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1. HEar now, O ye children of Israel, what the Lord saith against you, against all the twelve tribes, the whole nation of the Iews, that went as one family into Egypt, but were increased into a mighty people, when he deli∣vered them out of Egypt. To this purpose doth the Lord speak unto you.
2. You onely I made choice of, and selected above all other nations, for a peculiar people, to whom I would commit my sacred Oracles, and upon whom I would freely confer my great∣est
† favours. No nation under heaven had ever such laws (and so conveyed unto them by my self, or by the Ministery of my Angels, or Prophets) or such ample promises, such mira∣cles, and deliveries, and such other motives to good life. Therefore all your unthankfulnesse, and disobedience, and wickednesse will call for a visitation, in a heavier way of punishment. Both because you knew my Will better, and had more means, and obligations for the per∣formance of it: and because you were under a more peculiar way of care, and cognisance, and government under my self.
3. The Prophets (by whom I instructed you, and forewarned you of the plagues that would follow your rebellions, and of the mer∣cies, and favours, that would crown all your good actions) never said any thing to you, but what they received from me. They all agreed in expressing of the same message, as men that walk together in the same way, are agreed toge∣ther. Your walking with me, and conver∣sing in my waies, should have appeared in the like agreement of yours with me, and them. And if your actions had been so consonant to my will, and their admonitions, you had now been in as fair a way to the increase of
your happinesse; as your dissent from me, and them, hath brought you into the high way of ruine and confusion.
4. When my Prophets came to you with threats in their mouths, it was no more then I put into them. If you will call it the roaring of a Lion, it was my voice. And will the Lion roar either in the forrest or in his den, but when the prey is in his view: so near that he may take it, when he will. Even so make you no other account, but that my Justice will fol∣low as sure those Prophetical threats, as the prey follows upon the roaring of the Lion. Therefore make your peace sodainly, unlesse you will expose your selves to a sodain de∣struction.
5. Do birds use to fall into a net, spred upon the ground, and be taken in it, unlesse it be pur∣posely so laid by the Fowler, that it may appre∣hend them. So are your punishments prophe∣tically foretold, like snares that are laid for you in my Justice, and by my direction. When the Prophets have forewarned you, if you will not take heed, but by your own supine carelesse∣nesse fall into the net: you may thank your selves. [praemoniti praemuniti, if it be as it should be] And your timely repentance, and
amendment of life, would be a likely means for the removal of the snare, in which the Assyrians and Chaldaeans are thinking to catch you, and hold you fast. But if they once come near, as the Fowler will not remove the snare, till the birds be caught: so neither will God recal his sentence against you, nor they re∣move their armies, till it be too late for you to escape.
6. When by the sound of a trumpet, in time of war there is notice given to a City of the forces of the enemie approaching toward them, shall not that City be afraid, and prepare for the best way of prevention, or resistance? Why then do not your fears produce the like care, when your Prophets, that are your Watch∣men, (l) make their voices like a trumpet, to rouse you up, and acquaint you with the dan∣ger at hand? For is there any such evil of pu∣nishment denounced, or brought upon a City, of which God himself is not the Authour? Who therefore doth it, that you may either timely repent, or justly suffer.
7. And he keeping it not so secret, but that, by his Prophets, you are made privie to his full intention, and they unanimously agreeing in the message, you cannot but confesse, that
you are fairly and sufficiently forewarned, and consequently, if you use not the right means of prevention, that the true cause of all your suffering must be indeed from your selves onely, and your own impenitence.
8. Which of you now will not be afraid at the roaring of this Lion? And which of us that are Prophets, dare refuse to prophesie, and give you notice of that, which God himself (in such a fearful manner) injoynes us to speak, and we cannot but at our own peril, as well as yours, conceal from you?
9. And that it may appear, how justly that may fall upon Israel, which our Prophesies have foretold, let the very Heathen be called together, and made acquainted with their acti∣ons, and, out of them, speak truely what they think of the justice ever used in pronouncing, or asflicting their punishment upon them. Let it be divulged in the most publick places, in the Palaces of Ashdod (in Palestine) and in all the Palaces of Egypt, that they are invited, freely to meet together upon the mountains of Samaria, and there (though, being Idolaters themselves, they may say little to their idola∣trie, yet) at least, let them take notice of the strange cruelty of the Israelite, which may be evidenced by the fearful (m) outcries, and lamen∣table
noise, and exclamations, extorted by the many oppressions, and injuries of the insolent Governors, that ruled, or rather domineered (n) within the City Samaria.
18. Nay, what speak I of the cruelty of their Governors? Take them in a more gene∣ral view, and few or none of them did ever (o) regard, or think of doing any thing that was right, and equal, saith the Lord himself of them. All their care was, by hook, or by crook: by any false, and unjust waies whatsoever: to hoord up more and more wealth: and furnish their own stately house by cheating, and impove∣rishing of other men.
11. Therefore thus saith the Lord God to the children of Israel. An enemie (the Assyrian in the ten tribes, and the Chaldaean in the other two, shall besiege, and distresse the Land, round about. He shall tame thee, and bring down thy strength, and empty thy rich, and stately houses, which thou hadst so filled, and stuffed, with unlawful gain.
12. If any of you escape the fury of that enemy, it will prove as hard, and as strange a deliverance, as if a shepherd should venture to snatch a leg, or two, or a little piece of the ear of a sheep out of the mouth of a hungry Lion.
Thus saith the Lord of the difficultie, and pau∣citie of the delivered. Such and so rare will be the reliques of those poor Israelites, that with much hazard will be rescued out of the verie jaws of the enemie. They will be sensi∣ble of this danger, that will lie in Damascus (their confederate Cities) as in a bed; and in Samaria (their own nests) as in the corner of a bed, thinking to nuzzle themselves there, as in a bed of ease, and security: or a fit place for the exercise of their spiritual whoredom. This enemy will rouse them all.
13. Hear this (you specially, that are most concerned in the care, and oversight of the Nation) and make protestation of it in the house of Iacob (that you may move them to repentance) saith the Lord God, the Lord of Hosts, (who onely can refrain the violence of the hostile Armies, that come against you.)
14. For (unlesse you prevent it by repen∣tance) when I begin to punish those of Israel, for the foul sins, which they have committed, I will not then spare the chiefest places. Down will go the Altars at Bethel: and the Hornes (the supposed holier part) of the chief Altar will be broken in pieces, and the Altar ruined, and, by that, the idolatry of that place utterly abolished.
15. And the Court shall not stand firm, where the Temple is ruined. Their stately Pa∣laces shall all be laid wast. The winter-house, and the summer-house shall feel the same blow. The Kings Ivory-house shall have the same fate with many other houses, that shall be levelled with the ground. For the Lord of Hostes hath spoken it: and his sentence cannot be reversed by any other.
Psal. 147. ult; Deut, 4. 33.
Gen. 5. 22. Exod. 16. 5.
Chap. 1. 2.
Isa; 58. 1.
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