LIB. XX. Jehu kjliing thefoni of, &c; A How could they thinkitmightbe dangerous tobee knowne tor the brethren of vth•z:.iab, or friends to the brethren of Ithmun l The jufl providence of the AI· mighty bath broughtall this covey under one net; rehu thinks it not f•fe to let goe fo many avengers of Aha\!ahs bloud; fo mmycotrivals ofhis Soveraigmy. The unhappy affinity of Ieh•fhaph•t with v! hah is no ldfe guilty of this aaughrcr, then Ith•ts ambition ; This match by the inocubtibn ofone bud, bath tainted all the fop of the houfe of I11dah. The two and forty brethren of vtha'{jah are therefore fent after the feventy Sonnes of v! hah; that they may overtake them in death, whom they cameto vifit; God will much!effe brook Idolatry fcom the loynes of a Ieh•Jbaphat: Our entireneffe with wicked men feolfes us both in their finnes and judgements. B Doubtleffe, many Jfraditcs that were devoted to the family and allies of Ah•h, lookt (what they dutll)awry at this c6mon elfufion ofroyall bloud1 yet inthe worfl ofthedepravedneffeotJfrad,thetcw<refomc which both drouped under the deplored Jdolatryoftherimcs, and congratulated to Iehu this fcvete vindication of Gods inheritance:'Amongfl the refl, Ionadab the fon of Ruhab WlS moft eminent, That man was by defcent derived from /ethra1aMidianite by narion, but incorpora· red into Jfrael;1 man,whofe piety and ftrict converfation did both reach, and fha111e thofe twelve Tribesrowhich he was joyncd; Hewas the author of an auflere rule ofcivility to his pofterity; to whom he debarred theufe ofwine, cities, polfcflions; This old and rough friend ofieh•,(out ofhis moving habitations) meets him, and applauds bis focceffe; He thatallowed not wine tohis feed,allowes the bloud of A· C habs feed pouredout,by the hand of lthu; He that fhun'dthe city, is carried in It huts charet to the palace ofS1marb. How·eafily might Ith• have been deceived! Many aone profdfes uprightneffe, who yet is all guii<:Ion.ca'ahscarriagc bath been fuch, th•t his word merits truft: Ir is a blefling upon the plaine·hearrcd,that they can be beleeved. Hondt Ionadab is ad. mitred to the honour of lth•u feat;and called(inflead ofmany) to witne{fe the zeale ofthe new anointed King ofifrael. Whiles Iehu had to doe with Kin~s, his cunning and his courage held equall pace together; but now that he is to deale with idolatrous Priefts, his wile goes alone, and pr<vailcs : Hee calls the people together, and difrembling his intentions, fayes, vthabfenml Baalalittlt,~11t Iehup,.pfirve him m11ch, N,,. thtrtfore D cJI unto mer all the Prtphtts •fB~al, Jl hi< firvants, and aPhis pricjls, ltt noni bu wanting: for I have agrwJiuriju to do 11 B••h•hofowtr jbaO bewantiwg,he fba/1 nil live. What a dead palenefl'e was there now in thefaces ofthofe few true-hearted Ifra. clitcs, that looked for an happy reflauration ofthe Religion of God~ How could they choofebut think; Alas,how ate we fall<n from our hopes~ Is this the change we lookt for~ was it only ambition that bath fer this edge upon the (word of Ithu ? It was noothe perfon of Ahab that we difliked,bur the fins : Ifthofe mufl ftill fuccccd, what have we gained :Wo be to us,ifonly the author ofour mifery be changed, not the condition,not the caufe ofour mif<ry, On the otherfide, what infultationsand triumphs founded cv<ry where of the E joyfult Baalitts? What gloryingofthe trurhofrhdrprofcflion,becaufe ofthcfucceffe!what fcorns of their dejetled oppofites?whu exprobrations of the difappointcd hopes, and prcdltlions oftheir adverfe Prophcts?what promifes to thcmfclves of a perpetuity of B44li""e? Ho1v did the difpcrfcd priefls of B•al now flock together, and applaud each others happineffe, and magnifie the devotions of their new Sovct3ignel Never had thatldollfoglotious a day as rhisfor the pomp~ of his fervioe; Before,hewas adored fingldy in corn<rs,now folemne facrifices fhlll be: offered to him by all his clients, in thegreat Temple ofthe moth<r Cityof Ifratl. I can commendthe zeal of Ithu,I cannot commend the fraud of Iehu1 We may come to our end even by crooked wayes! He that bad him to linire for him , did not bid himto lie for him: Falfehood, though it be but tentative, is neither needed, nor ap· proved by the Godoftruth: Ifpolicy have allowed officious umruths , Religion ne. ver. Ppppp By . 1273
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