LtB.XX. Athaliah 11nd Joafu. A Athaliah and Joalb.; • Hthewofullruinesoftbehoufeofgood Ith•fo•p~•t! Iehuh:ith .,- bath flain two and forty ofhis ilfue; Ath•li•h hopes to root out the reft: This daughter of Aha6 was not like to beotherthen • farallro that holy Line; One drop of that 'vicked blood was enough both toimpure, and fpill all the reft which affinity had B mixed wichir. Iris not unlike that A~azi.h betak!ng himfelfto the foci<ty of ltharams wars,comm1tted the f way ofhisScepter to his mother AthaliAh, Thedaughter of Itzt6tl cannot but be plotting: when !he heares of • the death of Ah.zi•h, and his btcthren,inlliaedbythe heavy hand of Itho, !bee ftraight calls for the Kingdome of Judah: The true heires are infants, their minority gives her both colour of rule, and opportunity of an eafie extirpation. Perhaps, herambitionwasootmoreguilrythenher zeale of Bulifme: !bee faw lthu out ofa deteftation_ofldolatry,tramplin~ on the bloodof Ithora1ff,Ttze6tl, Ah•zi•h, rhe fons ofAh•6,thebrethren of AhAZi•h,the priefts and prophetsof B•AI,•nd in one word,triumphiog in thl:deftruaion bothof Ah•b, and his Gods out of Jfrael: and C now lbc thinks, Why !hould not I ddlroy Ith•fb•thAI,and his God outof Judah~ Whoever fawan Idolaterthat was not cruell! Athali.h mull neodslet out fomc />fhcrown bloud,out ofrhc thro•rofAh•Zf.hsfonnes; yet !he fparcs not to !bed it cut ofa thirft offoveraignry.O God how worthy ofwonderare thy jull and mercifull difpenfationsl In thatthou fufkreft the feed ofgood Itl••fh~hat tobedeftroyed by her hand, inwhofe affinity heoffended,and yet faveft one branchofthis flock of Irh•fo•ph41,for the fake offo faithfull a progenitorWicked Athaliah,couldftthou think Godwould fo far forget his Servant DartiJ (though no other ofthofe loynes haclfecqnded his vertues) as to fufl<r all his f<ed eo be rooted out oftheeacth~ This vengeance was not for thy father AhA6. The man accordingto Godsown heartllull have a lineall heir to fuccecd in his Throne, when · D thou and thy fathers houfe!hall have vani!hed into forgecfulnelfe. . · For thispurpofe hath the wife providence ofGod ordaineda lthofot&•,and matcht her in the Pridlly Tribe: Such reverencedid lthmm, King ef]udah (rhough dege· nerated into the Idolatry ofhis father in law Ah•h)beare to this !acted fonc!lion,that he marrirs his daughter to lthoiada the Priell. Evon Princelf<s did not then fcorne the bed ofthofe chat ferved at Gods Altar: Why !hould the Gofpell powre contempt upon that which the Law honoured! Thatgood Lady had too much of Ithofo•phAt in her,to fulferthe uttrroxtirpation ofchat royall feed ; She could not doubtlelfe. wirhout the extreme danger of her own life,favethelife ofher nephew 11Afo; With what a loving boldnrlfe doth !he adventure to fteale him from amongft thofol>leeding carkalfes, in the chamber of E dtath!Her match gave her opportunity to otreachat,which both narure,and Religion moved herto attempu neither know I, whether more towonder at the cunning ofthe device,or the oourage ofthe entcrprile,or the fecrrcy ofthe concealment, or the happinclfe ofthe fucceife: C<rtainly,Ath•ll•h wastoo cruelly carefull to forget this folate born fon of Ah.zi.h; ofall the reil, his age would not fuff<r him to !xi out of h<t eye: In all likelihood the.ref&re, !hemull needs have milfed fo noted a corps,hadtherenotbeenafubftirutionoffomcoth<r dead child in his roome: In thac.agc,thefavour is not fo diftinguilhablc;cfpecially ofadead faco. Without fome pious doceit this work cool<! neYer have been alfeaed; Elfe, bad the child been fe· crrtly fubduced, andmilfed by hisbloudy grand;11'other , ' her perpetuall jealoufic bad both oxpec!led a furviving heire , and coatitiiled a curious , andunaYoydable fearch:both whichwere now lhunned at oncc,wblles Ath•li.h reckons him fordead Pp ~~ w~m 1275
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=