the Conquerour his Captives And this is Aggravated in Two Circumstances 1. God made not his Best of them but took his first Chap-man as the Pope gave England upon the Abolishing of Abbies primo occupaturo to the first that could Conquer it which he thought might easily be done and won when he withdrew his Protecting Papal Benediction from it and put his charming Curse upon it God Sold his People for nought and did not encrease his Wealth by their Price Psal 44. 12 13. he plainly gave them away gratis for whom he was wont to give great Nations Isa 43. 3. They had sold themselves as Ahab did 1 Kin. 21 20. to work Wickedness Isa 50. 1. and now they are sold by the Lord also And as they had sold themselves for nought Isa 52.3 so they are sold by God for nought he had not so much as Thanks from the Enemy and as little from the Devil that set them on 2ly They were sold as to the first so to the worst Chapmen not to their Brethren who would have shown some pitty as the Israelites did to Benjamin Judg. 21. 2 3 6 7 15 16 17 22. nor to Strangers comming in as Conquerors for then common Humanity would have taught them some Mercy but unto such Neighbouring Enemies as they had highly Incensed in their former Wars and therefore breath'd forth nothing but the worst of Rage and Revenge against them Judg. 7. 3. Here the Devils Design against the Church was promising and prosperous and no doubt he had a fair Prospect of this Plot yet the Lord notwithstanding all Laughs all to Nothing and Works which is the 2d thing the Church's Deliverance from this Danger for 1. though they were sold as Slaves to their Adversary yet even then were they precious as Sons to their God Isa 50. 1 10. Though the Mother had Divorc'd her self yet God owns himself the Husband and he owns them to be his Children yea Children of light even then when they Walked in Darkness And though they had sold themselves for nought he would accordingly Redeem them without Money Isa 52. 3. and love them freely Hos 14.4 2 Though the Church was then under great Distress Judg 2. 15. and 4. 3. God Strengthening their Enemies Iudg. 3. 12. as Ezek. 30. 24. and weakening their Arms and Armies and God Prospering that Wickedness in their Adversaries which he Punished in them being Professors yet had she as oft great Deliverances as many Salves as Sores upon their Repentance God had one Hand to Help them as well as another to hurt them pittying his People for his own sake he Rais'd them up Iudges Iudg. 2. 15. 16. as Othniel Ehud Shamgar Deborah Gedion Tola Jair Jephtah Ibzan Elon Abdon and Sampson all Twelve to save his Church one by an Oxe Goad as Shamgar another by the Jaw-Bone of an Ass as Samson and Gideon was but a Barley-Cake Judg. 7. 13. God never starves his Church for want either of Instruments or of Agents 3 Though the Church was oft Sighing yet as oft Singing God goes in a Circle with her as oft as she Repented of her Sins so oft God Repented of his Judgements Judg. 2. 18. and quite through the Book of Iudges The whole History of the Book of Judges for 450 Y. the Church lived all that time as may be said at the Sign of the Chequer God Chequered his Providences towards her with the Black of Misery and with the White of Mercy and all Chequer'd Work is accounted Beautiful Work God Speckled his Dispensations to his Church as is set forth by those speckl'd Horses among the Myrtle Trees in the bottom Zech. 1. 8. Crosses and Comforts are Interwooven while she is in her Militant-state in this Vale of Misery and Valley of Tears Psal 84. 6. God hath set the one over-against the other Eccles 7. 14. As there is a Vicissitude of Night and Day so of Adversity and Prosperity God turns the Church's Night into Day and the Vpright hath Dominion in the Morning Psal 49. 14. No sooner doth the Church alter her course from Sin and Return to God by Repentance but presently God alters his course from Wrath and returns to Her with his Mercy Zech. 1. 16. Oh that it were the present practice as it was then the Continual Course of God with his Church and his Church with him in this our Day God would soon turn our Mourning into Mirth Heaviness might endure for the Night but Joy would come in the Morning Psal 30. 5 No Doubt but God Wishes his Church's Welfare as the Loving Bridegroom doth his Beloved Bride's otherwise He had never Sighed out those sad Words Oh! that my People had Hearkened unto me c. I should soon have Subdued their Enemies c. Psal 81. 13 14 15 16. God with a bare turn of his Hand can
Father This Son alone shall have both Tears and a Tomb for his goodness his other Sons shall have no sorrow but for their lives and at their deaths no Graves but the Belleys of Dogs and Fowls v. 6. 11 12 13. Israel had cause to mourn when they had lost such an hopeful Heir of the Kingdom The fourth Divine Testimony against Jeroboams Idolatry was as 1. Against his Altar 2. Against his Arm. 3. Against his Heir so 4. Against his Army Jeroboam in the eighteenth year of his Reign raises a vast Army no less than eight hundred thousand to vanquish Abijah while young and newly steâ—t into his Father Rehoboams Throne which was then empty by his Fathers death young Abijah raises an Army to resist him which was but half as big as Jeroboams yet was it an huge Army too considering that fifty thousand is now counted a Royal Army whereas his was four hundred thousand which is eight times as many as is fifty Those two great Armies the 800000 of Jeroboams for Idolatry and the 400000 of Abijahs against Idolatry faces each other in the Field Abijah by his Heralds sounds a Parley stands upon Mount Zemeraim as Jotham likewise had done upon Mount Gerizim Judg. 9. 6. makes a pious pithy elegant and artificial Oration not unlike Solomons Grand-child to the Heads of Jeroboams Army wherein he shews them the honour God had from Judah and the dishonour he had from Israel and many mighty Motives he presses upon them to desist their irrational and irreligious enterprize whereof they could never render any good reason nor ever hope for any good success While Abijah was thus Haranguing in his Religious as well as Rhetorical Disswasives by a fair and friendly Treaty Jeroboam basely useth most foul and filthy treachery in causing an Ambushment behind him while his main Battalia was before him to surprize him at unawares 2 Chron. 13. 3 4 5 13. Judah espying his treachery and their own danger cryed unto the Lord v. 14. having strong fervency in praying to God for succour in that dangerous case prayers were their Souldiers surest great Ordinance and together with their holy prayers they joyn an honest policy the whole Army together gave one great unanimous shout v. 15. This loud Acclamation They run they run affrights Israel especially God striking them at the same time with a panick fear and with frightful Furies in their own Consciences they all fly and fall in a monstrous and matchless slaughter v. 16. 17. to wit five hundred thousand men of Israel were slain by the men of Judah who were but four hundred thousand so that they slew more than every one his man and this Slaughter is well called a Great Slaughter it being the greatest slaughter of men in any one Battel in all the World that we read of either in Sacred or Civil History And had those two Armies been united as Brethren against a Common Enemy they had made up the greatest Host that ever we heard or read of assembled together in the Field yet Judah the lesser number prevails against Israel twice as many because they relied upon the Lord. v. 18. Deo Confisi nunquam Confusi Judah confided in God therefore were they not confounded by Israel True trusting in God can never miscarry God is faithful and never fails the Faith of his people He that believes in him shall not be confounded 1 Pet. 2. 6. The fifth and last Divine Testimony was against Jeroboam himself God had let him blood as it were in the Arm to cure him of his Idolatry and struck the Vital Spirit out of it when 't was dry'd up but now God comes to strike the Soul out of his Body when neither Ministry nor Misery nor Miracle nor Mercy could mollisie and heal his impenitent heart neither the Wind nor the Sun to wit neither the blasts of Divine Judgments nor the Beams of Divine Mercy could make him cast his cumbersome Coat of Idolatrous worship but he will not though his hand was both withered and healed c. see Gods Hand against him but will live and die in his Idolatry Therefore the Lord smote Jeroboam v. 15. and the Lord struck him v. 20. that he died God gave him two deadly blows upon his Cheek-bone as Psal 3. 7. with his heavy hand so that he died not an ordinary but a sudden and violent death and that by a special hand of God The Lord smote him as with a Thunder-bolt as he smote Nabal that he died 1 Sam. 25. 38. Deadly Diseases are Divine stroaks as the Pestilence is call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Morbus Sacer or the Divine Disease though it is not expressed in Scripture of what Disease neither Nabal nor Jeroboam died and had his Idolatry died with him it had been better for Israel This Jeroboam the Son of Nebat who made Israel to sin 2 Kin. 10. 31. c. which is oft added as Jeroboams infamous stile 1 Kin. 12. 30. and 13. 34. and 14. 16. c. so oft it sounds in our ears made all the Kings of Israel sin his sin of Idolatry after him there being not one good Successor in his Throne of Apostacy until the Captivity though God raised up sundry famous Prophets as Elijah Elisha c. to reclaim them and though God did witness from Heaven against them in his most severe Judgments yet the perdition of one was not any availing caution to another for 2. Nadab took no warning at Gods Judgments upon his Father Jeroboam and he was rooted out and all his house 1 Kin. 15. 27. by Baasha 3. And the same Judgments in the same words are threatned against Baasha which had been against Jeroboam because he persisted in the same sin 1 Kin. 16. 3 4. And 4. Ela Baasha's Son was a Sot in his drunkenness and was slain in his sin by his servant Zimri v. 9. who 5. succeeded him but God soon cast that Rod into the fire wherewith he had chastised the house of Baasha v. 10 11 12. for Omri the 6. forced him to burn himself with his Palace v. 18 19. This Omri made wicked Statutes Mich. 6. 16. and made undoubtedly as wicked an end Qualis vita Finis ita he lived wickedly v. 25. seeking to out-sin all his predecessors so died wretchedly though not that we read of by any violent death His Son Ahab the seventh that None-such sinner succeeded whom being an uxorious man Jezabel his Wife stirred up even to unparallel'd wickedness v. 31 32 33. God sets this black brand upon this Virago Jezabel 1 Kin. 21. 25 26. who held her Husband in such slavery by a mischievous 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Woman wearing the Britches that for a quiet life with her he did not dare to deny her any thing that she would have done Hereby he proves worse than his Ancestors extorts Naboths Vineyard and life from him where the Dogs licked his blood afterwards yea and the Dogs did eat up Jezabel also 1
the Devils Eye was evil Oh the admirable workings of Divine Compassion in 2 Kin. 14. 26 27. The Lord saw the affliction as well as the transgression of Israel that it was very bitter when they had neither safety nor a Saviour Oh the yernings of Gods Bowels in that Word The Lord said not that he would blot out the Name of Israel from under Heaven God had not then said it yet though afterwards he both said it Hos 1. 6 9. and did it 2 Kin. 17. 18. 'T was a long time and upon great provocation as is related from v. 7 to the 18. before he removed them out of his sight that is out of the Land of Promise upon which the eyes of the Lord were continually after an especial manner Notwithstanding all this the Devil got not all nor did the Lord lose all he divided the spoil with the strong Devil Esa 53. 12. As God had his Witnesses 1. At the beginning of the Apostacy so 2. All along afterwards he had both Witnesses and people too that had a blessed tenderness towards their two hundred thousand Captives at the powerful preaching of the Prophet Oded whom God had as a Witness in the worst of times 2 Chron. 28. 9 to 16. so mightily did the Word of God work upon this armed Army that they shewed a great work of mercy to their distressed Brethren c. though they had but one Prophet to press them to it in so great an Host And as God had his seven thousand of people in Ahabs time 1 Kin. 19. 18. so he had great multitudes in Hosea's time their last King out of Ephraim Manasseh Issachar Zebulon and Asher who humbled themselves under the sight and sense of their sins and came to Jerusalem at Hezekiahs Proclamation to keep the Passover according to the Word of the Lord 2 Chron. 30. 1 6 11 13 18. though some jeered showing themselves ready ripe for ruine in their last Kings time yet many others feared v. 10 11. And though those which came out of the ten Tribes out of the fear of God were ignorant of due preparation having been long without God Law and Teaching Priest 2 Chro. 19. 3. came rudely and irreverently to the Passover and probably smarted for it as 1 Cor. 11. 30. Matth. 22. 12 13. yet at Hezekiahs godly Prayer for them God Healed them and accepted their Service v. 18 19 20. Yea and Gods Pitty was such to his Covenanted people that the Old Stile and Title The Lord God of Israel is kept up even by Abijam 2 Chron. 13. 5. and such was Gods Respect to Israel under the Revolt that he sent sometimes Saviours to them as 2 Kin. 13. 5. Obad. 21. Neh. 9. 27. All which doth plainly Demonstrate Gods Care of his Church even in the worst of times let the Devil and his Imps do all they can And though there hath been such a Revolt from the Ture Christian-Religion by the Papacy as this of the Ten Tribes from the Temple-Worship the Foundation whereof was laid in Blood to wit the Blood of Adoram 1 Kin. 12. 18. as that of the Romish-Revolt much more Yet the Lord secureth his own Interest Rev. 12. 6 14. Maugre the Malice of Men and Devils both in Witnesses and People as I have shown at large in my Discovery of Antichrist Moreover 3ly at the End of this Revolting Kingdom when God had cast the Ten Tribes out of Canaan because they had cast him off and his good Laws yet God had respect 1 to the very Land out of which they were cast for when the King of Assyria had Conquered Samaria and the Cities of the Ten Tribes which he carried Captive into his own Countrey and had Planted his Colonies of mixt People in their place The Lord sent Lyons among them which Slew some of them 2 Kin. 17. 25. because those New-Planters as themselves say knew not the manner of the God of the Land v. 26. foolishly thinking that each Land had its proper God Indeed the Land of Israel had another God than the Gods or Idols of those Lands from whence they came it was a Land which Jehovah had Chosen as an Habitation for himself and saith The Land is mine Levit. 25. 25. Hence it is called the Lords Land Hos 9. 3. and Immanuels Land Isa 8. 8. and by their Seventh-Year Sabbath they Acknowledged that their Land belonged to God and that they were onely Gods Tenants and Tythe-men now seeing those Assyrians that came into Canaan in Israels Room made no such Acknowledgment nor Own'd him in a Land which the True God was pleased to Own therefore he sent this Judgement of the Lyons upon them to let them know that the God of this Land had all Creatures even the most Ravenous at His Command wherewith to be Avenged for their not-Fearing him Thus it appears God did not Hate the Ground as some say that Israel trode upon though they were Revolters 2ly God had Respect to themselves much more if so much to their Land so that they were in a sort Ammi while they were Lo-Ammi and Ruhamah while they were Lo-Ruhamah Hos 1. 6. Yea when the name Israel was too good and too Honourable a name for them but they must be called Jezreel that is a People devoted to Dispersion v. 4. and such as God would scatter into the four Winds of Heaven Zerang as the Seeds-man scatters his Seed so that the Ten Tribes never return'd out of Captivity yet sure I am neither the Devil got all nor God lost all for God did not lose Israel but onely laid them up in an Unknown Sepulchre with his own Hands as he had done their Mediator Moses in sure and certain Hope of a Resurrection God did not cast off his People for ever 1 Kin. 11. 39. Though the dry Bones of Israel lye in Babylon c. as in a Sepulchre and were as it were Buryed Alive at their final Abdication yet the Lord Promises These Graves shall be opened This is spoken over and over again Ezek. 37. 11 12 13 14. to the whole House of Israel the Lord saith Behold Oh my People God owneth them still though they little deserv'd it This is Alledged as an Allay to those Dreadful Desolations so loath is the Sun of Righteousness to sett under a Cloud that in the midst of Judgement he remembers Mercy Hab. 3. 2. Thus while the Lord wrote Jezreel Lo-Ruhamah and Lo-Ammi upon Israel In the Invasion made by Tiglath-Pilneser upon the Tribes beyond Jordan 2 Kin. 15. 29. 1 Chro. 5. 6. and by Salmaneser upon the rest of the Ten Tribes on this side Jordan Yet behold how graciously God comes off in that Direful Sentence Yet the Number of the Children of Israel shall be as the Sand of the Sea that cannot be Numbred and where it was said Ye are not my People there it shall be said Ye are the Sons of the Living God Hos 1. 4 6 9 10. to shew Gods great
Calves but also Judah Built them high places and Images and Groves on every High Hill and under every Green-Tree 1 Kin. 14. 22 23. Yea and Tolerated Sodomy in the Land v. 24. This sad Face of the Church and that continuing two Kings Reigns must needs sadden the Hearts of those Faithful Ones who among the 12 Tribes were Gods Remnant and Instantly served him Day and Night Act. 26. 7. There was no Visible Church in the whole World but in this little part of it And how was the Church here most Deplorably Depraved God sometimes suffers his Church as he doth the Moon to Wane out of sight and to be Ecclipsed yet such Gloomy times shall not last always God causeth Light to Spring up by Asa the 3d. King after the Revolt who Revives the Church and Refreshes the Children of God by a Right Reformation of Religion 1 Kin. 15. 11. both in the Privative and in the Positive part 1. The Privative He finding Sodom in Jerusalem Roots out the Sodomites v. 12. Demolishes the Idols those Dirty Dung-hill Deities call'd Deos stercoreos because of the Stench wherewith they offend Almighty God yea removes Maachah from being Queen-Regent for setting up a most filthy Idol in honour of Venus supposed the Picture of Pan or Priapus v. 13. 2ly The Positive part He doth not onely put down Idolatry c. but he sets up and Restores the Splendour of Temple-Worship 'T was his Grand-Father Rehoboam that turn'd Solomons Gold into Brass now Asa turns Rehoboams Brass into Gold 1 Kin. 15. 15. 'T is said of Augustus Coesar Romam Invenit lateritiam Reliquit Marmoream He sound Rome all of Brick he left it all of Marble So it may be said as Rehoboam had turn'd Jerusalems Marble into Brick so Asa turns it back from Brick to Marble as Solomon had left it 'T is a Wonder that both Sodomy and the Worst sort of Idolatry to wit Priapism should be found amongst Mankind being so contrary to the Light of Nature Rom. 1. 19 to 28. but much more amongst the onely professors of Religion that were then upon Earth Here the Devils Design had notable Success yet behold as great a Wonder in the Churches Remedy as was in her Malady the Lord raises up a good Son Asa from the Seed of an evil Father Abijam and from the Soil of an Idolatrous Mother Maachah and makes him to be such an Impartial Reformer as he would not grant a Dispensation to his own Mother or Grand-Mother 1 Kin. 15. 13. and 2 Chron. 15. 16. He finds her Unreclaimable from her Idols in her self and very Influential upon the People Hereupon the Law of God in Command 1. 2. Preponderates the Law of Nature Command 5th Down goes her Idols from their Station and her self from her Regency because his Heart was perfect with the Lord 1 Kin. 15. 14. And as a Reward of his Covenant-Reformation God gave him a glorious Victory over the greatest Army that ever we read of in any History to wit a Thousand Thousand Aethiopians who likely were call'd in by the Ten Tribes at the Devils Instigation in Revenge of their Five Hundred Thousand which Abijam had overthrown 2 Chron. 14. 9 to 12. God at good Asa's Prayer Smote his Enemies and as the Word signifies Tumbl'd them down Headlong Asa Reign'd long to do great and good things for the Church Therefore the Devil who did owe him an ill turn and had been hitherto under a Divine Restriction which to him is a grievous Vexation at last gets leave to Touch him with his Churlish Touches as Job 1. 11 12. to wit in causing him 1 to Connive at the Will-Worship in the High-places mis-devoted for the Worship of God who had Confined it to the Temple though he Demolished those set up in honour of Idols 1 Kin. 15. 13 14. this God graciously overlooks beholding Truth in his Heart God tenderly covers Asa's Frailty with the Mantle of Sincerity which he would not do for Unfound Jehu though Excellent things were done by him 2 Kin. 10.31 and inasmuch as the Indulgency of Asa's God did draw a Cross-line over all Asa's Weaknesses Satan lost his Design in Tempting him to this Sin and to the following also 2 To a Relyance on the King of Syria more than upon the Lord 2 Chron. 16. 7 8 9. Considence on Man an Arm of Flesh draws off his Confidence on God who gave him Victory over the Million of Aethiopians Isa 31. 1 2. He trusteth not God at all who trusteth not God above and over all Asa Hires Benhadad with Sacrilegious Treasure unfaithfully to break his League with Baasha and brings a Wicked Enemy into Gods Inheritance 3 To that which was worse even to the Imprisoning of Hanani the Prophet for reprooving him for his sin v. 10. Asa instead of comming to Repentance and calling for Mercy in a great rage against his Faithful reproover commands Revenge 4 To be as Harsh to the People as he was to the Prophet Tyrannically trampling upon those that protested against his Tyranny to the Lords Prophet for this God did not onely send upon his Kingdom continual War v. 11. but upon himself the sharp Dolorous Gout v. 12. whereby God clapp'd him up a closer Prisoner by the Heels in his Bed and with more Torturing Fetters than he had done Gods Prophet in Prison Then 5 to seek to the Physitians for Cure of his Gout and not to God v. 12. Thus falls he into his former sin of Creature-Confidence He that in his outward straits sought to Benhadad and not to God now in his Inward Sore seeks not to God but to Physitians not depending upon the Lord for his Blessing upon Men and Means No Wonder therefore that his Disease struck upward to his Head and Heart and that his Hot Feet carried him to his Cold Grave v. 13. Notwithstanding all those Failings the Devil lost his Design for 't is more than probable that Asa repented before he Dyed Seeing 1 God gave him this commendable Character That his Heart was Perfect with the Lord all his Days 1 Kin. 15. 14. 2 Chron. 15. 17. and 20. 32. and 2 his People gave him a most Honourable Funeral 2 Chron. 16. 14. which was Denyed to Wicked Jehoram Ch. 21. 19. and which they would not have done in that costly Solemnity for Asa had he not Repented and Reformed to be thus Honoured at his Burial Yea and God blest him with a long Reign of 41 Y. v. 13. wherein he saw many Successions and Changes upon the Throne of the Ten Tribes who were all speedily rooted out by their Idolatry whereas good Asa was long Establish'd upon his Throne by his True Piety in Despight of the Devil leaving his godly Son Jehosophat the 4th King to succeed him who prooved one of the best of the Princes of Judah whom God Stirred up for a Farther Reformation of Religion and for a fuller Preservation of his Church c. 2 Chro. 17 c.
Day But suppose they had been of that Moyety of Mankind that lye dead in the Grave as Psal 88. 5. and that Death had not onely seiz'd but also fed upon them and had Gnawed them to the very bones leaving nothing but bare bones yea suppose those bones had been dryed yea so very much dryed ex Vetustate Carie both so old and so rotten as ready to moulder into Dust at the least Touch yet the great God who comes to stand over these Opened Graves as Christ did over Lazarus's Joh. 11. 38 41. and who by his Almighty Power can quicken the Dead and call things that are not as if they were Rom. 5. 17. Joh. 5. 28. Isa 26. 19. Hos 13. 14. he cryeth with some Groanings over the Grave Lazarus Judah Oh my People Oh my Church come forth Joh. 11. 43. Ezek. 37. 12. Yea he Roareth mightily from on high Ier. 25. 30. like the lusty Lyon finding his Whelps dead in his Den at their birth he falls a Roaring so fiercely that as Pliny Reports they presently revive and rise up So the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah Roareth here to the like purpose and much more at the last Day 1 Thess 4. 16. 1 Cor. 15. 52. together with Gods Word there goeth out a Power Luk. 5. 17. as when he said Lazarus come forth So it is in the first Resurrection and so it shall be in the last Joh. 5. 25 28 29. If God do but Speak to the dry bones saying Ye shall Live c. accordingly it is done as in the Creation of the World Gen. 1. 3 6 9 14 c. The Admirable Work of this great World was all made by a bare Word out of the Mouth of the Almighty God and He who could give a being out of nothing at the first can more easily restore a Being out of something again as out of dry Bones here This great Truth Ezekiel Gods Interpreter excellently Evidenceth in his Parabolical and Typical Vision of the dry Bones most aptly Applyed and Accomodated to the Jewish-Church in the Graves of Babylon which yet was Reviv'd Ezek. 37. v. 7. 1. By a Noise or Rattle to wit some Roaring Thunderclap 2. By a Shakeing as that of the Earthquake at Christs Resurrection Matth. 28. 2. the Earth did shake then to let Christ out of his Grave and now to let the Church out and when God delivers his Church from mystical Babylon he will shake Heaven as well as Earth Hebr. 12. 26 27. he will shake the old Heaven and the old Earth to settle the New Heaven and the New Earth 2 Pet. 3. 12 13. Gods Shakeing concludes with Settling 't is not to Ruine but to Refine his Church Oh what a Noise and what a Shakeing was made here by Ordinary Means as well as by Extraordinary in the Thunderelap above and in the Earthquake below to wit 1. by the Power of Prayer 2. by a prevalent Proclamation 1. Prayer hath a shakeing Power Act. 4. 31. Yea and a ratling Noise or Sound with it Act. 2. 2. as Ezekiels Vision of the dry bones had both those Two extraordinary and sensible Signs of Gods powerful presence so the Spirit of God came upon those Praying Ones as a Spirit of Power 2 ' Tim. 1. 7. and shakes the place of Prayr with a mighty rushing Wind and shakes the Persons too at that first planting of the Gospel as Planters do to young Plants that they may settle the better Now this Powerful Prayr for the Jewish-Churches Restoration out of Babylon was Threefold 1. That of Solomon 1 Kin. 8. from 46 to 54. this very Prayr though made about 468 Y. before shakes the Heart of the Persian Prince Cyrus so as to shew Compassion to Gods poor people in Babylon and at length gives them leave to Return thus Jacobs Prayr God Almighty give you Mercy or Hebr. Bowels Gen. 43. 14. was particularly Answer'd when Josephs Bowels yerned over Benjamin v. 30. 2. That of Daniel when he Vnderstood by Books how the 70 Y. were expired then he puts Gods Promise in Suit and speaks nothing in his Prayers but what God had spoke in his Promises and so was Answer'd by God in his Providences Dan. 9. 2 4 20. This Prayr shakes Heaven brings from thence Gabriel who tells him for the 70 Y. Captivity they shall enjoy their own Countrey Seven Seventies or 490 Y. v. 24. 3. That of the People who Prayed Fasted and Wept by the Waters of Babylon Psal 137. 1 2 3. 1 Kin. 8. 47 48. Zech. 7. 5. Those Three Actions in those 70 Y. shows the Church was no more Dead in Babylon than Daniel was in his Den for they are all Actions of the Living not of the Dead They Sow in Tears the precious Seed of Prayr Wing'd with Fasting so Reaps at last in joy Their Desolate Countrey made them Disconsolate Souls yet their Sighs unutterable brought Joy Vnspeakable Psal 126. 1 2 5 6. Then comes the 2d Shake Cyrus prevalent Proclamation the Lord stirring up his Spirit to it Ezra 1. 1 c. This turn'd the Churches Tears into Triumphs her Sighing into Singing her Sadness into Gladness And the Devil for all his Plots hath the Contrary to all these is Sad at his Defeat and goes learing away Now when God in whose Hand are the Hearts of all Kings Prov. 21.1 had most Happily stirr'd up the Spirit of Cyrus to Issue out his most Gracious Proclamation of a Jubilee to the Distressed Church wherein he was a Type of Christ Proclaiming Liberty to the Captives and the Opening of the Prison to them that are bound Isa 61. 1. and to give her so fair and full a Patent this Mighty Marvellous and Immediate Work of Divine Mercy in her so deplorable misery did so surprize her that she could hardly believe her own Eyes but was for a while as those that Dream Psal 126. 1. This was the Lords own Doing and most Marvellous in the Churches Eyes Psal 118. 23. especially upon those Respects 1. That their Graves should be opened 2. That their dry Bones should live again stand upon their Feet walk home into their own Countrey build a Temple c. 3. That Cyrus an Heathen King who did not know the Lord Sc. savingly Isa 45. 4 5. should not onely be called by Name above 170 Y. before he was Born to become the Lords Shepherd to Feed his distressed Church Isa 44. 28. but also 4. in the very Entrance into his Monarchy before his Affairs were fully settled to Dismiss so great and so United a People in their Religion and Custom and so given to Insurrection as their Character was Ezra 4. 12 19. and to Return them into their own Land with all manner of Accomodations both for State and Strength 5. 'T was most marvellous That this Decree or Proclamation should be Signed not onely 1. Precisely at the End of Daniels Prayer Dan. 9. 21 23. and 10. 12 14. No sooner was Daniels Prayer out of his
open to Christianity to Canaan and to the Battel at Armageddon Here ☞ Note 1 the Jews are call'd Kings of the East 1. Christ maketh all Christians to be Kings in general Rev. 1.6 but 2. Those Converted Jews in special Isa 24. 21 22 23. Where upon their Conversion they are called Kings 3. Then shall the Kingdom of Christ be most Gloriously Erected among them Zech. 12. 8. and they Reign with Christ Zech. 14.6 7. Isa 60.20 and 62. 1 2 3. of the East because they most live there in Turky Tartary the Ten Tribes especially and China which is call'd the Land of Sinim Isa 49. 12. or Shinar Zech. 5 11. 2 That the Jews shall be Converted in the latter Age both Old and New Testam foretell it this must be under the 6th Vial for under the 7th Vial All is Done Rev 16. 17. both the Mystery of Iniquity is Abolished and the Mystery of Godliness is then Accomplished 2. Their Conversion is Describ'd with the same Phrase of Drying up the River Isa 11. 15 16. 3 The Hebrew Phrases used here and no where else as Armageddon Rev. 16. 16. and Allelujah Rev. 19. 1 3 4 6. where the 6th Vial is reassumed and further explained doth show that the Jews are come in and joyns with the Christian Gentiles in praising God for the Ruine of Rome Christ Commands to praise God for it Ch. 18. 20. the Gentile-Churches do readily Obey and cry with a great Voice Hallelujah Chap. 19. 1. This Awakens the Dull Daughters of Jerusalem especially the Voice of the Lamb ver 5. to seek their Beloved with them Cant. 5. 9. and 6. 1. Then comes the Jewish Church out of her opened Grave Ezek. 37. 12. As the Morning out of the East and after a long Night Cant. 6. 10. out of Her Wilderness She is somewhat Moved and Mollified by the Two first Hallelujahs v. 1. 3. but more by the 3d. wherein the 4 living Wights and the 24 Elders joyntly and publickly sounded their Hallelujah v. 4. yet most of all by the Lambs Voice was she roused and raised from the Dead 't was Christ that did powerfully pull the Vail from off her Heart v. 5. so that now she joyns with the Gentile-Churches in the 4th Hallelujah to Concelebrate that great Mercy of Romes Ruine whose Idolatry had long been her Stumbling-block Now all the Saints Jew and Gentile joyn with one Consent to Praise the Lord v. 6. Hence 't is call'd the Voice of a great Multitude of many Waters and of mighty Thunders Thus the Believing Gentiles do all they are able to bring Christ into their Mothers House the Jewish Church Cant. 3. 4. The Gentile Church was Conceived in the Chambers of the Jewish Joh. 4. 22. And now the Jewish Church after a long Divorce hath the Robes of a Bride bestowed on her Chap. 19.8 that in Conjunction with the Gentile Church both may be Marry'd to the Lamb and because Christ will not Marry this New Bride but as a Conquerour therefore is his Conquest Related after the Conquerour is Described v. 11 20. Christ Drew his Sword when he began his War against the Cursed Canaanites Josh 5. 13 14. and he will never put up his Drawn Sword till he hath made all his Foes his Footstool The Dragon cannot prevail against Michael our Prince Rev. 12. 8. Here the Beast that bears the Whore is Taken notwithstanding all his Fraud and Force and with him the False Prophet and both cast Alive into the Lake of Fire that burneth with Brimstone which is the most exquisite and most unquenchable burning Rev. 19. 19 20. The Beast in respect of his Civil or Temporal power and the False Prophet in respect of his Spiritual or Ecclesiastick power makes up one Antichrist whom Christ as soon as he comes into the Field Conquers Venit Vidit Vicit Catches Casts him away with Indignation yea comes upon him as out of an Engine while he is most Secure and Insulting when he saith I sit as a God and shall see no sorrow Ch. 18. 7. and hurls him Headlong into Hell where he shall have Burning for Burning as he hath burnt Alive many of Gods Martyrs with a Temporal fire so he shall be burnt alive himself with Eternal fire And the Kings that are Antichrist's Auxiliaries with their Armys shall be slain with the Sword v. 21. at Armageddon which signifies a Treacherous Army or an Vnfortunate Troop or rather a Mountain of Men cut in pieces as Sisera's Army was at the Waters of Megiddo Judg. 5.19 Revel 16.16 These are not so Deeply Damned as the Beast c. yet are they made a Prey to the Infernal Vulturs The 7th Memorable Remark is the 7th Vial which is powred out upon the Ayr that is on the Kingdom of Satan that Prince of the Ayr who had hitherto Upheld the Beasts Kingdom Now It is Done Ch. 16 17. to wit the Dragon 's or Devils Deputy Antichrist Chap. 13.2 is Vndone and utterly Destroyed Note 1. the Instruments of this Destruction Heaven and Earth Conspire together for that Work v. 18. 2 The Object of this Destruction is the whole Antichristian Church and State ver 19. the 10th part whereof is said to fall at the Rise of the Witnesses Ch. 11.13 here the Nine parts remaining do fall in a Tripartite Ruine This Earth-quake pulls it all into Three pieces and all Confederate Places and People are either Converted or Confounded whether Continent Countreys or Islands See Ezek. 5. 11 12. Zech. 14.4 5. some may Flee away v. 20. and Chap. 18.4 by true Penitency but such as remain in their Stubborn Impenitency Christ will Brain them with bigger Hailstones than those Josh 10. each of them being an 100 Weight v. 21. or those that knock'd down the Jesuits Church at Blois in France yet marvelously passed over the Protestant Church there without the least Harm as Exod. 9. 25. or bigger than those which fell here this 18th of May which knock'd so many Rooks on the Head c. That the Prophecy of the 7th Vial poured out on the Ayr is Reassumed in Revel 20. as the 5th and 6th Vials are Ch. 17.18 19. hath the common consent of the Learned though many of them do conceive 't is no more than an Historical Repetition of things formerly done yet we may with many others as probably Conclude that it is a Prophetick Relation of things to come Considering 1 the Connexion of this Vision Chap. 20. with the former Ch. 19. 19 20 21. John saith And or Afterwards I saw c. Ch. 20. 1. to wit After I had seen the Beast and the False Prophet cast into the Lake then had I this following Vision 2 'T is rational to expect the Doom of the Dragon or Devil after the Doom of the Beast who was but the Devil's Deputy Rome both Imperial and Papal Acting all by and under the Dragon Revel 13. 3. Christ indeed fought with the Dragon and Foil'd him Ch. 12. whereupon he