Chapter 6

The _Chemerarims_, the learnedst Priests, of all The numerous Swarms which did belong to _Baal_, Bred up in subtil Arts, to _Jews_ well known, And fear'd for Bloody Morals of their own; Who in the Cause of _Baal_ no one would spare, But for his sake on all Mankind make War, Counting it lawful Sacred Kings to smite, Who favor'd not their God, or was no _Baalite_, These were the Idol's known, and great Support, Who in Disguise creep into every Court, Where they soon Faction raise, and by their Arts, Insinuate into the Princes Hearts: Wriggle themselves into Intreagues of State, Sweet Peace destroy, and Bloody Wars create. Unwearied still, they deep Designs pursue; What can't a _Chemarim_, and _Belzeebub_ do? For cunning Plot, Trepan, for Oaths and Sham, The Devil must give place to _Chemarim_. These subtil Priests, in Habit black and grave; Each man a Saint in shew, in Heart a Knave, Did in _Judea_ swarm, grew great withall, And like th' _Egyptian Frogs_ to Court they crawl: Where, like them too, they never are at rest; But Bed and Board of Kings, with Filth infest. To every Shape they could themselves transform, Angels could seem, but still their Aim was Harm. They all the Sects among the _Jews_ could ape, And went about disguiss'd in every Shape. One imitates the _Zealous Pharisee,_ The _Essens_ this, the dammee _Sadduce_ he; And such their ready, and their subtil Wit, For every Trade, and every Science fit: They Credit got, and stole into the Heart, And from their God, did many Souls pervert, Who seeming _Jews_, or what they were before, In Secret did the Idol _Baal_ adore; Whole false Religion was but loose, and few Could bear the Righteous Strictness of the true.

Thus these Disciples of the hellish Brood, Disguis'd, among the _Jews_, themselves intrude, And with the purer Wheat, their Tares they sow, Saw their bad Crop near to an Harvest grow, And hop'd that they again should rule the State: For e'er the days of good _Jehosaphat_, Through all the Land _Baal_'s Worship was allow'd, And King and People to gross Idols bow'd. The Priests, like Bloody Tyrants did command; They and their Gods, did wholly rule the Land; And every one who would not bow to _Baal_, Fled thence, or else by Fire, or Sword did fall: But that good King a Reformation made, Their Idols, and their Groves he quite destroy'd; In every place their Altars overthrew, And _Chemarims_ he banished or slew. Since when (except in _Athaliah_'s Reign, Who for a space, set Idols up again, Tormenting those to Death who would not turn, And did the _Jewish Rabbins_ slay or burn) These crafty Priests, by Plots did never cease, To spoil the Beauty of _Judea's_ Peace. Whilst _Joash_ reign'd, by sly and subtil Arts, They first estrang'd from him his Peoples Hearts. Saw Faction's Sparks, and unseen blew the Fire, Till Rebells 'gainst that good King did conspire: Then Cursed _Zabed_ of proud _Ammon_'s Line, And _Moabitish Jehozabad_ joyn, And to their Side some _Pharisees_ they drew, (_Joash_ did to their Sect no Favor shew) And th' _Essens_, who then daily numerous grew, Rebell, and their good King, like Murtherers, slew. Then _Amazia_ over _Jordan_ fled, Till God had struck the Tyrant _Zabed_ dead; When all his Subjects, who his Fate did moan, With joyful Hearts, restor'd him to his Throne; Who then his Father's Murtherers destroy'd, And a long, happy, peaceful Reign enjoy'd. Belov'd of all, for merciful was He, Like God, in the Superlative Degree. The _Jewish_ Sects he did not seek to quell, Yet Laws he made they might no more rebell: Wisely about them made of Laws a Fence, Yet kind, would not oppress their Conscience. The _Pharisee_, a very numerous Sect, Above the rest were in their Worship strict: In their own _Synagogues_ he let them pray, And worship God after their stricter way. In Peace all liv'd, and former strife forgot, The _Chemarims_ and Hell had hatch'd a Plot: A Plot form'd in the deep Abyss below, Law and Religion both to overthrow. The King was by their Bloody Swords to fall, That all _Judea_ might submit _to Baal_. Great were their Hopes, and deep was their Design. The Train already laid to spring their Mine; Not dreaming Heav'n could their Plots betray, They only waited an auspicious day. Nor fail'd their Plot for want of Common Sence, As some endeavor'd to persuade the Prince: For with much Art, great Industry and Care, They all things for their black Design prepare. Not hatch'd by Common Brains, or men of Earth, Nor was't the Issue of a suddain Birth; But long designing, and well laid it seems, By _Baal_'s _Arch-priests_, and subtil _Chemarins_. The _Canaanites_ dispersed through the Land, O'er whom _Baal_'s Priests had absolute Command, Were bound with Oaths, the Priests Religious Charms, To Secresie, and furnished with Arms. Heads they had got, as well as Hands to fight, Some zealous Princes of the _Canaanites_, Who ready were to guide the Common Rout, So soon as their Conspiracy broke out. _AEgypt_ of Warlike _Jews_ was still afraid, } Lest as of Old, they should that Land invade, } To further this Design had promis'd Aid. } Thus on a firm Foundation they had wrought Their great Design, well built to Humane thought: Tho' nothing that weak Mortals e'er design'd, But Folly seems to the Eternal Mind, Who blasting man's vain Projects, lets him know, He sits above, sees and rules all below. This wicked Plot, the Nations Bain and Curse, So bad no man can represent it worse: Want only _Amazia_ to destroy, But that they might the Rites of _Baal_ enjoy: For the good _Amazia_ being gone, They had design'd a _Baalite_ for the Throne. Of all their Hopes and Plots, here lay the Store: For what Encouragement could they have more, When they beheld the King's own Brother fall, From his Religion, and to worship _Baal_? The Priest well knew what Pow'r, and what Controul He had usurp'd o're ev'ry _Baalite_'s Soul, That such a Prince must their God's Cause pursue, And do whatever they would have him do; Else from his Throne he should be curs'd and damn'd: For _Baal_'s High-Priest, a Right t' all Crowns had claim'd. An Article 'tis of a _Baalite_'s Faith, That o're Crown'd Heads a Sovereignty he hath.

Thus on a sure Foundation, as they thought, They had their Structure to Perfection wrought When God, who shews regard to Sacred Kings, } The Plot and Plotters to Confusion brings, } And in a moment down their _Babel_ flings. } A _Levite_, who had _Baalite_ turn'd, and bin One of the Order of the _Chemarim_, Who in the Plot had deeply been concern'd, And all their horrid Practices had learn'd; Smote in his Conscience with a true Remorse, From King and Land diverts the threat'ning Curse. _Libni_, I think they call'd the _Levite_'s Name, Which in _Judea_ still will be of Fame; Since following Heaven's Impulse and high Command, He prov'd a Glorious Saviour of the Land. By him the deep Conspiracy's o'rethrown, The Treason, and the Traytors all made known: For which from _Baalites_ he had Curses store; But by the _Jews_ loaded with Blessings more. The Hellish Plotters were then seiz'd upon, And into Goals and Iron Fetters thrown; From whence to Lawful Tryals they were born, Condemn'd for Traytors, and hang'd up with Scorn: Yet _Chemarims_ with matchless Impudence, With dying Breath avow'd their Innocence: So careful of their Order they still were, Lest Treason in them Scandal should appear, That Treason they with Perjury pursue, Having their Arch-priest's Licence so to do. They fear'd not to go perjur'd to the Grave, Believing their Arch-priest their Souls could save: For all God's Power they do on him bestow, And call him their Almighty God below. To whom they say three powerful Keys are given, Of Hell, of Purgatory, and of Heav'n. No wonder then if _Baalites_ this believe, They should, with their false Oaths try to deceive, And gull the People with their Dying Breath, Denying all their Treason at their Death. This made Impression on some easie Minds, Whom or good Nature, or false Pity blinds; Mov'd their Compassion, and stirr'd up their Grief, And of their dying Oaths caus'd a Belief. This did effect what the curs'd Traytors sought, The Plots Belief into Discredit brought, Of it at first, some Doubts they only rais'd, And with their Impudence the World amaz'd: Tho' _Azyad_'s Murder did the _Jews_ convince, Who was a man most Loyal to his Prince, And by the Bloody _Chemarims_ did fall, Because he seiz'd the Trayt'rous Priests of _Baal_: Tho' _Gedaliah_'s Letters made all plain, Who was their Scribe, and of a ready Brain: A _Levite's_ Son, but turn'd a _Baalite_, Who for the King's own Brother then did write, And Correspondence kept i'th' _Egyptian_ Court, To whom the Traytors for Advice resort; Who like a zealous, trayt'rous _Baalite_ dy'd, And at the Fatal Tree the Plot deny'd. Tho' _Amazia_ did at first believe, And to the Hellish Plot did Credit give; Tho' the Great Council of the _Sanhedrim_, Among the _Jews_ always of great Esteem, Declar'd to all the World this Plot to be, An Hellish, and a curs'd Conspiracy, To kill the King, Religion to o'rethrow, And cause the _Jews_ their Righteous Laws forgoe; To make the People to dumb Idols fall, And in the place of God, to set up _Baal_: Tho' all the People saw it, and believ'd; Tho' Courts of Justice, hard to be deceiv'd, Had added to the rest their Evidence, Yet with a strange unheard of Impudence, The _Baalites_ all so stoutly had deny'd } Their Hellish Plot, with Vows and Oaths beside, } And with such Diligence themselves apply'd. } They at the last, their sought for point had got, And artfully in doubt had brought their Plot. A thousand cunning Shams and Tricks they us'd, Whereby the simple Vulgar were abus'd; And some o'th' _Edomitish_ Evidence, Who _Mammon_ worship'd, were brought off with pence. _Libni_, for whom, before their Harps they strung, } Who was the Subject of each _Hebrew_'s Song, } Was villify'd by every Rascall's Tongue. } In Secret, and inglorious did remain, And the Plot thought the Project of his Brain.

The _Baalites_ thus encourag'd by Success, Increase their Hopes, and their black Projects bless: Like the bold _Titans_, Plot on Plot they lay, And Heav'n it self with impious Arms essay. A new Invention wrought in Hell below, The _Jews_, and their Religion to o'erthrow; They bring to light, with this their Hopes they raise, And for dire Plots, think they deserve the Bays. This Engine stronger than th' old _Roman_ Ram For Battery, by a new name call'd Sham, With well learn'd, and successful Arts they use To overthrow the _Syn'gogues_ of the _Jews_, Their Worship and Religion to confound. And lay their Glorious Temple on the Ground. With this new Engine, they a Breach had made, By which they hop'd the Loyal _Jews_ t' invade. With Troops of Treasons, and Rebellious Plots, Led on by Villains, perjur'd Rogues and Sots; And with such Arms, in Hells black Work-house form'd, The peaceful _Jews_ they violently storm'd; Who 'gainst the _Ba'lites_ Plots had no defence, But God, their Laws, and their own Innocence.

Among the Princes of the _Jewish_ Race, For Wisdom, _Hushai_ had the Chiefest Place, Prudent in Speech, and in his Actions close, Admir'd by all, and feared by his Foes; Well skill'd, and knowing in the _Jewish_ Laws, Able to plead, and to defend a Cause, Of piercing Judgment, and of pregnant Wit, Did once Chief Judge of all _Judea_ sit; Was then esteem'd the Honor of the Gown, } And with his Vertues sought to serve the Crown, } Till Foes procur'd him _Amazia_'s Frown. } Then he descended from the hight of Place, Without a Blemish, and without Disgrace; Yet inly griev'd; for he could well divine The Issue of the _Baalites_ curs'd Design, To see Religion, and God's Righteous Cause, The Ancient Government, the Nation's Laws, Unpropping, and all ready strait to fall, And the whole Race of _Jews_ made Slaves to _Baal_: With Zeal inspired, boldly up he 'rose, To wrestle with the King's, and Nation's Foes; And tho' he was with Wealth and Honor blest, He scorn'd to give his Age its needful Rest: He learn'd, that man was not born for himself, To get great Titles, Names, or sordid Pelf, To wear a lazy Life, himself to please, With Idleness, and with luxurious Ease: When he beheld his Country in distress, And none the Danger able to redress, He did resolve, tho' not affecting Fame, Or to obtain a Patriot's Glorious Name, His Rest, his Life, his Fortune to expose, Rather than see his Countrey's dangerous Foes Run on uncheck'd, till they had brought the Land, To their, and to a _Baalite_ King's Command. He could not therefore so himself forget, To see the Barques of Government o'erset; But with his Skill he help'd the Boat to trim, And boldly did oppose _Eliakim_. _Eliakim_ was Brother to the King, From the same Loins, and Royal _Seed_ did spring; Of Courage bold, and of a daring mind, } To whom the King, ev'n to Excess was kind; } And tho' he had a Son, for him the Crown design'd. } Sweet _Azaria_, like the beauteous Morn, Whence all Sweets flow, did once that Court adorn, A budding Rose, whose Beauty's newly blown, Or like a Cedar on Mount _Lebanon_: He in his Father's Grace, and Favor grew, And towards him the People's Eyes he drew. He was by most belov'd, admir'd by all, For's Zeal to God, and's Hatred unto _Baal_: But ah! this mov'd the cursed _Baalite_'s Hate, Disturb'd his Peace, and Troubles did create. What can't Design and Hellish Malice do? With Lyes they close this Noble Prince pursue. They think his Father too indulgent grown, Whose Love had many Blessings on him thrown, But what exceeded all the rest beside, He chose the sweet _Jerusha_ for his Bride: A Blessing he esteemed far above The Crown, and all things but his Father's Love: For that he still above his Life did prize, Dear as his Fame, and dearer than his Eyes. Below his Feet, for that he all things trod, Adoreing nothing more except his God. Young as he was, he had acquired Fame, His Breast infired with a Warlike Flame, In Foreign Wars, his Courage he had shown, Had Lawrels won, and brought home fair Renown: Happy, most happy, till with wondrous Art, His Foes had wrought him from his Father's Heart; And so much Power on _Amazia_ won, He by Degrees, grew jealous of his Son. And who for this can _Amazia_ blame, If that the King the Father overcame? For Crowns by Kings esteemed are more near, Than Children, or than Sons, belov'd more dear. His Foes, _Baal_'s Friends, had laid their artful Snairs, Hight'ned his Father's Jealousies and Fears, And made each innocent Action of the Prince, To give his Jealous Father an Offence. If with wise _Hushai_ they the Prince did see, They call'd their Meeting a Conspiracy, And cry, that he was going to rebell: Him _Absalom_ they name, _Hushai_ _Achitophel_. With Slander thus the Prince they did pursue, Aiming at's Life, and the wise _Hushai_'s too. When they much pleased, and triumphing saw, The King his Royal Favors to withdraw, Which like a Spring on him before did flow, And from him, all on others to bestow: Defenceless left, naked, almost forlorn, Subject to every trifling Rhimers Scorn, And beyond _Jordan_ by their malice drove, No Succor left him but the People's Love; (For he was still their Darling and Delight, Because they saw he was no _Baalite_,) Their Hopes now almost at their Height did seem, To place the Crown upon _Eliakim_.

The _Jews_, God's People and peculiar Care, For their true Worship still most zealous were; That Jewel seem'd most pretious in their Eyes, And it above all Humane things they prize. No Torments could make them their Faith deny, They willingly for their Religion die: Their Liberties were also dear to them, Sprung from a free, and not a slavish Stem, Th' _Egyptian_ Bondage for their Souls unfit, They never in _Judea_ would permit; Their own known Laws, they willingly obey, Hate Tyranny and Arbitrary Sway: Nor did they many Priviledges want, Kept from the Time they first the Land did plant; For which to Death they lawfully would strive, If injur'd by their King's Prerogative: For some of them have try'd to break the Bound, And did like _Ethnick_ Kings, their People's Freedom wound, So _Rehoboam_ caus'd them to rebell, And lost at once ten Tribes of _Israel_. No people were more ready to obey Their Kings, who rul'd them by a gentle Sway, Who never sought their Consciences to curb, Their Freedom or Religion to disturb. To such they always open-hearted were, For them, they neither Coin, nor Blood would spare. Such Kings might their Prerogatives improve, And rule the _Jews_, ev'n as they pleas'd with Love; But stiff indeed they were, and moody grew, } When Tyrants did with cruel Stripes pursue } Them sore oppress'd, and sometimes murmur'd too. } Kings they had try'd of ev'ry sort and size. Best govern'd by the Warlike and the wise. Tho' Kings they lov'd, and for them Reverence had, They never would adore them as a God. God's Worship, and their Laws they did prefer, They knew, them men might by bad Councils Err. Tho' Loyal, yet oppress'd, they did not fear To make their heavy Grievances appear. This was indeed the Humor of the _Jew_, The People by Complaints their Griefs would shew; And never would, in truth, contented seem, Untill redress'd by their wise _Sanhedrim_. Thus now the _Jews_, tho' free from ill Design, In their Religious Cause together joyn: They cast their Eyes on _Amazia_'s Son, Who, without Arts the People's Love had won: Full of tormenting Jealousies and Fears, _Eliakim_ a dangerous man appears: The sober part of the whole _Sanhedrim_, Desire to keep _Judea's_ Crown from him: For they foresaw if he should wear the Crown, _Baal_'s Worship he'd set up, and God's cast down: That all the Nations must be Slaves to _Baal_, Suffer in Flames, fly, or 'fore Idolls fall. Great were their Fears, but yet they did abhor The very Thought of a dishonest War: For they had seen the Kingdom's many Scarrs, Th' unseemly Marks of former Civil Wars. They _Amazia_ lov'd and wish'd him well, Resolve to suffer rather than rebell; Yet openly declare free from all Stain, How much they hate a _Baalite_ should Reign; And for this Cause, and for this Cause alone, _Eliakim_ they'd put by from the Throne.

_Eliakim_ at Court had many Friends, By whom in Secret he could work his Ends; So that no Accusation could remove Him, deeply rooted in his Brother's Love. But since the _Jews_ to him shew'd open Hate, Lest that his presence should embroil the State; And that the _Jews_ might have no cause to sin, He's sent to rule the Tribe of _Benjamin_. Thus two great Factions in _Judea_ rose, } So hotly each the other did oppose, } 'Twas fear'd they'd fall at last from Words to Blows. } Each side most zealous for the King appears, Each full of Jealousies and disturbing Fears, Each pleads for _Amazia_ and the Laws, God and Religion both do make their Cause: Both Loyalty profess, both opposite, } Both would persuade that each was in the right, } Tho' both contrary shew as day and night. } Sweet _Azaria_ with these Troubles mov'd, On that side hated, and by this belov'd; Fearing th' inveterate Malice of his Foes, Which he sought to avoid, not to oppose, And lest they should their sought Occasion find, } To tax him of an ill ambitious mind, } By seeing all the _Jews_ to him so kind; } Lest he should grow i'th' King's Opinion worse, He seeks for Council how to steer his Course, That he might to the Court give no Offence, But live wrapt up in his own fair Innocence, The wise and thoughtful _Hushai_ he doth find, And thus to him he breaks his troubled Mind, Great Councellor, and Favorite of Heav'n, To whom the Blessing of true Wisdom's giv'n, Which by no Mortal can possessed be, Whose Thoughts are not inform'd by Loyalty. I know Reproaches upon you are thrown; But judge your Innocency by my own. I am accused Sir, as well as you, And the same Foe doth both our Lives pursue. He fears your Wisdom, may his Hindrance prove, And me, because I have the People's Love: His Creatures therefore throw on you and me, The Scandal of a curs'd Conspiracy, Against our King and Father to rebell: Me _Absalom_, and you _Achitophel_ They name; bad Councellor, and worser Son, Who Traytors, durst into Rebellion run. My Father governs with so equal Sway, That all both love him, and his Laws obey: He seems Heav'n's Care, who set him in the Throne, Preserved by his wondrous Power alone. Oh may on him no Blemish fall or stain, But all live happy in his peaceful Reign: May he be happy still as he is good, Like God in Mercy, not inclin'd to Blood. This is the Prayer that I daily make; } For Piety shall never me forsake, } Tho' I his Royal Favor ne'er partake. } And tho' my Foes have with their subtil Art Banish'd me from my Royal Father's Heart, Which is the Source of all my Grief and Woe, My just Obedience I will ne'er forgoe. Nor has Disgrace, nor my hot Passions wrought, Within my Breast one bad disloyal Thought. I ne'er believ'd my Father would betray His People, or sought Arbitrary Sway: Or tho' his People did his Wrath provoke, He meant to curb them with an Iron Yoak. Yet do I think, nay more than think, the Cause (But here his passion made some little pause, Till sighing, at the last he thus went on) Why my Great Father does disown his Son; They say I am but of a spurious Brood, My Mother being of Ignoble Blood: For _Jocoliah_ was but mean by Birth, Tho' with the King she mix'd her baser Earth. I was begotten in my Father's Flight, E'er to the Crown he had obtain'd his Right: And since I from his Favor did decline, He has declar'd her but his Concubine. This has the Hopes rais'd of _Eliakim_, And _Amaziah_'s Crown design'd for him; My Hopes are lost, and I do think it fit, I should to God, Right, and the King submit; But yet, wise _Hushai_ know, I still do find, My Birth has not so much debas'd my mind, To make me stoop to low or mean desires; I feel my Father's Royal Blood inspires My depress'd Soul, wipes off th' ignoble Stain, Renders me apt, or not unfit to reign. Of _David_'s Royal Blood, my self I own, And with it never can disgrace the Throne. Tho' my bold Spirits, mounting thus, do fly Towards the Noble hight of Sovereignty, And that I feel my Father's Blood to rowl Through every Vein and animate my Soul; Yet so much Loyalty is sown within My Breast, I would not Empire gain with Sin: For when my ambitious Thoughts begin to roam, Their Forces, I with that soon overcome. Tho' to God's Laws, and to the King's I yield, To my known Foes I would not leave the Field. I'd not be trampl'd on by sordid Feet, Nor take Affronts from ev'ry one I meet: I'd give no Cause they should my Courage doubt, Nor to Rebellion push the vulgar Rout, I to my Father would give no Offence, Nor while he lives, lay to the Crown Pretence; But since Life's sweet, by Wisdom I'd keep mine, From _Baalites_ Hate, and _Eliakim_'s Design: This my wise Friend, is my chief Business now, To take some Sage and good Advice from you.