LIB. XX. Jehu Tvith Jehorilm,&c. A He th:at fhcwes the evem, dorh not appoinc the mcaocs; Farre was ic from the fpirir of Gods Prophet w fer,or encourage a treafon : whiles he faid therefore ThM Jhalt ht ki3gofS1ria1 he fa id nor, Goe home,and >ill thy Malter: The wicked ambition ofH'"'""drawcs this dlmnable conclufion out of holy prcmifrs; and now having fed rhe hopesof his Soveraignewith the cx'petbtion of recovery : the next day he [mothers his Maller. The impotent ddire ofrule brool:es no ddJy: Hld nor fi azatllxcn graceldly crucll,afrcr he had received rhis predidion of rhe Seer , he lhould have patiently awlited for rhe crown of Syria, tilllawfull mcanes hld fet it upon his held; now, he will by l clofe execution make Wly to the throne; A. wee cloth bath llopr the mouth ofhis lick Sovcraigne; No noyfe is heard; the carkaife is faire; who <an complainofany thing but the difeale ~ B 0 Hazael, thou OJJlr not thus eafily llop the mouth ofthineownconfci<nce; that lhall call rheeTraywr, even in thy chaire of Stare; and lhall check all thy royall rriumphes, with, Th"' h.jl founded thy thTDne in 6/oud; r am deceived, ifthis wercloth lhall no! wipe thy lips in rhy jollieft fealls, and make thy bell morfdsuofavoury: Soveraignty is plinfull uponthe fairefl: rcrmes; bur upon treachery, and murdn,ronnenting : Wofull is thecafeofthat man wbofc publike cJres arcaggra• • vatcd with private guilrinelfc; and happy is he,thllcan enjoy a little with the peace ofan honell heart. c Jelm with Jehoram and Jezebel. EtHaz.elbegJn hiscrudrywirhlolfe: Ramoth Gilwl iswon from him; It hiT am the foo hath recovered thar, which .....Ahah his father attempted in vainc; That Ciry was dear<-)ought of!frad; ircoft rbe life of Ah.b, the blood of rehoram; Thofc wounds were healed with victory; The King tends his healrh atl<utt/,whilestheCaptaines w<re enjoying, and feconding their Cuccel!"c:at R•moth. IJE~~~~~::!J Old Elifh• hlrh neither cottage nor foot of land, yet Grtmgin Jnobfcure corner he gives order for Kingdomcs; Nor by way of aurhoricy, D (this ufurparion had been nolelfe proud, then unjull)burby way ofmclfJge, from rhe God ofkings;Even a mean Hcrauld may goe on a great errand: The Prophets of the Gofpell have nothin~ to doe but with fpirituall Kingdomes; To bear down the Kingdomes of fin and Satan; to ttanllarefoules to the Kingdome ofhcavcn. He that renued rhe life of the Shunamitcs fonne , murt ftoop to age ; That blockli<s in his way to Ithu; The aged Proph<r imployes l fpcedicr melfenger,wbo mull Jlfo gird up his loynes, for haftc:No common plce will ferve us when we goc on Gods melfagc;The very lolfe of minutes may be unrccoverablc. This greJt Seer ofGod well flw a prefcnt concurrence ofall opportunities: The Capraines ofrhe Hall were then readily combined for this exploit :Thearmy WlS on foot; [(h•r•m E . abfent;a final! delay might have troubled tbework;the difperfion ofthe Captaioes, and Hoft,or the prefenceofrhe King, might either have defearcd, or flJcked the difpatch: He is prodigal! ofhis fuccelfe, thlt is flow in his execution. The direllions of Elijha to rhe young Prophet,are full,and puolluall; whither to go;whatto carri(';whar to do,where to doe ir;whattofay, what fpeed to make,in his all, in his returne: In the bufinelfes ofGod,ir matters not how littleis left ro our difctetion; There is no imponant bulineffe ofthe Almighty, wherein his preccprs arc not ftrill,aod exprelfe; Look howmuchmore fpecialty tbere is in rhe charge of God,fo much more danger is in the violation. The young Prophet is curioully obedient; in his ha!le; in his obfcrvation and carriage: and finding Itho, according to Elifbaes prcdillion, fer amongft the Captaincs of the Holl,he tingles him fotth,by a reverent compellarion 1 I h•vt An trrand 11 thtt, o C•ptaine ; Might not the Prophet have llaycd till the table had rifen, Ooooo 3 and
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