The Kings Chronicle, Chapter 10

The Kings Chronicle · Chapter 10

p. 120THE Reformation of JOSIAH.

CHAP. X.

Joſiah, an excellent King; went very farre in Reforming and poſturing his Kingdome; was taken away in the height of this work; houſed in his grave, and then the ſtorme fell. GODS wayes equall; Mans unequall.

I Have ended the Story of Joſiah before I began it, for the dependance it had with that of his Father Amon, and his Grandfather Manaſſeh; And alſo becauſe, what hee did in point of Reformation, is fully contained and runns paralell with that his great Grandfather did before him: onelyonly ſome one or two expreſſions there are of great obſervation, which I ſhall obſerve anon. True it is, and well obſerved; As Amon his Father ſucceeded in the ſinnes of Manaſſeh's youth; ſo Joſiah his Grandchild ſucceeded in the virtues of his age. Joaſh began well, and ended ill; Manaſſeh began ill and ended well; Joſiah began his reigne, and ended, never any King better. True it is alſo, never any did riſe to an higher pitch of holineſſe, and from a ſurer bottome, 2 Chron. 34 3.2 Chr 34:3(for he laid the foundation thereof in his young yeares) then Joſiah did; and never any more deſirous and zealous that way, to carry all with him to the ſame height; And for this he ſtands upon everlaſting record, to be the beſt King that ever p. 121was before him, and never the like after him, though we could ſpeake of one, who was a young King, and an old Saint. All this I leave to the Readers peruſall, for his Story is plaine; Some things of note I ſhall take in, in paſſage, while I ſhall pleade forth a caſe with our own hearts, for our better inſtruction, but not with the LORD, for we are concluded He is Righteous aaIer. 12. 1.Jer 12:1; His wayes are juſt and equall; And I would ſhew the equity thereof in this place, where we have as compleated a Reformation as ever was, and yet as ſore judgements executed as we have heard of, and at the very inſtant time when the Reformation was ſo compleated, Notwithſtanding the LORD turned not from the fierceneſſe of His great wrath, 2 King. 23. 26.2 Kgs 23:26wherewith His anger was kindled againſt Judah, becauſe of all the provocations that Manaſſeh had provoked Him withall: See! here was a King, that had engaged his heart to the whole worke of the LORD; had proceeded very couragiouſly in it, even to the compleating of the ſame; yet he was taken away in the height and heate of his worke, when he and his worke was going on to perfection, then he was taken away. Is it not in vaine to ſerve GOD? what profit is it, &c. Let the wicked Mal. 3 14.Mal 3:14man ſpeake it out; let it ſo be ſpoken in Gath, and publiſhed in the ſtreets of Askelon; as for Iſrael, they will not ſay ſo, but the contrary; It is good to ſerve the LORD; to worke for Him; to deale couragiouſly for His cauſe: In His ſervice is perfect freedome, and it hath an aſſured recompence of reward. Doubtleſſe there is a reward for the Righteous, as ſure as there is a Pſal. 58. 11.Ps 58:11GOD that judgeth in the earth. All the faithfull ſervants of the LORD will ſay ſo, for they have found it to be ſo; And ſo Joſiah found it to be even then; never any King began ſooner to ſeeke after the LORD then he did, for it was his firſt ſeeking, while HE WAS YET YOƲNG dd2 Chron. 34. 22 Chr 34:2, and never any King followed-on eeHoſe. 6. 3.Hos 6:3better in the way of the LORD, for he declined neither to the right hand nor to the left; And ſo ſoone as he felt himſelfe ſtrong, (for Amon his Father, and Manaſſeh his Grandfather had weakened and polluted his Kingdome very much) he began to PƲRGE Judah and Jeruſalem from the high places, and all the abominations that were SPIED cc2 Chro. 34 3. 2 King. 23. 24.2 Chr 34:32 Kgs 23:24, (Marke that, it cleares our duty before our p. 122eyes) he ſought diligently, he pried narrowly into every corner, where that abomination might ſtand, out-facing GODS command, and grievous to His good Spirit, THAT WERE SPIED in the Land of Judah, did joſiah put away, that hee might performe the words of the LORD dd… Kin. 23. 24. He tooke away the Horſes given to the Sunne, and burnt the Charets of the ver. 12.Sunne with fier; Nay in a holy indignation marke what he did, he brake the Altars and Images in peeces, made duſt of them, ſtrewed them upon the water; he ſlew the vile Prieſts upon the Altars, and burnt their bones there, and ſtrewed the aſhes upon the graves of them that had ſacrificed there; In a word; All that the Idolatrous Kings of Iſrael had made to provoke the LORD to anger, Joſiah tooke away.ver. 24.

This is granted you will ſay, Joſiah was ſtedfaſt, unmoveable, 2 Chro 34. 4, 52 Chr 34:42 Chr 34:5alwayes abounding in the worke of the LORD; But what was his reward? I cannot expreſſe that, but the part of it, which was in ſight, was very greate; he ſhould not ſee the evill, that was to come aa2 Chr. 34. 28.2 Chr 34:28upon his dwelling place, and the inhabitants of the ſame. There was ſome returne for his goodneſſe, he ſhould not ſee the evill. Treaſures of wrath were ſowed and ſealed up in a bag bbIob 14. 17.Job 14:17, by his Father and Grand-father: the bag muſt be opened, and downe the wrath there muſt be powred, but Joſiah ſhould neither feele nor ſee that tempeſt; before that ſtorme fell he ſhould be HOUSED, gathered to his Fathers, ver. 28.and to his gave in PEACE. In peace! He was taken 2 Chron 5. 21, ….2 Chr 5:21away in warre, as we reade, he would not forbeare from medling with GOD ^c: He would not hearken to the words of Necho from the Mouth of GOD. It is true; he had politick reſpects enough, to ingage him to the warre, (which we examine not) but certaine it was, he did not aske counſell at GODS Mouth, for then his reaſons had ſhrunke-up to nothing. But the bag of wrath was full; it muſt be empited; wrath muſt come upon Jeruſalem; but that could not be, till Joſiah was taken thence, and houſed in his grave. As it was ſaid of Lets going to Zoar; ſo of Joſiahs going to his grave; wrath muſt fall, but I cannot doe any thing till thou be come thether ddGen. 19. …2.Gen 19:2. And thether he was brought, to his grave by an Arrow ſhot from an Enemy, and yet IN PEACE, in perfect p. 123peace, a peace that paſſeth all underſtanding; That King, who ſhall doe as Joſiah did, begin as he did, ſo proceed as he did, in cleanſing his heart from Idolls; and, being a King, ſhall SPYE-OUT through the whole Land, what is offenſive there, and ſhall remove it. This King, dies in PEACE, though in battell, and daſhed in peeces there as a ſnow-ball daſhed againſt the wall; yet in PEACE, becauſe in the peace of a good conſcience, which makes a man the merrieſt feaſt; when? when his body muſt goe to feaſt the wormes. And againe;

In PEACE, for it was peace in compariſon of that, which was ſhortly after to follow, when that bag of wrath muſt be opened, and the fierceneſſe thereof muſt kindle againſt Jeruſalem, and Judah muſt be removed out of GODS ſight. In peace, 2 King. 23. 26, 27.2 Kgs 23:262 Kgs 23:27with reference unto that time.

Now we come to the caſe, and there if we will spye into it, we may ſee our owne caſe. And could not this good King, and his goodneſſe keepe off wrath? did the meltings of his owne ſpirit, the spying-out and removing all abominations, did all this doe no good to the Land! did it but deliver his owne ſoule? yes doubtleſſe; It was a meanes to reſpite the judgement; to hold-back the wrath. Certainely were it not for theſe Joſiahs, theſe melting ſpirits, theſe that ſpye-out all abominations, and doe their uttermoſt for removing of them, were it not, I ſay for theſe, our ſinnes, our abominations, had found us out before this day, wrath had beene upon us before this time, our blood had beene upon our heads, and our Images had deſtroyed us before this day. But this is the point, the decree was paſſed and gone forth, wrath muſt come. Againe;

Innocent blood was ſhed in abundance, that filled up the meaſure apace. That cryes and calls for vengeance; the voice of it will not be ſtopped till the bag be opened, and wrath be powred downe.

Object. Why, but Manaſſeh ſhed innocent blood?

Anſw. True, for we doe verily beleeve, that Kings may doe injuſtice; Manaſſeh ſhed innocent blood; he was an Idolater, therefore a Man of blood, and chiefe in the treſpaſſe; p. 124but he had bloody ministers, as bloody as himſelfe, and woe unto them both ccTum auctor…b…s male ſic…rrum, tum admin…ſ…i…. I…. in Iſa. 2. 10 ….Isa 2:10.

Object. But Manaſſehs ſinne was put away…; ſo might theirs be, who were his miniſters in fulfilling his bloody commands.

Anſw. Grant that, and that was Davids caſe; the LORD had put away his ſinne: and yet ſee, what wrath fell downe, 1 Sam. 12. 13,1 Sam 12:13and abided upon his houſe. Sinne may be done away, and yet temporall puniſhment may be inflicted for mighty and juſt reaſon, which may eaſily be gathered up from that place, and elſe where.

Object. It may be ſaid againe; Manaſſeh was gone, and his generation with him; why ſhould wrath fall upon the children for that the Fathers did?

Anſw. There is a mighty reaſon for that alſo, which will charge and feoff all the righteous blood, ſhed in Qu. Maries dayes upon us, an impenitent people. Manaſſeh and his bloody miniſters had ſhed innocent blood in abundance, and they were gone. The generations following approved their doings. How doth that appeare? Thus; Becauſe it doth not appeare, that the generations after them did ever humble themſelves for that blood-ſhed in their Fathers dayes, any more then we have done for the blood our Fathers ſhed in Qu. Maries dayes. True it is, Joſiahs heart was tender, hee humbled himſelfe before GOD when he heard a ſound of wrath, Chr. 34 27.and we reade how it fared with him; It is not to be doubted alſo, but many amongſt us have beene and are ſo humbled too and for the re…ſon above ſaid. But the people were not humbled, they were not tender, their hearts did not melt; there was not a Nationall humiliation, for we know what followed; they were ſo farre from humbling themſelves thereby to turne away wrath, that they tranſgreſſed more and more; There was a forſaking in the whole Land; all were revolted, all degrees and eſtates, and they continued revolting, till there was no remedy, till they had brought Sodom and Gomorrah into Jeruſalem; They had Rulers, but they 2 Chr. 36. 16. Eſa. 1. 9.2 Chr 36:16Isa 1:9were (not (as) but) Rulers of Sodom; and the people, the people …r. 10.of Gomorrah.

p. 125But that which was the determining ſin, and filled up the meaſure was this, They mocked the Meſſengers of GOD, and despi…ed His words, and miſ-uſed His Prophets. How long perſiſted they in ſo evill a courſe? Untill the wrath of the 2 Chro. 36. 16.2 Chr 36:16Lord aroſe againſt His people. It is cleare; That there was no humiliation, for there was no Reformation, nay, there was a contrary walking ſtill, ſo approving the ſins of their Fathers by committing the very ſame. Therefore it was fullfilled according to the threat, I will cauſe them to be remooved into all the Kingdomes of the Earth, becauſe of Manaſſeh the ſonne of Hezekiah King of Judah, for that which he did in Jeruſalem: Ier. 15. 4.Jer 15:4And ſo we are come to the end of The Kings Chronicle. And it hath a ſad cloſe, very unanſwerable to expectation: for the laſt King we reade off, was the beſt King that ever was: And the Reformation he made was as compleat and perfect, (as imperious) if the Adverſary will have it ſo, as ever was any ſo much as upon deſigne, For he SPIED-out what Iſrael had made to provoke the LORD to anger, and tooke it away: And yet he could not hinder the ſaddeſt effects of GODS diſpleaſure, the violl of wrath from powring downe: Notwithſtanding deſolation followed even to aſtoniſhment, and an hiſſing. Joſiah could not make up the many breaches in the City of David, which Idolaters had made there. How corrupting, eating and conſuming abominable Idolaters are; and what a prevalence there is in a wicked Idolatrous example to deſtroy, more then is in a good example to make up and heale, has been ſpoken-off before. This only I will adde to this place, That where ſinne is let in like a flood, the ſtorme of GODS Judgements follow after, and falls downe ſwiftly and heavily upon the hairy ſcalpes of thoſe, who were inſtruments to open that ſluce or flood-gate: GOD hath ſet it downe by an aeternall Iuſſiſti Domine & ſic eſt ut omnis inordinatu… affectus ſibi ſic paena. c Ier. 8. 17.Jer 8:17Decree, that vexation and ſinne ſhould be inſeperable. Haſt thou not procured this unto thy ſelfe, in that thou haſt forſaken the LORD? Thine owne wickedneſſe ſhall correct thee, and thy back-ſlidings ^c ſhall reprove thee, &c.

p. 126¶ An Abridgement of the Chronicle. One concluſion drawne from the two Sections, with an uſe to thoſe that are in Authority, To walke in the good way, after the example.

TO make a collection of the whole Chronicle, I have in the former Section and Chapters traced the ſteps of the bad Kings of Judah, tending in ſhew to the ſtrengthening themſelves and their Kingdome; but indeed and in the iſſue, to the ruine and deſtruction of all. Their irreligious Policies carried them hopefully-on ſometime, but confounded them and broke them to peeces at the laſt, for they would be wiſe with their owne counſells and ſtrong in their owne ſtrength, ſo they rooted-in that, which could not be rooted-out, till even Judah was rooted-out of the Land. So ſtrongly, as one ſaith, doth the painted vizour of wiſe proceedings delude even thoſe, that know the fowle face of imp…ety lurking under it: But behold the wretched ends, that have ever followed it, whereof the Kings of Judah firſt mentioned, were themſelves very great examples, and ſo they are propounded to following generations, holding forth in their example DEATH and EVILL before Kings and people.

But now here is the wonder, that the wicked have not yet learnt, after ſo many thouſand yeares experience, That they worke a deceitfull worke, that they pull downe wrath upon their owne heads, and that the Politicians beaten wayes tend to death. They march-on as furiouſly now as ever they did: but I forbeare.

In the latter Section and fore-going Chapters, I have traced the ſtepps of the good Kings, and we have found them walking ſtrait-on towards thoſe two great ends, the glory of GOD, and the ſafety of their Kingdome, carrying all levell thereunto; for their counſell was taken from GODS mouth, and their ſtrength from His right Arme: They SPIED-out what Idolaters had done to provoke the LORD to Anger, and tooke it away. All their care was to make their p. 127Kingdome the LORDS Kingdome; and their Land the Lords Land. I need not adde, And they prospered; but I will adde, So they prospered, as that they were the wonder of the world, and The feare of them fell upon the Nations. And ſo theſe hold forth to after Generations, Life, Good, and Bleſſings. We might wonder here alſo, how any ſhould forſake this good way, and chooſe a way of their owne, but the heart is deepe, and the deceit there cannot be bottom'd, and there are depths of Satan, and wee are not ignorant of his wiles, how ready and able he is to ſeduce, and how willing the heart is to follow, though to deſtruction; but I forbeare here alſo.

From theſe two ſo different wayes, the bad and good Kings have walked in, we will conclude what way muſt be taken well to Poſture a Kingdome, for that is our maine ſcope of all that is ſaid: And firſt I will put it down negatively.

Not a Magazine of treaſures; nor an Arſenall of Armour, nor a Fleet by Sea, nor Forces by Land; nor Towers, Walls, Barrs, none of all this can ſecure a Kingdome, nor put it into a Poſture of Defence; for then Babylon, that great City, had ſtood it out to this day, which had a mighty River, a wall of water to ſecure it, and indeed thereby the King was ſo ſecured in his ſafety, That he was drinking wine in bowles, when part of his City was taken; and the Sword in his bowels, before a I… ▪ 51. 31.he feared it, for the LORD pleaded His Churches cauſe; He dried up her Sea, and made her ſprings dry bbver. 36.; then did the Inhabitants of Zion ſay, The violence done to me and to my fleſh, be upon Babylon ccver. 35.. And ſo it was, which tells us alſo, what ſhall be in after times, for the LORD will ſtretch forth His hand upon her, and roule her down from the Rocks, ver. 25.and will make her as a burnt Mountain.

The ſame might be ſaid of populous NO. If a MILITIA could have defended her, ſhe had been defended, for we reade her ſtrength was INFINITE. Yet ſhe was carried away, ſhe went into Captivity: her young children alſo were daſhed in peeces at the top of all the ſtreets, and they caſt lots for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound in chaines.Nahum. 3. 9, 10▪Nah 3:9Nah 3:10

I muſt not forget Jeruſalem, concerning whoſe MILITIA we have been ſpeaking all this while, if ſtrength of p. 128Walls, Towers, Gates and Barrs, could have defended Jeruſalem, ſhe might have bid defiance to her enemies and have mockt at feare. And that was the opinion of all the world at that time touching Jeruſalems MILITIA; The Kings of Lam 4. 12.Lam 4:12the Earth and all the Inhabitants of the world would not have believed that the Adverſary and Enemy ſhould have entred into the gates of Jeruſalem. But make a chaine, ſaith the LORD (that is) I will judge her, ſhe ſhall goe into Captivity, for her Ezek 7. 13.Ezek 7:13Land is full of bloudy crimes, the City is full of violence. So the LORD abhorred His Sanctuary; he gave-up into the hand of the Enemy the walls of her Pallaces; Then her gates ſunke into the ground, I know not how to underſtand the Lam. 2. 9.Lam 2:9words, but ſure I am the Roman Conquerour acknowledged, That an Almighty hand made way for him, and let him into the City. And the remnant ever ſince, Zion, I meane, and her inhabitants, are reſolved to ſay now, Aſhur ſhall not ſave us, we will not ride upon Hoſ. 14. 13.Hos 14:13horſes. We will not look to forreigne aids, nor to ſtrength of men or horſes at home, We will truſt in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlaſting ſtrength. The Lord is good▪ a ſtrong Eſa 26. 4. Nahum. 1. 7.Isa 26:4Nah 1:7hold in the day of trouble, and He knoweth them, that truſt in Him.

Then it will be ſaid, what need of wals, towers, gates and bars? Yes great need; for though the ſafety of a City doth not conſiſt in having walls and gates, and bars about it, but in the ſafeguard of the Almighty, and His ſhutting in the gates, as He did the doors of the Arke: yet the City will not neglect her walls and gates or leave them open; for this were to tempt GOD, and to forfeit His protection: We muſt not write Salvation upon any 1 King. 7. 2.1 Kgs 7:2viſible fortifications, how mighty and ſtrong ſoever; we muſt not truſt to them. But ſuch is the fooliſh pride of mans heart, he can glory in his owne ſtrength, and magnifie his own wiſdome, courage, fore-ſight, and forget God the Maker, and giver of all things. Whence it comes to paſſe, that the ſtronger he finds himſelfe, the more he turns from God, and fals before his enemy, at ſuch a time when he thought it moſt impoſſible. The walls then may be too high; the Caſtles too ſtrong; the people too many for GOD to defend a people, or to give them the victory, becauſe of the curſed pride of mans heart, who will aſcribe ſalvation to the ſtrength of his Mountaine (which GOD p. 129made ſo ſtrong) and can quickly weaken, if Man will not lookup to Him, off from himſelfe, and give GOD the Glory. In Him the fatherleſſe find mercy, they that put no confidence in the Hoſ. 14. 3.Hos 14:3Arme of fleſh.

A people then may look to their Militia and uſe all meanes to fortifie themſelves with walls and brazen barrs, but they muſt have reſpect to Him, Who ſtrengthneth the barrs of his gates. 1 Kin. 4. 13.1 Kgs 4:13Solomon is not blamed for building that ſtately houſe of the Forrest; Pſ. 147. 13.Ps 147:13the houſe of Armory for his whole Kingdom. Nor are the people blamed, becauſe in the day of trouble, of treading down and 1 Kin 7. 2.1 Kgs 7:2perplexity, they did look to the armour of that houſe (though they Eſa. 22. 5, 8.Isa 22:5Isa 22:8ſhould have looked to it ſooner, and how provided they were of ſtore and proviſion there:) Nor are they blamed for beholding the breaches of the City, which were many, and looking to all means to ſtop the ſame, and to fortifie themſelves: All this was conſiderable, had they done it ſooner. But for this they are blamed, and ſtand deeply charged of folly, that they looked to the Armour of the houſe, and how they might fortifie the wall, and ver. 11.make a ditch; but did not looke unto the Maker thereof, neither had respect to Him, that faſhioned it long agoe. So then we may look to our Armories, and to all means of Fortification, but ſo as we looke ſtedfaſtly to the maker thereof; for we can tell now, what the Militia is, not an Arme of fleſh, neither Chariots nor horſe-men, vain things to ſave a man: It matters not how high Stantibus maenibus ruentibus, morbus. …id▪ Aug. de Civ: l. 1 c. 33. & l. 2. Ep. 16.and towering our walls and ſhips are; if walls ſtand and manners fall, a people cannot ſtand it out long. Walls joyned to walls, and piles upon piles, an hundred walls cannot defend a City, when bloud, rapine, and abominable Idolaters, are within, for then GOD departs from them, and takes away His defence. We muſt ponder and well weigh theſe things in our hearts, becauſe it is ſo hard a matter to beat the heart off from theſe things, I meane, from putting confidence therein, though whoſoever have ſo done, truſted on the Arme of fleſh, Chariots and horſ-men are brought downe and fallen, whereas, All they, who have remembred the name of the Lord their God, have riſen and ſtood upright: Pſ. 20.Ps 20for the strength of Iſrael is not in any outward thing, but in Iſraels GOD, The ſaving ſtrength of His right-Hand.Firſt Section Preface.

2. This, I ſay, for I will not recall that which went before aaPſa. 68. 17.Ps 68:17, p. 130is the Militia of a Kingdome; GOD with His twenty thouſand Chariots, even thouſands of Angels, the Lord among His people, as 2 Kin. 6. 17.2 Kgs 6:17in the Holy place: for He, That is, Iſraels God, is the God of ſalvation, and unto this God the LORD belongs the iſſues from Death. Therefore it was, that all the good Kings and Princes, took this one way to ſecure then Kingdome; they and their people AS. SOCIATED themſelves (that was their next worke after the Abominations were spied out and removed) came up to God, even to his Termes, joyned themſelves in Covenant with Him, therby ſhrewded themſelvs and their people, under the ſhadow of the Almighty, that His Salvation might be round about them, & their people for Wals and Bulwarks: As this was their deſigne; ſo this one way they tooke to bring their deſigne about (it cannot be ſpoken too often) they ſpied▪out what Idolaters had done to provoke the eyes of the Lord, and all that they removed: then they aſſociated themſelvs, came up to GOD to bind themſelvs to Him in the bond of a Covenant. This is the old way, which good men have troden, direct and ſtrait forward in a conformity to the rule, and driving-on theſe great ends; The glory of God and the good of His people. And it is one and the ſame way, and varieth not; It is the way of the wicked, that has turnings and windings in it, for they, as the crooked Scrpent their leader, and like harmfull Beaſts, do love confuſa veſtigia: But I ſay, the way of the righteous is one and the ſame ſtra…-forward. And it is obſervable, though it could be no otherwiſe, That theſe good Kings, went all one way, minded one thing, carried all levell to one mark: all made the ſame beginning, the ſame progreſſe, attained the ſame end, Sabbath and Port of their labours, their owne and their Kingdoms peace here, and everlaſting Peace in a Kingdome, which has a foundation, and ſhall never be ſhaken.

A man would wonder now, That this way) ſo beaten out before us by the foot-ſteps of the godly, ſo direct, ſo plaine away, wherein it is ſaid, the foole cannot erre (i. e.) he that has ceaſed from his owne wiſdome) a way of pleaſantneſſe and of peace; a way, which GOD has be ſtrewed all along with bleſſings; and wherin His foot-ſteps have dropped fatnes: A wonder I ſay, that this way ſhould be miſtaken. And yet no wonder, when wee conſider againe, that (it is ſaid) the foole ſhall not erre in it, but p. 131the wiſe-man ſhall not find it, who is his owne guide and truſteth in his owne wiſdome.

And now we can diſcerne the reaſon, whence it comes to paſſe, That, though there be but one way, one maine and chiefe end (the other but ſubordinate and ſecundary;) all the motions to th…s and made plaine and direct before us, yet we leave this good way chooſe rather to walke in ble▪pathes; The reaſon is, becauſe we will be wiſe in our own wiſdome, and thinke our ſelvesable enough to order our own ſteps.

And this is of high concernment to the high Court of Parliament, c…led together at firſt, and kept together till this time (I will make no queſtion of it) for ſuch a time as this aaEſth. 4. 14.Esth 4:14, when they have a price put into their hands, never any the like before them, The ſaying of the King and Kingdom; of high concernement unto them, called now to be Saviours, that as they were at the firſt but one Houſe, ſo they would goe all one way, the good way beaten-out plaine and direct before them. I ſay, and I will inſiſt a little upon it: Firſt,

That there is but one Houſe of Parliament: pride and ambition, and I know not what, have made them two, and ſeperated them, whom God had joyned at the firſt, and made one, if the Records of time tell true, and I have read what they ſay. Notwithſtanding we allow heartily a diſtinction in perſons and places, though yet, as God hath made them, let them be, and be ſo called, no longer two, but one Houſe, for ſo anciently it was. But if there be a diſtinction in point of office and ſervice, then the ſcale turnes towards the lower Houſe, for there one man ſtands for ten thouſand, a great engagement to his ſervice. In the upper Houſe (whereto we give as much honour, as man is capable of) They are but Ʋnites, one is but one, like a great letter in the front or beginning of a Patent, which hath many flouriſhes, and yet but one letter. So as (and to expreſſe it as well as I can) if there be upper and lower there (as certainly there muſt be, while there is order in the world) yet is it, but as the upper and lower teeth, they ſtand above the other in a Poſture of oppoſition, Mart. l. 1 Epigram 37.and the upper move not, but doe all equally the ſame work, and therefore if there be any contention betwixt them, it ſhould be ever the ſame, I read, was betwixt two brothers, who never p. 132contended, but who ſhould doe each other the beſt ſervice; It ſhould be ſaid of thoſe two Houſes, as one ſaid of his Mother and of his Sister, He had lived with his Mother threeſcore and ſeven S… nunq…a… … mater … quā cum … …n ſim…e. In vita … C…er… in fine Epiſtolarum ad Att…um in folio 329.yeares, with his Siſter not halfe ſo many, but in all that time, there was never any RECONCILIATION betwixt them, for there was never any difference or falling▪out. A noble Concord, becoming none more then a Houſe of Parliament, that as they were once one, ſo they may continue one ſtill, follow-on in one way, be of one mind and one judgment, for they have but one way, and that is plaine and direct before them; but one manner of proceeding in it; and but one principall ayme (the other is ſubordinate thereunto) the glory of God, and the ſalvation of his people. If we will ſee the way, the firſt entrance into it, the progreſſe in it, the end, and all ſhut-up together, behold we the way of the good Kings of Judah ſet before the Nobles and Worthies, to doe thereafter, they aſſociated themſelves, came up to God, entred into Covenant, kept thereunto, then they ſpied-out what Idolaters had done to provoke the eyes of the Lord, and they removed it; and ſo they made their Land, the Lords Land; and the people, the Lords people; and now ſeeing there is but one way, one method of proceeding in it, one aime, and one marke, whereto all is to be carried levell: And all this is ſo plaine and direct and cleare to the eye, that the foole cannot erre in it, he that has renounced his owne wiſdome; I will ſhut up all in the Apoſtles prayer; Now we beſeech 1 Cor. 1. 10.1 Cor 1:10you brethren, by the Name of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that ye all ſpeake the ſame thing, and that there be no diviſions among you: but that ye be perfectly joyned together in the ſame mind, and in the ſame judgement. And the Lord fullfill His good promiſe; I will give Ier. 32. 39.Jer 32:39them one heart, and one way, that they may feare Me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them. Amen.

FINIS.

End of the text · Hezekiah Woodward, The Kings Chronicle (1643)