An Arrow Against Idolatry, Chapter 4
CHAP. IIII.
A Conviction of Ieroboams impiety.
THese, and the like pretences many, Ieroboam could alledge for to justifie his cause; wherein was onelyonly shew, but no weight of truth. Yet such is mans corruption, as he will admit of any colour, rather then leav the sinne that he affecteth: and being in high transgression of the Law, will bear himselfe upon the Law, as if it made for him in his iniquity. But as David prayed God, that hee would aPsal. 14.4not incline his heart to word of evill, to set himselfe to pretend pretences (or forge excuses) in wickednesse, with men that work iniquity: so need we all continually to aske of God this grace; for as of Adam wee hauehave learned to sinne, so also for to hide and cloke our sinne, and cover our nakednesse, though it bee but with fig-leaues. That may be seen in Ieroboam here.
2 For he not having faith in God, nor resting on his promise, (who would bee b1 King. 11.38.with him, and build him a sure house as had builded for David, if he did that which was right in his eyes:) gaue himselfe to policie, and followed the wisedom of this world, (which is c1 Cor. 3.19.foolishnesse with God;) whereby he fell into vanity, altered and innovated the ordinances of religion, to the ruin of his house and of his people.
3 The plea how he retained the grounds of true religion, and varied but in ceremonies; came out of Satans school, where Gods commands are wont to bee extenuate. The Lord required of his people, intire obedience dDeut. 27 26.to all and every of his ordinances, among which nothing was to be neglected, nothing to be counted light or little: for who so breaketh eMat. 5.19one of the least of his precepts and teacheth men so, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of heaven. The lightest matters in mans account, and circumstances that he presumes to violate; hauehave in Gods administration procured heavy doom. As, for the place of publick worship, it was enacted, that whosoever brought not his sacrifice to the dore of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, but offred it other where, fLev. 17.3.4.bloud should be imputed to that man, & he should be cut off from among his people▪ yea such oblations were esteemed of God, as offered gvers. 7.unto Divils. Likewise for the time; though the Lord hNum. 9.10.dispensed with the unclean and travellers, for keeping the Passeover: yet if any were clean and not in journy, and neglected to keep the feast in the 14 of the first monethmonth; that person was ivers. 13.to be cut off from among his people, because he brought not the offering of the Lord in his due season. And for the persons that should administer before God; if any that was not a Levite, and of Aarons line, did minister at the altar▪ kNum. 18 3.7.he was to be slain. Therefore Korah (though a principall Levite) was killed of God, and all that took his part: lNum. 16.9.10—32.3….for presuming to doe the Priests office, wherunto he was not called. Such was the severity of God against the sinns, that Jeroboam and his followers, hauehave made so light of.
4 Nadab and Abihu the sons of Aaron, being newly entred into the Priests office, (wherto a many particular observances were annexed,) failed but in one point, taking strange or common fire to burn incense, in sted of hallowed fire from the Altar; and behold mLev. 10.1.2.a fire went out from the Lord, and devoured them. When the Ark of God was in transporting to Ierusalem, upon a cart, and the oxen shaking it, endangered the overthrow thereof: Vzzah a Levite that guided the cart, of a good intent to help the Ark, put forth his hand to hold it; n1 Chron. 13.7.10.but the wrath of the Lord was kindled against him, and hee smote him that hee died there, because he laid his hand upon the Ark, which was not lawfull for him to doe; God having charged the Levites, oNum. 4.5— 15.not to touch the holy things, lest they died. The men of Bethshes…esh, (a citie of pIos. 21.4, 16.the Priests) when the Ark of God came home unto them out of the Philistims land, because they looked into the Ark, (which by the Law qNum. 4.20.they mought not doe;) the Lord r1 Sam. 6.19.slew of the people of that citie, fiftie thousand men & three score and ten. So gealous hath God been for the transgression of every rite and circumstance of his Law: that all mought learn to dread him, and hauehave care of his commandements. Here was no place found for those distinctions of mortall sinnes and veniall; fundamentall and accidentall, and other like quirks which the Serpent and his Seed hauehave invented, to beguile mans heart. The soule that sEzek. 18.20.sinneth shall die: and sin is every t1 Ioh. 3.4transgression of the Law; the person that doth any sin with a high hand, uNum. 15 30.blasphemeth the Lord, & must be cut off from among his people; for xGal. 3.10cursed is every man that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to doe them; and yDeut. 27.26.all the people must say, Amen.
5 The innovation then which Ieroboam brought in by his Kingly power, what colours soever could be set upon it, was loathsome idolatry. His assembling of Israel unto Dan and Bethel, was a double sin: a departure from God, and a schism from his people. From God they departed, by leaving Sion aPsal. 132 13.14.where hee loved to dwell, and which should be his rest for ever. There was his bPs. 27.8.face and presence, there was his cDeu. 12.5name; there was his d1 Kin. 9 3heart and eyes perpetually. There e1 King. 8was the holy and most holy sanctuary, with the Ark f2 Chron. 6.41. Heb. 9▪4.5.of Gods strength, the Tables of the Testament; the memorials of ancient benefits▪ the tokens of his louelove and mercy, and mysterie of salvation; in the pot of Manna; the rod of Aaron; the book of the Law; the Mercy-seat; the glorious Cherubims, and other gHeb. 9.1…like resemblances of heavenly things, not made by wit of man, h1 Chron. 28.19.by direction and pattern from God himselfe. So the leaving of these, was the leaving of God: wherefore Israel now, is said for to be i2 Chron. 15.3.without the true God. Ieroboams calues, made to worship God by, were teachers of lies: being called k1 King. 12.28.Gods, as resembling his presence, who was not there; and signifying his favour, which lHos. 8.13.was farr away: as hallowing the place, where Satan had his throne; and sanctifying the worshippers, polluted by apostasie. So Ephraim was Hos. 12.1fed with the wind, and followed after the east wind; for the golden Gods which Ieroboam made them, were 2 Chron. 1.16.Divils unto God, and so esteemed of his Saints.
6 The schism from their brethren, was a breach of that brotherhood and unitie in faith and louelove, wherin God had set the twelv Tribes of Israel, to grow up together as branches of qEzek. 37.17.one tree, and members of rEph. 4.4.one body; whose abiding together, was sPsal. 133both good and pleasant; but the renting asunder, was a with-drawing tHeb. 10.39.to perdition, because Gods uvers. 38.soule had no plealure in them, that forsook the xvers. 25▪mutuall gathering together of themselvs. As in the former, Jeroboam shewed yEccles. 10 15.his foolishnesse, not knowing the way into the Citie of the Lord: so in this later he added to his sin, doing that which the Lord did zProv. 6.16.19.abhor.
7 The pollution of the Temple, is but a pretence: and the sanctitie of Bethel, rather in conceit, then indeed and truth. Solomons idolatry defiled himselfe, and all the partakers; but not the Temple, wherin it never came. Or if it had come there, yet mought it hauehave been purged, as a2 Chr. 29.15.16, &cit was in daies following. Or if it had not been purged, yet could no other place be hallowed without b1 Chron 17.6. 1 Tim. 4.5the word of God: For who could put his name there, and cause him there to dwell; but cDeu. 12.…himselfe? It was not Solomons sin, that gaue Ieroboam right to the Kingdom; but the d1 King 11.29.31word of the Lord, in the mouth of the Prophet: neither was it the pollution of the Tēple, (if defiled,) that could warrant the King to build him another; for God was to appoint both e1 Chron▪ 21.18, & 22.1.place, and f1 Chron 28.2.3.6.person: and without his gIer. 7.3…word, nothing is lawfull in his service. So sanctity in Bethel there was none at all; but it was hHos 4.15Bethaven the house of iniquity. The holinesse which had been there of old, was onelyonly by relation unto God that appeared, iGen. 35 …and his Word which appointed an altar there; when his presence departed, and commandment ceased; it was as common as any other place. For this, God ordained an kExod. 20▪ 24.Altar of earth to be made unto him, in the wildernesse, and all places where he should cause his name to be remembred; that at their departure it mought be defaced, not left for superstition.
8 Ieroboams supremacy in the Kingdom of Israel, could not bear him out in altering the ordinances of the service of God. For he was a subject unto God, bound lDeut. 17.9.to his fear, and to keep all the words of his Law, as another man. Hee that bears rule over men, must be just (saith m2 Sam. 3.3.the Scripture,) and rule in the fear of God: his heart may nDeut. 17 …0.not bee lifted up aboue his brethren, nor he turn from the commandement to the right hand, or to the left. If he were in a straight, and saw himselfe in danger, hee should seek counsell of God▪ and not of his own heart, (as Saul did of a Witch▪) for the heart of man is dec…itfull aboue all things; and it is a double evill, oJer. 2.13.to forsake the Lord, the fountain of living waters, and to dig himselfe pits that can hold no water. If he would worship God, he should ask of him how: for man is ignorant (if the Lord inform him not) what will please him. He left not to the discretion of Moses or Solomon, (though wise and godly Governours,) any part or implement of the Tabernacle or Temple, or any of the services in them used. To Moses he told on the mountain, pEx. 20.22, &c.the lawes and judgements which Israel should observ; hee shewed him a pattern of the Tabernacle and things therin, giving him this streight charge, qEx. 25.40look that you make these things, (even rHeb. 8.5.all things,) after their fashion that was shewed thee in the mount; and according to every point that the Lord had commanded, sExod. 39 42.43.so provided he the work to be made, disposed of, and ordered, tEx 40.10 19.21.23.25.27.29.32.as the Lord had commanded Moses.
9 David, with the other Prophets that assisted him in ordering the Ecclesiasticall estate, and providing for the Temple; had their commandements also u2 Chron. 29.25.by the hand of the Lord; and he gaue to Solomon his son, (when hee charged him to build the Temple) a x1 Chron. 28.11.12.13, &c.pattern of the porch and of the houses, closets, galleries and chambers therof, (and the pattern of all that hee had by the spirit) and for the courses of the Priests and Levites, and for all the worke for the service of the house of the Lord, and for all the vessels of ministration; the weight also of gold for the candlesticks, tables, and other instruments; yvers. 19.all by writing sent unto him, by the hand of the Lord. Thus was there nothing left to their own will or wisedome: both matter and form of all things about Gods service, was set down by God himselfe. Yea and at first, when it was in Davids a1 Chron. 28.2. &c.hart to build him a house; he durst not attempt it, without b1 Chron. 17.1, &c.consent of the Prophet: and being forbidden of God, he desisted.
10 But Jeroboam would do things out of c1 King. 12.33.his own heart; & that was his sin. He took dvers. 28.counsell, but it was of men, not of God, nor of his testimonies, which had been Davids ePs. 119.24counsellors: therfore fHos. 10.6shame did take Ephraim, and ashamed was Israel of his own counsell. He made g1 King. 12.31.house of high places; but h1 Chron. 17.6.spake the Lord any one word unto about this matter? Nay Israel, (as the Prophet iHos 8.14saith) forgat their Maker when they builded temples: therefore kAmos 7.9.their temples were destroyed. He appointed places for publick worship at Bethel and Dan; but did the Lord lDeu. 12.5chose them (as Moses saith) to put his name there, and there to dwell? Nay, they mHos. 12.14.provoked God with their high places, therefore their bloud was poured upon them: they nHos. 5.6.went with their sheep and with their bullocks to seek the Lord, but they found him not, he withdrew himselfe from them. He made altars, oHos. 8.1…but they were unto sin. He made pourtratures of bullocks; but gaue God him any pattern or precept, as hee gaue p1 Chron. 28.18.unto Solomon? Wherfore their bullocks did qHos. 8.5.cast them off; Gods anger was kindled against them. He made a feast; but in the monethmonth r1 King. 12.33.which he had forged of his own heart: therfore God sAmos 5.21, & ….10hated and abhorred their feast daies, and would not smell in their solemn Assemblies; but turned their feasts into mourning, and all their songs into lamentation. He ordained them Priests; but their tNum. 17.8.rods had never budded, neither had they uDeu. 33.8Vrim and Thummim in their breasts. Himself x1 King. 13.1.went up to the Altar to burn incense; but it was with yLev. 10.1Nadabs fire. He offered sacrifices to the God z1 King. 12.28.that brought them up out of Aegypt; but God spake not to their fathers, when hee brought them out thence “Ier. 7.22.23.concerning burnt offrings or sacrifices: but commanded them this, obey my voice and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people, and walk ye in all the waies which I hauehave commanded you, that it may be well with you. This God, did Ieroboam ‘,1 King. 14.9.10.cast behind his back; therefore evill came upon his house. He pretended ease to the people, that they should not goe so a1 King. 12.28.far as to Ierusalem; but they went bvers 30.even to Dan, a citie cIudg. 18.28.29.remote, in the furthest part of the land. So turned they their backs upon the dNehem. 11.1.holy Citie, where the Tabernacle ePsa. 76.2of God, and his dwelling was; and sought to the possession of the Gen. 36.….6.handmaids child, polluted of old by fIudg. 18.30.31.publick idolatry therein erected, and long continued: whose Idol, Ieroboam now reneweth, doing g1 King. 14.9.evill aboue all that were before him. Thus Ephraim hHos. 5.3.is become a harlot, Israel is defiled.
11 And although God sent his Prophets i1 King. 13, & 14.with the word of power, to reproue Ieroboams iniquity; yet hardned he his ha…t as did Pharaoh ▪ no threatning dismayed him; no sign or miracle drew him to repentance. But he scorned the Prophets, eluded Gods judgements, perverted his actions, and pleased himselfe in his evill way, because of his outward peace: not minding how oft times the righteous kEsay 57.1are taken away from the evill to come, when wicked men are lIob. 21.30.kept unto the day of destruction, and shall be brought forth to the day of wrath. Yet could not this King be mPro. 12.3established by wickednesse; his idolatry was his overthrow; for as a harlot it nPro. 2.16flattered him with words, and drew him to forget the overs. 17.covenant of his God; so went he unto her pvers 19.and returned not again, neither took hold of the waies of life; but qPro. 5.23dying without instruction, and going astray through his great folly, when r2 Chron. 13.20.the Lord plagued him and he was dead, Nadab his son was soon s1 King. 15 25.27.kild in conspiracy, and after him, tvers. 29.all Ieroboams house, the remnant whereof, u1 King. 14.10.was swept away as doung, till all was gone; the xvers. 11.dogs eating him that dyed in the citie, and the fowls of the aier, him that dyed in the field: for the Lord had said it.