The Kings Chronicle in Two Sections, Chapter 2

The Kings Chronicle in Two Sections · Chapter 2

p. 28THE ACTS OF REHOBOAM. CHAP. II.

Rehoboam is petitioned by all Iſrael about the eaſing of yoaks. The Petition is ſaid to want Reaſon; it is proved to have Reaſon and Law both: For a yoake was upon Iſraels necke grievous and ſervile. Rehoboam adviſeth about it, which he ſhould not have done, much leſſe have taken the worſt counſell; the markes thereof, the miſchiefe therefrom; His Militia, how he bent the force thereof; he is warned and deſiſteth. Who they are that ſtrengthen a King and the Kingdome: He is ſtrong ſo long as he kept to GOD and no longer. What his Adverſary did againſt him; what his confeſſion was to the LORD is recorded, ingenious, but not full nor deepe enough, becauſe not from a prepared heart; therefore he returned to folly, and teacheth us to diſcretion, touching the point of preparing the heart to ſeek the LORD.

REHOBOAM begins his raigne well, for he begins with Counſell, which, as it may be, and be taken, a Chron. 10.gives ſafety and eſtabliſhment aaProv. 11. 14.Prov 11:14. But, Pro 20 18.Prov 20:18though he was now fourty years old bb2 Chr. 12. 132 Chr 12:13, (A man in years may be a child in underſtanding: The Temporacerta virtutem nec prima negant nec ultima donant.Word of GOD made his Grand-father wiſer then the Ancients ccPſa. 119. 100.Ps 119:100) yet had he not the judgement to diſcerne of Counſells, (the very teſt of wiſdome in Princes and all men els). That thoſe are ever beſt and ſureſt, which make a Kingdom ſure to the King, and the King to the Kingdom, by deſiring him to carry himſelfe ſo, that he may rather be beloved then feared ddSic firmius ei fore imperium ſi amari mallet quam metui, Joſ. Ant. lib. 8. cap 3..

Now I have againe hudled-up and throng'd together great matters, which concerne us not a little to conſider of now: p. 29for the not conſidering therof, when time was, loſt Rehoboam more then halfe his Kingdome. With GODS leave, and we have His leave, and command both, we will lay all our heads together, ponder the PETITION, which ALL ISRAEL put up to their King, the juſtice and equity of it, the Counſells about it, and the determination there. No doubt of it, the ſure WORD of GOD will direct us our way here, and inſtruct us to diſcretion; for, by His grace, we are reſolved to keep cloſe to that Guide.

The Petition is (for the King only made it a queſtion) about the eaſing of burdens, and TAKING OF THE 2 Chron. 10. 4.2 Chr 10:4YOAKES from Iſraels neck, the freeſt people in the world, and cannot endure yoaks, nothing that tends to ſervitude, THY FATHER PƲT AN HEAVY YOAKE ƲPON ƲS: He made it GREEVOƲS, now therefore make our yoke SOMEWHAT eaſier, and we will ſerve thee. There is the Petition. It will appeare anon to be a Petition of Right. Hearken now what is ſaid againſt it.

An unreaſonable Petition, as ever was heard; the people complain, and would have eaſe, and cannot tell what aileth them, they were grown wanton with eaſe and peace.

What yoake had the Father put upon their necks? What, that they can call ſervitude? A grave Divine ſayes, and we will heare him out, none but what were eaſie and ingenious; The people are querilous, full of complaints ſtill, they whine and cry for nothing. It is granted, GODS houſe and the Kings, and other magnificent buildings, could not riſe without many a ſhoulder: True, but not of any Iſraelites; There were enough of Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebuſites, remaining in the Land (too many, the more too blame was Iſrael) to eaſe the Iſraelites ſhoulders, and take upon them the drudgery of theſe works; the tasks of Iſrael were eaſe and ingenuous; free from ſervility, free from painfullneſſe. But the charge was theirs. Whoſe-ſoever was the labour: The diet of ſo endleſſe a retinue; the attendance of his Seraglio; the purveyance for his fourty thouſand Stables; the coſt of his Sacrifices, muſt needs weigh heavy: True, if it had layed on none, but his owne: But Salomon had rich p. 30ſupplies from other Countries, ſo as he made ſilver and gold as plenteous as Stones, and Cedars in abundance ee2 Chro. 1. 15.2 Chr 1:15; Theſe are Biſhop Halls words, but we have not all yet: The Reader may take leiſure to obſerve his following words, which lay great blame upon the people. He has ſaid. I will not ſay he has ſpoken like a Biſhop, in his own ſenſe; but this I will ſay, and make good; he has in all this, ſpoken nothing to purpoſe; and yet not a little to the ſcorn of Iſrael.

1. Nothing to purpoſe; for he has miſtaken the time. He ſpeaks of Solomon in his glory, I meane worldly glory, I ſhall ſpeake of Solomon (ſo farre is pertinent to this place) in a moſt inglorious condition, when his heart was turned from the GOD of Iſrael: and then ſure enough, from the people of Iſrael, and then hee might lay yoakes upon the neckes of Iſrael.

2. Nothing to the purpoſe. He ſpake of burdens and ſervile workes, and reſtrains them to the drudgery about the Temple-work, and other buildings and cals it ſo, a drudgery: I ſhall account the work there to be honourable, and prove from Gods mouth, other ſervices to be drudgery indeed, the loweſt, the baſeſt, that can be imagined, and moſt unbeſeeming Iſrael. I ſay againe, not a word has he ſpoken to purpoſe, for to ſpeake more plainly to the loweſt capacity. What though no true Iſraelite be imployed in the repairing of Pauls: and they that do their own ſervice there, have a full and fat requitall: Do's it therefore follow, That no yokes lye upon the necks of Iſrael? I doe not ſay, what yokes there are, but I ſay the Labourers there may have their wages for their worke; and they that do a kind of ſervice there, may have a full allowance for that, and yet for all that there may be a greevous ſervitude upon Iſrael. He has not ſpoken to purpoſe; but he has ſpoken,

2. Not a little to the ſcorne of all Iſrael. He ſayes the multitude is ever prone to picke quarrels with their Governours. True, they are ſo; and I adde, never was there any government ſo eaſie, but ſome have found fault with it, and counted it a yoke. But yet, he muſt not lay this reproach upon Iſrael and upon ALL Iſrael; but ſo he does: Some may complain, nay many even of, their bleſſings, and account them burdens; p. 31but ſurely Iſrael and ALL Iſrael will not ſo doe; if all complaine, and with one conſent (ſo they did here) charity binds me not to judge raſhly here, for there might be grievances, and but an equall requeſt to their King, that he would lay them untoheart.

Now let me adde this too, and then I will go-on to proove, That it is ordinary with us, living in proſperity, lightly to paſſe over Iſraels YOAKES, and account them feathers; for we have no quick-fleſh, but where we are pinched, ſenſible only wherein we our ſelves doe feele. This Sympathy or fellow-feeling; this partner-ſhip or companion-ſhip aaHeb 10. 33. 13. 2.Heb 10:33Heb 10:13Heb 10:2with others in their miſery is a rare grace, and, as faith, ſcarce found in the world. But this is the concluſion; He that is proſperous, and lives at eaſe, cannot judge of Iſraels yokes.

With GODS helpe, I will now prove what I did but ſay before, keeping by His good Hand upon me, cloſe to His Word, that I may not tranſgreſſe in ſo grave a point, about yoakes; and in ſo generall a complaint about them, put-up by ALL Iſrael, and ſome amongſt thoſe All, the beſt Prieſts in the world, as will appeare anon.

And what if I ſhould ſay firſt, That the magnificence of Solomons buildings; The ſtate and glory of his Court; The attendance there might be burdenſome to Iſrael, might prejudice the private wealth, the attendance of private and home affairs: And if ſo, that was a yoke to the people: I am ſure ſuch a yoake which preſſeth them moſt. It has been ſaid of old, The more ſtate and pride at Court, (which commonly we call Glory) The better trading in the City, but the more complaining in the Country. But I paſſe over this, which yet might be a Greevance, as not conſiderable in this weighty buſineſſe.

I have one Reaſon ſo pregnant of proofe, That Iſrael had yoakes upon them in the dayes of Solomon, That, though all the Biſhops, that were in England, the two Arch-Biſhops alſo (I know but one, and he has another Name, and of another inſtitution) doe ſay the contrary, as they have beene bold that way, I dare ſay, no man, that will reade this, will beleeve p. 32them: for with Gods help I ſhall prove the contrary to them, from Gods own mouth, and then, I hope, Iſraels petition then, ſhall be cleared to be reaſonable and juſt now; and every ſuch like petition ſhall be gratiouſly anſwered by the King of Iſrael, in His good time: I muſt premiſe firſt before I proove, and conclude: And it is no more, but what is legible to all the world; It is this; That

Solomon had married the Daughter of a ſtrange god **Mal. 2. 11.Mal 2:11; She brought her god with her to his Court, for it was a moveable thing, it might be carried in a Cart, or in a Ship, or upon mens ſhoulders, whether the Queen pleaſed; And as legible it is to all the world that there this god was, and well eſteemed of by Solomon, for he worſhipped it, and then it ſtole away his heart, and turned it from the living God. Nay he had many ſtrange Wives, and as many ſtrange gods, which they had brought along with them, being, as the other was, moveable and portable things.

If it was ſo, and ſo it was, for he that runnes may reade it, Then we conclude, That when Solomon ſerved ſtrange gods, Iſrael was yoaked; Then they did doe or ſee ſuch ſervices, as were burdenſome unto them, neither eaſie nor ingenious nor becomming Iſraell: Let another thinke, and ſay as he thinks, That the only drudgery is to carry burdens for Templebuilding; which, he ſayes, Iſraell was freed from: I muſt think that it is an honour to an Iſraelite to doe any worke there, though it be but for the remooving, or carrying-out rubbiſh thence: as it was to be a doore-keeper there: But this ſerving of Idolls, humbling before them, the creature before the worke of his hands, (an abominable Idolatry) this is drudgery indeed, a ſervile worke for Iſraell (by your leave) not free, (though eaſie) nor ingenious. And ſurely ſuch ſervices were done by Iſraell now, now that the Queens had turned away the heart of their King from the true GOD, and were all, King and Queenes and all abominable Idolaters, Then Iſrael was yoaked ſure, not affianced, but married to ſtrange gods, Now that their King was joyned to them, and humbled before them: unleſſe we are ſo charitable as to thinke, that the King and his Queens went alone in an Idolatrous way, and none or p. 33few of Iſrael with them: but that is not imaginable; for Kings and Queen's both are leading hands, or as the Ship Admirall, Two perſons ſo eminent are enough to yoake all Iſrael and to bring them under a grievous ſervitude.that carries the Lanthorne, all steere their courſe after. Such perſons alwayes carry their traine with them: looke which way they goe, though never ſo wrong a path, we ſhall ſee (anon) companies blundring on in the ſame way, AND ALL ISRAEL WITH HIM aa2 Chro. 12. 1.2 Chr 12:1. Certainely then, even in Solomons dayes, there were ſervices, if not enjoyned Iſrael, yet done by Iſrael, and before Iſrael, and before the Sun, which were to Iſrael (if true Iſrael) grievous and burdenſome; as goad's to their ſides, yoakes to their necks, and pricks to their eyes.

Object. Yes, this might be; But theſe yoakes are too ſpirituall for the people, they can neither ſee them, nor feele them: It is not their manner to complaine of theſe: Grant them their outward liberties; take off bbHoſ. 11. 4.Hos 11:4the yoake on their jawes; make them free-Men; free from bodily ſervitude; then lay meate before them, they will fall too, like beaſts, minding their manger; let their King and his Quenes worſhip ſtocks, and ſtones, and Devills too (the ſacred Scripture ſaith, ſo they did, and yet) what care the people, they are in ſervitude to none, and Meate is before them, what care they.

Anſw. It is true enough, ſo careleſſe and brutiſh commonly we are; but Iſrael not ſo; or if ſome, in name ſo, yet not All.

Object. But we miſtake the purpoſe of this objection, which is this, That Iſrael was a free people under Solomon; he put no heavy yoake upon them, no grievous ſervitude.

Anſw. The truth is, for I would carry-on the Readers underſtanding cleare in this point, The ſacred Scripture is not expreſſe here, It ſayes not in theſe words, That Solomon laid a grievous yoake upon his people: That which is written is not ſo expreſſe, and yet the ſacred Scripture, I thinke, is cleare in this matter, as we ſhall ſee anon.

In the meane time I would aske the man that is beſt read in the Chronicles, whether ever he read ſuch a thing as this; That the Daughters of ſtrange gods came into a Land, brought their gods with them; (for that is the manner) their Lord p. 34joyned his heart to them, and turned away from the Living God. (So did Solomon:) And yet notwithſtanding all this, the Reader, conſulting with the Records of Time, finds not any Yoake upon the people at ſuch a time; no ſervices done by them, but what were eaſie and ingenious. I will not truſt to my reading, though this I can ſay, I have read the Chronicles, and this is the reſult from my reading; That, when abominable Idolatries were countenanced, were practiſed in a Land, I meane Iſraels Land (though I need not reſtraine it ſo, for I have read ſomewhat in the Chronicles of other Nations alſo, but Iſraels Land, where Idolatry is eſtabliſhed by a Law, and ſo it might be ſaid to be in Solomons dayes, for what Queens and their King do's is a Law to the people; But I will ſay no more but this,) when Idolatry is practiſed, is countenanced in a Land, Queenes ſerve abominable Idolls and their King too: It followes in the Chronicle, not Iſraels only, but Engliſh, French and Spaniſh, That, at that time, there were grievous Yoakes upon the peoples necks, illegall preſſures, unjuſt commands, that have neither ground of Law, nor reaſon, then neither eaſie nor ingenious. Nay, let me add this here, from out of the Sacred Chronicle (that is the Oracle) he that reads ſhall find it true, That when a Daughter of a ſtrange god, came into Iſraels Land, ſhe wrought effectually there, to the deſtruction of her King, their ſeed, and the people there. GOD is a Righteous GOD, Holy and Juſt. Thinke we that His Law may be contumeliouſly uſed, trod under foot, and ſo contemned; and the peoples Law, their juſt Liberties, their heritage, their birth-right; That this ſhall be maintained in honour, ſhall ſtand-up in full ſtrength, force and virtue? Surely it cannot be. Can Iſrael thinke he may provoke God to His face, with Images, and ſtrange vanities, and yet feele no yoake upon his neck; nothing that ſhall be to him as Thornes in his ſide, or pricks in his eye! Conſult we with the records of Time, and we ſhall be cleare in this matter, I meane in point of judgment.

As God has given-up abominable Idolaters unto abominable and vile affections, as we reade aaRom. 1. 1….Rom 1:1: So hath he given them up unto the hands of their Enemies, to ſerve a grievous ſervitude p. 35there. It is Gods manner ſo, we never reade it to be otherwiſe. And juſt it is, That he, who will enthrall his ſpirit, that Lordlike thing, to ſerve vile things, which ſhould not be named, ſhould have his neck brought under a grievous ſervitude, that we may know what it is to depart from the Living GOD; the ſervice alſo of the LORD, and the ſervice of other Kingdomes bb2 Chro. 12. 82 Chr 12:8. Iſrael took the Daughters of ſtrange gods to be their Wives, (reade on) and ſerved their gods (ſtill the ſtrange god was ſerved by Judg. 3.Judg 3Husband and Wife both) reade on; And the children of Iſrael did evill, forgat the LORD their GOD; and ſerved Baalim and the ver. 6.groves. What followed then; Therefore the anger of the LORD ver. 7.was hot: and preſently there was a grievous yoake clapt upon their necks. Obſerve it when you will, and you will obſerve ver. 8.it, if you will obſerve any thing; That the Sonnes and Daughters of ſtrange gods never came alone to Iſrael; they came accompanied, ſtill they brought yoakes with them for Iſraels necks. They choſe new gods. What if they did? Doe you make but a what of it? You may heare and feele what followed at that time, as the Traine of thoſe gods; Then was warre in the gates. The new gods brought Swords with them, as their Traine, Iudg. 5. 8.Judg 5:8to cut Iſraels throats. And Iſrael could not defend themſelves, a naked people they, was there a Speare or Shield found, among forty thouſand in Iſrael. The Lord help Iſrael, and deliver him from ſtrange gods, for theſe make Iſrael naked, then they bring upon him the Sword; and, oh, what oppreſſion then! You never reade of a Sword, which the ſtrange god has brought, but you Ier. 26. 16. 50. 16.Jer 26:16Jer 26:50reade OPPRESSING there, and bathing in blood.

Object. But this makes no proofe, that Solomon laid an heavy yoake upon Iſrael, and made their ſervitude greivous.

Anſw. I confeſſe it does not: therefore we muſt looke better into the Sacred Text, to ſee what may be collected thence, by neceſſary deduction. True it is, I remember nothing touching the weight of Solomons hand upon the people; nor what that yoake might be, which the people ſaid was grievous; but this we ſhall draw from the Text plaine enough, For this is moſt legible, Solomons heart was turned from GOD (his Wives had turned him: That the LORD glorious in Power, and abundant in ſhewing Mercy, turned his heart againe, ſhall p. 36be cleared in a fitter place) and then, in what a poſture it ſtood towards Iſrael, is imaginable. This I take to be a cleared truth, That, when a Kings heart is turned from GOD; it is turned alſo from the Iſrael of God: And if from the Iſrael of GOD, it is probable (to ſay no more) he did turne his hand upon them, and layed upon their necks yoakes grievous to be borne. The heart of Solomons Queene did cleave to her strange god; The Kings heart clave to her in love; Then his heart was eſtranged from the True GOD; nay quite turned from Him. ^a 1 King, 11. 2, 3, 4.What then? The intelligent Reader will conclude then; That Solomon, cleaving in love to ſtrange Wives, and ſerving strange gods, theſe Wives and theſe gods, turning his heart from Iſraels GOD, turned his heart alſo from the Iſrael of GOD, to put heavy yoakes upon them: ſo heavy, that, as was ſaid of the Kingdome of France, we may ſay now of the Kingdome of Iſrael, when their Kings heart was turned from GOD, There is more juſtice I in Hell (in reſpect, not of the Plus juſtitiae eſt in in…erno.habit, but execution of it) then in that Kingdome: for in Hell, the innocent are not puniſhed; the wicked are not freed from puniſhment: But in Iſrael, when the King there is an abominable Idolater, (there was never any queſtion of his Queenes) his heart turned from the True GOD, and then the true Iſrael ſhall be yoaked, and made to ſerve a grievous ſervitude; and the wicked there, they that doe as their King does, ſerve abominable Idolls, they ſhall be free, ſo far, as their King can free them, from that, which is the juſt merit of their ſinne. But ſuppoſe, for we may ſuppoſe what we pleaſe, That King Solomon, in the goodneſſe of his diſpoſition, (which Iſrael could never truſt, when his heart was turned from GOD) would not be perſwaded to yoake his people: yet GOD will yoake them; and ſo we find it in the Text: Rezon was an Adverſary to Iſrael bb1 King 11. …5.1 Kgs 11:5, all the dayes of Solomon; And what did he doe? He abhorred Iſrael: Hadad alſo, another Adverſary, (an Idolatrous King ſhall not want Adverſaries) he did Iſrael miſchiefe. Put this together, he abhorred Iſrael: did Iſrael miſchiefe: One of theſe is enough, but altogether made Iſraels voake grievous. And this was ſo all the dayes of Solomon, after his Wives had turned away his heart.

p. 37Ob. But this was paſt, and Solomon was dead and gone, why ſhould his yoke be remembred, which, by his Idolatrous ſervices he had laid upon the people?

An. Thoſe be things the people cannot forget: They doe remember their yokes, their affliction and miſery; the Wormewood and the Gall. Beſides, The yokes, which ſtrange gods bring upon Iſraels neckes, will not quickly off, and will make no ſmall impreſſion there: We muſt thinke them grievous to Iſrael at this time, ſpecially to the good Prieſts there, they might ſee the root and cauſe of them (vexation gives understanding) and ſo move the King to remove the cauſe and the evill together. In charity we muſt thinke ſo; That Iſrael ſaw now That corruption in Religion, abominable Prieſts and their ſervices were the cauſe of Iſraels heavy yokes, and grievous ſervitude: That Solomon, loving ſtrange wives, and doting upon their gods, turned his heart from the GOD of Iſrael, and from the children of Iſrael: ſo they would move their King joyntly and with one conſent, for the removing of the cauſe, and of the evill both together. We will now looke over what we have been long upon for great reaſon.

I premiſed this, which is ſo legible; The King of Iſrael married ſtrange wives; clave to them in love, and doted upon their gods. The concluſion thence is; That then an heavy yoke was laid upon Iſrael, and they ſerved a grievous ſervitude; for the heart of their King was turned from the GOD of Iſrael, his hand muſt be turned againſt the children of Iſrael, to lay an heavy yoke upon them, To put a bride into their jawes, cauſing them to erre **Eſa. 30 28.Isa 30:28: It is a concluſion, drawne from the experience of all ages upward to this day; That Idols comming into Iſraels land, bring yokes with them; and GOD ſends judgements after them. Charity concludes alſo, That when Iſrael and All Iſrael Petition their King, then, as David ſaid, is there not a cauſe aa1 Sam. 17. 191 Sam 17:19? Sound wiſdome and diſcretion makes no queſtion of it. It remaines now, that we reade over the Petition once more, ſhort, eaſie and ingenious. 1. Then, how the King entertaines it. 2. The Counſells he takes about it. 3. The anſwer he returns unto it: 4. Then how the people reliſh it. Theſe we will run-over in p. 38order. The Petition we will reade firſt.

Thy Father made our yokes heavy, now therefore eaſe thou SOMEWHAT the greevous ſervitude of thy Father, and 2 Chro. 10 42 Chr 10:4his yoke, that he put upon us, and we will ſerve thee. What anſwer makes the King? he will conſider of it, take advice, and afterwards ſpeak his mind.

1. It was the wiſeſt anſwer that we ſhall reade from his Jud. 19. 30.Judg 19:30mouth; and yet, no true wiſdome in it at all. He will take time to conſider of it; of what? of doing Judgement and Juſtice to his people. It is a matter, that admits no queſtion, therefore no deliberation. Some things are not to be deliberated-on; Not, whither I will worſhip GOD, or no, according to His Rule. Not, whether I will turne from Idols to ſerve the LIVING GOD; I may conſider what it will COST me; but not whether I will doe it or no: I cannot make queſtion there for conſcience ſake; The word is plaine: So, nor might Rehoboam deliberate on the matter (The manner may admit deliberation) The doing Judgement and Juſtice to his people, eaſing ſomewhat their heavy yoke and grievous ſervitude: This admitted no deliberation; The caſe was as plaine as the caſe of the three children, wherein they were not carefull to make anſwer bbDan. 3. 16. Quideliberavit defivit.Dan 3:16And certainly, when a man will deliberate what way to take, when the good way is plain before him, and the caſe as cleare as the Sun; It is becauſe he is reſolved not to ballance the counſels, but to deſert the cauſe, to forſake the good path, and to turne into a way of his own. We reade on and find it juſt ſo here; The Kings way was plain before him, the caſe was reſolved by his good Grand-father from the Oracle of GOD: The GOD of Iſrael ſaid, the ROCK of Iſrael spake to me: HE THAT RƲLETH OVER MEN MƲST BE JƲST cc2 Sam. 23. 3.2 Sam 23:3RƲLING in the fear of the LORD. And it was written in a book for his Father Solomon, that he might learne and doe thereafter; He ſhall judge Thy people with righteouſneſſe, and Thy poore with judgement: Thou ſhalt judge the poore of the people, and breake in Pſ. 71. 2.Ps 71:2peeces the oppreſſour. In ſo cleare a caſe then, and to ſo juſt a Petition, the King might have returned a gracious anſwer and preſently have ſent away his people glad.

p. 392. But he will doe all things with Counſell, and there is no hurt in that; for he will conſult with old men, and that was wiſely done indeed (if he had not been reſolved before hand to doe the contrary, to take his owne way) They are well ſeen in State matters, and well read in point of government, (the hardeſt point) having long ſtudied, both Times, Books, and Men. Surely the Reader long's to heare, what they will ſay, what counſell they give to the King. This it was, and this the purpoſe of their Counſell.

Be kind to the people; love and kindneſſe gaines upon the heart exceedingly. They are Childeren of Iſrael, ſhew Thy ſelf a Father unto them (for ſo thou art) and then thou keepeſt thy place, and they will keep theirs, and all will be done in love, the beſt Commander in the world. Thou art above them by the head, to leade, to counſell them, to provide for them: do not ſet them under thy foot. Be not froward with thy children, for that will teach them frowardnes, and they wil be froward too. Pleaſe them, humour them, ſpecially at the firſt, and thou ſhalt have their hearts forever. Stoop to them now, and thou ſhalt not fall, nor hurt thy Crown, for thou ſhalt ſtoop but to Law and Right-reaſon. Be a Servant to thy Servants this one Day, thinke it not much to ſerve them to Day, and they will be thy ſervants to morrow, and all thy dayes: However thou 1 Kin. 12. 7.1 Kgs 12:7doſt, doe not ſhow them the Yoke; for then, ſo like an untamed 2 Chron. 10. 7.2 Chr 10:7Heiſer Iſrael is, not uſed to the Yoke, they will ſhew thee the heele. Be kind to. Thy people, and pleaſe them thic once: Put a bridle on thy lipps, open thy mouth and ſpeake ſoftly to them, good words and gracious, theſe coſt a man nothing; the contrary may coſt thee deare, more then halfe thy Kingdome. Thus adviſedly ſpake the old Counſellours, ſuch as ſtood before Solomon. But his ſonne was reſolved of his way before hand, and that he might be more confirmed in it, he adviſed with the YOƲNG Counſellours, like himſelfe, and yet ſo wiſe as to humour him, underſtanding his mind well enough, and this is their counſell; ſo they adviſe the King to anſwer the people, even ſo roughly;

I am King, Then ask you no queſtions for conſcience ſake; looke not to what I doe, but to your obedience: I am to p. 40be accountable to GOD, not unto you: You complaine of Yokes, they are but wood yet, they ſhall be iron anon. My Fathers hand was heavy upon you, was it ſo? you ſhall find more weight from my little finger, then you felt from my Fathers loynes. You complain of ſmart from Rods, you ſhall ſmart with Scorpions ddforeign. F…agra …axi…ata, nuckle-bones, or plummets of lead or ſharpe thornes tied to the ends of the whips. Goodw. Ant.; your burdens were heavy and increaſed: Theſe ſhall multiply ſhortly, ſo as you ſhall roate like Beares, and groane under them, becauſe of the rigour. Tell the people ſo, ſaid theſe young Counſellours. And it was good counſell, and ſounded well in Rehoboams eare, for it pleaſed him beſt, who thought he could not be a free King over Iſrael, unles Iſrael were ſlaves, groaning under Yokes, and ſmarting under Scorpions, and crowching, like an Aſſe, between two burdens.

3. And he did thereafter, going his owne way, reſolved thereon, as others after him eeIer 42. 20.Jer 42:20, before he asked counſell: So he refuſed the grave counſell of the Ancients, tooke the other, which has two Markes, whereby it's badneſſe ſhall be diſcerned to the worlds end; YOUNG counſell for the Perſons; and VIOLENT for the matter, and ſo, after three dayes (that was the time allotted for deliberation) the King returns anſwer, as you heard rough and boyſterous, according as his witleſſe Paraſites had adviſed him, My dd1 Chron. 10. 12, 13, 14.1 Chr 10:121 Chr 10:131 Chr 10:14Father made your yoake heavy, but J will adde thereto: my Father chaſtiſed you with whipps, but I will chactiſe you with Scorpions. Reade now, and obſerve how it takes with the people,

3. The King is ſhort and quicke with the people; they are as ſhort with him: The King was wilfull and the people will be froward with the froward. But had the LORD no hand herein? The Text anſwers that; So the King hearkned not unto the People for the CAƲSE WAS OF eever. 15.GOD. Ai The cauſe was of GOD; The Kings will was free, free to evill and ſtubbornely bent that way, but ſo the juſt GOD orders it, The Kings ſtubborne will ſhall bring to paſſe the Decree of GOD ffIt is one of the greateſt praiſes of Gods wiſdom, That He can turne the evill of mē to the good of his people, & to His owne Glory. Dr. Hall Contemp. l. 12. Pag 86.; it ſhall ſerve the good pleaſure of His holy Will; That the LORD might performe His word, which He ſpake by the hand of Abijah. Iſrael in the Dayes of Solomon had p. 41forſaken the LORD and worſhipped Aſtaroth the goddeſſe of the Sidonians, and Chemoſh and Milchom gg1 Kin. 11. 331 Kgs 11:33: And they ſaid in effect, it was well with them then, and they ſaw no evill hhJer. 44. 17.Jer 44:17; ver. 21.But did not the LORD remember them, and came it not into His mind? Surely Idolaters never ſcaped unpuniſhed: A 1 Chr. 10. 16, 17.1 Chr 10:161 Chr 10:17plague ever followed their abominable ſervices; and now was the time when the rod of pride muſt bloſſome: (In the month of the fooliſh is a rod of pride iiPro. 14. 3.Prov 14:3) when the frowardneſſe of the King ſhall make himſelfe ſmart; and a rough word from his tongue ſhall rent-off ten Tribes from his Crowne: And when all Iſrael ſaw that the King would not hearken unto them, they rent themſelves from him, and went every man to their Tents. Preſently after, but too late, the King ſent after his people to whiſtle them againe, and to pacifie them; but they were paſt call, Beſides, he ſent as bad an Oratour to perſwade with the people, as he could have choſen in all the Land; for he ſent HADORAM, who was over the Tribute ddver. 18.; a man moſt hatefull to all the people, being one of the Taxers of the people, and ſo having emptied their purſes, he ſhould never gaine their hearts. We reade how they entertained the meſſage by the welcome they gave to the messenger, They inſtantly stoned him with ſtones that he died ddver. 18.. Then the King was ſtartled, ſaw now that no coards or fetters hold a people ſo faſt, as doe thoſe, that are twiſted and forged by love only ccCircumvalla pijs animum intētionibus: honeſt is vitam artibus; prudentiā & fortitudinē ante fores loca: juſtitiamac mcdeſtiam in propugnaculis, humanitatem & manſuetudinem undi que in muris: spem & fidem arcis in medio, providentiam ſupremo turris in vertice: bonā deni que famam in c…cuitu: Ego tibi oſtendan tutiſſimam munitiſſmam que arcemſine muris, ſineturribus, ſine ullo prorſus operoſo rerum apparatu: ſi vis tute vivere benè vive: nil virtute ſecurius. Petrar. Dial.. So having loſt that ſtrong hold in his peoples hearts and affections, he made ſpeed to another Caſtle, not halfe ſo ſtrong, yet it was JERUSALEM, the ſtrongeſt place one of them in the world. *

There he bethinks himſelfe how he might fortifie his Kingdome, and compleat his MILITIA ff2 Chro. 11.2 Chr 11; I will ſet this note upon it at the firſt, hee began wrong; the very firſt ſtep was out of the way; his firſt worke ſhould not have been about the MILITIA; much leſſe ſhould he have bent the force of it againſt his Brethren ggver. 1.; But thereof he had faire warning, and he was ſo wiſe as to obey it hhver. 4., then the warre ceaſed, and the Souldiers were disbanded, as wonderfully, as were ours in the North.

But he goes on with his MILITIA, builds Cities; p. 42fortifies the ſtrong holds **ver. 5, 11.; puts Captains in them, and ſtore of victuals; and in every ſeverall City he put Shields and Speares, and made them EXCEEDING STRONG iiver. 12.; How ſo? HE HAD JUDAH AND BENJAMIN ON HIS SIDE. They were the chiefeſt of the Tribes, and beſt Beloved. Nay, The Prieſts and the Levites, that were in all Iſrael reſorted to him out of all their Coaſts kkver. 13.; And the reaſon is given in the Text, Jeroboam and his ſonnes had caſt them off from executing their office unto the LORD llver. 14.. Aye they were too holy for Jeroboam, and his ſonnes, and their devilliſh ſervices; he ordained Prieſts of his own chuſing, for the high places, and FOR THE DEVILS mmver. 15.. Reader marke that, and FOR THE DEVILS; and carry it home to the idolaters of our dayes. But they will never beleeve you, That when they ſerve GOD after their owne way, they doe not ſerve Him but Devils; and when they doe ordaine Prieſts for their Maſſe, they doe ordaine them for the Devils. They will not beleeve you in this; That they doe now as Jeroboam did, ſacrifice to the Devils, and make Prieſts to the Devils. No not they, they are wiſer then ſo, They make Altars and Prieſts and Sacrifices too, all of their owne making, as Aaron made a Feaſt, to aaExod. 32. 5.Exod 32:5JEHOVAH, ſo indeed they ſay, and they thinke they have a ſtrong proofe from that, which Aaron ſaid, not weighing what the LORD ſaies a little after, They worſhipped the Calfe, they ſacrificed to the Calfe, That they did, ſaith the LORD. Why then, they ſacrificed to the ver. 8.Devill, and worſhipped the Devill, ſaith the Lord. Tell 1 Cor. 10. 20.1 Cor 10:20them this, though they will not regard it, for they regard not what the LORD ſays: but when you have told them ſo, and bid them conſider on it, you have told them the truth, and done your Duty. Reade on, After the fore-mentioned others alſo, even ſuch as ſet their hearts to ſeek the LORD GOD of Iſrael came to Jeruſalem to ſacrifice unto the LORD GOD of their Fathers ccver. 16.. What followes now? That whereon we muſt ſet a Marke. So they ſtrengthened the Kingdome of Judah; They were the very MILITIA of the Kingdome. Who? ſuch as ſet their hearts to ſeeke the LORD: Here we muſt put the p. 43marke; When they come to a City, Towne, or Country, who ſet their hearts to ſeeke the LORD, they bring a bleſſing along with them, They fortifie the place exceedingly; they make the City EXCEEDING STRONG, they are the MILITIA of the City. So it followes, So THEY ſtrengthened the Kingdome of Judah, and made Rehoboam STRONG. Yes, Prince and people, all are STRONG now; why now? Now that Prieſts and Levites are come unto them, SUCH AS SET THEIR HEARTS TO SEEKE THE LORD. It is notable alſo to conſider how long the Prince and people continued Strong. How long? It is anſwered, THREE YEARES oover. 17., for ſo long they walked in the way of David and Solomon. What way was that? GODS way ſure, an holy way, and wee muſt ſet a marke there alſo, The way a Prince must take to make himſelfe and his Kingdome strong, is, to WALKE in the (firſt pp2 Chro. 17. 32 Chr 17:3) WAY OF DAƲID AND SOLOMON; when David performed the Wills of GOD **Act. 13. 22. foreignActs 13:22. We will note no more, but this in this Chapter concerning Rehoboam, that he did againſt the Commandement, for he multiplyed wives to himſelfe qqDeut. 17. 17.Deut 17:17.

After this time, when Rehoboam had eſtabliſhed the Kingdome rr2 Chron. 12.2 Chr 12, and ſtrengthened himſelfe, HE FORSOOK THE LAW of the LORD. What followed that bad example? Multitudes; what way ſoever the King takes, he goes not alone, the people will preſſe, and throng after him, as here Chap. 12.in this place; And ALL ISRAEL with him ssver. 1.Note we therefore, what a traine followes the King. Jeroboam commands a CALƲISH worſhip; All Iſrael follow the Commandement, Jeroboam is never mentioned, but with his traine after him. A Ruler hearkens to lyes. What if he does, or what is that to his Servants? Yes, for it followes, ALL HIS SERƲANTS are wicked ttPro. 29. 12.Prov 29:12. They will doe as their Maſter doth, and thinke they doe well; they will find a way or make a way, after the Commandement they will goe. REHOBO AM FORSOOKE THE LAW OF THE LORD, AND ALL ISRAEL WITH HIM. What then? Then all was turned upſide p. 44downe. Bury me with my face downe-ward, ſaith Diogenes. Why ſo man? Becauſe, ſaid he, the Rulers are naught, and all will be nought preſently; now all will be turned upſide downe, and then my face will be upward againe, in the fitteſt poſture. Juſt ſo with Rehoboam, upſide downe, a marvellous alteration preſently. He that was strong before, is now weake as water: That, which was ſound, is now become as rottenneſſe; his Strength, which ſeemed INFINITE uuNah. 3 9.Nah 3:9, mouldred away and became rottenneſſe; his MILITIA fainted, his ſtrong-holds were like the firſt ripe figgs, which fall into the mouth of the Eater xxNah. 3. 12.Nah 3:12: See there, Rehoboam forſakes the Law of his GOD; GOD forſakes him, breakes downe his hedges, takes away his DEFENCE from his Cities, and ſtrong holds, expoſeth him to the WILL of his Adverſary, which yet the LORD ſets bounds unto, and that we muſt note. SHISHAK (and he was Succeſſour of that Aegyptian, whoſe Daughter Solomon had married, thereby the better to aſſure his eſtate, which while he ſerved GOD, was by GOD aſſured againſt all and the greateſt neighbouring Kings: And when he forſooke Him, it was torne aſunder by his meaneſt vaſſals) This Shiſhak diſtreſſed Judah, for THEY HAD TRANSGRESSED AGAINST THE LORD aa2 Chron. 12. 22 Chr 12:2; and He left them in his hand. But this helped the King and the people very much, even their humbling themſelves under Gods mighty hand, and ſubmitting, ſaying, THE LORD IS RJGHTEOƲS bbver. 6.. Therefore the LORD did not ſtirre up all His wrath, He would not deſtroy them altogether. Nevertheleſſe becauſe Rehoboam and his people would ſerve ſtrange gods, therefore they ſhould be under the yoake of a ſtrange King, SERVANTS ƲNTO HIM ccver 7, 8.: And becauſe they would change ſo good a Maſter, they ſhould know His ſervice, and the ſervice of other Kings: Judah ſhould not get his neck from under the Egiptian yoake: Moreover Shiſhak pilliged the houſe of the LORD, and the Kings houſe, for he TOOKE ALL thence; his Shields of gold alſo, inſtead of which Rehoboam made ver. 9.Shields of braſſe: and they were good enough for him, who p. 45had embaſed the Temple, and impured the ſervice there; and a change fit enough for him too, who was ſo ready to change the worſhip of his God. Notwithſtanding the Lord graunted to Prince and people SOME DELIVERANCE; He would not deſtroy the King ALTOGETHER ggver. 12.; and alſo in Judah THINGS WENT WELL. But not long ſure; for the KING DID EVILL hhver. 14.; he humbled himſelfe while the ſtroake was upon him; he turned himſelfe to the Lord, till the Lord turned the wrath from him; ſo long he did ſeemingly well. But when the wrath was turned away, he turned to his Idoll; HE DID EVILL, ſayes the Text, and renders a reaſon withall, BECAƲSE HE PREPARED NOT HIMSELFE TO SEEKE THE LORD. And he did evill, this is to be noted, with the reaſon of the ſame; The King humbled himſelfe, that is expreſſed; his heart ſeemed to be humbled, ſo as he could ACCEPT OF THE PƲNISHMENT of his iniquiry aaLev. 26. 41.Lev 26:41, for he ſaid, The LORD is RIGHTEOƲS. And yet thus we reade, HE DID EVILL. Surely his ƲNCIRCƲMCISED Heart (that word is to be noted) was not humbled; that is, his heart was not humbled for the uncircumciſion thereof; he did not ſorrow, after a godly 2 Cor. 7. 11.2 Cor 7:11ſort; not for his ſinne, but for the puniſhment of his ſinne: while the viall of wrath was powring forth upon him, he, perhaps, poured forth his prayer, as the manner is; all that while he humbled himſelfe, no longer; He PREPARED not his Heart to that great worke of HƲMILIATION. Certainly there is ſome PREPARATORY worke to be done, before the heart can be humbled in a right manner; which worke ſets the thoughts on worke, makes us ſad and ſerious, ſo to conſider with all our hearts and ſoules, firſt;

1. How DREADFƲLL GOD is; how vaine and abominable Idolls are. And;

2. That ſinne is only and truly evill: but Idolatry (there is a ſpice of it in every ſinne, as there was a ſpice of the CALFE in every puniſhment) that, which is called abominable Idolatry, is above meaſure ſinnefull, filling up the viall of wrath brim-full, and then pouring it out. And;

p. 463. How dreadfull a thing it is to be under this WRATH now, the wrath of GOD, which yet is, in compariſon to that, which is TO COME, but as a drop to the Ocean; as a ſparke to the fornace, which hath this ingredient in it, (to make the flame more ſcorching) everlaſting burning, eternall wrath. And,

4. How dreadfull a thing it is To forſake the LAW of GOD; and to be exemplary thereunto, as Rehoboam did and was, for he carried all his traine after him, there muſt be a ſad and ſerious conſideration thereof. And,

5. So alſo (and to contract) a ſerious conſideration of the Heart, I meane all, that is called fleſh in the outward or inward man, whether in high places there or low, as the darkeneſſe in the underſtanding; the rockineſſe in the will; the ſinfullneſſe, the deceitfullneſſe, the deſperate wickedneſſe in the whole heart; All this requires a ſerious and ſad conſideration, as a PREPARATORY worke for humbling the heart in a right manner. And,

6. Then this alſo, which is chiefeſt of all, The goodneſſe, the kindneſſe of that God to me, whoſe Law I have forſaken; His Law before whom our fathers have walked; His Law, Who fed me all my life long to this day. This conſideration, if ſerious, melts the heart. And laſtly,Gen. 48. 15.Gen 48:15

7. How the Lord himſelfe is pleaſed to ALLƲRE His Hoſe. 2, 14.Hos 2:14people; how comfortably He ſpeaks unto them in their wilderneſſe; He is Gracious and Mercifull; He will multiply pardons; He will abundantly pardon them, whoſe uncircumciſed hearts are humbled, ſo as they can accept of their puniſhment, can ſay, in ſincerity and truth of heart broken in the ſence of all this; The LORD is RIGHTEOƲS in all that is come upon us, and yet He is a FATHER an EVERLASTING Father, &c.

Such conſiderations as theſe, are preparatory to worke the heart to a right humiliation, elſe the ſtout heart will not downe. It may keepe within bounds for a time, as a beaſt hedged in with thornes, but it will breake out againe, and DOE EVILL. And this is the more ſeriouſly to be thought on in this place once for all, Becauſe, when we reade, p. 47that a King and people, after their humiliations, have fallenback, have returned to their myre and vomit; or, as it is here, have done EVILL, after their ſhewes of Reformation: We reade in the ſame place, this reaſon given of their ſo fallingback, which we meete with in the Text, becauſe he prepared not his heart to ſeeke the Lord. So alſo, when we reade, That 2 Chro. 12. 14.2 Chr 12:14high places, or high perſons, eminent and above others in their abominations, yet are not taken away, nor CVT off; the ſame reaſon is given; The people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their Fathers cc2 Chron. 20. 33.2 Chr 20:33. But now on the contrary, we ſhall never reade, that a Prince or people returned back to folly; that they did evill (purpoſely and adviſedly; there are ſlips and failings and fallings in the beſt) That they did worke iniquity, Homo ſup.after they had prepared their heart to ſeeke the Lord. THERE ARE GOOD THINGS FOƲND IN THEE, and this is the chiefeſt of all; THOƲ HAST PREPARED THY HE ART TO SEEKE GOD dd2 Chro. 19 3.2 Chr 19:3. We ſhall reade anon, how mightily that King went-on, and prevailed. There was indeed ſome ſtop in his way, but that the people cauſed. This is the point; JEHOSHAPHAT returned not to folly, he did no evill; he wrought no INIQƲITY. Why? for hee had prepared his heart to ſeeke GOD. But Rehoboam here, he did evill; how ſo? becauſe he prepared not himſelfe to ſeeke the Lord. The heart muſt be prepared for that great worke of ſeeking the Lord, elſe the heart will not be fixed and reſolved upon the worke. The Records concerning ver. 15.Rehoboams Acts are loſt, only this we reade, That there were warrs between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually: for friendſhip once broken is hardly peeced; and peeced enmity never ſurely ſodered kkƲt Chriſtalli fragmenta ſarciri nullo modo poſſunt: Ita difficilimum cos reconciliare, qui ex arctiſſi… mâ ſamiliaritate in mutuū odiumvenerint. Plut.. But death came and tooke off Rehehoboam from that quarrell, laid him and his thoughts faſt aſleepe, ſo he ſlept with his Fathers, and was buried. Abijah his Son reigned in his ſtead, a little wiſer then his Father, and but a little better; yet becauſe he ordered his Militia wiſely, I reſerve him for another place: Aſa alſo, and Jehoſhaphat his Sonne, the compleateſt patternes of well-poſturing a Kingdome that ever were looked upon; I refer theſe alſo to their owne place; only making mention of their Names here to continue the Story.