The Kings chronicle in two sections wherein we have the acts of the wicked and good kings of Iudah fully declared, with the ordering of their militia and grave observations thereupon : this section containes the wayes and works of the bad kings, with marks the Holy Ghost hath set upon them, for the terrour of all those who walke in the wayes of Israel, and after the counsels of the house of Ahab which was to the destruction of Iudah / published by Hezekiah Woodvvard.

THE ACTS OF AMAZIAH. CHAP. VI.

Amaziah begins well, does that which is good, but not with a good heart; He executes Judgement and Justice; He expects strength by those, from whom the GOD of Power is departed; and helpe from helplesse things; So hee pro∣vokes GOD; invites and hastens his owne destructi∣on.

AMAZIAH begins well, for he did that which * 1.1 was right in the sight of the LORD. But there was one grace wanting, the chief grace * 1.2 of a Christian, that was SINCERITY or truth of heart, which we may call a Christians perfection in this life; his Perfection is a stri∣ving after perfection, in sincerity, and with an upright heart; This Sincerity the King wanted, and that is all, which GOD accounts of; He did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD; no fault for the matter and substance of his work. Where was the fault then? In the manner of performance, and that is all in all with the LORD; He did right, but not with a perfect heart. This requires our marke; Actions may be very faire, and the heart may be foule: Actions may be strait and right, when the heart stands crooked and perverse: Looke we to our hearts, what sincerity and truth is there: for that is greatly to be regarded; not what I doe, but with what heart I doe it. What say we then to those men, who regard

neither the matter, nor manner of their worke, neither what they doe, nor how they doe it: Mighty Hunters before the LORD, who shed blood to their power, and with a rage that reacheth up unto Heaven: What say we to such bloody men? Not a word; The LORD will speake unto them in His wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure: He will require of them, what they have done, and how they have done it. We reade on.

So soon as Amaziah felt himself strong, and his Kingdom established, He slew those servants, that had killed the King his Father. A good beginning, in the execution of judgement, and justice upon such murtherers, that had killed the LORDS annoynted, and their Master. I may aske here, as the LORD doth in another place, Did not the Sonne doe judgement and justice d 1.3? We must needs answer, he did so; he slew his ser∣vants that killed the King his Father. It followes, Then it was well with him d 1.4. The note is,

The ready way a King can take, to establish himselfe and his Kingdome, is to seat∣ter the wicked from his Throne, and to bring the wheele o∣ver them: Then by the rule of contraries, To take the wic∣ked * 1.5 by the hand; to countenance them;

To delight in them, is the most compendious way to destroy the Throne, to spread * 1.6 confusion over it.

Amaziah do's otherwise, cleares his way to his Throne, not only in point of justice, but of wisdome and found discretion; and that must be noted; The people might have some jealou∣sies touching the old Kings death; he was a diseased man, a very burden to himselfe: he lay languishing, his bones full of the sinnes of his youth: might not the servants know their young Masters mind, who was ready for the Crowne, and they looked now upon the Sun-rising, for it was night with the Father? Amaziah now, according to the counsell of the Heathen (but it is good counsell) will quit himselfe from the suspition of wickednesse; all Israel should know, That, what ever Joash the King was, yet he was his Father; and he honou∣red him as a Father. All Israel should see how his heart rose up against those bloudy villains, that slew his Father, by see∣ing him lift up his hand against them to cut them off from the

Earth. He was now stepping to his Throne, and sitting down there: He had had an uneasie seat of it, had any drop of his Fathers blood bin there for his Cushion: And there doubtles it had bin, even the blood of his Father, if he had not washed it clean out, by cutting off such notable murtherers: and so he cleared his owne Innocency, his discretion, and his Throne altogether.

And now this is not inconsiderable which follows; he waited for a Crown twenty five years; and in all that time it appears not, That he was sick of the Father; And he wore his Crown four years longer then he waited for it. It is true, The beauty of his Crown withered 15. years before he died, as we shall reade anon, he might thanke himself for that.

But this is it, which I would put to the consideration of a∣ny man, whether he has not observed some remarkable bles∣sing accompanying an obedient child, that had this good in him, if no more, he did honour his Parents. Certainly the experience of all ages will evidence this truth,

That a duti∣full child never went away without a Blessing, nor a child stubborn, and undutifull without a Curse.

Amaziah has cleared his Innocency and his honour at this point, and how much he honoured his Father. Nor was it pos∣sible for him to make all this cleare any other way to all Israel, but by slaying those wicked Servants, who slew their Master. It follows.

Amaziah orders his MILITIA, gathered JUDAH together a 1.7, made them Captaines over thousands, &c. He hired a hundred thousand mighty men out of Israel b 1.8, to strengthen his MILITIA. But they could not strengthen him, for GOD WAS NOT WITH ISRAEL c 1.9. We must set a mark there; It is GODS being with a people, that strengthens them; Mighty men out of Israel, could not strengthen JU∣DAH, for GOD WAS NOT WITH ISRAEL, no, NOT WITH ALL THE CHILDREN of EPHRAIM: Therefore, if Ephraim stood with Judah, Judahs King must fall before the enemy d 1.10; for GOD do's all; He hath power to HELPE AND TO CAST

DOWNE e 1.11, as the good Prophet said, and so he advised.

Note the words well before we passe them over, The LORD is not with ISRAEL, not with ALL the children of E∣PHRAIM. Why not with all them? Because Ephraim willingly walked after the Commandement. They served De∣vils; * 1.12 They humbled themselves before Calves; They lifted∣up their eyes and hearts to lying vanities (as we to Crucifixes) * 1.13 therfore not with ALL the children of EPHRAIM. And therfore said the good Prophet to the King, Take Ephraim to thee, if thou wilt; make thy selfe strong with Ephraims Arme, if it be thy will to doe it, and BEE STRONG (in thy own conceit) FOR THE BATTELL; but know, ô King, GOD IS NOT WITH ISRAEL, for Israel is slidden backe, as a back-sliding heifer d 1.14: NOT WITH ALL THE CHILDREN OF EPHRA∣IM; for they are ioyned to Idols, therefore shall they be op∣pressed * 1.15 and broken in iudgement. Doe not thinke then to strengthen thy selfe with a broken arme, with those from whom GOD is departed. Remember still, That GOD, He only, makes a people stand or fall, He has Power to helpe or to cast downe. So Amaziah hearkning to the man of GOD, though not content to loose the hundred Talents, separated them, to wit, the Army that was come to him out of E∣phraim, to goe home againe f 1.16. So they returned home in great anger, fell upon the Cities of Judah in the way, smote three thousand of them, and tooke much spoyle g 1.17. See how mischievous idolatrous Israel is to Judah! They are a curse to Judah, if they stay with him; if, according to the charge, they be sent away, they will pillage Judah, and take away much spoyle. You can never come fairly off from an idolatrous people!

Notwithstanding Amaziah, hearkning to the Prophet, and dismissing those Souldiers, is the better strengthened for the warr; he led forth his people, smites his enemies, ten thou∣sand of them at a blow: and prevailes over as many more, car∣rying them away captives to the top of a Rock, and thence he broke them to peeces h 1.18. That was a cruell executi∣on.

Then, returning from the flaughter, he brought the gods a∣long

with him, and set them up to be his gods, bowed before such things, which could not deliver their owne out of his * 1.19 hands, and so he broke himselfe and his Kingdome; for this the Prophet rebuked this besotted King, and the King re∣proached the good Prophet, giving him a churlish and threatning answer; Asking the Prophet, who made him a * 1.20 Counsellour; and bidding him forbeare, else he should feele his hand. See how mad this King is upon his gods! The * 1.21 Prophet reproved him from the Lord for falling downe before stocks and stones; and he riseth up against the Prophet, ready * 1.22 to strike him in the face. Then the Prophet forbare: and yet, he will speake out his words; If thou art such a foolish King, that thou wilt no more be admonished: it is because thou must certainely be destroyed: If thy eare be shut against good coun∣sell, so as it cannot enter: The judgements of GOD shall enter, and thou shalt lay thy selfe and thy Kingdome open un∣to them. As the Prophet said, so it fell out, as the Lord had determined, and the Prophet had threatned from His Mouth.

The threatning of the King could not make void the threat∣ning of the LORD: but must hasten the execution thereof, as the Prophet knew very well. Amaziah had fallen downe in his devotions before the Edomites gods, he rose as high in the confidence of his own strength; as he had dealt foolishly like an Idolater to provoke the LORD by his devilish worship: so he would deale as proudly too after the manner, in provoking an enemy: he that could place helpe in stocks and stones, the Edomites gods, would put trust also in the companies of men, * 1.23 for thus he does; he rings the last peale to call in judgement upon himselfe: he prosecutes that way, which shall be to his destruction: he rusheth upon his own ruine, and invites it, saying to the King of Israel (after he had taken ADVICE from his flattering Counsellours, who would flatter him, that was so wise as to flatter himselfe first) come, let us see one ano∣ther in the face. The King of Israel, more out of scorne then love, bids him forbeare, being no fitter a match for him, then * 1.24 a Thistle for a Cedar. This was a notable scorne, and sure e∣nough Amaziah tooke it so, but it was good counsell, and it

had beene better if the King had taken the same. But Ama∣ziahs eare was shut up against sound counsell, he would not heare. * 1.25 How so? The reason is rendred, for it came of GOD, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they SOƲGHT AFTER the GODS of EDOM: Let us note this; Amaziah would hearken what Idoll-gods would say un∣to him; he would seeke help from such despicable and help∣lesse things, that could not wipe the dust from their eyes; could neither see, nor heare, nor speake, nor stand, such des∣picable things this besotted King sought unto, for he sought af∣ter the gods of Edom. Therefore he should be left to his own seekings, to seeke and pursue his own destruction; And so he did, he thrust himselfe into his enemies hands; This enemy carried him captive, and in triumph to the gates of Jerusalem, forceth the captive King to betray his own City; to open the gates of the same, that his enemy, with his Army, might enter-in. When the gates were opened, the conquering King would not enter thereby: But, the more to despise his cowardly Brother, and the more shamefully to des∣pight his Militia, he caused foure hundred cubits of the Wall to be throwne downe; entred the City in his Cha∣riot (Note how a proud Adversary will insult over a des∣picable coward, who had a mighty Militia now on foote; but had not an heart to use it; his sinnes had taken off his spirit, and made him as a silly Dove without a heart) through that breach, carrying the King before him in tri∣umph over those ruines. The Reader must marke that, and withall observe what followes; how weake that Mi∣litia is, which hath nothing more then Charets, and Hor∣ses, Men and Ammunition to fortifie the same. The King of Israel breaks all Judahs strength, for it became as flax that was burned with fire; he sack't the house of the LORD, and the Kings house, takes away ALL, that was pretious there; then gives the poore creature the King of Judah, his life for a prey (which he was exceeding glad of) and then returned to Sa∣maria, * 1.26 but lived not long after. Amaziah out-lived his glory fifteene yeares p 1.27, after this miserable destruction: but could not out-live his misery; that followed him still after he did

turne away from following the Lord q 1.28. He had Adversaries from without, these spoiled him: and from within, these conspi∣red * 1.29 against him: (he that serves the Edomites gods must feele the Edomites plagues) The King thought to out-run all; so he fled to Lachish: But judgement was too quick for him, and overtooke him; we cannot out-run the judgements of GOD: They sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there. You shall never reade, that an Idolater escaped out of the Hand of GOD; sooner or later His Hand finds him out, and is heavy * 1.30 upon him. And now being slaine, he must be buried; they doe him this little honour, they brought him upon Horses and buried him. I have observed it all along, that an Idolatrous King will have honour from his people while he lives, or he will force it from them, as he did an Idolatrous service: but when he is dead, he shall have no more honour then what is given to a dead Lyon; such as fitts very well that body, which, when that immortall thing was with it, did humble its selfe before the gods of the Edomites, those dunghill things; They brought him upon Horses and buried him; they cared not where; * 1.31 for when time was, he cared not how hee did dishonour his body in a voluntary humility before the Edomites gods; They buried him; and made his Son Ʋzziah, called also Azariah, King in his Roome.

Notes

• * 1.1

  2 Chro. 25. 1.
• * 1.2

  ver. 2.
• d 1.3

  Jer. 22. 15.
• d 1.4

  Jer. 22. 15.
• * 1.5

  2 Chro. 25. 3.
• * 1.6

  Prov. 20. 26.
• a 1.7

  2 Chron. 25. 5
• b 1.8

  ver. 6.
• c 1.9

  ver. 7.
• d 1.10

  ver. 8.
• e 1.11

  ver. 9.
• * 1.12

  2 Chron. 25. 7.
• * 1.13

  Hos 5. 11.
• d 1.14

  Hos. 4. 16.
• * 1.15

  ver. 17.
• f 1.16

  ver. 10.
• g 1.17

  ver. 13.
• h 1.18

  ver. 11, 12.
• * 1.19

  ver. 14.
• * 1.20

  ver. 16.
• * 1.21

  Ier. 50. 38.
• * 1.22

  Eccles. 4. 13.
• * 1.23

  Cum completis iniquitatibus suis peccator quis meretur ut pereat provi∣dentia ab eo tollitur ne peri. turus evadat. Salv. de gub. l. 6. p. 29.
• * 1.24

  ver. 17.
• * 1.25

  ver. 20.
• * 1.26

  ver 2. 5.
• p 1.27

  ver. 24.
• q 1.28

  ver. 27.
• * 1.29

  ver. 27,
• * 1.30

  ver. 28.
• * 1.31

  d 2 Kin, 14. 21.