It is a great question that many make, whether it be lawful in any cases to make use of wicked men, especially in public affairs of Kingdoms? to send for their help in time of public danger, to think to strengthen our selves by ungodly men? Peter Martyr, in his Comment upon the book of Judges, Chap. 4. ver. 17. handleth this question, how far leagues may be made with Idolaters and wicked men? And there he gives two reasons why Idolaters should never be sent for to help us in any of our straights.1 The first is, for then saith he, there will be by this means danger of mixture of Idolatry, ⟨p. 493⟩for they joining with you, they will come secretly to cause their Idolatrous ways to have an influence into you. But secondly, he gives especially this reason, if you send for their help saith he, how can you join together in prayer to God to bless you?2 and when you have gotten victory how can you join together in praising God? And indeed this is as great an argument not to make use of the help of wicked men in public affairs of a Kingdom as possibly can be, for how can they join together in prayer? And truly they are unfit to join together in fighting that cannot join together in prayer and in praising of God. And yet this is very natural to most men, yea good men are sometimes guilty of this, to seek out too much unto wicked men for help in times of straits. That was the blame that was laid upon Asa, though otherwise a godly King, in the 1 King. 15.19. that he sent to Benhadad the King of Syria to help him; And in 2. Chron. 16.7. Hanani the Seer told him that he ought not to have done it, and that he had done foolishly in doing it, for saith he, why will you do it, you need not send for such help, for the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show himself strong in the behalf of those whose heart is perfect towards Him. So that it was an argument that in this thing Asa's heart was not perfect with God, because he sought for help from wicked men so much as he did, and did not rely upon the Lord. And it is very observable of this King, though a good man, and it seems, a Soldier, yet he was very angry with the Seer, the text saith, verse 10. that Asa was wrath with the Seer and put him in a prison house, for he was in a rage with him because of this thing: what! shall a Prophet contradict him in his warlike affairs?
It is a great question that many make, whether it be lawful in any cases to make use of wicked men, especially in publick affairs of Kingdoms? to send for their help in time of publick danger, to think to strengthen our selves by ungodly men? Peter Martyr, in his Comment upon the book of Judges, Chap. 4. ver. 17. handleth this question, how far leagues may be made with Idolaters and wicked men? And there he gives two reasons why Idolaters should never be sent for to help us in any of our straights.1 The first is, for then saith he, there will be by this means danger of mixture of Idolatry, ⟨p. 493⟩for they joyning with you, they will come secretly to cause their Idolatrous waies to have an influence into you. But secondly, he gives especially this reason, if you send for their help saith he, how can you joyn together in prayer to God to bless you?2 and when you have gotten victory how can you joyn together in praising God? And indeed this is as great an argument not to make use of the help of wicked men in publick affairs of a Kingdom as possibly can be, for how can they joyn together in prayer? And truly they are unfit to joyn together in fighting that cannot joyn together in prayer and in praising of God. And yet this is very natural to most men, yea good men are sometimes guilty of this, to seek out too much unto wicked men for help in times of straits. That was the blame that was laid upon Asa, though otherwise a godly King, in the 1 King. 15.19. that he sent to Benhadad the King of Syria to help him; And in 2. Chron. 16.7. Hanani the Seer told him that he ought not to have done it, and that he had done foolishly in doing it, for saith he, why will you do it, you need not send for such help, for the eyes of the Lord run to and fro thoroughout the whol earth to shew himself strong in the behalf of those whose heart is perfect towards Him. So that it was an argument that in this thing Asa's heart was not perfect with God, because he sought for help from wicked men so much as he did, and did not relye upon the Lord. And it is very observable of this King, though a good man, and it seems, a Souldier, yet he was very angry with the Seer, the text saith, verse 10. that Asa was wrath with the Seer and put him in a prison house, for he was in a rage with him because of this thing: what! shall a Prophet contradict him in his warlike affairs?
- 11. They will infect1. They wil infect
- 22 they cannot pray not give thanks.
