THE DAMMEE CAVALIERS Warning Piece, In a view on the Prophecy of the Prophet OBADIAH: Against the Idumean Armies, that so cruelly insult over the Church and People of God.  August. Civita. Dei, lib. 2. cap. 21. There is not any true Justice in any Commonwealth whatsoever, but in that whereof Christ is the founder and the ruler, if you please to call that a Common-weal, which we cannot deny is the weal of the Commonalty. Amos 4.18. Your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your Camps to come up unto your nostrils, yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord. 
LONDON, Printed for Abraham Everet against Saint Magnus' Church, at London Bridge, Anno Dom. MDCXLIII.   

THE ARGUMENT.  
THe people of Edom were mortal enemies to the Israelites, although their predecessors were brethren, Esau and Jacob; yet were the Idumeans a continual vexation to the Church of Israel, and that not only in themselves, but by stirring up other neighbouring Nations against them, by which means the people of God were exceedingly distracted: Therefore the Lord sent the Prophet Obadiah to preach that glorious conquest which God had determined to work for his Church, and the great ruin, and misery which should befall Edom, and all malignants in the advancing of the Kingdom of jesus Christ.  

Verse 1. The vision of Obadiah: Thus saith the Lord God concerning Edom; we have heard a rumour from the Lord, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen: Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle.  
THe vision) imports as much as Revelation; for as oft as the Scripture makes mention of special visions which appeared to the Prophets, whereby the Lord meant the better to confirm them when he would have some excellent thing come to light, we are to understand that God did it by Revelation, in those days when the Scripture saith, that the word of the Lord was precious, the reason was, because there was no manifest vision, 1. Sam. 3.1. So those Revelations in Num. 12.6. are called visions. The meaning than is as much, as if it had been said; There is nothing in this book but what the Prophet (being enlightened, and having his eyes opened by God) saw by special Revelation, Thus said the Lord God concerning Edom. Tind. translates it, Thus hath the Lord God spoken upon Edom. The Prophet delivered the word, the rod and execution was to follow, to make good that word: for it was not a fancy of his own imagination, but the very word of the Lord, against Edom. Edom is a name of Esau given upon his greedy desire, or mocking his intemperance, who said to jacob, Feed me I pray thee with that red pottage, therefore his name was called Edom, Gen. 25.30. But it is here taken for the inhabitants of the Country, which were the posterity of Edom. The Rabbins usually by Edom understand Rome. Galatinus de Arcan. lib. 4. c. 28. The Thargum say also that julius Caesar, and the succeeding Emperors, were originally of Edom. ●or in Mal. We have heard a rumour from the Lord, and an Ambassador is sent among the heathen: The philistines assailed and molested the Jews on the one side, by raising war against them; on the other side they had the Ammonites, and the Moabites: And on the other side were the Idumeans, or people of Edom. They were of the Jews blood, in Isaac and Rebecca, the remembrance whereof aught to have turned them from all hatred, and ranchor, but they were treacherous, still plotting, and working to bring the people of God to ruin: Therefore the Lord sends the Prophet here to thunder a terrible message in their ears, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle Tind. hath it, Up let us arise, and fight against them: And the Prophet jeremiah saith to the same effect; Gather ye together and come against her to the battle, Jer. 49.14. For God had sworn by himself that Bozra (the chief City in Edom) should be brought to ruin, and desolation: verse 13. a fearful doom for all dam Cavaliers and enemies to the Church of God; God chargeth his people to gather themselves together, to fight against his and their enemies, and to admit of no peace with them.   

Verse 2. Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised.  
BEhold, I have made thee small among the heathen: Tind. I will make thee small: Although the wicked Idumeans rested secure in their abundance, & were become great, yet the Prophet tells them, that the time was nigh at hand wherein they should be scattered, and though they were a great Army, yet should there but a few remain: For what can the wicked conceive in God, but an extreme security? and therefore when the Majesty of God cometh before them, they fall; but the faithful on the contrary, receive great joy and sweetness in the presence of God: Although the Lord should so sharply correct his people, as if he meant to cast them off, and suffer wicked men to domineer for a time, yet notwithstanding he will show in the end such effects that they shall find how good the Lord is. By the Heathen here is understood all people besides the Jews, all Infidels, God's people only being taken from amongst them, Isae. 49.6.  
Thou art greatly despised; some translations, thou art utterly despised; Tind. Thou shalt be utterly, etc. All the heathen even those to whom they were most endeared, he tells them were all ready to come upon them to help Israel under the leading of the Almighty, and that at an hour's warning, whensoever he shall please to call them forth, by whom they should be set at naught and lightly accounted of, even as a base vile people not worthy of any respect or favour.   

Verse 3. The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee: thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high, that saith in his heart; who shall bring me down to the ground?  
THe pride of thy heart hath deceived thee, Tin. hath lift thee up: The Prophet here tells them that they were so swelled with pride, that they thought that none was able to withstand them, but alas they did but delude themselves; for the Lord would so strengthen his people, and raise such a mighty power against them, as should bring them to ruin and desolation: Here the Lord shows wicked men what all their cunning devices, and wicked treacheries against his people will come to in the end; God will so fight for his Saints, that their enemies shall be destroyed; yea God will turn the hearts of those whom they have wickedly seduced, ●o fight with them against the power of Jesus Christ, that they shall help the people of God, rather than the Lord will see them or their cause perish: when wicked men grow most mad against the people of God, and do them most wrong, then is God nearest at hand to help: Psal. 27 2. Thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock whose habitation is on high, Tind. In the strong holds of stones and hast made thee an high seat: These places were like Castles cut out of the Rocks, so that they were as clefts in Rocks, but high upon hills; So that it is as much as if the Prophet had said, oh ye Idumeans, that strengthen yourselves with Castles, and fortifications, and think yourselves secure in your strong holds, know this, that the hand of God can fetch you out thence; do not think that your Castles and Towers shall shelter your wicked design: That sayest in thy heart who shall bring me down to the ground. They thought themselves so secure that none could conquer them: As Pharaoh said, who is the Lord? Gen. so these ungodly Idolatrous heathens cried out, who shall cast us down to the ground? oh thought they, is not Moab our dear friend, are not all the Gentiles about us at peace with us, and have we not the Jews in subjection; who then shall do us any harm? who is able to cast us down? why here the Prophet tells them that even they should be thus despised and brought to ruin, though they thought themselves so great that none durst dare to come against them, they should be conquered, they should be cast down to the ground; God cares not for the lofty looks of all the Malignants in the world, when he comes once against them, he will throw them and all their Castles and strong holds to the ground, which is a great comfort to the Church of God, because he himself sends them to fight his own cause, and happy are they though they die in such a quarrel.   

Verse 4. Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.  
THough thou exalt thyself as the eagle, Tin. goest up as high as the eagle. They dwelled in a stony and hilly country, part of Arabia like unto the Alps, high hills, or as our country of Wales, a very large and barren place, Christianus Adricomius Annot. 5. in Chrogr. tabulam. In flying to these high hills, they thought to be exceeding secure, but the Prophet tells them that were their hills as high as an eagle could fly, above that height they are, it could not privilege them from God's Judgements, or be a sanctuary to save them from his wrath and displeasure. Let the wicked persecutors of the Church of God hid themselves where they can, let them be sure that when God comes to judgement, he will find them out. Mich 2.10.  
And though thou set thy nest among the stars. Here the Prophet derides the folly of the Idumeans, who resting upon their own security durst be so bold as to promise themselves continual happiness, even as if it had been in their power to bring the event of things to pass by their star gazing sorcery, wherein we have a fair looking glass to behold the foolish pride wherewith all the wicked are puffed up, and the damnable conclusions of their secret fury; as if by their own fancy they could govern all things, whose plots the Apostle james doth well discover, We will go into such a city (say they) we will buy and sell and get gain, and yet in the mean while they know not what shall come to pass to morrow james 4.13.  
What have the plots of the Papists and wicked men been against this poor Kingdom of England? one while they are resolved to take us captives, to cut our throats, and to lay our towns and cities waste: when that will not take, than they seek the secret overthrowing of the Church and State. O what a damnable plot was that when they were resolved not only to blow up the Parliament house, and lay it waste, (when they cried raze it, raze it, even to the ground) but to overthrow both Church and Commonwealth, and that Honourable assembly together, how often have they appointed our men for the swords & slaughter, our wives & daughters for Rapes and Adulteries, & after to cruel murder, our children to have been dashed in pieces against the stones of the streets, as too many have been in Ireland, our cities to have been fired about our ears, and all our wealth to be a prey for them? nay, have not some of late distributed the stations of the City amongst them against they came to plunder it, and to make our suburbs stables for their horses, but blessed be God they have hitherto been prevented. God of his great mercy protect us ever from their fury.  
Thence will I bring thee down saith the Lord. He threatens to overthrow them and all the means they have to establish themselves, that though they prosper a little by his suffering, yet they should fail of their hope, for he would destroy all that they had done. Let the wicked plot never so much against the people of God, the Lord will destroy all that they work, and frustrate their hopes, The wicked shall melt away (saith David) his desire shall perish, Psalm 112.10. Let not any party though never so great amongst us think or imagine to establish themselves without the Lord, by their unlawful means, and policy, for God will destroy them. The danger hath been lively before our eyes upon that connivance of ours, and with that strength they had raised against us: what if they should be peaceably suffered to grow with us? Is not that which Pharaoh feared of Israel, more justly to be feared of these? for the Jews never held it lawful to take away the lives of Pharisees to depose them, or to raise Arms against their counsels, but these deny with Semanca in his institutions, that Subjects are bound to Protestant Sovereign's counsels, or Laws, and that therefore they may rebel by taking up Arms against them, if they have power to do it, Tit. 23. sect. 11. & 13 and Dominicus Bannes in 22 sum. Tho. quaest. 12. Artic. 2. Come ●n (therefore) let us deal wisely with them lest they multiply, and it come to pass that when there falleth out any war hereafter, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up. Exodus. 1.10.   

Verse 5. If thiefs came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off?) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grape gatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes?  
IF thiefs came to thee, if robbers by night? Some translations render it, came thiefs to thee, or robbers by night? Tin. If the thiefs and robbers come to thee by night thou taking of thy rest. The Prophet makes use of this example to make them sensible of the extreme misery that was to fall upon them, which should exceed the affliction of those that are rob of thiefs by night, as if he should have said, do not think it a small judgement, O ye sons of Esau, that is denounced against you, consider the terribleness of being rob by thiefs who break into your houses by night, put you into a great fear, carry away your goods, leave you fast bound, and perhaps take away some of the lives in the family, or torture them, to relate where the best jewels, gold, and silver is, and all this to come upon you on a sudden, in the still of the night, when you think to sleep quietly in your beds, yet shall this misery come far short of that which is denounced against you.  
How art thou cut off? some render it how wast thou brought to silence? this is no more but the admiration prophesied of which should be all about them to see their sudden downfall, and the greatness of it.  
Would they not have stolen till they had enough? Tin. should they not steal, etc. Here he showeth them that God will not take away part from them, and then go away, for fear like thiefs, when they come to rob, but would send such a judgement upon them as should sweep away all that ever they had.  
If the grape gatherers came to thee, would they not leave thee some grapes? Some render it gleaning grapes. Grapes are never gathered so clean, but they leave here and there a few behind, though there be not a cluster to eat, Mic. 7.1. but the judgement here against the Idumeans is so terrible, that there shall be nothing left, they shall be brought to utter ruin and shame, God will make them bare, and uncover their secret places, and they shall not be able to hid themselves, Jer. 49.10. O that the enemies of the Gospel of Jesus Christ would consider of this, for certainly if they do not repent, such a judgement will befall them, either here, or hereafter in hell: oh that the wicked roarers and cursing Cavaliers of our Land that rage against the poor lambs of Jesus Christ would repent, and leave the works of darkness, and walk honestly, leave their voluptuousness, and drunkenness, their chamber works, and wanton tricks, their contentions and malice, and come to walk in the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Rom. 13.13. This would make England a happy Kingdom.   

Verse 6. How are the things of Esau searched out? how are his hid things sought up?  
HOw are the things of Esau searched out? how are his hid things sought up? Tin. But how shall they ripe Esau and seek out his treasures? The Prophet here shows them how wonderfully God Almighty doth discover all their sins, though they be committed never so secret: wicked men do not consider how the Lord doth eye and take notice of all their ways, but he tells the Idumeans here, as the Prophet Zephaniah did the Jews when their hearts were so heardened against God, that they would not regard his word nor his Prophets, I will search jerusalem with lights, saith the Lord there, and visit the men that are frozen in their dregs, Zephaniah 1.12. There is nothing can escape the all seeing eye of God.   

Verse 7. All the men of thy confederacy, have brought thee even to the border: the men that were at peace with thee, have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee: they that eat thy bread have laid a wound under thee: there is none understanding in him.  
ALL the men of thy confederacy have brought thee even to the border. Tin. renders it, The men that were sworn unto thee shall drive thee out of the borders of thine own land he declareth that outward succour shall profit the Idumeans nothing at all, & shows with what power the Soldiers should be seized. Now Idumea did not only strengthen herself, with the men of War of her own country, but by a league which she had made with her neighbour Princes, she had strangers sent to aid her: He saith that they with whom the Edomites had made a league, even they themselves should break their oath, and raise their ensigns and garrisons against them, and pursue them with the sword till they had driven them out of their own land. The hearts of men are so in the hands of God, that when it pleaseth him he strengthens them to conquer, and at his will again they are subdued and overcome. The Prophet declares that even the very same people that had bound themselves in a league, & sworn by an oath to join with the Edomites, even they should gather together against them, and drive them out of the borders of Idumea, that is quite out of the land.  
The men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee. Tind. They that be now at one with thee, shall deceive thee, and overcome thee. He here confirms that which he said before, that even those in whom they had the greatest confidence, and thought that such a peace had been confirmed, as could not have been ratified, yet the prophet tells them that even in them they should be deceived, The men of thy peace in whom thou art so confident, they shall deceive thee, and prove thy ruin; which showeth how vain a thing it is to trust in man: As if he should say that the Edomites played the fools to suffer themselves to be gugled with fair promises, for we need not doubt but their neighbour Princes were forward enough in promising mountains, and wonders, although slow to perform any thing.  
They that eat thy bread have laid a wound under thee. Tin. Even that eat thy bread betray thee. He further amplifies the matter, showing how little confidence is to be found in unfaithful man in the time of trouble: He is (as Solomon saith) a broken tooth, and a sliding foot. Prov. 25.19. The Edomites had put much confidence in strangers, and advanced them to great honour in the land of Idumea, with whom they did eat and drink, and live as one people, but see what confidence is in unconstant man, they bond themselves with an oath, but secretly wrought treason, they promised them that they should prosper by joining with them, but when they once gained an opportunity they became their greatest enemies. A domestic enemy is the most dangerous of all, & of all domestic enemies the table enemies do a Nation or a person most mischief, because they are privy to most secrets: they of Tyre, & their other neighbours, that were so treacherous; are not excused for this, for though God suffered them to be punished because of their sins, yet did not God do it for their enemy's sake, but to make his power known to rebellious Edom. Thus saith the Lord, for three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four I will not turn to it because they shut the whole captivity in Edom, and have not remembered the brotherly covenant. Amos 1.9 Breakers of leagues, ruces, and covenants are Rom. 13. ranked amongst such whom God in his secret judgement hath given up to a reprobate sense, Faederum tutor & vindex Deus est, God is as it were a tutor or protector of leagues, and severely revengeth himself upon the breakers of them.  
Yet must we take heed how we make covenants with Idolaters, and unbelievers, lest they draw us from the true service of God, to the profane worship of Idols, for they will cause thy son to turn away from me (saith the Lord) and serve other gods. Amos 1.6. And therefore saith Paul be not unequally yoked with infidels. 2. Cor. 16.14. Which similitude may teach us this lesson that the yoke so holdeth the yoked together, that either both must draw one way, and so may we be drawn to Idolatry, or else contention will break the team and yoke in pieces, and so occasion some mischief to ensue.  
There is none understanding in him. Tind. Or ever thou perceyvest it. He shows here, that God did not correct them so rigorously, is for good reason; for they were a people of none understanding, like those Isa. 27.11. a people of no understanding: therefore he that mad● them will not have mercy on them, and he that form them, will show them no favour.  
For seeing that true wisdom consisteth in the fear of God (who is the fountain thereof) doth not the Holy Ghost justly condemn all them to be blind earthworms, who despise God to walk after their own inordinate lusts.  
And yet such a blindness cannot excuse nor free us from being guilty of malice, for they that offend God do it maliciously, notwithstanding they be hood winked in respect of the violences of their lusts: Ignorance and malice they are joined together, yet so that this ignorance proceeds from a corrupt desire of the heart, thence is it that the Hebrews call all sins generally by the name of Ignorances': and thus Moses saith, They are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them. O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end. How should one chase a thousand, & two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up? Deut. 32.28, 29, 30. Now every one may easily be drawn to subscribe to this, by considering in himself, with what crooked affections he is carried away, for being once deprived of the light of holy doctrine, & destitute of understanding the devil sets a man going with such head-strongnesse, that he neitner fears God's hand, nor makes any account of his holy word. Hence lit is, that many brainless Bedlams are so ignorantly desperate in wickedness, that they will not suffer their judgement to be convinced, that their cursing, swearing, drunkenness, luxury, robbing, plundering, and murdering the people of God, will bring them to destruction, and damnation without repentance, and so go on roaring and domineering in the world for a time till they be met withal by the hand of God, in suffering the Devil to draw them to such cruelties against the people of God.