2 Chronicles 32

Secondly, God tempts his servants by withdrawing his graces from them, and by forsaking them in part; and this kind of temptation is as grievous as the former: herewith was good King Hezekiah tempted; for as we may read, God left him to a sin of vain glory, and the end was to tr…

A person says, I thought ere now, I should have been able to do more, than, I find, I can: I am still vile, still a poor wretched creature; I can do nothing, perform no duty, as I ought: yes the children of God, are oft left to themselves, that they may know themselves, and wher…

(Deuteronomy 8:2) God afflicts the children of Israel, to try them whether they would keep his commandments. (2 Chronicles 32:31) He tries Hezekiah to see what was in his heart. The devil's end in tempting, is only to bring the party to destruction.

Indeed they may be diminished and covered as coals under ashes, and as the sap in the root of the tree in the winter season, not appearing at all in the branches; and the feeling of them may be lost: but they cannot either finally or totally be abolished. It is true that God doe…

Thus Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amos prayed against Sennacherib, and cried to heaven. 2 Chronicles 32:10. Where we may see what a marvelous desire they had to obtain their request. So also Romans 8:16. The spirit makes request with groans so great that…

This is the thing that provokes so many sad complaints, and costs so many deep groans and bitter tears. It was the pride of Hezekiah's heart that made him lie in the dust mourning before the Lord (2 Chronicles 32:26). It was the fear of hypocrisy invading the heart that made Dav…

May we not say that which is, has been? Did not Sennacherib invade Judah, after Hezekiah's reformation (2 Chronicles 32:1)? And though after the reformation of Asa, and after the reformation of Jehoshaphat also, the land had a short rest and a breathing time, yet not long after…

It is not sufficient for a man to buckle as it were, and to go crooked under his sins and miseries; but also, he must have a desire to be eased of them, and to be enriched with graces needful. Thus Hezekiah the king, and the Prophet Isaiah the son of Amos prayed against Sennache…

(Deuteronomy 8:2) God afflicts the children of Israel, to try them whether they would keep his commandments. (2 Chronicles 32:31) He tries Hezekiah, to see what was in his heart. The devil's end in tempting, is only to bring the party to destruction.

Bel was none other than the Sun. God was angry with Hezekiah because, when the king of Babylon had sent ambassadors to inquire about the miracle of the sun's descent (2 Chronicles 32:31), he did not seize the opportunity to proclaim the true God and declare to them that the sun…

They could not catch Christ in any sin, and so though they shamed him, he was not shamed, nor could he hide his face for confusion. 2. Shame is a breaking of the hope and confidence of these who look for great things, as 2 Chronicles 32:21: The Lord sent an Angel which cut off a…

He threatened the Assyrians already whom he knew the Jews hated for good cause because of their continual wars: that he might get him a companion then, and a fellow helper in his intended wars, he insinuates himself cunningly into the friendship of this good King: whose heart, a…

'What shall I render to the Lord, for all his Benefits towards me?' 2 Chronicles 32:25. 'But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the Benefit done unto him.'

What more powerful motive to the obtaining of new, than to hold out, that the old were not abused. We are encouraged to cast seed again into that ground, whose last crop witnesses that it was not altogether barren: that sad spot of good Hezekiah, that he rendered not again accor…

1. Two things are here. 1. The want of the life, though the believer be still loved, chosen, redeemed, translated from death to life; but the Lord, who can put a check-lock and an iron bar on all our comforts, withdraws, and lets the spouse swoon, and stays not the heart with fl…

In the Saints this liberty is clear; fewer falls in Joseph than in David; and so he must be nearer to daily influences to the one, than the other. So the Lord left Hezekiah to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart (2 Chronicles 32:31). Thus much Noah his drunkenn…

Abraham did not know what faith he had; (I mean what power and vigor was in his faith) until God drew it out by that great trial and temptation; when God says he knew it, he made Abraham know it (Genesis 22:12). So he tried Hezekiah, to discover his pride: God left him that he m…

As we may try a servant whom we have just cause to suspect, by laying something in the way, that his filching humor may be discovered, without any breach of justice; so the wicked, that harden their hearts against God, God may give them their hearts' desire, and worldly happines…

The sins of magistrates draw down judgments on their people, all smart for their miscarriages. [reconstructed: Hezekiah's] pride cost Israel dear — (2 Chronicles 32:25). Wrath was upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem: It did not stay upon his person: As a great oak cannot fall…

And by this means we are made sensible of the mutability of our own nature. God left Hezekiah, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart (2 Chronicles 32:31). God has so dispensed grace, that he will be going and coming as to actual influence; therefore sometimes…

Grace is as necessary to prevent sin, as to perform duty. God's suspension was no excuse to Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32:31). Nevertheless, in the business of the Ambassadors of the Princes of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him…

And partly, because this is a means to make us sensible of the mutability of our nature; for when all depends upon God, his coming and going, it will make us see what poor creatures we are of ourselves; when he comes we are able to do something; when he goes what poor creatures…

Then it may press you to live praises, and show forth the praises of him in your conduct (1 Peter 2:7). Hezekiah had been sick, God recovered him, he penned a Psalm of Thanksgiving (Isaiah 38:9); yet it's said, he rendered not according to what he received, etc. (2 Chronicles 32…

There needs something to humble the creature after these experiences. Desertion is either felt, or not felt; not felt, and then it is more dangerous, and usually ends in some notable fall — as Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32:31): God left him, and he was not sensible, and then he runs…

But this Jacob was so forgetful of, and did so long neglect and omit to pay his vow, which he made at Bethel, that God minds him of it (Genesis 35:1), and for the omission whereof, it is supposed that the afflictions mentioned in the former chapter did befall him. The other inst…

And David himself could say, that he had not wickedly (after the manner of the wicked, Jude 15.) departed from God (Psalm 18:21). 3 God may sometime have a good man to this saddest of trials, to know all that is in his heart, as he left the good King Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32:31…

God will have his times and his ways, possibly to uncase our hearts before all our neighbors. It was said of that blessed man in 2 Chronicles 32:31: God left him (in one thing) to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. You may look for some temptation before you…

God does not only suffer temptation to assault them, for so he had often done, and given them a glorious victory and triumph over it, and so brought them off conquerors; and therein witnessed his admirable presence with them. But they have been tripped up by it, and carried down…

God sometimes brings temptations that carry more force in them than ordinary, and we are woefully assaulted by them: it may be they are many and complicate, and now we say, that he is withdrawn: but this may be a mistake too. If God suffers us to be tempted, and then leaves us t…

It was to try his faith and obedience. Thus he tempted Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32:31). God left him to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.

WE shall wave the Compellation, and begin with the Exhortation: Be strong, that is, be of good courage, so commonly used in Scripture-phrase; 2 Chronicles 32:7. Be strong and couragious.

Our sufficiency is of God, yea, after many years trading, this holy man sees nothing he has got, Philippians 3:13. I count not my self to have apprehended: he is still pressing forward; ask him how he lives, he'll tell you who keeps house for him; I live, yet not I, Galatians 2:…

Cartwright says it is a metaphor from men who, being oppressed with a burden, transfer it off themselves upon one who is mightier and stronger: it is excellent when the heart rolls all its cares upon the Lord, and disburdens itself upon him. (8.) There is a word that notes to le…

When we have any thing to do wherein faith and love towards God is to be exercised, we must do it with all our hearts, with all our minds, strength and souls, not slightly and perfunctorily, which God abhors; he does not only require that we bear his love and grace in remembranc…

The Lord has by free promise, laid holy bonds on himself, to give predeterminating grace to his own children to persevere to the end, and to prevent apostasy and heinous sins inconsistent with saving faith (1 Corinthians 1:8; Jude 24; Jeremiah 32:39-41; Isaiah 54:10; Isaiah 59:2…

But then were they given up to the most fearful evils. Thus God left Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32:25, 31). This then is one reason why the counsel and foreknowledge of God concerning our sins does not extenuate our sins; nor ought to extenuate our sorrow.

So while Israel fought against the Philistines, Samuel prayed (1 Samuel 7:9-10): and while Joab fought against Aram, David prayed (Psalm 60:1). The like I might instance in Asa (2 Chronicles 14:11), Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:6), Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32:20), and other Saints…