A Christian Plea, Treatise 1 · Chapter 3 · Objection 4 · Answer
ANSWER.
Very erroneous and ungodly aſſertions are here againe: & ſuch as are directly contrary to the Scriptures, in the true meaning & intendement thereof. For the Lord was yet ſtil their God, & they his people & church, both in the account of the Lord himſelf and of his holy Prophets: as†Advert. p. 59 — 63. in another treatiſe I hauehave shewed heretofore. Which being ſtill ſo erroneouſly denyed, and colourably oppugned by them, I will therefore novv againe inſiſt hereupon. And that alſo the more largely, conſidering the waight of the matter, and their abuſe of the Scriptures about it. Yet will I but treat of ſome ſpeciall particulars, of the exceeding many teſtimonies of Scripture, and reaſons that might from thence be deduced about this matter.
1. The Prophet that annoynted Iehu King over Iſraell, ſpake thus unto him, in the Name of the Lord,‡2 Kin. 9, 6. &c. Thus ſaith the Lord God of Iſraell, I hauehave annoynted thee King over the people of the Lord, euen over Iſraell, &c. 2 King. 9, 6. Where firſt obſerue, that there vvas almoſt an hundred yeeres, & in that time“Ieroboam, Nadab Baaſha, Elah, Zimri, Tibn…, Omri, Ahab, Abaziah, Iehoram, Iehu. tenne kings, from the defection of Ieroboam the ſonne of Nebat (who ſet up the calues) unto Iehu now anointed to reigne over Iſrael. Al which time, the Lord was yet ſtill their God, and they his people, as the Prophet here affirmeth in the Name of the Lord. Which that it may the better appeare, I vvould aske of theſe Oppoſites, firſt, whether this Prophet ſpake trueth or falſehood, vvhen now he ſaid, Thus ſaith the Lord God of Iſraell? Secondly, whether the Lord himſelf ſpake trueth or falſehood, when he ſaid to Iehu by the Prophet, I hauehave anoynted thee King over the people of the Lord, over Iſraell? And thirdly, vvhether Iehu was anoynted a true King in deed (and not ſuppoſedly onelyonly) over Iſrael the people of the Lord? Fourthly, let us cōpare herewith the like ſpeach of the Lords concerning David, vvhen he ſaid*Chro. 6, 5 6. with 2 Sam. 5, 2. & 2 Kin. 20, 5. I hauehave choſen David to be a ruler over my people Iſraell 2 Chron. 6, 5, 6. And vvas not this ſo in trueth and in deed? Finally, marke that in this ſpeach,†Gen. 17, 7 Eſa. 63, 19 the vvords of the covenant are ſtill reteyned and expreſſely uſed, vvhen the Prophet ſaith not onelyonly, The Lord, but The Lord God of Iſraell, and againe, the people of the Lord, euen Iſraell. Now if the Lord and his Prophet ſpake the trueth as the thing was in deed, then theſe Oppoſites teach falſehood: and ſo if the Scripture be true, their vvritings and aſſertions are falſe. Yea they deale farre worſe then the Captaynes that vvere then vvith Iehu, who (how ever in a ſvvaggering veyne they called the Prophet‡2 King. 9, 11. a mad fellowe, afore they knevv vvhy he came to Iehu, yet) vvhen they knevv the man & the matter, they preſently shevved by their deeds and words, that they eſteemed his meſſage, as the vvord and work of the Lord; and himſelf, as the Lords Prophet, and not as a mad fellow: much leſſe as a falſe fellow, that ſpake leaſing of the Lord and of Iſraell, or any othervviſe then as the caſe then ſtood in deede and in truth. 2 Kin. 9, 1 — 13. with 1 King. 19, 15, 16. This dealing of thoſe Captaines, vvill riſe up in judgment againſt theſe men: if ſtill they goe on in deſpiſing the word of God, and reviling his ſervants, & will not upon knowledge of the will of God shewed unto them, yeild thereunto: as theſe Iſraelites (now in apoſtaſie) did in the matter aforeſaid. Which I note the rather, becauſe‘2 Kin. 9, 6. this Scripture (with ſome other) hath ben“Adver. pag. 59. shewed them heretofore: and yet they ceaſe not, but ſet thēſelues purpoſely to oppugne us herein.
Now to proceed, after Iehues time alſo, the Scripture sheweth, that when Hazael king of Syria had oppreſſed Iſrael al the daies of Jehoahaz (the ſonne of Iehu)*2 Kin. 13 22, 23. the Lord was gracious unto them, and had compaſſion on them, and had respect unto them, becauſe of his covenant with Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob, and would not deſtroy them, neyther caſt he thē frō his preſence as yet. where marke theſe things, firſt how the Lord of his free grace holp and preſerved Iſrael in their miſery, becauſe of his covenant with Abraham and the Fathers, vvherein he had promiſed to be not onelyonly their God, but the God alſo of their ſeed after thē. Gen. 17, 7. Secondly, that God had not caſt them from his preſence as yet. And this was aboue an hundred yeres after the time of Ieroboam the ſonne of Nebat, as the hiſtorie sheweth. So as this Scripture alone ſufficiently declareth, that Iſraell vvas yet ſtill under the covenant of the Lord: and that both in the Lords own account, and in the eſtimation of the Prophets that recorded theſe things.
Moreover, the Scripture recordeth, that†2 King. 14, 23, 25. Jeroboam the ſonne of Ioaſh (the thirteenth king from Ieroboam the ſonne of Nebat that made the calues) reſtored the coaſt of Iſraell from the entring in of Hamath, unto the ſea of the plaine, according to the word of the Lord God of Iſraells which he ſpake by the hand of his ſervant Ionah, the ſonne of Amittai the Prophet. Where againe obſerue thoſe termes, the word of the Lord God of Iſraell, vvhichwhich he ſpake by his ſervant Ionah the Prophet. Was this then the vvord of a ſuppoſed Lord God of Iſrael, or of him that vvas in deed and in trueth the Lord God of Iſrael? Was Ionah the ſervant and Prophet of an imaginarie God, or of him that was indeed (both in the Lords account, and in his owne perſvvaſion) the Lord God of Iſraell? Or was it any other God then this, to whom Ionah prayed in his diſtres when he ſaith he prayed to the Lord his God &c. Jon. 2, 1 — 9Or did he pray to any other God, then the onelyonly true God, that was the God of Iſrael, by his covenant of grace made vvith the Fathers? 2 Kin. 13, 23.
Many the like ſayings might be produced out of the hiſtorie of Iſraell, and books of the Prophets: which were long to note and urge in particular: & there vvill be occaſion to ſpeak more hereafter about this matter. Here therefore I vvill but cite ſome places, vvhichwhich the Reader may turne unto, and obſerue, about the point in hand, 1 King. 14, 7, 13. & 16, 33. and 17, 1, 12, 14, 18, 20. 2 King. 5, 15, 17. 2 Chron. 30, 6 — 9. Hoſ. 4, 6, 8, 12. and 5, 4. and 12, 8, 9. and 13.4, 5, 13, 16. and 14, 1. Amos 7, 15, 17. and 9, 10. Mich. 2, 3 — 9. with 1, 1. and Amos 3, 1. and 8, 2. Where the Prophets expreſſely call and with a joint conſent account Iſraell in their defection (as they did Iudah alſo in their apoſtaſie) to be the people of the Lord, and the Lord to be their God: and this alſo in deed and in trueth, as the places themſelues and the matters ſpoken off, with the circumſtances thereabout, doe plainely manifeſt. And that theſe termes (Thy God, and my People, and the like) ſo often uſed, both touching Iſraell and Iudah, are termes and notes of the covenant, is ſo evident throughout the Scriptures, as it is ſtraunge that any should offer to denye it. For vvhichwhich ſee, Gen. 17, 7. Exo. 3, 15, 16, 18. and 6, 7. Lev. 2, 13. Num. 10, 9, 10. Deut. 1, 21. and 4, 23, 24. and 7, 16. and 8, 2. & 26, 17, 18, 19. and 29, 10— 15. 1 King. 14, 7, 13. 2 King. 20, 5. with 1 Chron. 11, 2. and 2 Chro. 6, 5, 6. and 20, 7. and 36, 16. Neh. 1, 10. Eſa. 35, 2, 4. and 37, 16, 21. Jer. 2, 13, 17. & 7, 28. and 19, 3. and 23, 2. and 28, 14. and 29, 4. &c. Ezech. 13, 10, 18. Hoſ. 2, 23. Mich. 6, 3, 5. Zach. 2, 11. and 13, 9. Joh. 20, 17. Act. 3, 22, 25. Rom. 9, 25, 26. & 11, 1, 2. 2 Cor. 6, 16. Heb. 4, 9. and 8, 10. and 10, 30. and 11, 25. 1 Pet. 2, 10. Rev. 4, 11. and 5, 10. and 7, 3, 10, 12. and 12, 10. and 18, 4. and 21.3..
2. Otherwiſe the tribe of Iudah (vvhichwhich is alſo called the people of the Lord, and God ſaid to be their God) vvhen they†2 Kin. 21 22. & 22. 17. 2 Chr. 12, 1, 5. & 21, 10, 11. & 24, 20.24. Eſa. 1, 4, 21. Ier. 1 16. & 2, 13. &c. forſook the Lord, and became Apoſtates and Idolaters, & committed other notorious ſinnes beſides, and that in ſuch ſort,‡Ezec. 16.2.51. & 23, 2 — 11. &c. as they juſtified Iſrael and became more corrupt then ſhee (for which the Lord punished them ſeveerely, & caſt them out of his land into captivitie in Babylon) should not indeed and in trueth be accounted the people & church of God. Neither should thoſe termes, (My people, Thy God, and the like, ſpoken concerning them by the Prophets, in ſuch eſtate) imply and teach us, that yet notwithſtanding they were then ſtill under the covenant of God, and ſo both by the Lord himſelf and by his Prophets eſteemed to be his church and people. Jer. 2, 11, 13, 17, 31, 32. and 3, 20, 21. and 4, 11, 22. and 5, 31. and 6, 14, 27. and 7, 2.— 12 — 28. and 8, 7, 19, 21, 22. & 15, 6, 7. & 18, 15. and 23, 2, 13, 22, 27, 32. and 28, 14. and 29, 4, 8. &c. Ezech. 13, 10, 18. with 8, & 9, & 10, & 11 chap. and 16 ch. and 23 ch. Obad. ver. 12 & 13. Micah. 1, 9. and 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9. and 3, 3, 5. and 6, 3, 5, 8. & 7, 10, 14. Zeph. 2, 7. and 3, 2.
3. And if we look to former times, the children of Iſrael (all the tribes of old, both Iudah and Iſrael together) in the times of the Iudges, &c. should not be the people and church of God: if the exceptions aforeſaid were of vvaight. For they alſo then forſook the Lord, and fell into defection, and became great idolaters: & vvere for that & other their ſinnes often and ſore punished of the Lord. As in the book of Iudges may be ſeen. Iudg. 2, 11, 12, 13, 19. and 3, 5, 6, 7. and 6, 1, 10, 25 — 30. and 8, 27. & 10, 6. & 17 chap. & 18, 30, 31. with 1 Sam. 7, 3, 4. & 12, 9, 10. & Pſa. 78, 56, 57, 58, 59. &c. and 106, 34 — 39, &c. 1 Kin. 11, 33. Beſides that Ezekiel and others note the like alſo concerning them, when they were in Egypt; in the wildernes; and in the land of Canaan. Ezec. 20, 7, 8, 9, 10— 27. &c. & 23, 2, 3, &c. Amos 5, 2…, 26, 27. with Act. 7, 38 — 43.
4. But to inſiſt on the tenne tribes more particularly, & yet further to obſerue ſome moe things out of the Prophets and other Scriptures concerning them: let us firſt of al remember, that the Lord vvhen he brought Iſraell out of Egypt, and gaue them his Lavv, ſpake theſe vvords & ſaid, I am the Lord thy God, vvhichwhich hauehave brought thee out of the land of Egypt, Exo. 20, 1, 2, 3, &c.out of the houſe of bondage: Thou ſhalt hauehave no other Gods before me, &c. This I ſuppoſe they will not deny to be ſpoken by the Lord to his church and people indeed and in truth. Now Hoſeah the Prophet in his time (about two hundred yeares after Ieroboam the ſonne of Nebat had ſet up the calues at Dan & Bethell, and cauſed Iſrael to ſinne) ſpeaking unto Ephraim, who had novv ben ſo long in defection, ſaith unto them in the Name of the Lord,*Hoſ. 13, 4. Yet am I the Lord thy God from the Land of Egypt, and thou ſhalt knovv no God but me. &c. Hoſ. 13, 4. vvith v. 1, 2, 3. Where obſerue, that in†Exo. 20, 2 Hoſ. 13, 4. in both places, the words of the covenant are uſed, and in the ſame termes, I am the Lord thy God, &c. Which shevveth plainely, that they vvere now ſtill the Lords people, under his covenant, and were ſo eſteemed by the Lord himſelf and by his Prophets in deed and in truth.
5. By the‡Hoſ. 13, 4 ſame Scripture appeareth alſo, that they were accounted now ſtill not onelyonly the Lords people, but euen as the ſame people of Iſraell, whom the Lord brought out of Egypt: notwithſtanding that they lived now ſo many generations after, and had gone through ſo many chaunges of their eſtate, and were alſo fallen into great defection, & had ſo long continued in that apoſtaſie: & vvere not yet caſt out of the land of Canaan, &c. Which appeareth yet further, by the next vvords in the ſame place, where the Lord alſo ſayth,‘Hoſ. 13, 5 6. I did knovv thee in the vvildernes. &c. And, According to their paſture (ſpeaking of the land of Canaan) ſo vvere they filled. Hoſ. 13, 6. and by divers other like ſpeaches of the Prophets: which vvere long to inſiſt upon in particular: as namely, when the Prophets ſay,“Hoſ. 10, 9. and 9, 9. they had ſinned from the dayes of Gibeah (which vvas’.’'Iud. 19. &c. in the time of the Iudges) and*Hoſ. 13, 10, 11, 12. with 1 Sā 8. &c. from the dayes of King Saul: and had yet ſtill ben partakers of Gods mercies:†Hoſ. 11, 1 — 4. with 13, 4, 5. from the comming out of Egypt, vvhence he brought them and guyded and fed them in the vvildernes: yea, euen†Hoſ. 11, 1 — 4. with 13, 4, 5. from the birth of Iacob, ‡Hoſ. 12, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10 11, 12. &c& the Lords speaking vvith him at “Gen. 3… 6-11. &c.Bethell: Whereabout thoſe words of the Prophet are remarkable, The Lord found Jacob in Bethell, and there he ſpake vvith us. With us, ſaith the Prophet Hoſea, ſpeaking of Iſraell and himſelf together, now at that time. Hoſ. 12, 4. The like teſtimonies may be obſerved alſo in other of the Prophets: as in Amos 2, 6, 8, 9, 10, &c. and 3, 1, 2. and 9, 7. with 6, 8, and 8, 7. and Mich. 2, 7. and 6, 2 — 5. compared with Ier. 2, 6. &c. By all vvhichwhich appeareth how the Prophets eſteemed them ſtil to be the Lords people, whom he brought out of Egypt, and to be under his covenant, &c.
6. Moreover, the land (where Iſraell novv dwelt in Canaan) was“Hoſ. 9, 3 the Lords land: like as was that of Iudah alſo, Ioel 1, 6, 7. In reſpect whereof, the land of other nations, as of Aſſyria and the like, was a polluted land: whither to be driuen, and there to dye, was alſo threatned as a punishment. Amos 7, 17. vvhereas Iſraell was not yet driuen out of the Lords land (and ſo had not yet a bill of divorement) when Hoſeah and Amos prophecied. Hoſ. 9, 15. with ver. 3. and Amos 7 and 8 chap.
7. Neither was the Lord yet departed from them, nor they as yet caſt of by him. Hoſ. 9, 12, 17. vvith 2 King. 13, 23. All which shevveth, hovv they were ſtill the Lords people, and under the Lords covenant made with Abraham, Iſaac, and Iacob, as is expreſſely mentioned, 2 King. 13, 23. & how greatly therefore they erre, vvho doe not (in this behalf) make other or better account of Iſraell in their defection, then of the heathen nations, &c. Of which more hereafter.
8. To the ſame purpoſe may be noted, how the Lord blameth Iſraell, for not obſerving*Amos 8, 2 — 5, &c. the New moones and Sabbaths, as they ſhould: Which were ordinances of the church of God: & for vvhichwhich the heathen nations are never blamed. Which alſo were part of the partition vvall then ſtanding betvveen the Iewes & Gentiles: and plainly sheweth, how the Lord ſtill accounted them for his church and people, although they had now fallen into great backſliding from him.
9. The like may be noted, in that the Prophets rebuke Iſraell, aſwell as Iudah, for making covenants with the Aſſyrians and Egyptians, relying on them, and ſeeking help at their hands, & not of the Lord, in their diſtreſſe. Ezech. 23, 2, 5, 6. with ver. 11.12, 13. Alſo Hoſ. 5, 13. and 7, 11. with Eſa. 30, 1 — 7. and 31, 1, 8. Ier. 2, 36. &c. and with Deut. 7, 1, 2. &c.
10. Alſo, in that they reckon it among the ſinnes of Iſraell, that†Hoſ. 5.7. and 7, 8. they begate ſtraunge children, being mixed in mariage with the people of other natiōs. Like as it is reckoned among the ſinnes of the Iſraelites generally, Judg. 3, 5, 6. with Pſal. 106, 34, 35. and of Iudah alſo particularly, and is noted as a breach of the covenant among them, Mal. 2, 11. Ezra. 9 and 10 cha. Neh. 13.1, 2, 3.4, 23, &c. Which could not ſo hauehave ben to Iſraell, as it was to Iudah, had they not ben now ſtill the people of God, and under his covenant, as Iudah vvas: notwithſtanding this and their other manifold iniquities, ſo much and sharpely reproved by the Prophets. Or doth God ever blame the nations, or any perſons that were not his people and under his covenant, for mixing themſelues in mariages & covenants with other people, for begetting ſtrange children, for ſeeking help at their hands, &c. So as theſe things alſo shevv Iſraell ſtill to be the people and church of God, to whom theſe lawes vvere giuen, and of vvhom was required obedience thereunto (for not marying and covenanting in ſuch ſort with the heathen of other nations) together with the reſt of the lawes of God. Exod. 34, 15, 16. Deut. 7, 1 — 6, &c. with 1 King. 11, 1, 2. and Hoſ. 5, 7. and 7, 8..
11. And generally, that*Hoſ. 8.12. the Lord wrote unto them the great things of his law. Which he shewed not to other nations, as he did to Iſraell, to whom he gaue his ſtatutes and judgments. Pſal. 103, 7. and 147, 19, 20. with Deu. 4, 5 — 8.
12. Alſo, that†Amo. 2, 6, 7. the Name of God is ſaid to be profaned by Iſrael, aſwel as by Iudah: whō theſe men themſelues (I think) wil not deny to be the church and people of God, remayning then ſtill under his covenant, &c. Amos 2 6, 7. compared with Eſa. 52, 5. and 63, 19. Ezech. 36, 20, 23.
13.‡Hoſ. 13, 12, 13. Yea Ephraim is acknowledged for “ a ſonne (though an unwiſe ſonne) being novv in defection: And Iſraell is‘Hoſ. 8, 1, 2. Amo. 3 1. the houſe and familie of the Lord: & together with Iudah is ſo called. Amos 3, 1, 2. with 2, 4, 6. Hoſ. 8, 1. and 9, 15. Which terme alſo is attributed to the churches of the Chriſtians, the churches of God novv in the time of the Goſpell. 1 Tim. 3, 15. 2 Tim. 2, 20. Luk. 12, 42.
14. And when a viſion of judgment†Amo. T… 1 — 5. upon Iſrael was shevved to Amos the Prophet, he prayeth for them, as being now ſtil*So Danaeus, Calvine and others expound and underſtand it. the people & church of God, and under the covenant of the Lord, vvhen he ſaith, O Lord God forgiue, I beſeech thee, by whom ſhall Iacob ariſe? for he is ſmall. Amos 7, 2. And againe, vvhen another like viſion was shewed him, O Lord God ceaſe, I beſeech thee, by whom ſhall Iacob ariſe? for he is ſmall. ver. 5. Where the Prophet, in his prayer to God for Iſrael, uſeth tvvo reaſons of waight, implying ſo much. Firſt, when he calleth this people Iacob; not Edom, Moab, Ammon, Aſhur, Cuſh or the like, that were ſtraungers from the promiſe & covenant of God: but purpoſely termeth them Iacob, as being the children of Iacob, of his ſeed and familie, and therefore the choſen and adopted people of God, vvhom he loved and took into covenant, and to vvhom he promiſed and shewed mercy, &c. 2 King. 13, 23. vvith Mal. 1, 2. Amos 8, 7. vvith Pſal. 47, 4, 9. and 14.7. and 83, 3 — 8. Ier. 2, 4. Hoſ. 12, 2 — 12. &c. Secondly, vvhen he alledgeth that Jacob (this people) vvas ſmall, having ben ſore afflicted, & almoſt vvorne out by enemies and other calamities: as appeareth in the books of the Kings. 1 King. 16, and 2 King. 8, 12. and 13, 22. and 14, 26. and othervvhere in the hiſtorie: ſo that (although their ſinnes deſerved Gods chaſtiſement, in reſpect of themſelues, yet) novv the Prophet vvas earneſt vvith the Lord, that he vvould remember Iacob (this people of his) in merciemercy, and not utterly conſume them: but novv the more to pitty them and shevv them mercy, vvhen they vvere become ſmall, & brought ſo low. And thus much is acknovvledged by theſe men themſelues othervvhere: Annot. o… Pſal. 14, 7. where David ſaying, When the Lord returneth the captivitie of his people …aacob ſhalbe glad, Iſrael ſhal rejoice: the note is thus vvord for vvord: Iaacob, Iſrael] that is, Gods people, the poſteritie of Jaacob, vvho alſo vvas called Iſraell: (So Aaron is put for his poſteritie, the Aaronites, 1 Chron. 12, 27. and 27, 12. and David for his children, 1 Chron. 14, 31.) Jaacob is a name that noteth infirmitie, &c. But to returne to the prayer of Amos the Prophet, the very ſame reaſons that …e uſeth here touching Iſrael, are alſo uſed in prayer unto God, concerning Iudah, Pſal. 79, 6, 7, 8. &c. and in more generall termes, touching all Iſraell joyntly, long before, in Moſes time, Pſal. 90, 13. So as theſe prayers of Amos for Iſraell in defection, are the more to be noted, both for that they agree vvith the like prayers made othervvhere for Iudah (vvhom theſe men themſelues vvil acknovvledge to be the people and church of God, notvvithſtanding they alſo forſook the Lord, and fell often into idolatrie, and other great iniquities:) and becauſe the Prophet thus prayeth for Iſrael againe and againe, tvviſe uſing and as it vvere urging theſe reaſons to the Lord; vvho both the times heard, & yeelded to theſe his requeſts, concerning them. Amos 7, 2 — 6. vvith 1, 1. and 2 King. 14, 26, 27.
15. Yea vvhen aftervvard the Lord gaue Iſraell into the hands of the Aſſyrians for their ſinnes, yet he ſo regarded them, as†Ier. 50.17.18. he puniſhed the King of Aſſyria that devoured Iſraell: like as he puniſhed the king of Babylon, that brake the bones of Judah, vvhom likevviſe for their ſinnes the Lord gaue into the hands of the Babylonians. And both to Iſrael & Iudah, he promiſed mercy & forgiuenes of ſinne, to the remnant of both of them (not of Iudah onelyonly, but of Iſraell alſo) whom he vvould reſerue. Ier. 50, 17 — 20. Eyther therefore let them deny Iudah then to hauehave ben the church & people of God, or let them alſo yeild it unto Iſraell: ſeeing both fell into defection from the Lord, and both vvere chaſtiſed by him, and both their enemies punished, and mercy promiſed to the reſerved remnant of them both: As the Prophets many times teach. For vvhichwhich, together vvith the Scripture aforeſaid, ſee alſo 1 Chron. 9, 1, 2, 3. Eſa. 17, 3 — 6. Ier. 50, 1 — 4. Hoſ. 1, and 2, and 3 ch. &c. Micah 1, 1. and 2, 12. and 4, 10. and 5, 6, 7, 8. and 7, 18, 19, 20. Nahum 1, 1, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15. and 2, 1, 2, 3. and 3, 18, 19. Zach. 1, 18, 19. vvith 8, 13.
16. Finally, ſo long as Iſraell dvvelt in the land of Canaan (vvhichwhich vvas the Land of Promiſe) and there enjoyed their ovvne policie (civill & eccleſiaſticall) among themſelues, though extreemely corrupted and adulterate: ſo long alſo as the Lord was pleading with them by his Prophets, calling them to repentance, denouncing againſt them his judgments for their ſinnes, &c. ſo long Ephraim (the tenne tribes figuratiuely ſo called) ceaſed not to be a people; Eſa. 7, 8. vvith Deu. 32, 21.21. Rom. 20.19.and the children of Iſraell vvere novv beloved of the Lord, though as touching themſelues they were in apoſtaſie and idolatrie: Euen like as a womā vvho is beloved of her friend or husband, though shee her ſelf be an adultereſſe: As the Scripture plainely teacheth. Eſa. 7.8. and Hoſ. 3, 1 — 4. with 1, 2 — 9. and 2, 1, 2. &c. and 9, 3.12.15.17. Amos 3.1.2. with 1.1. & 2.4.6 — 11. and 7.2.5.15.17. and 8.1 — 5. Mic. 6.1.2. &c. vvith 2 Kin. 9.6. and 13, 23. and the other Scriptures here before alledged concerning their eſtate.
Many other teſtimonies and arguments might be alledged to this purpoſe, out of the Prophets and hiſtorie of the Scriptures, to shevv the errour and falſehood of the aforeſaid aſſertions, touching Iſraell, &c. But theſe for the preſent may ſuffice. Novv to come to the Scriptures vvhichwhich are here alledged by themſelues) more particularly: although their abuſe thereof may ſufficiently appeare by that vvhichwhich hath ben ſaid, yet for more clearing of the matter, let us novv alſo inſiſt upon thoſe places, vvhichwhich (to beare out the former aſſertions) they hauehave here thus purpoſe…y and particularly joyned together themſelues.