LIB. XVIII. jEROBOAM. A It isnot the metal tlm makes their gods,but the wotfhip,the facrifices. What facrifices could there be \>ithout Prie!h ~ No religion could ev<r want facred M.1flers ofDivine ceremonies:Gods Clergywas feled ar.d honourabl<1branches ofrhe hQly flemme of Jaro3,Imboam rakes up his Priefls out ofthe channell ofthe mulrirud<:; all Tribes all perfons were good enough for his fpurious devotion; Leaden Priefls 3re wc:\1 fi~ted eo golden Dcaic:s. Religion reccivC's dthc:r much honour, orblc:mifh, bytheqllllicyot thofe thatferve ath<r Altars : Wearenorw:mby to profeffe ourfelves li:rvantsof the True God, 1f we doe not hold Ius femce worthy of the befl. JerobOAms calves mufl have facrificcs, mull have folemne feflivities; though in a day and moneth ofhisowne devifing: In vame fl1all weprerend eo worfhip agod, if we grudge him the jofl dayes, and rires ~~his wortbip. B Iris flrar.ge that he who thought the dregs of the vulgar good enoogh fer that Priellhood,would grace thofe gods by ading their Priefl himfc lfe: and yet behold · where the new King of!frael !lands before hisn~1v Ahar,wirha Scepterin one hand \ and a Cenfer mtheother, ready eo facnfice to h1s new gods; when theman ofGod . comes from r.da, with a mdfage ofjudgement: Oh defperare condition oflfrdel, that was fo far gone with impiety, that ityee!ded not onebithfull monitor to fer•· b~am!The time was,rhattheeretling of bur anew altar(for memory,for monument) on the oth<r fide of Iordan,bred a challenge to the Tribes of Rmbe»,Gad,and Manaf- {ts;and had cofl much lfraelitifh blood, ifrhe quarrdled Tribes had not given a fea. fonable and pious fati sfadion;and now,Io,how the llronger llomach ofdegenerated lfrael can digell new Alrars,nC\v Temples,new gods:Whar a difference there is be. c rwixt a Church and Kingdome newly breathing from afllitlion, and fetlod upon the lees ofamif-uled peace! · Bur oh the patience, and mercy of our longfuffering God, that will not llrikc a very Imb~am unwarned! lodgement hovers over the heads oflinners,ere it light : if lfrael afford not a bold reprover of !mb••m,Iud• fhall:When the King oflfracl is in all theheight both ofhis Srnre, and fuperflition,honouring bis folemneday 'lfith his richell devotion, fleps forth a Prophet ofGod, and interrupts thatglorious fervice, with a loud inclamation of judgement.Doubtleffe the man wanted not \Vir eo know what difpleafure, what danger mull needs foll?w fo unwelcome a meffage : yet dares he (upon the commiffion of God) doe thiS affront to an Idolatrous J(ing, in the midfl ofall his awful! magnificence. The Prophets of God goe upon many a D rhankldfe errand : He is no melfenger for <Sod that either knowes, or fear<s the fa· ccs ofmen. It was the Altar, not the perfon of Imboam, which the Prophet thus threatens; Yet not the flones are fltiden, but the founder, in both their appehenfioos : So dc:arc are the devices ofour owne braines to us, as ifthc:y \Verc: incorporated into our fdvcs ; There is no oppofitionwhereofwe arefo fenfible, os that ofreligion. That the royall Altar fhould be rhus polluted by dead mensbones,and tho blood ofthe Priells; was not more unpleafiog, then that all this fl10uld be done by a childe of thehoufe of David; for Imb~am well faw that the throne & the altar mull !land, or fall togcrher;thata fon of David could not have fuch pow<roverrhe Alrar,with· E our an utter fubverfion ofthe government,ofthe fucceffion;therefore is he thus gal· led wirh this comminarory predidion : The rebellious people who had faid, Wh.e p~rtiu have rvt in David,hearenow,thatDavia' will perforce have aportion in them, and might well fee,what beafls they had made themfelves,in worfhipping the image of abeafl; and facrificing to fuch agod, as could nor pr<ferve his owne Altar from violation and ruioe. All this whileldoe not fee this zealous Prophet laying his hand to the demo!i. cion ofthis Idolatrous Alrar;or threarning a knife to the Author of this depravation ofreligion;Only his tongue fmitesboth,nor with foule,but fharpe words,ofmenace not ofreproach: It'was for Iofi.u a Kiog,ro lhed the bloodofrhofe facrificers, to deface thofe Altars: Prophets are for the tongue, Princes for the hand; Prophets mufl onely denounce judgment, Princes execute. I G~ggg Future
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