The Kings Chronicle, Chapter 8

The Kings Chronicle · Chapter 8

p. 87THE ACTS OF HEZEKIAH.

CHAP. VIII.

Hezekiah his firſt worke is the purging of the Temple, and firſt care, the ſetting faithfull Officers there. Then about the COVENANT and the PASSEOVER, this way he takes to ſecure his Kingdome, and hee findes it a ſure and ſecure way, which never yet failed, and never can faile unto the Worlds end. No Adverſary can doe a Kingdome hurt without, when Idols are throwne down within. Hezekiah has a great Deliverance, from a proud Adverſary, then a great Affliction, Hee findes changes in the World, tells us what we muſt looke for there, but peace in GOD.

HEzekiah, Jothams Grand-child, began his raigne, and Reformation together; he was religious, and wiſe both, and muſt delay no time, for indeed 2 Chro. 29. 3.2 Chr 29:3his Father King Ahaz. had cauſed a Deformation ver 3.through his Kingdome, and weakned his MILITIA very much. So that it did but ſtand in a fainting Poſture. Therefore Hezekiah beſtirred himſelfe, and let no time run-out to waſte. In the firſt yeare of his raigne and monethmonth, he opened the doores of GODS Houſe, and repaired them [It was obſerved before; he muſt looke well to GODS Houſe, that expects GOD ſhould looke to and eſtabliſh his houſe, and there he muſt begin and p. 88end both] brought in the Prieſts and Levites, chargeth them; Sanctifie now your ſelves, and ſanctifie the houſe of the LORD GOD; carry forth the FILTHINESSE thence hhver. 5., make cleane worke there; Remember my ſonnes, the fierce wrath of GOD, yet before your eyes: He hath delivered us to troubles, to aſtoniſhment, and to hiſſing; keepe his judgements like frontlets before your eyes: And be not negligent in ſuch a time as ver. 11.this. And he found the Levites (the ordinary Miniſters) very obedient in word and deed, for they were more upright in heart to ſanctifie themſelves then the Prieſts kkver. 34.. But ſo he charged them. And for himſelfe, it is in his heart to lead the way, making a Covenant with the LORD GOD of Iſrael ^•, that His fierce wrath may turne away from us llver. 10.[would we have the fierce wrath of the LORD turne away? Then we muſt come up cloſe to Him in a Covenant:] So the King doe's, and ſee how all follow, and how quicke they are, how they beſtow themſelves. Indeed the King is a leading-hand, whether he goes on the right or the left, the people obſerve not curiouſly, but they follow. It was well here, K. Hezekiah kept ſtrait-on, and ſee how well all performe their duty! But you muſt note, The good King is at their elbows, as chiefe Over-ſeer there, he is zealous for the bringing forth the uncleaneneſſe mmver. 16.out of the Temple; and the Levites ſhew their zeale too, [The Kings preſence preſſeth much to duty, els the Levites are but ſlaggs; but now they are very active, and out they carry the filthineſſe, and throw it into the brooke Kidron. And very much filthineſſe there was, for Ahaz in his tranſgreſſion nnver. 19., had made holy things common, which cauſed the King, Prieſts, and all more worke and trouble, as it is alwayes when the Predeceſſour is wicked, but they went through it willingly; The Kings zeale and example carried all ſmooth before them with rejoycing; [nothing is hard to a willing mind: And zeale in GODS ſervice feeles no burden there] A great deale of worke was done in a little time; And Hezekiah rejoyced with all his heart, that GOD had ſo poſtured the people (i. e.) ſet them in ſuch a good frame to obedience: So we reade; 2 Chro. 29. 36.2 Chr 29:36and Hezekiah rejoyced, and all the people, that GOD had prepared the people, for the thing was done SVDDENLY.

p. 89We will note it twice over, if thrice it will doe us no hurt, The Kings heart is upright; the peoples heart prepared, all are willing; what now? Great things are done ſuddenly. Reade back-ward now, people hang backe, are not a willing people; The heart is not prepared, not upright; What now? Things are done heavily. Come-on againe for now we are quite-off. Here is a Covenant; All ASSOCIATE themſelves, the King, he is the Leader, Prieſts, Levites, People, theſe follow cloſe, ASSOCIATED; here are many; and yet but one ſhoulder, one hand, and one lip; and, which makes the Union, one heart and one mind; and now things are done ſuddenly. In his Epiſt.I remember here what one Man did, and how ſuddenly, Mr. Foxe comes into my mind now, he tooke an excellent worke in hand, we all know it, he had an excellent ſpirit, an upright heart he had, and his heart was, next to GOD, with the upright ſtill; he did that in a few moneths, which, we would ſcarce thinke could be done in ſo many yeares: But he was all for GOD, and for His Church, indeed he was for he was no-body for himſelfe: and he did all thoſe volumes, in reference to ſuch a worke, ſuddenly.

Now the LORD give us ſuch hearts ſo upright, ſo prepared, and then, we alſo ſhall be ſo willing, and ſhall doe things ſuddenly. The King go's before we will follow, he is a fair and full example in our eyes.

He has made himſelfe, and his people ſure in a Covenant; 2 Chron. 30.2 Chr 30now he applyes himſelfe, and ſets his heart to the Seale, the PASSEOVER. And marke well, for I can can but point to it: What meanes he makes, That all Judah, Ephraim 2 Chro. 20. 1.2 Chr 20:1and Manaſſeh ſhall here of it, He takes counſell about it (if ver. 2.I were not in haſte, I would note it) for, notwithſtanding all the haſte, he will conſult upon it, and take deliberation, how ſuch a company ſhould be called together and fitted, I meane, Sanctified for ſo ſolemne a worke: The Proclamation ver. 5.iſſued forth, and the Poſts carry it throughout all Iſrael from Beerſheba even unto Dan, according to the Kings Commandement, ver. 6.and theſe words, Turne againe unto the LORD, and He will returne to the remnant of you: Be not like your Brethren, that treſpaſſed againſt the LORD GOD of p. 90their Fathers, who therefore gave them up to Deſolation, as you ſee, &c. [ſtill the good King ſets the judgements of GOD, as a mountaine before the Peoples eye] Be not ſtiffnecked, if you will continue ſo, the fierceneſſe of GODS ver 7, 8.wrath will beat you to peeces: But if you turne to Him, He will returne to you, and ſhew you favour in the eyes of them, ver 9.that leade you Captive; and He Himſelfe will be a gracious, and mercifull GOD unto you. I have read the Contents of the Kings Proclamation, and Letters, I thinke you never read the like: How is it entertained? With ſcorne and mocks ddver. 10.. Thus it was, ſuch a pious Proclamation; ſuch Letters, as full of Grace as of words, have bin entertained with diſdaine and deriſion; when the contrary, A Declaration for Liberty, Letters as full of diſhonour to GOD, as of ſillables, have bin entertained with hand and heart and all acceptance. Such a brutiſh people we are, and yet all are not ſo; Nevertheleſſe divers of Aſhur and Manaſſeh, and of Zebulun humbled themſelves and came to Jeruſalem ^e: Alſo in Judah the hand of GOD was ver. 11. 12.to give them one heart to doe the Commandement of the King, and of the Princes by the word of the LORD.

The hand of GOD, Marke that, till that be given-out, Hezekiah may call and call, and pull and pull, and have no anſwer; he may as well pull at a Bell without a Clapper to call the people to Church (as our Phraſe is:) But GODS hand is reached forth to a perſon, or to a people, and then they come-in to doe according to the Law and the Commandement▪ ſuddenly. I cannot forget that word.

I doe not ſpeake this to make men ſlacke in their commands, or their indeavours: but to quicken all; and, when all is done, firſt and laſt, to looke-up to GOD, for He ſpeakes with a ver. 13.Strong hand. I cannot ſtay upon things here, they be ſo many, and ſo notable; my contrivance is here to thruſt out of the throng.

And there aſſembled at Jeruſalem much people to keepe the Feaſt, a very great Congregation, and they aroſe. What then? ver. 14.It followes. I warrant you; and away they tooke the Altars, even all, and caſt them into the brooke Kidron. That brooke was fatall to Altars and Images, thereunto they tumbled thoſe p. 91dung-hill things, after the uncleaneneſſe found in the Temple. They were now about to celebrate a great Feaſt, never the like ſince the time of Solomon; and downe the Altars muſt, elſe they had bin ill fitted for a Feaſt, and worſe fitted for a Bleſſing and ſuch a rejoycing: downe they be tumbled, and into the Brooke, and then they kill the Paſſeover, all decently and ver. 15.in order. And the people goe ſo ſtoutly on in this good way, That they ſhamed the Prieſt quite, that they did, for the people had more zeale then the Prieſt (and that is very poſſible, the more their ſhame indeed) ſo the Prieſts, beholding the peoples forwardneſſe, bluſhed at their owne coldneſſe; and for very ſhame ſanctified themſelves after the manner.

But the multitudes, they were many; were newly met from all quarters; things could not be in an outward conformity to the Requiſites of that ſolemne time, nor to the Purification of the Sanctuary, then Hezekiah beſtirrs himſelfe, knows which way to looke, puts-up a ſweet Prayer for his People: Thether they came in great multitudes, with their faces ſtedfaſtly ſet to Jeruſalem, and with good hearts ſure, upright and ſincere; The King prayes; Now the good LORD pardon every one, that prepares his heart, who ſets that right, the good ver. 18, 19.LORD pardon him, though legall preparatives are wanting, ſome things there out of order: yet pardon good Lord, where Thou ſeeſt a ready will, and a bent heart, in a good poſture and frame towards Thee, and doe deſire with deſire, That all things in Thy ſervice might be done according to Thy Mind and Will, and all ſuddenly; Good LORD pardon thoſe perſons, that have thoſe hearts, Amen. What followes?

The LORD hearkened and heard Hezekiah, and healed the ver. 20.people, That he did, and it will ſtill be ſo, where there is, as it was here, ſuch an heart, and ſuch a prayer. Goe-on I pray you, for it is better and better; The LORD hath ſpoken comfortably; Hezekiah ſpeaks Comfortably aaver. 22.too (GOD ſpake ſo firſt, but I can but point to things) To whom ſpeakes the King ſo comfortably? To thoſe that were good ſure, and were good Teachers, for ſo we reade, That taught the good p. 92Knowledge of the LORD; Good knowledge, for it makes men good, and ſo do not Riches nor Honours, nor any other thing, which we call good under the Sun; yet that is the good we moſt of all looke after, not the good knowledge of the LORD, That made it ſo good; Know the LORD, and you know all things; if you know Him not, you know nothing: A comprehenſive knowledge indeed, but it was noted before bbp. 32.;

Obſerve this here: What is the work, the duty of a Miniſter? To teach the good knowledge of the LORD. What ſhall I ſay to them, that doe not thus? Nothing; The Lord will ſay enough to them, to make them speechleſſe: And the good King will never ſpeake comfortably unto them, who do not teach The good knowledge of the LORD. We go-on, And behold how merry (in the Lord) the good King, and his good people are! For they were upon the ſervice of the Lord; Their hearts were taken with it; here was Paſſ time indeed; for in an holy mirth, as well as in a Calviſh brutiſh Mirth, time paſſeth away and is gone before we are aware; O it is all in all, when a man feeles a reliſh, a delight and ſweet contentment in the ſervice of the Lord (as he doe's, that is targht The good knowledge of the LORD) he is as merry in his ſervice before the Lord, as we are when we have our minſtrell with us, and are dancing and skipping after our meaſures, and manner of Heathen people before a May-pole, there learning the knowledge of warre, by ſuch feats of Activity as are learned at May-games (for ſo much I have learnt by reading) That ſuch ſports will make us fit for warre; and is it not even ſo! Have we not gained well by our May-games! Have we not got experience to fit us for warre by our activeneſſe before a Minſtrell! Our ſporting with the Lord, has made us fit for warre indeed, to be conſumed by the Sword of the Almighty; And truly, though I am no Prophet, I feared all this more then 7 years ago.

I have not forgot my ſelfe all this while, I know where I am, though out of my way a little: Nor doe I forget how much I was miſtaken a little before, where I compared the mirth of that man, who delights himſelfe in the good knowledge of the LORD, in ſervice done to His Name, where I p. 93compared I ſay, his mirth to our mirth, in our warrlike exerciſes, I meane, rioting in the Day-time. And yet there is ſome conformity, agreement and a…ſwerableneſſe, not betwixt mirth and mirth; perſon and perſon: but betwixt heart and heart, affection and affection, ſet upon this mirth. (I expreſſe my ſelfe, as well as I can) We in our warrlike exerciſes have paſſed away the time, we know not how: The Holy day (we will call it ſo, for whether it be the LORDS DAY (Holy indeed) or Saints dayes in our conceit, all one to us, to Whom that Day is moſt holy, whereon we may be moſt prophane) The holy Day is too ſhort, we wiſh it longer, and that every Sunday had it's ſeconds (ſo one expreſſeth it) as two Sundayes have (now my mind is upon their ſports, I will name dayes, as the Heathen did) Red-Letter-Dayes are as pleaſing to us, as to children; we may riot on them, and they may play. Why now our minds, our affections meet, Heart anſwers heart, ours upon our ſport ccver. 23., theirs in the ſacred Text, Let out upon their ſervice before the Lord; and ſo we will look upon that again, and ſhall finde it juſt ſo;

They had continued ſeven dayes at their Feaſt in their holy mirth, Offering Peace-offerings, and making Confeſſion to the LORD ▪GOD of their Fathers (the more hearty the confeſſion, the more hearty their mirth: As the ſowrer the Herbs, the ſweeter the Paſſeover) And now thoſe dayes were over.

The whole Aſſembly (marke you that) tooke counſell. About what? To keepe other ſeven dayes: And as they adviſed, ſo they did; They kept other ſeven dayes with gladneſſe. Looke you there, how hearts and affections anſwer, theirs and ours. And it muſt be ſo, for this reaſon; While the heart is altogether carnall, it let's forth, and ſpends it's ſpirits upon prophane things: Anſwerably, as a ſpirituall heart let's forth it ſelfe towards holy things. But here is a wide difference againe, our mirth is of no continuance, it ends with the day, when we ſhut-in our doores at night, we ſhut forth our mirth for the moſt part; and if death, or ſomething like it, ſhould ſtare us in the face, the night after we have bin ſo merry after our manner: where is our mirth then? The very reliſh of it is gall and worme-wood, and we are dead with very feare. The p. 94righteous not ſo, becauſe ſuch is not their mirth; They can keepe dayes with gladneſſe, and doe's their mirth ceaſe with the day? No they have their Songs for the Night, even their night of ſorrow, their deepeſt affliction. I have not been too long upon this point, but though ▪ breake-off, the ſacred Text carries it on further, for behold nothing but joy and gladneſſe and bleſſings, never the like ſince the time of Solomon; There were mighty Prayers too, full of ſpirit and life, Their Prayer came-up to His holy Dwelling place, even unto Heaven.ver. 27.

They goe-on in the work of the Lord, as men refreſhed with 2 Chro. 31.2 Chr 31new wine▪ and ſee how they execute the wrath of the Lord upon Groaves, Altars, Images, breaking, cutting, hewing, throwing them downe, till they had utterly deſtroyed them all: Their hearts were now warmed with zeale, they could ver▪ 2.not now hold their hands ſtill, till they had utterly deſtroyed them all.

Then the King appoints the courſes of the Prieſts and the Levites, every man to his ſervice; and portions to the Prieſts and Levites alſo, that they might be encouraged. Thus did Hezekiah, what he did, and how he did it, we will note it down more fully anon.

Now it will be ſaid by ſome, That I have ſpoke a great deale, and little to my purpoſe, which indeed is, To ſhew how a Kingdome is fortified, and it's MILITIA maintained and made ſtrong; and to this, I have ſaid nothing, ſo it may be ſaid; And if ſo, my anſwer is; That they are much miſtaken in the matter, for I have ſaid all, that makes for the ſecurity and eſtabliſhment of King and Kingdome; when I have ſet downe all that Hezekiah has done, for that great purpoſe: we have not all yet; we have heard what he hath done, in reference to the Covenant, to the Paſſeover, to the Prieſts, to the ſervices therein; what he hath throwne downe, and caſt forth, and what he hath brought-in: In all this the King hath engaged himſelfe and his people to their GOD; he hath intitled GOD to his Kingdome, that the Kingdome may be the LORDS Kingdome; his people, the LORDS people; he will have the houſe of his GOD, to be kept as GODS houſe, and p. 95thoſe that ſerve therein to be ſanctified ones, the Lords Prieſts and the Lords Levites; and that they may attend the worke there, that unum neceſſarium: They ſhall not take care about many things, f…r the King will take care for them; ſo he commanded to give the portion of the Prieſts and the Levites, That they might be encouraged in the Law of the LORD dd2 Chro. 31. 4.2 Chr 31:4, which was not noted before.

2. He will ſuffer nothing to ſtand, which cut-faceth the command of his GOD, all ſhall downe which his LORD GOD will have throwne down. This was the way to make himſelfe and his Kingdome, to ſtand faſt and firme for ever, as the perpetuall hills, and everlaſting Mountaines: The way to make himſelfe, and people as a wall of Braſſe, and the Blaſt of the terrible one, as a puffe of wind againſt it, I meane, againſt 2 Chro. 31. 1.2 Chr 31:1a Pillar of Braſſe, or a Mountaine made of Northerne Iron and ver. 20, 21.ſteele. We ſhall obſerve it to be ſo anon; we will recollect here in two verſes, What Hezekiah did, and the manner how he did it; Thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that, which was good and right and truth, before the LORD his GOD. What had he wrought?

That was ſpoken before, but we will reade it againe: for me thinkes the words runne like a whirle-wind or a Tempeſt, ſo carrying Idolls and Images downe before it, and ſcattering them; he brake the Images in peeces, cut-downe the Groaves; threw-downe the High-places and the Altars, out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim alſo and Manaſſeh. How long was he upon that worke? Ʋntill they had utterly deſtroyed them all. Now marke the manner of performance, in what ſincerity, truth and uprightneſſe of heart, Hezekiah did all the forementioned, for the manner and the carriage of the heart commends all, in all that we doe; And in every worke, that hee began in the ſervice of the houſe of GOD, and in the Law and in the Commandements, to ſeeke his GOD, he did it with all his heart, and prospered dd2 Chro. 31 23▪2 Chr 31:23.

Now King Hezekiah may take his reſt, lye downe and ſleep; he can repoſe his head in the lap and Armes of the Almighty, for he had done the Law and the Commandement; he had removed the curſed things; but now he will not be carnally ſecure, p. 96rather the more watchfull, becauſe of this thing, for now he ſhall heare of enemies ruſhing like mighty waters. Why now? Becauſe now he has angered the Devill, and all his ſervants; he has cut them to the heart, and they g…aw their tongues for paine: For King Hezekiah has perſecuted them, their Groves, Altars and Images with his Tempeſt. Now the Enemy will come-in like a floud, and if Hezekiah ſleepe now, as we call ſleeping, the Enemy will come upon him before he ſhall know or ſee. The King keepes his watch; has done his duty, poſtured his Kingdome by plummet and rule, for they had ASSOCIATED themſelves (I purpoſely mention it againe and againe, becauſe there is no other way) King and people have entred into a Covenant: So now, if the Adverſary doe come, he comes upon the greateſt diſadvantage.

But this the Adverſary conſiders not, he is not comming but come: So we reade, Senacherib King of Aſſyria came and entred into Judah, and encamped against the fenced Cities ^d; that 2 Chron. 32. 1.2 Chr 32:1he did, he durſt come into Judahs land, while it was the LORDS Land, and her Cities the Lords Cities, and thought to win them for himſelf. What made the raging Beaſt, for he do's not ſpeake like a man, ſo confident? It is worth the labour to heare this, for in feeling this mans pulſe, if I may call him ſo, we may know the temper of others like him, What ſayes he? This is the firſt fault he finds in the King, he bad his people be confident, That the Lord his GOD would deliver them out of the ver. 11.hands of the King of Aſſyria. This hee layes to the good Kings charge, and he is well content to be charged with it.

2. That Hezekiah had taken away his high places, and His Altars; The good King is content with this too, but he will ver. 12.have the man know, That the things he tooke away were not the Lords, but the Devills; his high places, and his Altars; The Prieſts there, the Devils Prieſts, and the ſervices done there, were done to Devils too.

3. That Hezekiah ſaid, Yee ſhall worſhip before one Altar. The good King ſaid ſo indeed; for it is according to the command of GOD; and however, more Altars may be commanded, p. 97and Prieſts to ſerve before them, yet it is againſt the command of GOD, Who commanded to worſhip before one Altar; and now that is removed, we have but one ſtill, and He is the Prieſt, and the Sacrifice, and the Altar, and All. Hearke how he blaſphemes now, None of all the gods of other Nations, ver. 13, 14.could deliver their people out of my hands, or my Fathers band: And doe's Hezekiah thinke, that his GOD can deliver him and his people? There ſhall be no reply to this; For they spake againſt the GOD of Jeruſalem, as againſt the gods of the people of the Earth, which were the worke of the hands of men dd2 Chr. 32. 19.2 Chr 32:19. Then he wrote letters to raile on the LORD GOD; Rayling letters, and a rayling Rabſhekeh, all raile, and there the charge is alſo, Anſwer him not.ver. 17.

But one thing I would have noted, which paſſed while Rubſhekeh was railing. Eliakim deſireth a courteſie of him, That he would not ſpeake to the people in their owne language, for that would diſhearten them (halfe dead already) A plaine hearted man, and he conſidered not, That now Rabſhekeh would roare, ſtand up and cry out the lowder in the Jewiſh language, That 2 King. 18. 26,2 Kgs 18:26they might be the more diſheartened. You muſt not expect a favour from an enemy; nor let him know where your ſenſe is quickeſt, for there he will pinch hardeſt. I remember a proud Tyrant, delighting in proud wrath, had ſlaine a ſon ver. 28.before the Fathers eye; The Father thanked him, and held-in his griefe pretty well; one asked him how he could ſtand ſo cheery before a Tyrant, and thanke him too. Great Reaſon, ſaid he, to conceale from the Tyrant, where my care lay, Habebam alterum, I have another ſonne, and faine I would hold that one, and ſo I bit in my ſorrow. If we let that goe, yet take this example in the ſacred Text, learne we never to expect a favour from an Adverſary, he will do you none at all, but all the injury that can be.

The King cares for none of all this, nor his rage, nor his blaſphemy, for there was nothing in ſight now ſtanding, to offend the eye of his GOD; Hezekiah had deſtroyed all thoſe curſed things utterly, and then Senecherib may ſweare and curſe and rage, and blaſpheme; though it troubles the good King, (it is as a Sword in his bones to heare his GOD blaſphemed:) p. 98Yet I ſay in point of hurt and danger, to him or his City from without, the good King is careleſſe, becauſe there are no provocations within. Indeed the proud Adverſary did the good King much good, for it made the King to ſtrengthen himſelfe with ſuch meanes, as his GOD allowes him; he called a Counſell of warre, gathered much people, ſtopped all the …ountaines, ſtrengthened himſelfe, built up the Wall, raiſedup the Towers, made darts and ſhields in abundance. But his more ſpeciall care was to engage himſelfe to his GOD, and his GOD to him: See how he encourageth his people, with us is the LORD our GOD to helpe us, and to fight our battels: 2 Chr. 32. 3, 4, 52 Chr 32:32 Chr 32:42 Chr 32:5Then it followes, And the people reſted themſelves upon the words of Hezekiah. So the victory is got already; but we will ſee how wonderfully matters were brought about, and what deſtruction from the Almighty, befell this proud Adverſary. It was unto him according as the LORD had ſaid; ver. 8.He ſent a blaſt upon him, he heard a rumour; The LORD 2 Kin. 19 2.2 Kgs 19:2cauſed him to fall by the Sword of his owne ſonnes, in his owne Land. But by what meanes theſe great matters were brought about, that is our enquiry now, and it is worth our obſervation.

Senacherib wrote letters, ſayes the Text, To raile on the Lord God of Iſrael; an old faſhion, and yet not worne out of uſe: I have caſt mine eye upon the like now a dayes, both in proſe and verſe, as rayling as were Senacheribs letters here, and as fooliſh as were the Songs the drunkards made of David, let them paſſe in the crowd, he that reades them, is as he that made them; and he that makes them, is as he in the ſacred Text, a Rabſhekeh, and as thoſe Drunkards the Prophet mentions: I was ſaying Senacherib wrote letters. What do's Hezekiah with them? Not rayle too, we muſt not returne railing words, not if we contended with the Devill; nor did he goe to his cloſet to make anſwer to them, for then he had done againſt his owne command, Anſwer him not cc2 Kin. 17. 36.2 Kgs 17:36. Hezekiah received the letter and read it, and Hezekiah went up into the houſe of the LORD. What more? And ſpread it before the Lord; ver. 14.The King layes open the whole matter before the LORD, Tels Him how the Infidell had dealt, how he had reproached p. 99and blaſphemed His Name. Aye, GODS Name; had he reproached a man, in reſpect of common nature and principles, like himſelfe, then Hezekiah had held his peace; he had not ſpread the matter before the LORD; but in Hezekiah, the LORDS Servant, That Beaſt opened his mouth, and blaſphemed the living GOD, ſo he remits the matter, puts it over to GOD, Revenge is Thine, Thou ſhalt repay is, for Thy Glory is intereſſed here. An excellent patterne before the ſervants of the LORD in theſe times; you ſhall have a company of drunkards, worſe, if it can be, will give up their tongues and their pens to the Devills-forge, intreating him, that he will ſharpen them againſt the face of the Righteous; he will doe it; for, as the LORD will worke with, and for them, who will give up their tongues, and hands, and hearts to Him and His ſervice: So alſo the Devill will doe for his ſervants, intreating him (they are not ſo ſhameleſſe as to intreat GOD) That he would inable them to blaſpheme and reproach GOD, and His Servants. The Devill grants their requeſt with all his heart, they ſhall doe it, and it is done; away they runne well apaid to their fellow Printer, as forward as themſelves, and ſerving the ſame Maſter, and next Morning out it comes. What is done with it? The ſame now, as in ancient dayes, according to the very patterne, It is spread before the LORD; here LORD Thy Glory is concerned; for ours, it is of no account with us; we have laid out our ſelves for Thee, and to promote Thy Glory; our lives are not deare unto us, ſo we may drive on this great deſigne againſt Thine Adverſaries: But therefore, for Thy ſake we are reproached: Open Thine eyes Lord upon it, we are a ſcorne and a deriſion, Drunkards make Songs over us. Thus it is ſpread before the Lord. And as ſure as this is Scripture, which we are now upon, ſo ſure the Lord will anſwer theſe fooliſh and brutiſh Men in His wrath, and vexe them in His ſore diſpleaſure. Wee goeon.

The letter is ſpread, And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, 2 Kin. 19. 15.2 Kgs 19:15as followes. What now? Now you ſhall ſee the Scene Alters, and a ſtrange exploit wrought. You reade of a Prayer, and no ſooner put up, but anſwered, That, which thou haſt prayed to me p. 100againſt Senacherib King of Aſſyria, I have heard. And preſently, ſee what a ſlaughter there is! Who ſlew all them? The ver. 20.Angell of the Lord; That is true, but we ſay as truly, Eliſha's Sword did it; That is Prayer, I thinke, for I do not conceive what other Sword Eliſha had: But that is not granted on all … Kin. 19.ſides, yet this is moſt cleare, That Hezekiahs Prayer, that did the execution; Prayer commanded the Angell, I am not miſtaken, I ſay, commanded (for Prayer commands GOD) The Angell to come out of Heaven, to execute the vengeance of the … Eſa. 45. 11.Isa 45:11Lord upon that curſed Hoſt.

I could ſay as much of Prayer, as is ſaid of Faith, it is the moſt efficacious of any thing in Heaven or Earth, next to the blood of CHRIST: I ſay next, for it has it's Energy, and efficacious working there-from. It has the quickeſt motion of any thing in the world, and has as quicke a returne. What alwayes? That was well remembred; No, not alwayes, but in ſome caſes; many times the eye is dim with looking upward; and the heart faint with expectation. Of what? Of the Returne of Prayer. How ſo? For excellent reaſons; The children of GOD muſt not alwayes aske, and have preſently; they muſt be held in expectation; their time is now; they have prayed now, and now they would have a Returne; No, GODS time is not yet; They muſt not thinke to ſow and reape together. Their graces muſt be exerciſed, and they taught to wait, and in patience to poſſeſſe their ſoules; They muſt ſtay till GOD may be magnified in His Salvation; Every Salvation is His, but His Name is not magnified, except things riſe to a height, and there be an extremity of danger. And when the caſe is ſo; Refuge faileth the Church, then God comes-in; The returne of Prayer is ſpeedy then; And this was the caſe here; The Adverſary very proud, the Church very humble; The Adverſary very high in his demands, the Church very low; The Adverſary would heare of no conditions of peace, unleſſe Iſrael would be his ſervants, he refuſes all …ffers. So the valiant men did cry, and the Ambaſſadours of Peace did weepe bitterly ccEſa. 3…. 7.Isa 3:7[There is no Treaty with an Infidell, or an Idolater] The Adverſary deſpiſed the Cities, and regarded ver. 9.no man ddver. 8.. The Earth mourned, Lebanon was aſhamed, Sharon p. 101ver. 10.was like a wilderneſſe. Now is GODS time to ariſe, and to be exalted; now He will appeare in His glory: He will regard Pſalm. 102.Ps 102the Prayer of the deſtitute: And the returne ſhall be ſpeedy: And ſee what an exploit it hath wrought? It returnes with an Angell, which went out, and ſmote in the Campe of Aſhur an hundred foureſcore and five thouſand: So when they aroſe early 2 King. 19 35.2 Kgs 19:35in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpſes. So Senacherib departed, returned to his houſe, thought to dwell in ſafety at Nineveh: And it came to paſſe that he went into the houſe of ver. 36, 37.Ni…och his god, there to worſhip; and there he muſt be ſlaine: he had blaſphemed the true GOD, he muſt be ſlaine before his Idol; and by the Sword in the hands of his own Sons; he had reproached the Sons of Jacob, the ſervants of the Lord; he ſhall be ſlaine by his own children.

Thus the LORD did for Hezekiah, according to the good word He ſpake unto him, and whereon the people reſted cc2 Chro. 32 8.2 Chr 32:8; He curſed from Heaven (after His manner) bold and daring enterprizes managed againſt His hidden ones: The LORD ſaid, upon all the glory ſhall be a defence ddEſa. 4▪ 5.Isa 4:5, and ſo it was. The feare of the LORD is his Treaſure eeEſa. 33. 6.Isa 33:6; It was ſpoken of King Hezekiah; that all may make GOD their feare, then He will be a Sanctuary. To recollect all; Senacheribs Hoſt were all ſlaine in a night, prayer commanded an Angell (for there is no intermediate thing in ſight) the Angell does the execution: The King ſlinkes away, thinkes to hide himſelfe in his houſe, from the wrath of the Almighty; The Sword, which he thre atned Judah, finds him-out and ſlayes him before his gods, and the execution is done upon him by his own Sonnes; he falls by the Sword of his owne Sonnes in his owne Land cc2 King. 19. 7.2 Kgs 19:7. Thus the LORD dealt with the Adverſaries of Judah, and guided them on every ſide dd2 Chro. 32. 22.2 Chr 32:22. And many came to congratulate the King, and rejoyce with him after this victory, ſo they brought gifts unto the LORD, and preſents to Hezekiah: ſo that he was ver. 23.magnified in the ſight of all Nations from thenceforth.

Now whether Hezekiah did boaſt of the LORD, the giver of victories, all the day long, I cannot tell; he was an excellent Man, and yet but a Man, he might looke on his own arme too much, and on GODS Arme too little. Certaine it is p. 102he gloried in his riches; it may be alſo, but that is one mans conjecture, he rejoyced too much at the destruction and lamentable end of his enemy. But this is cleare from the connexion of the Chapters, which we muſt obſerve here; That our joyes doe not runne ſmooth and cleare away, there is a a mixture and mudd with them, and a ſettlement at the bottome; nor is our peace here below, a ſolid, continued, or an interrupted peace; no, as our outward peace may be plundred: ſo our inward peace may be and is often ecclipſed. We muſt looke for changes here below; our comforts, as not full here, ſo nor permanent; we muſt looke for that in Heaven. Nay, commonly thus it is on earth; when our joyes here below are at the higheſt, yet there is a cloud above them, which, at that inſtant, that point of time, will overſhadow them: when we are at the heights in our joyes, then feare ſome depth of ſorrow; there is ſuch a connexion between theſe two, joyes and ſorrowes. So it ſeemes it was here with Hezekiah; In thoſe dayes; what dayes were thoſe? good and joyfull dayes, as we may imagine upon ſuch a glorious victory as that was, and comming-in of Ambaſſadors to joy with him. See now! But then, in thoſe dayes, Hezekiah 2 King 20 21.2 Kgs 20:21was ſick unto death. The King was joyfull no doubt, and very comfortable, being ſo wondrouſly delivered, and like enough, was thinking of building Tabernacles upon his comforts, well perſwaded they would be of ſome continuance; but behold then at that time, ſickneſſe came and overſhadowed all. Peter ſeeing the glory, was ſo well pleaſed with the ſight, that he ſpake of making Tabernacles for continuance; But what ſayes the Spirit, ſo indeed he ſaid, not knowing what he ſaid **Luk. 9. 33.Luke 9:33. Indeed we doe not, when we talke of building Tabernacles upon our comforts, expecting a continuance of them. There is ſuch a connexion betwixt joy and ſorrow, as there is between 2 King. 19. & …0. 1.2 Kgs 19thoſe Chapters and Verſes bb2 Chron. 32. 23, 24.2 Chr 32:232 Chr 32:24: The one concludes with joy, the other begins with ſorrow. And in thoſe dayes Hezekiah was ſick unto death; that is, his diſeaſe was deadly in it ſelfe, for it was (ſuppoſed to be) the plague: And now the meſſage is, you muſt not thinke of the victory now, but in ſetting your inward and outward houſe in order; for thou ſhalt dye and p. 103not live. See here! But as yeſterday, an Enemy was at his gates, threatning to ſwallow up all: the LORD ſent that adverſary packing. No ſooner delivered from the oppreſſing Sword, but he is ſmitten with a diſeaſe as with a Sword in his bowels. It is ſtrange, but ſo it is; That man can thinke of building Tabernacles upon his comforts here below, or upon any worldly thing, whereunto we give the Name of Glory, which hath ſo many waines and ecclipſes, how ſoone comes a cloud and overſhadowes all our glory! ſometimes when we are ſpeaking of ſetting up a Tabernacle, I meane our reſt upon the creature, the cloud comes; that we may learne to expect changes here, and of ſorrowes too. An Enemy was even now at the Kings gate; no ſooner was he removed, but a ſickneſſe ſent unto him, which cut his heart like a Sword in his bowels. This trouble is blowne over, and now it is peace. Alas! mans peace here, is like a ſun-ſhine after raine, trouble as the cloud returnes againe.

What is our expectation then? That our houſes, our comforts will continue? that cannot be; here is no continuance; if we ſo expect, our expectation is vaine. Bleſſed is the man, that lookes for continuance there, and there only, where is a City that hath a foundation; that can ſay, my ſoule waite thou Pſa 12. 5. Pſal. 39. 7.Ps 12:5Ps 39:7only upon GOD: for my expectation is from Him: And now LORD what waite I for? my HOPE is in THEE: I doe not expect any thing can be certaine here, but changes of ſorrowes, trialls in this kind, and in that; I waite for afflictions, Thou haſt ſaid, in the world yee ſhall have them: But my hope is in Thee, that Thou wilt ſupport me in them; doe me good by them; worke my deliverance out of them, I waite Thy ſalvation.

We proceed to that, which was as a Sword in the Kings bowells; ſet thy houſe in order for thou ſhalt dye and not live. Then we reade which way he turned; what his prayer was, and what his comfort; the ſweeteſt cordiall, that a man can thinke of upon his ſick bed, REMEMBER, &c. he wept 2 King. 10.2 Kgs 10ſore (for he had no Sonne, and yet the LORD promiſed to ver. 3. 3.give a light to David and to his Sonnes for ever:) The LORD 2 Chro. 21. 7.2 Chr 21:7heard the voice of his weeping, gives him a wonderfull ſigne, p. 104that the LORD would heale him, and that he ſhould goe up to the Houſe of the LORD; ſo he was wonderfully recovered 2 King 20. 8.2 Kgs 20:8(no plague being beyond the skill of this Phiſitian) and upon his feet againe, and an Embaſſadour at his elbow, to congratulate ſuch a mercy. It followes, Hezekiah ſhewes his treaſuries ver. 12.unto them, even ALL that was found there; But the Prophet cooles his ſpirit quickly, ſaying, all this store (being the ſpoiles of Senacharibs Camp, who had robbed him the yeare before, repayed all with advantage, and made Hezechiah richer upon the ſuddaine then ever he had beene, which unexpected wealth was a ſtrong temptation to boaſting) But I ſay, the Prophet takes downe his ſpirit, ſaying, all this store which thou haſt ſhewen to the Princes of Babylon, ſhall be carried thither, nothing ſhall be left, ſaith the LORD. We may ver. 17.reade what followes; The good King heares all this and more, and ſubmits humbly and thankfully to the will of GOD, ſaying, good is the word of the LORD; All is good to the good, 2 King. 20. 19.2 Kgs 20:19the good LORD ſo ordering all.

But I will ſet the marke upon this; The LORD gave unto Hezekiah wonderfull ſignes, and a recovery of health: But Hezekiah rendered not againe according to the benefit done unto 2 Chro. 32. 25▪2 Chr 32:25him. The reaſon is given, for his heart was lifted▪up: [If the heart be lifted up with pride, it cannot be lifted up in rendring praiſes.] Reade on; Therefore there was wrath upon him. [That followes ſtill, when the heart is lifted-up, then is the time when, wrath comes downe.] Came this wrath downe upon the King only? no, for Kings doe not ſinne alone, nor are they puniſhed alone; There was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jeruſalem.

It ſeemes not ſo; wrath was not already come upon them, it was to come: True, that which the Lord threatneth is reckoned as already done; we may ſay of it, as we reade concerning the laſt violl of wrath, that ſhall come powring downe upon the laſt Enemies of the Church, long ſince threatned, yet to be executed, and thereof it is ſaid, behold it is come, and it is done, ſaith the LORD ddEzek. 39 8.Ezek 39:8. The ſervants of the Lord are moved, and melt more at the Lords threats; then the wicked doe under blowes. If there be but mention of wrath, it is enough, p. 105(for it is our Lords wrath) to humble the righteous man; he will ſay of it preſently, though but denounced, great is the wrath of the LORD that is powred out upon 2 Chro. 34. 11.2 Chr 34:11us.

And ſo King Hezekiah here, he humbled himſelfe for the pride of his heart (both he and the inhabitants of Jeruſalem) ſo that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the dayes of Hezekiah ff2 Chro. 32. 26.2 Chr 32:26. No; he had humbled himſelfe; True humiliation turnes away wrath, as here, and inſtead thereof he had bleſſings 2 Chro. 32. 26.2 Chr 32:26good ſtore, for he had exceeding much of all pretious ver. 27.things, and ſubſtance very much, and hee did great workes, ver. 28.and prospered in all hee did. One thing hee did very fooliſhly, ver. 29.recorded after all this, which was before, and ver. 30.that was about the Embaſſadours: but then GOD left him ver. 31.to try him, that hee might know all that was in his heart. [The ableſt and ſtrongeſt Chriſtians muſt be left a little, elſe they will truſt themſelves too much; They muſt know by their falls how weake they are, elſe they cannot know all that is in their hearts, even ſuch thoughts as theſe, That they and their mountaine can ſtand all alone, ſo ſtrong they are: But then they fall, and ſo they know the vanity of ſuch thoughts, and can correct them.] The reſt of his Acts, and his GOODNESSE; Marke that; and his GOODNESSE; The pride of his heart in ſhewing of the Treaſures, that ſhall be remembred no more, his goodneſſe ſhall; his infirmities all ſhall be forgotten, as if they had never beene, his GOODNESSE ſhall never be forgotten; and his Goodneſſe. What a good GOD did King Hezekiah ſerve, He paſſeth over all, and all ſhall be forgotten; but his Goodneſſe ſhall ſtill be remembred. Againe, ſee the portion of thoſe that feare the LORD and His Goodneſſe; They live deſired, and they dye lamented; and when they are dead, it is in every mans mouth; And their Goodneſſe. See alſo the meaſures of the wicked, cleane contrary; They live undeſired, they dye unlamented; and when they are laid in the grave, if they have ſo much honour, their Name rots above ground, as their bodies under ground, and it is in every p. 106mans mouth, and their Badneſſe, the evill that they wrought! Oh! who would not chooſe the feare of the LORD, and to walke before Him in truth, That it may be ſaid of him, when he is taken hence; And his goodneſſe! All are recorded in the viſions of Eſaiah; and in the Booke of the Kings. But let me note what I have obſerved all along theſe Chronicles; That after many glorious acts of the LORDS Worthies, their ſlipps and falls are recorded almoſt laſt of all. Why ſo? for excellent reaſons ſure, though I may not hit upon them; I thinke verily this is one; That we may remember our ſinnes firſt and laſt, with bitterneſſe of ſpirit, after a godly ſort, and then, being remembred ſo this once, they ſhall be remembred no more for ever. I will remember your iniquities no more: but the Goodneſſe ſhall be remembred to all generations.

Death ſtill concludes the Story; It followes, And he ſlept with his Fathers, and all Judah did him honour at his death, for he honoured all Judah.