The Kings Chronicle, Chapter 9
THE Repentance of MANASSEH.
CHAP. IX.
Manaſſeh does exceeding wickedly, worſe then the Heathen; as a Man beſides himſelfe. At length he is taken in the Thornes, there he comes to himſelfe againe; He ſinned greatly, and was humbled greatly: This is the more largely diſcourſed of, That … Chron. 33.the humble …inner may not despaire, nor the proud ſinner preſume; Manaſſeh his teares of true Repentance, could not waſh-off the guilt of blood from Judah. Theſe things follow orderly in their ſeverall Paragraphs.
MAnaſſeh his Sonne, an older King then his Father was a Man (for hee reighned fifty and five yeares aSo long the LORD waited to ſhew mercy and to give repentance; Who would not waite upon Him ſo long-ſuffering!in Jeruſalem:) began to reigne when he was twelve yeares old bGood education cannot make the child good, Goodnes being derivitive from Him, Who onelyonly is Good: yet Parents muſt attend it as their proper and ſpeciall charge.; What diſcerning he had at thoſe yeares, into his Fathers pious carriage, and the proſperity that followed him, we cannot certainely tell; we thinke very little, for this is apparent and upon everlaſting record; That never any Son walked more croſſe to the Fathers ſtepps, as contrary as evill is to good; Hell to Heaven▪; Thoſe abominations his Father caſt downe, the Son ſet up; and what his Fathers ſoule hated, his Son did practiſe: To paſſe by all the reſt, wherein he did like to the abominations of the Heathen; here he exceeded, ver. 2, 3.burnt his Sons for a ſacrifice to the Devill, and filled Jeruſalem ver. 6.with innocent blood, from one end to another, (worſe then the 2 King. 21. 16.Heathen) into which channell did ſtreame downe the blood of that reverend and aged Prophet Eſaiah, whom he cauſed to be beate to death with a Fullers club, or to be ſawne in ſunder with a wooden ſaw, in the 80 Yeare of his life: The ſacred Eſa. 1.Scripture indeed is ſilent here, only it ſaith, That Prophet lived to ſee, and feele that Kings tyranny; Other writers, too many to rehearſe, and too good to be ſuſpected, affirme it with a loud voice; That, in ſuch a barbarous manner, he put that good Prophet to death. Yet he is reckoned-up in this place, becauſe, when he comes to the buſineſſe, he ordered his Militia according to right reaſon and rule. Indeed we reade nothing of Manaſſeh his Militia, before he was taken in the thornes, bound with fetters, and carried to Babilon, and brought ver. 11, 12, 13.againe thence to Jeruſalem, for then he knew, that the LORD He was GOD. [See how the ſharpe thornes and bryars of affliction, can teach us, when the LORD is pleaſed to ſharpen and ſanctifie ſuch goades] But this is the leſſon; To admire the height and depth of GODS mercy; He ſuffers Manaſſeh to run-up to the height of all heatheniſh abominations; to plunge himſelfe into a depth of innocent blood; and then, when he was neare the end of his race, the LORD recovers him, fetcheth him from out of that depth, and turnes his heart back againe. We muſt inſiſt upon this, that we may put the more obſervation upon it.
¶ 1. The truth of Manaſſeh his Repentance, is cleared from the ſacred Text, not that there are any who doubt of it, but that none may preſume from it. What takes off ſomewhat from the weight of his ſin, and adds to the terrour of an hypocriticall perſon, who doth one thing, and profeſſeth another: ſo Manaſſeh did not doe; and yet his ſins are heightned, ſo as to magnifie free grace.
OH the height of GODS merciel He lengthens out Manaſſehs day, and brings him into the Thorns towards night, that there he might bethink himſelfe of all his abominations. That we may admire free-grace, we muſt make a ſtand here, and looke upon Manaſſeh in the Thornes, and what exceeding mercy he found there: And I ſpeake of it here, that the proud ſinner may not preſume, nor the humble deſpaire; for a ſinner ſhall not be condemned, becauſe he is an old ſinner, and a great ſinner: but becauſe he is an impenitent ſinner: And ſuch an one Manaſſeh was not, when he was in the Thornes. And when he was in affliction he beſought the LORD his GOD, and humbled himſelfe greatly before the God of his Fathers.
But may we thinke this Humiliation to be ſound? Yes, we 2 Chro. 33. 12.dare not judge otherwiſe; nay, this Scripture aſſureth us, it was ſound: True it is, (and therefore I ſpeake of it in this place) when we are in the Thornes, when our ſorrows reach unto the heart, when our Month is come, and we are in our Ier. 2.pangs, then there will be pangs of ſorrow, whether after a godly ſort, or a worldly ſorrow unto Death, cannot poſſibly be diſcerned by the moſt diſcerning ſpirit, that dwells in fleſh, GOD knowes, Who only knowes the hearts of the children of Men; but there are ſome expreſſions in the Text, which are full of uſe to the Penitent and impenitent, both, clearing Manaſſeh his Repentance unto us.
He beſought the LORD his GOD; ſo a wicked man may doe. He humbled himſelfe, ſo a wicked man may doe alſo: nay, greatly in mans judgement. Some might be pointed to, who, being in the Thornes, in great Agony of body and ſpirit both, expecting to make their appearance before the great Throne, have humbled themſelves greatly, given as great Teſtimony of true ſorrow, as poſſibly could be expreſſed; yet, being delivered out of the Thornes were worſe then ever before, Therefore, I ſay, greatly in mans judgment, ſo a wicked man may do too. But he humbled himſelfe GREATLY, before the LORD greatly, and as in GODS preſence, and by the Teſtimony of the Spirit, before the Lord condemning, judging, loathing himſelfe, accepting his puniſhment, greatly humbled before the Lord; ſo a wicked man cannot doe, none but a true Penitent. That againe, which followes, he prayed, and GOD was intreated of him. For a temporall Deliverance you will ſay; but We ſpeke of a ſoule mercy, of an eternall redemption: And this me thinks may be concluded alſo, from the following vvords, Then Manaſſeh knew that the Lord He was God. All our evils, which are committed, are, as I may ſay, charged upon this one word, as their originall root, they knew not the Lord: So all our workes of righteouſnes upon this word, He knew the Lord; I cannot expreſſe the fullneſſe of that word, but it containes all: It is the ſumme of the Apoſtles Prayer, That the Lord would give the Epheſians the ſpirit of wiſdome and revelation in the KNOWLEDGE of Him [Eph. 1. 17.]
In the laſt place, it do's not appeare, that Manaſſeh, recovered out of the thornes, did returne unto folly, but the contrary will appeare anon, when we ſhall looke upon him, as a pattern of true Repentance.
Now I will take leave, for the inſtruction of the living, to take ſo much from the weight of Manaſſehs ſinnes, and to put in ſo much allowance for it, as, I am confident, the ſacred Scripture will allow me to doe: for GOD forbid I ſhould do more. And all this I ſhall doe for this great end, to diſcover the danger of Hypocriſie, and to magnifie free-grace, Manaſſeh was an abominable Idolater profeſſedly ſo; but that was ſome helpe for him; he did not perſecute that way, he himſelfe walked-in; nor that Religion he ſeemed to profeſſe; he was indeed what he ſeemed to be, ſuch was he, and that I ſay was ſome helpe unto him. He offered his ſonne to Molech; he did it when he knew not the LORD. The Altars, his good Father threw downe, he ſet-up; but he did not ſet them up with his hand, and cry them downe with his mouth. Hee ſlew that Evangelicall Prophet Eſaiah; who ever was the Executioner, or what ever the inſtrument of his Death, Manaſſeh ſlew him: But Manaſſeh did not call them bloody Rebels, that killed Iſaiah, as though they had done it againſt his mind and will. He ſhed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jeruſalem from one end to another; 2 Kin. 21. 16.But he did not, at that time, ſeeme to relent at what his hand did, and ſo water the ſame City at the ſame time with teares of fained compaſſion: I meane by this, he was not an hypocriticall King againſt whom that ſevere judgement is denounced, as againſt an Hypocriticall Nation, and againſt the people of GODS wrath. Manaſſeh was not one manner of Eſa. 10. 6.man in ſhew and profeſſion; and another in deed and in truth. He did doe worſe then the Heathen, he was moſt abominable in all his wayes; But he was what he was, and he walked according to his light in his owne wayes, which ſeemed right in his owne eyes. I thinke verily no man ever went further towards ruine, then Manaſſeh did, and returned in peace; never any plunged himſelfe deeper into the gulfe of ſinne, and eſcaped: But this is it I ſay; we cannot charge him with Hypocriſie. He ſet himſelfe againſt GOD, he openly and manifeſtly oppoſed GODS Truth: So an Hypocrite do's not do; he will oppoſe it, but he will make you ſhewes and overtures of the contrary. The eſtabliſhed Religion, he will ſeeme to be all for that, and to doe all for it, nothing againſt it. Paul breathed out threatnings aAct 9 1. Act. 16. 11.; he compelled men to blaſpheme; He was exceedingly MADD againſt the righteous, that he was, for he perſecuted them even to ſtrange Cities. What was his comfort, 1 Tim. 1. 13.or what helped him? he did it ignorantly, and obtained Mercy. It was ſo with Luther too, a bloudy perſecutour in heart: as all Idolaters are, as he ſayes of himſelfe, and all that are as he was; Had I bin, ſaid he, at the place where John Hus was burnt, Nemo noſtrum, non erat vir ſanguinum, ſi non opere tamen corde. Abhorrebam vel ipſum nomen Io▪ Huſſe Ad…o que Zelab… pro Papā, ut ad occidendum Io: Hus ipſe ſerrum & ignem ſubminiſtraſſe in Lu… Galat c. 1. v. 15. 1 Cor. 4 7. d Eſa. 35. 8. Act. 17 30. foreign.I would have made the fire a little hotter to have ſcorched the Heretick: for, I would have brought two Faggots upon my ſhoulders thether: Why would he have done ſo? In his blind zeale to Munkery, he would, as all his fellowes would have done, ſhed blood to their power, he with them would have rejoyced to have ſeene John Hus fry in the fire. But why doe I mention theſe excellent ſervants of the LORD? For excellent reaſon▪ To magnifie free Grace, That made them DIFFER FROM ANOTHER: But here I mention it to evince and cleare this, That Hypocriſie is the DAMNABLE SINNE. A man may be a Malignant Perſon, he may perſecute the good way (wherein the foole cannot erre) and the righteous in that way▪ and may doe it ignorantly: And then ſee the helpe and the comfort, the time of this ignorance GOD winked at. He ſaw and would not ſee, He over-looked it. I doe not plead for ignorance, that curſed root, that mother of witch-crafts and ſuperſtitious devotions. Some thing might have been ſaid for it foureſcore yeares agoe, for that ignorance which was in thoſe darke and gloomy dayes, rather that night of ſuperſtition and Popery: But not a word for it now in theſe dayes, where the light is ſo cleare, and knowledg ſo abounding: now to be ignorant, do's not leſſen, do's not extenuate or take-off from, but aggravate the fault; for it is now to ſtumble in a Sun-ſhine, and to grope for the way in mid▪Day, as at mid-night. But I ſay, for a man to doe what he doe's profeſſedly, walke in a way he thinks good in his owne eyes, and to doe it ignorantly, as, for ought I know, Manaſſeh did, This hath helped very many; Paul, Luther, and ſo Manaſſeh, for the time of this ignorance GOD winked at, and he obtained mercy.
What? And his ſinnes ſo great! Yes, he was GREATLY humbled, the ſpirit, ſayes ſo, and adds, BEFORE the LORD; The LORD ſaw that he abhorred himſelf, admired free grace, he was GREATLY humbled.
But his ſin was great?
True, But it is ſaid, He knew the LORD, He remembred the LORD, That He is GREAT; and, as he had ſinned Neh 4 14.to the utmoſt, ſo This Great GOD could ſave to the utmoſt. He had gone far indeed, never any man beyond him; yet not ſo farre, but This Great GOD, whom he knew now, could fetch him back-againe with His out-ſtretched Arme. Again, his ſinne was great, but that was his Father Davids Argument before him, wherefore he did expect pardon; his ſinne was great cPſ. 25. 11., and GOD is great, and hath layed ſtrength on Him that is Mighty, a great, ſtrong Redeemer, can ſave to the utmoſt, O LORD pardon mine iniquity, for it is GREAT. The glory of GOD is Great in the ſalvation of great Sinners: And by putting confidence in Him, Who is Mighty, We lay Glory and Majeſty upon Him; for to thoſe words we may properly Pſ. 21. 5.allude; His Glory is great in thy Salvation, honour and Maieſty haſt Thou laid upon Him. We are intreated to marke Diſc. of Iuſt. p 519.this, for the houre may come (ſaith Mr. Hooker) when we ſhall thinke it a bleſſed thing to heare, what? That if our ſins were the ſinnes of Popes and Cardinals (of Manaſſeh ſay I) the bowels of the mercy of GOD are larger. I muſt reade his following words too, I doe not propoſe unto you a Pope with the necke of an Emperour under his feet: A Cardinall riding his horſe to the bridle in the blood of Saints: But a Pope or Cardinall ſorrowfull, penitent, diſrobed, ſtript, not onelyonly of uſurped power, but alſo delivered and recalled from errour. Antichriſt converted and lying proſtrate at the foot of CHRIST: And ſhall I thinke that CHRIST will ſpurn at him? So, I doe not propoſe unto you Manaſſeh ſlaying the innocent: Walking after all the fore-mentioned abominations: But Manaſſeh in the Thorns, ſeeking the LORD, humbling himſelfe greatly before the LORD; and now behold the LORD hearing his ſupplications, intreated of him. And ô the riches of Grace, and the freeneſſe thereof! How exceeding, how admirable, how unexpreſſible! And this Grace was ſhewen to Manaſſeh, that no penitent ſinner may deſpaire; Manaſſeh and he only went ſo farre towards Hell, and turned back, that no man might preſume. Not ſin but impenitency killeth! I thought I could have ſaid ſomething more at this point; but I ſee it is too high for me, I can ſay no more of it: But, now unto Him that is able to doe exceeding abundantly, Epheſ. 3. 20, 21.above all that we can aske or thinke, Ʋnto Him be glory in the Church by CHRIST JESƲS throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
¶ 2. Manaſſeh his Repentance maketh cleare proofe to all Generations following, what Repentance is and true converſion.
NOw we returne where we left, and found Manaſſeh in the Thornes, and graciouſly delivered thence. There we muſt obſerve how he goes on with his Militia, removes that which hinders, do's all that, which will further the ſame: Now after this he built a wall, &c. And he ſooke away the ſtrange ver. 14, 15, 16.gods, &c. And hee repaired the Altar of the LORD, &c.
And this is ſpoken ſo fully unto already, that more needs not be ſaid of it here. This rather I would inſiſt upon a little; To thow, …ha…, … Manaſſeh was a true patterne of reforming and poſter… … Kingdome after the right manner; ſo is he a patterne of … I …t…nt, one that had truly repented, and heartily turned to the LORD. Repentance is the change of the …ind, and of the heart too, and then all is changed: the way alſo, wherein the impenitent perſon walked before his converſion, is changed and turned cleane croſſe, or as I may ſay, up…e downe; which is the reaſon, that Reformation, where it comes, makes ſuch ſtirrs and tumults in the world; for it turns the world upſide downe. But let that paſſe, the preſent time will ſpeake enough to that. To this in hands now, and thus it will appeare by what Manaſſeh did, after he was recovered out of the thornes; he went cleane croſſe to the way now, wherein he walked before: he went a direct way before to ruine himſelfe and his Kingdome: Now he goes a direct way, but cleane croſſe, to make himſelfe ſtrong, and to eſtabliſh his Kingdom; it ſhall appeare in all the ſeverall wayes or motions thereunto. But I will make inſtance in the Jaylor firſt, where Aſt. 16.we ſhall ſee how contrary a penitent man walkes to himſelfe, and his owne way; He had, by the Commandement of the ver. 22.Magiſtrates, beat the Apoſtles, and receiving further charge about them, hee thruſt them into the inner priſon, and made their feet faſt in the ſtockes. When he was changed by a wonderfull ver. 14.worke from Heaven upon his heart; ſee how croſſe he is to that he was before, and how croſſe he do's to that he did before; he was ſtout and proud before, now he trembles; his Sword was drawne in a readineſſe to kill himſelfe; now he ver 29.asked the way, how to live for ever with the LORD: Before, he made the Apoſtles ſtoope to him, for he made their feet faſt in the ſtocks; Now he fell downe before them. Before, hee thrust them into the inner priſon; thruſt them in roughly enough, for theſe Jaylors are as cruell, as their Maſters, that command them, and into the inner priſon; the worſt place in the houſe is fitteſt for the Apoſtles, ſo it was then; how now when the Jaylor is a changed man? Now he brought them out; And when the maine worke was done, which the Apoſtles ver 30.minded more then their ſtripes, he took them the ſame houre of the night, and waſhed their ſtripes, thoſe ſore blowes himſelfe ver. 31, 32, 33, 34.had given them, and then he ſet meat before them: The right way of a true Penitent this, for it is clean croſſe to the way he walked in before his Repentance.
Now ſee the ſame croſſeneſſe in Manaſſeh his way, now he is graciouſly delivered out of the Thornes. And the more croſſe his way is to the way he went in before, the better the way is and more inſtructing us to diſcretion. Let us well obſerve it, becauſe it will make cleare proofe, what a living mans condition is, whether he be a changed, a reformed man, well poſtured; I meane, whether he be ſet now in a ſure and ſafe way of defence in theſe exceeding fierce and perilous dayes, for if he have truly repented, he needs feare no evill; if his way be turned, he needs not care though the world be turned upſide down.
Manaſſeh was all for ſtrange gods, his heart went a whoring after them, now he takes them away, as thoſe his heart loatheth; He tooke away the ſtrange gods. He had ſet up Altars, 2 Chron. 33. ver. 15.and worſhipped before them; now away they ſhall with indignation, hee caſt them forth out of the City. He ſet up Altars and graven Images. When? Before he was humbled cver. 19.: As the ſaying is, If the head-ach went before drunkenneſſe, a man would never be drunke: So had he been humbled before, he had not ſet-up Altars before his eyes; but now▪ that he is humbled, downe the Altars are tumbled, out they are caſt as the filth in the ſtreets, And caſt them out of the City. Theſe Idolatrous Altars had defaced and defiled the Altar of the LORD, as all falſe worſhip defiles true worſhip. Now he repaires the Altar of the LORD: ver. 16.He had been a ſtout Rebell; he made himſelfe ſtrong againſt the LORD, maintained enmity and warre againſt the Almighty, ſo bold hee was. Now he ſacrificeth on his Altars Peace-offerings. He had been a moſt unthankfull perſon, he had a good Father, that was a good mercy, a faire example before his eyes, many grave inſtructions from his mouth. He had received a Kingdome from his LORDS hand, and all good things, but he was not a ware; and then we reade how hee requited the LORD; but now he is changed, He ſacrificeth on GODS Altar, Thank offerings, Pſ. 50.and ſo he glorifies the LORD. How? There is but one way to glorifie Him on Earth, in praiſing of Him, in giving thankes unto Him; ſo he glorified the LORD: And ſo it followes, And ſacrificed thereon Thank-offerings. He ver 16.had cauſed Judah and the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem to erre and to doe worſe then the Heathen. What doe's he now, now, ver 9.being a converted man? He commanded Judah to ſerve the LORD GOD of their Fathers [commanded.] We ſee now, Repentance is a change of the man, the heart and way. The way of a penitent man is cleane croſſe to what it was in the night of his impenitency. It is well called by another name, 1 Kin. 18. 37.converſion; A turning the heart backe againe. A man, in his unconverted eſtate, goes a way croſſe to Heaven; when he is converted his heart is turned backe againe, then he goes cleane croſſe to that way he went in before; where he ſet his backe before, there he ſets his face now. So the Jaylor did, ſo Manaſſeh, and ſo all true Penitents. Wee will make up the concluſion and ſo end; A man walkes contrary to himſelfe, now that hee is not himſelfe; what hee loved before, he now hates; what he hated before, he now loves; Ego non ſum ego.his delight is now with the excellent upon the Earth; before none were more unpleaſing and tireſome to him; before the ſervice of the LORD was a burden, it is now a delight; he ſnuffed at it, and ſaid, when will the Sabbath be gone; now he thinks the day too ſhort: nay ſeven dayes not enough, as we heard, he would have ſeven dayes more; his mind is changed, and now all is changed, his delights, his recreations, his contentments. New wils now, and new ayms, all is new, and old things are paſſed away; old ſorrow and old joy, they run freſh and new now in the right Channell, ſo doe all his affections, all to GOD, and for GOD.
¶ 3. Manaſſehs Repentance kept off wrath from himſelfe, but could not keepe it off from the Nation, His corrupt example had leavened the whole Land; Idolatry in a King being like a leaproſie in the head, which preſently corrupteth the whole Kingdome.
WE reade on now, where this followes; Nevertheleſſe ver. 17.the people did ſacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the LORD their GOD. There was a mixture in their ſervice, much ſuperſtition there; Idolatry was ſo rooted in the Kingdome, that it could not be rooted out, till the Kingdome was rooted out; like a leproſie, it begun in the head dƲt in corporibus ſic in imperio, graviſſimus eſt morbus, quia capite diffunditur. Plin. l…. 4. Ep. 22. In morbido capite nil ſanum eſt: ne que ullum omnino membrum officio ſu… ſungitur, ubi quod eſt principale non conſtat Sal▪ de Gub. 7. p. 234., thence ſpreads it ſelfe through the body. It is of a ſpreading nature, more ſpreading then leaven; it leavens a whole Land quickly; becauſe it is ſo agreeable, ſo complying with mans corrupt heart. Manaſſeh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jeruſalem to erre, and to doe worſe th…n the Heathen, Ai, that was an eaſie matter to doe; an eaſie matter to make men walke in their owne wayes, the way of ſinne and death; but to call them back againe, that is a hard worke, nay impoſſible.
A Ruler may goe farre in a wicked way, and then, by a ſtrong hand, bee turned backe againe, to walke cleane croſſe to the ſame way: But the miſchiefe he has done by his example in his old way, may ſpread ſo farre, that doe, or ſay what he can, it is paſt remedy. We might have heard more of Manaſſeh his goodneſſe, of his wayes, prayer and humiliation, but that the writings were loſt a2 Chron. 33. 19.: But this is recorded, That Manaſſeh could not with all his teares, which doubtleſſe were abundant, wipe out the filthineſſe (for ſtaine is too light a word) of his Idolatrous example; his miſerable ſeducement; No, that was 1 King 21. 9.ſuch as could not be purged, but by the fier of GODS wrath: for ſo we reade; Becauſe Manaſſeh had made Judah alſo to ſinne with his Idolls, therefore ſo and ſo would the LORD deale with Jeruſalem, in ſuch a manner as the very 2 King. 21. 11, 12, 13.hearing of it, would make both the eares to tingle: A Ruler, by his prayer and humiliation, may repaire his own breaches in his owne houſe, and ſoule, not thoſe breaches he hath made in a City or Kingdome; he may, by thoſe ſanctified meanes, plead forth his own pardon, and ſave his own ſoule, but not ſave a Nation: as his ſeducement there has beene ſpreading, and Nationall, ſo muſt the humiliation be, of high concernement this;
To conclude; if a Ruler, joyning himſelfe to Idolls, cannot conſider what a breach he makes betwixt GOD and his own ſoule: Yet, O that he could conſider what a breach he makes through his whole Kingdome, a breach like the Sea, which he can never make up againe; and how he hath, by ſo doing, endangered, nay undone the whole Land, by provoking GOD to stretch over it the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the houſe of Ahab; and wipe his Cities as a man wipeth a diſh, wiping it, and turning it upſide downe. O that a Ruler could conſider this; 2 King. 21▪ 13.for juſt ſo it was here; Manaſſeh could not repaire the ruines, that his ſinnes had made both in City and Countrey; nor could his good Grandchild (for Amon his Son did evill, as did Manaſſeh his Father before his converſion) after him; The beſt King that ever had his Kingdome in this world; he, for whom, the people could not be in extreames, in deſiring 2 Chro. 35. 24, 25.too much, or lamenting too much: ſo deſired was his life, and ſo lamented his death, Joſiah by Name; ſuch a King could not repaire thoſe ruines, though he tooke the only way, as his great Grandfather before him; he made a covenant before the LORD, to walke after the LORD, as his 2 Chro. 34. 31, 32.great Grandfather had done; and, this one thing more, hee cauſed all TO STAND TO IT, and ſo maintained his Kingdome in a poſture of defence all his dayes. But, the ſinnes were great, the provocations many, the tranſgreſſion of the Land heavy upon it, Therefore many were the Princes thereof tPro 28. 2.. Then the man of underſtanding and knowledge, by whom the State and peace is prolonged, was taken away: And when that man, a man betimes, for while hee was yet young hee ſought the LORD, and 2 Chro. 34. 3.ſo lived much in a ſhort time, when this man in underſtanding, Joſiah was taken away, by the ſtroake of death, which hee received neare Megiddo, and lingred about him 2 Chro. 35. 22.ver. 23.till hee came to Jeruſalem, there brought him to the Sepulchers ver. 24.of his Anceſtours; when, I ſay, this King of Deſires, this ſo dearely beloved, was taken away from ſeeing the evill to come, then the cloud of blood powred downe upon Judah; Then Judahs Militia fainted, and mouldred away alſo, and, being in a miſerable conſumption, as we reade, died: The ſtrong holds fell into the hands of their Enemies, like new ripe figgs into the mouth of the eater. This we muſt repeat againe, for it is alſo HIGGAION Selah, a matter Pſal. 9.ſeriouſly to be conſidered on.