The Kings Chronicle, Chapter 4

The Kings Chronicle · Chapter 4

p. 44THE ACTS OF ASA.

CHAP. IIII.

ASA do's that, which is good and right before the LORD, for he takes away the abominations from before His eyes, then waxeth mighty; obtaines a glorious victory over as mighty an hoaſt, as ever we reade of. A good Prophet takes the oceaſion, and incourageth Aſa to goe on, and doe more for GOD, That did all for him. Aſa hearkens; he and his people enter into covenant with GOD; and then he would not ſpare the higheſt perſon in his Kingdome, becauſe ſhe had committed folly there with stocks and ſtones. He hath his infirmities in body and mind both; but there is a Mantle wide enough to cover all; he fell into a ſweet ſleepe, and was laid in a bed of spices.

ASA his Son reigned in his stead; An excellent man, 2 Chron 142 Chr 14yet his Father bad enough, and his Mother ſtarke naught; for ſhe ſerved I dols, and worſhipped before ſtocks and ſtones; Good principles are from our good GOD; not borne with us, nor conveyed unto us by all the labour and diligence of godly Parents. (Yet they ſtand bound to doe what they can:) Nor can the worſt Parents, ſuch as Aſa had, wicked and Idolatrous both, lodge Idolatrous principles in that heart to corrupt it, which GOD will ſanctifie. Notwithſtanding what the Father was, and Maacah his Mother, yet Aſa was a very good man, a great example of wiſedome in the poſturing himſelfe and his Kingdome, and of ſucceſſe thereafter.

p. 45Aſa did that, which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God ccver. 2.. What did he doe? He tooke away thoſe abominable, thoſe accurſed things, which brought Sodom to Jeruſalem, the Idols there from before the eyes of the LORD, for He tooke away the Sodomites dd1 Kin. 15. 121 Kgs 15:12the Altars of the ſtrange gods, and the high places, and brake downe the Images, and cut down the groaves. That was a good beginning; to thruſt-away thoſe curſed things, which will thruſt us away from God, and God from us. So Aſa began, and his very firſt ſtepp brought him ver. 3.halfe way to the end; ſuch an Energy, influence, and effectuall working the beginning hath into all the periods of time following▪ This taking away of Altars, and ſtrange gods; this breaking downe of Images is indeed the prime and firſt worke, it muſt have the priority, as in nature, ſo in time. The Rubb…ſh muſt be caſt-out before the building can goe up, theſe abominable things, which make a Kingdome naked, which conſume like a Moth, nay like a Cancer, eating out the heart of a Kingdome, theſe muſt be thruſt away firſt, elſe the Kingdome cannot be ſet in a Poſture of Defence; nor is that done (till this be done, till theſe abominations be caſt-out) which is good and right in the Eyes of the Lord: When Aſa did doe ſo, it followes (to give cleare teſtimony that ſo he did) For hee tooke away the Altars, and brake downe the Images.

Having ſo well begun, he followes▪ on the worke as well, he commanded Judah to ſeeke the Lord God of their Fathers, and to doe the Law and Commandement; We muſt marke this, that we may put the more obſervation upon it; And commanded Judah, that is, he made an Ordinance in Judah, that Judah ver. 4.ſhould ſeeke the LORD, and doe the ſame, as Aſa had done (which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD) doing the Law and the Commandement. Now this Cammand or Ordinance was in ſeaſon, for the verſe before tels us, He took away the Altars; and the verſe following tells us ſomewhat ver. 3. ver. 5.more, That he tooke them away out of all the Cities of Judah. Had not Aſa done ſo, he had done a deceitfull worke, nay, he had mock'd God; he had made a ſhow only to doe that, which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD, if he had ſuffered p. 46thoſe Altars and Images, ſuch abominable things to ſtand before the Eyes of the LORD. We muſt obſerve Aſa's way and method ſtill; and how one thing followes another, and gives cleare proofe and ſtrength to that, which went before, He did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD; For he took away the Altars, brake down the images, and (then) commanded Judah. All this was done decently and in order.

But how did Aſa command? By the word of a King ſure, and there is power ccEccleſ 8. 4.Eccl 8:4; Yes, and by his example ſure enough, for that is the greateſt command; He will do what himſelf commanded, He tooke out of all the Cities of Judah, the high places ver. 5.and the Images, and then, he commanded Judah; what followes now, that there is ſuch a cleare riddance of that, which is ſo contrary to the Militia of a Kingdome, that we may call it the Malitia [the malice] of the ſame, unhallowed Altars, dung-hill gods: What followes after this riddance? And the ver. 5. 1 King. 15. 12.1 Kgs 15:12Kingdome was quiet before him. Yes, quiet now, for theſe Achans, theſe troublers, Altars, Images, which brought Sodom into Jeruſalem **Aſa tooke away the Sodomites out of the Land, and remooved (the cauſe) all the Idols there. Admit the Idols, y… cannot doubt of the Sodomy, for the reaſon given, Rom. 1 23. Dr. Hall… Cont. 2. King 9. 22.Rom 1:232 Kgs 9:22&c. are removed, then quietneſſe and reſt, and not till then. If we ſhould aske Jorams queſtion, Is it Peace? We muſt be anſwered, as Jehu anſwered him, what Peace ſo long as the whoredomes, and the witch-crafts are ſo many? What peace ſo long as Images ſtand, and Crucifixes ſtand, and Altars ſtand? But Croſſes are broken downe; and Altars are throwne downe; and Images are ſtampt to pouder; Then it will be, as it was here, The Kingdom was quiet, GOD gives it reſt, it is a peace of GODS giving; MercieMercy and Truth are met together, Righteouſneſſe and Peace have kiſſed each other: And the Kingdome was quiet before him.

And now he has leaſure, while the time is calme, and the ver. 6.Kingdome quiet, to provide for the troubles of warre, which Pſal. 85. 10.Ps 85:10he did, He built fencea Cities, for he had no warre in thoſe yeares, becauſe the LORD had given him reſt; Aſa had reſt and Peace from GODS hand, that was a good, an aſſured and ſecure peace, for God ſet His Hand to it, then gave it to Aſa▪ Therefore he ſaid to Judah, let us build Cities, and make ver. 6.walls and Towers, Gates and Bars, becauſe we have ſought the LORD our GOD; We have ſought Him, and Hee p. 47hath given us reſt on every ſide: ſo they built and prospered. We will looke over this againe, for the way Aſa goes-in to poſture his Kingdome, is exemplary, ſafe and excellent, there is ver▪ 7.not any one ſteppe he takes, but is remarkable, He did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD, for He tooke the abominations from before His eyes: Then he commanded Iudah to ſeeke the LORD, and to doe the Law and the Commandement: Then, ſayes he, let us build Cities and fortifie them, for we have ſought the LORD after the right manner; we have ſought Him by Prayer and Faſting, ſo as He is found of us; We are ſure we have ſought Him, and as ſure, we have a bleſſing from His hand: He hath given us reſt on every ſide; Wee will build and GOD will proſper, for we have done the Law and the Commandement in removing the Idols from before His Eyes. Then reade how ſtrong he is, and what an Army hee hath, Five hundred and fourſcore thouſand, all theſe were mighty men of valour.ver. 8.

Now Aſa has done according to the mind and will of GOD▪ in Poſturing his Kingdome; hee hath removed all that, which is offenſive to the eye of his LORD, and ſo has made his Kingdome, as a wall of Braſſe. It is well he hath done all this, for he will find preſently, That the Nations are angry, That Hell from beneath is moved at this Poſturingworke, and ſtirreth up the dead against it: Next newes hee heares is, That Zerah the Ethiopian is come out againſt him with an Hoſt, as the ſands for multitudes, a thouſand thouſand, ver. 9.and three hundred Chariots, and they were come-up unto Mareſhah, in the very borders of Judah; enough, if multitudes of men, and Chariots, and gods could doe it, to licke up Judah as an Oxe licketh up the graſſe. What now? Aſa was glad with all his heart, that the LORD had inſtructed him to diſcretion: though he had enemies without (he cared not how many) yet he had made a faire riddance of his enemies within, Idols and Idoll ſervices, he had caſt-them-out, thoſe miſchievous things; he had commanded Judah, to ſeeke the LORD▪ and to doe the Law and the Commandement; he had uſed the meanes in fortifying his Kingdome; he had not ſlept away the peaccable time that God gave him, but improved it to the p. 48ſtrengthening himſelfe and his Kingdome; now he can mock at feare, and laugh at his Adverſary, though, to looke upon, very terrible. Laugh at his Adverſary, who is come out againſt him with an Hoſt of a thouſand thouſand; laugh at him! Yes, he might laugh at all the Adverſaries in the world, and in hell too, that had cleanſed his Land and his heart of Idols: He can looke his Adverſary in the face, and have him in deriſion. Then Aſa went out againſt him, and they ſet the battle in array [We ver. 10.muſt uſe the meanes, elſe we doe not truſt but tempt GOD,] And Aſa cryed unto the LORD his GOD. [What! Laugh and cry both together? Yes, one and the ſame man may doe both, and both together: He cannot laugh at his Adverſary, who is a Legion, that cannot cry unto his God.] Aſa cryed [That is, he ſet his face ſtedfaſtly to heaven; his eyes were uppon ver. 11.his GOD] And ſaid, Lord, it is nothing with Thee to helpe, whether with many, or with them, that have no power [It is all one to an Almighty Arme, to worke with many or with few: with meanes or againſt meanes; but then His Arme has the Preheminence, when it is made bare of fleſh, and works for them that have no Power.

But had Aſa no power now, when he had an Hoſt of five hundred thouſand; All theſe mighty men of valour?

This Aſa accounted no power. Alas! what can two Armes of fleſh doe, but daſh together like two Potſheards, breake and conſume one another. Aſa durſt not truſt in his Chariots, nor in his Horſmen; who ever did ſo were brought downe and fallen; he would Remember the Name of the LORD, That was Pſ▪ 20. 7, 8.Ps 20:7Ps 20:8the way to ſtand upright:] Helpe us, O Lord our GOD, for we reſt on Thee. [A mighty Argument to draw God to his ſide. Our Fathers truſted in Thee; what if they did; it followes ever, they were delivered; becauſe they trusted on Him] We reſt on Thee. [A ſure prop, it never deceives; I ſay, Pſ. 23. 3, 4.Ps 23:3Ps 23:4never deceives that man, who has done as Aſa did, That which is good and right in the Eyes of the Lord, Helpe us, for we reſt on Thee; and the Lord will helpe his ſervants. Why? becauſe they reſt on Him; Hee will not deceive their Truſt, and it was Aſa's confidence in the LORD his God.

p. 49In thy Name we goe againſt this multitude, [(i. e.) not in our owne, but Thy ſtrength, in the power of Thy might, in whoſe hand multitudes are, but as one man; and Thou canſt make one man chaſe multitudes] O Lord, Thou art our God, Thou art ours, and we Thine by Covenant; Thy Name is called upon us; we have an intereſt in Thee; Thy people, Thou art our God.] Let not man, a poore weake creature, let not him prevaile; [Put him in feare, O Lord, That the Nations may know themſelves to be but men aaPſal. 9. 20.Ps 9:20; Men, not God, their Horſes fleſh, not spirit bbEſa 31. 3.Isa 31:3; Let not this man prevaile againſt Thee. Doe but ſtretch forth Thy hand, ſhew Thy ſelfe to be God, then both he that helpeth ſhall fall, and he that is holpen ſhall fall down…, and they all ſhall fall together. And ſo it was, for Aſa had done that, which was good in the eyes of the Lord; has given Him the glory of His wiſdome, power, mercy, goodneſſe, has ſecured himſelfe and his People, under the ſhadow of the Almighty; improves his intereſt there; then enters into his Chambers ccEſa. 26. 20.Isa 26:20, as he was commanded, for he has committed the whole matter unto God, has told Him plainly, That he will reſt on Him. And it pleaſeth GOD wondrous well, That He is rested upon; now ſee what GOD will doe for them, that truſt in Him: So the Lord ſmote the Ethiopians before Aſa, and before ver. 12, 13.Judah, and the Ethiopians fled: And Aſa, and the people that were with him, purſued them unto Gerat, and the Ethiopians were overthrowne, that they could not recover themſelves, for they were deſtroyed before the Lord, and before His Hoſt, and they carried away very much ſpoyle. Here was a wonderfull victory, ſuch an one as Iſrael had many yeares before over Midian ddNumb. 31. 49Num 31:49, for very probable it is, there was not, at this time, as then, a man loſt on Iſraels ſide: My reaſon is, the Lord did drive them with His Tempeſt: they were deſtroyed before the Lord and before His Hoſt, the Lords Hoſt: And now the Cities of the Philiſtines ſhall beſmitten too, and thoſe that wiſhed well to the Ethiopians. The feare of the Lord ſhall come upon all their neighbouring ver. 14.places, and all ſhall be ſpoyled.

Thus Aſa proſpers, he and his people had removed all that, which enfeebles a Land, makes a Kingdome naked, thoſe dung-hill-gods, thoſe miſchievous things; and ſee how he p. 50ſinites and layes all plaine before him, proſpers every way, and returnes with ſpoyles in abundance to Jeruſalem, to pay his vowes there, as wee ſhall reade preſently, for wee readeon.ver 15.

Aſa is no ſooner come to Jeruſalem, but a Prophet meets him 2 Chro. 15.2 Chr 15there (a good Prophet, upon whom the Spirit of GOD came) deales plainly with him, as a Prophet of the LORD, and that had the Spirit of the LORD, aſſureth him, ſaying; The Lord is with you, while you be with Him aa2 Chro. 15. 2.2 Chr 15:2: Bids him conſider ſeriouſly how it was with King and Kingdome, when they were without the true GOD, and without a teaching Prieſt bbver. 3., and without Law: when ignorance raigned, when vile and abominable things were exalted, ſet upon high and ſerved; when Sodom was in Jeruſalem, and the cauſe of that abomination, Idols there. Bids Aſa conſider how it was then in thoſe darke times; he muſt find upon eaſie ſearch, thoſe times to be darke, vexatrous and miſerable; nothing proſpered with Iſrael; nor peace, nor warre; not Counſels, nor deſignes, nor debates, nor preparations for the one or the other; nor Parliaments, nor plantations, nor traffique (the ſynnewes of the State) nothing proſpered; all went backe, tending to a miſerable deſolation; In thoſe times there was no Peace to him, that went out, nor to him that came in: but ver. 5.great vexations were upon all the Inhabitants of the Countries; ver. 6.Nation was deſtroyed of Nation, and City of City; how ſo for GOD did … them with all adverſity. They had forſaken Him, and He plagued them; but here was the complement of their miſery, The Lord forſooke His people, and then all the fore-mentioned followed, for when GOD forſakes a people, it ſhall be a miſerable time with them, there ſhall be an howling, becauſe of oppreſſion, They ſhall be vexed with all adverſity. When Aſa heard theſe words; (O it is a great matter, almoſt all in all, when Prophets will deale faithfully with their Lord and Maſter.) When Aſa heard the Prophet ſay ſo, for the Prophet had ſet the judgements of GOD as a Mountaine before Aſa's eye; Then he tooke courage, and went on towards a more thorough Reformation; tooke away the abominable Idols (as before out of Judah and Benjamin, or made p. 51clearer riddance then before he had done:) ſo alſo out of the Cities, which he had taken from mount Ephraim; If he were ver. ….Lord of their Cities, they ſhould ſerve his GOD too, that they ſhould; Is not Aſa their King? Then the Cities of Ephraim too, over whom he was King, ſhould ſerve his GOD, and not the gods of their owne hands and chooſing; And he would refine the worſhip of his GOD, impured with Idolatrous ſervices; and renew the Altar of the Lord, which, their Altars, made unto Devils, had quite defaced. Now marke, GOD had made a Mountaine, a plaine before Aſa; and the hils to melt; He wrought ſo wonderfully for Aſa, that ſtrangers were taken with it; The people round about came flowing in to him, They fell to him (ſayes the Text) out of Iſrael in abundance. Why fell they to Aſa? That is expreſſed too, They ver. 9.ſaw that the Lord his God was with him: Yes, He was ſo, and He will be ſo, while we are with Him; ſo the good Prophet aſſured K. Aſa.

Now he engaged himſelfe to ſerve the Lord more; Oh! It is well when Gods goodneſſe towards Prince and people make them all the better; are bonds of aſſurance to ſerve God more; to be yet more vile in their owne eyes; and to walke more humbly and more faithfully with GOD! Now Aſa will doe great ſervice to his God, and to himſelfe alſo: The greateſt ſervice that ever was heard of, if it be done, as he did it, in a right manner, and we keepe unto it. But marke firſt how methodically, how orderly Aſa goes-on; there muſt be a Thankoffering firſt, he had a glorious victory, God muſt have the glory of it.

Thus Aſa did, in a full and free acknowledgement, That GOD did all for him; he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, ver. ….and the ſtrangers with them out of Ephraim and Manaſſeh, and out of Simeon together at Jeruſalem; and there they offered ver. 10.unto the Lord of the ſpoyle, which they had taken: The LORD had given the enemies and the ſpoyles into their hands; in homage to This Lord, the Giver of victories, they rendred backe into their LORDS Hand of the ſpoyle, which he had brought to theirs. A very juſt, reaſonable and equitable thing, and but according to the command and rule: Offer unto God p. 48Pſ. 50. 15, 16.Ps 50:15Ps 50:16duplicate page p. 49duplicate page p. 50duplicate page p. 51duplicate page p. 52Thankeſgiving, and pay thy vowes unto the moſt High. Aſa had called upon the LORD in the day of trouble, the Lord kept promiſe with him, and delivered him: Aſa ſtood bound now, in the ſtricteſt bonds, to doe as hee did, To offen Thankeſgiving unto GOD, for that was the onelyonly way be could take, To glorifie the LORD, the Giver of victories.

Aſa goes on, he and all the people are gathered together at Jeruſalem ſomething ſhould be done now, which might well become ſo ſolemne a meeting: And this it was; Aſa could not thinke, that he and his people could be joyned cloſe enough to their God, Who had wrought ſo and ſo for them, ſuch Salvations: yet they would joyne themſelves as cloſe as they could; They entred into a Covenant to ſeeke the Lord: How? That is worth the asking; ſtill the manner how, for that commends all; with all their heart and with all their ſoule. That is the way, with all the heart and ſoule, for ſo 2 ver. 12.the LORD ſhewed Himſelfe with them; Aſſuredly, He did them good, With His whole heart, and with His whole ſoule bbJer. 32. 4.Jer 32:4.

Aye, but very likely, they ſhould find ſome refractory and ſtubborne ſpirits, very croſſe to this great worke, this engaging the heart to ſerve the LORD; Some men or women among the great ones, or amongſt the ſmall ones, having a ſpirit of contradiction, would not joyne with their Brethren; great ones might be ſtout, and ſmall ones might be careleſſe. It might be alſo the Cities of the Prophets, and many of the Levites would be refractory now, they would not come-in and proteſt to ſerve the LORD, and to renew Covenant with Him. No I That were ſtrange indeed, that men, who had underſtanding in the viſions of GOD, ſhould be backward here to renew Covenant with their GOD, to ſeeke and to ſerve Him, Who SOƲGHT them out at the firſt, and ſerved 2 Eſa. 62. 12.Isa 62:12them ever ſince, all their dayes; Who gives them plenty of all things, richly to enjoy; gives them leave to reape where they fowed not; and to dwell in houſes, which they built not; and yet unwilling to renew Covenant with This GOD, Who hath ſo engaged them to come unto Him, and to keepe with p. 53Him all their dayes! If any would be ſo abominable, refractory and ſtout, that they would not come-in, they ſhould be brought-in; If they would not yeeld to a golden Scepter, they ſhould ſtoope to an iron Rod; if not ſubmit to a ſweet eaſie yoake, they ſhould be broke to peeces with that of iron; And whoſoever would not ſeeke the LORD GOD of Iſrael, ſhould ver. 13.be put to death, whether ſmall or great, whether man or woman.

Well now; and yet it is not ſo well as we may thinke it is: for though we ſeeke the LORD with all the heart, and with all the ſoule, yet all the heart is deceitfull, and at the beſt a fleeting and unconſtant thing; GOD knowes, for indeed we know not, how deceitfull the heart is bbIer. 17. 9, 10.Jer 17:9Jer 17:10; Now we have it, we thinke at command, it deceives us quickly, gives us the ſlip, and is gone. Therefore there is a Caution put-in for that; They bind themſelves faſt with bands and coards, as with iron and braſſe; They ſware unto the LORD; [they proteſted ver. 14.to ſerve the LORD; they ſolemnly vowed themſelves His ſworne ſervants; They avouched the LORD for their GOD: Deut 36. 17.They had ſought GOD and found Him, none like that GOD; then they ſware, that they will hold Him faſt, and keepe unto Him.] But was it not with ſome of them, as it is now with all our vile Prieſts, and treacherous Prophets; did not their Proteſtation faulter in their mouthes? No; All Judah (marke that ALL) Judah ſware clearely, as if they were beſt content, that all the world might take notice, They ſware with a loud voice, and with ſhouting, and with Trumpets, and ver. 14.with Cornets.

But the heart commonly does not love to be in bonds, and fetters; was there no griefe of heart, no regret and giving-back there? No; for then it would have ſhewed it ſelfe, as it does in our Prieſts, they could not have framed to ſweare with a loud voice; But the Text cleeres it, That it was the merrieſt day, that ever they ſaw; And ALL JUDAH ver. 15.REIOYCED AT THE OATH: for they had ſworne with all their heart, and ſought Him with all their whole deſire.

And they that ſo ſeeke, ſhall find; ſo it followes, And Hee was found of them: And they that have found GOD have p. 54found all in that finding, Reſt and Peace; and that is all; and that followes too, And the LORD gave them Reſt round about. It is not imaginable, much leſſe can it be expreſſed, what peace, what a ſhower of Bleſſings followes this entring into Covenant, and keeping to it I will leave this to the heart of the Reader, and goe on, when I have ſaid but this; That then Aſa had made himſelfe and his Kingdome ſtrong▪ then he had poſtured, he had ſet himſelfe and Iudah in a posture of defence, when he had done as we have read. And they whoſe aime is ſo to doe, muſt doe as he did; for when all is done, nothing is done, till that be done, which Aſa did; till we, in a contrariety to the wicked in their wicked way, ſhall ASSOCIATE our ſelves, as the wicked all the world over, to breake bands, and caſt away coards, ſo we, To bind our ſelves with thoſe coards (which the wicked breake) To enter into covenant with our GOD; To keepe cloſe with Him, and walke humbly before Him all our dayes, Amen. We reade on.

Aſa had engaged himſelfe, had bound his heart with bonds and coards, ſo he goes on, for he will proove himſelfe, as was ſaid, a compleat patterne of Reforming, of right poſturing his Kingdome; I ſay, Aſa goes on, meets with a Mountaine in his way, which he will make a plaine; He has engaged his heart to walke-after the LORD aaDeut. 13. 14.Deut 13:14, and feare Him, and obey Him; ſerve Him, and cleave to Him; And now he muſt not spare; nor muſt his eye pitty, no not the ſtouteſt I mage in all the Country; No, though a Brother in Law, or his Son, or his Daughter, or the Wife of his boſome, or his friend, who is as his owne ſoule, though any one of theſe ſhould ſet it up, yet Aſa muſt throw it downe, his eye muſt not pitty nor spare, for ſo the charge bbDeut. 13. 8.Deut 13:8is; and Aſa muſt doe thereafter, for he hath ſworne. Let me object, like a foole, after my manner, as if I were in Aſa's ſtead; The Anſwer ſhall make amends for the folly of the objection, for it ſhall be given from Gods Mouth; I object,

Ob.

I may expreſſe my Authority, that GOD has given me, over my Brother, I am in place over him, and, in that reſpect, he is my inferiour; And over my Son, and Daughter, I am their Father; And over my wife too, GOD has made me p. 55her head, and Maſter; But now ſuppoſe (though I need not ſuppoſe, but for inſtruction ſake) That a Queene ſhould ſay, let us goe, and ſerve other gods, whom thou hast not knowne, thou ver. 6.nor thy Fathers; ſuppoſe, ſhe ſhould ſay ſo, and ſo doe, ſet up an Idoll in a grove? Nay yet higher, ſuppoſe ſhe be a Queene, and a Mother too, what muſt be done then? Thus I have made a queſtion, where no wiſe man ever made any: I anſwer, or rather the Lord by me, by way of expoſtulation.

An. Is there any command can give check to GODS command? Is there any Relation ſo neere, as that betwixt GOD and His people? Is there any Bond ſo ſtrong as the Bond of a Covenant? Is there any ſuch a Binder as an Oath? I have bound my ſelfe in an Oath, nay I have entred into a Curſe if I performe not. I muſt now, in the feare of GOD, and Neh. 10. 29.Neh 10:29dread of a Curſe, throw away, that, which ſought to thruſt me away from the LORD my GOD; Who hath wrought all the works in me, and for me. I will not ſay now, as Hierom ſayes, That, in ſuch caſes, I muſt thruſt away my Father, Hier. li. 2. Ep. 6. Per calcatum perge patrem.and mother, who would thruſt me from GOD; And, if, being thruſt away, they will lye in my way to with-hold me from following GOD, I muſt trample upon them; I will not ſay ſo. But this I will ſay, I muſt breake downe their Idolls, then ſtampe them to pouder, and more alſo, but it followes preſently.

This I have ſet downe for the information of us ſimple ones; for we ſhall meete with an Idoll in the boſome, which will plead as much as all this, and intice more ſecretly; but if we remember the Covenant, the Oath, and the Curſe, we ſhall be too hard for that Idoll, though it be a beloved one, and it ſhall downe, and be thruſt away. Now marke what Aſa did, for he inſtructeth very much, a very great example of well poſturing his Kingdome.

A fooliſh woman, a notorious Idolatreſſe, ſome ſay an Adultereſſe alſo (theſe commonly goe together, for the reaſon rendred, Rom 1. v. 23, 24. and are, whether hees or ſhees, the ſtouteſt fooles in the world, for they are ſtout and proud before GOD, and humble before ſtocks and ſtones) had committed folly in Iſrael, worſhipping an Idoll in a grove, ſome called it p. 56Priapus, an obſcene god, but guilded over, and made, by art, a pretty gaudy thing; And ſhe thought verily ſhe had beene a priviledged woman, ſhe had a licence to lift up her heart and eyes to lying and ſtrange vanities; ſhe was the Mother of Aſa, the King ver. 16., and, why might not ſhe doe as ſhe pleaſed, under her Sonnes protection, being Queene and a Kings Mother? Againe, this fooliſh Idolatrous woman (for ſhe had degraded her ſelfe by falling before an Idoll, and ſuch an Idoll, which was named before I was aware) conſidered not, That Aſa the King had entred into a covenant with his GOD, therefore he muſt not ſuffer any abomination to ſtand before His eyes, with whom he has entred covenant, and ſtrooke hands.

Oh but hee might ſpare that one Idoll, it was the Queenes Idoll, and the Queene his Mother, he might ſpare that: No but he might not; better ſpare a Thouſand then that one; for, though one be no number, yet it is the beginning of a number, and you may quickly adde one to it, and then one is two; and now it will multiply, ſpecially a Queenes Idoll. Certainly the Devill bleſſeth Idolls, for they multiply like fiſhes: Solomon had many Wives, and halfe as many Concubines, and yet but one Son: But his Wives Idolls, multiplyed, and filled City and Country both. Therefore Aſa did not ſpare Maacah, though ſhe was his Mother, he pl…cked her downe, and that is very emphatically expreſt; And alſo Maacah his Mother, even HER, he removed from being Queene, becauſe ſhe had made an 1 King. 15. 13.1 Kgs 15:13Idoll in a grove; The Idoll muſt downe too, and be deſtroyed; that followes, for if he would not ſpare his Mother, NOT HER, then, not her abomination ſure, that ſhould be deſtroyed, and ſo it was; And Aſa CƲT DOWNE ver. 16.her Idoll; Was that all? No; Idolls muſt be dealt more roughly with then ſo; and STAMPED IT; yet that was not enough to conſume an Idoll utterly; Now he makes an end of an old block, and BƲRNT IT. Where? It is a good queſtion, ver. 13.and the anſwer is notable, at the Brooke Kidron; That when he had ſtampt it to pouder; burnt it to aſhes; he might ſhew his juſt indignation againſt it yet farther, he would drowne it too; And all this for juſt reaſons, cleare in the Text.

p. 571. That he might ſhow Maacah his Mother what a vile god ſhe ſerved, that might be ſtampt to pouder, then burnt, and then dround.

2. To ſhew his juſt indignation againſt Maachas Image; ſhe was Queene-Mother, her Idoll, even hers, muſt be ſerved ſo, for it had brought more then a ſuſpition upon her, That ſhe was as uncleane as the spirit ſhe ſerved in that obſcene Image: Beſides, it was the Mother of Abominations, by the Devils bleſſing it had beene not only fruitfull, but had multiplied, filling the City and Countryes round about with Idols; And theſe, the Devill working effectually by them, filled Jeruſalem with Sodomites, they made Jeruſalem, the beloved City, a Sodom, which GOD overthrew, and repented not: for ſo we reade; when they knew GOD and glorified Him not as GOD, but changed the Glory of the incorruptible GOD into an Image made like to, what? I cannot tell, but what the Carver pleaſed; Therefore GOD alſo gave them up, &c. I pray you reade Rom. 1. 23, &c.Rom 1:23the place, and there you ſhall ſee Idols and Devils and Sodomites yoaked all together. Therefore Aſa cut downe Maachas his Mothers Idoll, EVEN HERS, and ſtamped it, and burnt it at the Brooke Kidron; That when he had done all this, he might doe yet more, drowne it alſo. Truly now Reformation is riſen to the higheſt, it did not ſtick at the head. While Reformation ſticks there, a Kingdome is never well poſtured; but there we leave it.

The Chapter concludes thus; There was no more warre till ſuch a time. We goe-on now, to enquire into that time.

And now we have heard as much as can be expected from an excellent King; the trueſt ſubject to the LORD his Maſter; a ſtout and valiant Souldier, every way provident for the peace of his people. He was a King, and a very good King, whoſe Actions we have beene treating of all this while; He was a Man too, that we all know, but we doe not alwayes wiſely conſider that, and anſwerably make an allowance. It followes now, how he acted as a man, ſtanding alone; and there, we looke to find ſlips and falls, infirmities, ſome worſe then that in his feete, whereof he died.

Surely the wiſe GOD ſuffers it to be ſo; leaves Man, as we p. 58doe our Child, to try how ſubſtantive he is, how he can ſtand alone; and behold he totters preſently, perhaps fall. ſlat upon his face. Why ſo? for excellent reaſon; That man may know, when he ſtood, he did not ſtand alone, but underpropt by an Almighty hand; that ſuſtained him: And what he did, he did by an Almighty hand too, that did it. O bleſſed be GOD for mans infirmities, whether theſe be in his head, or in his feete, or all over his body; Theſe, as the Lord gratiouſly orders them, makes him know, and know to purpoſe, that he is a man. A great point of knowledge this, and this of all men Kings are very unapt to know: Kings ſaid I; alas! we poorer men, beggars in compariſon, forget it often times, as our words and deeds doe teſtifie (for we blow as bigge in our little Ponds, as Kings doe in their great Seas aaVide Dominum ſaevientem in ſervos, &c. Fluct…s eaſdem, Lips. de Conſt. l…. 2 p. 25.) much more may Kings forget themſelves quite, being upon their pinacles. But then God leaves them (and ſo He may doe and in much mercy) that they may try, what is in their hearts; He knoweth it well enough, for He knowes all things, But He would have them to know it alſo. Bleſſed be God, I ſay againe, for our infirmities, That, though our heads may ſtand high, yet, looking downe to our feete, (our infirmities, our weakeneſſes) we are kept low, and made to walke ſoftly all our dayes. And ſo I ſhall ſpeake of Aſa's weakeneſſes or infirmities, for to that head I ſhall ranke them all; and then caſt a covering over them, wide enough to hide all.

Baaſha King of Iſrael, came up againſt Judah; blocks-up 2 Chron 16.2 Chr 16the paſſages to the intent that he might let none goe-out or come-in to Aſa King of Judah aaver 1.. That which ſeemes ſtrange is, why Aſa, being able to bring into the field, and Army of five hundred and foureſcore Thouſand, all mighty men of volour bb2 Chron. 14 8.2 Chr 14:8, thought it fit rather at this time, not to draw them forth; but to fight rather with money cc2 Cro. 16 2, 3., and to purchaſe his peace with the treaſures of GODS Houſe and his owne, at the hands of an infidell. A learned Knight in his Hiſtory of the world, ſpeakes thus for him, That Aſa's many thouſands of hands, employed in the late ſervice againſt Zerah, might be now buſied about their Lands, and other Trades, and better to winke at that apparent inconvenience, which the building p. 59of Ramah would bring upon them in after-times, then to take off his peoples hands and intentions from ſo neceſſary employments. Well, but this pleads nothing for to excuſe Aſa; he might winke at the building of Ramah (which yet he had not done, if his underſtanding had not beene clouded with feare) But he ought not to ſhut his eyes at this, That he calledin Benhadad the King of Syria into GODS inheritance upon theſe two deare rates; The breach of Benhadads league with Baaſha; and the expilation of the Temple. Here was an infirmity, a very great one, to call-in a Heathen King, and to make him breake covenant. Let this goe, for we will paſſe it over. But Hanani the Seer will not let it goe ſo ddver. 7., he came, and, like a good Prophet, reprooves even Aſa the King, ſaying; Did not the LORD deliver a huge Hoſt, with very many charets and horſe-men into thine hand? Thine enemies did ride upon horſes, and were very ſwift; but the LORD thy GOD, did ride upon the Heavens for thy helpe, and in His excellency upon the skie eeDeut 33. 26.Deut 33:26. And it is His manner ſo, To ſpie abroad even over all the world, where this faithfull man is, whoſe heart is ſtrong and perfect with his God, That He may ſhew Himſelfe ſtrong in the helpe of ſuch a man. Ah! thou ſhouldeſt have relyed upon this GOD, Whom thou haſt, ſo lately, found to be a ſtrong ver. 9.GOD; ſo faithfull, and true. Thou ſhouldeſt have relied upon Him, and not on the King of Syria. But becauſe thou haſt done ſo, thou muſt heare of it in plaine tearmes, though thou art King, and feele the ſmart of it too; Herein thou haſt done FOOLISHLY (there is plaine Engliſh; That was the manner in thoſe times, and then it was better with Kings then in after-times) Therefore from henceforth thou ſhalt have warre ff2 Chro. 16. 9.2 Chr 16:9There is one infirmitie diſcovered; the King had done FOOLISHLY, which ſhewed plainly, that the head was ill-affected, and the very heart faint. There is yet more diſcovery made of his weakeneſſe; he will not abide reproofe; he is ſo ſick, that he beats the Phyſitian, and then anon, huggs him too much, as if he could cure heart and feete, and all; for be relyed upon him, and in ſo doing he made him a god; We looke over all this in order as it was done.

1. He will not abide reproofe; That was a great infirmity, p. 60and the very note of a brutiſh man ggPro. 12 1.Prov 12:1. He beates his Phiſitian, that good Prophet; that was yet a greater infirmity; Then Aſa was wroth with the Seer, and put him in a priſon houſe, for he was in a RAGE▪ with him becauſe of this thing. Good man! he was in a rage indeed; but it was his infirmity. We reade on, and behold the greateſt weakeneſſe of all! And Aſa oppreſſed ſome of the people the ſame time. We thought verily that would follow, after we read that he was in a rage, and with his beſt friend, that he had in the world, for he told his Lord the truth, and his Lord was in a rage for that thing; then it followe…, and Aſa oppreſſed; in a rage with a Prophet, and for telling the truth, and oppreſſion of the people, went all together.

2. Poore weake man! for by this time he found and knew himſelfe to be ſo, and no better; and, as he grew old, ſo his infirmities growing upon him, His diſeaſe in his feete was now EXCEEDING GREAT: He ſhould then have ſought (that is, truſted) to the LORD; his eye ſhould have beene ver. 12.fixed upon Him, the great Phiſitian, that makes a man (every whit) perfectly whole, feete, and heart, and head and all. Aſa did not ſo; a poore weake man leanes upon man; weakeneſſe upon weakeneſſe; Aſa ſought to (i. e. relied upon) the Phiſitians; put confidence in them, ſo made them gods. What ſhall we doe with all theſe, for here are many infirmities?

We muſt learne hereby how to judge of others; and to make uſe of their infirmities, ſo as to ſtrengthen us againſt our owne. If we judge at all it muſt be by the rule, obſerving the beſt actions **See Childs portion, p. 94.that we can ſee in men, and judge not by their ſuddaine and inconſiderate wayes, but by the courſe of a mans life, and according to the more conſtant way and frame of his ſpirit. And here we may obſerve a great variety, and change in the wayes and actions of good men, as here in Aſa; In the 14. Chap. he does that, which is right in the eyes of the Lord, and commands Iſrael ſo to doe: and then he beares-up himſelfe See Iob in his ſecond Chapter, then looke upon him in the third.in the Hand and Power of GOD, and do's wonders. In the 16. Chap. he is cleane-off againe, and fainting before a creature, and then do's like a man, ſtanding, working alone without divine aſſiſtance. In the 15. Chap. he is hearkening to the good Prophet, and very attentive to his words, and ſtriking p. 61Covenant with his GOD, and bringing his people into Covenant with Him. In the 16. Chapter, he is wrath with the Seer, puts him into priſon, and oppreſſeth the people. It is a reſolved caſe; Man is not Subſtantive enough to ſtand alone; if GOD leaves Him, he fals, but that was noted before. We will note this here, That the inward-man, the inward frame of ſpirit is ſubject to as many changes, as the outward man; nay, it is expoſed to more invaſions, and greater incurſions, whereby to unſettle it, and put it out of frame, then is the outward man, the outward frame of body: which conſideration, if laid to heart, teacheth us firſt,

1. To walke ſoftly all our days, and humbly before our God; To fixe our ſelves upon His Arme, and ſtay our ſelves there continually; To ſay, as we heard before: Hold me, LORD, els I cannot hold Thee: if Thou takeſt me not by the hand, to hold me there, I ſhall ſlip, perhaps fall too, I know not how low. And

2. To breath after that place, where the Spirit ſhall be put into a conſtant frame of Holineſſe: It ſhall warpe no more, decline the good way no more, but be conſtant and unmoveable for ever. And thus we have learnt to judge of others infirmities, and to make uſe of them to our ſelves. Now we muſt find out a cover for all this, and, bleſſed be GOD it is found out to our hands. Bleſſed be God the Father of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, there is a Garment pure enough and large enough to cover all theſe infirmities, and heale all thy diſeaſes; Pſ. 103.Ps 103And this I leave to Faith, for it is not in ſight. There is another Garment, which I may call the mantle of Sincerity, that will hide great infirmities alſo, and under that covering, ſo wide and large, I will leave Aſa: Though after ſuch experiences of the commings-in of GOD unto him, yet he fainted before His creature; he was afraid of a man. Though the high places were not taken away: Though he was in a rage with a Prophet, for telling truth; and an oppreſſour too: Though in exceeding great diſtreſſe, and then ſought not to the LORD, but to the Phyſitians; though all this was in Aſa, overtaken 2 Chro. 15. 17.2 Chr 15:17with infirmities, yet this mantle of Sincerity is wide enough, Nevertheleſſe the heart of Aſa was perfect all his dayes. Under p. 62that covering we leave him, which hideth a multitude of ſins: Remembring ſtill, what man is in his beſt eſtate, and what were the firſt wayes of Aſa: He did that, which was good and right before the LORD, and remooved the abominations from before His eyes; commanded the people to ſeeke the LORD, to doe the Law and the Commandement; he entred into Covenant with all his heart, he did not ſpare his Mother, nor her Idoll, no not her. Certainly, The LORD remembred all this for good; he did many things amiſſe, like a man, but he tooke away the Sodomites, and the Idols, which cauſed them; he did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, he commanded all Iſrael ſo to doe (it may doe you good to reade it againe and againe) he brought them into a Covenant with their God, and all this with a perfect heart, this muſt be remembred to all Generations, Notwithſtanding the heart of Aſa was perfect all his dayes.Chap. 15. 17.

Now heare the end of all the ſons of Adam; So Aſa ſlept with his Fathers, and died in the one and fortieth yeare of his reigne: and they buried him in one of the Sepulchers, which he had made ver. 13, 14.for himſelfe. He was a wiſe-man ſure, he had ſerious thoughts of his long and laſt ſleepe, who had prepared his Bed before night came. This might be a meanes to ſet his ſoule in a good readineſſe, and his houſe in good order, that when death came, he might have no more to doe but die. I knew a man my ſelf, that had done the like, he had, with his owne hands, made his Bed, his Coffin, I meane, many yeares before he dyed; I have ſeene him lye downe in it with much comfort, for ſo hee could thinke of his latter end; hee told mee it was his manner daily, and it was a meanes to keepe him exceeding humble.

We reade of two, our Country men both, in their times very eminent perſons here: They made themſelves, not Beds, but Monuments, and the one remaines a Monument of his pride to this day. The other made himſelfe a Monument alſo, and glorying much in the Power he had put forth againſt the Lutherans, (the faithfull ſervants of CHRIST) would glory of it alſo, when he lay under his Tombe a ſleepe; and, that he might not perfect his owne praiſe with his owne hands, p. 63ſent over his mind to Eraſmus, with an ambling Horſe aaEſa. 22. 15. Even unto Shebnah, &c. Quoties hunc locum lego ſimile exemplum mihi po…ſſimum in mentem venit, &c. Vi…l. Cal. in verſum 17.Isa 22:15, That he would, after his manner, expreſſe his worthy deeds in cruſhing the Lutherans, and then returne it to him, to be ſet upon his Tombe. But ſee the lucke of it! This man was cut-off by the ſhoulders, his body buried we know not where, but without honour, neare to the block, where his body and his head were parted: And no other Epitaph over him, that we reade off, but the Axe the inſtrument of the execution. I mention all this here, to ſhow the different workes and aymes of men: ſome made themſelves Sepulchers, to tell the world their pride, and where they placed their glory: Others made themſelves Beds, to tell themſelves what they are Duſt, and Aſhes, and thether they muſt when all is done; and that there is a grave for their glory too: But if they doe glory, they will glory in the LORD.

Aſa had prepared his Bed before night came; when night came, death I meane, he was ready for it, and his Bed ready made: His people laid his body in it, after that they had made his Bed, the ſweeteſt of any, that ever we reade off, for it was ver. 14.filled with ſweet Odours, and divers kindes of spices, prepared by the Apothecaries Art. He had left a Name behind him, better then precious ointment; it was as an ointment powred forth, therfore they layed his body a ſleepe amidſt Spices: And ſo they made, in our language and manner, a very ſolemne funerall for him. The good Father is dead, and yet he is not dead, he lives in his good ſon, whoſe Acts follow.