The Garden of Zion, Part 6
THE GARDEN OF ZION. Of the Kings of Judah.
PROV. 25.5.
Take away the wicked from before the King, and his throne ſhall be ſtabliſhed in righteouſneſſe.
1. Rehoboam. 2. Abijah. 3. Aſa. 4. Jehoſhaphat. 5. Jehoram. 6. Ahaziah. 7. Joaſh. 8. Amaziah. 9. Uzziah, or Azaria. 10. Jotham. 11. Ahaz. 12. Hezekiah. 13. Manaſſeh. 14. Amon. 15. Joſiah. 16. Jehoachaz. 17. Eliakim, called by Necho Jehojakim. 18. Jehojachin. 19. Mattaniah, called by Nebuchadnezzar, Zedekiah.
A Prayer.
O Thou great GOD call'd I AM THAT I AM,
Of all my verſe be thou the chiefeſt theame;
What is my heart but a confuſed Maſſe,
A wilde Chaos, untill thy ſprite a ſpace
There move it ſelf, and upon this gulf brood
Thoughts far beyond the reach of fleſh and blood:
O drench my heart in Zions ſacred ſprings,
And lead my hand to write of Judahs Kings;
And of their life and death ſuch uſes make,
That all thereby may good example take
Their vice to ſhun, to follow their vertue,
To learne thereby our lives for to renew.
O ſprite of grace, come with thy gentle gales,
Maugre envie with thy breath fill my ſailes;
Now ſpread my Canvas, and als guide the Helm,
And ſmooth the Seas, leſt that they overwhelm
My brettle Boat, which now among great Kings
Is come to ſearch their good and bad doings.
Come help me Lord, and make no more delay,
The tide for none (but thee alone) doth stay.
1. REHOBOAM. Enlargeing or delaying the people.
THen all Iſra'l conveened in Shechem,
To chooſe with haſte their King Rehoboam:
There the people with one mouth to him ſaid,
Thy dead father great burdens on us laid;
If thou our yoke will make light and eaſie,
With one conſent we thy ſervants will be:
Then ſaid the King, From me three dayes depart,
Then ſhall yee know the purpoſe of mine heart:
Then ſaid the King unto the old and wiſe,
Conſider well, give counſell and adviſe,
What to this people thinke yee beſt to ſay?
Yee men of age, now tell me I you pray;
Then theſe grave men to ſpeake ſo did begin,
This people now with faire words thou must win,
If thou to them a ſervant be this day,
To thee good ſubjects they will he for ay.
After this ſaid, he turned to the youth,
To heare what counſell ſhould come from their mouth.
What? what? ſaid they, what? what is this ſaying?
Darre proude people ſpeake thus unto their King?
Of thy deare father, how darre they complaine
Who now is dead? to hear ſuch words diſdaine;
Frowne with thy brow, ſpeak unto them roughly,
That thy leaſt finger thicker now ſhall be
Then were his loines; Tell what is in thine heart,
In ſpeach most plaine, and ſo let them depart.
This young counſell the young King pleaſed beſt,
To him the third day they came all in haſt;
Now let us heare, ſaid they, thy good anſwere,
Be plaine with us, no longer it deferre.
Then with a frowne, as youth did him direct,
He them beheld, and did their ſute reject:
What? what? ſaid he, what meaneth your ſaying?
How darre yee thus ſpeake to your Lord and King?
Of my father how darre yee thus complaine,
VVho is now dead? your ſpeaches I diſdaine:
The leaſt finger that is in my bodie,
Then all his loines were, thicker hence ſhall be.
When Iſra'l heard this anſwere from the King,
Then with a noiſe they all had this, ſaying,
What? what portion, or what inheritance
Have we in David? or vvhat maintenance
Ovve vve to him? novv David in this rent,
See to thine houſe: O Iſra'l to your tent.
This matter was from the great JEHOVAH,
As was foretold by Prophet Ahijah:
When he his cloaths into twelve peices rent,
Then Jeroboam of that new garment
Got pieces ten, the Prophet keeped two,
Which did declare that the rent ſhould be ſo;
That Jeroboam ten tribs ſhould command,
But two as Lamps, for Davids houſe ſhould ſtand,
In this great grudge the King Rehoboam,
Sent unto them his ſervant Adoram
A man for tribut; but with ſtaffe and ſtones,
They in their great wrath did cruſh all his bones:
When this young King the peoples rage did ſee,
He in his Charet ſpeedily did flee;
So ten tribs did rebell without delay,
Againſt the houſe of David to this day,
In this mans time, King of Egypt Shiſhak,
All the treaſures of gold away did take,
Which Solomon had richly made of gold,
In the Temple with carvings manifold:
The ſhields of gold, with rich treaſures that day,
Shiſhak the King did carry all away.
Thus was the Temple ſpoiled by Shiſhak,
Who gold and treaſures all away did take:
Behold how ſoone golds glory doth decay,
See how rich treaſures glaunce and paſſe away:
This man whoſe Mother was of Moab land,
Seventeene yeers King in Salem did command.
The Uſe.
By this young King, more young in wit then age,
Let all Kings learne to ſhunne a peoples rage:
If they would wiſely manage their affaires,
They must regard the counſell of gray haires.
2. ABIJAH. My father God.
HEere Abijah his fathers Son in ſinne,
As he did end ill, ſo did he beginne:
He did not that, which Gods Word did direct,
His heart with God the Lord was not perfect:
When warre aroſe he unto the Lord ſought,
'Gainſt Jeroboam he a Battell fought;
Foure hundred thouſand were with Abijah,
Eight hundred thouſand were againſt Judah,
For Jeroboam; In the fields were then
An armie of twelve hundred thouſand men.
Then Abijah, ſtanding on Zemaraim,
Which is a part of faire mount Ephraim:
VVith a loud voice cri'd unto Iſrael,
VVhy come ye foorth against me to Battell?
VVhat God hath join'd, why go ye now to ſeve…
For the whole land the Lord hath given for ever
To Davids houſe, without a let or halt,
This was made ſure by Covenant of ſalt:
Yet Jeroboam, Solomons ſervant,
Doth what he can to breake this Covenant;
Gathred unto him are men of Belial,
Who are novv come to provoke to Battell:
And novv ye think the Kingdome to vvithſtand,
VVhichWhich ſhould remaine ſure in Davids ſons hand;
VVith you is a great multitude of men,
VVith golden Calves of falſe Jeroboam:
Have yee not caſt out the Prieſts of the Lord,
That for vile gaine yee might with one accord,
Make unto you Prieſts that vvould take in hand,
To ſerve ſtrange gods that vvere from other Lands?
But as for us, the Lord vvith us vvill be,
VVho have vvith us the Priests, ſons of Levi,
VVho morne and even vvaite upon all ſervice
Enjoyn'd by GOD, the dayly ſacrifice:
VVe with our heart keep the charge of the Lord.
But ye have him all left vvith one accord:
Behold hovv God is vvith us for Captaine,
His Prieſts vvith Trumpets to ſound an alarme
Against you; VVherefore novv vvith one accord
Conveene yee thus, to fight againſt the Lord?
Leave off, leave off, proceed no more this vvay,
For your armie ſhall not proſper this day.
But Jeroboam free of feare and doubt,
Judahs armie did compaſſe all about:
When Judah ſaw them compaſſ'd in Battell,
They with ſtrong prayers cri'd to th' Eternall:
The Prieſts began with their Trumpets to ſound,
Judah did ſhout, Which made th' Echos rebound:
Then God aroſe to ſhew himſelf by might,
He Jeroboam put unto the flight:
The flight was fierce, bloody was the Battell,
Five hundred thouſand that day to Iſra'l
Were kill'd; But Judah prevail'd by and by,
Becauſe with faith, they to the Lord did cry:
Thus Jeroboam curbed in his wayes,
Recov'red not ſtrength in Abijahs dayes:
But Abijah wax'd more and more mighty,
With fourteene wives, he begat ſons twenty:
Becauſe he was not perfect in his wayes,
Of his Kingdome the Lord ſhortned the dayes:
He in his wayes walked not uprightly,
Therefore his great pomp laſted but years three:
The Uſe.
Ill Kings from Thrones by a ſucceſſive ſvvay,
Like chaffe by vvind ſhall ſoone be driven avvay.
3. ASAH. Healing.
BEhold a King moſt glorious like the Sun,
Whoſe end was good, whoſe life was w… begun;
A man of health is he who ſtrives to pleaſe
The Lord, and doth what is good in his eyes;
This worthy King with holy jealouſie,
Brake downe the Altars of Idolatrie
Set up for ſtrange gods; he the high places,
With groves cut downe, and brake the images:
With great zeale he commanded all Judah,
To do the Law and turne unto Jovah;
Becauſe the Lords Law he did not forget,
The Kingdome was long before him quiet.
At laſt ZERAH, the Ethiopian,
Came with an hoſt of a thouſand thouſand:
ASAH the King thus troubled very ſore,
Conveen'd five hundred thouſand and foureſcore:
Thus fifteene hundred thouſand men that day,
With fourſcore thouſand in Battell aray
Were ſet; Then Aſah cri'd unto the Lord,
That in that ſtrait his help he would afford;
Help us, O Lord; help us, O Lord, ſaid he,
Thou canſt well help with few or with many;
Againſt this hoſt we now goe in thy name,
Make now our foes to turne their back with ſhame;
When God this heard, he roſe in anger hot,
And with his ſword this huge armie he ſmot:
His wrath like waters, wheeſing out did foyle
The proud Zerah; then Judah got their ſpoile.
When this was done the Prophet Azariah,
Was ſent from God for to meet King Aſah;
God is vvith you, ſaid he, vvhile ye vvith him,
His love with you moſt ready to confirme,
If yee forſake him, he will forſake you now,
If yee ſeek him, he will be found of you:
Be ſtrong therefore, Gods ſervice much regard,
For God the Lord your good work ſhall rewa…d.
When Aſa heard theſe words, he tooke courage,
The idole gods he did deſtroy with rage:
From Ephraim, Manaſſeh, and Simeon,
Unto Aſa, many did flock anone.
Then with one minde they were glade and content,
To make with GOD the LORD a Covenant,
By God they ſware in a moſt ſol mne oath,
That man, woman, great, ſmall, ſhould die the death,
Who ſhould refuſe the living God to ſeek,
Who to his Saints is mercifull and meek:
Then all the people with their whole deſire
Did ſeeke the Lord, as Aſa did require;
They ſware to God with ſhouting and Trumpets,
With ſinging voice, and alſo with Cornets:
They ſeeking God, beleev'd, and did not doubt,
And he unto them gave reſt round about:
When this was done this worthy King Aſah,
From being Queene his mother Maachah
Remov'd, becauſe vaine idols ſhe did love,
She had ſet up an idole in a grove:
This idole he did cut, and ſtamp upon,
With fire he burnt it at the brook Kidron.
When this was done Ba'ſha King of Iſra'l,
Did build Ramah to make Aſah to fall;
But Aſah quickly, ſent to Benhadad
For help, which in the Lords eyes did ſeeme bad:
For this doing, the Prophet Hanani,
Him told that he had done moſt fooliſhly:
What hadst thou, ſaid he, to doe with Syria,
To hire their help? Did not the great Jovah
Make thee ſubdue the Ethiopian hoſt,
With the Lubims, who in their pride did bo…ſt?
Gods eyes throughout the earth run to and …ro,
To manifeſt his great might ſo and ſo:
He is ready with great power to ſmite,
The foes of theſe who towards him perfite
Are in their heart: Becauſe in this right far
Thou haſt failed, hence fo…th thou ſhalt have warre.
When Aſa heard theſe words of Hanani,
A fierie wrath did kindle his furie;
Take this villaine, ſaid he, this B…lials ſon,
Now bind him faſt, and caſt him in priſon:
Moreover he ſome people in diſtreſſe,
Without mercy ſeverely did oppreſſe;
In his old age diſeaſed in his feet,
To Medecins to ſeeke he thought more meet,
Then to the Lord, who health and happineſſe
Hath ready for his ſervants in diſtreſſe:
Though diverſe faults bee ſeen in this mans wayes,
Yet with the Lord his heart was all his dayes
Perfect, as the firſt book of Kings doth tell,
Written by the ſcrib of God Eternell:
He ſway'd the Scepter years one and fourtie;
Though Kings be gods, yet as men they muſt die.
The Uſe.
Our brighteſt life is like the Moone with ſpot,
Where is the life that is without a blot?
4. JEHOSHAPHAT. The judgement of the Lord.
NOw fill mine heart LORD with thy glowing flame,
Raiſe up my Spirit and verſes in me frame
Worthy the praiſe of good Jehoſhaphat,
Whom good Aſa, King of Judah begat:
As in his name, as Scriptures do record,
So in his life the judgement of the LORD
Unto all men moſt clearly did app…are:
That man is wiſe whoſe heart the LORD doth feare.
This godly King did ſerve GOD in his dayes,
Becauſe he walked faſt in the firſt wayes
Of David; he to Baalim not ſought,
But idols worſhip with great might downe brought;
He willing did what GOD did him command,
Therefore the Kingdome ſtable in his hand
Was made by GOD; then Judah to him brought,
Moſt rich preſents, which they had dearly bought:
His heart encourag'd was in the Lords way,
High places, groves, with zeal he took away:
When he was rich and in honour highly,
With Ahab he did joine affinitie,
With him to go to battell he was mov'd,
For which he was deſervedly reprov'd
By good Jehu, the ſon of Hanani,
Who ſaid, to him, Should'ſt thou help th' ungodlie?
VVhat didſt thou meane, to bee by thought or word,
In league or love with them that hate the Lord?
Conſider well, and now take heed and ſee,
For wrath from God is posting upon thee,
Thee to correct, but not thee to confound,
Becauſe in thee good things the Lord hath found:
The idole groves thou hast taken away,
Thy heart thou haſt prepar d to ſeeke alway
The mighty Lord in great ſincerity,
Therefore the Lord vvill not depart from thee.
To the Judges he gave commandement,
To take good heed, becauſe in the judgement
The Lord was with them: Doe now what yee can,
Said he to them, for yee judge not for man,
But for the Lord, If him ye do rgard,
He ſhall not faile you richly to reward;
Judge uprightly, beware of ſhifts and drifts
Reſpect not perſons, reject bribs and gifts
Which blind the eye; but let Gods holy fear
Be upon you that ſo yee may forbeare
To doe like theſe who with Horſe leaches ſing,
To their clients, theſe doubled words, Bring bring;
This counſell that the Judges from him gat,
Was worthy of the name of Joſhaphat,
Which ſignifies Gods judgement moſt clearly,
In my judgement by way of propheſie.
After this done with zeal, behold anone
Againſt Joſaphat, Moab, and Ammon
A multitude, great from beyond the Sea
In Hazazon-Tamar call'd Engedi
Conveen'd, to fight in a bloody Battell
Againſt Joſaphat who to th'Eternell
Had his refuge; while he was thus agaſt,
He ſought the Lord and did proclame a faſt:
Then all Judah with one heart did accord,
From all cities to go and ſeek the Lord:
Good Joſaphat troubled with fear that day,
Before Judah thus to the Lord did ſay,
Art thou not God in heaven, who ruleſt all?
Art thou not he who is God eternall?
Haſt thou not strength and great might in thine hand?
Where are the forces that can thee withſtand?
Art thou not God who didst before Iſra'l,
Drive out thy foes by thine arme eternall,
And gav'ſt their lands from a moſt loving minde,
Ʋnto the ſeed of Abraham thy frind?
Thou art a Lord both ſtrong and righteous,
Thou promiſed vvhen men unto thine houſe
Should come to thee in great trouble and feare,
That vvith great ſpeede thou vvould them help and heare:
And novv behold, both Moab, and Ammon,
VVith theſe of Seir, minde thy Judah anone
For to invade, and their lands to make bare,
Though at thy vvill vve did them ſave and ſpare.
And novv, O Lord, conſider and regard,
Hovv vvith deſpight as foes they us revvard;
Our forces faint, Our foes are moſt mightie;
But this comforts; Our eyes are upon thee.
Then Judah all with wives and children dear.
Before the Lord ſtood in a trembling fear.
Then on Jahaziel ſon of Zechariah,
A divine Sprite came downe from Jehovah,
Who ſaid, All Judah and Joſaphat King,
Hear novv glade tidings vvhichwhich I to you bring
From great Jovah, vvho ſaid you neede … feare,
For I for you ſhall fight in all this vvarre.
When King and people had theſe comfor… found,
They bow'd their heads with face unto … ground;
The Levites high their ſinging voice did raiſe,
They ſtood all up the living God to praiſe;
They roſe up early in the morning light,
To go to battell in their armour bright;
Now as they went Joſaphat ſtood, and ſaid,
Heare me, O Judah, now beleeve in God,
Beleeue ſo, that no doubt make you once whiſper,
Beleeve his Prophets, ſo ſhall yee all proſper.
When this was ſaid, the ſingers with gladneſſe
Did praiſe the beautie of his holineſſe.
Then God moſt mighty in Battell aroſe,
Who ſet ambuſhments round about his foes;
He made each one another for to ſlay,
The Lord himſelf the battell fought that day:
Gods arme it wrought, and not fortune or hap,
…ot one of all their armie did eſcape;
…fter that God had given them thus the foile,
…is people were enricht with their great ſpoile;
…oſt rare jewels among the dead that day
…hey found, yea more then they could bear away.
When this was done, with Trumpets, and with Harps,
They came to Salem with great joy of hearts,
And thanked God, the great God Eternell,
Who had ſtrongly their foes foil'd in Battell:
Thus the realme was quiet without ſhout
Of warre; to them God gave reſt round about:
But after this Joſaphat did purloine,
In that he did with Ahaziah joine,
Who was a King perverſe in Iſrael,
Even Ahabs Son hated of th'Eternall:
Who awleſſe, lawleſſe, 'gainſt the Lord did rage,
With him he ſhips made for a long voyage
To Tarſhiſh; But the Prophet Dodavah
Came to Joſaphat from the great JOVAH;
Becauſe, ſaid he, thou haſt fal'n in ſuch ſlips,
The LORD himſelf hath broken all thy ſhips.
When he began he was of age thirtie
And five, thereafter he reigned twentie
And five; Of all he lived yeeres threeſcore,
A Godly Prince, who did Gods law reſtore.
The Uſe.
If Princes would have peace, and foile th… foes,
Let them in feare to ſerve the Lord rejoice:
If Princes would enjoy proſperitie,
Let them abhorre all profane companie.
5. JEHORAM. High LORD.
HIgh LORD in name, but baſe in cariage,
For he his brethren all ſlew in his rage;
In great miſchief and ſtrife he ſpent his life,
For he had Ahabs daughter to his wife.
Then came to him writings from Elijah,
Who was the Prophet of the great JOVAH,
Becauſe, ſaid he, with vile idolatrie,
Thou haſt thy ſelfe defiled filthilie,
Becauſe with furie, rage, and great diſdaine,
Moſt cruelly thou hast thy brethren ſlaine;
Who in Gods wayes had their heart more perfit…
Then thine; therefore with ſore plagues I wi… ſmite
Both thee and thine; A plague without all doubt,
…hall from thy belly thy bowels thrust out;
…ight yeeres hee did reigne; then great plagues conſpir'd
…is death; he died, but was by none deſir'd.
The Uſe.
Take heed, O Kings, make not your men to grone,
If ye would have men your death to bemone:
…heſe who in lewdneſſe both end and begin,
…hall beare the ſcars of wounds made by their ſinne.
6. AHAZIAH. Poſſeſſion of God.
…LL mothers Sonne, ſon of the wicked race
… Of ill Ahab, nothing he did poſſeſſe
… Gods grace, but contemning th' Eternell,
…e walked after the wicked counſell
…f Ahabs houſe, which did him ſore annoy,
…or him with it ſtout Jehu did deſtroy:
…e went with Joram for to take his part
…gainſt Jehu, for which he felt the ſmart:
For ſins againſt God he could not forbeare,
Therefore his Kingdome laſted but a yeere.
The Uſe.
Let all men learne that ſin is not a ſport,
It ends our dayes and cuts our honours ſho…
Let theſe here learne who are made Kings grace,
To chuſe their wives of good and godly race.
7. JOASH. The fire of the Lord.
VVHen Athaliah did ſee that her Son
King Ahaziah was by Jehu ſlaine,
She roſe in rage, her whole force to imploy,
The Royall race of Judah to deſtroy:
When ſhe in furie cruel did conſpire
Againſt Judah, then Joaſh from that fire
By God was ſav'd; his Father Siſter deare,
Jehoſhabeath did hid him in that feare:
This good woman wife of Jehojadah,
Was appointed by the great Jehovah
To ſave this Prince in theſe times of great fea…
This Prieſt him hid the ſpace of whole ſix year…
Jehojadah at laſt did him foorth bring,
By force of armes he Crown'd and made him King.
When Athaliah heard how all was done,
Shee rent her cloaths, and ſaid, Treaſon, treaſon:
When this was ſaid, up ſtood Jehojadah,
The Prieſt of the Almighty JEHOVAH,
Captaines, ſaid he, have this vile woman foorth
Of Gods houſe ranges, though ſhe by birth
A Kings daughter now take her in diſdaine,
Without the temple let her now be ſlaine:
When all things ord'red were in this eſtate,
They ſlew her at th'entring of the horſe gate;
Then all were moved by Jehojadah,
To make a Covenant with great JEHOVAH;
Then the people went with all diligence
To Baals houſe, for to exact vengeance;
They brake it downe, his Altars they down threw
With Images; Mattan the Prieſt they ſlew:
They offred burnt offrings, and Pſalmes did ſing,
That done, upon a Throne they ſet the King:
Of ſeven years old before he was a man
Of ſtrength and wit, Joaſh to rule began:
He was a man well ſet for Jehovah,
During the dayes of good Jehojadah;
He in great zeale made all to contribut,
Great meanes which he at laſt did diſtribut,
For to prepare the houſe of great Jovah,
Which had been ſpoil'd by vile Athaliah;
Who to break downe Gods houſe did well allo…
The ſpoile ſhe did on Baalim beſtow.
After this Hazael, King of Syria
Tooke Gath; to the Citie of Jehovah,
He ſet his face to compaſſe it in round,
To make a breach, and bring it to the ground;
But Joaſh fearing ſuch forces that day,
Gave him the treaſurs; ſo he went away:
As long as Joaſh had Jehojadah,
He uprightly did walk with Jehovah,
But after this moſt worthy man was dead,
Who for his worth, with the Kings was buri'd,
Joaſh the King, with Princes of Judah,
Did leave the houſe of the great Jehovah;
Unto their ſins they were moſt fooliſh ſlaves,
Who like heathens did ſerve idols and groves.
Yet he to them his holy Prophets ſent,
To teach them his divine commandement;
Againſt them they did teſtifie ſincere,
But they unto their words would not give eare▪
Then the good ſprit of the great Jehovah,
Came upon the Prophet Zechariah,
Jehojadahs ſon, who ſtood up and ſaid,
To the people, Thus ſaith th' Almighty God,
Why doe ye thus the Lords precepts tranſgreſſe
Why ſin ye ſtill ſtoutly without regreſſe?
…ee cannot proſper; becauſe yee have now
…orſaken God, he hath forſaken you:
…hen wicked men commanded by the King,
…t Zechariah ſtones with ſpight did fling:
…his man of God they ſlew with one accord
…n the faire court of the houſe of the Lord;
…hus Joaſh king, killing Zechariah,
…orgot the kindneſſe of Jehojadah;
…e not remembring what that man had done
…or him in ſtraite, but after kill'd his ſon;
When he was dyeing this was his deſire,
…ord looke upon it, and alſo require.
After this fact neere the end of the year,
…oaſh with his men were troubled with feare,
…he Syrian armie in number but ſmall,
…pon his hoaſt with great fierceneſſe did fall,
Who 'gainſt Joaſh did execute judgement,
…or his tranſgreſſing Gods commandement.
After this King Joaſh in great ſickneſſe
Was left, becauſe in blood he did tranſgreſſe:
…is owne ſervants who at his table fed
…ere, cruelly did kill him on his bed:
…ne of theſe ſervants had this name Zabad,
…he others name was call'd Jehozabad;
…f ſeven years old a childe by Jehovah
…ade King, he raign'd fourty years in Judah:
Becauſe Gods Prophet he ſlew cruelly,
God ſuffred not him in Kings graves to lye,
The Uſe.
He who for good with an unthanfull heart
Shall render ill, ill never ſhall depart
From his houſe; A murdrer though a gre… King,
The Lord with blood unto the grave ſhall brin…
8. AMAZIAH. The strength of the Lord.
THis Amaziah as the hiſtorie
Declareth, did reigne yeers nine and twen…
That he did good we have in holy write,
But in Gods ſight his heart was not perfite:
Theſe men he ſlew who had his father ſlaine,
But by Gods ſtatutes ſpared their children:
Againſt Edom he three hundred thouſand,
Of Judahs men had ready at command;
A hundred thouſand he of Iſrael,
Did hire with him to go unto Battell;
But from the Lord a man came to the King,
Who him diſcharg'd Iſraels men to bring
Unto his hoſt, for God with Iſrael,
Said he, is not, The Lord in this battell
Will not thee help; If thou them with thee take
The Lord he ſhall both thee and thine forſake:
Then Amaziah unto him did ſay,
An hundred talents, theſe men have this day
Receiv'd from me; Who ſhall theſe now reſtore?
The Lord, ſaid he, will render thee much more:
Then Amaziah did command theſe men,
Who not of Judah, but Irſa'ls children
To turne back ſoone, and to their home returne,
For which much wrath in their boſome did burn:
Then this King ſtout with Judahs men alone,
Ten thouſand ſmot of the men of Edom;
Ten thouſand als this King did leave alive,
Whom he by valoure did cary captive;
Theſe he did bring to the top of a rock,
He threw them downe, their bones in pieces brok:
But Fy, fy, fy, this moſt unthankfull King,
Their idol gods unto Judah did brng:
He bow'd before theſe things that had no ſenſe,
And als unto them he did burne incenſe:
Wherefore the anger of the great Jovah,
Sore kindled was againſt Amaziah;
He ſent to him a Prophet for to tell,
That by idols he had greev'd th' Eternell;
Why hast thou, ſaid he, ſought of other lands,
The gods which their owne people from th… hands
Could not reſcue? Where is reſpect and fear?
Then ſaid the King, I charge thee to forbeare;
To ſpeak ſuch words thou baſe man haſt no plac…
Be ſilent leſt they ſmite thee on the face.
Well, ſaid the Prophet, at thy commandeme…
I ſhall forbeare, and ſhall remaine ſilent,
For now I know the great God Eternell,
Thee will deſtroy for hateing his counſell.
Then to Joaſh King ſecond from Jehu,
This Amaziah with great brags ſaid now,
Come let us ſee each other in the face
That we may fight, for peace hath no more plac…
Then Joaſh ſcorned this Kings great follie,
As a Thiſtle a cartell to a tree
Should ſend, whoſe ſtrength under a wilde bea… foot,
Is troden downe, in top and als in root:
Lo thou haſt ſmitten Seir Edoms great hoaſt,
Thus thy proud heart thee lifteth up to boaſt;
Abide at home, ceaſe from ſuch vaine follie,
Why ſhouldſt thou fall and als Judah with thee
But Amaziah theſe words would not heare,
To go to Battell he would not forbeare:
It came of God, moſt wiſe and moſt mighty,
Him to give ov'r unto his enemy;
…ecauſe after his foes he had ov'rcome,
…e ſought after the idols of Edom.
…hus theſe two Kings did fight in good aray,
…ut Amaziah was routed that day:
…n that Battell he was taken alive,
…or all his boaſt he was Joaſh captive,
…his Joaſh ſpoil'd the houſe of great Jovah,
…nd carried all unto Samariah.
…aſt Amaziah by conſpiracie,
…as ſlaine in Lachiſh with great felonnie.
The Uſe.
Though Kings be ſtrong and in Battell mighty,
…hey can not stand that love idolatry.
9. UZZIA. The strength of the Lord: called alſo, AZARIAH. The help of the Lord.
FRom help and strength this great King had his name,
For God by help and ſtrength did ſpread his fa…
As long as he ſincerely ſought the Lord,
His greateſt foes could not reſiſt his ſword:
God helped him againſt the Philiſtines.
Againſt th' Arabians and the Mehumins;
His name did ſpread to Egypt gloriouſly,
For he in God was ſtrong exceedingly:
He fortifi'd Salem with towres and walls,
With great charges he digged many wells,
An armie of three hundred thouſand men,
He did maintaine his countrey to defend;
But he made ſtrong, forgot Gods inſtruction,
His heart was puft up to his deſtruction,
For like a Prieſt by a fearfull offence,
He went to Temple for to burne incenſe;
But Azariah the Prieſt with courage,
Withſtood the King in his folie and rage;
Ceaſe, ceaſe, ſaid he, ceaſe from this great fence,
It is for Prieſts to offer Gods incenſe;
Goe out, goe ſoone out of this ſanctuary,
D…ſhonour thou ſhalt have by this folly:
Then Uzzia a cenſer in his hand
Took, to burne incenſe 'gainſt the Lords co… mand;
Then the great Lord him ſmote in the forehead
With leproſie, then all the Prieſts with ſpeede
Did thruſt him out, and he himſelf to flie
Made haſt, becauſe the Lord with leproſie
Him ſmitten had; for thus going aſtray
He liv'd leprous untill his dying day:
All his lifetime to his great grief and ſmart,
He dwelt a leper privately apart.
The Uſe.
Let Kings heere learne in their pride and folly,
Not to meddle with Jovahs Sanctuary.
10. JOTHAM. Fatherleſſe.
JOtham during his fathers leproſy,
Did in Judah as King the Scepter ſway;
He gave his minde to do that which was right,
And pleaſant in the great Eternells ſight;
He builded much; After in warre anone
By force of armes he ſubdu'd ſtrong Ammon;
He proſpered well, he was in vertues rare,
For he his wayes before God did prepare:
Twentie five yeeres he was when he began
To reigne, ſixteene he did reigne in Salem.
Thus di'd Jotham of age one and fourty,
And buri'd was in Davids faire city.
The Uſe.
The King that would wiſely his Scepter ſway,
Before the Lord let him prepare his way.
11 AHAZ. Poſſeſſing.
THis vaine Ahaz who underſtood no right,
Did that which was moſt wicked in GOD ſight;
He not regarding in heart th'Eternell,
Did walk in the ill wayes of Iſrael:
He images ſet up for Baalim,
Likewiſe in Hinnon incenſe was by him,
Burnt with his children in a fearfull fire,
To grieve GOD with Heathen he did conſpire:
He was moſt bent unto idolatry,
On the high hils, and under the green tree:
Becauſe he did contemn the LORDS command
The LORD him gave into his enemies hand;
The Syrians firſt, after theſe of Iſra'l
Him overthrew; thus fearfull was his fall.
Then valiant Pekah from the Syrian land
Slew in Judah of men ſix ſcore thouſand:
Alſo Iſrael (in a fearfull way)
Two hundred thouſand captives took away:
Likewiſe Philiſtins with profane Edom
Againſt the land in divers places come;
Thus the great GOD who to vengeance is ſlow
For Ahaz ſins brought Judahs kingdome low:
This wicked man when he was vexed ſore,
With diviliſh ſpight did ſin yet more and more:
The Scriptures plainly point at his treſpaſſe,
While they thus ſay, This is that King Ahaz.
This fool unto the falſe gods ſacrificed
Of Damaſcus which had him ſore diſpleaſed:
Becauſe, ſaid he, the gods of Syria
Hath helped them, they ſhall be my Jovah:
The Temple doors he ſhut up in fury,
And gave himſelf to vile idolatry,
Both in Salem, and alſo in Judah
He ſet idols in contempt of Jovah:
Thus this ill man in wickedneſſe did die,
Therefore with Kings they would not him burie.
The Uſe.
Kings who their land staine with idolatry
Shall often meet with wo and miſerie.
12. HEZEKIAH. The ſtrength of the LORD.
THis godly Son of moſt wicked Ahaz
Did fear the LORD, he moſt religious was;
This noble King, a moſt worthy Divine,
In Judah land did reigne yeers twentie nine;
In his firſt yeer the doors of GODS houſe fair
He opned, and the breaches did repair;
The Prieſts and Levits, which ſeem'd to him m… meet,
He together gath'red to the East ſtreet:
Hear me, ſaid he, Now your ſelves ſanctifie,
All filthineſſe from th'holy place cary:
Our ill fathers have moſt vilely treſpaſſed,
The divel them hath with wicked wiles co…paſſed;
They have forſaken God, and gone aſtray,
Their faces from him they have turn'd away,
The Temple doors they have ſhut up about,
The cleareſt lamps of God they have put out;
Ʋnto the Lord they have burnt no incenſe,
They have not car'd what manner of offence
They did to him, therefore Gods heavy wrath
Came on Judah, treading that wicked path,
Becauſe they ſcornd the Lords commandement,
…o trouble, hiſſing, and aſtoniſhment
…e them deliv'red; for hating his word
…ur dear fathers have fallen by the ſword;
And which greatly augments our miſerie;
…ur ſons, daughters are in captivitie.
…ow let us make a covenant I pray
…ith God the Lord, that he may turn away
…rom his fierce wrath; caſt off all negligence,
…or yee are ſet to ſerve, and burn incenſe.
Then the Levits were gath'red carefully
To cleanſe GODS houſe from all impurity:
All th'uncleanneſſe within GODS houſe anone
They cary'd out, and caſt it in Kidron.
When they had cleanſed things of every ſort,
To Hezekiah they made the report;
Then this good King in great zeal roſe early,
And gath'red the Rulers of the city:
This good King and they all with one accord
Went up in haſte to the houſe of the LORD:
Divers offrings they offred to JOVAH,
For the kingdome, the temple and Judah:
Levits with cymbals, harps, and pſalterie,
The Prieſts with trumpets made ſweet melodie:
The people did worſhip, and ſingers ſing,
Trumpets founded ſo that the houſe did ring;
This did continue GOD did it commend,
Till the burnt offering was brought to an end;
When the Trumpets moſt holy conſecration,
Was finiſhed, the people great oblation,
Did offer gladely with a moſt free heart,
The Prieſts, the Levites, each man did his part;
So the ſervice of GODS houſe pleaſantly,
Was then in order ſet moſt ſuddenly:
Thus Hezekiah after all repar'd,
Rejoic'd in God who had his men prepar'd,
Then this good King by Gods divine counſell
Ordain'd Judah and alſo Iſrael:
To keep paſſeover for great JEHOVAH,
At Salem from Dan to Beerſhebah;
The poſts in haſt with letters from the King,
Went through all parts for to declare this thing:
The ſumme was this that all men then ſhou… mourne,
For their treſpaſſe and to the Lord returne:
If yee, wrote he, turne to this Lord of grace
In wrath he will not from you turne his face:
But Ephraim and Manaſſe forlorne,
Iſraels men, did laugh theſe poſts to ſcorne;
Yet of Aſer and of Manaſſe came
Divers, to worſhip the LORD at Salem:
The hand of God in Judah was mighty,
To give them one heart with ſinceritie,
To celebrat that great Jehovahs feaſt,
…hey all obey'd the greateſt and the leaſt;
…ut in Iſrael numbers fooliſhly,
…d beene careleſſe themſelves to ſanctifie;
…t this good King did pray for them anone,
…e good Lord, ſaid he, pardon ev'ry one,
…ho doth his owne heart prepare ſinceerely,
…hough according to Jovahs Sanctuary
…e not cleanſed; This the Lord did pleaſe,
…ho heal'd the people of their ſore deſeaſe;
…ea more Iſra'l without all wearineſſe,
…id keepe the feaſt that day with great gladneſſe,
…hole fourteene dayes that feaſt which was holy
…bſerved, was in Salem Gods city:
…he King and Princes did give much cattell
…o the people of Judah and Iſrael;
…nce Solomon the ſon of David King,
…as not in Salem ever ſeene ſuch thing:
Then all the Prieſts and the Levits aroſe,
…nd bleſt the people both with heart and voice;
…hey pray'd to GOD with words filled with grace,
…heir prayer came unto Gods dwelling place:
When this was done by theſe of both nation,
…hey all intended a reformation;
…hey cut the groves, the images they brake,
…he Altars and high places they did ſacke;
That done, Iſra'l in a good motion,
Return'd quickly to their poſſeſſion.
Then the Prieſts courſe the King with dilige…
Ordred, and als provided maintenance,
For that great work that preachers of the wo…
Might have courage in the Law of the Lord;
The people willing corne, wine, oyle holy,
With tiths of all did bring aboundantly.
Thus Hezekiah did throughout Judah:
Good, right, and truth before the great Jovah
He wrought; ſuch was his great ſincerity,
The Lord he ſought with all his heart truely.
Then Sen'cherib King of Aſſyria,
With great forces entred into Judah;
When Hezekiah thus perceived them
Reſolv'd to fight againſt Jeruſalem,
Then he this counſell from his Princes tooke,
Who the waters of fountaine and of brooke
Will'd him to ſtop, and ſo their hoſt to ſcatt…
Why ſhould our foes, ſaid they, with whol… water
Refreſhed be? So for his own defence
Both darts and ſhields he made in aboundan…
The broken walls up to the towres he rear'd,
In Davids city he Millo repair'd:
Captains of war he gath'red to Salem,
And thus he ſpake comfortably to them,
Be ſtrong, let not Senacheribs armie,
…ith their great number your heartes terrifie;
…ith him the armie of fleſh, the Eternell
… to help us and to fight our Battell.
After he had theſe comforts on them preſt,
…e people all upon his words did reſt:
…nnacherib after this ſent ſome men,
…om faire Lachiſh unto Jeruſalem.
Vile Rabſhakeh thus railed in his pride,
…hereon truſt yee? Into what hole abide
…ill yee? Now try and als well examine,
… yee will die by thirſt and ſore famine:
…t not your King truſting in his JOVAH
…eceive you; Is not he Hezekiah,
…ho Gods Altars and high places deſtroy'd
…ath, that one Altar in Salem imploy'd
Might be? Be wiſe, regard not his command,
…ow yee not what unto all peoples land
My Maſter hath done; What Gods of Nations,
…uld ſave their people in ſuch vexations?
All theſe gods folks I overthrew at length,
…ho is your God that I ſhould fear his ſtrength?
…herefore in time conſider and percieve,
Lest that your King vvith vaine vvordes f… deceive.
The people all in ſilence and in doole,
Did heare theſe wordes of that blaſphem… foole.
Then Eliakim the ſon of Hilkijah,
Reported all unto Hezekiah,
Who hearing this was in great grief and ſmart,
He rent his cloathes and with his clothes h… heart:
Unto Eſay the Prophet he did ſend,
Men in ſackcloth his anſwere to attend.
Theſe men unto the Prophet ſaid truely
Of trouble, rebuke, and of blaſphemy
This is a day; the children to the birth
Are come, but there is no ſtrength to bring forth
Of Rabſhakeh it may be God will heare,
The railing word which he voide of all feare,
Sent from his Maſter King of Aſsyria,
Did vomit out against the Lord Jovah.
O man of God thy duety doth thee bind.
To pray for theſe that are now left behind.
When theſe words came unto the Prophets eare,
He ſaid let not your good Maſter now feare;
God in the Heavens moſt bright in Majeſtie
Hath clearly heard that vile rogues blaſphemie.
…ehold, ſaith God, I in my wrath at laſt
…pon that man will ſend a fearfull blaſt
…f terrour great, he ſhall a rumour hear,
…Vhich ſhall his bones and bowels ſhake with fear;
…ome he ſhall go, truſt and believe my word,
…n his own land he ſhall fall by the ſword.
After Rabſhakeh had againſt JOVAH
…hus railed, he unto the ſtrong Libnah
…id go, where his Maſter in brags moſt ſtout
…ith his armie encamped round about.
This King again ſent to Hezekiah
…en to revile with other words JOVAH.
Let not, ſaid they, O Hezekiah King,
…hy God deceive thee with this vaine ſaying,
…am the Lord the mighty God Jovah,
… ſhall you ſave from all Aſſyriah.
…aſt thou not heard and underſtood clearly,
…ow theſe great Kings have wasted utterly
All lands? None could eſcape their mightie hand,
…d now ſhalt thou before their forces ſtand?
…zan, Haran, Kezeph and Thelaſar,
…th ſtrong Eden, they have ſubdued by war.
VVhere are the Kings of Hena and Ivah
Of Hamath, Arpad? Tell Hezekijah,
Where is the King of Sepharvaim ſtrong?
Who could them match their gods or K… among?
When this vile letter full of blaſphemie
Was read, the King to Gods houſe ſpeedilie
Went up; to ſumme the matter in a word,
That vile letter he ſpread before the Lord:
Then Hezekiah made to th' Eternell
This prayer, ſaying, O God of Iſra'l,
Which now dwelleſt betweene the Cherubines
Thou art the Lord alone of all Kingdomes;
With great mercy, O Lord, bow downe th… eare,
And with regard my humble ſute now heare
Conſider how with wordes ſharpe like a good,
Th…y have the name pierc'd of the living Go…
Moſt true it is and eaſy to enquire,
That they falſe gods have burnt into a fire
For theſe gods no gods were, but vvorke hands,
Dead vvood, and ſtone are gods of other la…
Therfore, O Lord, vve thee beſeech humbly,
Save us novv from that tyrants cruelty:
…hat all the Kingdomes of the earth anone,
May knovv that thou the great God art alone.
Then the Lords Prophet faithfull Iſaiah,
…ent to the King even good Hezekiah
…his comfort, Thus ſaith the God of Iſra'l,
…hen in thy prayer thou didſt to me call,
…hee did heare; Concerning him that day,
…his is the vvord that God the Lord did ſay,
…he virgin, the dear daughter of Zion,
…hee hath deſpiſed and laughed to ſcorne;
…ruſalem hath novv most tauntingly
…ith great diſdaine ſhaken her head at thee:
… beastly man! vvhom haſt thou novv nicknamed?
…ou knovvest not vvhom thou haſt ſo blaſphemed;
…ainst vvhom thy voice and eyes novv canſt thou tell
…ſt thou lift up? Even the God of Iſra'l;
… thy meſſengers both in thought and word,
…ſphemouſly thou haſt reproch'd the Lord;
… people deare thou haſt boaſted with threats,
…em to deſtroy with numbers of charets;
…ou haſt boasted that thou their Cedars tall
Shall cut untill they to the ground ſhall fall
Becauſe thou haſt of men great aſſiſtance,
Thou haſt in number put thy confidence:
When before thee many did melt like ſnow
Not thou, but I theſe men did overthrow:
Thou overcame neither by Speare or Shiel…
But I them made like the graſſe of the fiel…
Like the green herb or graſſe on the houſe t…
Or corne blaſted before it be growne up:
But thy abode and comming againſt me
Thy pride and rage is known moſt certainly
Becauſe thy tumults to mine eares come up.
Therefore into thy proud noſe now a hooke
I will put, als my bridle in thy lips,
Thy vaine glory ſhall ſuffer an Ecclipſe:
Though now thou boaſt and bragge with furie,
Thou ſhalt turne backe and flee most ſ… fullie:
But as for Judah it ſhall ſurely ſpring,
And pleaſant fruits in plenty ſhall foorth
Gods foes the truth of this ſaying ſhall f…
The Lord of hoſts ſhall doe it by his zeale
As for that vile, and vaine blaſphemous
A…ainſt this City he ſhall doe nothing
…t may it hurt, no arrow he ſhall ſhut,
…em to him ſhall not be for a But:
…en this is done, yee ſhall Jehovah thank,
…'gainst Salem no man ſhall caſt a bank:
…n home againe with ſhame I will now ſend
… my right hand this City ſhall defend.
…hat ſame night the mighty Eternell,
… in all haſte ſend an armed Angell,
…o in one night ſlew at the Lords command,
hundred foureſcore and als five thouſand;
…en they aroſe in the morning early,
…old like doung their dead bodies did lye:
Then this vaine King who ſcorned th' Eternell,
…urn'd with ſhame in Niniveh to dwell;
… ſhortly after it thus came to paſſe,
…t God him puniſh'd for his vile treſpaſſe;
Niſrochs houſe, which ended all the ſtrife,
… owne two ſons bereav'd him of his life.
Some dayes after the good King Hezekiah
…s ſicke; to him the Prophet Iſaiah
…me with this meſſage, Thou ſhalt ſurely die,
…ow thine houſe in order ſpeedilie.
Then he his face turned unto the wall,
…d thus he ſaid unto the Eternall:
Remember, Lord, how I have before thee
Walked in trueth and great ſinceritie:
Remember now in my great grief and ſmart,
How I thee have ſerv'd with a perfect heart
Remember, Lord, how I with all my might
Have done that which is pleaſant in thy ſigh…
While thus he ſpake and added ſpeaches m…
Good Hezekiah did weep very ſore;
The LORD him heard, and his Prophet c… back,
And ſent him for this leaſe of life to make;
Tell Hezekiah, that worthy Captaine,
That he yet King fifeteene yeeres ſhall remain…
Thy prayer heard have I and ſeene thy teares,
I will t…ee heale, therefore lay down thy fear…
Yea more to thee this promiſe I will make,
I will this citie ſave for mine owne ſake:
Then the Prophet in this time full of toile,
A lump of figs laid upon the Kings boile;
So for the well of Judahs common wealth,
The King by GOD reſtored was to health.
The King unto the Prophet thus did ſay,
How ſhall I know that I on the third day
Shall to GODS houſe goe, and his ſervice ſee?
What ſhall the ſigne be? now tell thou to me
Well ſaid the Prophet, choiſe novv as pleaſe,
… the Sun back or foreward ten degrees
…hall goe; For to goe forevvard ſaid the King
…o ſee ſhadovves, it is no vveighty thing,
…et the Lord novv, for his great mercies ſake,
Make the ſhadovv by his might to turne back:
…hen the Prophet as he deſired ſaid,
…nd GOD him heard according as he prai'd.
…he Sun went back with his ſwift ſweating Horſe
…ull ten degrees as one that hath remorſe:
When on his journey going like the wind,
…e him bethinks his purſe is left behind;
…hen back againe he wheeles moſt ſpeedilie,
…hus went the Sun, as men that day might ſee:
…ials went falſe and, Forreſts ſhadowes black,
Wondred to ſee themſelves turne and goe back.
Then Berodach-Baladan of Babel
…ing, ſent to him letters thus for to tell
How glade he was of all his peace and wealth,
…nd that he was fully reſtor'd to health.
But Hezekiah in pride of his heart
Did that ſhortly which did procure his ſmart;
Unto theſe men of Babel fooliſhly
His ſilver, gold, ſpices, armour did he
Then ſhew; yea, all the treaſures that he had,
…n his vaine pride before their eyes he laid.
Then came againe the Prophet Iſaiah,
With this new meſſage from the great Jovah;
He ſaid to them, what ſaid theſe men to thee?
What's in mine houſe, ſaid he, I let them ſee:
Among my treaſures all there is nothing,
Which theſe men ſent from the great Bab… King,
Have not now ſeene; Well, well, ſaid Iſaiah,
Heare a meſſage from the great JEHOVAH;
All thy treaſures gath'red unto this day,
By Babels men ſhall be cari'd away:
Thy deareſt ſons that ſhall iſſue from thee,
In Babels court they baſe Eunuchs ſhall bee.
Then to the Prophet ſaid Hezekiah,
Good is the word that thou brings from Jovah▪
I looke for mercy from my God alwayes,
Let peace and trueth he ſtable in my dayes.
Laſt Hezekiah who all his life did fear.
The Lord his God, ſleept with his fathers deare▪
In the chiefeſt ſepulchre of David,
This worthy King was with honour buri'd.
The Song of Hezekiah.
IN cutting off of my ſhort dayes,
I ſaid I ſhall now goe
Ʋnto the grave; I am depriv'd
of my few yeares alſo:
2 I ſaid, I ſhall not ſee the Lord
in the Land of living,
I ſhall behold man no more with
theſe that have heere dwelling:
3 Mine age is parted and remov'd
among trouble and ſtrife
Like ſheepheards tents, I have cut off
like a weaver my life.
He with ſickneſſe will cut me off,
what ever I pretend;
From day ev'n unto night wilt thou
of me ſoone make an end;
4 I reckned till morning that as
a Lion ſo ſurelie
He will my bones break; Of me thou
wilt make an end ſpeedie:
5 Like a poor cran in great diſtreſse
or a troubled ſwallow
So did I chatter; I did mourne
as doth the ſimple dove:
My eyes do faile with looking up,
and very dimmed be▪
O Lord I am oppreſſed ſore,
now undertake for me:
6 What ſhall I ſay? He ſpoken hath,
and als hath done no leſse:
I ſhall go ſoftly all my yeeres
in my ſoules bitterneſſe.
7 In all theſe things is the life of
my Sprite; they that believe
Do live by them; Recover me,
and ſo make me to live.
8 Behold for a deſired peace
I had great bitterneſſe:
But thou in love haſt ſav'd me from
the pit of rotteneſſe;
For thou who of afflicted men
doſt ever notice take:
In thy great merciemercy all my ſinnes
hast cast behinde thy back.
9 For grave cannot thee praiſe, and death
can not celebrate thee;
They that goe to the pit can not
hope for thy trueth ſurelie.
10 The living, the living he ſhall,
praiſe thee, as I this day;
The fathers ſhall to their children
make knowne thy truth alway.
11 The Lord was ready me to ſave,
therefore we with accord
To the ſtring'd instruments will ſing
in the houſe of the Lord.
The Uſe.
…f Kings ſhall ſerve the Lord with all their heart,
…n great trouble the Lord ſhall take their part:
But this the Lord of heav'n can not abide,
…hat hearts of Kings be lifted up with pride.
13. MANASSEH. Forgetting.
JOſeph comforted by Gods great mercy,
Which made him quite forget his miſery,
From ſuch forgetting he his firſt born Son
Called Manaſſeh, ſo for ſuch reaſon,
…t may be this King, at firſt got his name,
He in his life was ſtain'd with ſin and ſhame;
…ike heathen men, void of Gods feare and grace,
He in folie did build up the high place,
Which his father commanded to deſtroy,
He did it build with chearfulneſſe and joy;
As though a God had not beene in Iſra'l,
He madly rear'd up Altars for Baal;
He made a grove and with much folly driv'n,
He gave worſhip unto the hoſt of Heav'n;
Obſerving times and uſing inchantments
He did deſpiſe the Lords commandements:
He als provoking the Lord unto ire,
Made his own ſons to paſſe through burning fi…
He dealt with wizards, and ſin worthy death
He did, which did God much provoke to wra…
In his folly worthy the name of rage,
He ſet in Gods houſe a moſt vile image:
This man practiſde more vile abominations,
Then were done by profane heathen nations:
Who by the force of the great Eternell
Deſtroyed were before his Iſrael:
At laſt the Lord, full of compaſſions,
Abhorred ſuch abominations.
Becauſe this man, ſaid he, hath plaide foole,
Defiling Judah with his vile idole,
Behold I bring ſuch troubles and ſuch feares
Which ſhall cauſe tingle all the hearers ear…
…r ſuch doings wherein is no reliſh,
…ruſalem now wiped (like a diſh)
…all be; In red war their foes ſhall them foil,
…hey ſhall to them become a prey and ſpoil,
…r ſince from Egypt I brought them the way
…hat was moſt right, they ever went astray.
Manaſſeh more in his furie moſt rude,
… Salem did ſhed much innocent blood:
While Manaſſeh did not regard Gods check,
…rong Babels captaine took him by the neck
…mong the thornes, and him with fetters bound,
…o the Lord did this vile man much confound:
Yet when he was in great affliction,
…e ran to God with ſupplication,
…efore the Lord he much humbled his heart,
…e pray'd to God who heard him in his ſmart,
…nd helped him, and brought him back againe
…rom Babel for in Salem to remaine.
Then Manaſſeh did by experience
…oſt ſurely know that God was his defence;
…hen was his heart inflamed with gods love,
…e all ſtrange gods with idols did remove;
…ll ſtrange Altars he brake downe ſpeedily
…ith zeal, and caſt them out of the city:
…t laſt this King who to God gracious
…eturned, was buri'd in his owne houſe.
The Uſe.
Let ſinners learne for no ſinne to deſpaire;
No ſin there is, but God can it repaire:
For witchcraft, blood, and vile idolatry,
Manaſſeh humble did obtaine mercy.
14. AMON. Faithfull, true.
THis wicked man of two and twenty year
Began to reigne; He voide of all Gods fe…
Did reigne two years; God made his Kingdo… ſhort,
Becauſe he made of wickedneſſe a ſport:
He with Manaſſch in his wayes was bad,
But did not with Manaſſeh turne to God.
At laſt againſt this King unrighteous
His ſervants roſe, and ſlew him in his houſe:
After this done, the people all in ire
Did kill theſe men who did his death conſpir…
The Uſe.
Let Kings beware of ſin to make a ſport,
For many ſins doe cut their honours ſhort:
…t parents learne to feare to goe aſtray,
…r their children often follow their way:
…t Subjects learne to feare their Kings to kill,
…r other ſhall not faile their blood to ſpill.
15. JOSIAH. The fire of the Lord.
BEhold Joſiah; conſider a part,
The fire of Zeale cleare burning in his heart:
…ght years he was when he upon the Throne
…gan to ſit; he reigned thirty one:
…e did with God moſt conſtantly abide,
…om Davids wayes he turned not aſide:
…hen he was come to eighteene years of age
…ough young in years, he was both grave and ſage:
He ſent ſcribe Shaphan to Prieſt Hilkijah,
…at the ſilver for the houſe of JOVAH
…th'red at doores, as GODS word did command,
…ight be ſhortly put in the workemans hand:
Then to Shaphan ſaid the Prieſt Hilkijah,
…ave now found in the houſe of JOVAH
…ods Law-book; Then Shaphan tooke it with ſpeed;
And with great joy and gladneſſe it did read.
After Shaphan this book did with him bring,
And it in haſte did read before the King:
When he the words heard of that Teſtament,
For greef and ſorrow the King his cloaths rent:
Then diverſe men by him were ſet to looke,
To try right ſoone the meaning of the Booke:
A great wrath, ſaid he, is againſt us kindled,
For our fathers againſt God have rebelled:
Then at the laſt the good Prieſt Hilkijah,
With others went to Propheteſſe Huldah;
This woman in a Colledge at Salem
Did dwell; with wiſedome ſhe ſaid unto them;
Thus ſaith the great Lord God of Iſrael
Ʋnto the man that ſent you, yee ſhall tell,
Behold I will bring ill upon this place,
Th'inhabitants I will greatly diſgrace;
All the plagues I will ſend without remeed
Which good Joſiah in that Booke did read;
My wrath againſt this place ſhall kindled bee,
Becauſe of their most vile idolatrie;
But go and tell the good King Joſiah,
This meſſage from the mighty Lord Jovah,
Becauſe thou had a trembling tender heart,
And for ſuch ſins did often weepe apart,
Becauſe when I did ſpeake againſt this place;
Thou rent thy cloaths with teares drenching thy face,
…hold thou ſhalt now this great comf…rt have,
… peace thou ſhalt be gath'red to thy grave;
…ough dayes be coming full of miſeries,
…ore they come death ſhall cloſe up thine eyes;
…ter theſe men heard ſuch words of comfort,
…ey to the King the meſſage did report.
Then Joſiah with the men of Judah
…ent up unto the houſe of great Jovah,
…th him there were the Prieſts and Prophets all,
…ere als the people were both great and ſmall;
… them he read the Lords booke ev'ry word,
…ich had been found in the houſe of the Lord:
…n this good King who Gods word underſtood
… ſerve the Lord hard by a pillar ſtood:
… with the people all with one accord,
…d make a Covenant there before the Lord:
Gods preſence all ill wayes they forſooke,
…lling to doe according to that Book:
Then the King in the name of great Jovah
…mmanded ſoone the high Prieſt Hilkijah,
…th other keepers whether great or ſmall,
…ring quickly the veſſels made for Ba'l
… for the grove, out of Gods Temple faire,
That he GODS houſe might cleanſe and al… paire:
When this was done in the field of Kidron,
He in great zeal there them did burne each on…
And to fulfull the word of th'Eternell,
The aſhes he did carry to Bethel;
Vile Prieſts there were who with idolatrie
Defiled had both Temple and Citie:
To Sunne, Moone, Planets and als to Baal
They ſacrificed, and to Heavens hoſt all:
Theſe vile men, he deſiring God to pleaſe,
In his great zeal put downe, and made to ce…
The grove alſo which was idolatrous,
The King with ſpeed brought out from the L… houſe,
At Kidron he it burnt and ſtamped ſmall
To ſmall powder, and caſt that powder all
Upon the graves of theſe who fooliſhly
Had beene defiled with idolatrie.
The Sodomite… far from Gods houſe he dr…
And theſe who did weave hangings for the g…
He with the reſt Topheth defil'd anone,
Which was in the vile valley of Hinnon,
So that no man thereafter durſt aſpire
To make his Son for Molech paſſe the fire.
Thus he perſiſting as he had begun,
Tooke the horſes which were given to the Su…
By Kings of Judah, which made Prieſts to mourn,
The Suns Charets he in a fire did burne.
He did beat down and break moſt ſpeedily,
The Altars which in vile idolatie,
Manaſſeh, Ahaz, when they God forſooke,
Did build; the duſt thereof in the baſe Brooke
Of Kidron he did caſt; High places vile
…or Aſhtoreth, Chemoſh, Milcome, defile
…e did; That bad Abomination,
…ard at mount Olives, mount of corruption,
Which Solomon did build in Iſrael,
Whereby he much provocked th'Eternell,
…as by Joſiah deſtroy'd ſpeedily,
…ch was his zeal for the great Gods glory.
This good King als the images brake then
…e cut the groves and with the bones of men
…e places fill'd; the Altar at Bethel,
… Jeroboam made who mov'd Iſra'l
… ſin, he brake downe, it to duſt he drove,
…d ſtampt it ſmall, and alſo burnt the grove.
The King turning him ſelf at laſt did ſpy,
…vers Sepulchers wherein dead did ly:
…ke up theſe bones, ſaid he, in his great ire,
…on this Altar burn them all with fire:
…w do for God who doth my crowne uphold,
… this long ſince by God hath beene foretold:
Then ſaid the King, come now, and tell to me,
What title is among the graves I ſee?
The men of that city ſaid to the King,
Heere lyes the Prophet which meſſage did b…
That great Jovah, the God of Iſrael,
Should do ſuch things to th' Altar of Bethel:
Then ſaid the King, this man whom GOD love,
Let him alone, ſee no man his bones move.
Likewiſe this Prince ſent from the great VAH,
Reform'd the cities of Samariah.
Their Prieſts he ſlew with his ſword in his ir…
And on their Altars their bones burnt with fir…
Then King and people all with one accor…
A great Paſſeover did keep to the Lord,
The like whereof before had never bene
Among the Kings, or yet the Judges ſene;
Yet more, the workers with familiar ſprits,
With wizards, idols, and all idle rits
He ſpied out, and wholly put away,
Thus he Gods houſe reform'd without delay…
Unto the Lord this King juſt and upright
With all his heart, with all his ſoul and migh…
Turned himſelfe, in great zeal more and mor…
He had no match, after or yet before:
But oh alas, the great wrath of Jovah,
Could not be turn'd from the ſins of Judah;
Manaſſes ſins both cruel and unkind,
…ld not go out of great Jehovahs minde.
… will, ſaid God, withdraw now my great love
…m all Judah, them now I will remove
… of my ſight, as I did t' Iſrael,
Salem als like judgements I will tell;
… wrath 'gainſt it here plainly I declare,
…ugh I had ſaid my name ſhall ay be there.
…hen good Joſiah King after all this
…ne with his men to fight at Carchemiſh,
…inſt Necho of Egypt land the King,
…o did with him a mighty armie bring;
…ho to him Embaſadors did ſend,
…ell him that he came not for this end,
…hurt Joſiah either neere or far,
… others at whom he intended war:
…d hath him ſent, therefore now let him paſſe:
… afterward thou ſmart for thy treſpaſſe:
…hou Necho in this Gods warre annoy,
Lord is with him who ſhall thee deſtroy.
…ut for all this Joſiah with Necho
…olv'd to fight him neere to Megiddo:
…n he diſguiſed came to that Battell,
Archers ſhot and there Joſiah fell:
…n ſaid the King, ſore wounded I this day
Battell am, have me therfore away:
…e deſir'd ſo they this wounded King
From the battell unto Salem did bring
In a Charet; There this good man he died,
There he alſo was with his fathers buried.
After his death all theſe that did ſojourne
In Judah, did for him lament and mourne;
Yea for his death the Prophet Jeremie,
With words of greefe lamented bitterlie.
The Uſe.
Behold, O Kings, who minde to pleaſe Jova…
Of zeale a patterne was this good Joſiah:
This man by halfes did not idolatrie
Reforme, but purged all moſt perfectly:
High places, groaves, images, idols vaine
Hill Altars he did cut, break, and diſdaine
16. JEHOACHAZ. The poſſeſſion of God.
JEhoachaz Son of good Joſiah,
Was after him crowned King of Judah;
He fear'd not God, he in Jehovahs ſight,
Follow'd the trace of wayes that were not r…
Him Phar'oh Necho King of Egypt land
Tooke, and with fetters ſtrong at Riblah band
Wee yeeres of age he was and als twentie,
…en he was crown'd and reign'd but moneths three.
The Uſe.
Kings here learn not in their ſinnes to ſport
…angers God, who cuts their honours ſhort.
17 ELIAKIM. called alſo, JEHOJAKIM. GOD ariſeing.
…Fter that Necho King of Egypt land,
Depoſed had by ſtrong and mighty hand
…oachaz, he ſent for Eliakim,
…oſe name he chang'd into Jehojakim;
…s was the ſecond ſon of Joſiah,
…o by Necho was made King of Judah:
… age this King was eighteene yeeres and ſeven
…en he began; he reigned but eleven;
… fear'd not God, he in JEHOVAHS ſight
…low'd the trace of wayes that were not right:
…n his dayes Nebuchanezzar the King
… Babylon, Jehojakim did bring
…o bondage; in this uncouth ſlaverie,
He was a ſervant the ſpace of yeeres three:
But afterward, as th' hiſtorie doth tell,
He turned and againſt him did rebell:
But for the ſins of the Kings of Judah
He got no help from the great JEHOVAH:
For the great ſins done by their wicked hands,
Againſt Judah the Lord ſent troups and bands
From Syria, from Moab, and Ammon,
And alſo from the land of Babylon;
Theſe he did ſend againſt Judah to fight,
For to remove Judah out of his ſight;
For the great ſins by King Manaſſe done,
The Lord in wrath would not the land pardon
Laſt by Nebuchanezzar he was found,
Who ſtraitly him in moſt ſtrong fetters bound
To Babylon to carry him that day
He thought ſurely, but died by the way.
Of his great faults we have the hiſtorie
In twentie two chapter of Jeremie;
He was a man full of unrighteouſneſſe,
His eyes and heart were but for covetouſneſſe
Oppreſſion, blood, and alſo violence,
Did moſt vilely ſtaine the hands of that Prince
Therefore concerning King Jehojakim,
Thus ſaid the LORD, None ſhall lament for …
This at the laſt ſhall ſurely come to paſſe,
He ſhall with ſhame be buri'd like an Aſſe;
…e ſhall be drawne and caſt foorth filthily,
…eyond the gates of Salem Gods city.
The Uſe.
…et Kings beere learne for God their life to ſpend,
A ſinfull life brings to a ſhamefull end.
18 JEHOJACHIN. The preparation, or ſtrength of GOD.
THis wicked man called Jehojachin,
Follow'd the trace of ill Jehojakim
…is fooliſh father: He had theſe names three,
…ehojachin, Jechonias, als he
…honias was called; When he began
…o reigne he was of eighteene yeeres a man,
In his time Nebuchadnezzar quicklie
…rom Babylon did ſend a great armie:
…eruſalem, in great furie and rage,
…heſe men of Babel ſtoutly did beſiege;
…t laſt the King Jehojachin came out
…ith mother, ſervants, princes him about;
…hus this ill man in th'eight yeere of his reigne,
Was taken captive by great Babels King:
Who with his raſcals moſt unrighteous,
Did carry thence the treaſures of GODS houſe
He alſo rageing in wrongs manifold,
Cut in pieces the rich veſſels of gold,
Which had beene made by wiſe King So…mon,
In Gods Temple of theſe he left not one:
Ten thouſand captives from Judah that day,
With crafts-men, ſmithes, he carried all away
The poorer ſort by his pride and diſdaine
Were onelyonly ſuffred at home to remaine:
Jehojachin with Mother, Wives that day,
And officers were carried all away.
'Gainſt this ill man the Prophet Jeremie,
Gods fearfull judgements declared plainly;
As I live, ſaid the Lord, though Coniah
Son of Jehojakim King of Judah,
Were neare and deare as ſignet on the hand,
Yet would I pluck him thence, ſo that to ſtand
Before my face this vaine and naughty fool
Shall not have ſtrength, like a broken idol:
O Earth, earth, earth, give eare and heare … word,
For I that ſpeakes am the Almighty Lord;
Write him chideleſſe, a man of no vertue,
This Jechoniah ſhall not have iſſue;
T…is is enacted qy the great Jovah,
…e of his feed ſhall be King in Judah,
The Uſe.
K…ngs follow their wicked fathers trace,
…e Lord them ſhall pluck ſhortlie from their place,
…he King who with Coniah playes the foole,
… in Gods eyes like a broken idole.
19. MATTANIAH. The gift of GOD.
He after was by Nebuchanezzar King of Babylon, called, ZEDEKIAH, The righteouſneſſe of GOD.
THis was the third ſon of good Joſiah,
… Jehojachins Uncle; the great JOVAH
…e did contemne; he humbled not his heart,
…hen Jeremie from God ſpake him apart:
'Gainſt Babels King he falſly did rebell,
Who made him ſweare by the great Eternell;
Gods word to him gives this reprofe and chec…
His heart he hardned and ſtiffned his neck;
Therefore in the ninth yeare of his ill reigne,
God ſent to him the hoſt of Babels King,
Who 'gainſt Salem pitched with courage ſtout
And built ſtrong forts againſt it round about:
Two years that ſeege continued hardly,
At laſt famine prevail'd in the city:
It to defend, in it was no more might,
The men of war from it did flee by night:
The King himſelf, who ſtood out long in vaine,
At laſt did flee by the way of the plaine;
Him the Caldees purſu'd with feet of Roe,
And overtooke him neere to Jericho;
Him they did bring unto the faire Riblah,
There they judgement upon Zedekiah
Did give; yea his ſons there before his face
Theſe villains ſlew without mercy or grace:
When that was done, in their moſt cruell ſpo…
That this poore King ſhould have no more co…fort
By ſight of eyes, they this deviſe did find,
To put his eyes out, and ſo make him blind;
Becauſe againſt the Lord he did treſpaſſe,
His foes him bound with ſtrong fetters of braſſ…
The ninteenth year of Nebuchanezzar,
Nebuzaradan his captaine from farre
…me with great forces, he with rage and ire
…ds houſe and the Kings palace burnt with fire:
…is Babyloniſh army ſtrong and ſtout
…ake downe the walls of Salem round about:
…us that city with all that there was found,
…ith GODS houſe als was brought unto the ground:
…ebuzaradan in Judah left then
…ely vine dreſſers, and poor huſband men.
…e men of might with all their wealth that day
…t of their land were carried all away.
The Uſe.
…hen King or people thus live voide of grace,
…he Lord ſhall them ſoone remove from their place:
…ho want Gods help, their foes ſhall ſoone them foile,
…em captives take, and their rich treaſures ſpoile:
…r Judahs ſins the mighty Lord that day
…ng, Crowne, Scepter, and carried all away:
…r their treſpaſſe he would not them defend,
…t of their Kingdome made a tragick end:
Behold how this people of great renowne,
Were ſpoil'd at last of Liberties and Crowne:
They angred God, they did his Prophets ſcorne,
Therefore no Jevv did ſit on Judahs Throne.
Let Kings heere learne vvho are ſet in high place,
That Kingdomes stand not by mens ſtrength, but grace:
Let Kings heere learne hovv for their ſinne anone
God brings to nought their Scepter, Crovvne, and Throne.