A42772:26
An useful case of conscience discussed and resolved concerning associations and confederacies with idolaters,…An usefull case of conscience discussed and resolved concerning associations and confederacies with idolaters,…
An useful case of conscience discussed and resolved concerning associations and confederacies with idolaters, infidels, heretics, or any other known enemies of truth and godliness. By Master George Gillespie, late minister at Edinburgh. Whereunto is subjoined a letter, written by him to the commissioners of the General Assembly, in the time of his sickness: together with his testimony unto this truth, written two days before his death.An usefull case of conscience discussed and resolved concerning associations and confederacies with idolaters, infidels, hereticks, or any other known enemies of truth and godlinesse. By Master George Gillespie, late minister at Edinburgh. Whereunto is subjoyned a letter, written by him to the commissioners of the Generall Assembly, in the time of his sicknesse: together with his testimony unto this truth, written two dayes before his death.
Edinburgh: printed by the heirs of George Anderson for Andro Wilson, 1649Edinburgh: printed by the heires of George Anderson for Andro Wilson, 1649
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
'Tis not likely that Jehoshaphat would desire the prophets of Baal to be consulted, or that he would hearken to them more then to the Prophet of the Lord Micajah; yet in this he failed extremely, that he had too far engaged himself to Ahab, before the enquiring at the word of the Lord. How ever, it seems, he was by this enquiring seeking a fair way to come off again. 6. Jehoshaphat's end was good, Martyr on 1 Kings 22. thinks Jehoshaphat entered into this confederacy with Ahab, for the peace and safety of his kingdom, and to prevent a new War between Judah and Israel, such as had been between Asa his father, and Baasha King of Israel, for which end also Carthusian •bid. thinks that Jehoshaphat took Ahab's daughter to his son. Yet notwithstanding of all this the prophet Jehu •aith to him, 2 Chron. 19 2 Shouldest thou help the ungodly, or love them that hate the Lord. The LXX, read hated of the Lord, which comes all to one thing. And lest it should be thought a venial or light matter, he addeth, therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord. So that from this example we learn, that let us keep our selves unspotted of the false religion or errors of those with whom we associate, let wicked men seem never so penitent, and our relations to them be never so near, let the common enemy be an Infidel, let the cause be never so good, let the manner of proceeding be never so pious, and the end also good: yet all this cannot excuse nor justify confederacies and associations with wicked and ungodly men. And if God was so angry at ⟨p. 15⟩Jehoshaphat, when there were so many things concurring as might seem to excuse or extenuate his fault, it being also in him a sin of infirmity only, and not without a reluctation of conscience, and a conflict of the spirit against the flesh (which Pareus upon 1 Kings 22. doth well collect from his desire of enquiring at the word of the Lord, that he might have occasion to come off) how much more will God be angry with such as go on with an high hand in this trespass, casting his word behind them, and hating to be reformed.
'Tis not likely that Iehosaphat would desire the prophets of Baal to be consulted, or that he would hearken to them more then to the Prophet of the Lord Micajah; yet in this he failed extremly, that he had too far engaged himself to Ahab, before the enquiring at the word of the Lord. How ever, it seems, he was by this enquiring seeking a faire way to come off again. 6. Iehosaphats end was good, Martyr on