The Kings Chronicle, Chapter 5

The Kings Chronicle · Chapter 5

p. 64THE ACTS OF JEHOSHAPHAT.

CHAP. V.

Jehoſhaphats heart is lift-up in the way of the LORD; taketh care, That all the Cities and People of Judah be taught out of the Booke of the Law; and ſo waxeth great exceedingly. He go's downe to Samaria, and returnes to his houſe in Peace; but that was a wonder which GOD wrought: He ſtands the firmer after his fall, and is more zealous: Chargeth the Judges, and the Prieſts: A world of Enemies come againſt him, he cryes to the LORD, is wonderfully delivered, and his Enemies deſtroyed. His Sunne ſets in a Cloud too, but he ſhall riſe gloriouſly.

AND Jehoſhaphat his ſonne raigned in his stead, followed-on in his Fathers ſtepps, cloſer with his 2 Chron. 17.2 Chr 17GOD then his Father did (towards his latter end) and more ſucceſſefull. He ſtrengthned himſelfe againſt Iſrael, and ſet his Kingdome in a poſture of Defence; but before we reade any thing of his Militia, how great and proſperous that was, we reade firſt, That the King walked in the first ways of David [thoſe were good wayes, when David fullfilled all GODS WILS] and ſought to the ver. 3.LORD GOD of his Fathers. [There is the firſt ſeeking; Act. 13. 22. foreign.Acts 13:22and if we ſo ſeeke GOD at firſt, that we find Him, good ſucceſſe ver. 4.followes, even all good, in it's owne nature ſo, or made ſo, for in finding God we find all things.] It followes, And walked in His Commandements, and not after the doings of Iſrael, [thoſe were ſtrange doings, for they ſerved Calves, ſtrange p. 65ver. 4.gods] Therefore the LORD ſtabliſhed his Kingdome bbver. 5., for his heart was LIFT-ƲP in the wayes of the Lord: Lift-up, He could not elſe have ſtept-over the blocks, ſtopps and walls in his way, thoſe high places, if he had not been more bold, ver. 6.Cum audentiorem factus eſset ad promovendum verum Dei cu…tum quàm fu…ſſet Aſa Pater ejus. Trem., and reſolved in his way, then Aſa his Father was (towards his latter end.) But becauſe his heart was LIFT-ƲP in the wayes of the LORD, It followes, Moreover he tooke away the high-places from out of Judah ccver. 6.. [A man may talke much, he will doe but little, unleſſe his heart be lift-up in the wayes of the LORD, he will never be able to doe any great matter, nor over-come any great difficulty: if his heart be not lift-up, if not, and there be a rub in the way, he will ſtumble; but if an Hill be in the way, he will faint before it, becauſe his heart is not lift-up in the waies of the Lord, as Jehoſhaphats was.

And ſo Jehoſhaphat has made a good Beginning, and he timed it well, as his good Father before him. He tooke away the abominations, and then He appointed the chiefe of his Prieſts (whom he calleth Princes, found faithfull, and after his owne heart) to their charge. What was that? Not to gather in their Tithes; nor to over-ſee their Rents, and in-comes, as the manner is. No, he charged them, touching that onelyonly thing neceſſary for Prieſts to doe, though Princes, To teach in the Cities of Judah ddver. 7.: And becauſe there is much teaching worke in a Kingdome, enough to ſet all on worke, Prieſts and Levites all, of all rankes, for there is great want; great want of Knowledge, and for want of knowledge, the People periſh: Therefore the King appointed inferiour Miniſters, (Levites) to teach the People out of the booke of the Law of the LORD eever. 8, 9.. So they went Circuit through all the Cities of Judah, and taught the people. A bleſſed work. This is the way of well-poſturing a Kingdom, to take away the Idolatrous places and ſervices, then to take care the people be taught in the booke of the Law of the LORD, through all the Cities of Judah. Jehoſhaphat knew well till this was done, nothing was done; an untaught people will ever be an untoward and contrary people, they will ſtand in a Poſture of offence againſt GOD and His holy wayes. Woe, woe to them, who have p. 66taken no care, that the people might be taught in the Law of their GOD: And bleſſings be upon the ſoules of them, who, ſeeing the miſchiefe of ignorance, what thoſe people are, that are an untaught people, make it their prime and chiefe worke (after the caſting-out of Idolls) To provide for a poore people, nuzzled in ignorance, that they may be taught in the Law of their GOD through all the Cities of Judah. This was Jehoſhaphats care; he will have his Prieſts and Levites, all doe their worke, which becomes them, belongs properly to them, to keepe the Charge of the LORD, Teaching the people the Law of GOD, throughout all the Cities of Judah. Theſe two Concluſions doe naturally follow from theſe premiſſes.

1. To appoint Lecturers (call them what you will) The Spirit cals them (The Meſſengers of the Churches, and the glory of CHRIST aa2 Cor. 8. 23.2 Cor 8:23) Preaching Miniſters, ſuch as can teach the People the Law of the Lord, is a princely duty, the prime and chiefe worke of a Parliament, not below that great Councell of State.

2. That a well exerciſed, taught and trained People, I doe not meane in the uſe of their weapons, and military Poſtures, (though very commēdable all this, & very ſerviceable to a Kingdome, but) exerciſed, and taught out of the Booke of the Law of their GOD, is the Militia of a Kingdom, makes the King and his People ſecure at home, and feared abroad. So it followes, preſently after the People were ſo taught and trained, That the ver. 10, 11Enemies of Jehoſhaphat round about, feared and ſubmitted themſelves; would rather ſtoope to the duſt of his feet, then ſtand out with him to try the power of his Militia: Indeed it was terrible to the Inhabitants round about; for we reade-on in his ver. 12.Story, That he waxed great exceedingly; built Caſtles and Citties of ſtore; he had much BƲSINESSE, and the men of Warre mighty men of valour were with him. But out of all this we note only; The comely order, his Militia ver. 13.comes laſt. All his worke before was this, to inſtruct and teach his people touching the Law of their GOD; To enter or inroule himſelfe, and his People, the Souldiers of the GOD of HOSTS: To make Him their Generall. That was his p. 67care, and how he proſecutes it we ſhall ſee hereafter. Here we may reade that Jehoſhapat had a greater Hoſt, then the Ethiopians had, who came forth againſt his Father. Yet, as we ſhall ſee anon, Jehoſhaphat put no truſt in them. The Number of them are recorded according to the Houſe of their Fathers ccver. 14.; and one amongſt the reſt ſhall be named, Amaziah the ſon of Zichri; for he willingly offered himſelfe unto the LORD firſt aaver. 16., and (that's the ready way to doe good ſervice for the Land) then with his two hundred thouſand mighty men of valour, waited upon the King his Maſter. Doubtleſſe he did the King his Maſter good ſervice, for he had offered himſelfe to the LORD firſt. Thus we have ſeene Jehoſhaphats ſtrength, and what made him ſo exceeding great; now we ſhall reade his weakeneſſes too, what brought him exceeding low; he had joyned affinity with Ahab, which conſumed his houſe, and deſtroyed his Kingdom utterly.

But ſo much is recorded before bbSect. 1. Ch. 4.; here we ſhall ſee, how he acted ſtanding alone, and upon his owne bottome, and what an hazard he ran, going downe to Samaria, and with Ahab to battle, this followes.

Now Jehoſhaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and 2 Chro. 18. 1.2 Chr 18:1joyned affinity with Ahab: Jehoſhaphat had matched his ſonne Jehoram to Athaliah, Ahabs daughter (or ſiſter, I am not reſolved whether, but I take it for granted, That Athalia was Jezabels daughter, being ſo like her) A ſtrange over ſight in a wiſe King! But it may be, the young Prince was head-ſtrong; he might ſay to his Father, Get her for me, for ſhe pleaſeth Iud. 14. 3.Judg 14:3me well: And the Father was loath to croſſe the ſonne in his firſt love. What gained the Fathers conſent wee know not: but ſo it was, Jehoſhaphat joyned affinity with Ahab. How Sect. 1. Chap. 3.his ſonne proſpered, we have read; and what befell the Father, we ſhall now reade, no ſmall trouble, and a very great danger. It was not poſſible, (I ſay) not poſſible, To come cleare off and joyne affinity with Ahab. We reade-on: And 2 Chro. 18. 2.2 Chr 18:2after certaine yeares, Jehoſhaphat went downe to Ahab to Samaria. He and his company find royall wellcome, he is entertained like himſelfe, a King, and a Brother. Then Aſab makes a requeſt to him, and perſwades him, To goe with him p. 68to Ramoth-Gilead; WILT THOU GOE WITH ME? Yes, anſwered Jehoſhaphat, I am as thou art, and my people ver. 3.as thy people. A ſtrange ſpeech from a Wiſe-man, and as ſtrange a compliance; I am as thou art: hee was not ſo; Ahab was a groſſe Idolater, Jehoſhaphat a faithfull ſervant of the LORD: My People as thy people; That was not ſo neither; Jehoſhaphats people were in Covenant with their GOD, as wee heard, their Ʋowes were upon them: Ahabs people not ſo. Truely it is dangerous to come neare an Idolater; To goe to him to Samaria, may alter a man as much, as the going-in once into the High-Prieſts houſe; There they were ſet downe together, and Peter ſate downe amongſt them ccLuk. 22. 55.Luke 22:55. Wee know what followed preſently; his zeale to his Maſter, cooled before the fire; he was in the High-Prieſts houſe, and then as one of them aaObad. 11.Obad 1:11. We will reade-on where we were; Jehoſhaphat is in Samaria, feaſting with Ahab. Now he can deny Ahab nothing, We will be with thee in the Warre. See! 2 Chr. 18. 3.2 Chr 18:3There he had paſſed his promiſe, but now hee will enquire about the lawfulnes of the warr, and ſucceſſe in the ſame, which he ſhould have done firſt.

Touching the juſtice of this warre, there was little or no queſtion to be made: for Benhadad, who owed Ahab his life, breakes one Article of the League, in with-holding Ramoth Gilead bb1 Kin. 20. 34.1 Kgs 20:34moſt unjuſtly from him; Therefore Ahab might juſtly moove a warre to recover his owne from a perfidious Tributary; But that Ahab ſhould make a League with Benhadad then (which was his ſinne) or that Iehoſhaphat ſhould joyne with Ahab now, there was no reaſon of a religious ſtampe, though ſome reaſon there might be of State: And yet therein Iehoſhaphat ſhould have enquired firſt, before hee had paſſed his Promiſe. Surely a good King can order nothing wiſely with Ahab in Samaria; hee will bee with Ahab in the Warre, That is granted; But counſell is for the warre; Let us enquire I pray thee at the word of the Lord to day. It was well remembred, but had he remembred that before, he had not gone ver. 4.downe to Ahab to Samaria; much leſſe had he made promiſe, to be with him in the warre. But Jehoſhaphat will enquire before p. 69he begins his march; And Ahab agrees with him to enquire, for he knew he had Prophets enough, (as bad as himſelfe) who could ſpeake to their Maſters mind, though it was to his deſtruction; Jehoſhaphat ſhould ſee, that Ahab would order his warre with councell; and that he had counſellours enough, that would approve of the warre: and thoſe Prophets too; how many? foure hundred ccTheſe 400. Prophets. Ahab had reſerved from the dint of Elijahs Sword; Now theſe ſhall requite his kindneſſe; they live to betray the life of him, who ſaved theirs; That no King after Ahab may dare to reſcue or uphold an Idolatrous Prieſt from the block, and one, and that one onelyonly an honeſt man ddOur judgement muſt be ſwayed not by number of men, but by weight of reaſons: One good man will give better reaſon then 400. vile Counſellours: ſo many againſt one, and but that one in the right; and for the proſperity of his Maſter.. A falſe worſhip ſhall have falſe Prophets enough: And a wicked King ſhall have wicked Counſellours more then enough; and all for warre: GOEƲP AND PROSPER.

Jehoſhaphat is jealous of theſe 400. Prophets, (too many to be good) and would preferre an honeſt mans judgement, eſpecially in point of warre, before them all; Is there not here a Prophet of the LORD beſides, that we might enquire of him? Yes, ſaid Ahab, there is one man more, but I HATE him. Why? I will anſwer that; Becauſe he was an honeſt Prophet, and would ſpeake the Truth, and that is alwayes evill to an evill heart. But yet Jehoſhaphat prevailes, and the man is ſent for by a meſſenger ſent from Ahab, who muſt leſſon the good man before he come (as ſome have beene taught what to ſay from Mans mouth when they were to ſpeake from GODS Mouth) and put words into his mouth eever. 12.; Behold, ſaith he, one Prophet hath taken to himſelf hornes of Iron, and has deſtroyed the Kings enemies already in a phancy ffver. 10., and all the other Prophets are of the ſame mind, and lippe too, and conclude, It ſhall be proſperous; They ſay to Ahab goe up and prosper: And thou muſt frame thy mouth, when thou commeſt unto the King, to ſay ſo too; goe up and prosper. No but I will not, ſaid the good man; Does thy Maſter pretend to enquire of the LORD, and doſt thou tell me what I muſt ſay: And Micaiah ſaid, As the LORD liveth, even what my GOD ſaith that will I ſpeake. A good reſolution, and but becoming ver. 6.a Prophet of GOD.

And now the good Prophet is with the bad King, and the ver. 13.firſt words he ſayes are ironicall, which make the ſtrongeſt deniall by affirming, (which the King does not well underſtand;) But ſee his hypocriſie I he ſeemes eager to heare the p. 70truth, which yet he hates, and cannot endure to heare; how many times ſhall I adjure thee, that thou ſay nothing but the truth ver. 15.to me in the Name of the LORD? What a notorious hypocrite was this! he adjures the man to tell him the truth in the Name of the LORD, and when he has heard it, he will turne his back upon it, ſuffer him to be ſtricken; nay, he will command him to priſon too, and to be fed with the bread and water ver. 26.of affliction there. How long? till I returne in peace. See there! Ahab expects to returne in peace, though he went to warre againſt the expreſſe will and word of GOD. But that is no wonder; his bloody ſinne had cloſed-up his eye, and care both; he will ruſh-on to his owne deſtruction: The ſentence was paſſed upon him, it muſt be executed, In the place, where doggs licked the blood of Naboth, ſhall doggs lick thy 1 King. 21. 19. 22. 38.1 Kgs 21:191 Kgs 21:221 Kgs 21:38blood, EVEN THINE. An Idolater will pleaſe himſelfe with vaine thoughts; dreames of peace, and yet ſeeke warre, and purſue it; and perſecute thoſe that ſtand in his way, though they would hold him back from running into ruine. And ſtill be thinkes, it will be well, untill I returne in peace. He is miſſed by lyars, they by the Devill **2 Chr. 18. 21.2 Chr 18:21, they hurry him into a warre, and yet Ahab dreames of peace, untill I returne in peace, That is never. His iniquity is top-full; wrath is running over; Though he will not heare the truth, yet he ſhall ſee it fulfilled, according to the word of the LORD, by Micaiah; Thou ſhalt not returne in peace, for ſo the LORD hath ſpoken, And he ſaid, hearken all ye people.ver. 27.

Now this had beene a wonder to the reader, that Jehoſhaphat, notwithſtanding all this, went-up with Ahab to battell, but that we finde him joyned in affinity with Ahab; gone downe to Ahab to Samaria, and at a feaſt with him. All this, nay any one of theſe, was enough to take away the heart from the wiſeſt King, that ever was; But take all together, and then ſee how one thing drawes on another, till Jehoſhaphat be drawne into a deſperate condition, to the very pit brimme of deſtruction; No doubt, for this very end, that no good King after him may joyne affinity with Ahab; goe downe to Samaria to him; feaſt with him there, and then joyne in a warre with him. I will only repeate the danger he p. 71was in, and note the deliverance, and then goe-on.

The Captaines of the Charets ſaw Jehoſhaphat, and taking ver. 30.him to be the King of Iſrael, they compaſſed about him to fight: Good man! he was in a coope now, Captaines of the Charets round about him, But he cried out: he had one refuge left him, and a way for eſcape; he cried to Heaven, and the LORD helped him; after His manner, a preſent helpe in trouble, (who would joyne in affinity with Ahab againſt the expreſle command of ſuch a GOD?) And GOD moved them to depart from him. GOD MOVED THEM. Marke it, The Captaines of the Charets thought verily they had the prey in their hands, and they would devoure him preſently; but they muſt ſtand and deliberate upon it, as thoſe that muſt aske GOD leave firſt.

They thought ſo and ſo, but there came a motion into them; and they depart. We ſay, Captaines and Souldiers doe all in warre, with their ſtrength, and with their counſell: No, we are miſtaken greatly; GOD does all; As he moves, ſo the Captaines and their weapons come and depart: juſt as it was here with Jehoſhaphat; GOD moved them to depart from him; then they turned back from purſuing: It was upon GODS motion; ſo the Enemy moves or ſtands.

And Jehoſhaphat the King of Judah returned to his houſe in 2 Chron. 19. 1.2 Chr 19:1peace to Jeruſalem. The goodneſſe of Jehoſhaphats GOD! Jehoſhaphat was wandred quite out of his way; he had beene at Samaria; with Ahab in the battle; in a bloody skirmiſh there; GODS Hand was with him notwithſtanding, delivers him, and brings him off with a motion and back to his own houſe in peace. Iehoſhaphat will not preſume any more, he feares GOD and His goodneſſe, Who would not take his ſervant at an advantage. Doubtleſſe Jehoſhaphat thought upon it; he had joyned in affinity with Ahab; in a warre with Ahab; was taken for Ahab; was hemmed in by the Captaines of the Chariots, yet eſcaped; ſaw Ahab wounded, with an arrow, ſhot at a venture, but directed by an inviſible hand, and ſo ſlaine before his face; and yet he returnes to his houſe in peace. So GOD could doe, and doe it eaſily, upon a motion.

But now the Son of that good Prophet, who dealt ſo p. 72plainely with his Father, deales, in the ſame plaineneſſe of language, with his Son Jehoſhaphat, ſaying; ſhouldest thou helpe ver. ….the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? (i. e.) Thou ſhouldeſt not have done ſo, but ſo doing thou art much to blame.

Do's not the King interrupt him? No; The Kings heart is melted within him, in ſenſe of that he has done againſt the LORD: and the goodneſſe of the LORD towards him; he has a patient care now, and lets the Prophet goe on; he will ſpeake comfortable words preſently; Therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD. Now marke how he comforts ver. 2.him againe; Nevertheleſſe, though thou haſt done ſo and ſo; yet all that thou haſt done ſhall not blot out the remembrance of the GOOD THINGS thou haſt done, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the Land. Marke that, the taking away Idolatrous things, Altars and the like, and Idolatrous ſervices, (in truth of heart) makes amends for many miſcariages, and ſhall be remembred and reckoned amongſt good things found in the man, where there are evill things too, but they ſhall be, (as if they had not beene) remembred no more.

See againe? Jehoſhaphat ſtands the firmer after his fall: After his deliverance he followes-on aaHoſe 6. 3.Hos 6:3to ſeeke the LORD; he dwelt at Jeruſalem bbver. 4. Reſedit (i. e) quievit habenis regni Ioramo commiſſis, &c. Trem., (i. e.) he ſet his Son Jehoram in his Throne there, while he goes in Perſon, and viſits the Churches! Prieſts are deceitfull many of them, and Levites too, he will viſit his people himſelfe; his own eyes and eares ſhall tell him how they thrived. We are an unconſtant people; now we ſet our faces towards Heaven, then we turne back; ſo it was with the people of that time, but Jehoſhaphat went out againe ccver. 4.(he had ſent forth the Prieſts and Levites, as we reade, it may be he went out himſelfe then alſo) through the people from Berſheba to Mount Ephraim, and brought them BACK to the LORD GOD of their Fathers. They were revolted and gone, Jehoſhaphat ſent Prieſts and Levites after them, and then went forth himſelfe. And ſee the ſucceſſe: he brought them back to the LORD GOD of their Fathers.

Then he proſecutes the worke of the LORD; rectifies p. 73things amiſſe in the Church and State, ſets Judges in the ver. 5.Land, gives them a charge very ſtrict, and preſſing to duty; Take heed what you doe, you judge not for man, but for the LORD, ver 6.Who is with you in the judgement: You are gods on earth, in ver. 7.GODS ſtead, let the feare of the LORD be upon you, and no iniquity in you, for there is none with the LORD your GOD, no reſpect of perſons, no taking of gifts: [A corrupt Judge from that day this charge was given, to this preſent houre, never reſpected this Scripture] Jehoſhaphat ſet of the Levites, and of the Prieſts, and of the chiefe of the Fathers of Iſrael, for the judgement. Of whom? of the ver. 8.poore and needy, and of the rich alſo: but it is called the judgement of the LORD: That they might conſider well their charge and not treſpaſſe againſt the LORD, and ſo bring wrath upon themſelves and upon their bretheren; Thus ſhall you doe in the feare of the LORD faithfully and with a perfect heart ccver. 9.. Corrupt Judges, vile Prieſts, treacherous Levites, treſpaſſe ſore against the LORD, and againſt their bretheren; they bring wrath upon themſeves and upon the Land ddver. 10.: But doe thus in the feare of the LORD faithfully and with a perfect heart, and ye ſhall not trespaſſe. Ye ſhall have Rulers over you, and officers before you, all this for your incouragement; but this is for the comfort and incouragement both, of all the good; Deale couragiouſly and the LORD ſhall be with the good. Theſe very words gave heart and courage to the inhabitants of Libnah, to forſake his Sonne Jehoram, when he had forſaken the LORD, as ſaith the learned Knight in his Hiſtory of the World.

And yet there is a queſtion m…de, whether the Prieſts might forſake Jehoram or not. Heare the caſe, conſider on it, and then judge; This is the caſe; Jehoram followed-on in the wayes of Ahab and after the counſells of Athaliah his wife, a wicked woman; that is cleare in the Text, and ſo is this; That Jehoram forſooke the Law of his GOD, and forced the people ſo to doe. Theſe Prieſts, the inhabitants of Libnah followed-on in the wayes of the LORD, keeping the charge of the LORD, and cloſe to the Law and the Commandement; They would not be forced to forſake the LORD, ſo they turned p. 74the back on Jehoram and forſooke him; This is the caſe, and this the queſtion; Whether the Prieſts might follow-on in the wayes of Ahab to deſtruction; or in the wayes of the LORD unto ſalvation? More briefely; whither they might forſake Jehoram, or forſake the LORD, whether GOD be King or Jehoram? That is the queſtion. The Judge of all the world hath made anſwer hereunto (as His manner is) by Himſelfe ccEzech. 14 7.Ezek 14:7. He hath laid fore judgements upon Jehoram, and He will be ſharpe and quick in anſwering thoſe, who make queſtion, whoſe wayes are to be followed, the wayes of Ahab or the wayes of GOD: And who is to be forſaken, Jehoram or the Law of GOD. The ſacred Text makes cleare anſwer here, the Prieſts forſooke Jehoram, becauſe he had forſooke the LORD GOD of his Fathers. They 2 Chro. 21. 10.2 Chr 21:10that will not take this for anſwer, ſhall be anſwered in another manner, as Iehoram was anſwered; the LORD will anſwer them by Himſelfe: This in paſſage by occaſion of Jehoſhaphats charge, Deale couragiouſly, and the LORD will be with the good. Thus Jehoſhaphat hath ordered the Church, and State according to rule, and very wiſely poſtured the Kingdom.ver. 11.

Now wee reade on, and behold a whole world of 2 Chron. 20.2 Chr 20Enemies are marching-on againſt Jehoſhaphat. What way will he take now, for they think to ſwallow him up? He was not to ſeeke his way now; he had prepared his heart to ſeeke GOD aaChap. 19. v. 3.; that GOD, Who had moved the Captaines to depart from him; That GOD, Whom he had ſought with all his heart, and tooke care that all his people ſhould ſo ſeeke Him would be found now. He that had prepared his heart to ſeeke the LORD, was prepared for his adverſary; Jehoſhaphat he was not to ſeeke now (the Enemy was upon him) what way he was to take; he that had ſo lifted-up his heart in the wayes of the LOLD, that he had ſtept over the groves, and taken them away; and had given a charge, that judgement and juſtice ſhould be executed to all the people; That all the Cities of Iudah ſhould be taught, touching the Law out of the Booke of the LORD; he whoſe heart was ſo lift-up in the wayes of the LORD, could tell what to doe now, even lift-up his eyes to Heaven; The doores of that Sanctuary p. 75alwayes ſtand open, to thoſe, whoſe hearts are ſo lift-up; And when a man, looking before and behind, and on every ſide, and knowes not what to doe; when refuge failes, then he can tell what to doe; lift-up his eyes to Heaven, heare what GOD will ſay; (He will ſpeake peace,) and waite patiently, in the uſe of all meanes, what GOD will doe; He will doe wonders; where? At the mountaine of ſtraites: certainely He will, and Jehoſhaphat will lift-up his eyes unto Him; and thereon ſtay himſelfe. It is a cleare caſe, ſo every man ſhould doe, lift-up his eyes to GOD in time of trouble; Nay, ſo every man will doe, whoſe heart is not like a ſtone; but Iehoſhaphat only can lift-up his eyes thither, and finde preſent help from thence, for he lifted-up his heart in the wayes of the LORD in the dayes of his peace.

And this I thought moſt worthy our noting from the expreſſion in the Text, which yeelds us this comfortable concluſion; That hee and hee only, whoſe heart is LIFT-ƲP in the wayes of the LORD; can LIFT-ƲP his eyes to the LORD in the day of trouble, with aſſured confidence of preſent helpe. Now we reade on in the Chapter.

A great multitude cometh againſt Iehoſhaphat, and Jehoſhaphat FEARED and ſet himſelfe to ſeeke the LORD, and ver. 2.proclaimed a faſt throughout all Judah llver. 2.. [That's a good feare, which drives a man, not to his heeles, but cloſer to GOD: and it will be well ſure, for it empties his heart of all creature confidence, and then GOD comes-in.] But was this a time to faſt, and pray; or rather, was it not the fitteſt time to lay hold on Bow and Speare, and prepare for Battell? No, Iehoſhaphat looked not to Bow nor Speare, but lookes to GOD, acknowledging, he hath no might, nor knowes he what to doe, but looke-up. We have no MIGHT, ſaith he; we know not what to doe mmver. 12.. No; let reaſon come in now, that would tell him; he has MIGHT enough, and may know what to doe; he had men of warre, mighty men of warre nn2 Cro. 17 13, 14, 15, 16.; ſee a list of them; their numbers, greater then was the Hoſt of the Ethiopian; And yet, no might, nor knew he what to doe! Let him bring forth theſe men of might, and march on; ſo reaſon would counſell. Iehoſhaphat was wiſer then ſo, for he had a better counſellour: p. 76Aſah! what can theſe two do, fleſh againſt fleſh, but, as we doe, eate each the …hers Arme? he and his people looke ſtedfaſtly to the Father of Spirits, the GOD of Hoſts, Who created the Smith, that formes the Inſtrument, and the waſter to deſtroy ccIſa▪ 54 16▪Isa 54:16; our EYES ARE ƲPON THEE dd… 20▪ 1…. The King relyed more upon HIS GOD, as appeared in ſeeking to Him, and praiſing of Him, then upon his many companies, or could have relyed for dependance, if thoſe many had beene multiplied by Thouſands. And we heare his prayer, he called upon GOD, and SO he was delivered; he remembred GOD, Who is GREAT and TERRIBLE; in Whoſe Neh. 4 14.Neh 4:14hand is power and might; art not Thou GOD in Heaven ggver 6.? Then he pleads his intereſt in This GOD; art not Thou our GOD hhver▪ 7.? Then he calls to mind the Right Hand of the Almighty, what He had done of old; And SO he is delivered, and had the victory, a glorious victory, wherof we may ſay indeed, as a great Commander greatly beloved, ſaid of a late victory, never was there ſeen leſſe of man, and more of GOD; for the Enemies here, every one helped to deſtroy one another iiver. 23.. So, when Judah looked towards the great multitude, behold they were dead bodies, fallen to the earth and none eſcaped kkver 24.. And when Iehoſhaphat and his people came to take away the ſpoile of them, they found among them in abundance; both Riches and precious Iewels more then they could carry away, and they were three dayes in gathering the ſpoile, it was ſo much llver. 25.[It is not in vain to fix the eye upon GOD.]

Then Jehoſhaphat makes a memoriall thereof, calls the place where GOD gave them that victory, BERACHAH mmver. 26, 27, 28., a Valley of Bleſſings. So they returned, every man of Judah, Jehoſhaphat in the fore-front of them to Jeruſalem with joy and praiſes in their hearts and mouthes. Praiſe was comely then, for then GOD gave them the victory; He muſt have the praiſe and glory; He made them to goe againe to Ieruſalem with joy, for the Lord had made them to rejoyce over their Enemies. ver. 27.He cauſed His Feare to come upon all the Kingdomes of ver. 29.thoſe Countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought againſt the Enemies of Iſrael. So the Realme of Jehoſhaphat was quiet: For HIS GOD gave him reſt round about; he had p. 77ver. 30.a P…ace of GODS making, from His hand, That was a ſure peace. Reſt indeed; ſuch a Peace the LORD will give to that man, whoſe heart is lift-up in His wayes. More is recorded, touching this King, the time when he began and ended his Raigne; his Mothers name alſo, and how he walked, even as his …ther Aſa, doing that which was good in the ſight of ver. 32.the LORD; Howbeit the high places ſtood ſtill, as in his Fathers dayes; but the people are blamed for that (indeed we are j…ly blamed, we are the blocke in the way, the Hill, the Mountain, a mighty hindrance to Reformation) An unprepared heart is ſuch an hindrance, and ſuch an heart we have, then ſuch an hindrance are we, for we have not prepared our hearts unto the GOD of our Fathers. It is now, as it was then: Howbeit the high places were not taken away, for the people had 2 Chron. 20. 33.2 Chr 20:33not yet prepared their hearts unto the God of their Fathers. The high-places will not downe, till the ſtout heart falls; till the high thoughts and imaginations there are downe, theſe abominable things cannot be taken away; till the heart be prepared for ſuch a mercy, till it be ſquared (whether by blows or ſweet intreaties, that is not the queſtion, but ſquared, and moſt likely as ſtones for the building, by hard blows) to GODS holy word, and will, till this be done within, and upon the heart, this execution will not be done upon the abominations before the eye. The heart muſt be prepared, muſt be put into a frame of holineſſe before they can be fit for, or deale with holy things, Give not that which is holy to doggs, neither cast Mat. 7. 6.Matt 7:6your pearles before Swine; Swine will trample pearles under their feet, and if you give holy things to dogs, they will turne againe and rent you. What ſhould a rough and an impoliſhed Stone doe in GODS building! What ſhould an Hypocriticall heart doe with a ſincere worſhip? An unprepared heart with pure and prepared Ordinances? Theſe agree no better then old cloth to a new garment; then new wine with old bottles. Holy things reliſh no better with an unholy and unprepared heart, then did Mannah to the Iſraelites. Now our ſoule is dried away aaNumb. 11. 6.Num 11:6. Was there nothing to ſtay their ſoules, and to refreſh them? Yes, they had Angels food, excellent food, Meat from Heaven, Mannah, was their food, but that p. 78was as good as nothing; There is nothing at all beſides this Manna before our eyes. See there! Leekes, Onyons, and Garlike, Aegiptian fare and ſlavery to boot, would reliſh better with them, for their hearts were in Egipt. We might obſerve the ſore wrath of GOD upon that people, who were ſo contrary in their choice and liking, and upon the people here, whoſe hearts were ſo unprepared: Their next King fitted them very well, he was to them according to their ſtubborne hearts; he gave the people their Idolls, they loved ſo well, bids them ſerve ſtocks and ſtones, and they, that would not ſhew themſelves ſo brutiſh, he would have forced ſo to doe. But we muſt obſerve our ſelves, it is our owne caſe, We have not prepared our hearts to the GOD of our Fathers; We will not be reformed; we count Reformation, as that perverſe Iſraelite did, a killing; we account no better of it, and it is ſo Exod. 1. 13, 14.Exod 1:13Exod 1:14indeed to an unprepared heart. But O what ſorrowes, what breakings will theſe our ſtubborne hearts cauſe unto us! The LORD is about His ſtrange worke, and he will accompliſh it. Now the LORD ſanctifie His Owne worke, and prepare a people for Himſelfe by all this. The LORD prepare our hearts alſo, that we, who would not be drawne by allurements, may be compelled by hard blowes. Amen.

The reſt of the Acts of Jehoſhaphat firſt and laſt are written, but the writings are loſt oover. 34.. And yet ſome of his laſt Acts are recorded; not ſo good as the firſt. Toward the end of his dayes, he was as his good Father, overtaken with infirmities ppver. 35.. And after this he joyned himſelfe with him, who did very wickedly; and to make Ships to goe to Tarſhiſh. A Prophet tels him roundly of it, in effect thus; Though hand joyned in hand, and ſtrength with ſtrength, yet the wicked ſhall not be unpuniſhed ddProv. 11 21.Prov 11:21; no nor the Righteous man neither, That joynes himſelfe with the wicked, The LORD hath broken thy workes; and ſo it was; And the Ships were broken, that they were not able to goe to Tarſhiſh. Surely the LORD will have his Servant ver. 37.joyne himſelfe to the LORD, not with thoſe that hate the Lord; If he doe joyne ſtrength with ſuch, it ſhall doe him no good, but hurt, it ſhall weaken him. But thus Jehoſhaphat did, and it is the laſt Act of his, that p. 79is recorded. So the wiſe GOD permits it to be; otherwiſe, the very beſt Kings (which was intimated before) might forget themſelves, how weake they are, ſtanding alone. If there were nothing of humane frailty, even in open ſight, to ſtaine their beſt workes, they would caſt too great a luſtre in their eyes; if no cloud to ecclipſe the ſpeciouſneſſe of them, they might make an Idoll of their Acts, and their credit by them: And we poore People would thinke of them, and give unto them, above what is meet: Therefore it is (there may be other Reaſons, which GOD knowes) that the Sunne of the moſt glorious Kings, that ever were upon the Earth, hath, in the cloſe of their day, ſet in a cloud, he ſhall riſe in glory.

That which followes now touching Iehoſhaphat is that, which will ever follow; for it is concerning his death and buriall, which needs not be mentioned any more, ſeeing it hath been to this day, and will be ever to the worlds end, the end and cloſe of all, as with Iehoſhaphat, he went the way of all the 2 Chro. 28.2 Chr 28world after his Fathers, ſlept with them, and was buried. His Son Iehoram, a very wicked man, reigned in his ſtead; and hee has a Son too like the Father, and yet, though Partus ſequitur ventrem, not halfe ſo bad as the mother: Father and ſon both blundred-on in the wayes of Ahabs houſe, and after their counſels to deſtruction, as we read before. Then Athaliah play'd Rex, till Iehojada cut her ſhort, wee will reade his Acts now worthy ſuch a Prieſt.