THE KING'S CHRONICLE Latter SECTION.  
WHEREIN The way, the good Kings, Priest and People have taken for the well-posturing the Kingdom, is fully declared, and made glorious before the Eye of the Beholder by GOD'S own Right Hand, for the encouragement of all, who will walk in the same way, observe the same steps and motions there; and fix their Eye upon the same Mark, The Glory of GOD; Their own and the People's safety.  
By HEZEKIAH WOODWARD.  JER. 32. 39 I will give them one heart and one way. PROV. 12. 28. In the way of righteousness there is life: And in the path way thereof there is no Death. DAN. 11. 32. The People, that do know their GOD shall be strong and do exploits. 
LONDON, Printed by G. M. for George Miller and Thomas Vnderhill, and are to be sold at the Sign of the Bible in Wood-street, 1643.   

TO THEIR EXCELLENCIES ROBERT Earl of ESSEX Lord General of his Majesty's Army by Land:  
ROBERT Earl of WARWICK High Admiral of his Navy by Sea, for the Defence of the KING and KINGDOM; his Crown, their life, Religion, Laws, Liberties, GRACE. and PEACE be multiplied.  
WHen I looked upon the subject matter of this Book▪ the History of the good Kings their good way, good Aims, good ends; The glory of God, Their own and their people's safety: I thought so honourably of it, as that it would become the hand of the highest Person in the Kingdom. But considering again, That myself, the lowest of ten thousand, has his hand in it, my thoughts fell very much in my own sense, and much also in my Dedication, from a King to his Subjects; notwithstanding, I think so honourably of it still, and still shall so think (not as it comes from my hand, but) as it comes from God's mouth, That the Dedication will become two Persons, though Subjects, yet the most Excellent in three Kingdoms. Such are You, who, feeling the weight of Duty to Your Prince and Country, do wish from an entire and ingenuous heart, O King live for ever: And to his Kingdom, That it may be the Lords Kingdom. Upon this, The noblest design that ever was on foot, You do move, laying out Yourselves and jeoparding your lives, To maintain the Cause of God, His Gospel, The Crown of Your King, The Glory of the Kingdom.  
You will found a mighty resistance, All the Powers of darkness against you, the King of the bottomless pit, and all his Subjects associated now and folden together like thorns. But You cannot be discouraged, The God, Whom You serve is Great, The Cause You Own and Appear for, is His Cause▪ The way You are in, is trodden before You, by all the truly Noble of the world, who made themselves and their people a Blessing. You can suffer no more from the tongue and hand, than what all the good Kings and Princes have suffered before You in this way, not more hard words, nor more ungodly deeds. You cannot be brought to greater straits, than these Nobles have been in before You: A Ship tossed with Tempests, is the Emblem of the Church: So He suffers the Cause of His Church to be carried as a Ship in a Storm, now UP, and yet the Righteous are where they were, not raised above the height of an holy confidence and humble dependence, knowing the manner how GOD brings His People to a wealth place; Than DOWN, That the wicked may rise in their hope, may be lifted▪ up, and made lively and strong to prosecute their own way, and to hasten their own ruin. But still GOD is the same, as wakeful as ever; His Cause the same, and it shall be as victorious as ever, and the more opposition has or shall be made against Him, by the Assemblies of the wicked; The more glorious the victory shall be▪ And the more weight shall be added unto Your Crown of Glory, who have not forsaken their Master in the hour of Temptation, but have stood by Him, have owned His Cause, laid out Yourselves for Him.  
So You have done; surely the Lord remembers this, and will let You know, What a good Master You have chosen, His Attributes shall be laid out for You; His Wisdom, Power, Goodness; As You have laboured to advance His Name, He will make Your Name to spread, and to cast a savour, sweeter than the most precious ointment to all Generations, when the Name of the wicked shall rot, and their memorial be as the Cities, GOD overthrew and repent not.  
Now blessed be GOD, Who hath instructed You to Discretion, giveth Courage and Might, that You can be valiant for the Cities of Your GOD, and can resign all into His Hands, to do that, which is good in His Eyes. That which He do'● is good still, and will be best at the last. In the mean time You know You serve a good Master, and have a good Cause in hand; And therefore can say with the whole Family of GOD; The LORD is our judge, The LORD is our King, He will save us. Amen say all, That love and fear the Lord all the world over, Amen and Amen.   

THE PREFACE to the CHRONICLE.  
We have seen the ways of Ahabs' House, whether they led, and their counsels whether they tended, To the Destruction of all Judah; A Destruction at which the Nations stood astonished, for it was A casting out of Judah from out of GOD'S sight, A removing of them fare of, whom He had brought so near, by so many engagements. If we have let this sink down into our hearts, This Destruction from the LORD upon His own people, will be a Terror to us, so as we shall read and fear, and do not more presumptuously.  
We come now to behold the way of the good Kings; one and the same still, not varied, not any turn or wind there, (The ways of the crooked Serpent:) But direct 〈◊〉 and forward, By the same Rule; To the same end; In the use of the same means. This requires all observation: That these good Kings, all and every one, had a single eye, and such were their Aims: They set before their eyes, honest and good ends, The GLORY of GOD: And the advancement of His Kingdom: They were resolute, constant, and true unto those ends (not 〈◊〉, not of and on) And they moulded and shaped their actions thereunto, by love, which forms a Person nothing more dexterously; Love to GOD, Love to His Truth, Love to His People, Love to their Peace. To sum▪ up their Actions here▪ That we may, with more understanding, enlarge upon them afterwards. The first and prime work was, The removing of all Abominations from out of GOD'S sight, which abominable Idolaters had setup before Hi●eyes.  
2. Than they ASSOCIATED themselves, came up to GOD and His terms, entered into Covenant with Him, and kept close unto Him.  
3. And all this with a perfect heart: and so they made themselves and their People, as a brazen wall, and an Iron Pillar; The blast of the Terrible-ones could not move them. The purpose and tendency of all that follows, is, to clear all this for the instruction of the living, That they may do so also: But I must clear David's intentions towards his Master Saul first, to be Loyal and Legal.   

IT is this three and twentieth Day of December, 1642. Ordered by the Committee of the House of COMMONS in PARLIAMENT concerning Printing, that this Book, entitled, The King's Chronicle be printed.  
John White.   

SECT. II. THE KING'S CHRONICLE.  
The Story of the Kings of judah is continued; Their wise ordering their Militia; their direct ways and motions to a desired end are recorded.  
§. 1. A digression, showing DAVID'S Military design to be loyal and lawful: and the true Causes of all the Wars against the Church, now or in former times, discovered. But the lawfulness of this Militia now runs-out beyond all parallels.  
I Must turn bacl that I may go forward in the Chronicle, and begin with David, (for he fought the Battles of GOD,) To learn from his Story, Who taught his hands to war, and his fingers to fight. That we may read in order, we must look upon him a little before he was King, when he returned to Ziglag, and found nothing there but ruins and ashes 
a 1 Sam. 30. 36 : The desire of his eyes, taken captive; and heard threatening words besides: so David was greatly distressed; But he encouraged himself in the Lord his God. And see what the Lord does for His servant David, because he trusted in Him 
a ver. 6. ! Truly that is very notable; how God strengthened David: and how 
An expression ordinary in the Psalms, and a duty to be observed.  David fortifies himself in the LORD his GOD. But I cannot come to that yet; I must first set David clear from Malignant spirits; for his Actions than, are questioned now in a Parallel. I will set down the Case as fully as the most Malignant spirit can do; and than we will see how the sacred Scripture clears it, even the Innocency of David than, and of those now, who practise after him. But it will be said at first entrance, and so I shall dissolve the Story into a Dialogue, That;  
Object. We must live by PRECEPT, not by the Godly man's practice.  
Answ. True; for the practice may vary: but the precept is a standard, I mean a standing rule; And yet I must, for I am commanded so, To follow Paul as he followed Christ: I may live by the godly man's practice, while they live by the precept, keeping close thereunto.  
Object.  
But what is the practice of one man, to justify the practice of the whole Body of a Kingdom? specially when his practice may be a question, and than it cannot be an Argument, seeing the lawfulness of David's practice was never decided.  
Answ. Yes, that it was long ago. The sacred Scripture decideth it, and I will read the Records of that decision now;  
Besides, David was not alone; he had others joined with him; and one, amongst the rest, who renders David's practice in his Military design to be unquestionable by clear testimony from Truth itself; THE SPIRIT CLOTHED AMASAI 
b 1 Chro. 12. 18. 12. 8. ; (i e) as it is expounded in another place 
c judge 6. 34. Instruxit eum voluntate & facultate ad hanc expeditionem pertinante, Trem. , The Spirit of JEHOVAH furnished Amasai with power and a willing heart, for that expedition, The helping forwards David● Military design; The Spirit of the LORD does not  a man, does not so fully set him forth, completing him with heart, and hand, and council, and strength to practise against His holy william. So I come to David's practice; and will hear what can be said against it, and give the Malignants good leave for our better observation, to urge against it to the utmost.  
Object.  
David was but a private man, now a subject, designed to the Crown indeed; and within a few hours the Crown was set upon his head: But who regarded that? he was a private man now, a poor cast-out, a miserable creature, at the lowest.  
Answ. Reader, I will cut of the objection by the middle for thy sake, that thou mayest note here with all thy heart this first, That it is GOD'S way and method to say Man low, before He raiseth them; to pluck down the head, before he will set a Crown upon it; as David here, before he must be highest in the Kingdom, he must be the lowest there. 2. Note also, for it will clear our case exceedingly, That indeed David now was but a private man, yet he did so and so, as we shall read presently: Now let the objection run-on to its full length.  
Object.  
And though a private Man, and at the lowest, yet see how proudly he carrieth himself! Surely he had treasonable thoughts against his Master, the LODS anointed; he that scrupeled, at the cutting the lap of his Coat, will not scruple at the taking of his Master's head; he had treasonable thoughts against the LORDS anointed now: he purposed to Rebel.  
Answ. Not indeed not he; not a thought that way ever came into David's heart.  
Object. But (not) answers not the question; The case is apparent, David had gathered together a great Army.  
Answ. The same Answer must serve, when all is said, Not; David did not gather together a great Army; They gathered to him; they came in to him for his guard and rescue; they were not called-in. The persecution of Saul against David was very notorious, and at length raised the hearts of the people, like a great bell, which being set up, made a loud sound, and called-in for David's helpers; so they flocked-in to him, till his Host was as the Host of the LORD 
b 1 Chro 12. 22 : A sure token, that God was with him too; and that Innocency was in his hand.  
Object.  
That is a gross mistake; and David's carriage is mistaken too, clean different to what the behaviour of a subject should be. David should have dealt plainly, thus; Masters, remember yourselves, and me, subjects all: Saul is our King and Master; we can set him no bounds, and if he be no law to himself, he may do as he does, persecute me, and overtake me. But I will outrun him if I can, and hid me where I may; If I cannot, yet, not a hand will I lift up against him; not nor suffer any hand to be lift up against my Master Saul▪ So he should have said and done.  
Answ. So he said and did, as appears in the Text 
c 1 Sam 24. 5. ; and will more appear anon.  
Object. Nay, clean contrary; he goes forth to meet his helpers; Tells them, his heart shall be knit unto them 
d 1 Chro. 12. 17. .  
Answ. He tells them so indeed; and said he not well? If ye be come PEACEABLY unto me; if as neighbours and Brothers, and come not to betray me to mine enemies; but will help me against them, Than my heart shall be knit unto you. 
1 Chr. 12. 1.  Ye may see plainly what ye take in hand; The rescuing a poor Innocent, that keeps himself close because of Saul and his bloody Courtiers 
d ver. 1. ; ye see, there is no wrong in my hands; I can appeal to Heaven in this; The GOD of our Fathers look thereon and rebuke it. 
ver. 17.   
Object. Call you this a coming PEACEABLY? It will carry a suspicion, at the lest of the contrary.  
Answ. Yes: But what careth a wise man for suspicion in such a case: do not suspect but be confident, that a wise man will keep the hand of the violent man from his throat, if it be in the power of his hands so to do.  
Object. What! keep Saul the King from cutting his throat?  
Answ. Yes, Saul the King: for what glory had it been, if Saul the King had cut David's throat, any more than if a beggar had done it. The objection holds on.  
Object.  
Is this a coming PEACEABLY, when Men of might comein unto David, and Men of War, fit for the Battle, Armed with Bows and Arrows; the chief Captains, 
ver. 8.  mighty Men of valour for the War, and for number infinite? Is this a coming PEACEABLY, when every Tribe sent in their thousands, Benjamin also even of Sauls Brothers? 
ver. 2.   
Answ. Yes; all this PEACEABLY. But I thank you for the last, for that is notable, even of SAULS BROTHERS OF BENJAMIN. David's cause was so just; Sauls quarrel so unjust; David's Innocency so apparent; Sauls bloody intentions so clear to all the Tribes round about; That even Sauls Brothers came-in to help David, with thousands from each Tribe, and all to rescue him from a Murderer; And all this coming-in was PEACEABLY.  
Object. Peaceably! strange! what? Men to comein, whose faces were like the faces of Lions; Armed with Bows; could handle 
ver. 8.  shield and buckler; and all this peaceably?  
Answ. Yes peaceably all this, To maintain the peace of the King and Kingdom; To safeguard Sauls life; I am not mistaken, I say Sauls life, even the soul of his life, for it was in rescue, if it could have been, of Sauls body, from out of the hands of bloody men, and in compassion to his soul, It will appear anon; only we must go about a little, and it will be worth our labour, for it will instruct us touching this present Military design, the loyalty and lawfulness thereof: But that indeed this now is a transcendent business, hath no parallel, exceeds that, in the sacred Text, as much as a whole Kingdom is more than David (than, at that time a private man:) As much as all the faithful in the world, are more than that one Prophet Elisha: yet see what he did to preserve his life 
d 2 Kin. 6. 3 ●● ; Indeed, life is a precious thing, and worthy our safeguarding. I add this by the way, to show, as was said, That this present business exceeds all parallels, as much as the public and common good exceeds the private, and particular; As much as a thousand thousand heads exceed one head; But to that which is undertaken; which is this; 1. That David and his helpers helped Saul and his Kingdom; 2. That David did what he did in very compassion to the soul of his Lord, and Master; with respect to his own soul too, for that was but reasonable.  
To goeon than to the bottom of the business, and to find-out the ground of this quarrel, and in whose heart war was indeed. We may make more than a conjecture from the words we shall hear, for they were drawn Swords; but we will search into the bottom of the quarrel. Saul was wroth with David. What had David done? He had killed Goliath, and in him Ten Thousand 
a 1 Sam. ●●. 7. . A Glorious Act that! David had wrought Salvations for Israel. He had slain a mighty, a proud and insolent Adversary, him that defied, that cursed David by his gods 
b ● Sam. 17. 43▪ . Little David had slain this great Goliath, the Champion, that CAME up out of the Camp of the Philistines, 
ver. 4.  him had David slain: And in that one Adversary, David slew a whole Legion of Devils. Such a salvation had David wrought for Israel. But for this very Act was the King of Israel highly displeased; The kill of Goliath caused the very heat of Sauls displeasure against David: Saul was very wrath for that, and he eyed David (mark that) from that day and forward 
b 1 Sam. 18. 9 ; and did against him, as we may read. Why? Because he had beheaded Goliath, 
ver 9  that was the reason. Indeed his rage increased and was exceeding; he became David's Enemy CONTINUALLY 
c ver. 29.  from the very day, David had shaved-off Goliahs' head. And see how contrary he walketh against David! For it commands our observation; sometimes in a rage with David, and manifesteth his madness, so that all may see it 
d 1 Sam. 18. 11 ; sometimes he useth wiles and crafts. He deals treacherously and subtly, pretending honour to David, because so worthy, and he should be Captain (forsooth) over a thousand. And than when that would not do, Saul assureth David, he will respect him as a 
ver. 13.  Father his son; he will take the same care of David, as of his own child, For he should have his Elder daughter to wife▪ Only David must be valiant, and encourage himself to fight the LORDS battles. Who would not trust such words as these? 
ver. 17.  Truly David, a simple hearted man, did believe it, That Saul had a zeal for GOD, the establishing Religion, and, a full purpose to honour him; He should have his daughter to wife; and the condition was to David's heart, for he could be valiant, and fight the battles of the LORD. David could not suspect, That a wicked heart is like a potsherd covered with silver dross 
h Pro. 20. 23. ; or that a man may speak fair, when there are seven abominations in his heart 
i ver. 25. . There were no fewer in Sauls heart; he cared not what he said, nor what he did, nor did he regard the hundred foreskins of the Philistines; he regarded this, how he might execute His Will upon the innocent. What he said to Day, he unsaid the next day, or did worse; David should have his elder daughter that he should; but when she should have been given to David, she was given to another the very same day, it is worth the noting, at the same time. And yet 
1 Sam. 18. 19  David must be told, that Saul delights in him, and all his servants love him, (see what a thing the Heart is, how desperately wicked 
k ver▪ 22. ) And if it will please David, he shall be the King's son in law notwithstanding. And it pleased David well, for he said, in effect, Saul honours the poor Shepherd very much, For is it not an honour to be the King's son in law 
l ver. 23. ? So David performs the condition, which Saul required ᵐ, and Saul performed his word to David; he gave him Michal his daughter to wife 
m ver. 27. ; but he had said (in his heart) before, I will give him her, that she may be a snare unto him 
n ver. 21. . Thus it was almost visible, That there was war in Sauls heart, and seven abominations beside: But yet Saul cannot prevail against David, neither by open rage, nor secret cunning. How so? Because the LORD was departed from Saul, and was with David 
o ver. 12. : Therefore David behaved himself wisely in all his ways, for the LORD was with him 
p ver. 14. . And that troubled Saul most of all, for it defeated all his counsels; it made him afraid of David; yet he would try all ways he could found out to kill David.  
Than Saul spoke to Jonathan his Son 
q Chap. 19 1.  (he was an honest man, and loved David with his heart 
r ver. 2. , for he delighted in him) and to all his Servants (they were all wicked, for their Master harkened unto lies 
s Prov. 29. 12. ) THAT THEY SHOULD KILL DAVID. So the Master and the servants, did all what they could to take away his life. But the poor Worm plucked in his head as he could, he dealt very subtly 
t 1 Sam. 23. 22 . Good reason why, for, Saul secretly practised mischief against him 
u Chap. 23. 9 ; And David knew it. Nay, Saul had destroyed the City of the Priests 
x Chap. 22. 1●. : His servants indeed would not execute their Master's bloody command 
y ver. 17, 18. , but Doeg did ʸ; (A bloody Master cannot want a bloody Doeg) if the other servants will scruple at so nice a point, Doeg will not, he fell upon the Priests and slew on that day 84. persons, that did wear a linen Ephed▪ Nay he did more than so, like the Doegs of our days, they could not be avenged of David▪ the faithful servants of the Lord, therefore they slew poor naked men and women, yea and dogs too. So Doeg than, he smote Nob, the City of the Priests with the edge of the Sword, both men and women, children and sucldings, and oxen and asset, and sheep with the EDGE OF THE SWORD. It is twice repeated 
ver. 19  to express the extreme cruelty of that execution. See here what a bloody persecution is raised, when Saul seeks David's life, and Doeg is his minister!  
But what doth Saul say now? Can he call GOD to record upon his soul, That his heart is upright? That he hath a zeal for the Lords battles? So he said, can he say so still? Yet may be he could; but no wisemen regarded what he said, when they saw Doeg was with him, and had made such a miserable destruction. Wisemen did observe what Saul did, and who were his ministers; and they knew as well as David himself, That the persecution was raised against the most faithful servant in Sauls Kingdom; and therefore it was, that who so were faithful in the Kingdom, next to David, were slain too for his sake. Now Saul might speak, and swear and protest, and call GOD to witness, it could not be regarded; his bloody execution (for it was his, he commanded Doeg to fall) upon the Priests, and that cruel outrage against Nob, undeceived all the people in the Land, and in point of Law. But Saul now makes no pretence; he marcheth on now (for he was now entered into blood) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, with open face against David, and see what an Army he hath gathered together, three thousand chosen men out of Israel; mighty hunters 
1 Sam. 24. 2.  all, and they all hunted David, as one hunteth a Partridge in the Mountains 
k Chap. 26. 20. , and once, nay twice they had him in a coop, enclosed 
l 1 Sam 23 26.  him in a Cave with more than five hundred drawn Swords round about; but the Lord gave David the day, and the advantage; Truly David's deliverances and reskues 
Chap. 24. 3, 4.  were the greatest miracles that GOD wrought in those days.  
But why all this prosecution and persecution against David? That is the enquiry: What had David done? It was half answered before, and but the half; he had killed Goliath, and in him ten thousand. Now we must hear the other part; but read first and note it, David shall have enough urged against him; That he conspired against his Master Saul 
m 1 Sam. 22. 13. , for Saul saith, as if he did believe, that David sought his hurt 
n Chap. 24. 9 , and he went in danger of his life every day. Who? Saul, he was afraid of David that David would kill him; so he said, and so his Courtiers said also, but what said the honest Priest, for we must believe him, Who is so faithful among all thy Servants, as David 
o Chap. 22. 14. ; and Saul knew it to be so too, though he spoke, that David conspired against him, and that he sought his life; they were but feigned words, he feared David no more, than a dog fears the hare, or a wolf a lamb: and Saul clears David at this point also, in his words and in his heart both 
p 1 Sam. 24. 16, 17, 18. 1 Sam. 26. 21. Chap. 23. 8. 1 Sam. 23. 17. . But Saul conspired against David to take away his life, that was visible, he called all the people together to war to besiege David, for the reason above said, and for this which follows, Thou shalt be King over Israel, and that also SAUL MY FATHER KNOWETH, mark that, and than you have the other part, and are come to the bottom of the business.  
What ever the pretences were, this was the ground of the quarrel; Sauls house shall not be established; David must succeed, and not Jonathan, and SAUL KNEW IT. Why than would Saul resist, fight against GOD, and a good conscience? The answer is short; because he was an enemy to GOD, and to the good pleasure of His will; Therefore he endeavours nothing more earnestly, than to make voided the decrees of GOD, though yet they are as the everlasting hills and perpetual Mountains. Indeed this ever was, and is the great design of the world, What? To dethrone David, The Lord Christ King of Saints: He shall not rule in the Kingdoms of the world; not over them; they still said so, and so they say still; so they set themselves, taking counsel together, still against the LORD, and against His ANOINTED. And so we have the whole ground and reason of the quarrel, which we will read over again.  
1. David had done worthily for the people of God, in one Adversary he had slain ten thousand.  
2. The mercies of God were made sure to David, his Kingdom must be established for ever, Saul would make all this Null, and of none effect. And this hath been the cause of all the wars against the Church from the beginning of the world; and will be the same to the world's end. David should not be King than: Thence risen the quarrel, and it has continued ever since upward to this day. What an heaving and shouldering do we make now, That His Seed may not keep His Throne, and have, according to the Promise, the Kingdoms of the Earth for His possession? And yet, if we ask these men, they will answer in cool blood, That the LORD CHRIST doth reign, and must reign; He will take to Himself Power, be the Nations never so angry: Notwithstanding, what they think in coole-blood, thus they 
Rev. 11▪ 17, 18  do in their Anger; They break His bands in sunder, and cast away His cords from them. This is the ground of the quarrel, the dethroning of the LORD CHRIST; as this has, 
Psal. 2. 3.  so it will 'cause the bloodiest war, that ever was read of in the world. My Promise was to make a discovery hereof only, and no more.  
Now to the main business, 1. To vindicate David and his helpers, from doing wrong or injustice against Saul.  
2. Than I shall clear David's compassion to Saul, and to his own soul; All this in standing upon his guard, and defending himself.  
1. The first is as clear as the Sunshine, David took nothing from Saul, but added to him, he would have maintained Ziglag for him; All Davids designs were to safeguard Sauls life; and still his inroads were upon Sauls Adversaries; All his ways were not always warrantable there; than he wandered erring from the way, when fear surprised him, and that was more than once; but not once in all his life, did he do the lest hurt to Saul, but much good service.  
Object.  
By your leave, David might have hurt Saul, and have slain him too: For, had not the LORD told David, that the men of Keilah 
a 1 Sam. 23. 10, 11. , notwithstanding their engagements to David, yet would deal treacherously with him, he had stood upon his guard there, and fortified the Town, and maintained it against Saul; who, so glad of that advantage, and calling together all the people to befiege 
b ver. 9  David, might have endangered his life there, that he might.  
Answ. Yes indeed might he; No doubt but Saul would have made a furious onset upon Keilah for David's sake, (it was as some Town our thoughts may be upon, well fortified, and had gates and bars,) for he was the very But and white whereat malice shot all her Arrows; and if the Keilites had been faithful to David, he would not have been treacherous to himself; and than in the heat of the battle, and hot charge against David, he could not teach the arrows, or what other instruments of death they had, to make difference betwixt Saul and a common Man. Saul might have forborn, and have taken leisure enough to look to himself, David had work enough, to prevent Saul, and to save his own throat. If Saul will run upon the Sword, who can stay him? It is all the answer that needs to a question but supposed.  
But seeing we are upon that Chapter, let us observe the bold confidence of the man; David is come to Keilah says he; he is shut in there, by entering into a Town that hath gates and bars 
d ver. 7. . Well, what if he be? There is a POWER with David, that can break Gates of brass and bars of Iron. But observe, I say, how▪ confident the man is, and yet how mistaken! He is sure enough now, says Saul, I have him now fast enough: GOD hath delivered him into my hand. Look ye! Saul thought that GOD shined upon His bloody counsels: (indeed the LORD gives some success that way, that the counsel of the wicked may be carried headlong) when as indeed GOD went clean cross unto him, and declared His Name to be Wonderful for David; only the LORD gave Saul this advantage to manifest the spirit of the man, and to discover the treachery of the people, that was it. But Saul understood none of all this, he thought, as was said, that GOD blessed His endeavours, prospered his design, though it was the persecution of David, throughout all the thousands of Judah 
d 1 Sam. 23. 23. .  
How came Saul to be so blinded in an evil way? Say hardened and brawned too; Than look in the Chapter immediately before; and that will give you answer to both 
e 1 Sam. 22. . Saul had taken a bloody Edomite to his side; had rushed furiously into a Town of Priests, and we have read what a slaughter he made there. He washed his feet in the blood of the Lords chief servants; he must needs be blinded now and brawned in an evil way. This in passage: But I think I have cleared this, which was the first: That neither David, nor his helpers did any wrong to Saul. I come now to the second thing, which is the chief of my undertaking; That David in seeking to defend and safeguard himself, did show compassion to Saul, even to the life of his life.  
2. Sauls understanding was now so clouded, the light which was in him, was overspread with such a thick darkness, that he accounted the delivering up David into his hands (which the people, so brutish and vile they were, so blind also, they followed Saul up to the knees in blood; and such enemies to their King's peace, were ready to do) so as he might sheathe his sword in David's bowels, even this, To be a mercy to his soul, Blessed be ye of the Lord, for ye have compassion on me 
d 1 Sam. 23. 21. : See there, Saul blesseth murderers, whom GOD curseth, and he should have put to death. And he accounts it a COMPASSION to his soul. What? To have the opportunity given him for the taking away David's life. Lay this together, consider on it, than we must conclude, that David, in standing upon his guard, and admitting such helpers, which GOD sent-in unto him, did show compassion even to his Master's soul: As he did to his own soul, in rescuing that by all fair means out of the hands of a murderer. I said, compassion to his Master's soul; That is compassion indeed, to keep a man from shedding innocent blood. That restraint is a blessed restraint, which keeps the foot from the path of the destroyer: That counsel, blessed counsel, which checks and stopps a man in the pursuance of bloody designs. We may say of such restraints, and of such counsellors, as we weade; Blessed be the LORD GOD of Israel, and blessed be the advice; and blessed be those counsellors, who would keep this day from shedding innocent 
1. Sam. 25. 32, 33.  blood.  
We will look over this once more that we may observe in passage thence, and stand humbled at our observation; first;  
1. What a thick cloud man hath cast over his understanding! What does Saul call a compassion on him? The delivering up of David into his hands, that so he might sheathe his Sword in his bowels: And now that the Ziphites will (after the manner) do Saul this kindness to deal treacherously with David, 
ver 19  and betray innocent blood, Saul will bless them in the Name of the LORD. Truly here is a strange compassion, and as strange a blessing, yet not strange from Saul, a stranger to the Commonwealth of Israel, and has made such a slaughter, and committed such an outrage upon Nob, for that must be remembered still all along,  
2. Compare we the compassion the Ziphites would have shown to Saul, with the compassion David did show unto him 
d 1 Sam. 24. Chap. 26, , Than we shall see plainly, that the Ziphites compassion was trencherous and bloody, they can show no compassion; But David can; his compassion is compassion indeed, mercy to the Body, and to the Soul also. All this David showed to Saul. Now in the next place, we must give David leave to show,  
2. Compassion to his own Soul; so I said; And is not the soul worthy whereto a man should show compassion? Why should a man suffer the thread of life to be cut, his soul to be let-out by a bloody hand, which not sooner is let-out, but it lancet forth into the deeps of eternity, where it must live for ever? Why should a man neglect his life, his precious life, which is given him here, to make provision for a happy life hereafter. We have heard what David a private man did, for his Master Saul, and for himself, how just and innocent in all; now hear him out, what he saith; If you be come peaceably unto me, mine heart shall be knit unto you, but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the GOD of our Fathers look thereon and rebuke it. In the next place, hear what Abigall saith; The LORD will certainly make my Lord a sure house 
a 1 Sam. 25 28.  How 
a Chro. 12. 17.  knows she that? Because my Lord fighteth the Battles of the LORD. What Battles were they? Offensive against the Philistines, defensive against Saul. And evil hath not found in thee all thy days: Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul. Who was that? Saul; But the soul of my Lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy GOD, and the soul of thine enemies, them shall He sling out as out of the midst of a sling. She was no Prophetess, but it was just as she said. In the last place, hear what Amasai saith, for he spoke by the Spirit; Than the Spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the Captains, and he said, Thy are we David, and on thy side, thou Son of Jesse, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers, for thy GOD helpeth thee. Than David received them, and made them Captains of the band, David might receive those helpers, and employ them, for they came unto him with a blessing from GOD'S Mouth, and with a Warrant from His Hand. And so the sacred Scripture hath cleared David's Militia to be loyal and lawful.  
The same Oracle says as much, and more in the justification of our Militia, raised for the Defence of our Lord the King, his Crown and Dignity: The Malignant Party will interrupt me here; they and they only are a WALL to the King, a Defence to the Kingdom by night and day 
b 1 Sam. 25. 19  So they say, and you may believe them. Now what shall I say? That our Militia (I call it ours, because our Laws, Liberties, Lives, the life of our lives, Religion and all, are concerned in it) is raised for the offence of the Kingdom, to open the doors and frontiers thereof, that the Beasts of prey may enter-in thereby; to make the Nation the portion of Foxes. I may say so if I will, but no sober man will think me sober for saying so; Therefore I will speake-out my words, That the sacred Scripture says as much, and much more in justification of our Militia, raised for the fortifying the Kingdom (the King also, for what is good for the one; is good for the other: As what is good for the Beehive is also good for the Bee) That it may be a WALL about the Kingdom indeed by night and day; for the safeguarding of All we count good there, his Majesty's Person, Crown, and Dignities; our Laws and Liberties, and the life of all, our Religion; This great Business is managed according to the clear mind and will of GOD, that His Glory, and the Glory of the Land, should be maintained with all that we count dearest unto us, our dearest blood, in resisting those, who do oppose that Glory, and would spoil us of so unesteemable a jewel; It is pure obedience in this case, and for those in Authority, to bring, forth the Sword, and Spear, so to stop the way against such a spurious company; A Malignant generation, a viperous brood, such evil doers, bloody Edomites, who say now (and do as they say) as their Fathers before them in the day of Jerusalem, raze it, 
c Psal. 37. 7.  raze it even to the foundation thereof, which may awaken the Nation, and stir them up to defend themselves, and avenge themselves of such Adversaries. But I forbear, supposing the Readers judgement (if he is not willingly ignorant) cleared in this matter, by those many clear Treatises in every man's hand, which do fully state the business, and make full answer to the cavils against it. I goeon now where I left; I have cleared the justice of David's Militia; now it is objected, The justice of ours is not so clear.  
Object.  
What is all this to justify the Militia now on foot? For first, David did this in a quiet way, shifting from place to place, like an hunted Partridge, to shelter and defend himself, and no more: David was offended, but he gave no offence at all. It is granted also, That there came-up to David day by day, out of all the Tribes, until he had a great Host, like the Host of GOD 
d 2 Chro. 12. 2●.  and yet we read not of any thing this Host did for David's defence: or of any thing, that Saul did against David.  
Answ. To answer the last first, It is clear in the Chapter, That, to the 23. verse, those are numbered, who came-up to David, to defend and safeguard him, against the malicious attempts of Saul and his bloody servants, who sought by force and fraud, to take away his life. Passed all question, that was the end, and tendency in coming to David in Troops; and not to pick Cockleshells, as, I read a great Host was commanded to do, to show, I think, the authority and force of their General's command: They came for the purpose aforesaid, there is no doubt of that; And yet the Scripture is silent in what they did for David: very little sure, but standing-on his side, and making such an appearance for him, it must needs strike some terror into his Adversaries; It is more than probable also, That Saul at this time, observed the Philistines gathering strength again, and they were Enemies indeed, which might take him-off from pursuing David: for sure this appearance, on David's side, was near the time of Sauls death, and David's coming to the Throne.  
But this I would have noted in our passage here, That, as we read not here of any deliverance, that God wrought for David by this great Host: So shall we never read, that God wrought any great deliverance for His Church by great Hosts at any time: Not? What say you to the Year 88? I say it is our weakness, I might say our wickedness, to give the glory of that deliverance, as we do, to our great Host; The LORD fought against that Sisera, as wonderfully than, as, in ancient days, He did, when the Stars in their courses fought against him 
e Judg. 5. 20. . And so He scattered, not the ships only, but the bones of them that encamped against us. The Lord put an hook into the nose of that insolent Adversary, as once He did into the nose of him (so like a Beast) and turned him bacl not by the way 
g 2 Kin. 19 28. , which he came forth; but so, that he, who came out against His Church one way, did fly before Her seven ways 
h Deut. 28. 7. . Thus the LORD did, that He might be magnified and have all the glory. I might be large here and to excellent purpose, but than, I should digress from the business in hand; only let me say this, That GOD wrought than for David, when David was alone, skipping from this place unto that, now from this hole into another, when Saul would search him out throughout all the Thousands of Judah: Than the LORD wrought gloriously for David, and than David could see the Bare-ARME of the LORD in his deliverance, which he not seen if the LORD had done it by his great Host. This is 
ⁿ GOD usually hangs the greatest weights upon the smallest wyars: He doth the greatest works, both in the way of mercies and of judgements, by the silliest and weakest executioners.  spoken not to take us of from making provisions, and taking such helps, That GOD sends-in unto us: But that we put no confidence there; nor give glory thereunto; which, because we are apt to do, therefore the LORD works no great matters by His great Hosts, unless they be Hosts of Frogs, Liee and Flies: By these contemptible things, the LORD has confounded the Adversary, because the Adversary, and His people much more, must say, The finger of GOD is here *. It pleaseth the LORD to work the greatest things by the weakest instruments, That man may say, the Arm of the LORD was made bore here, His hand brought these mighty things to pass. So much to that part of the objection; The other is;  
Object. That David passed-on in a quiet way, made no noise at all: nor made he a war offensive, unless against the Philistines, the enemies of GOD.  
Answ. Briefly, to the last first; It was not possible that David should defend himself against Saul, and not offend him, as in the case of Keilah, had not the inhabitants there been treacherous: we read not that they came to a set battle, therefore there could be no offence, and therefore little noise indeed;  
Secondly, As little as might be, as he will do, that shifts for his life; his work was to save one, and than he saved all, and that he might do, and not make much a do, or much stir in the Land. Here now a whole Kingdom, All that is dear or near unto us in it, whether Persons or Things are to be saved, defended, rescued, delivered.  
This will be a hot and sharp contention sure, for it is to make a Kingdom Honourable, the head of Kingdoms, now set low because of the abominations there; It is a contention for the Faith, and not against flesh and blood only, but against principalities and powers, against the 
Ephes. 6. 12.  Rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. The wicked there had turned the Kingdom quite from GOD; now it must be turned again, and, as was said of Paul's preaching, upside down with its face towards GOD again. It must needs follow, that we shall be full of stirs, a tumultuous people now, that the wel-posturing a Kingdom, this Reforming Work in hand; for (I allude to that place) Hell from beneath 
Esa. 14. 9  is moved to meet this work: It stirreth up the dead against it, even all the chief of the Earth: It will raise up from their Thrones, all the Kings of the Nations. It was ever so, it must be so now, now that Jerusalem's wall, the breaches there are making-up, specially after such Ruins there; it must needs make the Nations angry, so grievous it is to the Head the Pope: To the Tail, the Prophets, that teach lies: To the brutish People, and to the King of the bottomless pit. But it is the surest and clearest sign, that the work is of GOD, To promote His Glory, which is so opposed by all the Devils in hell, and his servants on earth. This is enough to assure us, we must look to hear a voice of noise from the City now, and the like from the Countries: For now the work is not to save one Man, not nor one Kingdom, but three Kingdoms, To posture them against their Adversaries, and to set them with their face towards GOD.  
Object. Than here is like to be a confused noise, and garments rolled in blood.  
Answ. Yes, for it is the battle of the Warrior; besides, the Land hath been defiled with blood, and it cannot be cleansed, but by the blood of them that shed it. We shall never r●ade, That a Kingdom was established before the wicked were taken away. Therefore David gins there, as we shall see anon, and gives his son Solomon the like charge too, that he suffer not the Murderer to live, nor the vile person neither, he must turn the wheel over the wicked: And thou wilt do it, says he, for thou art a wiseman's, and thou lookest thy Throne should be established in righteousness. 
c 1 King. 2 9   
2. As the Nations are angry; so the LORD is angry too, His Sword shall be filled with blood, as we read it was by His own command, and at that very time, when the enemy thought to have power over His people 
d Est. 9 1. & 15. 16. . Surely the LORD has a Sacrifice now in these Kingdoms, as in Bozrah; and a great slaughter, as in the Land of Idumea, For it is the day of the LORDS vengeance, and the year of Recompenses for the controversy of 
Esa. 34.  Zion.  
Object. But the sword knows no difference betwixt the Righteous and the wicked; it may be bathed in the blood of the Righteous too.  
Answ. True, and yet there shall be a great difference, for it is the LORDS sword in whose hand soever it be, and He will make a difference; and the will of the LORD be done. If now be the time when His WITNESSES must be slain, the will of the Lord be done. His Antipasses cannot be discouraged in standing to their Testimony; for what ever indignities shall be done unto their bodies, though in the openest place of the great City; what ever insultation over them, yet they cannot be discouraged, for it shall be done against them in that place, where our LORD was crucified; there is a strong consolation 
* See Cure of Fear, p. 56. etc. . 
g Revel. 11. 8.   
I will recollect what hath been said and conclude; Our MILITIA is raised for the Defence of King and Kingdom, of all that is dear and precious to us there; therefore in the justice of it, it exceeds all Parallels, and is according to the Mind and Will of GOD: His Host sent-in unto us for the saving of His Own Kingdom. What works He may do by it He knows, we know not; His manner is not to work great matters by great Hosts of men: He has broken the Ship to pieces, yet brought the passengers safe to Land 
b Act. 27. ; He may confounded all our confidences, and yet do the work for the magnifying His Own Name, in creating ways and means for Deliverance; making the unfaithfulness in man, To advance His faithfulness 
* God's power is magnified by man's weakness; His wisdom by man's folly; His truth & faithfulness by man's treachery and falsehood, Chr. : And Man's improvidences, To serve His Providence. And this we are sure of also, That the Host of GOD never miscarried; if they have turned their back upon their enemies, as sometimes they have done, it is to make them set their faces more steadfastly Heaven-ward ever after. If the Adversary and Enemy puts them once to the worst, they take great advantage by it, for they are made the better all the days of their warfare. Let us do our Duty, that is our work, opening our Mouths wide, and our hearts and our purses: And let the LORD alone with His work, He will work like Himself for the good of His Church in a good time, His own time. His people would not have things done better or sooner than their GOD pleaseth to do them: For the Time when He doth it is best of all: And there they rest and stay themselves: For His words touching this Matter also, Shall be fulfiled in THEIR SEASON 
c Luk▪ 1. 20. . Now we passe-on to The ACTS of David.  

THE ACTS OF DAVID.  
CHAP. I  
David is delivered out of the straits, and enlarged. Before he sat down in his Throne, he does Justice, shedding the blood of the Murderer. He sets his heart and hope in GOD; therefore he had dominion over the mighty. His care is about the Ark; GOD careth for him: He does his duty, that is man's work; GOD safeguards him; makes provision for him; that is GOD'S work. There's a breach made upon him, which he makes up by Repentance, and is made better by it. He does Judgement and Justice, chargeth his son Solomon so to do: Directeth him the way to make Himself and People prosperous; He dyeth.  
GOD'S Servant, David, is destitute of an harbour▪ GOD provides for him a Kingdom. Now his strait was greatest, his Deliverance was nearest; he is set on the Throne presently after he thought himself on the dunghill at the lowest. David knew his head was long before anointed, yet he will not stir till he consults with the Lord, resolving to do nothing, without a word from His mouth, and, having that, he order his Militia, pursues his enemies, and overtakes them: redeemed all the enemy had taken from him, returned to Ziglag with the spoils of them, 
1 Sam. 30. 7▪  that spoiled him; Divides the prey into equal portions; and than a few hours after, he hears of his Crown, which he might have received from an unhollowed hand, before that time, even from the hand of an Amalekite; but David had 
2 Sam. 1. 7, 8, 9 10.  good experience of GOD'S faithfulness; He could possess his soul in patience, he would not now make haste, for he is going to his Throne. A man had need walk softly, that is going thither, and be very circumspect, that is laying his hand upon a Crown; for of all ornaments, he must be careful how meetly the Crown is set upon his head: As it is set on at the first, so it stands ever after, either firm and steady; or, like a tottering wall and broken fence. David is very wise and exemplary at this point; for, he that was a Subject but now, and in a very low estate, gins to be liftedup on high, he is entering upon his Government 
* Great caution, providence and circumspection is to be used at our entrance upon an office: so also about our first actions there. ; now he must look, with all his eyes, how he gins, and not so much how he Times his beginning, (though that be a great point of wisdom) but with what discretion he enters the government, and sits down in his Throne. We will observe now with what circumspection he lays hand on a Crown: How he ponders his steps, now he is entering the Throne. Thus it was;  
There comes a man to him out of the Camp from Saul, like a mourner, but with joyful news in his mouth (he thought) for though he must tell David, That the people of Israel were many of them fled, and many fallen; and many dead, and Jonathan dead also: yet this would make amendss for all, and comfort David, even over the death of Jonathan; and Saul is dead also 
c 2 Sam. 1. 4. : Thus the wicked man museth as he useth; and judgeth of David's heart by his own; That David will not think of Jonathan in the day he hears of Sauls death: and quite forget the affliction of Israel (for that is the manner of men) now he hears of a Kingdom: and will kiss that man's hand (though an Amalekite) which tenders him a Crown. We read on,  
David questions the man, and the man is as ready in his answer, assuring David concerning the truth of the whole matter; but clears this, which he thought would be most welcome, and sweeten all the bitterness in Israel's slaughter, and Jonathans' death, That Saul is dead also; I am sure of that says he, very sure, for I myself stood upon him and slew him; And, because I would be yet surer, I have, (like Soldiers) pillaged 
ver. 10.  him too, I have taken the Crown from his head, and the Bracelet from his Arm, and have brought them hither unto my Lord: So he has tendered David a Crown, expecting a reward; he shall have it anon.  
This sounds very ill in David's ear; he is not glad to hear his Enemy was fallen; Not, though he stood betwixt him and a Crown: David does, as a man, that cannot see matter of joy, not not in being setup, and chief in the Kingdom, When Israel is set under: Israel mourns, he mourns also; and as the Master, so all the Servants do, likewise all the men that were with him 
d ver. 11. .  
David questions the man yet farther, whence and what he was? He tells him, That he is the son of a stranger, an Amalekite 
c ver. 13. . The very same; his actions told David as much before; he shall have the reward of an Amalekite; he destroyed Saul (his own confession was so) he was not afraid to stretch his hand against the LORDS anointed; The hand of Justice shall be now stretched out against him (since it was not stretched out before, when GOD commanded 
g 1 Sam. 15. 3. ) to cut him of from the Earth. The Crown of an Israelite is tendered by the hand of an Amalekite unto David; he looked upon it with disdain; and his head shall be taken from his shoulders, because he was so bold to take an Israelites▪ Crown into his hands.  
It was a custom (it may be it continues still) That at solemn times, when the Crown is setting upon the head, Prisoners are loosed; the Jews had such a custom on the day of their Feast 
d Mat 7. 15. ; They had it by tradition, and took-it-up, as they did other things, upon trust: but they had it not from David; he slew that notable Murderer at that solemn time.  
I heard a great man say, that this great work now in hand, The well▪ Posturing the Kingdom, could not be prosperous. Why not prosperous? Because the very first step into it was in blood, he spoke feelingly that spoke thus; But, the more likely to prospero will every wiseman say; If there had been more bloodshed, it had prospered the more, even so much, as that the Church might have washed her feet in the blood of her Enemies. But we must leave the issue of these things in GOD'S hands. We have observed how David enters into his Throne; we have found his first Act very exemplary for Judgement and Justice, though very cross to the custom of after times; He is stepping-up now to the Pinnacle of honour; That he may stand sure on that tottering place, his first step unto it shall be exemplary for Justice to all Kings and Princes after him; his first step shall be underlayed with Justice and paved with Judgement.  
We go-on, observing all along, how direct a way David goes in still (he is going to a Throne) to establish his Throne for ever, and make his Crown flourish upon his head; He inquires of the Lord (He will not move a step but by direction 
2 Sam. 2. 1.  from GOD'S mouth) touching the place of his anointing. And God so order all for him, that all might know he was designed, preserved and called to the Kingdom (as miraculously as Queen Elizabeth was) by GOD Himself. And yet he finds opposites, as she did (The Kingdom of David shall have all the opposition, the Devils in hell, and all their Angels on Earth, can make against it:) but David prevails over them all; he waxed stronger and stronger 
d 2 Sam. 3. 1. , and the house of Saul weaker and weaker.  
David's Militia was so strong now (for God was with him) That he took courage, and marched to Jerusalem, laid siege to 
2 Sam 5. 6.  that strong-hold, which held out all the days of the judges: The Adversary thought it impossible, that David could take it, and that the lame and blind would defend it: and so they jeered at him; not considering, that they had to do with more than a Man. David comes against his Adversary in the strength of God: He looked not how strong the City was, for than he had been discouraged, he considered how strong God is, and the more easily prevails against his Adversaries, the more ready they were to mock and jeer at him: Nevertheless David 
ver. 7.  took the strong-hold of Zion, the same is the City of David. And David went on and grew great; How so? The Lord God of Hosts was with him h. Than what could stand against him ● His enemies could not stand before him, for the LORD broke forth upon them like the breach of waters 
i ver. 20. . GOD was with him, no matter how many were against him: The God of all the Hosts in Heaven, Earth and Sea, they shall all fall and be destroyed; and the gods, they in their hasty flight left behind them, David and his men burnt in the fire, that is notable. 
ver. 21.  Note this also, GOD'S being with, or departing from a people, is the cause of all the real comforts and sorrows in the world: It is the cause also of our standing or falling before our enemies. We read on,  
Now David's care was about the Arke●; It was well his 
2 Sam. 6.  care was so well placed. Be careful for that, and be careful for nothing; (that is) let your care be about the service of GOD, that it be according to rule, after His Will, Whose service it is, and than you may cast all your care upon GOD, for He careth for you 
k 1 Pet. 5▪ 7. . Let a man seek what he should seek in the first place; and let GOD alone with all the rest; Though they be many things, yet all shall be added 
l Mat. 6. 33. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  unto him; (i e.) they shall be cast in to him without his care, as an advantage or surplesage to his reckoning. Let a man do his duty, which is his work; and let GOD alone to safeguard him, to make provision for him, for that is GOD'S work. Again;  
David's chief and first care was about the Ark. It was most fit it should be so. Indeed a good Prince must needs bethink himself first, how to advance Religion; what should the Deputies of GOD rather do, than honour Him, Who hath honoured them, and Whom they represent?  
But they should have looked to the manner, and what Law 
2 Sam. 6.  the LORD had set-downe, for the removing and carrying 
ver. 3.  of the Ark: The Testimony of God's presence is in their hands, and they handle it rather as Philistines than as Israelites: The Ark should have been carried on the Priest's 
a Numb. 7. 9  shoulders, they set it upon a Cart. See how ready Israel is to follow an example against the Rule, and to do as the Philistines did; so did they, and a way they went merrily, a very little way, for quickly, (See the Tides and changes in worldly things!) The Lord turned their dancing into mourning; He made a Breach upon them, and so He taught the generations following, this great lesson; That when we cannot do any thing in the degrees that GOD requireth, yet we must learn to do all things in the FORM that He requireth: David hath learned his lesson 
Ps. 2. 11.  now, settles to the work again, doth all according to the Law, Decently and in Order, he serves the LORD with fear, and rejoiceth with trembling; he will accounted of worldly joy and contentment as it is, a thing very momentany, of very small continuance; he will never trust prosperity again, there may be a change within an hour, nor will he let himself lose to a fearless joy.  
1. The breach is made upon Vzzah, but it strikes David also to the heart, and see how softly he walks, and humbly before his GOD, (His judgements were before his eyes) he was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, how shall the Ark of the LORD come unto me? 
2 Sam▪ 6. 9   
Thus a good man learns much by affliction, and is made better by another's strokes, for the hand of GOD, that was sore upon Vzzah, pointed to David's sin also, and the LORD might have been as quick with him, being the chief person there, and a Leader to His people: So David inquires wisely into the matter and cause of this the LORDS displeasure, and he finds it out and expresseth it; Our GOD made a breach upon us, for that we sought Him not after the DVEORDER 
c 1 Chr. 15. 13. . See how that breach made-up Prince, People and Levites, and made them all whole again; So the Priests and Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the Ark of the LORD GOD of Israel; SANCTIFIED THEMSELVES 
d ver. 14. , that is to be noted; Take we heed of an inconsiderate rushing into, or upon God's service, such, especially, as concern the Ark: A man must be prepared and sanctified for such works. 2. Look to thy feet (thy heart, thy affections) when thou art going into▪ Gods house: He is in Heaven, thou art on Earth. The Admonition is seasonable; when our foot is entering upon God's work, when we would do a work for God, joshuahs' direction is as useful as it was to the Priests, when they should see God working for them; Sanctify yourselves, 
Iosh. 3. 5.  for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you: So, Sanctify yourselves (for to morrow you are to work for GOD;) as you expect He should work gloriously for you.  
3. This is of high concernment for us simple ones, who are all for the work, not regarding the manner; It is spoken to us in a figure. We also are all for the matter and substance of the work; if our prayers be said (as we say) If we have sat out the hour, and heard the Sermon; and, when that is done, have received the Sacrament, that is enough, the work is done. Assuredly this is as if we should think; if the Ark be carried, and brought to his place of rest; no matter for the manner how, though it be put in a Cart, and the Oxen drew it. We must look to the manner of our performance, or else look for a breach upon us: Sooner or latter God will make it, for He is the same, He was in David's days 
g Sieut Deus est semper, sic justitia Dei semper; sicut omnipotentia Domini indeficiens, sic censura inde mistabilis: sicut Deus jure perpetuus, sic justitia perseverans Sal. de. Gub l. x p. 60. 1 Cro. 15 3. ; and than thus it was; Our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought Him not after the due order. Than we must remember, how they ordered themselves after this breach was made upon them, and as they did, so should we do in our services, before God make a breach upon us (Because you did it not at THE FIRST 
m 1 Chr. 15. 13 ver. 14. , therefore the breach was made upon them at the last) So the Priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the Ark of the LORD GOD of Israel. So must we do according to the charge in joshuab, and this here, Sanctify yourselves both you and your Brethrens, specially ye that are the chief of the Fathers, that ye may do the service of the LORD after the DVEORDER.  
David has given the charge, and he leads the way▪ the breach upon Vzzah is still in his eye, not to dishearten him from removing the Ark, for he saw, that a blessing did accompany the Ark, and was visible there, where the Ark was: but to make him wary and very circumspect in his walk now about to remove the Ark. And see with what deliberation he does it, still eyeing the Rule, and his way, and the breach upon Vzzah, so having gone six paces, he sacrificeth. Than he goes-on rejoicing carrying the Ark into his own City. His wife sees no beauty in her husband's zeal and holy mirth but folly rather and madness. David cannot endure a reproach from her, whom he loved, cast upon his zeal for God, he checks her very sharply: And because her mouth was so open against her husband in the cause of his God, The Lord shut-up her womb, she should bear no child unto him, Whom she had contemned, She had no child to the day of her death: a great reproach that in those days, among men 
b Lu. 1. 25. . But David riseth the higher by his outward abasement: And that, which in his wife's eye would make him vile and contemptible, should 
2 Sam 7. 3.  make him honourable and gracious; for what he did was before the Lord, and His abasement before Him, is his way to Glory, therefore he is resolved to be yet more vile than so, and base in his own eyes.  
Thus K. David, and his people have done now, touching the Ark, it is brought in a due order to its place. But David takes not his eye from of it, his care is still about the Ark, That, now the Lord had given him rest, the Ark might rest too, and in a fitting house which he will build for it. Not, but he shall not; and yet the Lord takes it very kindly from him, That it is the purpose of his heart to build GOD an house 
b 1 Kin. 8. 18. ; Go and tell him, saith the LORD, I will build thee an house 
* 1 Sam 7. 11. 1 Chro. 17. 10. 1 Chron. ●9. 3. , that I will: wilt thou lay out thyself for Me and My House, I will build thee an house, and it shall be a sure house, It shall continued for ever; Thou shalt be no loser for the goodwill thou intendest to Me, or the good service thou wilt do for Me, I will build thee an house, and it shall be established for ever. Reade-on and observe how comfortably the Lord speaks to David, and how sweetly David answers the Lord: I observe only this, That  
The only way David could take to establish his house for ever, was to take care of God's House on Earth 
* The reason why our houses, many of them melt away, as if they were made of Snow, is, because we mind not God's house, and His service there. : So he did, and 
2 Sam 8. 14, 15  see what provision he made for that building, because he had set his AFFECTION thereupon; and see how he prospered? What exploits his MILITIA wrought! Not Enemies could stand before him, for the LORD preserved David wh●thersoever he went. The Enemy had no power to stand before David, for GOD was with him. We see than where our strength lieth, not in multitudes of Charets, and troops of Horsemen: Though our Arm be weak, and our Adversary strong, yet his gods are but fuel for the fire; GOD is with us, and He is strong. We reade-on, That David grew mighty, got himself a name; for it follows, presently after, David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgement and justice to all 
ver. 13.  his People b.. JUDGEMENT and JUSTICE! These 
ver. 15.  are like the two Pillars JACHIN and BOAZ 
c 1 King. 7. 21. , the upholders of the Throne. David executed judgement and justice: To whom? To ALL the People; to the poor and needy, to the Dumb 
d Pro. 31. 8.  man, that cannot open his mouth for himself, or his purse to bribe another to speak for him; whom the vile Judge, as an evening Wolf, has appointed to destruction: David will open his mouth for this man, for this Dumb man, for he will do judgement and justice to ALL the People. To his Courtiers also; if they be proud and stout, David would not suffer 
d Ps. 101. 5.  them; and if they be privy SLANDERERS, David will CUT THEM OF; He would turn the WHEEL over the wicked: Hear him what he says, for never any King did speak and practise better.  
I will EARLY (mark that, he would begin betimes. judgement and justice should be his first work, as we heard) I will EARLY destroy all the wicked of the Land: that I may CUT OF ALL wicked doers from the City of the LORD.  
This is to execute judgement and justice, to do it EARLY, and to have a special eye to the Slanderer; and to him that hath an high look, and a proud heart; to the deceitful person also, and to him that telleth lies. These should be rooted-out, they are the Pests and Plagues of the Court, and of the Kingdom.  
But upon whom were David's Eyes fastened for good? Upon the faithful in the Land, they should devil with him; and they, that walked in a perfect way, they should be his Servants. An infallible sign of a good man this; Mark you, do you see a man setting his Eyes upon (i. e. does he favour, does he take by the hand) Doegs wicked bloody men? He is a Saul. Does, he set his eyes upon the faithful in the Land? He is a David. Signs and tokens may deceive you, but this never failed; does he delight in wicked men? Do they devil with him? Do such vile persons serve him? Will he not suffer them to be cut of, he is a wicked man, for his eyes are upon the wicked to favour them; he will not execute judgement and justice. Has he a respect, doth he heartity favour (i e. does he take by the hand) good men? Does he delight in such? Is his heart towards them? he is a good man.  
The government is upon David's shoulders, he will do judgement and justice, for he is set upon GOD'S THRONE, (as 
2 Chro. 9 8.  Solomon was) to be King for THE LORD HIS GOD (a mighty consideration) Therefore made He thee King over them. What them? over Israel. Why King over Israel? To do judgement and justice to ALL the people.  
But David did some injustice too in the matter of Vrijah the Hittite. 
1 Kin. 15. 5. 2. Sam. 12. 9   
True, he did indeed, He killed Urijah with the Sword, and so he called for the Sword home to his house; It came, and never departed from his house, according to the word of the Lord: 
ver. 10.  And so we may reade-on and of nothing but the Sword, the Sword, now in the brother's hand, and therewith he slew his brother: Now again in the son's hand, the beloved Son, and he would dethrone his Father. It is very notable, but it belongs not to this place. We may look upon the Sword in David's house, so as to keep it from our own: And think of the Saints falls, so as to make us look to our standing; we may ponder their steps and their failings in the way, so as that we admire free Grace. We may speak of their falls too, when there is just reason so to do, but with trembling; pointing at them, as SEA-MARKS to bid us beware, that no man presume to come thither; though one man plunged in there, and yet escaped, many have fallen-in and were drowned.  
David did transgress in the matter of Vrijah; but David watered his bed with his tears. David did according to the desire and pleasure of his Eyes; but he was overwhelmed with sorrow. We have our direction at this point in these words; He that once persecuted the faith, now preacheth the Faith, which he once destroyed. What than? And they glorified God in me 
d Gal. 1. 23, 24 . There is a direction for us, when we think or speak of the godly man's falls. But indeed, in this place, we are to say nothing touching this matter, unless we will go against the rule, and the practice of all the godly, even of God Himself. Sarah had her infirmities, so had Moses too, though the meekest man upon Earth; their FAITH is only mentioned and not more. David himself might have said much in the dispraise of Saul; he does not so, he fills his mouth with Sauls commendation. 
1 Sam. 1. 17.  job did speak when time was, unadvisedly with his lips, as an impatient man. See in his third Chapter, he breaks out a little. A little! You will say, he breaks-out a great deal, he curseth the day and the night both. True, and yet I said well enough, he breaks out a little; a little in reference to those break, that were upon him, under which he was pressed down, and lay flat, than behold a little impatiency; I may well say so: I or indeed St. james mentions none at all, he tells 
jam. 5. 11.  us only this, You have heard of the patience of Job, as if we never heard of his impatiency. Matthew the Publican, saith he of himself, but no Evangelist besides himself. Of Paul before. Luther another Paul, but of a more hot temper (the fit for those cold days, and the work he was upon) 
Epist.  contended, upon a time, with Mr. Calvin, somewhat too eagerly. Well, said Calvin, though Luther in his haste, overtaken with infirmity, should call me Devil. yet I must call him, as I do account of him, An excellent Servant of the LORD. And so we see what the servants of the LORD have done; and yet we are shown a more excellent way. For see what the LORD does in this case, My Servant David, a man after My Own Heart, who did that which was right in 
1 Kin. 15. 5.  Mine Eyes, and turned not aside from any thing, that I commanded him all the days of his life, save only in one thing, And that I have passed over, as if it had never been done; And shall we recall it? Surely the LORD speaks much for our comfort, 
jer. 31. 34.  and for our instruction too, I WILL FOR GIVE their iniquity, and I will remember their sin NOT MORE. Shall we than remember it? We heard what David did, and from GOD'S own mouth; And when we read what he did in the matter of Urijah, we must do as St. Paul saith the jews 
Gal. 1. 24.  did, when they heard what Paul had been, And they glorified God in me.  
And now we will draw towards the shutting-up of David's day, for we must hear of him, as of the longest lived man, that ever was, AND HE DIED. We will passe-on in his story, and make a stand there, where David found himself even in the hands of death. Than we read with what affection he speaks to the people; even as one that had set his affection upon them, as he had done upon the House of GOD: He was now leaving them and that house, which must know him not more; and now, mark with what affection he speaks; Hear me my brethrens and my people 
b 1 Chr. 28. 2. . Than read what he 
1 Chr. 29. 3.  spoke, and what his charge was to the people, that they and their souls might prospero 
c ver. 8, 6. ; than how he blesseth Solomon, and chargeth him, but that requireth double observation; he chargeth him to keep the charge of the Lord, for that was the way to prospero in all that he did, and whithersoever he turned himself 
e ● Kin. 2. 2. . We will set a Mark upon the charge to his son; And thou Solomon my son, KNOW thou the GOD of thy Father. Is that all? Not, there is much more, which 
1 Chr. 28. 9  commands our observation, but upon this we set the mark, it is the greatest part of that charge, and in observance of it, hath the greatest recompense of Reward. If a dying Father can bequeath it to his children, he leaves them a richer legacy than is imaginable. And thou, my Son, KNOW the GOD of thy Father; He is JEHOVAH, has His Being in Himself; gives Being to All; The Great and Terrible GOD, The gracious and merciful GOD; That gives Being to all His Promises, to all His Threaten. NOT ONE THING HATH FAILED 
e Iosh 23. 14. 1 King. 8. 56. Exod. 15 11. Gen. 48. 15, 16 . Know this God, none like Him, Glorious in holiness, fearful in Praises, doing wonders. The GOD of thy Father, before Whom thy Father walked; The GOD Who ●ed him all his life long, and redeemed him from all evil; My son, KNOW this God. They that so KNOW Him, will love Him, will fear Him, will serve Him with a perfect heart, and a willing mind They that love Him not, nor fear Him, nor serve Him, they KNOW Him not; so we read still; they KNEW not the LORD: We have set the mark thereon, as the chief part of the charge; and it must be remembered first and last.  
The second part is, touching God's House, whereunto the Father had set his Affection, and made answerable provision; his son now must put to his hand and his heart to make an House like GOD'S House, exceeding MAGNIFICAL, WONDERFUL GREAT, for so is the God, to Whose Name it 
1 Chro. 22. 5.  must be built. The remaining part of the charge is, touching the 
2 Chro. 2. 5.  execution of Judgement and Justice; and there we must set a mark too: how David chargeth Solomon touching cruel Joab 
f 1 King. 2. 5. , and malicious Shimei 
g ver. 8. , both these must be removed upon the first opportunity, for Solomon must learn by-times, what he must never forget; That the dross must be remooved from the silver; The wicked must be taken from the King, else his face cannot shine, nor can his Throne be established in Righteousness 
h Prov. 25. 5. . Than David, having seen his son sitting upon his Throne, and charged him concerning His Duty to GOD and to His House, that he must build it exceeding MAGNIFICAL, as we heard; and having blessed the LORD, and 
1 Chro. 22. 5. 1 Chro. 29. 10. 1 King. 1. 48.  his son, and the people, and commanded them to bless the LORD 
m 1 Chron. 29. 20. , DIED in a good old-age, with Blessings and Supplications in his mouth, full of Days, Richeses, and Honour. 
ver. 28.    

THE ACTS OF SOLOMON.  
CHAP. II.  
Solomon his chief desire, and how GOD answered the same, making him a most glorious King; what eclipsed all his glory, and took away his heart; The Glory of the world had dazzled his eye, and his Queen's Idol had put it quite out. The Lord cleared his eyesight again, so that he could see into things, and accounted all Nothing.  
SOLOMON his son, the Beloved of the Lord, blessed with the blessings of the LORD, with the blessings of the Father, and of the People 
a 1 King. 1. 47. , reigned in his stead. His Father said to the son, Thou art a wiseman 
b 1 King. 2. 9 ; Solomon said to God, Thou hast made Thy Servant King, and I am but a LITTLE CHILD 
c 1 King. 3. 7. , and yet I must go out and in, before a great and wise people. All this was true, and in a true sense of this LITTLENESS, and the people's GREATNESS, Solomon prayed for an understanding heart 
d ver. 9 . That desire pleased the LORD so well, that He granted it, made Solomon excel therein all the wisemen on the Earth 
e 1 King▪ 4▪ 30, 31. . Ask the greatest thing; GOD will give the lest without ask: He gave him also therewith, that he desired not, both richeses and honour: so as there was not any like him all his days; nor in all these years after him 
f 1 King. 3. 13. . Than sat Solomon upon the Throne of David his Father (nay, upon the Throne of GOD, to be King for the LORD 
f 2 Chron. 9 8. ) and his Kingdom was Established Greatly 
g 1 King. ●. 12. , for he was strengthened therein, and the LORD his GOD was with him and magnified him EXCEEDINGLY 
h 2 Chro. 1. 1. .  
Than we read of his magnificence; The Glory of his Court; The beauty of GOD'S House; his Dedication; his Prayer there, and that is excellent.  
Truly, I know not well what to say next, but Idols and their abominable services, will darken all this glory; for thus it was; Solomon was the greatest example of Wisdom, Richeses and Honour, that ever was in the world: and the strangest example of human frailty, that ever we read▪ of, being so wise a man. But what is man in his best estate, though the wisest and the strongest? Not Substantive enough to stand of himself, nor wise enough to order his steps. If the LORD, Who is our strength and our wisdom, withdraw His hand, we fall, and possibly so low, that he, who was a mirror of wisdom even now, becomes anon the mirror of folly. Hold me Lord, and I will hold Thee, said a good woman, who saw how weak she was in herself, and how strong she might be in her GOD▪ There man's strength lieth. It is an high point of wisdom to know all this: And that wicked and Idolatrous Counsels, specially from her, that lieth in the bosom, will weaken strength, and besot reason; and those are the lessons we are to take hence. How the LORD met with him is remarkable also, which I passover, touching only upon it anon.  
Concerning his fall and recovery again, there is pregnant proof in sacred Writings; and no matter what fools say, though they writ books about it, not wiser at the end, than at the beginning. True it is, though Solomon was really so wise, so rich, so honourable, yet, when he A WORK (for I allude to it) when he came to himself, behold it WAS A DREAM 
o 1 King. 3. 15. , his wisdom, his richeses, his worldly power, Behold! It is a dream, Vanity of vanities all is vanity; so said he, who hastened to found satisfaction; who more than he? 
p Eccles. 2. 25.  he kept not from his eyes, what they desired, nor withheld his heart from any joy; 
ver. 10.  yet so said Solomon the King: for what can the man say, that cometh after the King? Even that, which hath been already 
ver. 12.  said; Solomon said of All things under the Sun, they are vanity and vexation; he could look thorough All, and discern a nothingness at the bottom. Surely this did argue, he had a spiritual eye, and that GOD had instructed him to discretion. As GOD made all things, by His power, of Nothing; so he, by wisdom from GOD, made Nothing of all things; Nothing in reference to that one thing Necessary; or Nothing, in reference to Heaven, our putting forward or backward in our race thither-ward, to our Crown. The conclusion is, He, that sees all things to be Nothing, see's also GOD to be all things: He that sees a nothingness, in the creature, sees a fullness in GOD, an All-sufficiency in Him. It is clear from Solomon's writings, That so Solomon did, and that makes clearer proof to them that have questioned it (I think no wiseman ever did) That Solomon's heart was turned from Idols to serve the Living GOD.  
We reade-on now, That we may learn to look the better to our standing by Solomon's fall; and to avoid with all our care the snares that are in a prosperous and full estate.  
That little more, which concerns our present Theme, is this; Solomon was a King of Peace, and enjoyed long peace, he and his people; Judah and Israel were many as the sand, which is by the Sea in multitude, eating and drinking and making merry 
q 1 Kin. 4 20. : An interrupted peace, never broken till Solomon broke Covenant with his GOD, and than all breaks to pieces, but till than all was peace, Eating and drinking and making merry. Here was a considering time for Solomon the wisest, and for all his people. They were now in a Land, where Silver and gold was as plenteous as stones 
r 2 Chro. 1. 15: : But that more precious commodity, BREAD, That they eat without scarceness 
t Deut. 8. 9 ; there was no lack of any thing, houses full, and wells full, vineyards full and barns full, a fullness of all good things. What is to be done now? It should not be questioned, because the answer 
Deut. 6. 11. 12.  is near; But, because of our evil and forgetful hearts, we are still remembered, as often as we meet with all this fullness; Beware Lest thou forget the LORD, That hath done thus and thus for Thee, and hath given thee all this fullness. O remember and forget not to bless the LORD thy God for all this good, which He hath given thee. Beware now (mark what cautions are given to a people that is full) That thou forget not the LORD Thy GOD, now when 
Deut. 8 10. 11, 12.  Thou hast built goodly houses, now when thy herds and flocks are multiplied, Thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied, now look narrowly to it, else 
ver. 13, 14.  thy heart will be liftedup, and thy spirit will be flat and down; Thou wilt forget the LORD Thy GOD, Who gave thee all this fallnesse, and multiplied thee so exceedingly, if thou art not now ware and lookest narrowly to thyself. A man cannot easily believe, how he can forget GOD, when he hath so many remembrances of Him still before his eyes, fields full, and Barnes full, and house full and table full; yet now thou wilt forget God or never, Remember Solomon. It will make us beware; the wisest man that ever was, yet, when all good things were multiplied to him, his heart was lifted up, and his spirit fell down flat, he forgot the Lord. Note, It is an hard thing (impossible without special assistance) to keep the heart down and humble, when the person is liftedup with the fullness of all things; the hardest business well to husband peace and plenty, for the good of the soul, that the soul may prospero as the outward man doth, an hard work it is; pray therefore, That we may be filled with the fruits of Righteousness; 
Phil. 1. 11. ; that we may not be drunk with the world, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit, even with all the fullness of God: Than we shall beware and not forget, than we shall bless 
Ephes. 5. 18. 3. 19  the Lord for all His fullness; than we shall well husband our rest and peace, as the Churches before us, They had rest: What than? And were edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the holy Ghost, were multiplied. The digression is 
Act. 9 31.  necessary, if it be a digression: And these considerations and cautions very useful, when we are, as those people were, in those days, Eating and drinking and making merry. There we breakoff. It follows;  
No warlike actions were performed by Solomon, nor memorable, excepting his buildings, which were great, wonderful and very many 
* a Chron. ●. , with other works of magnificence, wrought for the glory of his own State, not much inferior to that house he built to the honour of GOD in lesser years by six, than he was building his own, which he was building 
1 King 6. 38. Chap. 9 1.  thirteen years, and the building the house of GOD but Seven; That was not for his honour. But we must observe his prayer at the Dedication of God's House, for that is notable 
* 1 Kin. 8. 2 Chr. 6. . As for the works, though very MAGNIFICENT, yet they might be quickly compassed by him, who could set down and count his cost, and quickly clear all disbursements, That made SILVER and GOLD, as plenteous as stones, and had Cedars in abundance 
q 2 Chro. 1. 15. Chap. 9 20 .  
Touching his MILITIA, we read much in a little; He provided 
2 Chro. 1. 14.  for the troubles of war, in the leisure of Peace: And, to maintain his peace, he maintained a mighty MILITIA, for he had four thousand Stalls for Horses and Chariots, and twelve thousand Horse men, whom he bestowed in the Chariot▪ cities, and with himself at Jerusalem 
r 2 Chr. 1. 14. 9 25. ; and he reigned over all the Kings, from the River even to the Land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. 
s ver. 26.   
But it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his Wives turned away his heart after other gods (the words 
1 Kin. 11. 4.  are clear, as soon understood as read;) And the LORD 
ver. 9  was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned away from the LORD GOD of Israel, Who had appeared unto him TWICE, and had warned him touching that Matter 
d 2 Chro. 7. 17, 18, 19, 20. . If the LORD graciously appear unto a man once, and he regard not; this will kindle GOD'S wrath: But if he appear TWICE, and yet he will not beware, this will make His wrath burn, for the more mercy, the more displeasure, if mercy be despised. We reade-on, and how the LORD charged him touching that matter; Solomon had a fair warning, much grace was shown unto him; GOD appeared to him TWICE, and charged him as often; yet Solomon did contrary, he harkened what his 
ver. 10.  Wife said, not what GOD said; He kept not that, which 
c ver. 11.  the LORD commanded. Therefore his son should not keep his Kingdom intiree. Surely, The LORD would rend it out of his son's hand. Howbeit not all, for David's 
ver. 12.  sake. And yet Solomon himself should outlive his 
ver. 13.  Glory, he should see affliction, and feel it too from one Adversary, and than another; For thus it was; When this King's heart was divided betwixt strange Wives, and as strange vanities; when he turned from the LORD, Who had appeared to him TWICE, and so instructed him, touching the establishing his Throne: Than the LORD stirred-up Adversaries, now one, and than another; The one did great mischief ᶠ 
f 1 Kin▪ 11. 9▪ ; and the other abhorred Israel 
g ver. 25. . Solomon should have abhorred Idols, those cursed and mischievous things; he did not so, he clavae to them in love, for his heart was turned after other gods and goddesses: he did smart for this in this world; The Lord did stir-up two 
1 Kin. 11. 4, 5▪  Adversaries, the one did Solomon great mischief; the other served him, as he should have served Idols, He abhorred Israel. To shut up Solomon's Story, we have but this more: He reigned over Israel forty years. The Sun of his glorious 
ver. 4●▪  Day did set in a Cloud (that we may not admire persons, but free Grace) Than it was night with him, went to bed, and slept with his Fathers. Rehoboam his Son reigned in his stead. We have read his Story, his Sons follows.   

THE ACTS OF ABIJAH.  
CHAP. III.  
Abijah, none of the best men, but a good Captain, and well able to posture his Kingdom; He relied upon the LORD and overcame his enemies, destroyeth Jeroboam utterly; In whom we see what end the Lord makes with Idolaters; Abijah waxed mighty, but dieth.  
ABijah, Solomon's Grandchild, Son to Rehoboam, 
2 Chron. 13.  gins his reign, and quickly ends it, he reigned but three years: he was not much better than his Father, for he walked in all the sins of his Father 
a 1 King. 15. 3. : but he was a much wiser man. I register him amongst the good Kings, because he ordered his Militia according to Rule; nor was he such a fool, as to humble himself before stocks and stones, or think them gods, which were made with hands, or put confidence thereon: he was valiant also and stouthearted, and could looke-up to GOD, who gives spirit, courage and invention, when and where he pleaseth. We reade-on in the Chapter, and his Acts there.  
In the close of the former Chapter we read, That there were wars betwixt Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually. And in 
Chap. 12. 15.  this Chapter we found it intimated, That Jeroboam pursues the War against Abijah, and, finding himself twice as strong, (for he set his battle in array with eight hundred thousand men mighty in valour) sets upon Abijah by force and fraud both, after the manner of an Idolater: Abijah sets his battle in array against him, but before he fights, he speaks; and, That he may be heard, craves audience, hear me thou Jeroboam and all 
ver. 4, 5.  Israel. What Abijahs sins were, the sacred Text tells us in general terms, he walked in all the sins of his Father. What his words were we shall hear, as full of wisdom and grace as any we shall read throughout the Chrovicles; These are his words. Ought you not to know, that GOD has given the Kingdom over Israel to David, and his seed by a covenant of Salt, firm and stable to him for ever? You do now, in seeking to reverse this decree, rebel against GOD: ye have indeed, 
ver. 6.  vain men as ye are, and children of Belial, strengthened 
ver. 7.  yourselves against my Father Rehoboam the Son of Solomon; and he could not withstand you, being a man, and no more, young and tender hearted: Not hard matter to prevail against a man, and such a man: but you must not think to withstand 
ver. 8.  the Kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the Sons of David. You have multitudes, twice as many as I have, but what are they against the LORD; You have gods good store also, They are but such as Jeroboam made you for gods; gods of man's making, will do their makers and their worshippers little service. But wots you what! ye have cast away your strength, for you have cast-out the Priests of the LORD, and the Levites too; and, instead of them, you have made you Priests after the manner of the Nations of other Lands; and fit Priests they are 
ver. 8, 9  for such gods, all of Jeroboams making. Thus Abijah has mustered-up Jeroboams Troops, his multitudes of men, of gods, and of Priests, like their gods. Than he tells Jeroboam where his and Judah's strength is, But as for us, the LORD is our GOD▪ and we have not forsaken Him (that was very comfortable;) and the Priests, which minister unto the 
ver. 10, 11, 12.  LORD, are the Sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait upon their business, for we keep the charge of the LORD our GOD; But ye have forsaken him; and, behold, GOD Himself is with us for our Captain, and His Priests with sounding Trumpets to cry alarm against you: O children of Israel fight you not against the LORD GOD of your Fathers, for you shall not prospero.  
Thus Abijah has declared to Jeroboam and all Israel the whole Counsel of God, touching that matter, the Kingdom of Judah, the Stability of the same. But see the treachery of Jeroboam and all Israel! While Abijah was thus wisely advising Israel, Jeroboam was dealing treacherously with Judah, (that is the manner of Idolaters) Jeroboam caused an abushment to come about behind Judah: so when Judah looked back behold 
ver. 13.  Jeroboams Troops were there; and when they looked forward, the Troops were there also, before and behind 
* Abijah has dealt fully and clearly ev●n in the sight of his enemies, in m●king known u●to them the cou●sell of the LORD: but he has lost time, which the Idolater has improved to the bringing of judah into a snare; whereby the Lord would tell judah, That there is no treating with an Idolater.  Truly Judah has Lost much by standing to parley, treat and debate matters with Idolatrous Israel; while Abijah is opening to Israel the purpose and counsel of God: Jeroboam is wholly careless of that, minds only how he may cross the counsel of GOD, and has brought Judah into a snare; he has caused an Ambushment to come about Judah before and behind: And now he makes no doubt, but he shall reverse the purpose of GOD, (The great design and project of the world, the very trade they drive) touching the Kingdom over Israel, given to David by a covenant of Salt, an everlasting covenant. When Judah saw this they cried unto the LORD. Than was Judah's time to cry, and God's time to help, for the battle was before and behind. Than Judah cried, and the Priests did their office: Than it came to pass, that GOD smote Jeroboam, and all Israel before Abijah and Judah: And read what a slaughter there was, there fell down slain of Israel, five hundred thousand chosen men: Thus the children 
ver. 15, 16, 17, 18.  of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Israel prevailed. How so? It follows, because they relied upon the LORD GOD of their Fathers; Judah relied upon his GOD, JEHOVAH is my strength 
b Esa 11. 2. , there is the strength of Judah, and it never fails. Israel relied upon multitudes of men, of Priests, and gods; all of man's making. It is the conclusion we made before; An Idolatrous people, who make flesh their arm, leane-upon gods, and Priests of Man's making, are a weak people; they have no power to stand before Judah Host, while Judah relies upon the GOD of Hosts. Let Judah stay themselves thereon, on the Almighty's Arm, and he shall shatter. Idolatrous Israel to pieces; so did Abijah here, he pursued after Jeroboam, and took his strong holds from him, neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah, And yet Jeroboam, such an Idolater, so treacherous, (for while Abijah 
ver. 20.  was opening to him the counsel of GOD touching the stability of David's Kingdom, he was contriving an ambushment against Judah) so treacherous, so rebellious, but I said all before, such an Idolater, shall not scape so; he had made gods for Israel, after the similitude of Calves, that eat hay; and Priests for these gods, and he had dealt treacherously with Judah; GOD will be avenged of him for all this, He will vindicate His Glory, The LORD will smite jeroboam also; He had smote him before, and all Israel with him, but than jeroboam made an escape; The Lord smites him now with a deadly stroke, he shall make not more gods, nor Priests, after his order to offer sacrifice unto Devils.  
The Lord smote him and he died. The time when this destruction 
ver. 20.  came upon him is remarkable; Than the LORD smote him with a deadly stroke, that he died, when Judah might say of him, as David said of his Adversaries, They are lively and strong, and full of wiles, and are multiplied 
d Psal 38. 19 . When Jeroboam was very proud, than the Lord brought him exceeding low; when his thoughts were most mischievous against Judah, than the Lord broke him to pieces. Let judah rely upon his God still; trust in the Lord for ever, in assured confidence, That, when the Idolater hath made his ambushment, and cooped-up judah with his Troops before and behind, than is God's time to work, and to magnify Himself; than the Lord comes-in for them, that relied upon Him; than He smites His Adversary: He causeth fear and dread to fall upon them: By the greatness of His Arm, His enemies shall be as still as a stone 
c Exod. 15, 15. . So it was here; judah prevailed over Israel because they relied upon the LORD GOD: and the LORD strooke Jeroboam and he died. But Abijah waxed mighty; What 
ver. 21, 22.  his Acts, and ways, and say were, are recorded all, but the Records are lost. Yet we are sure of this, if it had not been recorded, Abijah made his bed in the dark, was laid in it, and slept with his Fathers.   

THE ACTS OF ASA.  
CHAP. FOUR  
ASA does that, which is good and right before the LORD, for he takes away the abominations from before His eyes, than waxeth mighty; obtains a glorious victory over as mighty an host, as ever we read of. A good Prophet takes the oceasion, and encourageth Asa to go on, and do more for GOD, That did all for him. Asa hearkens; he and his people enter into covenant with GOD; and than he would not spare the highest person in his Kingdom, because she had committed folly there with stocks and stones. He hath his infirmities in body and mind both; but there is a Mantle wide enough to cover all; he fell into a sweet sleep, and was laid in a bed of spices.  
ASA his Son reigned in his stead; An excellent man, 
2 Chron 14  yet his Father bad enough, and his Mother stark naught; for she served I dolls, and worshipped before stocks and stones; Good principles are from our good GOD; not borne with us, nor conveyed unto us by all the labour and diligence of godly Parents. (Yet they stand bound to do what they can:) Nor can the worst Parents, such as Asa had, wicked and Idolatrous both, lodge Idolatrous principles in that heart to corrupt it, which GOD will sanctify. Notwithstanding what the Father was, and Maacah his Mother, yet Asa was a very good man, a great example of wisdom in the posturing himself and his Kingdom, and of success thereafter.  
Asa did that, which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God 
c ver. 2. . What did he do? He took away those abominable, those accursed things, which brought Sodom to Jerusalem, the Idols there from before the eyes of the LORD, for He took away the Sodomites 
d 1 Kin. 15. 12  the Altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and broke down the Images, and cut down the groaves. That was a good beginning; to thrust-away those cursed things, which will thrust us away from God, and God from us. So Asa began, and his very first step brought him 
ver. 3.  half way to the end; such an Energy, influence, and effectual working the beginning hath into all the periods of time following▪ This taking away of Altars, and strange gods; this breaking down of Images is indeed the prime and first work, it must have the priority, as in nature, so in time. The Rubbish must be cast-out before the building can go up, these abominable things, which make a Kingdom naked, which consume like a Moth, nay like a Cancer, eating out the heart of a Kingdom, these must be thrust away first, else the Kingdom cannot be set in a Posture of Defence; nor is that done (till this be done, till these abominations be cast-out) which is good and right in the Eyes of the Lord: When Asa did do so, it follows (to give clear testimony that so he did) For he took away the Altars, and broke down the Images.  
Having so well begun, he follows▪ on the work as well, he commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their Fathers, and to do the Law and Commandment; We must mark this, that we may put the more observation upon it; And commanded Judah, that is, he made an Ordinance in Judah, that Judah 
ver. 4.  should seek the LORD, and do the same, as Asa had done (which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD) doing the Law and the Commandment. Now this Cammand or Ordinance was in season, for the verse before tells us, He took away the Altars; and the verse following tells us somewhat 
ver. 3. ver. 5.  more, That he took them away out of all the Cities of Judah. Had not Asa done so, he had done a deceitful work, nay, he had mocked God; he had made a show only to do that, which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD, if he had suffered those Altars and Images, such abominable things to stand before the Eyes of the LORD. We must observe Asa's way and method still; and how one thing follows another, and gives clear proof and strength to that, which went before, He did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD; For he took away the Altars, broke down the images, and (than) commanded Judah. All this was done decently and in order.  
But how did Asa command? By the word of a King sure, and there is power 
c Eccles 8. 4. ; Yes, and by his example sure enough, for that is the greatest command; He will do what himself commanded, He took out of all the Cities of Judah, the high places 
ver. 5.  and the Images, and than, he commanded Judah; what follows now, that there is such a clear riddance of that, which is so contrary to the Militia of a Kingdom, that we may call it the Malitia [the malice] of the same, unhallowed Altars, dunghill gods: What follows after this riddance? And the 
ver. 5. 1 King. 15. 12.  Kingdom was quiet before him. Yes, quiet now, for these Achans, these troublers, Altars, Images, which brought Sodom into Jerusalem 
* Asa took away the Sodomites out of the Land, and remooved (the cause) all the Idols there. Admit the Idols, y● cannot doubt of the Sodomy, for the reason given, Rom. 1 23. Dr. Hall● Cont. 2. King 9 22.  etc. are removed, than quietness and rest, and not till than. If we should ask Jorams question, Is it Peace? We must be answered, as Jehu answered him, what Peace so long as the whoredoms, and the witchcrafts are so many? What peace so long as Images stand, and Crucifixes stand, and Altars stand? But Crosses are broken down; and Altars are thrown down; and Images are stamped to powder; Than it will be, as it was here, The Kingdom was quiet, GOD gives it rest, it is a peace of GOD'S giving; Mercy and Truth are met together, Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other: And the Kingdom was quiet before him.  
And now he has leisure, while the time is calm, and the 
ver. 6.  Kingdom quiet, to provide for the troubles of war, which 
Psal. 85. 10.  he did, He built fencea Cities, for he had no war in those years, because the LORD had given him rest; Asa had rest and Peace from GOD'S hand, that was a good, an assured and secure peace, for God set His Hand to it, than gave it to Asa▪ Therefore he said to Judah, let us build Cities, and make 
ver. 6.  walls and Towers, Gates and Bars, because we have sought the LORD our GOD; We have sought Him, and He hath given us rest on every side: so they built and prospered. We will look over this again, for the way Asa goes-in to posture his Kingdom, is exemplary, safe and excellent, there is 
ver▪ 7.  not any one step he takes, but is remarkable, He did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD, for He took the abominations from before His eyes: Than he commanded judah to seek the LORD, and to do the Law and the Commandment: Than, says he, let us build Cities and fortify them, for we have sought the LORD after the right manner; we have sought Him by Prayer and Fasting, so as He is found of us; We are sure we have sought Him, and as sure, we have a blessing from His hand: He hath given us rest on every side; We will build and GOD will prospero, for we have done the Law and the Commandment in removing the Idols from before His Eyes. Than read how strong he is, and what an Army he hath, Five hundred and fourscore thousand, all these were mighty men of valour. 
ver. 8.   
Now Asa has done according to the mind and will of GOD▪ in Posturing his Kingdom; he hath removed all that, which is offensive to the eye of his LORD, and so has made his Kingdom, as a wall of Brass. It is well he hath done all this, for he will found presently, That the Nations are angry, That Hell from beneath is moved at this Posturingworke, and stirreth up the dead against it: Next news he hears is, That Zerah the Ethiopian is come out against him with an Host, as the sands for multitudes, a thousand thousand, 
ver. 9  and three hundred Chariots, and they were come-up unto Mareshah, in the very borders of Judah; enough, if multitudes of men, and Chariots, and gods could do it, to lick up Judah as an Ox licketh up the grass. What now? Asa was glad with all his heart, that the LORD had instructed him to discretion: though he had enemies without (he cared not how many) yet he had made a fair riddance of his enemies within, Idols and Idol services, he had cast-them-out, those mischievous things; he had commanded Judah, to seek the LORD▪ and to do the Law and the Commandment; he had used the means in fortifying his Kingdom; he had not slept away the peaccable time that God gave him, but improved it to the strengthening himself and his Kingdom; now he can mock at fear, and laugh at his Adversary, though, to look upon, very terrible. Laugh at his Adversary, who is come out against him with an Host of a thousand thousand; laugh at him! Yes, he might laugh at all the Adversaries in the world, and in hell too, that had cleansed his Land and his heart of Idols: He can look his Adversary in the face, and have him in derision. Than Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array [We 
ver. 10.  must use the means, else we do not trust but tempt GOD,] And Asa cried unto the LORD his GOD. [What! Laugh and cry both together? Yes, one and the same man may do both, and both together: He cannot laugh at his Adversary, who is a Legion, that cannot cry unto his God.] Asa cried [That is, he set his face steadfastly to heaven; his eyes were upon 
ver. 11.  his GOD] And said, Lord, it is nothing with Thee to help, whether with many, or with them, that have no power [It is all one to an Almighty Arm, to work with many or with few: with means or against means; but than His Arm has the Pre-eminence, when it is made bore of flesh, and works for them that have no Power.  
But had Asa no power now, when he had an Host of five hundred thousand; All these mighty men of valour?  
This Asa accounted no power. Alas! what can two Arms of flesh do, but dash together like two Potsherds, break and consume one another. Asa durst not trust in his Chariots, nor in his Horsemen; who ever did so were brought down and fallen; he would Remember the Name of the LORD, That was 
Ps▪ 20. 7, 8.  the way to stand upright:] Help us, O Lord our GOD, for we rest on Thee. [A mighty Argument to draw God to his side. Our Fathers trusted in Thee; what if they did; it follows ever, they were delivered; because they trusted on Him] We rest on Thee. [A sure prop, it never deceives; I say, 
Ps. 23. 3, 4.  never deceives that man, who has done as Asa did, That which is good and right in the Eyes of the Lord, Help us, for we rest on Thee; and the Lord will help his servants. Why? because they rest on Him; He will not deceive their Trust, and it was Asa's confidence in the LORD his God.  
In thy Name we go against this multitude, [(i e.) not in our own, but Thy strength, in the power of Thy might, in whose hand multitudes are, but as one man; and Thou canst make one man chase multitudes] O Lord, Thou art our God, Thou art ours, and we Thy by Covenant; Thy Name is called upon us; we have an interest in Thee; Thy people, Thou art our God.] Let not man, a poor weak creature, let not him prevail; [Put him in fear, O Lord, That the Nations may know themselves to be but men 
a Psal. 9 20. ; Men, not God, their Horse's flesh, not spirit 
b Esa 31. 3. ; Let not this man prevail against Thee. Do but stretch forth Thy hand, show Thyself to be God, than both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is helped shall fall down, and they all shall fall together. And so it was, for Asa had done that, which was good in the eyes of the Lord; has given Him the glory of His wisdom, power, mercy, goodness, has secured himself and his People, under the shadow of the Almighty; improves his interest there; than enters into his Chambers 
c Esa. 26. 20. , as he was commanded, for he has committed the whole matter unto God, has told Him plainly, That he will rest on Him. And it pleaseth GOD wondrous well, That He is rested upon; now see what GOD will do for them, that trust in Him: So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before 
ver. 12, 13.  Judah, and the Ethiopians fled: And Asa, and the people that were with him, pursued them unto Gerat, and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves, for they were destroyed before the Lord, and before His Host, and they carried away very much spoil. Here was a wonderful victory, such an one as Israel had many years before over Midian 
d Numb. 31. 49 , for very probable it is, there was not, at this time, as than, a man lost on Israel's side: My reason is, the Lord did drive them with His Tempest: they were destroyed before the Lord and before His Host, the Lords Host: And now the Cities of the Philistines shall besmitten too, and those that wished well to the Ethiopians. The fear of the Lord shall come upon all their neighbouring 
ver. 14.  places, and all shall be spoilt.  
Thus Asa prospers, he and his people had removed all that, which enfeebles a Land, makes a Kingdom naked, those dung-hill-gods, those mischievous things; and see how he sinites and lays all plain before him, prospers every way, and returns with spoils in abundance to Jerusalem, to pay his vows there, as we shall read presently, for we reade-on. 
ver 15.   
Asa is not sooner come to Jerusalem, but a Prophet meets him 
2 Chro. 15.  there (a good Prophet, upon whom the Spirit of GOD came) deals plainly with him, as a Prophet of the LORD, and that had the Spirit of the LORD, assureth him, saying; The Lord is with you, while you be with Him 
a 2 Chro. 15. 2. : Bids him consider seriously how it was with King and Kingdom, when they were without the true GOD, and without a teaching Priest 
b ver. 3. , and without Law: when ignorance reigned, when vile and abominable things were exalted, set upon high and served; when Sodom was in Jerusalem, and the cause of that abomination, Idols there. Bids Asa consider how it was than in those dark times; he must found upon easy search, those times to be dark, vexatrous and miserable; nothing prospered with Israel; nor peace, nor war; not Counsels, nor designs, nor debates, nor preparations for the one or the other; nor Parliaments, nor plantations, nor traffic (the sinews of the State) nothing prospered; all went bacl, tending to a miserable desolation; In those times there was no Peace to him, that went out, nor to him that came in: but 
ver. 5.  great vexations were upon all the Inhabitants of the Countries; 
ver. 6.  Nation was destroyed of Nation, and City of City; how so for GOD did 〈◊〉 them with all adversity. They had forsaken Him, and He plagued them; but here was the compliment of their misery, The Lord forsook His people, and than all the  followed, for when GOD forsakes a people, it shall be a miserable time with them, there shall be an howling, because of oppression, They shall be vexed with all adversity. When Asa heard these words; (O it is a great matter, almost all in all, when Prophets will deal faithfully with their Lord and Master.) When Asa heard the Prophet say so, for the Prophet had set the judgements of GOD as a Mountain before Asa's eye; Than he took courage, and went on towards a more thorough Reformation; took away the abominable Idols (as before out of Judah and Benjamin, or made clearer riddance than before he had done:) so also out of the Cities, which he had taken from mount Ephraim; If he were 
ver. ●.  Lord of their Cities, they should serve his GOD too, that they should; Is not Asa their King? Than the Cities of Ephraim too, over whom he was King, should serve his GOD, and not the gods of their own hands and choosing; And he would refine the worship of his GOD, impured with Idolatrous services; and renew the Altar of the Lord, which, their Altars, made unto Devils, had quite defaced. Now mark, GOD had made a Mountain, a plain before Asa; and the hills to melt; He wrought so wonderfully for Asa, that strangers were taken with it; The people round about came flowing in to him, They fell to him (says the Text) out of Israel in abundance. Why fell they to Asa? That is expressed too, They 
ver. 9  saw that the Lord his God was with him: Yes, He was so, and He will be so, while we are with Him; so the good Prophet assured K. Asa.  
Now he engaged himself to serve the Lord more; Oh! It is well when God's goodness towards Prince and people make them all the better; are bonds of assurance to serve God more; to be yet more vile in their own eyes; and to walk more humbly and more faithfully with GOD! Now Asa will do great service to his God, and to himself also: The greatest service that ever was heard of, if it be done, as he did it, in a right manner, and we keep unto it. But mark first how methodically, how orderly Asa goes-on; there must be a Thankoffering first, he had a glorious victory, God must have the glory of it.  
Thus Asa did, in a full and free acknowledgement, That GOD did all for him; he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, 
ver. ●.  and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon together at Jerusalem; and there they offered 
ver. 10.  unto the Lord of the spoil, which they had taken: The LORD had given the enemies and the spoils into their hands; in homage to This Lord, the Giver of victories, they rendered bacl into their LORDS Hand of the spoil, which he had brought to theirs. A very just, reasonable and equitable thing, and but according to the command and rule: Offer unto God 
Ps. 50. 15, 16.  Thanksgiving, and pay thy vows unto the most High. Asa had called upon the LORD in the day of trouble, the Lord kept promise' with him, and delivered him: Asa stood bound now, in the strictest bonds, to do as he did, To offer Thanksgiving unto GOD, for that was the only way be could take, To glorify the LORD, the Giver of victories.  
Asa goes on, he and all the people are gathered together at Jerusalem something should be done now, which might well become so solemn a meeting: And this it was; Asa could not think, that he and his people could be joined close enough to their God, Who had wrought so and so for them, such Salvations: yet they would join themselves as close as they could; They entered into a Covenant to seek the Lord: How? That is worth the ask; still the manner how, for that commends all; with all their heart and with all their soul. That is the way, with all the heart and soul, for so 
2 ver. 12.  the LORD shown Himself with them; Assuredly, He did them good, With His whole heart, and with His whole soul 
b Jer. 32. 4. .  
Ay, but very likely, they should found some refractory and stubborn spirits, very cross to this great work, this engaging the heart to serve the LORD; Some men or women among the great ones, or amongst the small ones, having a spirit of contradiction, would not join with their Brethrens; great ones might be stout, and small ones might be careless. It might be also the Cities of the Prophets, and many of the Levites would be refractory now, they would not comein and protest to serve the LORD, and to renew Covenant with Him. Not I That were strange indeed, that men, who had understanding in the visions of GOD, should be backward here to renew Covenant with their GOD, to seek and to serve Him, Who SOUGHT them out at the first, and served 
2 Esa. 62. 12.  them ever since, all their days; Who gives them plenty of all things, richly to enjoy; gives them leave to reap where they sowed not; and to devil in houses, which they built not; and yet unwilling to renew Covenant with This GOD, Who hath so engaged them to come unto Him, and to keep with Him all their days! If any would be so abominable, refractory and stout, that they would not comein, they should be brought-in; If they would not yield to a golden Sceptre, they should stoop to an iron Rod; if not submit to a sweet easy yoke, they should be broke to pieces with that of iron; And whosoever would not seek the LORD GOD of Israel, should 
ver. 13.  be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.  
Well now; and yet it is not so well as we may think it is: for though we seek the LORD with all the heart, and with all the soul, yet all the heart is deceitful, and at the best a fleeting and unconstant thing; GOD knows, for indeed we know not, how deceitful the heart is 
b jer. 17. 9, 10. ; Now we have it, we think at command, it deceives us quickly, gives us the slip, and is gone. Therefore there is a Caution put-in for that; They bind themselves fast with bands and coards, as with iron and brass; They swore unto the LORD; [they protested 
ver. 14.  to serve the LORD; they solemnly vowed themselves His sworn servants; They avouched the LORD for their GOD: 
Deut 36. 17.  They had sought GOD and found Him, none like that GOD; than they swore, that they will hold Him fast, and keep unto Him.] But was it not with some of them, as it is now with all our vile Priests, and treacherous Prophets; did not their Protestation falter in their mouths? Not; All Judah (mark that ALL) Judah swore clearly, as if they were best content, that all the world might take notice, They swore with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with Trumpets, and 
ver. 14.  with Cornets.  
But the heart commonly does not love to be in bonds, and fetters; was there no grief of heart, no regret and giving-back there? Not; for than it would have showed itself, as it does in our Priests, they could not have framed to swear with a loud voice; But the Text clears it, That it was the merriest day, that ever they saw; And ALL JUDAH 
ver. 15.  REJOICED AT THE OATH: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought Him with all their whole desire.  
And they that so seek, shall found; so it follows, And He was found of them: And they that have found GOD have found all in that finding, Rest and Peace; and that is all; and that follows too, And the LORD gave them Rest round about. It is not imaginable, much less can it be expressed, what peace, what a shower of Blessings follows this entering into Covenant, and keeping to it I will leave this to the heart of the Reader, and go on, when I have said but this; That than Asa had made himself and his Kingdom strong▪ than he had postured, he had set himself and judah in a posture of defence, when he had done as we have read. And they whose aim is so to do, must do as he did; for when all is done, nothing is done, till that be done, which Asa did; till we, in a contrariety to the wicked in their wicked way, shall ASSOCIATE ourselves, as the wicked all the world over, to break bands, and cast away coards, so we, To bind ourselves with those coards (which the wicked break) To enter into covenant with our GOD; To keep close with Him, and walk humbly before Him all our days, Amen. We read on.  
Asa had engaged himself, had bound his heart with bonds and coards, so he goes on, for he will prove himself, as was said, a complete pattern of Reforming, of right posturing his Kingdom; I say, Asa goes on, meets with a Mountain in his way, which he will make a plain; He has engaged his heart to walke-after the LORD 
a Deut. 13. 14. , and fear Him, and obey Him; serve Him, and cleave to Him; And now he must not spare; nor must his eye pity, not not the stoutest I mage in all the Country; Not, though a Brother in Law, or his Son, or his Daughter, or the Wife of his bosom, or his friend, who is as his own soul, though any one of these should set it up, yet Asa must throw it down, his eye must not pity nor spare, for so the charge 
b Deut. 13. 8.  is; and Asa must do thereafter, for he hath sworn. Let me object, like a fool, after my manner, as if I were in Asa's stead; The Answer shall make amendss for the folly of the objection, for it shall be given from God's Mouth; I object,  
Ob.  
I may express my Authority, that GOD has given me, over my Brother, I am in place over him, and, in that respect, he is my inferior; And over my Son, and Daughter, I am their Father; And over my wife too, GOD has made me her head, and Master; But now suppose (though I need not suppose, but for instruction sake) That a Queen should say, let us go, and serve other gods, whom thou hast not known, thou 
ver. 6.  nor thy Fathers; suppose, she should say so, and so do, set up an Idol in a grove? Nay yet higher, suppose she be a Queen, and a Mother too, what must be done than? Thus I have made a question, where no wise man ever made any: I answer, or rather the Lord by me, by way of expostulation.  
An. Is there any command can give check to GOD'S command? Is there any Relation so near, as that betwixt GOD and His people? Is there any Bond so strong as the Bond of a Covenant? Is there any such a Hinder as an Oath? I have bound myself in an Oath, nay I have entered into a Curse if I perform not. I must now, in the fear of GOD, and 
Neh. 10. 29.  dread of a Curse, throw away, that, which sought to thrust me away from the LORD my GOD; Who hath wrought all the works in me, and for me. I will not say now, as Hierom says, That, in such cases, I must thrust away my Father, 
Hier. lively 2. Ep. 6. Per calcatum perge patrem.  and mother, who would thrust me from GOD; And, if, being thrust away, they will lie in my way to withhold me from following GOD, I must trample upon them; I will not say so. But this I will say, I must break down their Idols, than stamp them to powder, and more also, but it follows presently.  
This I have set down for the information of us simple ones; for we shall meet with an Idol in the bosom, which will pled as much as all this, and entice more secretly; but if we remember the Covenant, the Oath, and the Curse, we shall be too hard for that Idol, though it be a beloved one, and it shall down, and be thrust away. Now mark what Asa did, for he instructeth very much, a very great example of well posturing his Kingdom.  
A foolish woman, a notorious Idolatress, some say an Adulteress also (these commonly go together, for the reason rendered, Rom 1. v. 23, 24. and are, whether he's or she's, the stoutest fools in the world, for they are stout and proud before GOD, and humble before stocks and stones) had committed folly in Israel, worshipping an Idol in a grove, some called it Priapus, an obscene god, but guilded over, and made, by art, a pretty gaudy thing; And she thought verily she had been a privileged woman, she had a licence to lift up her heart and eyes to lying and strange vanities; she was the Mother of Asa, the King 
ver. 16. , and, why might not she do as she pleased, under her Son's protection, being Queen and a King's Mother? Again, this foolish Idolatrous woman (for she had degraded herself by falling before an Idol, and such an Idol, which was named before I was ware) considered not, That Asa the King had entered into a covenant with his GOD, therefore he must not suffer any abomination to stand before His eyes, with whom he has entered covenant, and strooke hands.  
O but he might spare that one Idol, it was the Queen's Idol, and the Queen his Mother, he might spare that: Not but he might not; better spare a Thousand than that one; for, though one be no number, yet it is the beginning of a number, and you may quickly add one to it, and than one is two; and now it will multiply, specially a Queen's Idol. Certainly the Devil blesseth Idols, for they multiply like fishes: Solomon had many Wives, and half as many Concubines, and yet but one Son: But his Wife's Idols, multiplied, and filled City and Country both. Therefore Asa did not spare Maacah, though she was his Mother, he plucked her down, and that is very emphatically expressed; And also Maacah his Mother, even HER, he removed from being Queen, because she had made an 
1 King. 15. 13.  Idol in a grove; The Idol must down too, and be destroyed; that follows, for if he would not spare his Mother, NOT HER, than, not her abomination sure, that should be destroyed, and so it was; And Asa CUT DOWN 
ver. 16.  her Idol; Was that all? Not; Idols must be dealt more roughly with than so; and STAMPED IT; yet that was not enough to consume an Idol utterly; Now he makes an end of an old block, and BURNED IT. Where? It is a good question, 
ver. 13.  and the answer is notable, at the Brook Kidron; That when he had stamped it to powder; burned it to ashes; he might show his just indignation against it yet farther, he would drown it too; And all this for just reasons, clear in the Text.  
1. That he might show Maacah his Mother what a vile god she served, that might be stamped to powder, than burnt, and than drowned.  
2. To show his just indignation against Maachas Image; she was Queen-mother, her Idol, even hers, must be served so, for it had brought more than a suspicion upon her, That she was as unclean as the spirit she served in that obscene Image: Besides, it was the Mother of Abominations, by the Devil's blessing it had been not only fruitful, but had multiplied, filling the City and Countries round about with Idols; And these, the Devil working effectually by them, filled Jerusalem with Sodomites, they made Jerusalem, the beloved City, a Sodom, which GOD overthrew, and repent not: for so we read; when they knew GOD and glorified Him not as GOD, but changed the Glory of the incorruptible GOD into an Image made like to, what? I cannot tell, but what the Carver pleased; Therefore GOD also gave them up, etc. I pray you read 
Rom. 1. 23, etc.  the place, and there you shall see Idols and Devils and Sodomites yoked all together. Therefore Asa cut down Maachas his Mother's Idol, EVEN HERS, and stamped it, and burned it at the Brook Kidron; That when he had done all this, he might do yet more, drown it also. Truly now Reformation is risen to the highest, it did not stick at the head. While Reformation sticks there, a Kingdom is never well postured; but there we leave it.  
The Chapter concludes thus; There was no more war till such a time. We goeon now, to inquire into that time.  
And now we have heard as much as can be expected from an excellent King; the truest subject to the LORD his Master; a stout and valiant Soldier, every way provident for the peace of his people. He was a King, and a very good King, whose Actions we have been treating of all this while; He was a Man too, that we all know, but we do not always wisely consider that, and answerably make an allowance. It follows now, how he acted as a man, standing alone; and there, we look to found slips and falls, infirmities, some worse than that in his feet, whereof he died.  
Surely the wise GOD suffers it to be so; leaves Man, as we do our Child, to try how substantive he is, how he can stand alone; and behold he totters presently, perhaps fall. flat upon his face. Why so? for excellent reason; That man may know, when he stood, he did not stand alone, but underpropt by an Almighty hand; that sustained him: And what he did, he did by an Almighty hand too, that did it. O blessed be GOD for man's infirmities, whether these be in his head, or in his feet, or all over his body; These, as the Lord graciously order them, makes him know, and know to purpose, that he is a man. A great point of knowledge this, and this of all men Kings are very unapt to know: Kings said I; alas! we poorer men, beggars in comparison, forget it often times, as our words and deeds do testify (for we blow as big in our little Ponds, as Kings do in their great Seas 
a Vide Dominum saevientem in servos, etc. Fluct●s easdem, Lips. de Const. l●. 2 p. 25. ) much more may Kings forget themselves quite, being upon their pinnacles. But than God leaves them (and so He may do and in much mercy) that they may try, what is in their hearts; He knoweth it well enough, for He knows all things, But He would have them to know it also. Blessed be God, I say again, for our infirmities, That, though our heads may stand high, yet, looking down to our feet, (our infirmities, our weaknesses) we are kept low, and made to walk softly all our days. And so I shall speak of Asa's weaknesses or infirmities, for to that head I shall rank them all; and than cast a covering over them, wide enough to hid all.  
Baasha King of Israel, came up against Judah; blocks-up 
2 Chron 16.  the passages to the intent that he might let none goe-out or comein to Asa King of Judah 
a ver 1. . That which seems strange is, why Asa, being able to bring into the field, and Army of five hundred and fourscore Thousand, all mighty men of valour 
b 2 Chron. 14 8. , thought it fit rather at this time, not to draw them forth; but to fight rather with money 
c 2 Cro. 16 2, 3. , and to purchase his peace with the treasures of GOD'S House and his own, at the hands of an infidel. A learned Knight in his History of the world, speaks thus for him, That Asa's many thousands of hands, employed in the late service against Zerah, might be now busied about their Lands, and other Trades, and better to wink at that apparent inconvenience, which the building of Ramah would bring upon them in aftertimes, than to take of his people's hands and intentions from so necessary employments. Well, but this pleads nothing for to excuse Asa; he might wink at the building of Ramah (which yet he had not done, if his understanding had not been clouded with fear) But he aught not to shut his eyes at this, That he called-in Benhadad the King of Syria into GOD'S inheritance upon these two dear rates; The breach of Benhadad's league with Baasha; and the expilation of the Temple. Here was an infirmity, a very great one, to call-in a Heathen King, and to make him break covenant. Let this go, for we will pass it over. But Hanani the Seer will not let it go so 
d ver. 7. , he came, and, like a good Prophet, reproves even Asa the King, saying; Did not the LORD deliver a huge Host, with very many charets and horsemen into thine hand? Thine enemies did ride upon horses, and were very swift; but the LORD thy GOD, did ride upon the Heavens for thy help, and in His excellency upon the sky 
e Deut 33. 26. . And it is His manner so, To spy abroad even over all the world, where this faithful man is, whose heart is strong and perfect with his God, That He may show Himself strong in the help of such a man. Ah! thou shouldest have relied upon this GOD, Whom thou hast, so lately, found to be a strong 
ver. 9  GOD; so faithful, and true. Thou shouldest have relied upon Him, and not on the King of Syria. But because thou hast done so, thou must hear of it in plain terms, though thou art King, and feel the smart of it too; Herein thou hast done FOOLISHLY (there is plain English; That was the manner in those times, and than it was better with Kings than in aftertimes) Therefore from henceforth thou shalt have war 
f 2 Chro. 16. 9  There is one infirmity discovered; the King had done FOOLISHLY, which shown plainly, that the head was illaffected, and the very heart faint. There is yet more discovery made of his weakness; he will not abide reproof; he is so sick, that he beats the Physician, and than anon, hugs him too much, as if he could cure heart and feet, and all; for be relied upon him, and in so doing he made him a god; We look over all this in order as it was done.  
1. He will not abide reproof; That was a great infirmity, and the very note of a brutish man 
g Pro. 12 1. . He beats his Physician, that good Prophet; that was yet a greater infirmity; Than Asa was wroth with the Seer, and put him in a prison house, for he was in a RAGE▪ with him because of this thing. Good man! he was in a rage indeed; but it was his infirmity. We read on, and behold the greatest weakness of all! And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time. We thought verily that would follow, after we read that he was in a rage, and with his best friend, that he had in the world, for he told his Lord the truth, and his Lord was in a rage for that thing; than it followe●, and Asa oppressed; in a rage with a Prophet, and for telling the truth, and oppression of the people, went all together.  
2. Poor weak man! for by this time he found and knew himself to be so, and no better; and, as he grew old, so his infirmities growing upon him, His disease in his feet was now EXCEEDING GREAT: He should than have sought (that is, trusted) to the LORD; his eye should have been 
ver. 12.  fixed upon Him, the great Physician, that makes a man (every whit) perfectly whole, feet, and heart, and head and all. Asa did not so; a poor weak man leans upon man; weakness upon weakness; Asa sought to (i e. relied upon) the Physicians; put confidence in them, so made them gods. What shall we do with all these, for here are many infirmities?  
We must learn hereby how to judge of others; and to make use of their infirmities, so as to strengthen us against our own. If we judge at all it must be by the rule, observing the best actions 
* See child's portion, p. 94.  that we can see in men, and judge not by their sudden and inconsiderate ways, but by the course of a man's life, and according to the more constant way and frame of his spirit. And here we may observe a great variety, and change in the ways and actions of good men, as here in Asa; In the 14. Chap. he does that, which is right in the eyes of the Lord, and commands Israel so to do: and than he beares-up himself 
See job in his second Chapter, than look upon him in the third.  in the Hand and Power of GOD, and does wonders. In the 16. Chap. he is cleane-off again, and fainting before a creature, and than does like a man, standing, working alone without divine assistance. In the 15. Chap. he is harkening to the good Prophet, and very attentive to his words, and striking Covenant with his GOD, and bringing his people into Covenant with Him. In the 16. Chapter, he is wrath with the Seer, puts him into prison, and oppresseth the people. It is a resolved case; Man is not Substantive enough to stand alone; if GOD leaves Him, he falls, but that was noted before. We will note this here, That the inward-man, the inward frame of spirit is subject to as many changes, as the outward man; nay, it is exposed to more invasions, and greater incursions, whereby to unsettle it, and put it out of frame, than is the outward man, the outward frame of body: which consideration, if laid to heart, teacheth us first,  
1. To walk softly all our days, and humbly before our God; To fix ourselves upon His Arm, and stay ourselves there continually; To say, as we heard before: Hold me, LORD, else I cannot hold Thee: if Thou takest me not by the hand, to hold me there, I shall slip, perhaps fall too, I know not how low. And  
2. To breathe after that place, where the Spirit shall be put into a constant frame of Holiness: It shall warp not more, decline the good way not more, but be constant and unmoveable for ever. And thus we have learned to judge of others infirmities, and to make use of them to ourselves. Now we must found out a cover for all this, and, blessed be GOD it is found out to our hands. Blessed be God the Father of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, there is a Garment pure enough and large enough to cover all these infirmities, and heal all thy diseases; 
Ps. 103.  And this I leave to Faith, for it is not in sight. There is another Garment, which I may call the mantle of Sincerity, that will hid great infirmities also, and under that covering, so wide and large, I will leave Asa: Though after such experiences of the commings-in of GOD unto him, yet he fainted before His creature; he was afraid of a man. Though the high places were not taken away: Though he was in a rage with a Prophet, for telling truth; and an oppressor too: Though in exceeding great distress, and than sought not to the LORD, but to the Physicians; though all this was in Asa, overtaken 
2 Chro. 15. 17.  with infirmities, yet this mantle of Sincerity is wide enough, Nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days. Under that covering we leave him, which hideth a multitude of sins: Remembering still, what man is in his best estate, and what were the first ways of Asa: He did that, which was good and right before the LORD, and remooved the abominations from before His eyes; commanded the people to seek the LORD, to do the Law and the Commandment; he entered into Covenant with all his heart, he did not spare his Mother, nor her Idol, not not her. Certainly, The LORD remembered all this for good; he did many things amiss, like a man, but he took away the Sodomites, and the Idols, which caused them; he did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, he commanded all Israel so to do (it may do you good to read it again and again) he brought them into a Covenant with their God, and all this with a perfect heart, this must be remembered to all Generations, Notwithstanding the heart of Asa was perfect all his days. 
Chap. 15. 17.   
Now hear the end of all the sons of Adam; So Asa slept with his Fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign: and they buried him in one of the Sepulchers, which he had made 
ver. 13, 14.  for himself. He was a wiseman sure, he had serious thoughts of his long and last sleep, who had prepared his Bed before night came. This might be a means to set his soul in a good readiness, and his house in good order, that when death came, he might have no more to do but die. I knew a man myself, that had done the like, he had, with his own hands, made his Bed, his Coffin, I mean, many years before he died; I have seen him lie down in it with much comfort, for so he could think of his latter end; he told me it was his manner daily, and it was a means to keep him exceeding humble.  
We read of two, our Country men both, in their times very eminent persons here: They made themselves, not Beds, but Monuments, and the one remains a Monument of his pride to this day. The other made himself a Monument also, and glorying much in the Power he had put forth against the Lutherans, (the faithful servants of CHRIST) would glory of it also, when he lay under his Tomb a sleep; and, that he might not perfect his own praise with his own hands, sent over his mind to Erasmus, with an ambling Horse 
a Esa. 22. 15. Even unto Shebnah, etc. Quoties hunc locum lego simile exemplum mihi po●●ssimum in mentem venit, etc. Vi●l. Cal. in versum 17. , That he would, after his manner, express his worthy deeds in crushing the Lutherans, and than return it to him, to be set upon his Tomb. But see the luck of it! This man was cut-off by the shoulders, his body buried we know not where, but without honour, near to the block, where his body and his head were parted: And no other Epitaph over him, that we read of, but the Axe the instrument of the execution. I mention all this here, to show the different works and aims of men: some made themselves Sepulchers, to tell the world their pride, and where they placed their glory: Others made themselves Beds, to tell themselves what they are Dust, and Ashes, and thither they must when all is done; and that there is a grave for their glory too: But if they do glory, they will glory in the LORD.  
Asa had prepared his Bed before night came; when night came, death I mean, he was ready for it, and his Bed ready made: His people laid his body in it, after that they had made his Bed, the sweetest of any, that ever we read of, for it was 
ver. 14.  filled with sweet Odours, and divers kinds of spices, prepared by the Apothecaries Art. He had left a Name behind him, better than precious ointment; it was as an ointment poured forth, therefore they laid his body a sleep amidst Spices: And so they made, in our language and manner, a very solemn funeral for him. The good Father is dead, and yet he is not dead, he lives in his good son, whose Acts follow.   

THE ACTS OF JEHOSHAPHAT.  
CHAP. V  
Jehoshaphats heart is lift-up in the way of the LORD; taketh care, That all the Cities and People of Judah be taught out of the Book of the Law; and so waxeth great exceedingly. He goes down to Samaria, and returns to his house in Peace; but that was a wonder which GOD wrought: He stands the firmer after his fall, and is more zealous: Chargeth the Judges, and the Priests: A world of Enemies come against him, he cries to the LORD, is wonderfully delivered, and his Enemies destroyed. His Sun sets in a Cloud too, but he shall rise gloriously.  
AND Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, followed-on in his Father's steps, closer with his 
2 Chron. 17.  GOD than his Father did (towards his latter end) and more successful. He strengthened himself against Israel, and set his Kingdom in a posture of Defence; but before we read any thing of his Militia, how great and prosperous that was, we read first, That the King walked in the first ways of David [those were good ways, when David fulfiled all GOD'S WILLS] an sought to the 
ver. 3.  LORD GOD of his Fathers. [There is the first seeking; 
Act. 13. 22. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  and if we so seek GOD at first, that we found Him, good success 
ver. 4.  follows, even all good, in its own nature so, or made so, for in finding God we found all things.] It follows, And walked in His Commandments, and not after the do of Israel, [those were strange do, for they served Calves, strange 
ver. 4.  gods] Therefore the LORD established his Kingdom 
b ver. 5. , for his heart was LIFT-UP in the ways of the Lord: Lift-up, He could not else have stept-over the blocks, stopps and walls in his way, those high places, if he had not been more bold, 
ver. 6.  
Cum audentiorem factus esset ad promovendum verum Dei cu●tum quàm fu●sset Asa Pater ejus. Trem. , and resolved in his way, than Asa his Father was (towards his latter end.) But because his heart was LIFT-UP in the ways of the LORD, It follows, Moreover he took away the high-places from out of Judah 
c ver. 6. . [A man may talk much, he will do but little, unless his heart be lift-up in the ways of the LORD, he will never be able to do any great matter, nor overcome any great difficulty: if his heart be not lift-up, if not, and there be a rub in the way, he will stumble; but if an Hill be in the way, he will faint before it, because his heart is not lift-up in the ways of the Lord, as Jehoshaphats was.  
And so Jehoshaphat has made a good Beginning, and he timed it well, as his good Father before him. He took away the abominations, and than He appointed the chief of his Priests (whom he calleth Princes, found faithful, and after his own heart) to their charge. What was that? Not to gather in their Tithes; nor to oversee their Rents, and incomes, as the manner is. Not, he charged them, touching that only thing necessary for Priests to do, though Princes, To teach in the Cities of Judah 
d ver. 7. : And because there is much teaching work in a Kingdom, enough to set all on work, Priests and Levites all, of all ranks, for there is great want; great want of Knowledge, and for want of knowledge, the People perish: Therefore the King appointed inferior Ministers, (Levites) to teach the People out of the book of the Law of the LORD 
e ver. 8, 9 . So they went Circuit through all the Cities of Judah, and taught the people. A blessed work. This is the way of well-posturing a Kingdom, to take away the Idolatrous places and services, than to take care the people be taught in the book of the Law of the LORD, through all the Cities of Judah. Jehoshaphat knew well till this was done, nothing was done; an untaught people will ever be an untoward and contrary people, they will stand in a Posture of offence against GOD and His holy ways. Woe, woe to them, who have taken no care, that the people might be taught in the Law of their GOD: And blessings be upon the souls of them, who, seeing the mischief of ignorance, what those people are, that are an untaught people, make it their prime and chief work (after the casting-out of Idols) To provide for a poor people, nuzzled in ignorance, that they may be taught in the Law of their GOD through all the Cities of Judah. This was Jehoshaphats care; he will have his Priests and Levites, all do their work, which becomes them, belongs properly to them, to keep the Charge of the LORD, Teaching the people the Law of GOD, throughout all the Cities of Judah. These two Conclusions do naturally follow from these premises.  
1. To appoint Lecturers (call them what you will) The Spirit calls them (The Messengers of the Churches, and the glory of CHRIST 
a 2 Cor. 8. 23. ) Preaching Ministers, such as can teach the People the Law of the Lord, is a princely duty, the prime and chief work of a Parliament, not below that great Council of State.  
2. That a well exercised, taught and trained People, I do not mean in the use of their weapons, and military Postures, (though very commendable all this, & very serviceable to a Kingdom, but) exercised, and taught out of the Book of the Law of their GOD, is the Militia of a Kingdom, makes the King and his People secure at home, and feared abroad. So it follows, presently after the People were so taught and trained, That the 
ver. 10, 11  Enemies of Jehoshaphat round about, feared and submitted themselves; would rather stoop to the dust of his feet, than stand out with him to try the power of his Militia: Indeed it was terrible to the Inhabitants round about; for we reade-on in his 
ver. 12.  Story, That he waxed great exceedingly; built Castles and Cities of store; he had much BUSINESS, and the men of War mighty men of valour were with him. But out of all this we note only; The comely order, his Militia 
ver. 13.  comes last. All his work before was this, to instruct and teach his people touching the Law of their GOD; To enter or enrol himself, and his People, the Soldiers of the GOD of HOSTS: To make Him their General. That was his care, and how he prosecutes it we shall see hereafter. Here we may read that Jehoshapat had a greater Host, than the Ethiopians had, who came forth against his Father. Yet, as we shall see anon, Jehoshaphat put no trust in them. The Number of them are recorded according to the House of their Fathers 
c ver. 14. ; and one amongst the rest shall be named, Amaziah the son of Zichri; for he willingly offered himself unto the LORD first 
a ver. 16. , and (that's the ready way to do good service for the Land) than with his two hundred thousand mighty men of valour, waited upon the King his Master. Doubtless he did the King his Master good service, for he had offered himself to the LORD first. Thus we have seen Jehoshaphats strength, and what made him so exceeding great; now we shall read his weaknesses too, what brought him exceeding low; he had joined affinity with Ahab, which consumed his house, and destroyed his Kingdom utterly.  
But so much is recorded before 
b Sect. 1. Ch. 4. ; here we shall see, how he acted standing alone, and upon his own bottom, and what an hazard he ran, going down to Samaria, and with Ahab to battle, this follows.  
Now Jehoshaphat had richeses and honour in abundance, and 
2 Chro. 18. 1.  joined affinity with Ahab: Jehoshaphat had matched his son Jehoram to Athaliah, Ahabs' daughter (or sister, I am not resolved whether, but I take it for granted, That Athalia was Jezabels daughter, being so like her) A strange over sight in a wise King! But it may be, the young Prince was headstrong; he might say to his Father, Get her for me, for she pleaseth 
jud. 14. 3.  me well: And the Father was loathe to cross the son in his first love. What gained the Father's consent we know not: but so it was, Jehoshaphat joined affinity with Ahab. How 
Sect. 1. Chap. 3.  his son prospered, we have read; and what befell the Father, we shall now read, no small trouble, and a very great danger. It was not possible, (I say) not possible, To come clear of and join affinity with Ahab. We reade-on: And 
2 Chro. 18. 2.  after certain years, Jehoshaphat went down to Ahab to Samaria. He and his company found royal welcome, he is entertained like himself, a King, and a Brother. Than Asab makes a request to him, and persuades him, To go with him to Ramoth-Gilead; WILT THOU GO WITH ME? Yes, answered Jehoshaphat, I am as thou art, and my people 
ver. 3.  as thy people. A strange speech from a Wiseman, and as strange a compliance; I am as thou art: he was not so; Ahab was a gross Idolater, Jehoshaphat a faithful servant of the LORD: My People as thy people; That was not so neither; Jehoshaphats people were in Covenant with their GOD, as we heard, their Vows were upon them: Ahabs people not so. Truly it is dangerous to come near an Idolater; To go to him to Samaria, may altar a man as much, as the going-in once into the High-Priests house; There they were set down together, and Peter sat down amongst them 
c Luk. 22. 55. . We know what followed presently; his zeal to his Master, cooled before the fire; he was in the High-Priests house, and than as one of them 
a Obad. 11. . We will reade-on where we were; Jehoshaphat is in Samaria, feasting with Ahab. Now he can deny Ahab nothing, We will be with thee in the War. See! 
2 Chr. 18. 3.  There he had passed his promise, but now he will inquire about the lawfulness of the war, and success in the same, which he should have done first.  
Touching the justice of this war, there was little or no question to be made: for Benhadad, who owed Ahab his life, breaks one Article of the League, in withholding Ramoth Gilead 
b 1 Kin. 20. 34.  most unjustly from him; Therefore Ahab might justly move a war to recover his own from a perfidious Tributary; But that Ahab should make a League with Benhadad than (which was his sin) or that jehoshaphat should join with Ahab now, there was no reason of a religious stamp, though some reason there might be of State: And yet therein jehoshaphat should have enquired first, before he had passed his Promise. Surely a good King can order nothing wisely with Ahab in Samaria; he will be with Ahab in the War, That is granted; But counsel is for the war; Let us inquire I pray thee at the word of the Lord to day. It was well remembered, but had he remembered that before, he had not gone 
ver. 4.  down to Ahab to Samaria; much less had he made promise, to be with him in the war. But Jehoshaphat will inquire before he gins his march; And Ahab agrees with him to inquire, for he knew he had Prophets enough, (as bad as himself) who could speak to their Master's mind, though it was to his destruction; Jehoshaphat should see, that Ahab would order his war with council; and that he had counsellors enough, that would approve of the war: and those Prophets too; how many? four hundred 
c These 400. Prophets. Ahab had reserved from the dint of Elijahs Sword; Now these shall requited his kindness; they live to betray the life of him, who saved theirs; That no King after Ahab may dare to rescue or uphold an Idolatrous Priest from the block , and one, and that one only an honest man 
d Our judgement must be swayed not by number of men, but by weight of reasons: One good man will give better reason than 400. vile Counselors: so many against one, and but that one in the right; and for the prosperity of his Master. . A false worship shall have false Prophets enough: And a wicked King shall have wicked Counselors more than enough; and all for war: GOEUP AND PROSPER.  
Jehoshaphat is jealous of these 400. Prophets, (too many to be good) and would prefer an honest man's judgement, especially in point of war, before them all; Is there not here a Prophet of the LORD besides, that we might inquire of him? Yes, said Ahab, there is one man more, but I HATE him. Why? I will answer that; Because he was an honest Prophet, and would speak the Truth, and that is always evil to an evil heart. But yet Jehoshaphat prevails, and the man is sent for by a messenger sent from Ahab, who must lesson the good man before he come (as some have been taught what to say from Man's mouth when they were to speak from GOD'S Mouth) and put words into his mouth 
e ver. 12. ; Behold, saith he, one Prophet hath taken to himself horns of Iron, and has destroyed the King's enemies already in a fancy 
f ver. 10. , and all the other Prophets are of the same mind, and lip too, and conclude, It shall be prosperous; They say to Ahab go up and prospero: And thou must frame thy mouth, when thou comest unto the King, to say so too; go up and prospero. Not but I will not, said the good man; Does thy Master pretend to inquire of the LORD, and dost thou tell me what I must say: And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my GOD saith that will I speak. A good resolution, and but becoming 
ver. 6.  a Prophet of GOD.  
And now the good Prophet is with the bad King, and the 
ver. 13.  first words he says are ironical, which make the strongest denial by affirming, (which the King does not well understand;) But see his hypocrisy I he seems eager to hear the truth, which yet he hates, and cannot endure to hear; how many times shall I adjure thee, that thou say nothing but the truth 
ver. 15.  to me in the Name of the LORD? What a notorious hypocrite was this! he adjures the man to tell him the truth in the Name of the LORD, and when he has heard it, he will turn his back upon it, suffer him to be stricken; nay, he will command him to prison too, and to be fed with the bread and water 
ver. 26.  of affliction there. How long? till I return in peace. See there! Ahab expects to return in peace, though he went to war against the express will and word of GOD. But that is no wonder; his bloody sin had closed-up his eye, and care both; he will rush-on to his own destruction: The sentence was passed upon him, it must be executed, In the place, where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, shall dogs lick thy 
1 King. 21. 19 22. 38.  blood, EVEN THY. An Idolater will please himself with vain thoughts; dreams of peace, and yet seek war, and pursue it; and persecute those that stand in his way, though they would hold him back from running into ruin. And still be thinks, it will be well, until I return in peace. He is miss by liars, they by the Devil 
* 2 Chr. 18. 21. , they hurry him into a war, and yet Ahab dreams of peace, until I return in peace, That is never. His iniquity is topful; wrath is running over; Though he will not hear the truth, yet he shall see it fulfilled, according to the word of the LORD, by Micaiah; Thou shalt not return in peace, for so the LORD hath spoken, And he said, harken all ye people. 
ver. 27.   
Now this had been a wonder to the reader, that Jehoshaphat, notwithstanding all this, went-up with Ahab to battle, but that we find him joined in affinity with Ahab; gone down to Ahab to Samaria, and at a feast with him. All this, nay any one of these, was enough to take away the heart from the wisest King, that ever was; But take all together, and than see how one thing draws on another, till Jehoshaphat be drawn into a desperate condition, to the very pit brim of destruction; No doubt, for this very end, that no good King after him may join affinity with Ahab; go down to Samaria to him; feast with him there, and than join in a war with him. I will only repeat the danger he was in, and note the deliverance, and than goeon.  
The Captains of the Charets saw Jehoshaphat, and taking 
ver. 30.  him to be the King of Israel, they compassed about him to fight: Good man! he was in a coop now, Captains of the Charets round about him, But he cried out: he had one refuge left him, and a way for escape; he cried to Heaven, and the LORD helped him; after His manner, a present help in trouble, (who would join in affinity with Ahab against the express command of such a GOD?) And GOD moved them to departed from him. GOD MOVED THEM. Mark it, The Captains of the Charets thought verily they had the prey in their hands, and they would devour him presently; but they must stand and deliberate upon it, as those that must ask GOD leave first.  
They thought so and so, but there came a motion into them; and they departed. We say, Captains and Soldiers do all in war, with their strength, and with their counsel: Not, we are mistaken greatly; GOD does all; As he moves, so the Captains and their weapons come and departed: just as it was here with Jehoshaphat; GOD moved them to departed from him; than they turned back from pursuing: It was upon GOD'S motion; so the Enemy moves or stands.  
And Jehoshaphat the King of Judah returned to his house in 
2 Chron. 19 1.  peace to Jerusalem. The goodness of Jehoshaphats GOD! Jehoshaphat was wandered quite out of his way; he had been at Samaria; with Ahab in the battle; in a bloody skirmish there; GOD'S Hand was with him notwithstanding, delivers him, and brings him of with a motion and back to his own house in peace. jehoshaphat will not presume any more, he fears GOD and His goodness, Who would not take his servant at an advantage. Doubtless Jehoshaphat thought upon it; he had joined in affinity with Ahab; in a war with Ahab; was taken for Ahab; was hemmed in by the Captains of the Chariots, yet escaped; saw Ahab wounded, with an arrow, shot at a venture, but directed by an invisible hand, and so slain before his face; and yet he returns to his house in peace. So GOD could do, and do it easily, upon a motion.  
But now the Son of that good Prophet, who dealt so plainly with his Father, deals, in the same plainness of language, with his Son Jehoshaphat, saying; shouldest thou help 
ver. ●.  the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? (i e.) Thou shouldest not have done so, but so doing thou art much to blame.  
Does not the King interrupt him? Not; The King's heart is melted within him, in sense of that he has done against the LORD: and the goodness of the LORD towards him; he has a patiented care now, and lets the Prophet go on; he will speak comfortable words presently; Therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD. Now mark how he comforts 
ver. 2.  him again; Nevertheless, though thou hast done so and so; yet all that thou hast done shall not blot out the remembrance of the GOOD THINGS thou hast done, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the Land. Mark that, the taking away Idolatrous things, Altars and the like, and Idolatrous services, (in truth of heart) makes amendss for many miscarriages, and shall be remembered and reckoned amongst good things found in the man, where there are evil things too, but they shall be, (as if they had not been) remembered no more.  
See again? Jehoshaphat stands the firmer after his fall: After his deliverance he followes-on 
a Hose 6. 3.  to seek the LORD; he dwelled at Jerusalem 
b ver. 4. Resedit (i e) quievit habenis regni joramo commissis, etc. Trem. , (i e.) he set his Son Jehoram in his Throne there, while he goes in Person, and visits the Churches! Priests are deceitful many of them, and Levites too, he will visit his people himself; his own eyes and ears shall tell him how they thrived. We are an unconstant people; now we set our faces towards Heaven, than we turn back; so it was with the people of that time, but Jehoshaphat went out again 
c ver. 4.  (he had sent forth the Priests and Levites, as we read, it may be he went out himself than also) through the people from Bersheba to Mount Ephraim, and brought them BACK to the LORD GOD of their Fathers. They were revolted and gone, Jehoshaphat sent Priests and Levites after them, and than went forth himself. And see the success: he brought them back to the LORD GOD of their Fathers.  
Than he prosecutes the work of the LORD; rectifies things amiss in the Church and State, sets Judges in the 
ver. 5.  Land, gives them a charge very strict, and pressing to duty; Take heed what you do, you judge not for man, but for the LORD, 
ver 6.  Who is with you in the judgement: You are gods on earth, in 
ver. 7.  GOD'S stead, let the fear of the LORD be upon you, and no iniquity in you, for there is none with the LORD your GOD, no respect of persons, no taking of gifts: [A corrupt Judge from that day this charge was given, to this present hour, never respected this Scripture] Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the Priests, and of the chief of the Fathers of Israel, for the judgement. Of whom? of the 
ver. 8.  poor and needy, and of the rich also: but it is called the judgement of the LORD: That they might consider well their charge and not trespass against the LORD, and so bring wrath upon themselves and upon their brothers; Thus shall you do in the fear of the LORD faithfully and with a perfect heart 
c ver. 9 . Corrupt Judges, vile Priests, treacherous Levites, trespass sore against the LORD, and against their brothers; they bring wrath upon themselves and upon the Land 
d ver. 10. : But do thus in the fear of the LORD faithfully and with a perfect heart, and ye shall not trespass. Ye shall have Rulers over you, and officers before you, all this for your encouragement; but this is for the comfort and encouragement both, of all the good; Deal courageously and the LORD shall be with the good. These very words gave heart and courage to the inhabitants of Libnah, to forsake his Son Jehoram, when he had forsaken the LORD, as saith the learned Knight in his History of the World.  
And yet there is a question m●de, whether the Priests might forsake Jehoram or not. Hear the case, consider on it, and than judge; This is the case; Jehoram followed-on in the ways of Ahab and after the counsels of Athaliah his wife, a wicked woman; that is clear in the Text, and so is this; That Jehoram forsook the Law of his GOD, and forced the people so to do. These Priests, the inhabitants of Libnah followed-on in the ways of the LORD, keeping the charge of the LORD, and close to the Law and the Commandment; They would not be forced to forsake the LORD, so they turned the back on Jehoram and forsook him; This is the case, and this the question; Whether the Priests might follow-on in the ways of Ahab to destruction; or in the ways of the LORD unto salvation? Moore briefly; whither they might forsake Jehoram, or forsake the LORD, whether GOD be King or Jehoram? That is the question. The Judge of all the world hath made answer hereunto (as His manner is) by Himself 
c Ezech. 14 7. . He hath laid fore judgements upon Jehoram, and He will be sharp and quick in answering those, who make question, whose ways are to be followed, the ways of Ahab or the ways of GOD: And who is to be forsaken, Jehoram or the Law of GOD. The sacred Text makes clear answer here, the Priests forsook Jehoram, because he had forsook the LORD GOD of his Fathers. They 
2 Chro. 21. 10.  that will not take this for answer, shall be answered in another manner, as jehoram was answered; the LORD will answer them by Himself: This in passage by occasion of Jehoshaphats charge, Deal courageously, and the LORD will be with the good. Thus Jehoshaphat hath ordered the Church, and State according to rule, and very wisely postured the Kingdom. 
ver. 11.   
Now we read on, and behold a whole world of 
2 Chron. 20.  Enemies are marching-on against Jehoshaphat. What way will he take now, for they think to swallow him up? He was not to seek his way now; he had prepared his heart to seek GOD 
a Chap. 19 v. 3. ; that GOD, Who had moved the Captains to departed from him; That GOD, Whom he had sought with all his heart, and took care that all his people should so seek Him would be found now. He that had prepared his heart to seek the LORD, was prepared for his adversary; Jehoshaphat he was not to seek now (the Enemy was upon him) what way he was to take; he that had so liftedup his heart in the ways of the LOLD, that he had stepped over the groves, and taken them away; and had given a charge, that judgement and justice should be executed to all the people; That all the Cities of judah should be taught, touching the Law out of the Book of the LORD; he whose heart was so lift-up in the ways of the LORD, could tell what to do now, even lift-up his eyes to Heaven; The doors of that Sanctuary always stand open, to those, whose hearts are so lift-up; And when a man, looking before and behind, and on every side, and knows not what to do; when refuge fails, than he can tell what to do; lift-up his eyes to Heaven, hear what GOD will say; (He will speak peace,) and wait patiently, in the use of all means, what GOD will do; He will do wonders; where? At the mountain of straitss: certainly He will, and Jehoshaphat will lift-up his eyes unto Him; and thereon stay himself. It is a clear case, so every man should do, lift-up his eyes to GOD in time of trouble; Nay, so every man will do, whose heart is not like a stone; but jehoshaphat only can lift-up his eyes thither, and find present help from thence, for he liftedup his heart in the ways of the LORD in the days of his peace.  
And this I thought most worthy our noting from the expression in the Text, which yields us this comfortable conclusion; That he and he only, whose heart is LIFT-UP in the ways of the LORD; can LIFT-UP his eyes to the LORD in the day of trouble, with assured confidence of present help. Now we read on in the Chapter.  
A great multitude cometh against jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat FEARED and set himself to seek the LORD, and 
ver. 2.  proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah 
l ver. 2. . [That's a good fear, which drives a man, not to his heels, but closer to GOD: and it will be well sure, for it empties his heart of all creature confidence, and than GOD comes-in.] But was this a time to fast, and pray; or rather, was it not the fittest time to lay hold on Bow and Spear, and prepare for Battle? Not, jehoshaphat looked not to Bow nor Spear, but looks to GOD, acknowledging, he hath no might, nor knows he what to do, but looke-up. We have not MIGHT, saith he; we know not what to do 
m ver. 12. . Not; let reason come in now, that would tell him; he has MIGHT enough, and may know what to do; he had men of war, mighty men of war 
n 2 Cro. 17 13, 14, 15, 16. ; see a list of them; their numbers, greater than was the Host of the Ethiopian; And yet, no might, nor knew he what to do! Let him bring forth these men of might, and march on; so reason would counsel. jehoshaphat was wiser than so, for he had a better counsellor: Asah! what can these two do, flesh against flesh, but, as we do, eat each the ●●hers Arm? he and his people look steadfastly to the Father of Spirits, the GOD of Hosts, Who created the Smith, that forms the Instrument, and the waster to destroy 
c Isa▪ 54 16▪ ; our EYES ARE UPON THEE 
d 〈◊〉 20▪ 1● . The King relied more upon HIS GOD, as appeared in seeking to Him, and praising of Him, than upon his many companies, or could have relied for dependence, if those many had been multiplied by Thousands. And we hear his prayer, he called upon GOD, and SO he was delivered; he remembered GOD, Who is GREAT and TERRIBLE; in Whose 
Neh. 4 14.  hand is power and might; art not Thou GOD in Heaven 
g ver 6. ? Than he pleads his interest in This GOD; art not Thou our GOD 
h ver▪ 7. ? Than he calls to mind the Right Hand of the Almighty, what He had done of old; And SO he is delivered, and had the victory, a glorious victory, whereof we may say indeed, as a great Commander greatly beloved, said of a late victory, never was there seen less of man, and more of GOD; for the Enemies here, every one helped to destroy one another 
i ver. 23. . So, when Judah looked towards the great multitude, behold they were dead bodies, fallen to the earth and none escaped 
k ver 24. . And when jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance; both Richeses and precious jewels more than they could carry away, and they were three days in gathering the spoil, it was so much 
l ver. 25.  [It is not in vain to fix the eye upon GOD.]  
Than Jehoshaphat makes a memorial thereof, calls the place where GOD gave them that victory, BERACHAH 
m ver. 26, 27, 28. , a Valley of Blessings. So they returned, every man of Judah, Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them to Jerusalem with joy and praises in their hearts and mouths. Praise was comely than, for than GOD gave them the victory; He must have the praise and glory; He made them to go again to jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their Enemies. 
ver. 27.  He caused His Fear to come upon all the Kingdoms of 
ver. 29.  those Countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the Enemies of Israel. So the Realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: For HIS GOD gave him rest round about; he had 
ver. 30.  a P●ace of GOD'S making, from His hand, That was a sure peace. Rest indeed; such a Peace the LORD will give to that man, whose heart is lift-up in His ways. Moore is recorded, touching this King, the time when he began and ended his Reign; his Mother's name also, and how he walked, even as his ●●ther Asa, doing that which was good in the sight of 
ver. 32.  the LORD; Howbeit the high places stood still, as in his Father's days; but the people are blamed for that (indeed we are j●●ly blamed, we are the block in the way, the Hill, the Mountain, a mighty hindrance to Reformation) An unprepared heart is such an hindrance, and such an heart we have, than such an hindrance are we, for we have not prepared our hearts unto the GOD of our Fathers. It is now, as it was than: Howbeit the high places were not taken away, for the people had 
2 Chron. 20. 33.  not yet prepared their hearts unto the God of their Fathers. The high-places will not down, till the stout heart falls; till the high thoughts and imaginations there are down, these abominable things cannot be taken away; till the heart be prepared for such a mercy, till it be squared (whether by blows or sweet entreaties, that is not the question, but squared, and most likely as stones for the building, by hard blows) to GOD'S holy word, and will, till this be done within, and upon the heart, this execution will not be done upon the abominations before the eye. The heart must be prepared, must be put into a frame of holiness before they can be fit for, or deal with holy things, Give not that which is holy to dogs, neither cast 
Mat. 7. 6.  your pearls before Swine; Swine will trample pearls under their feet, and if you give holy things to dogs, they will turn again and rend you. What should a rough and an impolished Stone do in GOD'S building! What should an Hypocritical heart do with a sincere worship? An unprepared heart with pure and prepared Ordinances? These agreed not better than old cloth to a new garment; than new wine with old bottles. Holy things relish not better with an unholy and unprepared heart, than did Mannah to the Israelites. Now our soul is dried away 
a Numb. 11. 6. . Was there nothing to stay their souls, and to refresh them? Yes, they had Angels food, excellent food, Meat from Heaven, Mannah, was their food, but that was as good as nothing; There is nothing at all besides this Manna before our eyes. See there! Leeks, Onions, and Garlic, Egyptian fare and slavery to boot, would relish better with them, for their hearts were in Egypt. We might observe the sore wrath of GOD upon that people, who were so contrary in their choice and liking, and upon the people here, whose hearts were so unprepared: Their next King fitted them very well, he was to them according to their stubborn hearts; he gave the people their Idols, they loved so well, bids them serve stocks and stones, and they, that would not show themselves so brutish, he would have forced so to do. But we must observe ourselves, it is our own case, We have not prepared our hearts to the GOD of our Fathers; We will not be reform; we count Reformation, as that perverse Israelite did, a killing; we accounted not better of it, and it is so 
Exod. 1. 13, 14.  indeed to an unprepared heart. But O what sorrows, what break will these our stubborn heart's cause unto us! The LORD is about His strange work, and he will accomplish it. Now the LORD sanctify His Own work, and prepare a people for Himself by all this. The LORD prepare our hearts also, that we, who would not be drawn by allurements, may be compelled by hard blows. Amen.  
The rest of the Acts of Jehoshaphat first and last are written, but the writings are lost 
o ver. 34. . And yet some of his last Acts are recorded; not so good as the first. Toward the end of his days, he was as his good Father, overtaken with infirmities 
p ver. 35. . And after this he joined himself with him, who did very wickedly; and to make Ships to go to Tarshish. A Prophet tells him roundly of it, in effect thus; Though hand joined in hand, and strength with strength, yet the wicked shall not be unpunished 
d Prov. 11 21. ; not nor the Righteous man neither, That joins himself with the wicked, The LORD hath broken thy works; and so it was; And the Ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish. Surely the LORD will have his Servant 
ver. 37.  join himself to the LORD, not with those that hate the Lord; If he do join strength with such, it shall do him no good, but hurt, it shall weaken him. But thus Jehoshaphat did, and it is the last Act of his, that is recorded. So the wise GOD permits it to be; otherwise, the very best Kings (which was intimated before) might forget themselves, how weak they are, standing alone. If there were nothing of human frailty, even in open sight, to stain their best works, they would cast too great a lustre in their eyes; if no cloud to eclipse the speciousness of them, they might make an Idol of their Acts, and their credit by them: And we poor People would think of them, and give unto them, above what is meet: Therefore it is (there may be other Reasons, which GOD knows) that the Sun of the most glorious Kings, that ever were upon the Earth, hath, in the close of their day, set in a cloud, he shall rise in glory.  
That which follows now touching jehoshaphat is that, which will ever follow; for it is concerning his death and burial, which needs not be mentioned any more, seeing it hath been to this day, and will be ever to the world's end, the end and close of all, as with jehoshaphat, he went the way of all the 
2 Chro. 28.  world after his Fathers, slept with them, and was buried. His Son jehoram, a very wicked man, reigned in his stead; and he has a Son too like the Father, and yet, though Partus sequitur ventrem, not half so bad as the mother: Father and son both blundred-on in the ways of Ahabs' house, and after their counsels to destruction, as we read before. Than Athaliah played Rex, till jehojada cut her short, we will read his Acts now worthy such a Priest.   

THE ACTS OF JEHOJADA.  
CHAP. VI  
Jehojada the chief Priest takes an excellent way for the Posturing the Kingdom, executeth judgement and justice: makes a covenant between GOD and the people; between the King and the People; breaks down the Altars and Images of Baal, slayeth the vile Priests there, appoints Officers for GOD'S House, and sets Porters that no unclean thing shouldenter enter there.  
IEhojada, a Chief Priest indeed, and a Prince too, taketh care to set the Kingdom in a Posture of Defence against an usurping and insolent Idolatress: the way he takes is remarkable; he first causeth the Captains to enter into a Protestation 
a 2 Chro. 23. 1.  or Covenant with him; Tells them God's Counsel, touching the succession in David's house 
b ver. 3. ; orders the Militia of the House of GOD, after that calls forth the Captains, makes them provision of Arms, and than swears allegiance to their true King; appoints every man his place 
c ver. 4, 5. ; sets a guard about the King; every man with his weapon in his hand 
d ver. 7. . All is done as jehoiada appointed; Than the King is brought forth, the Crown is put upon his head, but he is not made King yet. The Testimony is put into his hand. What is that? The Law of GOD, the King's Lawbook 
b ver. 18. , whereof you read, Deut. 17. Wherein the King must learn, how to serve GOD, and to govern his people.  
This is the Testimony they gave into his hands, and so they made him King 
c ver. 11. , And having anointed him, they said, GOD save the King, Amen. But Athaliah says not so; she expected to hear, GOD save the Queen, when in truth, there could be no such prayer put up for her; she hears of a King, and she calls out Treason, and she doubles it, Treason, Treason. Who does so? Athaliah, that firebrand in Judah, who had consumed the noblest Families therein, and murdered all the Seed Royal: The most notorious woman in all the world, except one, and that was her Mother jezabel. See the manner! This wicked woman cries out Treason, Treason; calls others by her own name. But what was the matter, that occasioned such an outcry? This was all; The Crown was set upon the right head; the testimony was put into the King's hand; he is of the house of David, he must be King; and the people put up a Prayer for him, hearty, GOD save the King; and all the people rejoiced. Think upon it, ponder it well. Is there any Treason in all this? Yes, saith Athaliah; Treason, Treason! That was Treason in her account, That the Seed of David should reign: That there should be such acclamations, such prosperity wished to the Kingdom of David. But her time is come, she must be made drunk with her own blood, that had shed the blood of her husband's children. No matter what she says now, jehoiada will not dispute so clear a case; He charges his Captains, saying, have her forth of the Ranges 
d ver. 14. : And if any one be so foolhardy, as to appear on her side, Slay him also with the Sword, but defile not the house of the LORD. So they laid hands on her 
e ver. 15. . And where was she slain? It is worth our observation; just at the entering the horse-gate; she was hurried out of GOD'S Court, and could not reach home to her own Court, before she felt the Sword in her bowels; she had lived like a beast, tyrannised like a Lioness; she must be slain near to her Stable, entering the Horse-gate. Look about you and consider; you will find that some ignominious death has befell the Idolatress; and a place where very suitable to the manner of her life. Where was she buried? There is no answer to that. As her Mother jezabel was trampled under the feet of her enemy's hearses: So Athaliah was slain at her own horse-gate; jezabel was devoured by dogs, as the LORD had threatened. What became of Athaliah, we do not found; she was slain, and before the Horsegate: That was as much as Jehojada was to look after, not where such a wicked woman was to be buried.  
And now here was a good work dispatched; what was that? Judgement and Justice was executed; The wicked Counsellor was remooved, she, that had destroyed the Seed Royal, and counselled her own Son to his Destruction.  
A good riddance indeed! Now Jehoiada goes on comfortably; And what does he? He made a Covenant between Him, [GOD] and between all the People, and between the King, that they should be the LORDS People 
f ver. 16. . Of infinite consideration 
〈◊〉.  all this; He made a Covenant between GOD, the People▪ and the King; He shown the King the meaning and purpose of the Testimony, put into his hand; bids the King remember, he was in GOD'S stead, sat in GOD'S Throne; must do all by GOD'S book: That is his Covenant betwixt GOD and his people, now that GOD has made him King over them.]  
That they should be the LORDS people. Had Jehoiada sat musing, as many days as he spent minutes upon this great business, the crowning the King, securing him, and his Kingdom; he could not have thought of a speedier and more compendious way than this, to engage them to be the LORDS People. If they be so, they have assured confidence for ever. The LORDS vineyard, it is the security of that vineyard; The LORDS Kingdom, it is the security of that Kingdom; The LORDS People, it is the security of that people. Touch not these annointed-ones. Why? They are Mine: Nor the Prophets, for the same Reason, they are Mine also, and as the Apple of Mine Eye, So I tender them, saith the Lord. It is so, and so you may run through all the Cities, Towns, Houses, Gates, Ships, Strong-holds and Forts; it is the Lords City, a secured City, etc. But look to it now; if not the Lords, we have no security from His hand for our Peace: Every thing may do us hurt, nothing shall do us good, if not the LORDS: Go ye upon her Walls and destroy; Take away her battlements 
g jer. 5▪ 10. . Ai, if we had an Arm like GOD, we could easily do it might the Adversary say; But it is not so soon done as spoke; the walls are high, and the battlements very strong. No matter how high they are, nor how strong they are, you shall take them. Why? They are not the LORDS (i e.) Their defence is departed from them 
h Numb 14. 9 ; The LORD protecteth them not, and than wounded men shall take the Fortress 
i jer. 37. 10. ; and the lame the prey 
k Esa. 33. 23. . In being or not being, the Lord's people is summed▪ up all our comforts, or all our woes. Therefore of mighty consideration this is, That they might be the Lords people. And now the people of GOD rise apace and down falls Baal, and they shatter his house all too pieces over his Lordship's head; and yet the work is not done; they break down his Altars, and Images all to pieces ˡ: And yet they have but little more than 
2 Chro. 23. ●vor. 17.  half done: But here will be a perfect Reformation presently, when they have slain the Masse-Priest, Mattan the Priest of Baal before the Altar, and that is done now, and before the Altars: I pray you note it; That Priest of Baal, like our Mass-Priest now, had been offering before the Altars, and when he did so, he offered sacrifice to Devils. Now he must be slain before the Altars; where he had wrought such abominations, there he must be slain. Now Jehoiada has but one work more to do, than the Reformation is complete, and Judah is as well-postured, as can be expected. He appointed the Officers of the house of the LORD; set the Porters at the gate of the house of the LORD 
a ver. 18. , that none, which was unclean in any thing should enter in there 
b ver. 19 . Indeed there cannot be too much Caution about the house of the LORD, a double watch there does well, for if any thing that is unclean enter in there, it will diffuse its self there like a Leprosy unto all the people. Of mighty Consideration this also, for filthiness from the Priest, is as spreading as oil from the head, spreading its self through all the people, for from the Prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness goneforth into all the Land. And now the MILITIA 
jet. 23. 15.  was as completed as it could be, for so it was ordered: And so successful it was, That all the People of the Land rejoiced, and the City was quiet, When was it quiet? The Answer to that is very considerable; After 
● Chron. 13 20, 21.  that, they had slain Athaliah with the Sword, that wicked and idolatrous woman; the City was quiet, and not before. She was still divising iniquity, and working evil upon her bed, and when Morning was light, she practised it, as the power was in her hand, and this did greatly disquiet the City: but it was quiet after that they had slain Athaliah with the Sword. The rest touching good Jehoiada follows in the Story of King joash, but it is gone before in this Chronicle: For joash was, though a good Prince, yet a very bad King, and the most unthankful Person that ever we read of. He has an Amaziah, a son little better than the Father: Amaziah an Vzziah, both naught: Vzziah a jotham, a very good man, we will read what he did, and not much, but very well.   

THE ACTS OF JOTHAM.  
CHAP. VII.  
Jothams' Story is short, for his life was not long; he lived long in a short time. He built much, and was mighty; A mighty Reason, why he was so.  
KING jotham follows in the Story, for he succeeded Vzziah, and the plague, that rose-up in his Father's forehead, must needs 
2 Chro. 27. ●.  be in the son's eye: So he was forewarned not to meddle with Temple-work, but to leave that to the Priests, and to see that they were faithful in it. And yet this is noted of the people, not for the credit of the King; And the 
ver. 2.  people, yet did corruptly: And this of the King, he built 
ver. 3, 4.  MUCH, an exceeding high Gate (sixty Cubits upright, saith josephus) and Cities, and Castles, and Towns: He subdued the Ammonites, and made them Tributaries, 
Ejusmodi ver● Pr●●cep● fuit, ut nullum in e● virtutis genus desideres.  they gave unto jotham very largely: He prospers, for GOD was with him. I will add hereto the Testimony josephus gives of him: This was such a Prince, as a man could found no kind of virtue wanting in him; He worshipped GOD so religiously; he governed his men so righteously; he was so provident for the City, and did so greatly amplify it, That by his virtue and prowess, he made his whole Kingdom not contemptible to his Enemies; but to his Servants, Inhabitants, and Citizens, prosperous and happy. In short, his reign was not long, but as happy in all things, as himself was devout and virtuous. So Josephus. I will rest in that Testimony, the Spirit gives of him, and conclude with it. So Jotham became MIGHTY, because be prepared his ways before the LORD his GOD. How old he was, and how long he reigned is recorded in the same place, and than good 
ver. 6.  Jotham slept with his good Fathers. Ahaz succeeds him, a bad Son, but Ahaz has a good Hezekiah, and his goodness is upon everlasting Record. We will read his ACTS now.   

THE ACTS OF HEZEKIAH.  
CHAP. VIII.  
Hezekiah his first work is the purging of the Temple, and first care, the setting faithful Officers there. Than about the COVENANT and the PASSEOVER, this way he takes to secure his Kingdom, and he finds it a sure and secure way, which never yet failed, and never can fail unto the World's end. No Adversary can do a Kingdom hurt without, when Idols are thrown down within. Hezekiah has a great Deliverance, from a proud Adversary, than a great Affliction, He finds changes in the World, tells us what we must look for there, but peace in GOD.  
HEzekiah, Jothams' Grandchild, began his reign, and Reformation together; he was religious, and wise both, and must delay no time, for indeed 
2 Chro. 29. 3.  his Father King Ahaz. had caused a Deformation 
ver 3.  through his Kingdom, and weakened his MILITIA very much. So that it did but stand in a fainting Posture. Therefore Hezekiah bestirred himself, and let no time runout to waste. In the first year of his reign and month, he opened the doors of GOD'S House, and repaired them [It was observed before; he must look well to GOD'S House, that expects GOD should look to and establish his house, and there he must begin and end both] brought in the Priests and Levites, chargeth them; Sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD GOD; carry forth the FILTHINESS thence 
h ver. 5. , make clean work there; Remember my sons, the fierce wrath of GOD, yet before your eyes: He hath delivered us to troubles, to astonishment, and to hissing; keep his judgements like frontlets before your eyes: And be not negligent in such a time as 
ver. 11.  this. And he found the Levites (the ordinary Ministers) very obedient in word and deed, for they were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the Priests 
k ver. 34. . But so he charged them. And for himself, it is in his heart to lead the way, making a Covenant with the LORD GOD of Israel ●, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us 
l ver. 10.  [would we have the fierce wrath of the LORD turn away? Than we must come up close to Him in a Covenant:] So the King does, and see how all follow, and how quick they are, how they bestow themselves. Indeed the King is a leading-hand, whether he goes on the right or the left, the people observe not curiously, but they follow. It was well here, K. Hezekiah kept strait-on, and see how well all perform their duty! But you must note, The good King is at their elbows, as chief Overseer there, he is zealous for the bringing forth the uncleanness 
m ver. 16.  out of the Temple; and the Levites show their zeal too, [The Kings presence presseth much to duty, else the Levites are but slaggs; but now they are very active, and out they carry the filthiness, and throw it into the brook Kidron. And very much filthiness there was, for Ahaz in his transgression 
n ver. 19 , had made holy things common, which caused the King, Priests, and all more work and trouble, as it is always when the Predecessor is wicked, but they went through it willingly; The King's zeal and example carried all smooth before them with rejoicing; [nothing is hard to a willing mind: And zeal in GOD'S service feels no burden there] A great deal of work was done in a little time; And Hezekiah rejoiced with all his heart, that GOD had so postured the people (i e.) set them in such a good frame to obedience: So we read; 
2 Chro. 29. 36.  and Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that GOD had prepared the people, for the thing was done SUDDENLY.  
We will note it twice over, if thrice it will do us no hurt, The King's heart is upright; the people's heart prepared, all are willing; what now? Great things are done suddenly. Read backward now, people hung bacl, are not a willing people; The heart is not prepared, not upright; What now? Things are done heavily. Comeon again for now we are quite-off. Here is a Covenant; All ASSOCIATE themselves, the King, he is the Leader, Priests, Levites, People, these follow close, ASSOCIATED; here are many; and yet but one shoulder, one hand, and one lip; and, which makes the Union, one heart and one mind; and now things are done suddenly. 
In his Epist.  I remember here what one Man did, and how suddenly, Mr. Fox comes into my mind now, he took an excellent work in hand, we all know it, he had an excellent spirit, an upright heart he had, and his heart was, next to GOD, with the upright still; he did that in a few months, which, we would scarce think could be done in so many years: But he was all for GOD, and for His Church, indeed he was for he was nobody for himself: and he did all those volumes, in reference to such a work, suddenly.  
Now the LORD give us such hearts so upright, so prepared, and than, we also shall be so willing, and shall do things suddenly. The King goes before we will follow, he is a fair and full example in our eyes.  
He has made himself, and his people sure in a Covenant; 
2 Chron. 30.  now he applies himself, and sets his heart to the Seal, the PASSEOVER. And mark well, for I can can but point to it: What means he makes, That all Judah, Ephraim 
2 Chro. 20. 1.  and Manasseh shall here of it, He taketh counsel about it (if 
ver. 2.  I were not in haste, I would note it) for, notwithstanding all the haste, he will consult upon it, and take deliberation, how such a company should be called together and fitted, I mean, Sanctified for so solemn a work: The Proclamation 
ver. 5.  issued forth, and the Posts carry it throughout all Israel from Beersheba even unto Dan, according to the King's Commandment, 
ver. 6.  and these words, Turn again unto the LORD, and He will return to the remnant of you: Be not like your Brethrens, that trespassed against the LORD GOD of their Fathers, who therefore gave them up to Desolation, as you see, etc. [still the good King sets the judgements of GOD, as a mountain before the People's eye] Be not stiffnecked, if you will continued so, the fierceness of GOD'S 
ver 7, 8.  wrath will beaten you to pieces: But if you turn to Him, He will return to you, and show you favour in the eyes of them, 
ver 9  that lead you Captive; and He Himself will be a gracious, and merciful GOD unto you. I have read the Contents of the King's Proclamation, and Letters, I think you never read the like: How is it entertained? With scorn and mocks 
d ver. 10. . Thus it was, such a pious Proclamation; such Letters, as full of Grace as of words, have been entertained with disdain and derision; when the contrary, A Declaration for Liberty, Letters as full of dishonour to GOD, as of syllables, have been entertained with hand and heart and all acceptance. Such a brutish people we are, and yet all are not so; Nevertheless divers of Ashur and Manasseh, and of Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem ᵉ: Also in Judah the hand of GOD was 
ver. 11. 12.  to give them one heart to do the Commandment of the King, and of the Princes by the word of the LORD.  
The hand of GOD, Mark that, till that be given-out, Hezekiah may call and call, and pull and pull, and have no answer; he may as well pull at a Bell without a Clapper to call the people to Church (as our Phrase is:) But GOD'S hand is reached forth to a person, or to a people, and than they comein to do according to the Law and the Commandment▪ suddenly. I cannot forget that word.  
I do not speak this to make men slack in their commands, or their endeavours: but to quicken all; and, when all is done, first and last, to looke-up to GOD, for He speaks with a 
ver. 13.  Strong hand. I cannot stay upon things here, they be so many, and so notable; my contrivance is here to thrust out of the throng.  
And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the Feast, a very great Congregation, and they arose. What than? 
ver. 14.  It follows. I warrant you; and away they took the Altars, even all, and cast them into the brook Kidron. That brook was fatal to Altars and Images, thereunto they tumbled those dunghill things, after the uncleanness found in the Temple. They were now about to celebrated a great Feast, never the like since the time of Solomon; and down the Altars must, else they had been ill fitted for a Feast, and worse fitted for a Blessing and such a rejoicing: down they be tumbled, and into the Brook, and than they kill the Passeover, all decently and 
ver. 15.  in order. And the people go so stoutly on in this good way, That they shamed the Priest quite, that they did, for the people had more zeal than the Priest (and that is very possible, the more their shame indeed) so the Priests, beholding the people's forwardness, blushed at their own coldness; and for very shame sanctified themselves after the manner.  
But the multitudes, they were many; were newly met from all quarters; things could not be in an outward conformity to the Requisites of that solemn time, nor to the Purification of the Sanctuary, than Hezekiah bestirrs himself, knows which way to look, puts-up a sweet Prayer for his People: Thither they came in great multitudes, with their faces steadfastly set to Jerusalem, and with good hearts sure, upright and sincere; The King prays; Now the good LORD pardon every one, that prepares his heart, who sets that right, the good 
ver. 18, 19  LORD pardon him, though legal preparatives are wanting, some things there out of order: yet pardon good Lord, where Thou seest a ready will, and a bend heart, in a good posture and frame towards Thee, and do desire with desire, That all things in Thy service might be done according to Thy Mind and Will, and all suddenly; Good LORD pardon those persons, that have those hearts, Amen. What follows?  
The LORD harkened and heard Hezekiah, and healed the 
ver. 20.  people, That he did, and it will still be so, where there is, as it was here, such an heart, and such a prayer. Goeon I pray you, for it is better and better; The LORD hath spoken comfortably; Hezekiah speaks Comfortably 
a ver. 22.  too (GOD spoke so first, but I can but point to things) To whom speaks the King so comfortably? To those that were good sure, and were good Teachers, for so we read, That taught the good Knowledge of the LORD; Good knowledge, for it makes men good, and so do not Richeses nor Honours, nor any other thing, which we call good under the Sun; yet that is the good we most of all look after, not the good knowledge of the LORD, That made it so good; Know the LORD, and you know all things; if you know Him not, you know nothing: A comprehensive knowledge indeed, but it was noted before 
b p. 32. ;  
Observe this here: What is the work, the duty of a Minister? To teach the good knowledge of the LORD. What shall I say to them, that do not thus? Nothing; The Lord will say enough to them, to make them speechless: And the good King will never speak comfortably unto them, who do not teach The good knowledge of the LORD. We go-on, And behold how merry (in the Lord) the good King, and his good people are! For they were upon the service of the Lord; Their hearts were taken with it; here was Pass time indeed; for in an holy mirth, as well as in a Calvish brutish Mirth, time passeth away and is gone before we are ware; O it is all in all, when a man feels a relish, a delight and sweet contentment in the service of the Lord (as he does, that is targht The good knowledge of the LORD) he is as merry in his service before the Lord, as we are when we have our minstrel with us, and are dancing and skipping after our measures, and manner of Heathen people before a Maypole, there learning the knowledge of war, by such feats of Activity as are learned at May-games (for so much I have learned by reading) That such sports will make us fit for war; and is it not even so! Have we not gained well by our May-games! Have we not got experience to fit us for war by our activeness before a Minstrel! Our sporting with the Lord, has made us fit for war indeed, to be consumed by the Sword of the Almighty; And truly, though I am no Prophet, I feared all this more than 7 years ago.  
I have not forgot myself all this while, I know where I am, though out of my way a little: Nor do I forget how much I was mistaken a little before, where I compared the mirth of that man, who delights himself in the good knowledge of the LORD, in service done to His Name, where I compared I say, his mirth to our mirth, in our warlike exercises, I mean, rioting in the Daytime. And yet there is some conformity, agreement and a●swerablenesse, not betwixt mirth and mirth; person and person: but betwixt heart and heart, affection and affection, set upon this mirth. (I express myself, as well as I can) We in our warlike exercises have passed away the time, we know not how: The Holy day (we will call it so, for whether it be the LORDS DAY (Holy indeed) or Saints days in our conceit, all one to us, to Whom that Day is most holy, whereon we may be most profane) The holy Day is too short, we wish it longer, and that every Sunday had its seconds (so one expresseth it) as two Sundays have (now my mind is upon their sports, I will name days, as the Heathen did) Red-Letter-Dayes are as pleasing to us, as to children; we may riot on them, and they may play. Why now our minds, our affections meet, Heart answers heart, ours upon our sport 
c ver. 23. , theirs in the sacred Text, Let out upon their service before the Lord; and so we will look upon that again, and shall find it just so;  
They had continued seven days at their Feast in their holy mirth, Offering Peace-offerings, and making Confession to the LORD▪ GOD of their Fathers (the more hearty the confession, the more hearty their mirth: As the sourer the Herbs, the sweeter the Passeover) And now those days were over.  
The whole Assembly (mark you that) took counsel. About what? To keep other seven days: And as they advised, so they did; They kept other seven days with gladness. Look you there, how hearts and affections answer, theirs and ours. And it must be so, for this reason; While the heart is altogether carnal, it let's forth, and spends its spirits upon profane things: Answerably, as a spiritual heart let's forth itself towards holy things. But here is a wide difference again, our mirth is of no continuance, it ends with the day, when we shut-in our doors at night, we shut forth our mirth for the most part; and if death, or something like it, should stare us in the face, the night after we have been so merry after our manner: where is our mirth than? The very relish of it is gall and wormwood, and we are dead with very fear. The righteous not so, because such is not their mirth; They can keep days with gladness, and does their mirth cease with the day? Not they have their Songs for the Night, even their night of sorrow, their deepest affliction. I have not been too long upon this point, but though▪ breake-off, the sacred Text carries it on further, for behold nothing but joy and gladness and blessings, never the like since the time of Solomon; There were mighty Prayers too, full of spirit and life, Their Prayer came-up to His holy Dwelling place, even unto Heaven. 
ver. 27.   
They goeon in the work of the Lord, as men refreshed with 
2 Chro. 31.  new wine▪ and see how they execute the wrath of the Lord upon Groaves, Altars, Images, breaking, cutting, hewing, throwing them down, till they had utterly destroyed them all: Their hearts were now warmed with zeal, they could 
ver▪ 2.  not now hold their hands still, till they had utterly destroyed them all.  
Than the King appoints the courses of the Priests and the Levites, every man to his service; and portions to the Priests and Levites also, that they might be encouraged. Thus did Hezekiah, what he did, and how he did it, we will note it down more fully anon.  
Now it will be said by some, That I have spoke a great deal, and little to my purpose, which indeed is, To show how a Kingdom is fortified, and its MILITIA maintained and made strong; and to this, I have said nothing, so it may be said; And if so, my answer is; That they are much mistaken in the matter, for I have said all, that makes for the security and establishment of King and Kingdom; when I have set down all that Hezekiah has done, for that great purpose: we have not all yet; we have heard what he hath done, in reference to the Covenant, to the Passeover, to the Priests, to the services therein; what he hath thrown down, and cast forth, and what he hath brought-in: In all this the King hath engaged himself and his people to their GOD; he hath entitled GOD to his Kingdom, that the Kingdom may be the LORDS Kingdom; his people, the LORDS people; he will have the house of his GOD, to be kept as GOD'S house, and those that serve therein to be sanctified ones, the Lords Priests and the Lords Levites; and that they may attend the work there, that unum necessarium: They shall not take care about many things, f●r the King will take care for them; so he commanded to give the portion of the Priests and the Levites, That they might be encouraged in the Law of the LORD 
d 2 Chro. 31. 4. , which was not noted before.  
2. He will suffer nothing to stand, which cut-faceth the command of his GOD, all shall down which his LORD GOD will have thrown down. This was the way to make himself and his Kingdom, to stand fast and firm for ever, as the perpetual hills, and everlasting Mountains: The way to make himself, and people as a wall of Brass, and the Blast of the terrible one, as a puff of wind against it, I mean, against 
2 Chro. 31. 1.  a Pillar of Brass, or a Mountain made of Northern Iron and 
ver. 20, 21.  steel. We shall observe it to be so anon; we will recollect here in two verses, What Hezekiah did, and the manner how he did it; Thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that, which was good and right and truth, before the LORD his GOD. What had he wrought?  
That was spoken before, but we will read it again: for me thinks the words run like a whirlwind or a Tempest, so carrying Idols and Images down before it, and scattering them; he broke the Images in pieces, cut-down the Groaves; threw-downe the High-places and the Altars, out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh. How long was he upon that work? Until they had utterly destroyed them all. Now mark the manner of performance, in what sincerity, truth and uprightness of heart, Hezekiah did all the forementioned, for the manner and the carriage of the heart commends all, in all that we do; And in every work, that he began in the service of the house of GOD, and in the Law and in the Commandments, to seek his GOD, he did it with all his heart, and prospered 
d 2 Chro. 31 23▪ .  
Now King Hezekiah may take his rest, lie down and sleep; he can repose his head in the lap and Arms of the Almighty, for he had done the Law and the Commandment; he had removed the cursed things; but now he will not be carnally secure, rather the more watchful, because of this thing, for now he shall hear of enemies rushing like mighty waters. Why now? Because now he has angered the Devil, and all his servants; he has cut them to the heart, and they g●aw their tongues for pain: For King Hezekiah has persecuted them, their Groves, Altars and Images with his Tempest. Now the Enemy will comein like a flood, and if Hezekiah sleep now, as we call sleeping, the Enemy will come upon him before he shall know or see. The King keeps his watch; has done his duty, postured his Kingdom by plummet and rule, for they had ASSOCIATED themselves (I purposely mention it again and again, because there is no other way) King and people have entered into a Covenant: So now, if the Adversary do come, he comes upon the greatest disadvantage.  
But this the Adversary considers not, he is not coming but come: So we read, Senacherib King of Assyria came and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced Cities ᵈ; that 
2 Chron. 32. 1.  he did, he durst come into Judah's land, while it was the LORDS Land, and her Cities the Lords Cities, and thought to win them for himself. What made the raging Beast, for he does not speak like a man, so confident? It is worth the labour to hear this, for in feeling this man's pulse, if I may call him so, we may know the temper of others like him, What says he? This is the first fault he finds in the King, he bade his people be confident, That the Lord his GOD would deliver them out of the 
ver. 11.  hands of the King of Assyria. This he lays to the good King's charge, and he is well content to be charged with it.  
2. That Hezekiah had taken away his high places, and His Altars; The good King is content with this too, but he will 
ver. 12.  have the man know, That the things he took away were not the Lords, but the Devils; his high places, and his Altars; The Priests there, the Devils Priests, and the services done there, were done to Devils too.  
3. That Hezekiah said, Ye shall worship before one Altar. The good King said so indeed; for it is according to the command of GOD; and however, more Altars may be commanded, and Priests to serve before them, yet it is against the command of GOD, Who commanded to worship before one Altar; and now that is removed, we have but one still, and He is the Priest, and the Sacrifice, and the Altar, and All. Hark how he blasphemes now, None of all the gods of other Nations, 
ver. 13, 14.  could deliver their people out of my hands, or my Father's band: And does Hezekiah think, that his GOD can deliver him and his people? There shall be no reply to this; For they spoke against the GOD of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the Earth, which were the work of the hands of men 
d 2 Chr. 32. 19 . Than he wrote letters to rail on the LORD GOD; Railing letters, and a railing Rabshekeh, all rail, and there the charge is also, Answer him not. 
ver. 17.   
But one thing I would have noted, which passed while Rubshekeh was railing. Eliakim desireth a courtesy of him, That he would not speak to the people in their own language, for that would dishearten them (half dead already) A plain hearted man, and he considered not, That now Rabshekeh would roar, stand up and cry out the louder in the Jewish language, That 
2 King. 18. 26,  they might be the more disheartened. You must not expect a favour from an enemy; nor let him know where your sense is quickest, for there he will pinch hardest. I remember a proud Tyrant, delighting in proud wrath, had slain a son 
ver. 28.  before the Father's eye; The Father thanked him, and heldin his grief pretty well; one asked him how he could stand so cheery before a Tyrant, and thank him too. Great Reason, said he, to conceal from the Tyrant, where my care lay, Habebam alterum, I have another son, and feign I would hold that one, and so I bitten in my sorrow. If we let that go, yet take this example in the sacred Text, learn we never to expect a favour from an Adversary, he will do you none at all, but all the injury that can be.  
The King cares for none of all this, nor his rage, nor his blasphemy, for there was nothing in sight now standing, to offend the eye of his GOD; Hezekiah had destroyed all those cursed things utterly, and than Senecherib may swear and curse and rage, and blaspheme; though it troubles the good King, (it is as a Sword in his bones to hear his GOD blasphemed:) Yet I say in point of hurt and danger, to him or his City from without, the good King is careless, because there are no provocations within. Indeed the proud Adversary did the good King much good, for it made the King to strengthen himself with such means, as his GOD allows him; he called a Counsel of war, gathered much people, stopped all the ●ountaines, strengthened himself, built up the Wall, raised-up the Towers, made darts and shields in abundance. But his more special care was to engage himself to his GOD, and his GOD to him: See how he encourageth his people, with us is the LORD our GOD to help us, and to fight our battles: 
2 Chr. 32. 3, 4, 5  Than it follows, And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah. So the victory is got already; but we will see how wonderfully matters were brought about, and what destruction from the Almighty, befell this proud Adversary. It was unto him according as the LORD had said; 
ver. 8.  He sent a blast upon him, he heard a rumour; The LORD 
2 Kin. 19 2.  caused him to fall by the Sword of his own sons, in his own Land. But by what means these great matters were brought about, that is our enquiry now, and it is worth our observation.  
Senacherib wrote letters, says the Text, To rail on the Lord God of Israel; an old fashion, and yet not worn out of use: I have cast mine eye upon the like now a days, both in prose and verse, as railing as were Senacheribs letters here, and as foolish as were the Songs the drunkards made of David, let them pass in the crowd, he that reads them, is as he that made them; and he that makes them, is as he in the sacred Text, a Rabshekeh, and as those Drunkards the Prophet mentions: I was saying Senacherib wrote letters. What does Hezekiah with them? Not rail too, we must not return railing words, not if we contended with the Devil; nor did he go to his closet to make answer to them, for than he had done against his own command, Answer him not 
c 2 Kin. 17. 36. . Hezekiah received the letter and read it, and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD. What more? And spread it before the Lord; 
ver. 14.  The King lays open the whole matter before the LORD, Tells Him how the Infidel had dealt, how he had reproached and blasphemed His Name. Ay, GOD'S Name; had he reproached a man, in respect of common nature and principles, like himself, than Hezekiah had held his peace; he had not spread the matter before the LORD; but in Hezekiah, the LORDS Servant, That Beast opened his mouth, and blasphemed the living GOD, so he remits the matter, puts it over to GOD, Revenge is Thy, Thou shalt repay is, for Thy Glory is interessed here. An excellent pattern before the servants of the LORD in these times; you shall have a company of drunkards, worse, if it can be, will give up their tongues and their pens to the Devills-forge, entreating him, that he will sharpen them against the face of the Righteous; he will do it; for, as the LORD will work with, and for them, who will give up their tongues, and hands, and hearts to Him and His service: So also the Devil will do for his servants, entreating him (they are not so shameless as to entreat GOD) That he would enable them to blaspheme and reproach GOD, and His Servants. The Devil grants their request with all his heart, they shall do it, and it is done; away they run well paid to their fellow Printer, as forward as themselves, and serving the same Master, and next Morning out it comes. What is done with it? The same now, as in ancient days, according to the very pattern, It is spread before the LORD; here LORD Thy Glory is concerned; for ours, it is of no account with us; we have laid out ourselves for Thee, and to promote Thy Glory; our lives are not dear unto us, so we may drive on this great design against Thine Adversaries: But therefore, for Thy sake we are reproached: Open Thine eyes Lord upon it, we are a scorn and a derision, Drunkards make Songs over us. Thus it is spread before the Lord. And as sure as this is Scripture, which we are now upon, so sure the Lord will answer these foolish and brutish Men in His wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure. We goeon.  
The letter is spread, And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, 
2 Kin. 19 15.  as follows. What now? Now you shall see the Scene altars, and a strange exploit wrought. You read of a Prayer, and no sooner put up, but answered, That, which thou hast prayed to me against Senacherib King of Assyria, I have heard. And presently, see what a slaughter there is! Who slew all them? The 
ver. 20.  Angel of the Lord; That is true, but we say as truly, Elisha's Sword did it; That is Prayer, I think, for I do not conceive what other Sword Elisha had: But that is not granted on all 
● Kin. 19  sides, yet this is most clear, That Hezekiahs' Prayer, that did the execution; Prayer commanded the Angel, I am not mistaken, I say, commanded (for Prayer commands GOD) The Angel to come out of Heaven, to execute the vengeance of the 
● Esa. 45. 11.  Lord upon that cursed Host.  
I could say as much of Prayer, as is said of Faith, it is the most efficacious of any thing in Heaven or Earth, next to the blood of CHRIST: I say next, for it has its Energy, and efficacious working therefrom. It has the quickest motion of any thing in the world, and has as quick a return. What always? That was well remembered; Not, not always, but in some cases; many times the eye is dim with looking upward; and the heart faint with expectation. Of what? Of the Return of Prayer. How so? For excellent reasons; The children of GOD must not always ask, and have presently; they must be held in expectation; their time is now; they have prayed now, and now they would have a Return; Not, GOD'S time is not yet; They must not think to sow and reap together. Their graces must be exercised, and they taught to wait, and in patience to possess their souls; They must stay till GOD may be magnified in His Salvation; Every Salvation is His, but His Name is not magnified, except things rise to a height, and there be an extremity of danger. And when the case is so; Refuge faileth the Church, than God comes-in; The return of Prayer is speedy than; And this was the case here; The Adversary very proud, the Church very humble; The Adversary very high in his demands, the Church very low; The Adversary would hear of no conditions of peace, unless Israel would be his servants, he refuses all offers. So the valiant men did cry, and the Ambassadors of Peace did weep bitterly 
c Esa. 3●. 7.  [There is no Treaty with an Infidel, or an Idolater] The Adversary despised the Cities, and regarded 
ver. 9  no man 
d ver. 8. . The Earth mourned, Lebanon was ashamed, Sharon 
ver. 10.  was like a wilderness. Now is GOD'S time to arise, and to be exalted; now He will appear in His glory: He will regard 
Psalm. 102.  the Prayer of the destitute: And the return shall be speedy: And see what an exploit it hath wrought? It returns with an Angel, which went out, and smote in the Camp of Ashur an hundred fourscore and five thousand: So when they arose early 
2 King. 19 35.  in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. So Senacherib departed, returned to his house, thought to devil in safety at Nineveh: And it came to pass that he went into the house of 
ver. 36, 37.  Ni●●och his god, there to worship; and there he must be slain: he had blasphemed the true GOD, he must be slain before his Idol; and by the Sword in the hands of his own Sons; he had reproached the Sons of Jacob, the servants of the Lord; he shall be slain by his own children.  
Thus the LORD did for Hezekiah, according to the good word He spoke unto him, and whereon the people rested 
c 2 Chro. 32 8. ; He cursed from Heaven (after His manner) bold and daring erterprises managed against His hidden ones: The LORD said, upon all the glory shall be a defence 
d Esa. 4▪ 5. , and so it was. The fear of the LORD is his Treasure 
e Esa. 33. 6. ; It was spoken of King Hezekiah; that all may make GOD their fear, than He will be a Sanctuary. To recollect all; Senacheribs Host were all slain in a night, prayer commanded an Angel (for there is no intermediate thing in sight) the Angel does the execution: The King slinkes away, thinks to hid himself in his house, from the wrath of the Almighty; The Sword, which he three atned Judah, finds himout and slays him before his gods, and the execution is done upon him by his own Sons; he falls by the Sword of his own Sons in his own Land 
c 2 King. 19 7. . Thus the LORD dealt with the Adversaries of Judah, and guided them on every side 
d 2 Chro. 32. 22. . And many came to congratulate the King, and rejoice with him after this victory, so they brought gifts unto the LORD, and presents to Hezekiah: so that he was 
ver. 23.  magnified in the sight of all Nations from thenceforth.  
Now whether Hezekiah did boast of the LORD, the giver of victories, all the day long, I cannot tell; he was an excellent Man, and yet but a Man, he might look on his own arm too much, and on GOD'S Arm too little. Certain it is he gloried in his richeses; it may be also, but that is one man's conjecture, he rejoiced too much at the destruction and lamentable end of his enemy. But this is clear from the connexion of the Chapters, which we must observe here; That our joys do not run smooth and clear away, there is a a mixture and mud with them, and a settlement at the bottom; nor is our peace here below, a solid, continued, or an interrupted peace; not, as our outward peace may be plundered: so our inward peace may be and is often eclipsed. We must look for changes here below; our comforts, as not full here, so nor permanent; we must look for that in Heaven. Nay, commonly thus it is on earth; when our joys here below are at the highest, yet there is a cloud above them, which, at that instant, that point of time, will overshadow them: when we are at the heights in our joys, than fear some depth of sorrow; there is such a connexion between these two, joys and sorrows. So it seems it was here with Hezekiah; In those days; what days were those? good and joyful days, as we may imagine upon such a glorious victory as that was, and comming-in of Ambassadors to joy with him. See now! But than, in those days, Hezekiah 
2 King 20 21.  was sick unto death. The King was joyful no doubt, and very comfortable, being so wondrously delivered, and like enough, was thinking of building Tabernacles upon his comforts, well persuaded they would be of some continuance; but behold than at that time, sickness came and overshadowed all. Peter seeing the glory, was so well pleased with the sight, that he spoke of making Tabernacles for continuance; But what says the Spirit, so indeed he said, not knowing what he said 
* Luk. 9 33. . Indeed we do not, when we talk of building Tabernacles upon our comforts, expecting a continuance of them. There is such a connexion betwixt joy and sorrow, as there is between 
2 King. 19 & ●0. 1.  those Chapters and Verses 
b 2 Chron. 32. 23, 24. : The one concludes with joy, the other gins with sorrow. And in those days Hezekiah was sick unto death; that is, his disease was deadly in itself, for it was (supposed to be) the plague: And now the message is, you must not think of the victory now, but in setting your inward and outward house in order; for thou shalt dye and not live. See here! But as yesterday, an Enemy was at his gates, threatening to swallow up all: the LORD sent that adversary packing. Not sooner delivered from the oppressing Sword, but he is smitten with a disease as with a Sword in his bowels. It is strange, but so it is; That man can think of building Tabernacles upon his comforts here below, or upon any worldly thing, whereunto we give the Name of Glory, which hath so many wanes and eclipses, how soon comes a cloud and overshadowes all our glory! sometimes when we are speaking of setting up a Tabernacle, I mean our rest upon the creature, the cloud comes; that we may learn to expect changes here, and of sorrows too. An Enemy was even now at the King's gate; not sooner was he removed, but a sickness sent unto him, which cut his heart like a Sword in his bowels. This trouble is blown over, and now it is peace. Alas! man's peace here, is like a sunshine after rain, trouble as the cloud returns again.  
What is our expectation than? That our houses, our comforts will continued? that cannot be; here is no continuance; if we so expect, our expectation is vain. Blessed is the man, that looks for continuance there, and there only, where is a City that hath a foundation; that can say, my soul wait thou 
Psa 12. 5. Psal. 39 7.  only upon GOD: for my expectation is from Him: And now LORD what wait I for? my HOPE is in THEE: I do not expect any thing can be certain here, but changes of sorrows, trials in this kind, and in that; I wait for afflictions, Thou hast said, in the world ye shall have them: But my hope is in Thee, that Thou wilt support me in them; do me good by them; work my deliverance out of them, I wait Thy salvation.  
We proceed to that, which was as a Sword in the King's bowels; set thy house in order for thou shalt dye and not live. Than we read which way he turned; what his prayer was, and what his comfort; the sweetest cordial, that a man can think of upon his sick bed, REMEMBER, etc. he wept 
2 King. 10.  sore (for he had no Son, and yet the LORD promised to 
ver. 3. 3.  give a light to David and to his Sons for ever:) The LORD 
2 Chro. 21. 7.  heard the voice of his weeping, gives him a wonderful sign, that the LORD would heal him, and that he should go up to the House of the LORD; so he was wonderfully recovered 
2 King 20. 8.  (no plague being beyond the skill of this Physician) and upon his feet again, and an Ambassador at his elbow, to congratulate such a mercy. It follows, Hezekiah shows his treasuries 
ver. 12.  unto them, even ALL that was found there; But the Prophet cools his spirit quickly, saying, all this store (being the spoils of Senacharibs Camp, who had rob him the year before, repaid all with advantage, and made Hezechiah richer upon the sudden than ever he had been, which unexpected wealth was a strong temptation to boasting) But I say, the Prophet takes down his spirit, saying, all this store which thou hast shown to the Princes of Babylon, shall be carried thither, nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. We may 
ver. 17.  read what follows; The good King hears all this and more, and submits humbly and thankfully to the will of GOD, saying, good is the word of the LORD; All is good to the good, 
2 King. 20. 19  the good LORD so ordering all.  
But I will set the mark upon this; The LORD gave unto Hezekiah wonderful signs, and a recovery of health: But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto 
2 Chro. 32. 25▪  him. The reason is given, for his heart was lifted▪ up: [If the heart be lifted up with pride, it cannot be lifted up in rendering praises.] Read on; Therefore there was wrath upon him. [That follows still, when the heart is liftedup, than is the time when, wrath comes down.] Came this wrath down upon the King only? no, for Kings do not sinne alone, nor are they punished alone; There was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.  
It seems not so; wrath was not already come upon them, it was to come: True, that which the Lord threatneth is reckoned as already done; we may say of it, as we read concerning the last viol of wrath, that shall come pouring down upon the last Enemies of the Church, long since threatened, yet to be executed, and thereof it is said, behold it is come, and it is done, saith the LORD 
d Ezek. 39 8. . The servants of the Lord are moved, and melt more at the Lords threats; than the wicked do under blows. If there be but mention of wrath, it is enough, (for it is our Lord's wrath) to humble the righteous man; he will say of it presently, though but denounced, great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon 
2 Chro. 34. 11.  us.  
And so King Hezekiah here, he humbled himself for the pride of his heart (both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem) so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah 
f 2 Chro. 32. 26. . Not; he had humbled himself; True humiliation turns away wrath, as here, and instead thereof he had blessings 
2 Chro. 32. 26.  good store, for he had exceeding much of all precious 
ver. 27.  things, and substance very much, and he did great works, 
ver. 28.  and prospered in all he did. One thing he did very foolishly, 
ver. 29.  recorded after all this, which was before, and 
ver. 30.  that was about the Ambassadors: but than GOD left him 
ver. 31.  to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. [The ablest and strongest Christians must be left a little, else they will trust themselves too much; They must know by their falls how weak they are, else they cannot know all that is in their hearts, even such thoughts as these, That they and their mountain can stand all alone, so strong they are: But than they fall, and so they know the vanity of such thoughts, and can correct them.] The rest of his Acts, and his GOODNESS; Mark that; and his GOODNESS; The pride of his heart in showing of the Treasures, that shall be remembered not more, his goodness shall; his infirmities all shall be forgotten, as if they had never been, his GOODNESS shall never be forgotten; and his Goodness. What a good GOD did King Hezekiah serve, He passeth over all, and all shall be forgotten; but his Goodness shall still be remembered. Again, see the portion of those that fear the LORD and His Goodness; They live desired, and they die lamented; and when they are dead, it is in every man's mouth; And their Goodness. See also the measures of the wicked, clean contrary; They live undesired, they die unlamented; and when they are laid in the grave, if they have so much honour, their Name rots above ground, as their bodies under ground, and it is in every man's mouth, and their Badness, the evil that they wrought! Oh! who would not choose the fear of the LORD, and to walk before Him in truth, That it may be said of him, when he is taken hence; And his goodness! All are recorded in the visions of Esaiah; and in the Book of the Kings. But let me note what I have observed all along these Chronicles; That after many glorious acts of the LORDS Worthies, their slips and falls are recorded almost last of all. Why so? for excellent reasons sure, though I may not hit upon them; I think verily this is one; That we may remember our sins first and last, with bitterness of spirit, after a godly sort, and than, being remembered so this once, they shall be remembered no more for ever. I will remember your iniquities not more: but the Goodness shall be remembered to all generations.  
Death still concludes the Story; It follows, And he slept with his Fathers, and all Judah did him honour at his death, for he honoured all Judah.   

THE Repentance of MANASSEH.  
CHAP. IX.  
Manasseh does exceeding wickedly, worse than the Heathen; as a Man besides himself. At length he is taken in the Thorns, there he comes to himself again; He sinned greatly, and was humbled greatly: This is the more largely discoursed of, That 
● Chron. 33.  the humble ●inner may not despair, nor the proud sinner presume; Manasseh his tears of true Repentance, could not wash-off the guilt of blood from Judah. These things follow orderly in their several Paragraphs.  
MAnasseh his Son, an older King than his Father was a Man (for he reighned fifty and five years 
a So long the LORD waited to show mercy and to give repentance; Who would not wait upon Him so long-suffering!  in Jerusalem:) began to reign when he was twelve years old 
b Good education cannot make the child good, Goodness being derivitive from Him, Who only is Good: yet Parents must attend it as their proper and special charge. ; What discerning he had at those years, into his Father's pious carriage, and the prosperity that followed him, we cannot certainly tell; we think very little, for this is apparent and upon everlasting record; That never any Son walked more cross to the Father's steps, as contrary as evil is to good; Hell to Heaven▪; Those abominations his Father cast down, the Son set up; and what his Father's soul hated, his Son did practise: To pass by all the rest, wherein he did like to the abominations of the Heathen; here he exceeded, 
ver. 2, 3.  burned his Sons for a sacrifice to the Devil, and filled Jerusalem 
ver. 6.  with innocent blood, from one end to another, (worse than the 
2 King. 21. 16.  Heathen) into which channel did stream down the blood of that reverend and aged Prophet Esaiah, whom he caused to be beat to death with a Fuller's club, or to be sawn in sunder with a wooden saw, in the 80 Year of his life: The sacred 
Esa. 1.  Scripture indeed is silent here, only it saith, That Prophet lived to see, and feel that King's tyranny; Other writers, too many to rehearse, and too good to be suspected, affirm it with a loud voice; That, in such a barbarous manner, he put that good Prophet to death. Yet he is reckoned-up in this place, because, when he comes to the business, he ordered his Militia according to right reason and rule. Indeed we read nothing of Manasseh his Militia, before he was taken in the thorns, bound with fetters, and carried to Babylon, and brought 
ver. 11, 12, 13.  again thence to Jerusalem, for than he knew, that the LORD He was GOD. [See how the sharp thorns and briars of affliction, can teach us, when the LORD is pleased to sharpen and sanctify such goads] But this is the lesson; To admire the height and depth of GOD'S mercy; He suffers Manasseh to run-up to the height of all heathenish abominations; to plunge himself into a depth of innocent blood; and than, when he was near the end of his race, the LORD recovers him, fetcheth him from out of that depth, and turns his heart back again. We must insist upon this, that we may put the more observation upon it.  
¶ 1. The truth of Manasseh his Repentance, is cleared from the sacred Text, not that there are any who doubt of it, but that none may presume from it. What takes of somewhat from the weight of his sin, and adds to the terror of an hypocritical person, who doth one thing, and professeth another: so Manasseh did not do; and yet his sins are heightened, so as to magnify free grace.  
O the height of GOD'S merciel He lengthens out Manassehs day, and brings him into the Thorns towards night, that there he might bethink himself of all his abominations. That we may admire freegrace, we must make a stand here, and look upon Manasseh in the Thorns, and what exceeding mercy he found there: And I speak of it here, that the proud sinner may not presume, nor the humble despair; for a sinner shall not be condemned, because he is an old sinner, and a great sinner: but because he is an impenitent sinner: And such an one Manasseh was not, when he was in the Thorns. And when he was in affliction he besought the LORD his GOD, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his Fathers.  
But may we think this Humiliation to be sound? Yes, we 
2 Chro. 33. 12.  dare not judge otherwise; nay, this Scripture assureth us, it was sound: True it is, (and therefore I speak of it in this place) when we are in the Thorns, when our sorrows reach unto the heart, when our Month is come, and we are in our 
jer. 2.  pangs, than there will be pangs of sorrow, whether after a godly sort, or a worldly sorrow unto Death, cannot possibly be discerned by the most discerning spirit, that dwells in flesh, GOD knows, Who only knows the hearts of the children of Men; but there are some expressions in the Text, which are full of use to the Penitent and impenitent, both, clearing Manasseh his Repentance unto us.  
He besought the LORD his GOD; so a wicked man may do. He humbled himself, so a wicked man may do also: nay, greatly in man's judgement. Some might be pointed to, who, being in the Thorns, in great Agony of body and spirit both, expecting to make their appearance before the great Throne, have humbled themselves greatly, given as great Testimony of true sorrow, as possibly could be expressed; yet, being delivered out of the Thorns were worse than ever before, Therefore, I say, greatly in man's judgement, so a wicked man may do too. But he humbled himself GREATLY, before the LORD greatly, and as in GOD'S presence, and by the Testimony of the Spirit, before the Lord condemning, judging, loathing himself, accepting his punishment, greatly humbled before the Lord; so a wicked man cannot do, none but a true Penitent. That again, which follows, he prayed, and GOD was entreated of him. For a temporal Deliverance you will say; but We speak of a soul mercy, of an eternal redemption: And this me thinks may be concluded also, from the following words, Than Manasseh knew that the Lord He was God. All our evils, which are committed, are, as I may say, charged upon this one word, as their original root, they knew not the Lord: So all our works of righteousness upon this word, He knew the Lord; I cannot express the fullness of that word, but it contains all: It is the sum of the Apostles Prayer, That the Lord would give the Ephesians the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the KNOWLEDGE of Him [Eph. 1. 17.]  
In the last place, it does not appear, that Manasseh, recovered out of the thorns, did return unto folly, but the contrary will appear anon, when we shall look upon him, as a pattern of true Repentance.  
Now I will take leave, for the instruction of the living, to take so much from the weight of Manassehs sins, and to put in so much allowance for it, as, I am confident, the sacred Scripture will allow me to do: for GOD forbidden I should do more. And all this I shall do for this great end, to discover the danger of Hypocrisy, and to magnify freegrace, Manasseh was an abominable Idolater professedly so; but that was some help for him; he did not persecute that way, he himself walked-in; nor that Religion he seemed to profess; he was indeed what he seemed to be, such was he, and that I say was some help unto him. He offered his son to Molech; he did it when he knew not the LORD. The Altars, his good Father threw down, he setup; but he did not set them up with his hand, and cry them down with his mouth. He slew that Evangelicall Prophet Esaiah; who ever was the Executioner, or what ever the instrument of his Death, Manasseh slew him: But Manasseh did not call them bloody Rebels, that killed Isaiah, as though they had done it against his mind and william. He shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; 
2 Kin. 21. 16.  But he did not, at that time, seem to relent at what his hand did, and so water the same City at the same time with tears of feigned compassion: I mean by this, he was not an hypocritical King against whom that severe judgement is denounced, as against an Hypocritical Nation, and against the people of GOD'S wrath. Manasseh was not one manner of 
Esa. 10. 6.  man in show and profession; and another in deed and in truth. He did do worse than the Heathen, he was most abominable in all his ways; But he was what he was, and he walked according to his light in his own ways, which seemed right in his own eyes. I think verily no man ever went further towards ruin, than Manasseh did, and returned in peace; never any plunged himself deeper into the gulf of sin, and escaped: But this is it I say; we cannot charge him with Hypocrisy. He set himself against GOD, he openly and manifestly opposed GOD'S Truth: So an Hypocrite does not do; he will oppose it, but he will make you shows and overtures of the contrary. The established Religion, he will seem to be all for that, and to do all for it, nothing against it. Paul breathed out threaten 
a Act 9 1. Act. 16. 11. ; he compelled men to blaspheme; He was exceedingly MAD against the righteous, that he was, for he persecuted them even to strange Cities. What was his comfort, 
1 Tim. 1. 13.  or what helped him? he did it ignorantly, and obtained Mercy. It was so with Luther too, a bloody persecutor in heart: as all Idolaters are, as he says of himself, and all that are as he was; Had I been, said he, at the place where John Hus was burnt, 
Nemo nostrum, non erat vir sanguinum, si non opere tamen cord. Abhorrebam vel ipsum nomen Io▪ Husse Ad●oque Zelab● pro Papan, ut ad occidendum Io: Hus ipse serrum & ignem subministrasse in Lu●● Galat c. 1. v. 15. 1 Cor. 4 7. d Esa. 35. 8. Act. 17 30. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  I would have made the fire a little hotter to have scorched the Heretic: for, I would have brought two Faggots upon my shoulders thither: Why would he have done so? In his blind zeal to Munkery, he would, as all his fellows would have done, shed blood to their power, he with them would have rejoiced to have seen John Hus fry in the fire. But why do I mention these excellent servants of the LORD? For excellent reason▪ To magnify free Grace, That made them DIFFER FROM ANOTHER: But here I mention it to evince and clear this, That Hypocrisy is the DAMNABLE SIN. A man may be a Malignant Person, he may persecute the good way (wherein the fool cannot err) and the righteous in that way▪ and may do it ignorantly: And than see the help and the comfort, the time of this ignorance GOD winked at. He saw and would not see, He over-looked it. I do not pled for ignorance, that cursed root, that mother of witchcrafts and superstitious devotions. Some thing might have been said for it fourscore years ago, for that ignorance which was in those dark and gloomy days, rather that night of superstition and Popery: But not a word for it now in these days, where the light is so clear, and knowledge so abounding: now to be ignorant, does not lessen, does not extenuate or take-off from, but aggravate the fault; for it is now to stumble in a Sunshine, and to grope for the way in mid▪ Day, as at midnight. But I say, for a man to do what he does professedly, walk in a way he thinks good in his own eyes, and to do it ignorantly, as, for aught I know, Manasseh did, This hath helped very many; Paul, Luther, and so Manasseh, for the time of this ignorance GOD winked at, and he obtained mercy.  
What? And his sins so great! Yes, he was GREATLY humbled, the spirit, says so, and adds, BEFORE the LORD; The LORD saw that he abhorred himself, admired free grace, he was GREATLY humbled.  
But his sin was great?  
True, But it is said, He knew the LORD, He remembered the LORD, That He is GREAT; and, as he had sinned 
Neh 4 14.  to the utmost, so This Great GOD could save to the utmost. He had gone far indeed, never any man beyond him; yet not so fare, but This Great GOD, whom he knew now, could fetch him backagaine with His outstretched Arme. Again, his sin was great, but that was his Father David's Argument before him, wherefore he did expect pardon; his sin was great 
c Ps. 25. 11. , and GOD is great, and hath laid strength on Him that is Mighty, a great, strong Redeemer, can save to the utmost, O LORD pardon mine iniquity, for it is GREAT. The glory of GOD is Great in the salvation of great Sinners: And by putting confidence in Him, Who is Mighty, We lay Glory and Majesty upon Him; for to those words we may properly 
Ps. 21. 5.  allude; His Glory is great in thy Salvation, honour and Majesty hast Thou laid upon Him. We are entreated to mark 
Disc. of Iust. p 519.  this, for the hour may come (saith Mr. Hooker) when we shall think it a blessed thing to hear, what? That if our sins were the sins of Popes and Cardinals (of Manasseh say I) the bowels of the mercy of GOD are larger. I must read his following words too, I do not propose unto you a Pope with the neck of an Emperor under his feet: A Cardinal riding his horse to the bridle in the blood of Saints: But a Pope or Cardinal sorrowful, penitent, disrobed, stripped, not only of usurped power, but also delivered and recalled from error. Antichrist converted and lying prostrate at the foot of CHRIST: And shall I think that CHRIST will spurn at him? So, I do not propose unto you Manasseh slaying the innocent: Walking after all the  abominations: But Manasseh in the Thorns, seeking the LORD, humbling himself greatly before the LORD; and now behold the LORD hearing his supplications, entreated of him. And o the richeses of Grace, and the freeness thereof! How exceeding, how admirable, how unexpressible! And this Grace was shown to Manasseh, that no penitent sinner may despair; Manasseh and he only went so fare towards Hell, and turned back, that no man might presume. Not sin but impenitency killeth! I thought I could have said something more at this point; but I see it is too high for me, I can say no more of it: But, now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly, 
Ephes. 3. 20, 21.  above all that we can ask or think, Unto Him be glory in the Church by CHRIST JESUS throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.  
¶ 2. Manasseh his Repentance maketh clear proof to all Generations following, what Repentance is and true conversion.  
NOw we return where we left, and found Manasseh in the Thorns, and graciously delivered thence. There we must observe how he goes on with his Militia, removes that which hinders, does all that, which will further the same: Now after this he built a wall, etc. And he sooke away the strange 
ver. 14, 15, 16.  gods, etc. And he repaired the Altar of the LORD, etc.  
And this is spoken so fully unto already, that more needs not be said of it here. This rather I would insist upon a little; To thou, ●ha●, ● Manasseh was a true pattern of reforming and poster●● 〈◊〉 Kingdom after the right manner; so is he a pattern of 〈◊〉 I ●●t●nt, one that had truly repent, and hearty turned to the LORD. Repentance is the change of the ●ind, and of the heart too, and than all is changed: the way also, wherein the impenitent person walked before his conversion, is changed and turned clean cross, or as I may say, up●●●e down; which is the reason, that Reformation, where it comes, makes such stirs and tumults in the world; for it turns the world upside down. But let that pass, the present time will speak enough to that. To this in hands now, and thus it will appear by what Manasseh did, after he was recovered out of the thorns; he went clean cross to the way now, wherein he walked before: he went a direct way before to ruin himself and his Kingdom: Now he goes a direct way, but clean cross, to make himself strong, and to establish his Kingdom; it shall appear in all the several ways or motions thereunto. But I will make instance in the Jailor first, where 
Ast. 16.  we shall see how contrary a penitent man walks to himself, and his own way; He had, by the Commandment of the 
ver. 22.  Magistrates, beaten the Apostles, and receiving further charge about them, he thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. When he was changed by a wonderful 
ver. 14.  work from Heaven upon his heart; see how cross he is to that he was before, and how cross he does to that he did before; he was stout and proud before, now he trembles; his Sword was drawn in a readiness to kill himself; now he 
ver 29.  asked the way, how to live for ever with the LORD: Before, he made the Apostles stoop to him, for he made their feet fast in the stocks; Now he fell down before them. Before, he thrust them into the inner prison; thrust them in roughly enough, for these Jailers are as cruel, as their Masters, that command them, and into the inner prison; the worst place in the house is fittest for the Apostles, so it was than; how now when the Jailor is a changed man? Now he brought them out; And when the main work was done, which the Apostles 
ver 30.  minded more than their stripes, he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes, those sore blows himself 
ver. 31, 32, 33, 34.  had given them, and than he set meat before them: The right way of a true Penitent this, for it is clean cross to the way he walked in before his Repentance.  
Now see the same crossness in Manasseh his way, now he is graciously delivered out of the Thorns. And the more cross his way is to the way he went in before, the better the way is and more instructing us to discretion. Let us well observe it, because it will make clear proof, what a living man's condition is, whether he be a changed, a reformed man, well postured; I mean, whether he be set now in a sure and safe way of defence in these exceeding fierce and perilous days, for if he have truly repent, he needs fear no evil; if his way be turned, he needs not care though the world be turned upside down.  
Manasseh was all for strange gods, his heart went a whoring after them, now he takes them away, as those his heart loatheth; He took away the strange gods. He had set up Altars, 
2 Chron. 33. ver. 15.  and worshipped before them; now away they shall with indignation, he cast them forth out of the City. He set up Altars and graven Images. When? Before he was humbled 
c ver. 19 : As the saying is, If the headache went before drunkenness, a man would never be drunk: So had he been humbled before, he had not setup Altars before his eyes; but now▪ that he is humbled, down the Altars are tumbled, out they are cast as the filth in the streets, And cast them out of the City. These Idolatrous Altars had defaced and defiled the Altar of the LORD, as all false worship defiles true worship. Now he repairs the Altar of the LORD: 
ver. 16.  He had been a stout Rebel; he made himself strong against the LORD, maintained enmity and war against the Almighty, so bold he was. Now he sacrificeth on his Altars Peace-offerings. He had been a most unthankful person, he had a good Father, that was a good mercy, a fair example before his eyes, many grave instructions from his mouth. He had received a Kingdom from his LORDS hand, and all good things, but he was not a ware; and than we read how he requited the LORD; but now he is changed, He sacrificeth on GOD'S Altar, Thank offerings, 
Ps. 50.  and so he glorifies the LORD. How? There is but one way to glorify Him on Earth, in praising of Him, in giving thankss unto Him; so he glorified the LORD: And so it follows, And sacrificed thereon Thank-offerings. He 
ver 16.  had caused Judah and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem to err and to do worse than the Heathen. What does he now, now, 
ver 9  being a converted man? He commanded Judah to serve the LORD GOD of their Father's [commanded.] We see now, Repentance is a change of the man, the heart and way. The way of a penitent man is clean cross to what it was in the night of his impenitency. It is well called by another name, 
1 Kin. 18. 37.  conversion; A turning the heart bacl again. A man, in his unconverted estate, goes a way cross to Heaven; when he is converted his heart is turned bacl again, than he goes clean cross to that way he went in before; where he set his back before, there he sets his face now. So the Jailor did, so Manasseh, and so all true Penitents. We will make up the conclusion and so end; A man walks contrary to himself, now that he is not himself; what he loved before, he now hates; what he hated before, he now loves; 
Ego non sum ego.  his delight is now with the excellent upon the Earth; before none were more unpleasing and tiresome to him; before the service of the LORD was a burden, it is now a delight; he snuffed at it, and said, when will the Sabbath be gone; now he thinks the day too short: nay seven days not enough, as we heard, he would have seven days more; his mind is changed, and now all is changed, his delights, his recreations, his contentments. New wills now, and new aims, all is new, and old things are passed away; old sorrow and old joy, they run fresh and new now in the right Channel, so do all his affections, all to GOD, and for GOD.  
¶ 3. Manassehs Repentance kept of wrath from himself, but could not keep it of from the Nation, His corrupt example had leavened the whole Land; Idolatry in a King being like a leprosy in the head, which presently corrupteth the whole Kingdom.  
WE read on now, where this follows; Nevertheless 
ver. 17.  the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the LORD their GOD. There was a mixture in their service, much superstition there; Idolatry was so rooted in the Kingdom, that it could not be rooted out, till the Kingdom was rooted out; like a leprosy, it begun in the head 
d  in corporibus sic in imperio, gravissimus est morbus, quia capite diffunditur. Plin. l●. 4. Ep. 22. In morbido capite nil sanum est: neque ullum omnino membrum officio su● sungitur, ubi quod est principale non constat Sal▪ de Gub. 7. p. 234. , thence spreads itself through the body. It is of a spreading nature, more spreading than leaven; it leavens a whole Land quickly; because it is so agreeable, so complying with man's corrupt heart. Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse th●n the Heathen, Ai, that was an easy matter to do; an easy matter to make men walk in their own ways, the way of sin and death; but to call them back again, that is a hard work, nay impossible.  
A Ruler may go fare in a wicked way, and than, by a strong hand, be turned bacl again, to walk clean cross to the same way: But the mischief he has done by his example in his old way, may spread so fare, that do, or say what he can, it is past remedy. We might have heard more of Manasseh his goodness, of his ways, prayer and humiliation, but that the writings were lost 
a 2 Chron. 33. 19 : But this is recorded, That Manasseh could not with all his tears, which doubtless were abundant, wipe out the filthiness (for stain is too light a word) of his Idolatrous example; his miserable seducement; Not, that was 
1 King 21. 9  such as could not be purged, but by the fire of GOD'S wrath: for so we read; Because Manasseh had made Judah also to sin with his Idols, therefore so and so would the LORD deal with Jerusalem, in such a manner as the very 
2 King. 21. 11, 12, 13.  hearing of it, would make both the ears to tingle: A Ruler, by his prayer and humiliation, may repair his own breaches in his own house, and soul, not those breaches he hath made in a City or Kingdom; he may, by those sanctified means, pled forth his own pardon, and save his own soul, but not save a Nation: as his seducement there has been spreading, and Nationall, so must the humiliation be, of high concernment this;  
To conclude; if a Ruler, joining himself to Idols, cannot consider what a breach he makes betwixt GOD and his own soul: Yet, O that he could consider what a breach he makes through his whole Kingdom, a breach like the Sea, which he can never make up again; and how he hath, by so doing, endangered, nay undone the whole Land, by provoking GOD to stretch over it the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab; and wipe his Cities as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down. O that a Ruler could consider this; 
2 King. 21▪ 13.  for just so it was here; Manasseh could not repair the ruins, that his sins had made both in City and Country; nor could his good Grandchild (for Amon his Son did evil, as did Manasseh his Father before his conversion) after him; The best King that ever had his Kingdom in this world; he, for whom, the people could not be in extremes, in desiring 
2 Chro. 35. 24, 25.  too much, or lamenting too much: so desired was his life, and so lamented his death, Josiah by Name; such a King could not repair those ruins, though he took the only way, as his great Grandfather before him; he made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, as his 
2 Chro. 34. 31, 32.  great Grandfather had done; and, this one thing more, he caused all TO STAND TO IT, and so maintained his Kingdom in a posture of defence all his days. But, the sins were great, the provocations many, the transgression of the Land heavy upon it, Therefore many were the Princes thereof 
t Pro 28. 2. . Than the man of understanding and knowledge, by whom the State and peace is prolonged, was taken away: And when that man, a man betimes, for while he was yet young he sought the LORD, and 
2 Chro. 34. 3.  so lived much in a short time, when this man in understanding, Josiah was taken away, by the stroke of death, which he received near Megiddo, and lingered about him 
2 Chro. 35. 22.  
ver. 23.  till he came to Jerusalem, there brought him to the Sepulchers 
ver. 24.  of his Ancestors; when, I say, this King of Desires, this so dear beloved, was taken away from seeing the evil to come, than the cloud of blood poured down upon Judah; Than Judah's Militia fainted, and mouldered away also, and, being in a miserable consumption, as we read, died: The strong holds fell into the hands of their Enemies, like new ripe figs into the mouth of the eater. This we must repeat again, for it is also HIGGAION Selah, a matter 
Psal. 9  seriously to be considered on.   

THE Reformation of JOSIAH.  
CHAP. X.  
Josiah, an excellent King; went very fare in Reforming and posturing his Kingdom; was taken away in the height of this work; housed in his grave, and than the storm fell. GOD'S ways equal; Man's unequal.  
I Have ended the Story of Josiah before I began it, for the dependence it had with that of his Father Amon, and his Grandfather Manasseh; And also because, what he did in point of Reformation, is fully contained and runs parallel with that his great Grandfather did before him: only some one or two expressions there are of great observation, which I shall observe anon. True it is, and well observed; As Amon his Father succeeded in the sins of Manassehs youth; so Josiah his Grandchild succeeded in the virtues of his age. Joash began well, and ended ill; Manasseh began ill and ended well; Josiah began his reign, and ended, never any King better. True it is also, never any did rise to an higher pitch of holiness, and from a surer bottom, 
2 Chron. 34 3.  (for he laid the foundation thereof in his young years) than Josiah did; and never any more desirous and zealous that way, to carry all with him to the same height; And for this he stands upon everlasting record, to be the best King that ever was before him, and never the like after him, though we could speak of one, who was a young King, and an old Saint. All this I leave to the Readers perusal, for his Story is plain; Some things of note I shall take in, in passage, while I shall plead forth a case with our own hearts, for our better instruction, but not with the LORD, for we are concluded He is Righteous 
a jer. 12. 1. ; His ways are just and equal; And I would show the equity thereof in this place, where we have as completed a Reformation as ever was, and yet as sore judgements executed as we have heard of, and at the very instant time when the Reformation was so completed, Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of His great wrath, 
2 King. 23. 26.  wherewith His anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked Him withal: See! here was a King, that had engaged his heart to the whole work of the LORD; had proceeded very courageously in it, even to the completing of the same; yet he was taken away in the height and heat of his work, when he and his work was going on to perfection, than he was taken away. Is it not in vain to serve GOD? what profit is it, etc. Let the wicked 
Mal. 3 14.  man speak it out; let it so be spoken in Gath, and published in the streets of Askelon; as for Israel, they will not say so, but the contrary; It is good to serve the LORD; to work for Him; to deal courageously for His cause: In His service is perfect freedom, and it hath an assured recompense of reward. Doubtless there is a reward for the Righteous, as sure as there is a 
Psal. 58. 11.  GOD that judgeth in the earth. All the faithful servants of the LORD will say so, for they have found it to be so; And so Josiah found it to be even than; never any King began sooner to seek after the LORD than he did, for it was his first seeking, while HE WAS YET YOUNG 
d 2 Chron. 34. 2 , and never any King followed-on 
e Hose. 6. 3.  better in the way of the LORD, for he declined neither to the right hand nor to the left; And so soon as he felt himself strong, (for Amon his Father, and Manasseh his Grandfather had weakened and polluted his Kingdom very much) he began to PURGE Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and all the abominations that were SPIED 
c 2 Chro. 34 3. 2 King. 23. 24. , (Mark that, it clears our duty before our eyes) he sought diligently, he pried narrowly into every corner, where that abomination might stand, outfacing GOD'S command, and grievous to His good Spirit, THAT WERE SPIED in the Land of Judah, did josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the LORD 
d ● Kin. 23. 24 . He took away the Horses given to the Sun, and burned the Charets of the 
ver. 12.  Sun with fire; Nay in a holy indignation mark what he did, he broke the Altars and Images in pieces, made dust of them, strewed them upon the water; he slew the vile Priests upon the Altars, and burned their bones there, and strewed the ashes upon the graves of them that had sacrificed there; In a word; All that the Idolatrous Kings of Israel had made to provoke the LORD to anger, Josiah took away. 
ver. 24.   
This is granted you will say, Josiah was steadfast, unmoveable, 
2 Chro 34. 4, 5  always abounding in the work of the LORD; But what was his reward? I cannot express that, but the part of it, which was in sight, was very great; he should not see the evil, that was to come 
a 2 Chr. 34. 28.  upon his dwelling place, and the inhabitants of the same. There was some return for his goodness, he should not see the evil. Treasures of wrath were sowed and sealed up in a bag 
b job 14. 17. , by his Father and Grandfather: the bag must be opened, and down the wrath there must be poured, but Josiah should neither feel nor see that tempest; before that storm fell he should be HOUSED, gathered to his Fathers, 
ver. 28.  and to his gave in PEACE. In peace! He was taken 
2 Chron 5. 21, ●●.  away in war, as we read, he would not forbear from meddling with GOD ᶜ: He would not harken to the words of Necho from the Mouth of GOD. It is true; he had politic respects enough, to engage him to the war, (which we examine not) but certain it was, he did not ask counsel at GOD'S Mouth, for than his reasons had shrunke-up to nothing. But the bag of wrath was full; it must be empited; wrath must come upon Jerusalem; but that could not be, till Josiah was taken thence, and housed in his grave. As it was said of Lets going to Zoar; so of Josiahs' going to his grave; wrath must fall, but I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither 
d Gen. 19 ●2. . And thither he was brought, to his grave by an Arrow shot from an Enemy, and yet IN PEACE, in perfect peace, a peace that passeth all understanding; That King, who shall do as Josiah did, begin as he did, so proceed as he did, in cleansing his heart from Idols; and, being a King, shall SPYE-OUT through the whole Land, what is offensive there, and shall remove it. This King, dies in PEACE, though in battle, and dashed in pieces there as a snowball dashed against the wall; yet in PEACE, because in the peace of a good conscience, which makes a man the merriest feast; when? when his body must go to feast the worms. And again;  
In PEACE, for it was peace in comparison of that, which was shortly after to follow, when that bag of wrath must be opened, and the fierceness thereof must kindle against Jerusalem, and Judah must be removed out of GOD'S sight. In peace, 
2 King. 23. 26, 27.  with reference unto that time.  
Now we come to the case, and there if we will spy into it, we may see our own case. And could not this good King, and his goodness keep of wrath? did the melt of his own spirit, the spying-out and removing all abominations, did all this do no good to the Land! did it but deliver his own soul? yes doubtless; It was a means to respite the judgement; to hold-back the wrath. Certainly were it not for these Josiahs, these melting spirits, these that spye-out all abominations, and do their uttermost for removing of them, were it not, I say for these, our sins, our abominations, had found us out before this day, wrath had been upon us before this time, our blood had been upon our heads, and our Images had destroyed us before this day. But this is the point, the decree was passed and gone forth, wrath must come. Again;  
Innocent blood was shed in abundance, that filled up the measure apace. That cries and calls for vengeance; the voice of it will not be stopped till the bag be opened, and wrath be poured down.  
Object. Why, but Manasseh shed innocent blood?  
Answ. True, for we do verily believe, that Kings may do injustice; Manasseh shed innocent blood; he was an Idolater, therefore a Man of blood, and chief in the trespass; but he had bloody ministers, as bloody as himself, and woe unto them both 
c Tum auctor●b●s male sic●rrum, tum admin●s●●i●. I●●. in Isa. 2. 10 ●. .  
Object. But Manassehs sin was put aways; so might theirs be, who were his ministers in fulfilling his bloody commands.  
Answ. Grant that, and that was David's case; the LORD had put away his sin: and yet see, what wrath fell down, 
1 Sam. 12. 13,  and abided upon his house. Sin may be done away, and yet temporal punishment may be inflicted for mighty and just reason, which may easily be gathered up from that place, and else where.  
Object. It may be said again; Manasseh was gone, and his generation with him; why should wrath fall upon the children for that the Fathers did?  
Answ. There is a mighty reason for that also, which will charge and feoff all the righteous blood, shed in Qu. Mary's days upon us, an impenitent people. Manasseh and his bloody ministers had shed innocent blood in abundance, and they were gone. The generations following approved their do. How doth that appear? Thus; Because it doth not appear, that the generations after them did ever humble themselves for that bloodshed in their Father's days, any more than we have done for the blood our Fathers shed in Qu. Mary's days. True it is, Josiahs' heart was tender, he humbled himself before GOD when he heard a sound of wrath, 
Chr. 34 27.  and we read how it fared with him; It is not to be doubted also, but many amongst us have been and are so humbled too and for the re●son above said. But the people were not humbled, they were not tender, their hearts did not melt; there was not a Nationall humiliation, for we know what followed; they were so fare from humbling themselves thereby to turn away wrath, that they transgressed more and more; There was a forsaking in the whole Land; all were revolted, all degrees and estates, and they continued revolting, till there was no remedy, till they had brought Sodom and Gomorrah into Jerusalem; They had Rulers, but they 
2 Chr. 36. 16. Esa. 1. 9  were (not (as) but) Rulers of Sodom; and the people, the people 
●●r. 10.  of Gomorrah.  
But that which was the determining sin, and filled up the measure was this, They mocked the Messengers of GOD, and despi●ed His words, and misused His Prophets. How long persisted they in so evil a course? Until the wrath of the 
2 Chro. 36. 16.  Lord arose against His people. It is clear; That there was no humiliation, for there was no Reformation, nay, there was a contrary walking still, so approving the sins of their Fathers by committing the very same. Therefore it was fulfiled according to the threat, I will 'cause them to be remooved into all the Kingdoms of the Earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah King of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem: 
jer. 15. 4.  And so we are come to the end of The King's Chronicle. And it hath a sad close, very unanswerable to expectation: for the last King we read of, was the best King that ever was: And the Reformation he made was as complete and perfect, (as imperious) if the Adversary will have it so, as ever was any so much as upon design, For he SPIED-out what Israel had made to provoke the LORD to anger, and took it away: And yet he could not hinder the saddest effects of GOD'S displeasure, the viol of wrath from pouring down: Notwithstanding desolation followed even to astonishment, and an hissing. Josiah could not make up the many breaches in the City of David, which Idolaters had made there. How corrupting, eating and consuming abominable Idolaters are; and what a prevalence there is in a wicked Idolatrous example to destroy, more than is in a good example to make up and heal, has been spoken-off before. This only I will add to this place, That where sin is let in like a flood, the storm of GOD'S Judgements follow after, and falls down swiftly and heavily upon the hairy scalps of those, who were instruments to open that sluice or floodgate: GOD hath set it down by an eternal 
jussisti Domine & sic est ut omnis inordinatu● affectus sibi sic paena. c jer. 8. 17.  Decree, that vexation and sin should be inseparable. Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD? Thy own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy back-slidings ᶜ shall reprove thee, etc.  
¶ An Abridgement of the Chronicle. One conclusion drawn from the two Sections, with an use to those that are in Authority, To walk in the good way, after the example.  
TO make a collection of the whole Chronicle, I have in the former Section and Chapters traced the steps of the bad Kings of Judah, tending in show to the strengthening themselves and their Kingdom; but indeed and in the issue, to the ruin and destruction of all. Their irreligious Policies carried them hopefully-on sometime, but confounded them and broke them to pieces at the last, for they would be wise with their own counsels and strong in their own strength, so they rootedin that, which could not be rooted-out, till even Judah was rooted-out of the Land. So strongly, as one saith, doth the painted vizour of wise proceed delude even those, that know the fowl face of impiety lurking under it: But behold the wretched ends, that have ever followed it, whereof the Kings of Judah first mentioned, were themselves very great examples, and so they are propounded to following generations, holding forth in their example DEATH and EVIL before Kings and people.  
But now here is the wonder, that the wicked have not yet learned, after so many thousand year's experience, That they work a deceitful work, that they pull down wrath upon their own heads, and that the Politicians beaten ways tend to death. They march-on as furiously now as ever they did: but I forbear.  
In the latter Section and foregoing Chapters, I have traced the steps of the good Kings, and we have found them walking strait-on towards those two great ends, the glory of GOD, and the safety of their Kingdom, carrying all level thereunto; for their counsel was taken from GOD'S mouth, and their strength from His right Arm: They SPIED-out what Idolaters had done to provoke the LORD to Anger, and took it away. All their care was to make their Kingdom the LORDS Kingdom; and their Land the Lords Land. I need not add, And they prospered; but I will add, So they prospered, as that they were the wonder of the world, and The fear of them fell upon the Nations. And so these hold forth to after Generations, Life, Good, and Blessings. We might wonder here also, how any should forsake this good way, and choose a way of their own, but the heart is deep, and the deceit there cannot be bottomed, and there are depths of Satan, and we are not ignorant of his wiles, how ready and able he is to seduce, and how willing the heart is to follow, though to destruction; but I forbear here also.  
From these two so different ways, the bad and good Kings have walked in, we will conclude what way must be taken well to Posture a Kingdom, for that is our main scope of all that is said: And first I will put it down negatively.  
Not a Magazine of treasures; nor an Arsenal of Armour, nor a Fleet by Sea, nor Forces by Land; nor Towers, Walls, Barrs, none of all this can secure a Kingdom, nor put it into a Posture of Defence; for than Babylon, that great City, had stood it out to this day, which had a mighty River, a wall of water to secure it, and indeed thereby the King was so secured in his safety, That he was drinking wine in bowls, when part of his City was taken; and the Sword in his bowels, before 
a I●●▪ 51. 31.  he feared it, for the LORD pleaded His Church's cause; He dried up her Sea, and made her springs dry 
b ver. 36. ; than did the Inhabitants of Zion say, The violence done to me and to my flesh, be upon Babylon 
c ver. 35. . And so it was, which tells us also, what shall be in after times, for the LORD will stretch forth His hand upon her, and roll her down from the Rocks, 
ver. 25.  and will make her as a  Mountain.  
The same might be said of populous NOT. If a MILITIA could have defended her, she had been defended, for we read her strength was INFINITE. Yet she was carried away, she went into Captivity: her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets, and they cast lots for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound in chains. 
Nahum. 3. 9, 10▪   
I must not forget Jerusalem, concerning whose MILITIA we have been speaking all this while, if strength of Walls, Towers, Gates and Barrs, could have defended Jerusalem, she might have bid defiance to her enemies and have mocked at fear. And that was the opinion of all the world at that time touching Jerusalem's MILITIA; The Kings of 
Lam 4. 12.  the Earth and all the Inhabitants of the world would not have believed that the Adversary and Enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem. But make a chain, saith the LORD (that is) I will judge her, she shall go into Captivity, for her 
Ezek 7. 13.  Land is full of bloody crimes, the City is full of violence. So the LORD abhorred His Sanctuary; he gave-up into the hand of the Enemy the walls of her Palaces; Than her gates sunk into the ground, I know not how to understand the 
Lam. 2. 9  words, but sure I am the Roman Conqueror acknowledged, That an Almighty hand made way for him, and let him into the City. And the remnant ever since, Zion, I mean, and her inhabitants, are resolved to say now, Ashur shall not save us, we will not ride upon 
Hos. 14. 13.  horses. We will not look to foreign aids, nor to strength of men or horses at home, We will trust in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. The Lord is good▪ a strong 
Esa 26. 4. Nahum. 1. 7.  hold in the day of trouble, and He knoweth them, that trust in Him.  
Than it will be said, what need of walls, towers, gates and bars? Yes great need; for though the safety of a City doth not consist in having walls and gates, and bars about it, but in the safeguard of the Almighty, and His shutting in the gates, as He did the doors of the Ark: yet the City will not neglect her walls and gates or leave them open; for this were to tempt GOD, and to forfeit His protection: We must not writ Salvation upon any 
1 King. 7. 2.  visible fortifications, how mighty and strong soever; we must not trust to them. But such is the foolish pride of man's heart, he can glory in his own strength, and magnify his own wisdom, courage, foresight, and forget God the Maker, and giver of all things. Whence it comes to pass, that the stronger he finds himself, the more he turns from God, and falls before his enemy, at such a time when he thought it most impossible. The walls than may be too high; the Castles too strong; the people too many for GOD to defend a people, or to give them the victory, because of the cursed pride of man's heart, who will ascribe salvation to the strength of his Mountain (which GOD made so strong) and can quickly weaken, if Man will not look-up to Him, of from himself, and give GOD the Glory. In Him the fatherless found mercy, they that put no confidence in the 
Hos. 14. 3.  Arm of flesh.  
A people than may look to their Militia and use all means to fortify themselves with walls and brazen bars, but they must have respect to Him, Who strengtheneth the bars of his gates. 
1 Kin. 4. 13.  Solomon is not blamed for building that stately house of the Forest; 
Ps. 147. 13.  the house of Armoury for his whole Kingdom. Nor are the people blamed, because in the day of trouble, of treading down and 
1 Kin 7. 2.  perplexity, they did look to the armour of that house (though they 
Esa. 22. 5, 8.  should have looked to it sooner, and how provided they were of store and provision there:) Nor are they blamed for beholding the breaches of the City, which were many, and looking to all means to stop the same, and to fortify themselves: All this was considerable, had they done it sooner. But for this they are blamed, and stand deeply charged of folly, that they looked to the Armour of the house, and how they might fortify the wall, and 
ver. 11.  make a ditch; but did not look unto the Maker thereof, neither had respect to Him, that fashioned it long ago. So than we may look to our Armouries, and to all means of Fortification, but so as we look steadfastly to the maker thereof; for we can tell now, what the Militia is, not an Arm of flesh, neither Chariots nor horsemen, vain things to save a man: It matters not how high 
Stantibus maenibus ruentibus, morbus. ●id▪ Aug. the Civ: l. 1 c. 33. & l. 2. Ep. 16.  and towering our walls and ships are; if walls stand and manners fall, a people cannot stand it out long. Walls joined to walls, and piles upon piles, an hundred walls cannot defend a City, when blood, rapine, and abominable Idolaters, are within, for than GOD departs from them, and takes away His defence. We must ponder and well weigh these things in our hearts, because it is so hard a matter to beaten the heart of from these things, I mean, from putting confidence therein, though whosoever have so done, trusted on the Arm of flesh, Chariots and horsemen are brought down and fallen, whereas, All they, who have remembered the name of the Lord their God, have risen and stood upright: 
Ps. 20.  for the strength of Israel is not in any outward thing, but in Israel's GOD, The saving strength of His right-Hand. 
First Section Preface.   
2. This, I say, for I will not recall that which went before 
a Psa. 68 17. , is the Militia of a Kingdom; GOD with His twenty thousand Chariots, even thousands of Angels, the Lord among His people, as 
2 Kin. 6. 17.  in the Holy place: for He, That is, Israel's God, is the God of salvation, and unto this God the LORD belongs the issues from Death. Therefore it was, that all the good Kings and Princes, took this one way to secure than Kingdom; they and their people AS. SOCIATED themselves (that was their next work after the Abominations were spied out and removed) came up to God, even to his Terms, joined themselves in Covenant with Him, thereby shrewded themselves and their people, under the shadow of the Almighty, that His Salvation might be round about them, & their people for Walls and Bulwarks: As this was their design; so this one way they took to bring their design about (it cannot be spoken too often) they spied▪ out what Idolaters had done to provoke the eyes of the Lord, and all that they removed: than they associated themselves, came up to GOD to bind themselves to Him in the bond of a Covenant. This is the old way, which good men have trodden, direct and straight forward in a conformity to the rule, and driving-on these great ends; The glory of God and the good of His people. And it is one and the same way, and varieth not; It is the way of the wicked, that has turn and wind in it, for they, as the crooked Scrpent their leader, and like harmful Beasts, do love confusa vestigia: But I say, the way of the righteous is one and the same stra●-forward. And it is observable, though it could be no otherwise, That these good Kings, went all one way, minded one thing, carried all level to one mark: all made the same beginning, the same progress, attained the same end, Sabbath and Port of their labours, their own and their Kingdom's peace here, and everlasting Peace in a Kingdom, which has a foundation, and shall never be shaken.  
A man would wonder now, That this way) so beaten out before us by the footsteps of the godly, so direct, so plain away, wherein it is said, the fool cannot err (i e.) he that has ceased from his own wisdom) a way of pleasantness and of peace; a way, which GOD has be strewed all along with blessings; and wherein His footsteps have dropped fatness: A wonder I say, that this way should be mistaken. And yet no wonder, when we consider again, that (it is said) the fool shall not err in it, but the wiseman shall not found it, who is his own guide and trusteth in his own wisdom.  
And now we can discern the reason, whence it comes to pass, That, though there be but one way, one main and chief end (the other but subordinate and secundary;) all the motions to th●s and made plain and direct before us, yet we leave this good way choose rather to walk in ble▪ paths; The reason is, because we will be wise in our own wisdom, and think ourselves able enough to order our own steps.  
And this is of high concernment to the high Court of Parliament, c●●led together at first, and kept together till this time (I will make no question of it) for such a time as this 
a Esth. 4. 14. , when they have a price put into their hands, never any the like before them, The saying of the King and Kingdom; of high concernment unto them, called now to be Saviour's, that as they were at the first but one House, so they would go all one way, the good way beaten-out plain and direct before them. I say, and I will insist a little upon it: First,  
That there is but one House of Parliament: pride and ambition, and I know not what, have made them two, and separated them, whom God had joined at the first, and made one, if the Records of time tell true, and I have read what they say. Notwithstanding we allow hearty a distinction in persons and places, though yet, as God hath made them, let them be, and be so called, not longer two, but one House, for so anciently it was. But if there be a distinction in point of office and service, than the scale turns towards the lower House, for there one man stands for ten thousand, a great engagement to his service. In the upper House (whereto we give as much honour, as man is capable of) They are but Unites, one is but one, like a great letter in the front or beginning of a Patent, which hath many flourishes, and yet but one letter. So as (and to express it as well as I can) if there be upper and lower there (as certainly there must be, while there is order in the world) yet is it, but as the upper and lower teeth, they stand above the other in a Posture of opposition, 
Mart. l. 1 Epigram 37.  and the upper move not, but do all equally the same work, and therefore if there be any contention betwixt them, it should be ever the same, I read, was betwixt two brothers, who never contended, but who should do each other the best service; It should be said of those two Houses, as one said of his Mother and of his Sister, He had lived with his Mother threescore and seven 
S● nunq●a● 〈◊〉 matter 〈…〉 quam cum 〈…〉 ●n sim●●●●●●e. In vita 〈◊〉 C●●er● in fine Epistolarum ad Att●●um in folio 329.  years, with his Sister not half so many, but in all that time, there was never any RECONCILIATION betwixt them, for there was never any difference or falling▪ out. A noble Concord, becoming none more than a House of Parliament, that as they were once one, so they may continued one still, follow-on in one way, be of one mind and one judgement, for they have but one way, and that is plain and direct before them; but one manner of proceeding in it; and but one principal aim (the other is subordinate thereunto) the glory of God, and the salvation of his people. If we will see the way, the first entrance into it, the progress in it, the end, and all shut-up together, behold we the way of the good Kings of Judah set before the Nobles and Worthies, to do thereafter, they associated themselves, came up to God, entered into Covenant, kept thereunto, than they spied-out what Idolaters had done to provoke the eyes of the Lord, and they removed it; and so they made their Land, the Lords Land; and the people, the Lords people; and now seeing there is but one way, one method of proceeding in it, one aim, and one mark, whereto all is to be carried level: And all this is so plain and direct and clear to the eye, that the fool cannot err in it, he that has renounced his own wisdom; I will shut up all in the Apostles prayer; Now we beseech 
1 Cor. 1. 10.  you brethrens, by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you: but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgement. And the Lord fulfil His good promise; I will give 
jer. 32. 39  them one heart, and one way, that they may fear Me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them. Amen.   
FINIS.