A Christian Plea, Treatise 1 · Chapter 3 · Objection 4 · Exegesis 1
Touching 2 Chron. 15, 3.
The firſt place is 2 Chron. 15, 3. vvhere†2 Chron. 15, 1.2. Azariah the Prophet meeting Aſa King of Iudah, and all Iudah and Benjamin with him (as”2 Chr. 14 15. and 15.2. they returned to Ieruſalem from the vvarre had vvith the Ethiopians) ſaid unto thē ”2 Chro. 15, 2 — 7.The Lord is vvith you, vvhile ye be vvith him, and if ye ſeek him he wil be found of you: but if ye forſake him, he will forſake you: Novv for a long ſeaſon Iſraell hath ben vvithout the true God, and vvithout a teaching Prieſt, and without Lavv: But vvhen they in their trouble did turne unto the Lord God of Iſrael, and ſought him, he vvas found of them: And in thoſe dayes there vvas no peace to him that vvent out, and to him that came in, but great vexations vvere upon all the inhabitants of the countreyes: And nation vvas deſtroyed of nation, & city of city: for God did vex them vvith all adverſitie: Be ſtrong therefore, & let not your hands be vveak: for your vvork shalbe revvarded. 2 Chro. 15, 2 — 7. Here the Prophet incourageth them in the work & ſervice of the Lord, and exhorteth them to continue and goe forvvard vvith the reformation of Religion, vvhichwhich vvas already begunne; whereof there is ſpeach in the chapter going before, vvhere it is ſaid, that*2 Chron. 14, 2 — 5. Aſa did that vvhichwhich vvas good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. For he took away the altars of the ſtrange Gods, and the high places, and brake downe the images, and cut down the groues: and commanded Judah to ſeek the Lord God of their Fathers, and to doe the Law and the commandement. Alſo he took away out of al the cities of Iudah, the bye places and the images: and the kingdome was quiet before him.
Novv to incourage them to continevv this reformation ſo wel begun, the Prophet uſeth divers reaſons, both in reſpect of things preſent, and things to come, and things already paſt: and all of them in regard of the Lord himſelf, & his dealing vvith them, according as they did or should walk vvith him: Touching things preſent, becauſe the Lord had now …hevved himſelf to be vvith them, in giving thē deliverance from the Ethiopians, and victorie over them, vvhiles they vvere careful of reforming his vvorship: For the time to come, that if they ſought the Lord, putting truſt in …im, and being carefull to vvorship him according to his vvord, the Lord …ould be found of them: but if they ſhould forſake him, declining to falſe vvor…hip, leaving of the reformation begun, then he would forſake them, & leaue …em in their daungers and miſerie. For the time paſt, that Iſrael had ben a …ng ſeaſon without the true God, and vvithout a teaching prieſt, and vvithout law: &c. … vvhichwhich time no peace but much anguiſh and trouble had ben unto them. Which …hether it be underſtood of the tenne tribes of Iſraell, or of Iudah, or of … Iſrael together (as it is by‡Lavate…, Strigelius, Piſcator, &c. in 2 Chro. 15. divers diverſly applyed) yet it commeth to …ke purpoſe for the point in hand; shewing how they neglected and left …f the true vvorship of God, and were then by the Lord punished divers …aies.
If it be underſtood of the tenne tribes (as vvell it may be) then we may apply it to Ieroboams defection, and the eſtate of things among them from that time, to the daies of Aſa here ſpoken off. For novv they had left the Temple and true vvorship of God, and follovved Ieroboams calues, and ſo are ſaid to be*See alſo more hereafter, about the phraſe of forſakeing the Lord, &c. p. 67, &c. vvithout the true God. Now likevviſe they had left the Lords Prieſts, that were of Aarons line, & ſet them up Prieſts of the loweſt of the people: and vvere vvithout a teaching prieſt, not having true doctrine ſoundly taught, nor yet regarding it, and being vvithout the ſacrificers of the Lord. Novv alſo they had left the Law of the Lord, and follovved the commandement of the King, and their owne inventions, Hoſ. 5.11. and 13.2. and ſo are ſaid to be vvithout Lavv. And thus applying it to the ten tribes of Iſrael, vve may well underſtand it of the defection of thoſe times, vvhen they left the true worship of God, and follovved the calues at Dan and Bethel, &c.
If it be underſtood of Judah, (as ſome apply it, and the terme†By a Syneedoche. Iſraell is ſometimes put for Judah, 2 Chron. 12.1.4.5.6. and 21.2. &c.) then it may be referred to the apoſtaſie and falſe vvorship that had prevailed in Iudah, ſince Rehoboams time, in vvhoſe dayes Iudah is ſaid to hauehave forſaken the Lord and his lavv, and to hauehave built by places, and images, and groues, &c. 2 Chro. 12.1, 2, 5. vvith 1 King. 14, 21 — 24. The reformation vvhereof Aſa had novv begun to make. As at other times alſo after this, the Lord complaineth of Iudah by the Prophet, ſaying, Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people hauehave forgotten me dayes vvithout number. Ier. 2, 32.
If it be underſtood of all the tribes of Iſraell together (as ſome alſo apply it, and ſo the vvord Iſraell is often uſed) then it may be referred to the defection, and leaving of the true worship of God, ſo often mentioned in the book of Iudges as where it is ſaid, that the childrē of Iſrael did evil in the ſight of the Lord, and forſook him, & ſerved Baal and Aſhtaroth, &c. Iud. 2, 11, 12, 13, &c.
And here (for the point in hand) note, that in the Scripture, by forſaking the Lord, is often meant the leaving of his true worship and ſervice, & the follovving of idols and idolatrie, &c. As vvhen it is ſaid, that the children of Iſraell did evill in the ſight of the Lord, and forſook the Lord God of their Fathers, there is further added this explication, that they ſerved Baalim, and follovved other Gods, of the Gods of the people that vvere round about them, &c. Iud. 2, 11, 12.13.19.20. So alſo Rehoboam king of Iudah, and all Iſraell, are ſaid to forſake the Lord, 2 Chr. 12, 5. that is, to forſake the lavv of the Lord, 2 Chr. 12, 1. and to tranſgreſſe againſt the Lord, ver. 2. provoking him to jelouſy vvith their ſinnes, and building thē high places, & images, & groues, &c. 1 King. 14, 21 — 24. And thus the Lord long after again complaineth of Iudah by Ieremie, ſaying: My people hauehave committed tvvo evils: they hauehave forſaken me, the fountaine of living vvaters, and hevved them out ciſternes, broken ciſternes that can hold no vvater. Ier. 2, 13. going after Baalim, ver. 23, &c. making cakes to the Queen of of Heauen, & powring out drink offrings to other Gods, to provoke me to anger. Ier. 7, 18. and 44, 16, 19. And, I vvill ſette my judgments againſt them touching all their vvickednes, vvho hauehave forſaken me, and hauehave burnt incenſe unto other Gods, and vvorſhiped the vvork of their owne hands. Jer. 1, 16. And many the like throughout the Scriptures, good to be obſerved thereabout. As, Iudg. 10.6. 1 Sam. 8.8. and 12.10. 1 King. 9.9. and 11.33. and 18.18. 2 King. 21.21.22. and 22.17. 2 Chro. 7.22. and 21.10.11. and 24.18.20.24. and 29.6. and 34.25. Eſa. 65.2 — 11. Jer. 5.7.19. and 9.13.14. and 16.11, &c.
Which maner of ſpeach with other the like in the Scripture is to be obſerved, that vve may aright underſtand theſe phraſes, of forſaking the Lord, falling and departing from the Lord, going a whoring from under the Lord, despiſing, polluting, and forgetting the Lord, & other the like ſpeaches, often ſpoken touching the forſaking, deſpiſing, polluting, forgetting of the Law, commandements, Temple, vvorship, & ſervice of the Lord, &c. (as by the“Iudg 2, 12, 13. & 3, 7. 1 Sam. 15, 11. 1 King. 18, 18. 2 Chr. 12, 1, 5. & 24, 18, 20, 24. and 25, 27. and 29 6. Pſal. 106 20, 21, 39. Ezec. 23, 5. Ier. 2, 13. and 3, 20, 21. and 22 9. Ezec. 22 8. Mal. 1. 6, 7, 8. &c. Scripture it ſelf, and Chaldee Paraphraſe, they are expounded uſually:) and not ſimply of ſo dealing vvith the Lord himſelf; as the bare vvords and letter it ſelf might ſeem to imply. For euen in the defection of Iſraell, vvhen Ieroboam ſet up the calues, yet ſtill they intended to worship the Lord that brought them out of the Land of Egypt, as their Fathers had done of old in the vvildernes. 1 King. 12, 28. with Exo. 32, 4, 5, 8. And Naaman being healed by Elisha (a†2 King. 5, 8. Prophet in Iſraell) acknowledged the Lord God of Iſraell to be the onelyonly true God. 2 Kin. 5, 15, &c. Iehu is anoynted king over Iſraell, the people of the Lord, 2 Kin. 9, 6. And hath zeale for the Lord againſt Baal, 2 King. 10, 16. and provideth for the ſervants of the Lord, vvhen he ſlayeth the vvorshippers of Baal, and deſtroyeth Baal out of Iſraell, 2 King. 10, 23 — 28. Yet he departed not from the ſinnes of Jeroboam the ſonne of Nebat, and took no heed to walk in the Law of the Lord God of Iſraell with all his heart. 2 King. 10, 29 — 31. Likewiſe of Iehoahaz after him (when Iſrael was oppreſſed by the Syrians) it is ſaid that he beſought the Lord, and the Lord hearkened unto him. 2 King. 13, 2, 3. And many the like may be obſerved about the ten tribes. And much more concerning Judah, and all Iſraell together, in their corrupteſt times: if it were needfull to inſiſt thereupon.
By this then may appeare, that of whomſoever the Scripture aforeſaid be underſtood, yet it will not proue, that circumciſion or the other ordinances of God, had among the Ievves (vvhether in Iſraell, or in Iudah) vvere falſe and deceitfull ſignes, & no better then the abominations of the heathen, here called by them, the ordinances of God reteyned in other nations. And if it vvould, then it might be urged againſt Iudah alſo, and not againſt Iſraell onelyonly: as hath ben declared. And vvhere then was circumciſion, or the church of God, if now they vvere not in Iudah and Iſraell, nor among the Ievves any more then among the Gentiles?
But of this Scripture vvith other the like, and of the eſtate of Iſraell diverſly conſidered (ſometimes in reſpect of themſelues & their idolatrie, breaking the covenant on their part, and provooking the Lord unto wrath: ſometimes in reſpect of the Lord and his grace, not breaking the covenant on his part, but calling them to repentance, &c.) I hauehave ſpoken“Adver. p. 60, 61. &c. othervvhere: which vvhiles they would oppugne, what other thing doe they but publish their owne errors, contradictions, and abuſe of Scriptures: as in ſome particulars (about the former Objection) hath ben shevved before, and will further appeare by that vvhichwhich followeth hereafter.
But now by this occaſion, let me aske this touching themſelues: If they vvould that men should thus eſteem of Iſraels ſinful departing from Iudah, as here they vvrite: how then would they hauehave others to eſteem, yea vvhat doe they think themſelues, of their owne eſtate, in regard of their ſinfull diviſion made from the church whereof they were? Do they think that they alſo are fallen from the Lord and from his church, &c. & that therefore the baptiſme & other ordinances of God reteined among them, are falſe and deceitfull, and no better then the obſervances of the heathen, &c. And vvhereas†Arrow againſt Idol. p. 71. &c. they know that ſuch hauehave ſtil ſome pretences, which they are woont to alledge for the more colouring of their ſinfull iniquitie: let them but ſee and conſider the things which themſelues hauehave obſerved heretofore, touching†Arrow againſt Idol. p. 71. &c. Ieroboam, what he could pretend for himſelf and the cauſe of Iſraell aforeſaid: And let them make good uſe of it novv for themſelues.