nment of His kirk: all this cannot be
done, unless they have the sole power in their hands, and this they
cannot have until the king and his posterity be cut off. But I leave
this, and come to the present solemnity; there's a prince to be
enthroned, good Jehoiada will have the crown put upon his head.

It may be questioned why they went about this coronation in a time of so
great hazard, when Athaliah had reigned six years. Had it not been
better to have defeated Athaliah, and then to have crowned the king? Two
reasons may be rendered why they delay the coronation. (1) To crown the
king was a duty they were bound to. Hazard should not make men leave
their duty; they did their duty, and left the success to God. (2) They
crowned the young king, to endear the people's affections to their own
native prince, and to alienate their hearts from her that had usurped
the kingdom. If they had delayed (the king being known to be preserved),
it might have brought on not only compliance with her, but also
subjection to her government, by resting in it, and being content to lay
aside the righteous heir of the crown.

The same is observed in our case; and many wonder that you should crown
the king in a dangerous time, when the usurpers have such power in the
land. The same reasons may serve to answer for your doing. (1) It is our
necessary duty to crown the king upon all hazards, and to leave the
success to God. (2) It appeareth now it hath been too long delayed.
Delay is dangerous, because of the compliance of some, and treachery of
others. If it shall be delayed longer, it is to be feared that the most
part shall sit down under the shadow of the bramble, the destroying
usurpers.

I come to the particular handling of the present text: and, to speak
from it to the present time, I have read the twelfth and seventeenth
verses, because of these two which meet together in the crowning of a
king, and his renewing the covenant. Amongst many particulars which may
be handled from this text, I shall confine myself to these five, 1. The
crown, "He put the crown upon his head." 2. The testimony, "He gave him
the testimony." 3. The anointing, "They anointed him." These three are
in the twelfth verse. As for that which is spoken of the people's joy,
we shall give it a touch when we come to the people's duty. 4. The
covenant between God and king and the people; "Jehoiada made a covenant
between God and the king and the people, that they should be