Of the Head Cornerstone, Chapter 16
CHAP. 16.
1 THe latter of those that God himselfe appointed, was Iehu, of whom we hauehave heard some-what already: namely, how beeing set-vp on the suddaine, he came so suddenly on his Lord and Maister, Iehoram Jehu.the King, with such force, pollicy and speede ioyned together, as that readily he praeuailed against him, and there slew him in the field, euen at their first encounter to speake of. So being a little before by God thereunto appointed, and nowe in actuall possession of the kingdome of Israel, we are to consider of his Story therein. Where first it shall be good to remember, that whereas in the Story of I…ram before, we heard that wee had not all the residue of the Story of Elisha or Eliseus, for that hee out-liued the raigne of Iehoram: so hauehave we not the residue of his Story in the raigne of this king neither, nor of his sonne; but then in the raigne of his Sonnes sonne wee hauehave it. And yet though we hauehave no part of his Story heere, it shall not be amisse to consider euen of that point also: namely, that neither in the Story of Iehu, nor of his Sonne, we hauehave any mention of the Prophet that now wee speake of, though hee out-liued the raigne of them both. First, therefore of the Kinges themselues: then, that this Prophet is not in their Story remembred. Of the Kings themselues Iehu is the former of them: but then we are not to consider of these two onelyonly, but seeing he had moe Sons also that came to the Crowne, of those likewise, and not only of him and his line: but of the residue of those kings that after him succeeded. But first of him and his line, then of the others: and againe, first of himselfe, and that sonne of his, who was within the time of this Prophet; then of those that came after. Of Iesu himselfe, it shall bee good, first to cast our eyes but onelyonly to him: but then to come to our selues withall. Casting our eyes but onelyonly to him, it shall bee good to marke, first what his wayes were: then, in what liking it may seeme they were with the Lord. As touching his wayes, we find him not liked but onelyonly in some, and disliked in others. To begin first with those wherein there was liking conceiued of him, he is noted to hauehave raigned a good time, namely eight and 2. King. 10: 36twenty yeares: and yet hauehave wee no Story of him (for these matters) but onelyonly of that, which part of it vndoubtedly was, and the residue seemeth to bee, in the beginning of his raigne. Which Story of his, is, first where he began this his kingdome; then, in a few other places besides. We may then account, that he began his kingdome, when he ouer-threw and slew his Maister in the field, which was at Iesreel, where Iehoram the King lay to be cured of his woundes, which at Ramoth-Gilead he had receyued of the Syrians: where, whether first he prosecuted his victory, till he had smitten Ahaziah too, as hee was flying from him: and then tooke order for Iehorams body, or contrary-wise it is, so farre as I see, a matter of quaestion. For by the Text heere it is plaine, that we hauehave it first noted, that he tooke 2. Kin. 9: 25, 26order for Iehorams body, to be cast in that parcell of ground, which before had bin the Vineyard of Naboth: thereby to fulfill the word of the Lord, in that point, before deliuered by the Prophet Elias. But it is saide withall, that when Ahaziah Ibid. 27, 28.vponupon the discomfiture and death of Iehoram fled, Iehu pursued after, crying to his Souldiers to strike him also, and that so they did, naming with all the place there, and telling besides, that soone after hee dyed at Megiddo, a little from the place where hee was wounded, and that his Seruants carried him thence to Ierusalem, there to bury him. Yet in another place this Story of his death is so reported, as 2. Chr. 22: 9. Ibid 8.if he were some-time after the battell hid in Samaria, and after the death of those Princes of Iudah, brought forth to Iehu from where he was hid, and then slayne. Which, for the place, is reconciled by some, as if by Samaria were meant, not that Tremel. Iun.Citty properly so called, the head Citty of the Kingdome of Israell, but the whole Kingdome thereof: but then they say nothing of the difference of the time, nor of the manner of his death. Therefore is it altogether omitted by some, and so reconciled Bibl. Angl. Codoman. Lyr. Vat. Martyr.by others, as that to eueryevery of these seuerall places is some part of the Story allotted: & the Booke of Chronicles it selfe (being but one with the Hebrewes, though diuided into a couple by the Grecians, being gathered after the Captiuity, as it selfe doth reasonable plainely witnesse, by Ezra as it is supposed, and the nature of the very 2. Chr. 36: 22, 23.name it selfe in Greeke, shewing that the meaning of the Authour, or argument of the Booke was, therein to remember such thinges as were omitted before) is diuersly Conr. Pellic. Bibl. Angl. 1594 I…u. 17: 11. 2. Chr. 22: 6.noted to be of such nature as should neede more speciall obseruation. Where also one of the places is mistaken by some: being taken to be in the Tribe of Iuda, wheras it was in the Tribe of Manasses. But whether this (of the pursuit of Ahaziah, who also is called Azariah) were before or after that order taken for the body of Iehoram 2. King. 9: 28. 2. Chr. 22: 9.or not, certaine it is, that for Iehoshaphat his Grand-Fathers sake seeking the Lord so well as he did, Iehu vouchsafed his body the honour of buriall, which he did not to Iehorams. Then comming into the Citty (neere vntounto which this field was fought) there hauehave we some thinges set downe more specially: then, some others but generally. Of those that are set downe more specially, we hauehave two thinges recorded of him: one, concerning Iezebell; the other, concerning the sonnes of Ahab. Concerning Iezebel, the effect is no more but her death; and that according to the word of the Lord: but more specially it is good to marke, both how by the 2. King. 9: 30-37.prouidence of God shee should then shew herselfe vntounto him, and others should bee ready at his commandement to tumble her downe; and how shee, a bad woman before, now when her end was so neere vntounto her, and that in so bloody manner as it was, was neuerthelesse so vainely occupied in painting her face and tyring her head, to be anon of a sort of Curs so cleane deuoured, so trimming-up that Dogs-meate then, as many of vsus trim-up or pamper such wormes-meate now. Concerning the Sonnes Ibid. 10: 1-10or Issue of Achab, though they were many, and so he had hope of a goodly posterity: yet no sooner did Iehu set in hand to ouer-throw them, but that most readily it was performed; and by the handes of those with whom they were left for their strongest Guard. A good example to shew, that when mighty men begin to pull down others, then do they so vndermine their owne estates withall, that they are in no wise able to stand, whatsoeuer their owne forces may be, or what prouision soeuer they can make for their Issue succeeding. Those that are set downe but generally, are, that he did execution on all that pertained to Ahab: such as were either of any speciall reckoning Ibid. 11.with him; or but his Priestes in that Idolatrous seruice of his. A sufficient patterne likewise (for those that were his Familiars, or great with him) that God maketh no other reckoning of those that are great or familiar with bad men (though by their greatnesse they might otherwise be beneficiall to all their followers) than as of bad men themselues: and that although hee do not alwaies execute such iudgements on them: yet by this and such like he declareth, what in his iustice is due vntounto them. And lesse maruell, when as euen experience it selfe so commonly teacheth, that there is no good will nor liking neither on the one side nor on the other, but onelyonly among such as are of like disposition and waies. So that we may easily conceiue, that neither that Ahab before, nor any of our latter Ahabs since, would neuer suffer those to bee great nor familiar with them, that at any time misliked either his Idoll worshipping, or either his consenting-to, or his dames oppressing of Nahoth for his Vine-yard: and though they bee able, mightily to benefite those that doe attend them, yet are there none of good disposition indeede, or that hauehave any sound integrity, that so much as desire to be great or familiar with them. Those few places besides, were but two: one, in the way as he went from hence to Samaria; the other, at Samaria it selfe. In the way he met with certaine of whom we hauehave some Story: first, a great company; then, one person. That company was of two and fourty, all of the blood Ibid. 12-14or alliance of Ahaziah King of Iudah lately slaine, and by that alliance hee had with the house of Ahab, of that line also, and so of the number of those, on whom Iehu had to do execution: which also presently he did, not sparing any of them. That Ibid. 15, 16.one person was Ionadab the sonne of Recab, one, it seemeth, that Iehu thought wel of at this present: and afterward we hauehave father mention of him, as of one that was a rare man indeede. To him he imparted generally, that he had on the Lords behalfe an intent of some speciall seruice: and withall tooke him vp into his Charriot with him vntounto Samaria, there to be partaker of it. Comming to Samaria, first hee finisheth a businesse he had in hand before: then, he setteth in hand with a newe. That which he had in hand before, was the vtter destruction of Ahabs house, or to root out the whole race of him from the face of the earth: and therein he diligently Ibid. 17. Ibid. 18-27.employed himselfe, and was the first thing that hee did when hee came thither. The other was, as it seemeth, not onelyonly proper to that one place: but enlarged to diuers others besides. That which was proper to that one place, was, that hee …igned he would be a great worshipper of Baal, and farre exceede Achab therein; and that at that present he had a great Sacrifice vntounto him: commending therefore, both the solemnity thereof to be published; and that all the Priests, Prophets, and Seruants of Baal should come in and attend their busines to helpe forwarde the solemnity and seruice of it on paine of death. But when he had by that meanes gotten them altogether, and set them a-worke about their businesse (first commanding thēselues to see to it, that there were none of the seruants of the Lord with them, as acounting that the presence of any of thē would be great pollution vntounto the seruice they had in hand) he then setting a strong guard without, sent in others to do execution on them all within, and gaue special charge that none should escape on pain of death. Which when they had done, then they destroyed the Images also, and made the house of Baal it selfe, in detestation of it, a common priuy. That which was enlarged to diuers others besides (at least as it is conceiued by some, and is much fauoured by the Text it selfe) is, that hauing thus begunne there, they went thence to eueryevery other Citty also, where there was any Temple of Baal, and did so to the Images and Temples there, as they had done at Samaria before. And besides that it is the iudgement of some, that this is the meaning of that place, both Pet. Martyr. Tremel. Iun. A…. Montan.the Originall it selfe may very well beare it, taking the word Citty indefinitely for such as had Temples of Baal in them (because it is saide, they went vntounto the Cittie of the house of Baal, which well may signifie eueryevery such Citty in the land of Israel, as wherein were houses of Baal:) and the Text it selfe saieth, that by the meanes that Iehu now vsed, he destroyed Baal out of Israel, which is a faire probabilitie, if Ibid. 28. Conr. Pellic.not a necessary consequence, that though he had gathered the Priests & Prophets and al other seruants of Baal at that time vntounto Samaria, yet were the places elsewhere remaining, and to be suppressed as was the other. For as for any other Citty neere to Samaria, which peculiarly should be meant by this, as some hauehave conceiued, I see not yet how that may be iustified: such as hauehave written of that argument Fra. Vatabl. Pet. Martyr. Bibl. Angl.hauing found no such place neere to Samaria, as whereby to deliuer that vntounto vsus; nor themselues that conceiue it (for the most part of them) affirming it neyther but onelyonly conceiuing that so it seemeth. Neere vntounto Sichem there was such an house or Chappell, but no Citty: but Abimelech destroyed i…, with the people of Iud. 8: 33 9: 46-49. Adrichom. …. Ephraim …ū. 43 2. King. 10: 29Sichem that for their safety fled into it; and since that time we hauehave, that I know of, no mention of it. Those wayes of Iehu that were misliked, were, those Golden Calues, set vp by Ieroboam before, and maintained and worshipped now by him, & continued al his time: a matter that was so much the more odious to God, for that he did not onelyonly enter into that course at the first, as it were of himselfe; but euen Ibid 30, 31then also continued therein, after that he was otherwise notably prouoked by the great goodnesse of God towards him for a small peece of seruice that he had done him, tending so directly as it did to the maintenance of his owne estate, although God also had required it of him. In what liking those wayes of his were with God, is likewise plainly set downe: and first for that which he had required; then, for the other, which was not amended. As touching that which was required, the execution of that peece of Iustice, on the house of Ahab, it pleased him so well, that Ibid. 3….for it hee established the kingdome to him and his to the fourth generation. As duplicate page duplicate page touching that other which was not amended, in that still hee claue to the Golden Calues, it is said that the Lord began to loath Israell; and thereupon to giuegive them Ibid. 31-34.so farre into the handes of their enemies, as that mightily they praeuailed against them. Comming now to our selues, withall it shall bee good that first wee marke well whether we be not in our waies much like to Iehu: and if wee be, then eyther to cast to amend, or else to feare the like iudgements also. In our waies wee are much like vntounto Iehu, when wee abandon but some kinde of Idolatry, or sinne, and neuerthelesse hauehave peace with some other. For Idolatry, the example may bee of the adherents of the Church of Rome, who detesting the Idols of the Heathen, neuertheles hauehave their own in speciall honour. For sin, eueryevery where we hauehave examples …now, whensoeuer the questiō falleth out to be of any such sin as our selues (whether by nature or by custome) are giuen vntounto: or when it is to our aduantage. Our selues may be giuen to sin, either by nature, as cholerick men to be angry: or by custome & vsage, as swearing & immoderate drinking, after that once we hauehave broght our selus to bondage theretoo, or, as we tearme it, to such a point that we cannot leaue it. To our aduantage it is, when we reape any benefite by it, as some slight in weight, or measure, vanity of speach, or such like in selling: especially if it bee the stay of our mainteinance, as Vsury, the keeping of gaming or Brothel-houses, and extorting by Office or opportunity of the place that they hauehave for expedition, is vntounto many. If in such case we be but like vntounto Iehu, though in commendable manner we abandon others, yet euen thereby onelyonly (especially, when as by speciall fauours we are prouoked to deale better with him) may we in time prouoke him to loath vsus: and in all our coasts, or in all things to vsus appertaining, to let in some heauy iudgement vponupon vsus.
2 Iehoahaz his Sonne succeeded, and raigned seauenteene yeares: for a time, as it seemeth, following but his owne waies; but after seeking vntounto the Lord. Following Iehoahaz.but his owne waies, he did euill in the sight of the Lord, walking in the sins 2. King. 13: 1-3, 22.of Ieroboam: and the Lord accordingly deliuered them into the hands of the Syrians, both in the time of Hazaell King of Syria, and of Ben-hadad his Sonne. When he sought vntounto the Lord, we hauehave not deliuered vntounto vsus in what sort he did it, whether Ibid. 4.himselfe and the people in some publique manner: or, which seemeth to be of the two the more agreeable to the words themselues, but onelyonly himselfe by his priuate prayer. But howsoeuer it was that he did seeke vntounto the Lord, we hauehave these two thinges thereon plainely set downe: both that the Lord dealt graciously with them; and yet that it was but very little regarded of them. In that gracious dealing of the Lord towards them, wee hauehave set downe, what hee did for them: and whereupon he so did. That which he did for them is part of it plaine: and part of it againe, in quaestion. That which is plaine, is, that the Lord heard him, & gaue Ibid. 4, 5.Israell a deliuerer: and that so comfortably, that they came out from vnderunder the subiection of the Aramites, and dwelt in their owne tents as before they had done. That other part of this which is in quaestion, is, who the same is, who was their deliuerer: most men taking it to be meant of his Son that succeeded him in the Kingdome; Pel. Vat. Mart Tre. Iun. Bibl. Angl. Lyrbut some conceiuing otherwise of it. For the former opinion, true it is, that Iehoash his sonne came, in some sort, to the Kingdome, about three yeares before the end of his Fathers raigne. For his Father began his seauenteene yeares raign, 1 kin. 13: 1, 10in the three and twentieth yeare of Ioash King of Iudah; and himselfe his sixeteene yeares raigne, in the seauen and thirtieth of the same King of Iudah aforesaide: so leauing but fourteene yeares to his Father to raigne alone, before that he also came to the Kingdome. And true it is, that this Iehoash did valiantly against the Syrians: but, because we do not reade, that hee did any thing till after the death of his Father; and seeing that the deliuerance that is spoken of heere, is concluded to hauehave beene somewhat within his Fathers raigne (for that it is so plainely noted, that neuerthelesse they departed not from their former sinnes, and had a Groue yet standing Ibid. 6.in Samaria it selfe) therefore it seemeth it is not cleere that it was by his Son, but some other rather, which we hauehave not in particular deliuered vntounto vsus. For as for the Angel that is conceiued, by the second opinion to hauehave bin peculiar to the land of Israell, and that this deliuerance should bee by him, that is of no more certainety than the other: and so, as it seemeth, the safest i… … hold, that the deliuerer spoken of heere, was such as it pleased God then to vse; but not to appropriate it to either of these. The reason wherefore the Lord did so help them, is giuen to be, for that he saw Ibid. 4, 23.the trouble in which they were by the K. of Syria: whereunto also it seemeth may be laid (for that also is the opinion of those before alleadged) that which is a little after Ibid. 7.more specially set downe, that in those daies they were brought so low, that they had but fifty horsemen, ten Charets, & ten thousand footmen; the K. of Aram hauing so destroied them, and made them like dust beaten to pouder. Neuerthelesse it seemeth to me, that the Hebrew particle which doth seem to giuegive it that way, may be so interpreted Sant. P…g…i.also, that as this matter followeth in the Text, so may it be applied to the time ensuing: as if the sense were, that when notwithstanding they did not repent on that their deliuerance, then did God bring them so low, as there is noted. That the deliuerance which they receiued was but little regarded, is very plaine, for that they are noted, not to hauehave departed from their former sins, but still to hauehave walked in them: and Ibid. 6.for that there was that groue yet remaining euen in Samaria. That Eliseus the Prophet (Elisha forgotten 40 yeeres together whom we noted before, not to be reēmbred in the Story of either of these two kings) was now at least these forty years together, so little, either emploied by God, or regarded by mē, is first a thing very strange in it self: but then yeeldeth it good instruction withall. It is a thing strange in it selfe, that a man of so great power as hee, to whom one of the kinges might account himselfe so much beholding (he hauing sent to annoint him king) and to whom the other (so distressed as he was, euen to an huge depth thereof) had so vrgent occasion to seeke: yet notwithstanding should bee all this while, euen a whole age to speak of, so buried in obliuion (for any thing that we read to the contrary) euen in his owne Country in the midst of the people of God. But then is it a notable example withal, and much tending to out instruction, not only that men, though much beholding vntounto them, or in great need of them, do neuerthelesse oft-times little remember them: but euen that God also dooth not euer vse, but seemeth strangely for long time to forget the best of them all: and that in a time of such confusion, as wherein it should seeme, that some way or other, they were most of all to be imployed.
3 Those other three of the line of Iehu who after succeeded, did two of them enioy the Crowne some reasonable time, & came vntounto it immediatly vponupon the auoidance of such as were in it before: but long it was before the other came vntounto it, & besides he was soon cut off. The former of those two that enioyed it som reasonable time, & cam so readily vntounto it, was Iehoash, the son of Iehoahaz already remembred: in whose time seeing we hauehave the residue of Eliseus his Story, therefore hauehave we, when we hauehave seen Iehoashthe Storie of the King, then to come to the Prophet also. As touching the King, first wee hauehave deliuered vntounto vsus, what was the whole course of his raigne generally: then certaine particulars besides. The whole course of his raigne was ill, neuer 2 Kings. 13: 10, 11.departing from the sinnes of Ieroboam, but still walking therein, as all his praedecessors before him had done: and so continued sixteene yeares. The particulars are of two sorts: one, a commendable regard he had to the Prophet; the other, certaine dealing of his with the enemie. In that commendable regard he had to the Prophet, we hauehave not onelyonly deliuered what it was: but also, that it was well rewarded. His regard was such, that hee came vntounto him when hee was sicke, and tooke it heauilie Ibid. 14.that then they were likely to leese him: accounting him, both his Father; and the stay or strength of that whole State. Well rewarded it was, in that the Prophet did then giuegive him so comfortable assurance, that hee shoulde mightily praeuaile against Ibid. 15-17.the Syrians, euen to theyr vtter destruction; naming withall the place vntounto him, where he should looke to hauehave the fruition of that speciall blessing of GOD: Ibid. 18, 19.and when thereuppon hee willed him to strike the Earth, or to lay vppon it with those Arrowes which hee had in his hand, and hee, hauing doone so thryce, stayed there, and proceeded no farther, hee tolde him hee should hauehave layed oftner on it, and he should oftner hauehave praeuailed, whereas now he should ouercome them …ce. The enemies with whom he had to deal, are first those th… now were spoken of then, … matters fell out betwixt them, the Iewes also. Those that now were spoken of, were the Syrians: and those, according as the Prophet had told him he did ouercome thrice; Hazael the King of Aram then being dead, and Benhadad his Son raigning in his stead. The Iewes became his enemies also, by occasion that A…ziah 2 Kin. 14: 8-14their King prouoked him to the field: who, beeing so prouoked, ioyned battle with them, praeuailed against them, tooke the King, brake down a great part of the wa… of Ierusalem, made a spoile of the Temple & kings treasury, tooke away certaine Hostages, and so returned. Of the Prophet we hauehave no story remaining, but onelyonly that hee Ibid. 10: 20.died of that sicknesse wherein he lay when the King was with him, and so was accordingly buried: but, though God did not exempt him from death as hee had done his Maister before; yet that soone after God did so specially grace him when hee was dead: namely, that within the compasse of the yeare following, when as certain of the people were about to bury the corps of another man that was dead, & being nere to Ibid. 20, 21.the place where the Prophet was buried before, cast in thither their Corse also in hast, for that they espied certaine bands of their enemies cōming in vponupon them: so soone as the dead corps touched the bones of the Prophet, it praesently reuiued, and so the man liued againe. And God in some measure in such sort graceth many of his seruants yet; by their writings or good example while they liued, quickning others to follow them in the ages ensuing: a matter so much the worthier to be considered, as hauing therein good encouragement to be doing the best seruice we can, when as we remember how auaileable it may proue to be, not only while our selues do liue, but many yeares after that we are dead. The latter of those two of the line of Iehu, who enioyed the Crown some reasonable time, was Ieroboam the son of Ioash, who raigned 41. years: Ieroboamwho also was ill; and yet vouchsafed speciall fauour of God. Il he was, in that he departed 2 King. 14: 23 Ibid. 24.not from the sins of Ieroboam, but walked therein as his praedecessors before had done. In that speciall fauour that God did vouchsafe him we hauehave deliuered vntounto vsus, what that fauour was: and whereupon the Lord did vouchsafe it vntounto him. That speciall fauour was, that whereas God by Ionah the Prophet had fore-shewed such a thing before, he now accordingly gaue him power to recouer all the coasts of Israell Ibid. 25.out of the hands of those that had gotten them away before. The reason whereupon the Lord so did, was, for that he saw the exceeding great affliction of Israel; and that they were altogether without helpe therein; yet that God was not disposed, then to Ibid. 26, 27.take them cleane away; and therefore holp them by this Ieroboam. He that stayed so long before he came to it, and besides was soone cut off, was Zachariah the sonne of Ieroboam who next succeeded, and was the fourth in descent from Iehu, according as Zacariah.the Lord had promised vntounto him. But first before he should come to the crown, it seemeth 2 Kin. 15: 8-12that God would shew himselfe much offended with that race of Iehu, to whom he had promised it for the fourth descent; expecting belike, that they or some of them at least, should hauehave walked more carefully in his waies: and seeing hitherto none of them would do it, neither would he yet performe that promise of his to him that now followed & was the last of them; but would hold him off in suspence for a time, to occasion him to see better vntounto it, than his elders before had done. For it is plain, that he came not to the kingdome, till 22. yeares after the death of his Father: and there was none that we read of that did raigne in the meane season. That it was so long before he came to the kingdome, may thus be gathered. In the 27. yeare of Ieroboam his father, 2 King. 15: 1, 2came Azariah the Son of Amasiah, the King of Iudah, to his kingdom of Iudah, and raigned therein two and fifty years. Ieroboam his Father raigned but one and forty: & so continued but to the fifteenth of the raign of Azariah or Ʋzziah aforesaid. So if this Zachariah had come to the Crowne immediatly after his Fathers death, as his other ancestors before did, then he should hauehave come vntounto it in the fifteenth year of Vzziah or Azariah aforesaid: but he came not vntounto it, till the eight and thirtith yeare of his raigne; so leauing two and twenty yeares of the raigne of Azariah, before Ibid. 8.he was able to come to succeed his Father in the kingdome. In which time the people (no doubt too, were in very hard and miserable estate: beeing euer the lesse euill of the two, to hauehave the worst King, and the greatest tyrant that euer was to raign ouer any people, than to hauehave no king at all, vnlesse they hauehave some other Magistrate to supply for the time. For the worst King that can be, cannot be so grieuous but only to some: but if there were none, nor others to supply that want for the time, then would there be confusion to all. And so it may be, that God would teach them also heereby, that if they did so little regard to liue according to the ordinances that hee had giuen vntounto them, neither did he much regard, if they had any pollicy or gouernment at all. So when hee had taught both him and them his minde for those matters, then in the end hee brought in that other of the line of Iehu, to sit on the seate of the Kingdome. But he likewise did ill in the sight of the Lord, cleauing to the sins of Ieroboam, as his Fathers before had done: and so raigned but sixe monthes, Shallum conspiring against him, slaying him in the sight of the people, and raigning in his stead. Which bad dealing beeing heere begun, held on for the most part with those that followed, so long as the kingdome it selfe did afterward stand: he that next succeeded, being likewise soone cut off; the residue enioying it some farther time.
4 As touching the residue of the Kinges that after succeeded, and were none of the line of Iehu, the next that came to the Crowne was Shallum; who raigned onelyonly Shallum.onelyonly one month: being then slaine by Menahem, as himselfe had slaine Zachariah Ibid. 13, 14.before; so leesing that new vsurped Kingdome of his, in a manner so soone as he had gotten it, and ending his life as wretchedly with it. And so it is lesse maruel, that these and the residue that hereafter follow, are not on all hands accounted Kinges, but tyrantes Fanc Chronol. pag. 56. B.rather: disorderly, for the most part, comming vntounto the Crowne, and hauing their gouernment sutable thereunto. Those that enioyed it some farther time, were two of them of one line: the others, but strangers one to the other. Those that were of one line, was this Menahem for one: and his son succeeding him for the other. Of Menahemthis Menahem thus comming to the kingdome, first we hauehave some things noted that were common to him and others: then, some other thinges that were propper vntounto himselfe. Common to him and others are, the time, and manner of his raigne. For the time it is noted, that he raigned ten yeares: and for the manner, that he also did 2. Kings. 15: 17, 18.ill, walking in the waies of Ieroboam as others had done. Proper to himselfe are other two: one, an example of speciall cruelty; the other, a point of worldly pollicy. In that speciall cruelty of his, it is good to note, first what it was: then, what a token therein we may see, how mightily ambition sometime rageth. The cruelty was great, first in it selfe: but then much greater by one circumstance of the place that is noted. It was great in it selfe, for that he destroyed a whole Citty, and the people thereof, & Ibid. 16.ript vp the women with child, because they did not receiue him in thither. That one circumstance of the place, is, that wheras Thapsa the citty that so he destroyed, seems Tremel. Iun. wolf. Plin. nat. h…sto. li 5. cap. 24 1. King. 4: …3.to be the same which was also cald Amphipolis, & of which there is mention made as of the vtmost border of the land that way, it being situate on the Riuer Euphrates: & then being saide withall, that hee destroyed it, and all the Coasts thereof, euen from Tirzah, this Tirzah beeing on the West side of Iordan, in that part of the Tribe of Adrichom Manas. 1. num. 60 pag. 74.Manasses that was placed there: this distance of the places being considered, dooth plainely declare, that it was a very great and barbarous slaughter that so he made. In which respect Cummannus Flinchpachius is so much the more warily to be read, that setteth downe (in his Genealogy of Christ) this Thapsah to bee (hee calling it Thipsah) Lib. 3. cap. 4. pag. 134. Tab. Asia 4 a.neere vntounto the Citty of Thirza: the distance beeing more than sixe degrees in Ptolomies Tables, from the places that are giuen to the one and the other. How mightily sometimes ambition rageth, is here very plainely at first to be be seen: he hauing so ill a title as he had, and yet wreaking his greife so bitterly on such as did not at first reciue him. In such cases to be forth-putting, was very tollerable among the Romans, in that declyning estate of theirs: and thence doe many of vsus take so good heart, and put on such face, as in such case wee often doo. But this may teach vsus (as that parable of Iotham before) that where ambition is so praedominant, there also is Iud. 9: 7-15.much iniquitie, if not sauage barbarity, lurking. That point of worldly pollicy which in him wee may note, was, that Pul the King of Asshur, beeing stirred 2. Kings. 15: 19▪ 20. 1. Chr. 5: 26.vppe by the Lorde for the chasticement of the people Israell, and so comming in against this Menahem, he thought good so to praesent him, and so farre to pacifie his displeasure towards him, as not onelyonly might free him from the danger of his armes, but might bee a farther strength to that his vsurpation also: and so yeelded to giuegive him a thousand tallents of Siluer; but made the people themselues to pay it. The other of this line besides, was Pecaiah his Sonne, of whom we hauehave no Story to speak Pecaiab.off, but onelyonly that he raigned two yeares, and did ill in the sight of God, as his elders 2. Kings. 15 23, 24.before him had done: and then, as his Father had slaine Shallum before, and possessed himselfe of his Kingdome; so did Pekah one of his Captaines slay him now, & tooke vntounto him his Kingdome withall. But truely it was but a small recompence to the Iustice of God, for so many as his father had so vnmercifully destroyed (and, it may be, without cause too, vnlesse his tittle had beene better to the place hee was in, than it seemeth it was) the recompence that should be made therefore, should goe no farther but onelyonly to this one person, the Son of one that was very bloody, and himselfe none of the best. Achab was, as it were, but priuie (or secretly consenting) to the death of one (but that it seemeth, his children were wrapt in with him too:) and yet must satisfaction be made with all his whole line, which were many; yea, with all his kindred, and friends too. Menahem had mercilesly slaughtered many, euen an whole Countrey to speake off, man, woman, and child; not for any benefite to himsele, as did the other, but in the way of reuenge, as it seemeth, and that vponupon a small trespasse made, if it were any: and yet wee reade but onelyonly of one, that heere is seazed-on to make the reckoning. We must leaue all iudgement to God: but his iustice is euer one; and, according to the measure of sinne vnrepented, may iudgement be feared. But then is it a more blessed thing, and much more on our parts to bee desired, that our sinne be roundly punished heere to our bettering for the time ensuing: than that heere it should be but easily dealt-with, & then put-ouer to future iudgement. Those that were but strangers, one to another, were those two that next followed: Pekah the former, and Hoshoah the latter, yea, and the last of all the company. Pekah likewise came to the Crown by the blood of his Maister. For being one of Pecaiahs Captaines, Pekah.with the priuity and helpe of two others besides (as it seemeth, of much like 2 King. 15: 25place in the Court, as himselfe) and fifty others of his followers, he slew Pecaiah his Lord and Maister, euen in the head Citty of his Kingdome, and in the Pallace it selfe: and so inuaded the Kingdome withall, though but in this bad manner hee got it, yet Ibid. 27. Ibid. 28.he held it about twenty yeares. He also did ill in the sight of the Lord, by following the waies of Ieroboam, as all his praedecessors (in that Kingdome) before him had done, and is without any farther Story, vntill very neere the ende of his raigne: but then hauehave we two speciall Stories to his time, or to the Story of his raigne appertaining. That we hauehave no farther Story of him, till towardes the end of his raigne, it appeareth, because that both those Stories that we hauehave of him, hauehave no place in any part of the raigne of Iotham King of Iudah; but in the daies of Ahaz his Sonne who next succeeded: and it is plaine, that Iotham came to the Crowne of Iudah, but in the second yeare of this King of Israell that now we speake off; and that he raigned sixeteen Ibid. 37. Ibid. 33.yeares. Which of necessity taking vp better than seauenteene years of his twenty, leaue him not full out his last three for both those Stories that we hauehave to him appertaining, or at least but thereabout. Whereas therefore those two Stories (as in themselues we are more fully to see) were, one of them to imploy him in a peece of seruice, the other to learne himselfe and his people to know how far they offended: we may probably conceiue, it was long before the Holinesse of God could as it were disgest to vse so bad a man, and so badly comming to the roome he was in, in any seruice of his; and that he gaue him time to repentance in great measure, before that he did lay his reuenging hand vponupon him. The former of those Stories wherein i… pleased God to imploy him in a peece of seruice, was to the chasticement of the Kingdome of Iudah, soone after that Ahaz was come to the Kingdome, and did set vp Idolatry so much as he did: which chasticement notwithstanding was such, as wherin it pleased God to vse likewise great mercy towards them. Their chasticement was, that this King of Israell, comming in with his forces against the Kingdome of Iudah, did mightily preuaile against them: killing in one day an hundred and twenty thousand Ibid. 37. … Chr. 28: 5-8of them, and (among them) certaine men of speciall account; and led away captiue or prisoners with them, of their Wiues, Sons, and Daughters, two hundred thousand, together with the spoil of the Country. Wherein we may see that euen as Ahaz did by his Idolatry in great measure offend, and thereby led the people to that course also; euen so did God proportionably poure foorth his displeasure vppon them: and that, the greater theyr deuotion was in that kinde, though they might conceiue of themselues, that they were (at least) very religious; yet that thereby they made themselues so much the more offensiue to God, as Pope-holy persons now, and deuout Idolaters in all ages doe. The mercy that God therein vsed towardes them, was in those Prisoners, and part of the spoile: wherein we hauehave more specially noted, what aduise it was that by a Prophet was for that matter giuen vntounto them; & what regard was on their partes yeelded thereunto. In the aduise that by the Prophet was for that matter giuen vntounto them, it is good to note, not only what the matter of it was: but also, in what manner it was deliuered vntounto them. The matter of it was, first, as touching theyr waies: then, as touching his aduise therein. In their waies he noteth what they they had already done: and what they were then of purpose to do. That which he noteth they had don already, was, that because God had deliuered into their hands their 2 Chr. 28▪ 9.Brethren of Iury for their sins, they had now slaine them in most rageous maner, tearming their rage to be such, as in detestation or greatnesse of it, reached vp to heauen. That which he noteth them to be of purpose then to do, was, to hauehave those Bretheren Ibid. 10.of theirs their prisoners, as bond-men and bond-women vntounto them. As touching his aduise therein, to the end they may the better receiue it, first, he maketh some way vntounto it: then, commeth he forth with his aduise it selfe. The way that he maketh vntounto it, is, that he asketh them, if their waies be not such, as that the Lord might find them faulty Ibid. 10. Ibid. 11.also. Comming forth with his aduise it selfe, he willeth them to be said by him, and to send home againe those prisoners of theirs: giuing thē withal to vnderstand (the better to moue them therin) that the fierce wrath of the Lord was towards them. As touching the manner, he was indeed a Prophet of the Lords, & it may seeme so knowne Ibid. 9vntounto them to be: but, if we mark, he did not now speak vntounto them in the name of the Lord, or tell them now that God had sent him about that matter vntounto them; but only, as it were of himselfe, doth giuegive them his best aduise therein. The regard that was yeelded hereunto was great (notwithstanding the Prophet did not shew himselfe therin Ibid. 12-15.to come vntounto them directly from God) first in that they yeelded to let them goe, (certaine Elders of Samaria first requiring that of the Army, and therewithall of the King himselfe it seemeth; then the Army, and with them the K. himselfe it seemeth againe, yeelding thereto:) then, in that they did it in so good manner, with the spoile refreshing and arraying them first, and then freely sending them home. A very good and rare example, both of obedience vntounto the Prophet, yeelding so fully and so generally to be ruled by him, so much to their losse, & for which they had ventured their liues: and, of compassion towards their Brethren, notwithstanding they had bin, and yet were, their enimies also, & now of long had bin dāgerous to their estate. Many of vsus hauehave taken prisoners of our brethren, euen the greatest part of the maintenance of the Ministery among vsus, and thereby themselues withall; neyther hauehave we beene destitute of Prophets that hauehave reprooued vsus therein: but where hauehave we any that send backe those prisoners againe, and in so good manner as did the others; or when it is likely, it will be done generally, when as it sticketh so hard as it doth in all our particulars? How can it be, but that, that vsurping King of Israell, and all his Army, must one day rise vp in iudgement against many of our lawfull Kinges and other Potentates, together with their peoples professing the Gospell, and condemne them: euen onelyonly for this, for that still they with-hold, or yet doe keepe so fast in their clouches those prisoners of theirs; or may they thinke their deuotion is sound, that can still dygest to doe it? The latter of those Stories beeing to teach the King and his people how far they offended, we are not only to marke what it is was done vntounto them: but withall, when, or at what time the same was done. That which was done vntounto them, was, that Tiglath-Pileser (called also Tilgath-Pilneeser; and Pul, another King there ioyned vntounto him, came in forcibly vponupon them, wan many of their Citties, and took 2 King. 15: 29 1 Chr. 5: 26away a great part of the people, and scattered them in Countries of his owne among the Heathen. The time when this was done, necessarily falling out to bee shortly after, that the Israelites had so farre obeyed the Prophet, and shewed that compassion towardes their Bretheren, it teacheth vsus, that as God spared not those Israelites for those two rare and speciall duties which now they yeelded, abiding yet as they did in the sinnes of Ieroboam, the Idolatry of those golden Calues: so may God bee as highly offended with vsus, notwithstanding our profession of the Gospell now, so long as we are so defectiue as we are in those two duties or eyther of them, in which wee had so good example giuen by them, and yet is so vntowardly learned of vsus. And true repentance doth not onelyonly amend some one thing or other that was amisse; but euer hath an eye vntounto all: and resteth not, till, in some good measure, it hath taken good order for all. The time of his raigne thus beeing finished, and ending so miserably as he did, it may probably be conceiued, that heereupon, he who next succeeded, tooke occasion to step vp in his roome. And so it doth immediatly follow, that then Hoshea wrought Treason against him, smote him, and slewe him, and raigned Hosheain his stead. But this man being the last of the Kinges of Israell, in whose time 2 King. 15: 30the Kingdome it selfe was vtterly abolished, so that after this time there remained neyther Kingdome nor people of Israell: wee are now to consider, not onelyonly of so much of the Story as concerneth himselfe; but of that also, which concerneth his kingdome, which together with himselfe did perish. That which concerneth himselfe, is some part of it plainely set downe: and some part againe, more obscurely. That which is plainely set downe, is, that hee did ill in the sight of the Lord; but not 2 King. 17. 2-6as the Kinges of Israell that were before him: and that for some part of his raigne he was in subiection to the King of Assyria; but afterward with-drew himselfe so farre againe (leaning then to the King of Aegypt) that thereby the King of Assyria tooke oceasion to inuade the Land, to the ouer-throw of himselfe, and of his Kingdome. Wherein it is good more specially to note, one thing, first, as touching the getting of this his Kingdome: and then one other, as touching that commendation, of him, that he did not so ill as the other Kinges before him. As touching the getting of this his Kingdome at the first, he got it we saw, by the slaughter of him that was in it before; a very inordinate meane to obtaine, not onelyonly a place of so speciall note, but any of the meanest places that are: and so lesse maruell, that it sped no better with him, but to be the bane of himselfe, and of all that did belong vntounto him. In that hee was not so ill as others, and yet that in his time the whole Kingdome should be s… ruined, we may very well gather, that though we be not so very ill as many are: yet may the heauiest iudgementes that God vseth heere in this World to cast on Sinners, bee in his Iustice due vntounto vsus, and seaze on vsus too in greater measure than wee could hauehave doubted; and that, without any impeachment at all to the Iustice of God. That which is more obscurely set downe, is, as touching the time of his raign: that whereas it is said in one place, that hee began his raigne in the twentith yeare of Ibid. 15: 30.Iotham, that is the twentith yeare after that Iotham began his raigne (for hee raigned but sixteene, and as yet there was no mention made of Ahaz that followed next, that the reckoning might bee from him deryued) in another, that hee beganne his raigne in the twelfth yeare of Ahaz, eyght yeares after the other: albeit there bee Ibid. 17: 1diuers interpretations thereof, yet seeing wee see the Text it selfe dooth lead vsus to conceiue, that hee submitted himselfe to Salmaneser the King of Assyria, it seemeth Ibid. 3.to bee the likelyest, that the former place speaketh of his owne stepping vntounto the Kingdome, before hee became the Vassall of Salmaneser; and the latter of his confirmation by him therein, now also by likely-hood holding his kingdome of him: and then, that the ninth or last yeare of his raigne afterward spoken of, was not to bee taken from his first entery into his Kingdome, on the death of Pekah: but from the time when hee was by Salmaneser confirmed in it; and that, as the Text saith, that Salmaneser found Treason in him, so thereuppon wee may gather, that before hee had become, (as wee doe tearme it) a Vassall vntounto him. So was he, for one part of his raign, as it were, a King, and yet none; and, in another, a kind of King indeede, but in subiection, and besides, where least he would: and yet notwithstanding, a Kingdome, both for freedome and glory good enough for those that make their way by such intrusion; and the end of it too, albeit more miserable than any would wish it, yet sutable enough to the beginning. That which concerneth his kingdome, is first of those that then were: then, of others that did succeed them. As touching those that then were, we hauehave deliuered vntounto vsus, not onelyonly the punnishment that God cast on them; but one speciall note of the time besides. In their punishment we hauehave likewise deliuered vntounto vsus, what was done with them: and wherefore. That which was doone with them, was, that so many of them as in the Ibid. 6▪ 24 18: 11.warre escaped the Sword, were taken away Captiue, and scattered in other Countries: and other peoples brought in in their roomes to inhabit there. The reason wherefore they were so dealt with, was for, that by the meanes of Ieroboam they Ibid. 7-23. 18: 12.did so fall from the Lorde then: and afterward would neuer bee reclaimed to him againe. That one speciall note of the time besides, is, that this their vtter and final ruine falling vponupon them in the dayes of Hezechiah King of Iudah, as he had taken speciall paines with them, to reclaime to the Lorde againe: so they also, for many of them 2 Chr. 30: 5-10 Ibid. 11-13.came in, in very good manner, ioyning with Iudah in the true seruice of God. Out of which we may gather, that the Iustice of God on our impenetency long before, may in time grow so resolute against vsus, that albeit we doe in some thinges seeke vntounto him againe; yet will it be too late then to reuerse againe, that which he before determined: and yet, that the Idolatrous may deceiue themselues, if, because the ruine of the Kingdome of Israell did then come vponupon them, when many of them had sought the Lord a little before, they should thereon conceiue, that leauing those Calues and seeking the Lord, was the cause of that their ruine. As touching those that did succeede, although they are no part of this people, but meere strangers vntounto them, and at this time might rather be held to bee of the number of their enemies also: yet because hereafter they goe oft-times vnderunder the name of Israelites, and not vnlikely, but that diuers of the Israelites (such as shog'd aside for the time, to auoide the danger of the enemies Sword, and afterward came dropping in againe) did afterward come in and dwell among them, at least because these doe now hence-forward inhabit that Land where the Israelites dwelt before, therefore it shall bee good to see the Story of them. And their Story is no more but to shew, how far forth by their comming thither they also were wonne to be professors of the God of Israell, whereas before they were altogether ignorant of him, and heere also worshipped the Idols of theyr owne Countries, whereunto before they were invred: and first, whereuppon it was, that they came to yeeld so farre to be worshippers of the God of Israell, then, how farre they yeelded vntounto it. That any thing at all they yeelded thereunto, is more than in such case may be expected, not onelyonly for that it is not the manner of the common sort of men, easily to make any change of their wonted Religion; but also because these were so much the more vnlikely in this case to doe it, for that this ancient people of his were now brought so low as they were: and howsoeuer it was, the matter is plaine, that for a time, at their first comming thither, they did not acknowledge 2 King. 17▪ 25the God of Israell. But then the Lord sending in Lyons among them, and destroying many of them, it was conceiued after their manner, but more truly than they were Ibid. 25-28.aware of, that it was because they did not worship the God of that Countrey: they conceiuing no farther, but that, as they supposed, there were seuerall Gods of eueryevery Countrey, so was it in this case also; but yet making him no better therein, than the rest of his fellowes, fellowes I meane, as they supposed. And according as themselues did in such sort take it, so did they cast to prouide some remedy: namely, to get some to instruct them, how to worship the God of that Land. But as the motion was made but for one; so we read but of one sent: a sufficient token, that on all hands they made no great reckoning of it (nothing so much as they ought to hauehave done) when as there was no farther care but of one for so many people, inhabiting so many citties, and so great a circuit as it. A meet pattern of the care that is in many of vsus for those matters: but ours though some-what exceeding theirs, yet much more reprouable▪ not only for the greater light that God hath giuen vsus; but also, for that we, for our own priuate luker, withdraw that, which others had laid forth to yt purpose. How far they yeelded vntounto it, we hauehave very plainly set down vntounto vsus: first more at large; then, more briefly comprised together. While it is done more largely, first we hauehave declared vntounto vsus, what was done by the people themselues at the first: then, what was done by their Issue or posterity ensuing. That which was done by themselues at the first, rested in two points: one, that stil they held to their wonted Idols (which also are, for many of them, named there;) the other, that neuethelesse they serued Ibid. 29-33.(in some sort, or after their manner) the Lord too. Whereunto when once they had yeelded, although this were nothing to that which they should, yet now it seemeth, that those Lions came no more at them, but were thereon restrained, because wee heere no more of them after. A reasonable good Testimony, that the Lord is oft-times content to take what wee doe but meanly yeeld: and a good warning withall, that we hauing done somewhat, do not thinke we hauehave then yeelded full contentment vntounto him, if he thereupon withdraw his hand from vsus; when as wee see, that heere he did the like, and yet that the people had nothing neere yeelded that which they should. That which was done by their Issue or posterity, vntounto that time when these things were recorded of them, was in effect the same and none other, that was done by those their elders before. But heere hauehave wee more distinctly Ibid. 34.set downe, as I do take it, two things: the former of them, not so cleared in the iudgement of others; but the latter of them, out of quaestion withall. The former of them it is, as I doe take it, that so diuiding betwixt both, the Text dooth charge them, that they did neither, but, as the Prophet Elias tearmed the like, halted betwixt them. For the words are, that they neither feared God, nor did after their Ordinances, nor after their Customes, nor after the Law, not after the Commandement which the Lord commanded the children of Iacob, &c. So it seemeth the meaning is, that they did neyther: first setting down that they feared not God; then, that they did not after their owne Ordinances nor Customes neither. But then, because it was hardest for them to conceiue, that they did not feare GOD, when now they had betaken themselues to bee worshippers of him, and when that plague of the Lyons was ceased (as it seemeth that now it was, because wee heere no more of them since) therefore is that point more fully explained vntounto them: first in the residue of this verse that now wee are in; then, in all the rest that followeth. In the residue of this verse that now we are in, it is added, that they did not worship or feare him after the Lawe, nor after the Commaundement which the Lord commanded Ibid. 34.the children of Iacob. But now the truth is, that whereas I hauehave enterpreted the former part of this verse, where there is mention made of ordinances and Customes, that they were their owne Ordinances and Customes that there were meant: others there bee, who attribute the same also to God. But seeing it is Ari. Montan. Tremel. Iun. Bibl. Angl. Vet. edit. Vatab. I…. wolphiusspoken in the plurall number, it seemeth rather to be referred to them, than to God: and that so much the rather, for that diuers of those that so interpret, hauehave changed the number, putting in the singular in steede of the plurall, and to that ende it seemeth, no other sufficient cause appearing. But heere it is not to bee denied, but that some of those that do retaine the plurall number, neuerthelesse do not refer the Tremel. Iun. Bibl. Angl.same to those new Inhabitants placed heere now, but to those of the ten-Tribes dwelling there before: but I see so little warrant for their so doing, that I rather thinke it to be as before I hauehave noted; and the rather, for that in the former of those words which so I interpreted, there is another of good iudgement concurring. The same is more fully explained in that which followeth, for that therein is more specially Conr. Pellic. 2 ki. 17: 35-40declared, how God made that couenant with those Israelites before, and much called on them about it: notwithstanding that they did little regard it, and still followed their owne waies. The later of those two thinges, which heere I saide we had more distinctly see downe, and which was out of quaestion with all men, is, that it is no fearing or worshipping of God, when other thinges are ioyned with those that hee by his word hath appointed: but that whosoeuer would hauehave the Testimony of a good conscience, that he worshippeth God, he must sequester himselfe from all such worshipping of him, as is not taught by his holy word, and keepe himselfe praecisely onelyonly to it. When the matter is more briefly comprised together, neuerthelesse it is plainely said, both of those that then were there placed first, Ibid. 41.and of all their posterity following, that euer they kept so long as they stood, their mingle-mangle in Religion: after a sort fearing God; and yet seruing their Images also. A fit patterne of the Religion that in these daies they hauehave in this late Church of Rome: and for which so toughly they striue; yet therein a great deale more for their owne Traditions, against their bretheren, than they do for the truth of God against the Infidels bordering on them.