2 Chronicles 15

But how often instead of entertaining angels into their houses, do some entertain devils? From where are all the mutinies and divisions in a kingdom? (2 Chronicles 15:5). In those days there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in.

As the vessels of the sanctuary were consecrated and set apart from common to holy uses: So the soul who has chosen God to be his God, has dedicated and set himself apart for God, and will be no more for profane uses. 3. To make God to be a God to us, is to enter into a solemn c…

If the heart be sincere, God will see the faith, and wink at the failing. Asa had his [illegible], his blemishes, but his heart was right with God (2 Chronicles 15:17). God saw his sincerity, and pardoned his infirmity. Sincerity in a Christian is like chastity in a wife, which…

A king's crown is more adorned with the white lily of peace, than when it is beset with the red roses of a bloody war; but where shall we find an uninterrupted peace upon earth? Either home-bred divisions, or foreign invasions (2 Chronicles 15:5). There was no peace to him that…

And further, this must be remembered withal, that GOD will never forsake any of his servants before they first forsake him: and therefore they that can say truly and unfeignedly, that they desire to serve God, and to be his servants, and seek this blessing by prayer, they may st…

In Genesis 15 there is covenanting by dividing the heifer, the goat, &c. in the midst, and passing between the pieces or parts; and so in Jeremiah 34. In Genesis 17 there is covenanting by silence, and falling upon the face: in Nehemiah 9:38 there is covenanting by writing and s…

Promises made to prayer, as these and such like, are to be marked, as follow, 2 Chronicles 7:14. If my people among whom my name is called upon, do humble themselves, and pray, and seek my presence, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear in heaven, and be merciful to…

Your flourishing estate in the world could not have compensated for the lack of the purity and liberty of the ordinances of Christ. That was a heavy word of the Prophet: now for a long season Israel has been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without Law (2…

How shall we prove it lawful to apply the seal of God's Covenant to Infants? Or to admit women to eat of the holy things; for the Scriptures of the New Testament do speak little in these cases; only the Scriptures of the Old Testament do give direction, and light about them (Lev…

2 Chronicles 7:14. If my people among whom my name is called upon, do humble themselves, and pray, and seek my presence, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear in heaven and be merciful to their sins. 2 Chronicles 15:2. The Lord is with you while you be with him: and…

Also for the better relieving of the poor, distributors of the Church relief (Acts 6:2; Romans 12:8; 1 Timothy 3:7, etc.). All which we must know, delight in, procure, and every one according to his own calling set forward; as (Psalms 27:4; 42:23; 1 Chronicles 13:1; 29:6, 7, 8,…

Objection: But you say, this is marvelous uncharitable, to say that they who have but reading fall short of faith in Christ, and of the fruits of faith that accompany salvation? Answer. Whether is it more uncharitableness to let such as live under such means know their danger, t…

In respect of this second estate, the Church may be in desolation. This was the condition of the Church in paradise upon the fall of our first parents, of the Israelites at Mount Horeb, when they worshipped the golden calf, and in the days of Elijah (Romans 11:3), and afterward…

Be you mindful always of his Covenant—Even of the Covenant which he made with Abraham, and his Oath unto Isaac— 2 Chronicles 15:12. And they entered into Covenant to seek the Lord God of their Fathers.—

When God plucks up this hedge, and breaks down this wall, all mischiefs break in upon us presently. (2 Chronicles 15:3-6) Now for a long season Israel had been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law — and in those times there was no peace to him tha…

You have this benefit by your labor, that thereby you avoid loose and evil company, which would draw you into mischief. By diligence for God, the Christian also is secured from temptations; God is with them, while they are with him (2 Chronicles 15:2). Communion with God in the…

Only here the soul has sure footing; therefore say, that if the dissolution of all things should come, as death and martyrdom, (as we know not how soon they may) yet God shall be our God, we will forsake all to follow him. Consider the present time of the Church, consider how so…

Yet he also had his imperfections; against the warning of the Lord he goes out with a wicked king, and dies in battle. So Asa (2 Chronicles 15:17): The high places were not taken away, (it was a failing in that holy king) yet it is said, the heart of Asa was perfect all his days…

There is in them integrity but not perfection, all parts of holiness though not degrees. As in the body every muscle and vein and artery has its use; thus all Israel is said to seek the Lord with their whole desire (2 Chronicles 15:15). And all Judah rejoiced at the oath, for th…

He might destroy us for our original sin, as we destroy serpents of a venomous nature before they have actually done any harm: though man has lost his goodness, God has not. Every one of us in person does actually break with God before he breaks with us (2 Chronicles 15:2): If y…

God complains of their iniquity, as a burden, as if they made a cart of God, and loaded him with sins as with sheaves (Amos 2:13). Again, when we suffer for God, he has promised to help and assist us with counsel and comfort, with succor and support; but when we sin, God leaves…

In religion the heart is all; we judge of men's hearts by their actions, but God judges of men's actions by their hearts. Amaziah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart (2 Chronicles 25:2); but of Asa it is said, his heart was perfect all…

There is a Covenant made to keep all the Testimonies and Statutes of God, and the people are made to stand to it. From (2 Kings 23:8, 9) compared with (2 Chronicles 14:3, 5), (2 Chronicles 15:17), (2 Chronicles 33:17), it is evident there were in Judah two sorts of high places,…

In the new Testament also, though the punishing by death according to Moses' law of apostates be approved of, as in pages 52, 53 of this book I have shown, and several judicial laws for the substance ratified pages 56, 57, yet the formalities, accessories, with all particulariti…

And when do we know that it is not the old heart? Ans. 1 Propos. As physically, so also morally, the heart is the man, the good heart, the good man, the evil heart, the evil man, and God weighs men by the weight, not of the tongue, of the hands of the outward man, but by the wei…

13. The Lord would have Isaiah and the godly dead to laws and government, to vision and prophesying, when judge and prophet shall be taken away (Isaiah 3:2), and children shall be their princes, and babes shall rule over them (verse 4), and the vineyard broken, and the hedge spo…

Let a man do never so many good actions, and take the Summa totalis of it all, and wanting a perfect heart, it will all be evil in the sight of the Lord; and while a man so continues, he may know that the Lord has determined to destroy him. And let another man do many things ver…

Thirdly, when he is brought to faith in God's mercy, and an honest purpose not to sin any more; then, certain merciful promises of God, are to be laid before him: and he must be exhorted, to rest upon these promises, and at no time to admit any imagination or thought, that may c…

The Apostle calls the time of the New Testament, the last days, because under the same, there is no more alteration to be expected, but all things are to abide without adding, or taking away, as was taught, and ordained by Christ, until the last day; see also (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:…

Moses likewise took punishment with the sword, upon those, who did worship the golden calf; (Exodus 32:26, 27, 28). We have (2) the examples of Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:4), of Josiah (2 Kings 23), of Asa, who decreed that whoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel (according to t…

Is it the duty of the Civil Magistrate to take order that all blasphemies and heresies be suppressed, all the ordinances of God duly settled, administered, and observed, all abuses in worship and discipline reformed, and all idolaters, gainsayers, and other obstinate dissenters…

(1) Because, the church of God, in the Prophet Elijah's time was brought to that pass, that he thought none remained but himself (1 Kings 19:10; Romans 11:2-4). (2) Because, for a long time Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without the Law (2 Ch…

To conclude therefore this point, though other judicial or forensical laws concerning the punishments of sins against the moral law, may, yes, must be allowed of in Christian republics and kingdoms; provided always, they be not contrary or contradictory to God's own judicial law…