2 Kings 2

Answer. To speak properly, God has no right hand or left, for being a Spirit, he is void of all bodily parts; but it is a borrowed speech, a metaphor taken from the manner of kings, who were used to advance their favorites next to their own persons, and set them at their right h…

The best way is, to put in practice their faith in God; by humbling themselves truly for their sins past, with unfeigned confession of them unto God, praying withal earnestly for the pardon of them; and for God's aid, assistance, and protection against their enemies. The power o…

And this kind of asseveration is common in the Hebrew (Genesis 2:17): [in non-Latin alphabet] In the day you eat thereof dying you shall die; you shall assuredly die; be certainly obnoxious to Death; it may be also that the double Death temporal and eternal is included therein.…

To their Priests and Levits, Cyprian does rightly liken our Pastors and Deacons, for however sundry things were done by the Priests and Levites, which were typical and Jewish onely; yet may we well parallell our Pastors with their Priests, in respect of a perpetuall Ecclesiastic…

Samuel, when he was judge of Israel, erected colleges of prophets and ruled them himself (1 Samuel 10). In the decayed estate of the ten tribes, Elijah and Elisha set up schools of the prophets in Bethel, Carmel, etc., and the young students were called the sons of the prophets…

The children of Bethel mock Elisha: first, for his person, calling him bald pate: secondly, for the favor of God showed upon Elijah his master, in saying, Ascend, bald pate: that is, ascend not to Bethel, but ascend to heaven as Elijah did. And this profane scorning he cursed in…

This ought to be a caveat to us, to take heed how we contemn or neglect the ministers of God, seeing whatever wrong is done them, Christ takes it as done to himself (Matthew 25:45; Acts 9:4). This lets us see the heinous sins of many that profess the Gospel, especially in this k…

3. By remarkable Deliverances and Mercies; So it was with Naaman the Syrian, 2 Kings 2. 15, 16, 17. Sudden changes from great Dangers and Distresses by unexpected Reliefs, deeply affect the Minds of Men, convincing them of the Power, Presence, and Goodness of God.

How may we say with the same Psalmist in any other distress, O my God my soul is cast down within me, therefore will I remember you from the Land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites from the Hill Mizar (Psalm 42:6). Where is the God of Elijah, divides anew the waters of Jordan (2 K…

So is [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], used by our Apostle (Romans 1:27), excellently expressed by Solomon (Proverbs 1:31): Sinners shall eat of the fruit of their own ways, and be filled with their own devises. Such rewards we have recorded: Numbers 15:30; 1 Samuel 6:6; 1 Kings 13:…

Afterwards we read of their being under Elijah. Elisha was one of his sons; but he desired to have a double portion of his spirit, as his successor, as his firstborn, as the eldest son was wont to have a double portion of the estate of his father; and therefore the sons of the p…

But besides, they are especially such as have been brought up superstitiously or prophanely; such as have been bred in superstitious Popish families, are many times bitter scorners and reproachers of those who are most forward in the ways of godliness. We read 2 Kings 2:23 when…

Let them discern how to seek the face of God, and how to bear the hand of God, and how to prize the word of God, by seeing how we do it ourselves. When Elisha would get for himself a double portion of the spirit in Elijah, he said in (2 Kings 2:10), If you see me, it shall be so…

Sometimes a man out of an ignorant custom or neglect holds forth more evil in his words, than he either conceives or attends in his own apprehension, this is usual among children conversing with naughty and lewd company, they speak the evil words they hear frequently with their…

And therefore [illegible] little ones that are growing up to years of understanding, you have the day before you, if you do not take and improve the first of your time, to repent and turn to God in, God will require it of you, believe it he will. You may read in 2 Kings 2:23-24…

And concerning Elijah, the same reverend author has this passage: It is evident, that he was taken up alive, but not that he continues alive. And again, because we read expressly, that he was taken up into heaven (2 Kings 2:11), it is certain, says he, that his body was not carr…

Now let any Papist show me one letter or syllable in all the Book of God, commanding the use of a creature for any such end. They affirm indeed, that Elisha wrought miracles by hallowed salt, for by it he cured the bitter waters (2 Kings 2:21). But the Prophet used not hallowed,…

Scorning is the sporting of a man's self, with another man's contempt and disgrace; it is not merely speaking disparagingly, but it is such an injury, as makes itself sport with the disgrace and misery of another. So the children scorned the Prophet, for in their eyes his baldne…

The function of a minister is to quicken such as are dead in sin: to raise up and restore such as are [reconstructed: fallen] back again; to comfort those that are troubled in conscience; to strengthen the weak; to encourage the fainthearted; to confound the obstinate; to stand…

(3) Because the virtue of Christ's sacrifice did no less extend itself to believers under the Old Testament than to believers under the New (Revelation 13:8). (4) From the example of Enoch, and of Moses and Elijah, which two before the passion of Christ were seen upon the mount…

(2) Because, the fathers under the Old Testament, believed and expected life eternal; as (Job 19:25-27); David (Psalm 17:15); Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, all of these waited for eternal life (Hebrews 11:9-10). (3) Because, some at that time were put into actual possession of it;…