The Holy State, Book 5 · Chapter 9
CHAP. 9. The life of Iehu.
IEhu the sonne of Jehosaphat, the sonne of Nimshi, was one of an active spirit, and therefore employed to confound the house of Ahab; for God, when he means to shave clear, chooses a razour with a sharp edge, and never sendeth a slug on a message that requireth haste.
A sonne of the Prophets sent by Elisha privately anointed him King at Ramoth Gilead, whereupon he was proclaimed King by the consent of the army. Surely God sent also an invisible messenger to the souls of his fellow-captains, and anointed their hearts with the oyl of Subjection, as he did Jehu's head with the oyl of Sovereignty.
Secrecie and celerity are the two wheels of great actions. Jehu had both: he marched to Jezreel faster then Fame could flie, whose wings he had clipt by stopping all intelligence, that so at once he might be seen and felt of his enemies. In the way meeting with Jehoram and Ahaziah, he conjoyned them in their deaths who consorted together in idolatrie. The corps of Jehoram he orders to be cast into Nabaoths vineyard, a garden of herbs royally dung'd, and watered with bloud.
Next he revengeth Gods Prophets on cruell Jezabell, whose wicked carcase was devoured by dogs to a small reversion, as if a head that plotted, & hands that practis'd so much mischief, & feet so swift to shed bloud were not meat good enough for dogs to eat. Then by a letter he commands the heads of Ahabs seventy sonnes (their Guardians turning their executioners) whose heads being laid on two heaps at the gate of Jezreel served for two soft pillows for Jehu to sleep sweetly upon, having all those corrivalls to the Crown taken away.
The Priests of Baal follow after. With a prettywile he fetches them all into the temple of their Idole, where having ended their sacrifice, they themselves were sacrificed. However I dare not acquit Jehu herein. In Holy Fraud I like the Christian but not the sirname thereof, and wonder how any can marry these two together in the same action, seeing surely the parties were never agreed. This I dare say, Be it unjust in Jehu, it was just with God, that the worshippers of a false God should be deceived with a feigned worship.
Hitherto I like Jehu as well as Josiah; his zeal blazed as much: But having now got the Crown, he discovers himself a dissembling Hypocrite. It was an ill signe when he said to Jonadab the sonne of Rechab, Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord. Bad inviting guests to feed their eyes on our goodnesse. But Hypocrites rather then they will lose a drop of praise will lick it up with their own tongue.
Before, he had dissembled with Baal, now he counterfeits with God. He took no heed to walk in the way of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart: formerly his sword had two edges, one cut for Gods glory, the other for his own preferment. He that before drove so furiously, whilest his private ends whipt on his horses, now will not go a footpace in Gods commandments, He departed not from the golden calves in Dan and Bethel.
I know what Flesh will object, that this State-sinne Jehu must commit to maintain his kingdome: for the lions of gold did support the throne of Solomon, but the calves of gold the throne of Jeroboam and his Successours. Should he suffer his Subjects to go up to Jerusalem thrice a yeare (as the Law *Exod. 34.23.of Moses commanded) this would un-King him in effect, as leaving him no able Subjects to command. And as one in the heathen Poet complains,
Tres sumus imbelles numero, sine viribus uxor,
Laertesque senex, Telemachusque puer.
Three weaklings we, a wife for warre too mild,
Laertes old, Telemachus a child.
So thrice a yeare should Jehu onelyonly be King over such an impotent company of old men, women, and children. Besides, it was to be feared that the ten Tribes going to Jerusalem to worship, where they fetch'd their God, would also have their King.
But Faith will answer, that God that built Jehu's throne without hands, could support it without buttresses, or being beholden to idolatry: And therefore herein Jehu, who would needs piece out Gods providence with his own carnall policie, was like a foolish greedy gamester, who having all the game in his own hand steals a needlesse card to assure himself of winning the stake, and thereby loses all. For this deep diver was drown'd in his own policie, and Hazael King of Syria was raised up by God to trouble and molest them. Yet God rewarded him with a lease of the Kingdome of foure successive lives, who had he been sincere would have assured him of a Crown here and hereafter.