Contemplations. AHAB and B&NHADAD. Here is nothing more dangerous for •ny State, then rei call in forein powers, for the fupprefling of an hoooebredenemy; the remedy harh oft in this cafe, proved worfe then the difeafe. A{a King of Iudah implores theaidofBenhAdAd the Syrian, againft Baa/h• King of Ifrael. That ftronger hath good colour to fet his foot in fome out-skirt·townes of lfrael; and now thefe ferve him butforthe hanfell ofmore; Such fweetne!fe doth that Ed•mite find in the foile of lfrael,thot his ambition will not take upwith le!fe then all; He that emred as a Friend,will proceed as a Conqueror; andnow aimes at nolelfe then Samaria it felfe, the heart, the head of the ten Tribes : there was no_ caufe to hope for betterfuccelfe offo perfidious a League with an Infidel! : Who can looke for other then warrewhen he fees.dh•hnd ltt:,ebelin theThrone,Ifraelio thegroves and temples of Baalim ~ Theambitionof Benhadad was not fomuch guiltyofthis warre, as rhe Idolatryofthat wicked nation; How can they expea peace from earth, who doe wilfully fight ag•inft heaven~ Rarherwillthe God ofHofts arme the brure,rhe fenfele!fe crearuresagainft Ifr.el, then hewill fuffertheir defiance unrevenged. AhabandBenhadadarewell matched, an Idolatrous Ifraelire, with a paganilli Idum:ran; well may God plague each with other, who meanes vengeance to them both..Ahab findes himfelfe hard pre!fed with the fiege;and therefore is glad to enter into treaties of peace;BenhadAd knowes his owne ftrength; and offers infolent conditions, Thy filver ""'thy gold is mine,thywivtl alfo and th7thildren, even the Art mine. It isa fearefullthing to be in the mercyofanenemy; In cafe of might will carve forit felfe : Ahab nowafter the divifionof Iudah,was but Benhadudhad two and thirty Kings to attend him;What equality was OP'DOltti<>n~Wifelydoth Ahabtherefore, as a reed in a tempeft, ftoop to this potent anenemy : M7 Lord, 0 KiNg, amrding 11 thy f<ying I am thine,and I have: It is nor for the over-powred to capitulate;Weakenelfe may not argue butyeeld. Tyranny is butdrawne on by fubmiflion; and where it finds feare, and dejection, infulteth. Benh•d•d nor conrenr with the foveraignry of Ahab; goods, calls for the polfeflions; A ha~ had offeredthe Dominion,with refervation of his fubordinate intereft : he will be a tributary, fo he may be an owner: Benhadad imperioully befides the command, calls for the propriety; and fuffers not the Kingof I{ratl to enjoy,thofe things at all, which he would enjoy but under the favour ofthat predominancy. Over-ftrained fubjectionturnes defperate;ifconditions be impofed worfe then death, there need:>no longdifputationofthe remedy 1 The of Ifrael ( whofe !harewas proportionably in this danger) hearten Ahab to a which yet comes out fo fearefull y, as that itappeares rather extorted by the peremptory
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