A Complete and Compendious Church History, Chapter 19
The Nineteenth Plot againſt the CHURCH, in Judea: Defeated by GOD.
CHAP. XIX.
THe Church of God (through his Over-ruling Hand) having got this Royal Wind under her Wings, flyes Swiftly out of Babylon to Canaan, there to re-Build the Houſe of the Lord, (one of the Seven Wonders of the World) and to Repair the City of Jeruſalem, that Holy City, Ezra 1. 5. then Roſe up Zerubabel, the Chief Prince, and Joſhuah, the Chief Prieſt, with all the Heads of the Families, the Prieſts and Levites, with all their Children, Men and Maid-Servants, in all 7337, Ezra 2. 65. whoſe Spirits God had raiſed up, leading them into the Land of Uprightneſs, Pſal. 143. 10. 1 Chro. 9. 3. Ezek. 37. 16, 17, 21, 22. many Iſraelites joyned with the Jews: Thoſe (by the good Hand of God upon them) 1. ſetts up the Altar, Ezra 3. 3. in the place where the Temple ſtood, (for, as yet, they had none) v. 6. that by their Prayers and Offerings thereon, they might get God on their ſide, and run to him Reconciled, what ever evil ſhould befall them from their Evil and Malignant Neighbours.
Then thoſe Godly and Active Souls (not being content with the Altar of God onelyonly, but Deſirous (as we ſhould all be) of all Gods Ordinances) lay the Foundation of the Temple, v. 10. Then did the Devil Rage, projects (his 19th.) a new Plot againſt the Church, which indeed is a Complication of Plots, as the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah doth Demonſtrate. The 1ſt. part of the Devils 19th. Plot, was to ſtirr up (1) the Samaritans to obſtruct the Superſtructure of the Temple upon the Now and New-laid Foundation, (2) the Governors of the Land, to wit, Tatnai and Shether-Boznai, when they began to Build again after the firſt Obſtruction: 1. The Samaritans Satan Awaken'd and Rouzed up at the loud Acclamations and Out-cries, (Partim Jubilando, partim Ejulando, ſome ſhouting aloud for Joy, and others howling aloud for Sorrow, Ezra 3. 9, 12, 13. Thoſe Adverſaries of Judah, Deviſes Two Deſigns againſt the Children of the Captivity, to wit, the Church: Their (1.) Plot or Deſign was moſt Craftily to offer their own coſt and pains to promote the Building of the Temple, Ezra 4. 1, 8. Here the Devil pretends Devotion to promote his Diveliſh Deſign: Thoſe Mongrels in Religion (who put it on and off at pleaſure) would have mingled with the Church, and would Compound with them here, when they ſaw they could not Conquer them, that would break through all Difficulties and Diſcouragements, and do their Duty, Ezra 3. 3. and this Accomodation they ſet on with a loud lye, ſaying, We ſeek your God, as ye do, which they did not, 2 Kin. 17. 28, 29, 32, 34. for they feared the Lord not Filially, but for his Lyons: Thus they Pretend Amity, but indeed, Intend Enmity, and breeding of New Broils by their Intermixed Influence, ſo as to Hinder the Building: This is the very practice of the Jeſuits at this Day, who pretend Converſion, and comming over to the Proteſtants, yet thoſe Caſſandrian Reconcilers intend Subverſion by the bitter Contentions they keep alive in the Church to hinder Reformation: but the Lord will Detect and Defeat them as he did thoſe Samaritans, whom his Servants repuls'd, telling them, Ye have nothing to do with us, but we our ſelves together (or alone) will Build the Temple, for which Doing they had Royal Authority, v. 3. So it was a Godly Combination, no Wicked Conſpiracy or Faction: In a Word, They ſtand off from them, 1 Tim. 6. 5. not accepting of their falſe Service, for the Jews have no Dealing with the Samaritans, Joh. 4. 9. When this 1ſt. Deſign of the Devil (in thoſe Samaritans) was Diſappointed, then the 2d. was, their Hiring of Counſellours, that others might Hinder the Work; which they (themſelves) could not, v. 4, 5. Such Counſellours as can Condeſcend to Bribing for bolſtering up a bad Cauſe, or for Brow-beating a good one, Juſtifying the Wicked for a Reward, and condemning the Righteous, are the moſt probable Promoters of the Devils Helliſh Plots and Projects: Thoſe Sordid Silver-Lovers, [foreign] being Courtiers, had a fair opportunity to fruſtrate the Purpoſe of the Church; Inaſmuch as Cyrus Warring abroad againſt the Scythians, &c. made Cambyſes, his Son, the Vice-Roy; and he, being a light, looſe and lewd loſſel, was eaſily prevail'd with to obſtruct the Building: If Cyrus did connive at the Croſſing of his own Decree (by his Son) all his Days, then his Fatal Fall by Tomyris (Queen of Scythia, who Conquer'd him, cut off his Head, caſts it into a Veſſel full of Blood, ſaying, Satia te Sanguine quem Sitiſti, Cujuſque Inſatiabilis ſemper fuiſti; Glut thy ſelf now with Blood, whereof thou could never get enough) was a Juſt Reward from the God of Juſtice: This Cambyſes, (who is call'd Artaxerexes in the Perſian, and Ahaſuerus in the Chaldee-Tongue, Names given in common to Kings of Perſia, (as Pharaoh to the Kings of Aegypt, &c.) ſignifying, Great Warriour, or Great-Head) thoſe Courtifi'd Counſellors Writes to, and turning Informers, Wrote a Diveliſh Accuſation, Hebr. [Satana] a Satanical Suggeſtion) Hatcht in Hell, and Dictated by the Devil, the Contents of it being Falſe and Scandalous; for then they had not begun either with Building the City or the Walls of it, v. 6, 12, 14. Thoſe Mercenary Pick-Thanks obtains hereby a Commiſſion to cauſe the Work of the Houſe of God to ceaſe, v. 24. The Hindring of the Temple-Building was the Principal thing Intended, though the Building of the City and of its Walls was falſly Pretended. This Plot proves ſo powerful, that though the Propher Daniel, (and Gabriel, Dan. 10. 13.) Remain'd there with Cambyſes and his Counſellors, to repreſs their Rage, and to Blaſt their Projects againſt the Church; and though he was a great Man ſtill with the Kings of Perſia, (as he had been long with the Kings of Babylon, and ſo, marvellouſly Uſeful to the Churches Preſervation during her Captivity) though ſtill he was in great Account, (after her Return out of Babyloniſh-Bondage) yet was he not now Great enough at Court, ſo as to Defeat the Deviliſh Deſigns of Cambyſes his Bribed Counſellours, who had now put a Stop to the Temple-Building at Jeruſalem: This Diſaſter caſts Holy Daniel into his Melancholly-Dumps, Dan. 10. 1, 2, 3. in the 3d. Y. of Cyrus (which was the firſt of Irreligious Cambyſes Reigning as a Vice-Roy in his Fathers abſence, as above, Ezra 4.6.) Daniel Underſtanding the Stop to Temple-Work, falls a Faſting and Praying Three Weeks, becauſe the Prince of the Kingdom of Perſia withſtood him, v. 13. for ſo long a time, even Three Weeks, or One and Twenty Days: This [Him] thus withſtood, is the Angel Gabriel as well as the Prophet Daniel, and this Prince (that withſtood them both) is Wicked Cambyſes, or that Evil Angel, the Devil, who had an Hand in the Stop, and ſet Cambyſes on Work to Reſtrain the Re-edifying of the Houſe of the Lord. Yet may we not Imagine that any Earthly Prince hath any power over an Holy and Heavenly Angel; No, not, though he hath the Devil to Help him, as here Cambyſes had: but, inaſmuch as Cambyſes (this New King of Perſia) had Hindred the Temple-Work (by Divine Permiſſion,) he had thereby Hindred Gabriel from bringing Daniel the glad Tidings, which otherwiſe he had ſooner brought him, ſeeing his Prayers were (both) Heard and Granted from the firſt of thoſe 21 Days, v. 12. Though this Grant was not made known by Gabriel to Daniel until Daniel had been Tugging hard with God for an Anſwer all that Three Weeks; at the End whereof Gabriel comes flying ſwiftly, as Dan. 9. 21. Hebr. with wearineſs of Flight, as if glad of the Good News himſelf, thinking (as it were) his Wings could not carry him faſt enough to Comfort Diſconſolate Daniel, as Ahimaaz (who over-ran Cuſhi) thought his Leggs could not carry him over-faſt to Comfort Diſtreſſed David, 2 Sam. 18. 23. 'Twas Gabriel that brought the good Tidings, but 'twas Daniel that brought him (who brought them) by his Prayers: the Angel ſaith, Now I am come for thy Word, v. 12, 14. Though I have ſtayed thus long, further telling him, Cambyſes (and the Devil by him) had ſo ſtrongly withſtood his Miniſtring Office for the Churches Good in the Perſian Court, that he ſtood in need of the Help of Michael, that Angel of the Covenant, or Lord of Angels, One of the Chief Princes, v. 13. One of the Three Perſons of the Trinity, or Chief of the Angels, or, Sept. foreign the Chearful Ones, (who ſerve the Lord Chearfully in his Wars.) this Chief One was the Meſſiah, who is Elegantly Deſcrib'd, v. 6. anſwerable to that Deſcription of Chriſt, Revel. 1. 10, 13, to 15. and 19. 12. Hence obſerve that Gabriel ſtood in need of the Help of Michael or Meſſiah (which is a better Help than that of Angels) againſt the Adverſaries of the Church, to Repreſs and Suppreſs their further Crafty Counſels and Cruel Contrivances againſt her: This is a ſtanding Cordial to the Diſtreſſed Church, That She hath a Champion who will ſtand by her and for her, though all Wicked Men on Earth, and all the Wretched Devils in Hell ſtand againſt her and withſtand her. Thus the Angel Gabriel Comforts Dejected Daniel, (who Sadly Sympathiz'd with the Sad Suffering-Church, v. 15.) that none Help'd the Angels againſt the Churches Enemies, but Michael her Prince, v. 21. and Dan. 9. 25, 26. He is the King and Head of his Church, and Saviour of his Body, Epheſ. 5. 22, 23. ſee Joſh. 5. 14. Ezek. 34. 24. Act. 5. 31. Revel. 1. 5. and 19. 16. This is Comfortable, that when the poor Church hath no Humane Helps, yet hath ſhe Angelical. The Angel Gabriel telleth Daniel, I will Return (now I have Delivered my Joyful Embaſſage to thee) and Fight againſt the King of Perſia, v. 20. Ch. 10. to wit, Cambyſes and all his Wicked Counſellours, who are ſett on by the Devil, and who ſetts on their Inſtruments, which went up in haſte, to cauſe the Work of the Houſe of God to ceaſe, Ezr. 4. 23, 24. the Devil driving them, and their own Malignant Diſpoſition (like a ſtrong Byaſſe) drawing them thereunto: but (ſaith Gabriel) I will withſtand them (who hath hitherto withſtood me) and Confound all their Plots and Proceedings againſt the Church; I will Return and Finiſh that War which I have leſt (to come with Tydings to thee) Unfiniſhed; and though not One (of the Princes or Potentates) joyn with me to Anſwer thy Prayers and Favour the Church, yet know, the Arch-Angel, Michael or Chriſt, concerns himſelf, and this is enough: Oh how many muſt we Reckon the Meſſiah for? as Antigonus ſaid of himſelf to his timerous Army, that Trembled at the multitude of their Adverſaries: This Michael (ſignifying, who is like thee) is of himſelf a whole Army of Men, Van and Rear both, Iſa. 52. 12. If he be for us, 'tis no matter who's againſt us, Rom. 8. 31. Hence the Devils Plot began to be Spoiled; this Mighty Michael ſtirs up Two Prophets (Haggai and Zechariah) to Stir up the People to Return to their Building, Ezr. 5. 1. Zerubabel and Jeſhua (the Prophets of God Helping them) carry on the Temple-building which had been begun before; then the Devil Rages againſt them, being ever an Adverſary to the Houſe of God and to the things thereof; He Stirs up Tatnai and Shether-Boznai (with their Complices) to Interrupt them in Building Gods Houſe, (though they never oppoſed them in Building their own Houſes) by Asking their Authority, and (juſt like our Informers) requiring their names, Ezr. 5. 3, 4. but the Eye of their God was upon the Elders (that Eye not onelyonly of general Providence, but alſo that of Special Grace) to Animate them in their Work) ſo that they could not make them to ceaſe, v. 5. And hereupon thoſe Governours Write a Letter to Darius Hyſtaſpes, (who Succeeded Cambyſes) wherein they give a fair Relation, but with a foul Intention. The Devil and his Inſtruments had now the Ball upon their Foot, thinking to carry the Game before them (having now got the Governours on their ſides) and that none could come neer to overtake them; but behold! the Triumph of the Wicked is ſhort, Job 20. 5. The Pillar of Providence purſues them (as with an Hue and Cry) comes up to them at Darius Court-Rolls, Ezr. 5. 17. and 6. 1. There that Commiſſion of Cyrus for rebuilding the Temple was found, (which they had ſuggeſted in their Malicious Letter would not be found, hoping the Jews would be found Lyars) the Contents whereof was, That none ſhould come at them to Hinder them, none ſhould meddle with them to make diſturbance, if any durſt Diſturb, let his Houſe be pull'd down for a Penalty, and let all Kings and People (that dare Diſturb them) be Deſtroyed, [a Dreadful Curſe, and ſuch as God ſaith Amen to,] Ezr. 6. 6, 7, 11, 12. The finding of thid Decree of Cyrus (with thoſe Contents, &c.) was a marvellous good Providence to the Diſturbed Church; the Malice of her Adverſaries in Writing that Malicious Letter, prooved a great Furtherance to the Finiſhing of the Temple, as Pauls Perſecution at Rome prooved not an Hinderance, but a Furtherance of the Goſpel, Phil. 1. 12.) For hereupon Cambyſes's Wicked Decree (of Hindring Temple-Work) was far Removed, as Micah had foretold, Mic. 7. 11. and thoſe very Governours (the Churches Adverſaries) do (upon the Receiving of Cyrus Decree by Darius) 1. Pay in the Kings Tribute to defray the Charges of Building the Temple; and 2. ſend in all manner of Sacrifices, when finiſhed, v. 12, 13, 8, 9. Thus God ſtill over-ſhoots Satan in his own Bow, cauſes the very Dogs to lick the Sores of Lazarus, and makes all things to work for good to them that love God, Rom. 8. 28. Joſephus and Eſdras ſay, Darius granted all this upon Zerubabels excellent Diſcourſe, how Women was ſtronger than Wine, too ſtrong for Kings, yet Truth is ſtrongeſt of all. Then the Lord Removed the Decree (of Hindring the Building) aſar off, Mic. 7. 11. by Darius's Commiſſion, Ezra 5. 3. and 6. 1. So that notwithſtanding all the Oppoſitions from Wicked Men and a Wretched Devil, in the 6th. Y. of Darius, the Temple of God is Finiſhed, and the Dedication of it is Solemnly Obſerved, Ezra 6. 15, 16. (about 15 Y. after the Foundation had been laid) Yea, and the Paſſeover alſo, v. 19, 20, 21, 22. Neither was this all the Lord did for his Churches Weal, Romovendo Prohibentia, in Removing Hinderances out of her way, but alſo [Applicando Adiutoria] in Contributing Furtherances, not onelyonly in making their very Adverſaries to become their Auxiliaries, as before, v. 13. (who did lend her Sacrifices of all ſorts, and that Speedily, according to Darius Decree, becauſe they durſt do no otherwiſe) but alſo in Sending her Ezra in the 7th. of Darius, (call'd by that common Name of the Perſian Kings, Artaxerxes) to ſtrengthen their Hands in the Lords Work, and to make a wonderful Reformation, Ezra 7. 1. &c. and Ch. 8. and Ch. 9. Thus the Viſion of Zachary, Zech. 1. 17, 22. (who Prophecy'd at that time) was Accompliſh'd in the greateſt part, for he ſaw four Horns who ſought to ſcatter Judah, to wit, Rehum and Shimſhai, Ezra 4. 17, 23. Tatnai and Shether-Boznai, Ch. 5. 6. and he ſaw four Carpenters to break thoſe Horns, to wit, Zerubabel, (call'd alſo Sheſh-bazzar, ſignifying, Joy in Tribulation) Joſhua, (a Saviour) Ezna, (an Helper) and (to Compleat the Number of Four, God ſent his Church Nehemiah, (ſignifying, the Comfort of the Lord) in the 20th. Y. of this Darius, Artaxerxes; with a full Commiſſion from the King to repair the Walls of the Holy City, after that the Altar and Temple had been re-Built by other Hands. Hereupon began the 2d. part of the Devils 19th. Plot, who ſtirred up Peſtilent oppoſition againſt the Church both from Without and from Within. (1.) From Without, by open and profeſs'd Enemies, to wit, Sanball at, Tobiah, and Geſhum the Arabian, Neh, 2. 10, 19. Sanballat (which ſignifies a pure Enemy) and Tobiah, (that Advanced Vaſſal) were ſo Sly and Subtle, (being the Old Serpents Diſciples) as to Inſinuate by Allyances to the High-Prieſt, Neh. 13. 4, 28. yet were mortal Enemies to the Church, and 1. It grieved them exceedingly, that there was come a Man to ſeek the Welfare of Iſrael, Neh. 2. 10. had they been Ingenious, their very Alliance to Iſrael ſhould have made them Rejoyce in Iſraels Proſperity; but the Curſed Malice of this Moabite and Ammonite, had ſwallowed up all the ſparks of common Ingenuity. This is the (1ſt) Appearance of the Devil in them, they look'd upon Nehemiah with a lowring look, with an evil Eye, (as Cain did upon Abel) and ſuch was their Spleen and Spight, that they became Sad at it. (2ly.) The Devil (in them) turns their Sadneſs into Madneſs, v. 19. they had onelyonly been made Sad before, but now are they made Mad with their own Malice, and falls a wagging their Wicked Tongues to Scoff and Deride thoſe Godly Wall-Builders, and to laugh them to Scorn. Herein Geſhem (Darius's Lieutenant in Arabia) Confederates with them at the Devils Inſtigation, v. 10. and Ch. 6. 2. and Ch. 4. 1, 2. Now when God had Laughed this Laughing-Deſign of the Devil to Nothing (1) by Nehemiahs Courage, Neh. 2. …0. and (…) by the Peoples Conſtancy, and their good mind to Work. Ch. 4. 6. when Scoffs and Sarcaſms could not deterr them from Working; then (3ly) Satan Hurries them into a Secret Conſpiracy to Oppoſe their Building-Work by an Open Hoſtility, Neh. 4. 8. that by turning their Works into Knocks, they might make them either Creep into Corners or Run away: (4ly) They Strengthen their Cruel Conſpiracy by the Devils Crafty Counſel. (1) In Raiſing falſe Rumours, Reporting that Nehemiah and the Jews did Intend to Rebell, Ch. 6. 6. Thus they lay no leſs than the Crime of High-Treaſon to their Charge, Intending to charge Home thoſe Children of the moſt High God, as Dan. 6. 13. Ezr. 4. 13. Eſth. 3. 8. And they have a moſt Credible and Creditable Witneſs to prove it too, to wit, Geſhmu (or Geſhem, the Arabian, their Fellow-Conſpirator) ſaith it, ☞ Who knows not, that Vulgar Rumour is a loud Lyar? Is it true becauſe it is Reported, and that by them that ſay Report, and we will Report it, Jer. 20. 10. Pſal. 31. 13. as if there were no falſe Deſaming Detracting Reports feigned only out of the Addle-Brains of the Reporters themſelves, Ch. 6.8. Geſhmu here Broaches the Slander, and Sanballat and Tobiah will Blazon it; the former ſetts it on Foot, and the latter keeps it a Float, Hoping (according to Machiavels Maxim, (Fortiter Galumniare, & aliquid Haerebit) If they ſlander'd ſtoutly, ſomething would ſtick: It doth not follow, becauſe 'tis Reported, therefore it muſt be true, beſides Geſhmu's Tongue was no ſlander, for he was known to teach his Tongue the Art of Lying, as Jer. 9. 3, 5. and was this Man who was a loud and lewd Lyar, Yea, and a Party too in the Conſpiracy, fit to be a Witneſs, but any would ſerve Sanballats turn, who, for a need, could have Suck'd ſuch a Slander as this out of his own Fingers ends: And they belyed good Nehemiah, (as after they belyed Chriſt himſelf, Joh. 19. 12.) that he would have made himſelf King of the Jews, and that he had Hired Prophets to Preach him up King in Jeruſalem, v. 7. As if Haggai and Zachariah (the True Prophets of the Lord, and Preaching Ʋp the Kingdom of Chriſt, Hagg. 2. 7. and Zach. 9. 9.) had been Hired by him to Preach up the Kingdom of Nehemiah: whereas (indeed) they Muſed as they Ʋſed; this was their own (2d) Artifice in Hireing falſe Prophets to Affright the People from the Work of God, to wit, (1) Shemaiah the Prophet, Neh. 6. 10, 12, 13. and (2ly) Noadiah the Propheteſs, &c. v. 14. All theſe had Linguam Venalem, were meerly Mercenary: ☞ Thus the Churches Adverſaries can be at Coſt and Charge to Corrupt Gods People, and ſuch Hypocritical perſons may eaſily by Hire be Corrupted: the Suffrages of a great many Bribed Prophets are not ſo much to be Numbred as Ponder'd, their concurring Conſent in an evil Matter, was not ſo much Ʋnity as Conſpiracy; neither did the Devil Reſt here in giving Diſturbance from Without, but (2ly) the Church muſt have Diſturbance from within alſo, by their own People and Brethren, and that (1.) by Mutiny, Neh. 5. 1. and there was a great Cry of the People, as if it had been the outragious Uproar of a Seditious Faction, which is as Dangerous and as Threatning a Deluge, as the Head-ſtrong Water when once it is out of its Banks: (2.) by Treachery; ſome of the Nobles Maintain a private Correſpondency with their Enemies, (juſt as it is at this Day) Neh. 6. 17. Tobiah (that Curſed Adverſary of the Church) had his Penſioners among the Jews, and ſuch as were his Sworn-Servants to be true to him, and to promote his Deſigns, becauſe he was Son-in-Law to Shecaniah, Ezra 2. 5. whoſe Son had Marryed the Daughter of Meſhullam, (a Zealous Builder, Neh. 3.4.) This Miſchief mix'd Marriages brought upon them, Neh. 6. 18. and 3. 5. The Sooty Souls of thoſe Nobles, (or, Hebr. White Ones) under their White Garments, were too Stiff to Stoop to Gods Service, but not to the Devils. Notwithſtanding all this, The Lord Laughs all the Devils Deſign to nothing: Nehemiah under all his Difficulties directs his Prayer to God, Neh. 4. 4, 5. This was his Sanctuary he ſlyes to, Eaſing his own Grieved Heart by Breathing Heaven-ward, and turning over all the Churches Adverſaries into the Hands of the Captain of his Salvation, (he looking upon himſelf but as a private Souldier under him) to take them all to Task: ☞ Woe to thoſe Enemies againſt whom Saints do Pray as he did, [Turn their Reproach upon their own Heads; Give them for a Prey, and Cover not their Iniquity.] If they onelyonly be Bleſſed whoſe Sin is covered, Pſal. 32. 1. Oh what a Curſe do they lie under, whoſe Condition is contrary: Nehemiah makes Prayr (all along) his City of Refuge, His Anchor in all Storms His Salve for all Sores, Neh. 4. 9. and this brought all the Counſel of the Devil and his Imps to nought, v. 15. Pſal. 33. 10, 11. God Strengthned his Hands in his Work, (as he Weakened the Hands of their Enemies) Neh. 6. 9. So that he Finiſhed the Wall of Jeruſalem, (maugre their Malice) v. 15. The Feaſts of Tabernacles was kept, Ch. 8. and a Solemn Faſt, Ch. 8. and 9. a Solemn Covenant is Entred into, Ch. 10. Offices are Ordered, Ch. 12. The Temple Purged, and Religion Reformed, Ch. 13, &c. See more of this further on Nehemiah in the 20th. Plot next Following.