1 Kings 12

To contemn God is worse than to rebel. The tribes of Israel rebelled against Rehoboam because he made their yoke heavier (1 Kings 12:16). But to contemn God is worse, it is to slight him; to contemn God is to put a scorn upon him, and affront him to his face, and an affront will…

The magistracy is a higher calling, which is more subject to temptations, from the different humors of men who are to be governed: nothing will carry a man through it, but this holy courage and dependence on God. The fear of man brought a snare to Jeroboam, that he perverted the…

vide Brisson. page 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, with the eighteenth. So Jeroboam would have his calves worshipped (1 Kings 12:32). And yet all that complied with him therein, are charged for walking so willingly after the commandment (Hosea 5:11).

They think old men fools, but old men know that they are fools. Their conceitedness puffs them up, and makes them incapable of instruction, and very unteachable ([reconstructed: Rehoboam] and his young counselors may save us the labor of instancing in any others, 1 Kings 12), an…

We must distinguish between the intent of the threatener, and the intent and sense of the threatening. Law-threatenings may be well expounded, by the execution of them, upon persons, against whom they are denounced: As, (1 Kings 11:30) compared with (1 Kings 12:15-16). Ten Tribe…