Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	good_a	king_n	prince_n	3,500	5	5.4628	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A97343	The Kings chronicle in two sections wherein we have the acts of the wicked and good kings of Iudah fully declared, with the ordering of their militia and grave observations thereupon : this section containes the wayes and works of the bad kings, with marks the Holy Ghost hath set upon them, for the terrour of all those who walke in the wayes of Israel, and after the counsels of the house of Ahab which was to the destruction of Iudah / published by Hezekiah Woodvvard.	Woodward, Ezekias, 1590-1675.	1643 (1643)	Wing W3494; ESTC R1678	91,401	115

man Iehojadah the Priest his Protectour under GOD It must needs follow that youth so seasoned in its minority will doe something worthy of such a Tuterage So he did and the first act he tooke in hand was the reparation of Faire beginnings give faire hope but no sound proof of good proceedings and ending well the Temple a ver 4. fallen into decay through the wickednesse of ungodly Tyrants There was the greatest reason in the world that so he should doe repaire the breaches there which Athaliah that wicked woman b with her Sonnes c ver 7. had made there taking the dedicate things of the LORDS House and bestowing them upon Baalim for the Temple by GODS appointment had preserved him to make-up the many breaches made also upon the house of David And indeed the King followed the businesse with so earnest a zeale That not only the Levites were more slack then he b ver 5. but even Iehojada his Tutour was faine to be quickned by his admonition c ver 6. He would uphold that place with the greatest zeale which he had learnt by good information had upheld him But his zeale was fained and the good precepts his good guardian distilled into him did not sinke downe into his he art they made no other impression there but what a short time could weare out Iehojada that good Councellour dies full of dayes and the people buried him who had preserved the race of the Kings and restored the true Religion among the Kings of Judah d ver 15 16. That excellent Priest is gone from the Court to his Crowne he had the gaine the Court and Kingdome had the losse a losse unspekeable for then the Princes of Iudah acted their parts flattered their King able enough to flatter himselfe drawed him-on to their side who stood bent before by his own inclination so he hearkned unto them e ver 17. and left the house of the Lord and served Idolls What then Then wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem WRATH CAME Ai ver 18. A Land-wasting wrath comes powring down upon a King and Kingdom when they fall down before Idols then wrath comes and will not spare for it is the wrath of the LORD whose Glory they have given to stocks and stones They were served in their kind for they served Idols Prince and people they all chose new gods Then was warre in the gates as we heard before and their Militia could not keepe it off yet the Lord appointed meanes which could have done it for he sent Prophets unto them g ver 19. but they would not give care As a wayward and impatient sick-man they were angry with the remedy and at the Commandement of their King who ever saw an Idolater that was not cruell they smote their Physitian They conspired against GODS Messenger and stoned him with stones h ver 21. What had he done the best service that is imaginable hee contested with the King and people and yet not he but the Spirit of GOD upon him saying why doe you stand in your own light why goe you crosse to your own happinesse Why transgresse you the Commandement of ver 20. the LORD that you cannot prosper All the wayes you take to thrive and prosper in the world is lost labour or labour in the fire You transgresse the Commandements of the LORD yee cannot prosper you have forsaken the LORD He hath also forsaken you This was all the good man had done in these words he had spoke unto the people And they after their manner and lot evermore befalling faithfull Prophets answer him with stones They conspired against him and stoned him with stones at the commandement of the King What a King is this ver 21. The likest to the ungratefull snake that ever was heard of His Son is slaine at the commandement of the King whose Father and Mother was the Kings Nurse in his infancy was his Guardian when he was young his faithfull Councellor when he was growne up The Son of such a Father that had done so much for the King was stoned at the commandement of the King What will not that King doe that has left the house of the LORD GOD of his Fathers Serveth Idolls we see by Joash what he will doe he will shed blood to his power but that is not all if he can make his choice it shall be the blood of those who are most faithfull and therefore must crosse him in his way Whoever saw an Idolater that was not a most ungratefull man to GOD and Man both I will not adde and cruell too for he that hath said VNGRATEFVLL hath said all Note withall A counterfet zeale will degenerate into the deadliest hatred and no such enemies to the house and Quod later in herba manifestatur in spica c. Chrys Ser. 97. p. 342. houshold of GOD as friends once but now turned adversaries Such an adversary was Joash and the most unthankfull man that ever we reade of I cannot except one for his ingratitude did exceed Benhadads King of Syria Fight not against small or great save only with the King of Israel g 2 Chron 18. 30. this was Benhadads charge A most unkind requitall of Ahabs foolish pitty to him giving him his life at an easie rate h 1 King 20. 34 Benhadad returnes that kindnesse with that bloody charge touching the taking away Ahabs life and it was done accordingly but according to the threat of the LORD because Ahab had let Benhadad goe whom He had appointed to utter destruction I looked into that place to see whether it could be a paralell for this 1 Kin. 20. 42. mans ingratitude but it cannot be the like is not to be found in all the Records of Time Good Zechariah and the Son of as good a Father to whom Joash was more beholding then to all the men in the world and no lesse to his Son for he told him the truth which is the greatest kindnesse a Prophet can doe unto a King This true Prophet was stoned with stones ●● the commandement of the King whom his Father had done such a kindnesse unto saved his life and his Crowne both Where was he slaine In the Court of the House of the LORD Oh! he should have spared him there for it was neare the place which was Ioash his sanctuary but when a man is resolved to doe wickedly he will make no choice of places or if he does that place pleaseth best which is most before the LORD and in the face of the whole Congregation of Prophets consulting about a way and resolving upon it how they may establish his Crowne and make his Kingdome sure for ever This place pleased Ioash best in the Court of GODS House the place for that great assembly And yet it was well for Zechariah that he was slaine there where he had done so much service to God and His people So

perswaded to yoake his people yet GOD will yoake them and so we find it in the Text Rezon was an Adversary to Israel b 1 King 11. ●5 all the dayes of Solomon And what did he doe He abhorred Israel Hadad also another Adversary an Idolatrous King shall not want Adversaries he did Israel mischiefe Put this together he abhorred Israel did Israel mischiefe One of these is enough but altogether made Israels voake grievous And this was so all the dayes of Solomon after his Wives had turned away his heart Ob. But this was past and Solomon was dead and gone why should his yoke be remembred which by his Idolatrous services he had laid upon the people An. Those be things the people cannot forget They doe remember their yokes their affliction and misery the Wormewood and the Gall. Besides The yokes which strange gods bring upon Israels neckes will not quickly off and will make no small impression there We must thinke them grievous to Israel at this time specially to the good Priests there they might see the root and cause of them vexation gives understanding and so move the King to remove the cause and the evill together In charity we must thinke so That Israel saw now That corruption in Religion abominable Priests and their services were the cause of Israels heavy yokes and grievous servitude That Solomon loving strange wives and doting upon their gods turned his heart from the GOD of Israel and from the children of Israel so they would move their King joyntly and with one consent for the removing of the cause and of the evill both together We will now looke over what we have been long upon for great reason I premised this which is so legible The King of Israel married strange wives clave to them in love and doted upon their gods The conclusion thence is That then an heavy yoke was laid upon Israel and they served a grievous servitude for the heart of their King was turned from the GOD of Israel his hand must be turned against the children of Israel to lay an heavy yoke upon them To put a bride into their jawes causing them to erre * Esa 30 28. It is a conclusion drawne from the experience of all ages upward to this day That Idols comming into Israels land bring yokes with them and GOD sends judgements after them Charity concludes also That when Israel and All Israel Petition their King then as David said is there not a cause a 1 Sam. 17. 19 Sound wisdome and discretion makes no question of it It remaines now that we reade over the Petition once more short easie and ingenious 1. Then how the King entertaines it 2. The Counsells he takes about it 3. The answer he returns unto it 4. Then how the people relish it These we will run-over in order The Petition we will reade first Thy Father made our yokes heavy now therefore ease thou SOMEWHAT the greevous servitude of thy Father and 2 Chro. 10 4 his yoke that he put upon us and we will serve thee What answer makes the King he will consider of it take advice and afterwards speak his mind 1. It was the wisest answer that we shall reade from his Jud. 19. 30. mouth and yet no true wisdome in it at all He will take time to consider of it of what of doing Judgement and Justice to his people It is a matter that admits no question therefore no deliberation Some things are not to be deliberated-on Not whither I will worship GOD or no according to His Rule Not whether I will turne from Idols to serve the LIVING GOD I may consider what it will COST me but not whether I will doe it or no I cannot make question there for conscience sake The word is plaine So nor might Rehoboam deliberate on the matter The manner may admit deliberation The doing Judgement and Justice to his people easing somewhat their heavy yoke and grievous servitude This admitted no deliberation The case was as plaine as the case of the three children wherein they were not carefull to make answer b Dan. 3. 16. Quideliberavit defivit And certainly when a man will deliberate what way to take when the good way is plain before him and the case as cleare as the Sun It is because he is resolved not to ballance the counsels but to desert the cause to forsake the good path and to turne into a way of his own We reade on and find it just so here The Kings way was plain before him the case was resolved by his good Grand-father from the Oracle of GOD The GOD of Israel said the ROCK of Israel spake to me HE THAT RVLETH OVER MEN MVST BE JVST c 2 Sam. 23. 3. RVLING in the fear of the LORD And it was written in a book for his Father Solomon that he might learne and doe thereafter He shall judge Thy people with righteousnesse and Thy poore with judgement Thou shalt judge the poore of the people and breake in Ps 71. 2. peeces the oppressour In so cleare a case then and to so just a Petition the King might have returned a gracious answer and presently have sent away his people glad 2. But he will doe all things with Counsell and there is no hurt in that for he will consult with old men and that was wisely done indeed if he had not been resolved before hand to doe the contrary to take his owne way They are well seen in State matters and well read in point of government the hardest point having long studied both Times Books and Men. Surely the Reader long 's to heare what they will say what counsell they give to the King This it was and this the purpose of their Counsell Be kind to the people love and kindnesse gaines upon the heart exceedingly They are Childeren of Israel shew Thy self a Father unto them for so thou art and then thou keepest thy place and they will keep theirs and all will be done in love the best Commander in the world Thou art above them by the head to leade to counsell them to provide for them do not set them under thy foot Be not froward with thy children for that will teach them frowardnes and they wil be froward too Please them humour them specially at the first and thou shalt have their hearts forever Stoop to them now and thou shalt not fall nor hurt thy Crown for thou shalt stoop but to Law and Right-reason Be a Servant to thy Servants this one Day thinke it not much to serve them to Day and they will be thy servants to morrow and all thy dayes However thou 1 Kin. 12. 7. dost doe not show them the Yoke for then so like an untamed 2 Chron. 10. 7. Heiser Israel is not used to the Yoke they will shew thee the heele Be kind to Thy people and please them thic once Put a bridle on thy lipps open thy mouth