REHOBOAM .

WHo would not but haue looked that seuen hundred wiues , and three hundred concubines , should haue furnished Salomons Palace with choise of heires , and haue peopled Israel with royall issue ? and now behold , Salomon hath by all these but one Sonne ; and him by an Ammonitesse : Many a poore man hath an house-full of children by one wife ; whiles this great King hath but one sonne by many house-fulls of wiues ; Fertility is not from the meanes , but from the author ; It was for Salomon that Dauid sung of old ; Lo , children are an heritage of the Lord ; and the fruit of the wombe is his reward ; How oft doth God deny this heritage of heires , where he giues the largest heritage of lands ; and giues most of these liuing possessions , where he giues least of the dead ? that his blessings may bee acknowledged free vnto both ; entayled vpon neither .

As the greatest persons cannot giue themselues children , so the wisest cannot giue their children wisdome ; Was it not of Rehoboam that Salomon said ; I hated all my labour which I had taken vnder the Sunne ; because I should leaue it vnto the man that shall bee after mee ; and who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man , or a foole ; Yet shall he rule ouer all my labour , wherein I haue laboured , and shewed my selfe wise vnder the Sunne ? All Israel found that Salomons wit was not propagated ; Many a foole hath had a wiser sonne , than this wisest father ; Amongst many sonnes it is no newes to finde some one defectiue ; Salomon hath but one sonne , and he no miracle of wisdome ; God giues purposely so eminent an instance , to teach men to looke vp to heauen , both for heires , and graces .

Salomon was both the King of Israel , and the father of Rehoboam , when hee was scarce out of his childhood ; Rehoboam enters into the kingdome at a ripe age ; yet Salomon was the man , and Rehoboam the childe ; Age is no iust measure of wisdome ; There are beardlesse sages , and gray-headed children ; Not the ancient are wise , but the wise is ancient : Israel wanted not many thousands that were wiser than Rehoboam : Yet because they knew him to be the sonne of Salomon , no man makes question of his gouernment ; In the case of succession into Kingdomes we may not looke into the qualities of the person , but into the right . So secure is Salomon of the peoples fidelity to Dauids seed , that he followes not his fathers example in setting his sonne by him , in his owne throne ; here was no danger of a riuality to inforce it ; no eminency in the sonne to merit it ; It sufficeth him to know that no bond can bee surer than the naturall allegeance of subiects ; I doe not finde that the following Kings stood vpon the confirmation of their people ; but as those that knew the way to their throne , ascended those steps without aid ; As yet the soueraignty of Dauids house was greene , and vnsetled ; Israel therefore doth not now come to attend Rehoboam , but Rehoboam goes vp to meet Israel . They come not to his Ierusalem , but he goes to their Shechem : To Shechem were all Israel come to make him King ; If loyalty drew them together , why not rather to Ierusalem ? there the maiestie of his fathers Temple , the magnificence of his palace , the verie stones in those walles , ( besides the strength of his guard ) had pleaded strongly for their subiection ; Shechem had beene many waies fatall , was euery way incommodious : It is an infinite helpe or disaduantage that arises from circumstances ; The very place puts Israel in minde of a rebellion ; There Abimelech had raised vp his treacherous vsurpation ouer , and against his brethren ; There Goal against Abimelech ; There was Ioseph sold by his brethren : As if the very soile had beene stained with perfidiousnesse . The time is no lesse ill chosen ; Rehoboam had ill counsell ere he bewrayed it ; For had hee speedily called vp Israel , before Ieroboam could haue beene sent for out of Egypt , he had found the way cleere ; A little delay may leese a great deale of opportunity ; what shall we say of both , but that misery is led in by infatuation .

Had not Israel beene somewhat predisposed to a mutinie , they had neuer sent into Egypt for such a spokesman as Ieroboam ; a fugitiue , a traitor to Salomon ; long had that crafty conspirator lurked in a forraine court ; The alliances of Princes are not euer necessary bonds of friendship : The brother in law of Salomon harbours this snake in his bosome , and giues that heat , which is repaid with a sting to the posterity of so neere an allye : And now Salomons death calls him backe to his natiue soile : That Israel would entertaine a rebell , it was an ill signe ; worse yet that they would countenance him ; worst of all that they would imploy him : Nothing doth more bewray euill intentions , than the choise of vicious Agents : Those that meane well will not hazard either the successe , or credit of their actions vpon offensiue instruments ; None but the sluttish will wipe their faces with foule clothes . Vpright hearts would haue said , as Dauid did to God , so to his anointed ; Doe not I hate them that hate thee ? Yea I hate them with a perfect hatred . Ieroboams head had beene a fit present to haue tendered vnto their new King ; and now in stead thereof they tender themselues to Ieroboam , as the head of their faction .

Had not Rehoboam wanted spirits , hee had first ( after Salomons example ) done iustice to his fathers traytor , and then haue treated of mercy towards his subiects ; The people soone found the weakenesse of their new Soueraigne , else they durst not haue spoken to him by so obnoxious a tongue ; Thy father made our yoke grieuous , make thou it lighter and wee will serue thee ; Doubtlesse the crafty head of Ieroboam was in this suit , which his mouth vttered in the name of Israel ; Nothing could haue beene more subtill ; It seemed a promise , it was a threat ; that which seemed a supplication was a complaint : humility was but a vaile for discontentment ; One hand held a paper , the other a sword : Had they said , Free vs from Tributes , the capitulation had beene grosse , and strongly sauoring of sedition ; now they say Ease vs , they professe his power to impose , and their willingnesse to yeeld ; only crauing fauour in the weight of the imposition ; If Rehoboam yeeld , he blemisheth his father ; If he deny , hee indangers his kingdome ; His wilfulnesse shall seeme worthily to abandon his scepter , if he sticke at so reasonable a suit ; Surely Israel came with a purpose to cauill ; Ieroboam had secretly troubled these waters , that he might fish more gainefully ; One male-content is enough to embroile a whole kingdome .

How harshly must it needs sound in the eares of Rehoboam , that the first word hee heares from his people , is a querulous challenge of his fathers gouernment ; Thy father made our yoke grieuous ; For ought I see the suggestion was not more spightfull than vniust : where was the weight of this yoke , the toyle of these seruices ? Here were none of the turmoyles of warre ; no traynings , marchings , encampings , entrenching , watchings , minings , sieges , fortifications ; none of that tedious world of worke that attends hostility ; Salomon had not his name for nought ; All was calme during that long reigne : And if they had paid deare for their peace , they had no cause to complaine of an hard match ; The warlike times of Saul and Dauid had exhausted their bloud , together with their substance ; what ingratitude was this to cry out of ease ? Yea but that peace brought forth costly and laborious buildings : Gods house , and the Kings , the walls of Ierusalem , Hazor , Megiddo , and Gezer , the cities of store , the cities of defence , could not rise without many a shoulder : True , but not of any Israelites ; The remainders of Amorites , Hittites , Perizzites , Hiuites , and Iebusites , were put to all the drudgery of these great workes ; the taskes of Israel were easie , and ingenuous ; free from seruility , free from painfulnesse . But the charge was theirs , whose-soeuer was the labour : The diet of so endlesse a retinue , the attendance of his Seraglio , the purueyance for his forty thousand stables , the cost of his sacrifices , must needs weigh heauy ; Certainly , if it had layne on none but his owne ; But wherefore went Salomons Nauy euery three yeeres to Ophir ? to what vse serued the six hundred threescore and six Talents of Gold , that came in one yeare to his Exchequer ? wherefore serued the large tributes of forraine nations ? How did hee make siluer to be in Ierusalem as stones , if the exactions were so pressiue ? The multitude is euer prone to picke quarrells with their Gouernours ; and whom they feared aliue , to censure dead ; The benefits of so quiet and happy a reigne are past ouer in silence ; the grieuances are recounted with clamour ; Who can hope that merit or greatnesse can shield him from obloquie , when Salomon is traduced to his owne loynes ?

The proposition of Israel puts Rehoboam to a deliberation ; Depart yee for three daies , then come againe to me : I heare no other word of his that argued wisdome ; Not to giue sudden resolutions in cases of importance was a point that might well beseeme the sonne of Salomon ; I wonder that hee who had so much wit as to call for leisure in his answer , should shew so little wit in the improuing of that leisure , in the returne of that answer ; Who cannot but hope well to see the grey heads of Salomons secret Counsell called to Rehoboams Cabinet ? As Counsellors , as ancient , as Salomons , they cannot choose but see the best , the safest course for their new Soueraigne : They had learned of their old master , that a soft answer appeaseth wrath ; wisely therefore doe they aduise him , If thou wilt be a seruant to this people this day , and speake good words to them , they will be thy seruants for euer ; It was an easie condition ; with one mouthfull of breath to purchase an euerlasting homage : with one gentle motion of his tongue , to binde all his peoples hearts to his allegeance for euer . Yet ( as if the motion had beene vnfit ) a new Counsell Table is called : well might this people say ; What will not Rehoboam grudge vs , if he thinke much to giue good words for a Kingdome . There is not more wisdome in taking variety of aduice , where the matter is doubtfull , than folly , when it is plaine : The young heads are consulted ; This very change argues weakenes ; Some reason might bee pleaded for passing from the younger Counsell to the aged ; none , for the contrary ; Age brings experience ; and , it is a shame , if with the ancient be not wisdome ; Youth is commonly rash , heady , insolent , vngouerned , wedded to will , led by humour , a rebell to reason , a subiect to passion , fitter to execute than to aduise : Greene wood is euer shrinking and warping , whereas the well-seasoned holds a constant firmenesse : Many a life , many a soule , many a flourishing state hath beene ruined by vndisciplined Monitors : Such were these of Rehoboam ; whose great stomach tells them that this conditionating of subiects , was no other than an affront to their new master , and suggests to them , how vnfit it is for Maiesty to brooke so saucie a treaty ; how requisite and Princely , to crush this presumption in the egge ; As scorning therefore to be braued by the base Vulgar , they put words of greatnesse , and terror into their new Prince , My little finger shall be thicker than my fathers loynes ; My father made your yoake heauy , I will adde to your yoake ; My father hath chastised you with whips , I will chastise you with Scorpions . The very words haue stings ; Now must Israel needs thinke ; How cruell will this mans hands be , when he thus drawes bloud with his tongue ? Men are not wont to speake out their worst ; who can endure the hopes of him that promiseth tyranny ? There can bee no good vse of an indefinite profession of rigor and seuerity ; Feare is an vnsafe guardian of any state , much lesse of an vnsetled . Which was yet worse , not the sinnes of Israel were threatned , nor their purses , but their persons ; neither had they desired a remission of iustice , but of exactions ; and now , they heare of nothing but burdens , and scourges , and Scorpions .

Here was a Prince and people well met ; I doe not finde them sensible of ought , saue their owne profit ; They doe not say ; Religion was corrupted in the shutting vp of thy fathers daies ; Idolatry found the free fauour of Priests , and Temples , and Sacrifices ; Begin thy reigne with God ; purge the Church , demolish those piles of abomination ; abandon those Idol-mongers , restore deuotion to her purity ; They are all for their peny , for their ease ; Hee on the other side , is all for his will , for an imperious Soueraignty ; without any regard either of their reformation or satisfaction ; They were worthy of load that cared for nothing but their backs ; and hee worthy of such subiects , who professed to affect their misery and torment .

Who would not but haue looked any whither for the cause of this euill , rather than to heauen ? yet , the holy God challenges it to himselfe ; The cause was from the Lord , that he might performe his saying by Abijah the Shilonite to Ieroboam ; As sin is a punishment of sin , it is a part of Iustice ; The holy one of Israel doth not abhorre to vse euen the grossest sins to his owne iust purposes ; whiles our wills are free to our owne choice , his decrees are as necessary , as iust ; Israel had forsaken the Lord , and worshipped Ashtaroth , the goddesse of the Zidonians , and Chemosh , and Milchom : God owes them , and Salomon a whipping ; The frowardnesse of Rehoboam shall pay it them ; I see Ieroboams plot , the peoples insolence , the young mens mis-aduice , the Princes vnseasonable austeritie , meeting together ( through the wise prouidence of the Almighty ) vnwittingly to accomplish his most iust decree ; All these might haue done otherwise for any force that was offered to their will ; all would no more doe otherwise , than if there had beene no predetermination in heauen ; that God may bee magnified in his wisdome , and iustice , whiles man wittingly perisheth in his folly .

That three daies expectation had warmed these smoking Israelites , and made them ready for a combustion ; vpon so peremptory a resolution of rigor , the flame bursts out , which all the waters of the well of Bethlehem could neuer quench ; The furious multitude flies out into a desperate reuolt ; What portion haue we in Dauid , neither haue we inheritance in the sonne of Iesse ; To your Tents ô Israel ; now , see to thine owne house Dauid .

How durst these seditious mouthes mention Dauid in defiance ? One would haue thought that very name had beene able to haue tempered their fury , and to haue contained them within the limits of obedience ; It was the father of Rehoboam , and the sonne of Dauid that had led Israel into Idolatry ; Salomon hath drawne contempt vpon his father , and vpon his sonne : If Israel haue cast off their God , is it maruell that they shake off his anointed ? Irreligion is the way to disobedience ; There can be no true subiection but out of conscience ; They cannot make conscience of ciuill duties , who make none of diuine .

In vaine shall Rehoboam hope to preuaile by his Officer , when himselfe is reiected : The persons of Princes carry in them characters of Maiesty ; when their presence workes not , how should their message ? If Adoram solicit the people too late with good words , they answer him with stones . Nothing is more vntractable and violent , than an enraged multitude ; It was time for Rehoboam to betake himselfe to his charet ; he saw those stones were throwne at him , in his Adoram : As the messenger suffers for his master ; so the master suffers in his messenger ; Had Rehoboam beene in Adorams clothes , this death had beene his : Only flight can deliuer him from those that might haue beene subiects : Ierusalem must be his refuge against the conspiracy of Shechem .

Blessed be God for lawfull gouernment ; Euen a mutinous body cannot want an head : If the rebellious Israelites haue cast off their true Soueraigne , they must choose a false ; Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat must be the man ; He had need be skilfull , and sit sure , that shall backe the horse which hath cast his rider ; Israel could not haue any where met with more craft , and courage , than they found in this leader .

Rehoboam returnes to Ierusalem lighter by a crowne than he went forth ; Iudah and Benjamin stick still fast to their loyalty : the example of a generall rebellion cannot make them vnfaithfull to the house of Dauid ; God will euer reserue a remnant free from the common contagion ; Those tribes , to approue their valour , no lesse than their fidelity , will fight against their brethren , for their Prince ; and will hazard their liues to reduce the crowne to the sonne of Salomon ; An hundred and fourescore thousand of them are vp in armes , ready to force Israel to their denied subiection : No noyse sounded on both parts but military ; no man thought of any thing but bloud ; when suddenly God sends his Prophet to forbid the battle ; Shemaiah comes with a message of cessation ; Yee shall not goe vp , nor fight against your brethren , the children of Israel , returne euery man to his house , for this thing is from mee , saith the Lord ; The word of one silly Prophet dismisses these mighty armies ; He that would not lay downe the threats of his rigor , vpon the aduice of all his ancient Counsellers , will lay downe his sword , vpon the word of a Seer ; Shall we enuy , or shame to see how much the Prophets of the old Testament could doe ; how little those of the new ? If our commission be no lesse from the same God , the difference of successe cannot goe away vnreuenged .

There was yet some grace in Rehoboam , that hee would not spurne against that , which God challenged as his owne worke : Some godlesse ruffian would haue said ; whosoeuer is the Author , I will be reuenged on the instruments ; Rehoboam hath learned this lesson of his Grandfather ; I held my peace because thou Lord hast done it ; If he might striue with the multitude , he knew it was no striuing with his Maker ; quietly therefore doth hee lay downe his armes , not daring after that prohibition to seeke the recouery of his kingdome by bloud .

Where Gods purposes are hid from vs , wee must take the fairest waies of all lawfull remedies ; but where God hath reuealed his determinations , we must sit downe in an humble submission ; our strugling may aggrauate , cannot redresse our miseries .

Jeroboam .

AS there was no publique and vniuersall conflict betwixt the Ten Tribes , and the two , so no peace ; Either King found reason to fortifie the borders of his owne territories ; Shechem was worthy to bee deare to Ieroboam ; a citie as of old seasoned with many treasons , so now auspicious to his new vsurpation . The ciuill defection was soone followed by the spirituall ; As there are neare respects betwixt God , and his anointed , so there is great affinity betwixt treason and Idolatry : there is a connexion betwixt , Feare God , and Honour the King ; and no lesse betwixt the neglects of both : In vaine shall a man looke for faith in a mis-religious heart .

Next to Achitophel , I doe not finde that Israel yeelded a craftier head than Ieroboams ; so hath he plotted this conspiracy , that ( what euer fall ) there is no place for a challenge ; not his owne intrusion , but Israels Election hath raised him to their throne ; neither is his cunning lesse in holding a stolne scepter ; Thus he thinkes in himselfe ; If Israel haue made me their king , it is but in a pang of discontentment ; these violent thoughts will not last alwaies : Sudden fits haue commonly sudden recoueries ; their returne to their loyalty shall forfeit my head together with my Crowne ; They cannot returne to God , and hold off from their lawfull Soueraigne ; They cannot returne to Ierusalem , and keepe off from God ; from their loyalty ; Thrice a yeere will their deuotion call them vp thither ; besides the exigence of their frequent vowes ; How can they be mine , whiles that glorious Temple is in their eye ; whiles the magnificence of the royall Palace of Dauid and Salomon , shall admonish them of their natiue allegeance ; whiles ( besides the solicitation of their brethren ) the Priests and Leuites shall preach to them the necessity of their due obedience , and the abomination of their sacrifices in their wilfull disobedience ; whiles they shall ( by their presence ) put themselues vpon the mercy , or iustice of their lawfull , and forsaken Prince ; Either therefore I must diuert them from Ierusalem , or else I cannot liue and reigne . It is no diuerting them by a direct restraint ; such prohibition would both endanger their vtter distaste , and whet their desire to more eagernesse : I may change religion , I may not inhibit it ; so the people haue a God , it sufficeth them ; they shall haue so much formality as may content them ; their zeale is not so sharpe , but they can be well pleased with ease ; I will proffer them both a more compendious , and more plausible worship ; Ierusalem shall be supplied within mine owne borders ; naturally men loue to see the obiects of their deuotion ; I will therefore feed their eies with two golden representations of their God , nearer home ; and what can bee more proper than those , which Aaron deuised of old to humor Israel ?

Vpon this pestilent ground , Ieroboam sets vp two calues in Dan , and Bethel , and perswades the people ; It is too much for you to goe vp to Ierusalem , behold thy Gods ô Israel , which brought thee out of the land of Egypt . Oh the mischiefe that comes of wicked infidelity ; It was Gods Prophet that had rent Ieroboams garment into twelue peeces , and had giuen ten of them to him ; in token of his sharing the ten Tribes ; who with the same breath also told him that the cause of this distraction was their Idolatry , Yet now will hee institute an Idolatrous seruice for the holding together of them , whom their Idolatry had rent from their true Soueraigne to him : He saies not ; God hath promised me this Kingdome , God hath conferd it ; God shall finde meanes to maintaine his owne act ; I will obey him , let him dispose of me ; The God of Israel is wise and powerfull enough , to fetch about his owne designes ; but , ( as if the deuices of men were stronger than Gods prouidence , and ordination ) he will bee working out his owne ends by prophane policies : Ieroboam being borne an Israelite , and bred in the Court of a Salomon , could not but know the expresse charge of God against the making of Images , against the erecting of any riuall altars , to that of Ierusalem , yet now that hee sees both these may auaile much to the aduancing of his ambitious proiects , he sets vp those Images , those Altars ; Wicked men care not to make bold with God in cases of their owne commodity ; If the lawes of their Maker lie in the way of their profit , or promotion , they either spurne them out , or tread vpon them at pleasure : Aspiring mindes will know no God but honour . Israel soiourned in Egypt & brought home a golden calfe ; Ieroboam soiournes there , and brought home two ; It is hard to dwell in Egypt vntainted ; not to sauor of the sins of the place we liue in , is no lesse strange , than for wholesome liquor tund vp in a musty vessell , not to smell of the caske ; The best body may be infected in a contagious aire ; Let him beware of Egypt that would bee free from Idolatry .

No sooner are Ieroboams calues vp , than Israel is downe on their knees : their worship followes immediatly vpon the erection ; How easily is the vnstable vulgar carried into whateuer religion of authority ? The weather-cock will looke which way soeuer the wind blowes ; It is no maruell if his subiects be brutish , who hath made a calfe his God .

Euery accessary to sinne is filthy , but the first authors of sinne are abominable ; How is Ieroboam branded in euery of these sacred leaues ? how doe all ages ring of his fact , with the accent of dishonour , and indignation ; Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat , that made Israel to sinne ? It was a shame for Israel that it could be made to sinne by a Ieroboam ; but , ô cursed name of Ieroboam that would draw Israel to sin ; The followers and abettors of euill are worthy of torment , but no hell is too deepe for the leaders of publique wickednesse .

Religion is clothed with many requisite circumstances ; As a new King would haue a new God ; so that new God must haue new Temples , Altars , Seruices , Priests , Solemnities ; All these hath Ieroboam instituted ; all these hath he cast in the same mould with his golden calues : False deuotion doth not more crosse , than imitate the true : Satan is no lesse a counterfeit than an enemy of God ; Hee knowes it more easie to adulterate religion , than to abolish it .

That which God ordained for the auoydance of Idolatry , is made the occasion of it ; a limitation of his holy seruices to Ierusalem ; How mischieuously doe wicked men peruert the wholesome institutions of God to their sinne , to their bane ?

Ieroboam could not be ignorant how fearefully this very act was reuenged vpon Israel , in the wildernesse ; yet hee dares renew it in Dan and Bethel : No example of iudgement can affright wilfull offenders .

It is not the mettall that makes his Gods , but the worship ; the sacrifices : What sacrifice could there bee without Priests ? No religion could euer want sacred masters of Diuine Ceremonies ; Gods Clergy was select , and honourable ; branches of the holy stemme of Aaron ; Ieroboam rakes vp his Priests out of the channell of the multitude ; all Tribes , all persons were good enough for his spurious deuotion ; Leaden Priests are well fitted to golden Deities . Religion receiues either much honour , or blemish , by the quality of those that serue at her Altars ; We are not worthy to professe our selues seruants of the true God , if we doe not hold his seruice worthy of the best .

Ieroboams Calues must haue sacrifices , must haue solemne festiuities ; though in a day , and moneth of his owne deuising : In vaine shall wee pretend to worship a God , if wee grudge him the iust daies , and rites of his worship .

It is strange that hee who thought the dregs of the vulgar good enough for that Priesthood , would grace those Gods , by acting their Priest himselfe ; and yet behold where the new King of Israel stands before his new Altar , with a Scepter in one hand , and a Censer in the other , ready to sacrifice to his new Gods ; when the man of God comes from Iuda , with a message of iudgement ; Oh desperate condition of Israel , that was so far gone with impiety , that it yeelded not one faithfull monitor to Ieroboam ; The time was , that the erecting of but a new altar ( for memory , for monument ) on the other side Iordan , bred a challenge to the Tribes of Reuben , Gad , and Manasses ; and had cost much Israelitish bloud , if the quarrelled Tribes had not giuen a seasonable and pious satisfaction ; and now , loe how the stronger stomach of degenerated Israel can digest new Altars , new Temples , new Gods ; What a difference there is betwixt a Church and Kingdome newly breathing from affliction , and setled vpon the lees of a mis-used peace ?

But oh the patience , and mercy of our Long-suffering God ; that will not strike a very Ieroboam vnwarned : Iudgement houers ouer the heads of sinners , ere it light ; If Israel afford not a bold reprouer of Ieroboam , Iuda shall ; When the king of Israel is in all the height both of his State , and superstition , honouring his solemne day with his richest deuotion , steps forth a Prophet of God , and interrupts that glorious seruice , with a loud inclamation of iudgement . Doubtlesse the man wanted not wit to know what displeasure , what danger must needs follow so vnwelcome a message : yet dares he ( vpon the commission of God ) doe this affront to an Idolatrous King , in the midst of all his awefull magnificence . The Prophets of God goe vpon many a thankelesse errand ; He is no messenger for God that either knowes , or feares the faces of men .

It was the Altar , not the person of Ieroboam , which the Prophet thus threatens ; Yet not the stones are stricken , but the founder ; in both their apprehensions : So deare are the deuices of our owne braine to vs , as if they were incorporated into our selues ; There is no opposition whereof we are so sensible , as that of religion .

That the royall Altar should be thus polluted by dead mens bones , and the bloud of the Priests , was not more vnpleasing , than that all this should bee done by a childe of the house of Dauid ; for Ieroboam well saw that the throne and the altar must stand , or fall together ; that a sonne of Dauid could not haue such power ouer the Altar , without an vtter subuersion of the gouernment , of the succession ; therefore is he thus galled with this comminatory prediction ; The rebellious people who had said , What portion haue we in Dauid , heare now , that Dauid will perforce haue a portion in them : and might well see , what beasts they had made themselues , in worshipping the image of a beast ; and sacrificing to such a God , as could not preserue his owne Altar from violation , and ruine .

All this while I doe not see this zealous Prophet laying his hand to the demolition of this Idolatrous Altar ; or threatning a knife to the Author of this deprauation of religion ; Only his tongue smites both ; not with foule , but sharpe words ; of menace , not of reproach ; It was for Iosias a King , to shed the bloud of those sacrificers , to deface those Altars : Prophets are for the tongue , Princes for the hand ; Prophets must onely denounce iudgement ; Princes execute .

Future things are present to the Eternall ; It was some two hundred and sixty yeares , ere this prophecy should bee fulfilled ; yet the man of God speakes of it as now in acting ; What are some Centuries of yeares to the Ancient of daies ? How slow , and yet how sure is the pace of Gods reuenge ? It is not in the power of time to frustrate Gods determinations ; There is no lesse iustice , nor seuerity in a delaied punishment .

What a perfect Record there is of all names in the roll of Heauen ; before they be , after they are past ? what euer seeming contingency there is in their imposition , yet they fall vnder the certainty of a decree ; and are better knowne in heauen , ere they be , than on earth whiles they are . He that knows what names we shall haue , before we or the world haue a being , doth not oft reueale this peece of his knowledge to his creature ; here he doth ; naming the man that should bee two hundred yeeres after ; for more assurance of the euent ; that Israel may say , this man speakes from a God who knowes what shall be : There cannot bee a more sure euidence of a true Godhead , than the foreknowledge of those things , whose causes haue yet no hope of being ; But because the proofe of this prediction was not more certaine , than remote ; a present demonstration shall conuince the future ; The altar shall rend in peeces , the ashes shall be scattered ; How amazedly must the seduced Israelites needs looke vpon this miracle ; and why doe they not thinke with themselues ; whiles these stones rend , why are our hearts whole ? Of what an ouer-ruling power is the God whom we haue forsaken , that can thus teare the Altars of his corriualls ? How shall we stand before his vengeance , when the very stones breake at the word of his Prophet ? Perhaps , some beholders were thus affected ; but Ieroboam , whom it most concerned , in stead of bowing his knees for humiliation , stretcheth forth his hand for reuenge , and cries , Lay hold on him : Resolute wickednesse is impatient of a reproofe , and in stead of yeelding to the voice of God , rebelleth : Iust and discreet reprehension doth not more reforme some sinners than exasperare others .

How easie is it for God to coole the courage of proud Ieroboam ? the hand which his rage stretches out , dries vp , and cannot be pulled backe againe : and now stands the King of Israel like some anticke statue , in a posture of impotent indeuour ; so disabled to the hurt of the Prophet , that hee cannot command that peece of himselfe ; What are the great Potentates of the world , in the powerfull hand of the Almighty ? Tyrans cannot bee so harmefull as they are malicious .

The strongest heart may bee brought downe with affliction ; Now the stout stomach of Ieroboam is fallen to an humble deprecation ; Intreat now the face of the Lord thy God , and pray for me , that my hand may be restored me againe . It must needs be a great streight that could driue a proud heart to beg mercy , where he bent his persecution ; so doth Ieroboam ; holding it no scorne to be beholden to an enemy ; In extremities , the worst men can be content to sue for fauour , where they haue spent their malice .

It well becomes the Prophets of God to bee mercifull ; I doe not see this Seer to stand vpon termes of exprobration , and ouerlie contestations with Ieroboam , to say , Thine intentions to mee were cruell ; Had thine hand preuailed , I should haue sued to thee in vaine ; Continue euer a spectacle of the fearefull iustice of thy Maker , whom thou hast prouoked by thine Idolatry , whom thou wouldst haue smitten in my persecution ; but hee meekely sues for Ieroboams release ; and ( that God might abundantly magnifie both his power and mercy ) is heard and answered with successe : Wee doe no whit sauour of heauen , if we haue not learned to doe good for euill .

When both winde and Sunne , the blasts of iudgement , and the beames of fauour met together to worke vpon Ieroboam , who would not looke that hee should haue cast off this cumbrous , and mis-beseeming cloke of his Idolatry ; and haue said , Lord thou hast striken mee in iustice , thou hast healed mee in mercy ; I will prouoke thee no more ; This hand which thou hast restored shall bee consecrated to thee in pulling downe these bold abominations ; Yet now , behold hee goes on in his old courses , and , as if God had neither done him good nor euill , liues , and dies idolatrous ; No stone is more hard or insensate than a sinfull heart ; The changes of Iudgement and mercy doe but obdure it , in stead of melting .

The Seduced Prophet .

IEroboams hand is amended , his soule is not ; that continues still drie , & inflexible ; Yet whiles hee is vnthankfull to the Author of his recouery , he is thankfull to the instrument ; he kindly inuites the Prophet , whom he had threatned , and will remunerate him whom he endeuoured to punish : The worst men may be sensible of bodily fauours ; Ciuill respects may well stand with gracelessenesse : Many a one would be liberall of their purses , if they might bee allowed to bee niggardly of their obedience .

As God , so his Prophet cares not for these waste curtesies , where he sees maine duties neglected ; More pietie would haue done well , with lesse complement ; The man of God returnes a blunt and peremptory deniall to so bounteous an offer ; If thou wilt giue me halfe thine house , I will not goe in with thee , neither will I eat bread or drinke water in this place . Kindnesse is more safely done to an Idolater , than taken from him ; that which is done to him obligeth him , that which is taken from him obligeth vs ; his obligation to vs may be an occasion of his good , our obligation to him may occasion our hurt ; the surest way is to keepe aloofe from the infectiously wicked .

The Prophet is not vnciuil , to reiect the fauor of a Prince without some reason ; He yeelds no reason of his refusall but the command of his God ; God hath charged him , Eat no bread , nor drinke no water , nor turne againe by the same way that thou camest ; It is not for a Prophet to plead humane , or carnall grounds for the actions of his function : Hee may not moue but vpon a diuine warrant ; would this Scer haue look't with the eyes of flesh and blood , he might haue found many arguments of his yeeldance . He is a King that inuites me ; his reward , by enriching me , may benefit many ; and who knowes how much my further conuersation may preuaile to reforme him ? how can he be but well prepared for good counsell by my miraculous cure ? how gainfully should my receit of a temporall courtesie be exchanged with a spirituall to him ? All Israel will follow him either into Idolatry , or reformation ; which way can be deuised of doing so great seruice to God and the Church , as by reclaiming him ; what can yeeld so great likelihood of his reclamation , as the opportunitie of my further entirenesse with him ? But the Prophet dares not argue cases , where hee had a command ; what euer become of Ieroboam , and Israel , God must be obeyed ; Neither profit , nor hopes may carrie vs crosse to the word of our Maker . How safe had this Seer beene , if he had kept him euer vpon this sure ward ; which he no sooner leaues , than he miscarries .

So deeply doth God detest Idolatry , that he forbids his Prophet to eat the bread , to drinke the water of a people infected with this sinne ; yea to tread in those very steps which their feet haue touched . If this inhibition were personall , yet the grounds of it are common . No pestilence should be more shunned than the conuersation of the mis-religious , or openly scandalous ; It is no thank to vs if their familiaritie doe not enfeoffe vs of their wickednesse .

I know not what to thinke of an old Prophet that dwels in Bethel , within the ayre of Ieroboams Idoll , within the noyse of his sacrifices ; that liues where the man of God dares not eat ; that permitted his sonnes to bee present at that Idolatrous seruice ; If hee were a Prophet of God , what did he now in Bethel ? why did hee winke at the sinne of Ieroboam ? what needed a Seer to come out of Iuda , for the reproofe of that sinne , which was acted vnder his nose ? why did he lye ? why did his family partake with Idolaters ? If he were not a Prophet of God ; how had he true visions , how had he true messages from God ; why did he second the menacing word of that Prophet , whom he seduced ? why did he desire that his owne bones might be honoured with his Sepulcher ? Doubtlesse he was a Prophet of God , but corrupt , restie , vicious ; Prophecy doth not alwaies presuppose sanctification ; many a one hath had visions from God , who shall neuer inioy the vision of God . A very Balaam in his extasies , hath so cleere a reuelation of the Messiah to come , as scarce euer any of the holiest Prophets ; yea , his very Asse hath both her mouth miraculously opened , and her eies ; to see and notifie that Angel , which was hid from her Master ; Yea , Satan himselfe sometimes receiues notice from God of his future actions ; which else that euill Spirit could neither foretell , nor foresee . These kinds of graces are both rare , and common ; rare , in that they are seldome giuen to any ; common , in that they are indifferently giuen to the euill , and to the good ; A little holinesse is worth much illumination .

Whether out of enuy , to heare that said by the Seer of Iuda , which he either knew not or smothered ; to heare that done by another , which he could not haue effected , and could not choose but admire ; or whether out of desire to make triall of the fidelitie of so powerfull a Messenger , the old Prophet hastens to ouertake , to recall that man of God . who had so defied his Bethel ; whom he findes sitting faint and weary vnder an Oake , in the way ; taking the benefit of that shade which he hated to receiue from those contagious groues that hee had left behind him ; His habit easily bewrayed him , to a man of his owne trade : neither doth his tongue spare to professe himselfe . The old Prophet of Bethel inuites him to a returne , to a repast : and is answered with the same words , wherewith Ieroboams offer was repelled ; The man of God varies not a syllable from his message : It concernes vs to take good heed of our charge , when we goe on Gods errand . A deniall doth but inuite the importunate ; what hee cannot doe by intreatie , the old man tries to doe by perswasion ; I am a Prophet also as thou art , and an Angell spake to me , by the word of the Lord , saying ; Bring him backe with thee into thine house , that he may eat bread , and drinke water ; There is no Tentation so dangerous , as that which comes shrouded vnder a vaile of holinesse , and pretends authoritie from God himselfe ; Ieroboam threatens , the Prophet stands vndaunted ; Ieroboam fawnes , and promises ; the Prophet holds constant ; now comes a gray-headed Seer , and pleads a counter-message from God , the Prophet yeelds , and transgresses . Satan may affright vs as a fiend , but he seduces vs as an Angell of light .

Who would haue look't for a Lier vnder hoarie haires , and an holy mantle ? who would not haue trusted that grauity , when there was no colour of any gaine in the vntruth ? Nothing is so apt to deceiue as the fairest semblances , as the sweetest words . We cannot erre if wee beleeue not the speech for the person , but the person for the speech ; Well might this man of God thinke , An aged man , a Prophet , an old Prophet , will not ( sure ) bely God vnto a Prophet ; No man will forge a lie , but for an aduantage ; What can this man gaine by this match , but the entertainement of an vnprofitable guest ; Perhaps though God would not allow me to feast with Ieroboam , yet , pitying my faintnesse , he may allow me to eat with a Prophet ; Perhaps now that I haue approued my fidelity in refusing the bread of Bethel , God thinkes good to send mee a gratious release of that strict charge ; Why should I thinke that Gods reuelations are not as free to others , as to me ? and if this Prophet haue receiued a countermand from an Angell of God , how shall I not disobey God , if I doe not follow him ?

Vpon this ground hee returnes with his deceitfull host , and when the meat was now in his mouth , receiues the true message of death , from the same lips that brought him the false message of his inuitation ; Thus saith the Lord , for as much as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the Lord , and hast not kept the commandement of the Lord thy God , but camest backe and hast eaten bread , and drunke water in the place forbidden thee , thy carkasse shall not come to the Sepulcher of thy fathers . Oh wofull Prophet , when hee lookes on his host he sees his executioner , whiles he is feeding of his body , hee heares of his carkasse ; at the table , he heares of his denied Sepulcher ; and all this , for eating and drinking where he was forbidden by God , though bidden as from God ; The violation of the least charge of a God is mortall ; No pretences can warrant the transgression of a diuine command : A word from God is pleaded on both sides ; The one was receiued immediatly from God , the other related mediatly by man ; One the Prophet was sure of , the other was questionable ; A sure word of God may not be left for an vncertaine ; An expresse charge of the Almighty admitteth not of any checke : His will is but one , as himselfe is ; and therefore is out of the danger of contradiction .

Me thinks I see the man of God change countenance at this sharp sauce of his pleasing morsels ; his face before hand is died with the palenesse of death ; me thinkes I heare him vrging many vnkinde expostulations with his iniurious host ; who yet dismisses him better prouided for the ease of his iourney , than he found him . Perhaps , this officiousnesse was out of desire to make some amends for his late seducement . It is a poore recompence when he hath betrayed the life , and wronged the soule , to cast some curtesies vpon the body .

This old Bethelite that had taken paines to come and fetch the man of God into sinne , will not now goe backe with him to accompany his departure ; Doubtlesse hee was afraid to bee inwrapped in the iudgement , which hee saw hanged ouer that obnoxious head ; Thus the mischieuous guides of wickednes leaue a man , when they haue led him to his bane ; as familiar Deuils forsake their witches , when they haue brought them once into fetters .

The man of God returnes alone , carefull ( no doubt ) and pensiue for his offence , when a lion out of the wood meets him , assaults him , kills him ; Oh the iust and seuere iudgements of the Almighty , who hath brought this fierce beast out of his wild ranges , into the high way , to bee the executioner of his offending seruant : Doubtlesse this Prophet was a man of great holinesse , of singular fidelity , else he durst not haue beene Gods Herald to carry a message of defiance to Ieroboam , King of Israel , in the midst of all his royall magnificence ; yet now , for varying from but a circumstance of Gods command ( though vpon the suggestion of a diuine warrant ) he is giuen for a prey to the Lion : Our interest in God is so far from excusing our sin , that it aggrauates it ; Of all others the sin of a Prophet shall not passe vnreuenged .

The very wild beasts are led by a prouidence ; Their wise and powerfull Creator knows how to serue himselfe of them : The Lions guard one Prophet , kill another , according to the commission receiued from their Maker ; What sinner can hope to escape vnpunished , when euery creature of God is ready to be an auenger of euill ? The beasts of the field were made to serue vs , we to serue our Creator ; When wee forsake our homage to him that made vs , it is no maruell if the beasts forget their duty to vs , and deale with vs not as Masters , but as rebels ; When an holy man buyes so dearely such a sleight frailty , of a credulous mistaking , what shall become of our hainous and presumptuous sinnes ?

I cannot thinke but this Prophet died in the fauour of God , tho by the teeth of the Lion ; His life was forfeited for example , his soule was safe ; Yea his very carkasse was left though torne , yet faire after those deadly graspes ; as if God had said ; I will onely take thy breath from thee , as the penalty of thy disobedience , a Lion shall doe that which an apoplexie , or feuer might doe ; I owe thee no further reuenge than may be satisfied with thy bloud .

Violent euents doe not alwaies argue the anger of God ; Euen death it selfe is , to his seruants , a fatherly castigation .

But oh the vnsearchable waies of the Almighty ! The man of God sinnes , and dies speedily ; the lying Prophet that seduced him suruiues ; Yea wicked Ieroboam enioyes his Idolatry , and treads vpon the graue of his reprouer : There is neither fauour in the delay of stripes , nor displeasure in the haste ; Rather whom God loues , he chastises , as sharply , so speedily ; whiles the rest prosper to condemnation : Euen the rod of a louing father may draw bloud ; How much happier is it for vs that we die now to liue for euer ; than that we liue a while , to die euer ?

Had this Lion set vpon the Prophet for hunger , why did he not deuoure as well as kill him ? Why did hee not rather kill the beast than the man ? since we know the nature of the Lion such , that he is not wont to assaile man , saue in the extreme want of other prey . Certainely the same power that imployed those fangs , restrained them ; that the world might see , it was not appetite that prouoked the beast to this violence , but the ouer-ruling command of God ; Euen so , ô Lord , thy powerful hand is ouer that roaring Lion , that goes about continually , seeking whom he may deuoure : thine hand with-holds him , that though he may shed the blood of thine elect , yet hee cannot hurt their soules ; and whiles he doth those things which thou permittest , and orderest to thy iust ends , yet he cannot doe lesser things , which he desireth , and thou permittest not .

The fierce beast stands by the carkasse , as , to auow his owne act , and to tell who sent him ; so to preserue that body , which he hath slaine ; Oh wonderfull work of God , the Executioner is turn'd Guardian ; and ( as the Officer of the highest ) commands all other creatures to stand aloofe from his charge : and commands the fearefull Asse , that brought this burthen thither , not to stirre thence , but stand ready prest , to recarrie it to the Sepulcher : And now , when he hath sufficiently witnessed to all passengers , that this act was not done vpon his owne hunger , but vpon the quarrell of his Maker , he deliuers vp his charge to that old Prophet ; who was no lesse guiltie of this blood than himselfe .

This old Seducer hath so much Truth , as both to giue a right Commentarie vpon Gods intention , in this act , for the terrour of the disobedient , and to giue his voyce to the certaintie of that future iudgement , which his late guest had threatned to Israel : ( sometimes it pleased the wisedome of God to expresse and iustifie himselfe euen by the tongues of faultie Instruments . ) Withall , he hath so much faith and courage , as to fetch that carkasse from the Lyon ; so much pietie and compassion , as to weepe for the man of God , to interre him in his owne Sepulcher ; so much loue , as to wish himselfe ioyned in death , to that bodie , which he had hastened vnto death ; It is hard to finde a man absolutely wicked ; Some grace will bewray it selfe in the most forsaken breasts .

It is a cruell courtesie to kill a man , and then to help him to his graue ; to betray a man with our breath , and then to bedew him with our teares ; The Prophet had needed no such friend , if hee had not met with such an enemy ; The mercies of the wicked are cruell .