The difference between the spots of the godly and of the wicked preached

And, Secondly, If we compare Rehoboam and Amaziah, with Asa; Rehoboam and Amaziah were both wicked men, but yet they, in some acts, did better then Asa that was a godly man; it is very remarkable, the comparing the stories of them: For, Rehoboam he was a wicked man, and yet in 1 Kings 12. 24. when ten tribes of his Kingdom did rebel against him, and he got an Army to reduce them again to their obedience, there comes but a poor Prophet of God to him, and saith, Thus saith the Lord, ye shall not go up nor fight against your Brethren the Children of Israel: Return every man to his house, for this thing is from me: The Text saith, they hearkened to the word of the Lord, and return to depart according to the word of the Lord: A very strange thing, that a King, a wicked man, exasperated to the uttermo••, that had an Army ready, whose cause could not but be justified before all the World; for who would have said what the Prophet did, That this was from the Lord: Yet that one poor man coming to him, and telling of him that it was from the Lord, though he must lose ten parts of his Kingdom, ten of twelve, yet Rehoboam hearkens to God, lets go his Army, lets go the ten parts of his Kingdom, hearing but a Prophet say. It was from the Lord! one would think that this were a Saint! what an obedient ⟨p. 32⟩man was this to the word of God? and yet this was a wicked man, an unregenerate man.

And, Secondly, If we compare Rehoboam and Amaziah, with Asa; Rehoboam and Amaziah were both wicked men, but yet they, in some acts, did better then Asa that was a godly man; it is very remarkable, the comparing the stories of them: For, Rehoboam he was a wicked man, and yet in 1 Kings 12. 24. when ten tribes of his Kingdom did rebel against him, and he got an Army to reduce them again to their obedience, there comes but a poor Prophet of God to him, and saith, Thus saith the Lord, ye shall not go up nor fight against your Brethren the Children of Israel: Return every man to his house, for this thing is from me: The Text saith, they hearkned to the word of the Lord, and returne to depart according to the word of the Lord: A very strange thing, that a King, a wicked man, exasperated to the uttermo••, that had an Army ready, whose cause could not but be justified before all the World; for who would have said what the Prophet did, That this was from the Lord: Yet that one poor man coming to him, and telling of him that it was from the Lord, though he must lose ten parts of his Kingdom, ten of twelve, yet Rehoboam hearkens to God, lets go his Army, lets go the ten parts of his Kingdom, hearing but a Prophet say. It was from the Lord! one would think that this were a Saint! what an obedient