Sermons preached before his MajestySermons preached before his Maiestie

so long he prospered, things went well with him, and in Jerusalem; but after three years he forsook the Lord, and suffered the people to make them high places, then it is said in the Text, in the fifth year of his Reign (God gave him two years space) he poured out his wrath upon him and upon Jerusalem, by the hands of Shishack, the King of Egypt. Where it is to be observed, that this evil fell upon him, not because Shishack was angry, but because the Lord was angry with him; for it is not said, that it was Shishacks wrath, but the Lords wrath; he was but the vial, but the instrument, through which Gods wrath was poured upon him: But an example you shall find of this most clear in Uzziah, 2 Chron. 25. 6. it is said, that Uzziah sought the Lord all the days of Zechariah the Prophet, and as long as he sought the Lord, he prospered; so long as he did the actions of this life, the life of joy, and prosperity, and peace ran along with it; but after verse 10. when the Lord had helped him that he grew mighty, then saith the text, his heart was lift up to his destruction. So that even as you see blazing comets, though they be but comets, yet as long as they keep aloft, they ⟨p. 56⟩shine bright, but when they begin to decline from their pitch, and fall to the earth, they vanish; so when men for sake the Lord and mind earthly things, then they lose their light, and are dissipated and come to destruction; whereas you see on the other side, all holy and good Kings, that lived this life of grace constantly, they shined in the dark world, as stars in a dark night, neither losing their light, nor falling from their place. And this you shall find in all the stories of the Kings of Israel and Judah, that either their suffering of Idolatry and superstition at home, or their resting upon Ashar and Egypt abroad, was the cause of all their misery: for when they were in distress, they sought to those nations that proved as broken reeds, that did not only deceive them, but did run into their hands. On the other side you shall observe, that those that lived this life of grace perfectly, whose hearts were perfect with God, that emptied out all the old leaven of Idolatry and superstition at home, and in all their distresses and wants trusted upon God; you shall find, I say, proportionably as they did this, more or less, so they prospered.

so long he prospered, things went well with him, and in Ierusalem; but after three yeeres hee forsooke the Lord, and suffered the people to make them high places, then it is said in the Text, in the fifth yeare of his Reigne (God gave him two yeeres space) he poured out his wrath upon him and upon Ierusalem, by the hands of Shishack, the King of Egypt. Where it is to bee observed, that this evill fell upon him, not because Shishack was angry, but because the Lord was angry with him; for it is not said, that it was Shishacks wrath, but the Lords wrath; hee was but the viall, but the instrument, through which Gods wrath was poured upon him: But an example you shall finde of this most cleere in Vzziah,