2. The effeminateness of their spirits were shown in this, that they were willing to bow down their necks to submit to the government of most vile murderers, without any enquiry after them, or taking any course or way at all to find out their murders and wickedness. Zechariah was slain by Shallum, then cometh Menahem and he killed Shallum, after Menahem, reigned Pekahiah, and against him conspired Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him in Samaria, and with him killed 50. men, and reigned in his room, then cometh Hoshea the son of Elah, and he made a conspiracy against Pekah, and slew him, and reigned in his stead. Here were murderers upon murderers, and yet the people all this while bow down their necks, and look not after these things: They have gotten power in their hands, and we must take heed of looking so high, to enquire after things that are above us, and it is ill displeasing of them, we were better a great deal be quiet and hold our peace, & say nothing, than to enquire after such high matters as those are; and so they let all go, and bowed their necks to the yoke, and by no means such horrible guil of murders must be questioned, because the murderers had got power in their hands. Their cowardly timorous spirits were much like the temper of Issachar, we read of Gen. 49. 15. Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens, 1he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant, and he bowed his shoulders to bear, & became a servant unto tribu•e. And when mens spirits are effeminate in regard of the civill state, they quickly grow so in regard of their consciences and religion too. Purity of religion in the Church cannot stand long with slavery admitted in the State. We read Rev. 4. 7. of 4. Ages of the Church ⟨p. 41⟩set out by four living-creatures: the 3. living-creature the Text saith, had the face of a man, and that was to note the state of the Church in the time of reformation, they began then to be of manly spirits, & to cast off that yoke of bondage that was before upon them, to enquire after what liberty God had granted to them. Not then like those we read of, Isa. 51. 23. that would bow down to such as would say to their souls, Bow down that we may go over them.
2. The eff•mina•enesse of their sp•rits were shewne in this, that they were willing to bow downe their necks to submit to the government of most vile murtherers, without any enquiry after them, or taking any course or way at all to finde out their murthers and wickednesse. Zecharia was slain by Shallum, then commeth Menahem and hee killed Shallum, after Menahem, raigned Pekahiah, and against him conspired Pekah the sonne of Remaliah, and smote him in Samaria, and with him killed 50. men, and reigned in his roome, then cometh Hoshea the sonn of Elah, and he made a conspiracy against Pekah, and slew him, and reigned in his stead. Here were murtherers upon murtherers, and yet the people all this while bow down their necks, and looke not after these things: They have gotten power in their hands, and we must take heed of looking so high, to enquire after things that are above us, and it is ill displeasing of them, we were better a great deale be quiet and hold our peace, & say nothing, than to enquire after such high matters as those are; and so they let all goe, and bowed their necks to the yoke, and by no meanes such horrible guil of murthers must be questioned, because the murtherers had got power in their hands. Their cowardly timerous spirits were much like the temper of Issachar, we read of Gen. 49. 15. Isachar is a strong asse couching down between two burthens, 1he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant, and he bowed his shoulders to bear, & became a servant unto tribu•e. And when mens spirits are effeminate in regard of the civill state, they quickly grow so in regard of their consciences and religion too. Purity of religion in the Church cannot stand long with slavery admitted in the State. We read Rev. 4. 7. of 4. Ages of the Church ⟨p. 41⟩set out by four living-creatures: the 3. living-creature the Text saith, had the face of a man, and that was to note the state of the Church in the time of reformation, they began then to be of manly spirits, & to cast off that yoke of bondage that was before upon them, to enquire after what liberty God had granted to them. Not then like those we read of, Isa. 51. 23. that would bow down to such as would say to their soules, Bow downe that we may goe over them.
- 1Purity in the Church cannot stand long with slavery in the •eate.
