2 Kings 23

Thirdly, image-worship is against the practice of the saints of old. Josiah that renowned king, destroyed the groves and images (2 Kings 23:24). Constantine abrogated the images set up in temples.

Thus to do, is but to offer the sacrifice of Cain, and that makes the most professors go away with their service unaccepted as Cain's was: for God will have all or none, he is worthy to have no partner: he must be served with all the heart, with soul and body, so that a man must…

By which expressions we are to understand, that there were but very few, for there was one or two, for he is paralleled with David, ver. 3. And the same expression is afterwards used concerning Josiah (2 Kings 23:25). So that these three, David, Hezekiah, Josiah, were the three…

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…

But I rather think there is a third, that signifies to be Black from burning; because those things that are burnt, they are made black. When the flame first takes hold upon a thing it makes it black: and so Chemarims are as much as black ones, or indeed Black Coats; they were wo…

XXI. Also the term meaning "new gods:": Judges 5:8, "The people chose new gods" — mushrooms of the earth, which but the day before yesterday did not at all ex- XXII. Furthermore, from the nature and desert of idolatry, idols are frequently called "abominations:": 2 Kings 23:24,…

There were also artificial groves, that is, fabricated images and likenesses of natural ones, which they brought into their sacred temples and used in some manner in religious worship. Such was the grove that King Josiah removed from the house of God and burned (2 Kings 23:6). W…

For since that place was rendered horrible and abominable — first by the burning alive of miserable infants; then by the total destruction of the Assyrian army under Sennacherib; and finally by Josiah's casting in of dead bones, which brought upon it the greatest pollution — it…

Of the actions of the body orderly and reverently used, are bowing of our bodies (Isaiah 45:23). Reverent attention declared sometimes by rising up (Genesis 49:33; 1 Chronicles 28:2; Numbers 23:22; 2 Kings 23:2; 2 Chronicles 34:31; Nehemiah 8:6). Also lifting up of the hands and…

We shall first open the words a little, and then speak to some doctrines from them, reserving the uses to the close of all. 1. Where it is said, He was oppressed, the word signifies to exact; and we find it three ways applied in Scripture: 1. To the exacting of tribute, as (2 Ki…

By Topheth, no doubt he means hell: not as though we should imagine there were some place where the wicked are shut up after their death as in a prison, there to suffer the torments which they have deserved: but he thereby signifies their miserable condition and extreme torments…

Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice. They ought to profess a willingness of heart to embrace religion with all its difficulties, and to walk…

Here was a high, an unparalleled act of confidence. Yet afterward it was said concerning Josiah (2 Kings 23:25): That like to him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might. Here it is said after Hezeki…

This was a famous and very particular prophecy of a person named near two hundred years before he was born, and those things punctually foretold of him which he should afterwards perform. The like we have (1 Kings 13:2), where the prophet declaims against the idolatrous altar an…

When and after what Manner particularly the Israelites ordinarily performed this explicit Covenanting, I do not know that we can be certain. But as it was first done on Occasion of God's first Promulgating his Law or Covenant at Mount Sinai, and was done again on Occasion of a R…

So the Church affirms; our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have born their iniquities (Lamentations 5:11). And so it was: for in the Babylonish captivity God punished the sins of their fore-fathers, especially those committed in the days of Manasses (2 Kings 23:26, 27).…

David had many failings, and some that left an indelible brand upon him in the matter of Uriah, yet because of his sincerity, and habitual purpose, God says, He has kept all my commandments. So in Josiah (2 Kings 23:25): Like to him there was no king before him, that turned to t…

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…

Hence by way of excellency he calls it the Covenant, the Covenant of the Lord (Jeremiah 2[illegible]:9; Deuteronomy 4:23; Joshua 23:11); My Covenant, says the Lord (Genesis 17:7, 9, 10; Exodus 19:5; Psalm 50:16); His Covenant (Psalm 105:8); He remembered his Covenant forever (Ps…

So the church affirms: "Our fathers sinned, and are no more; and we bear their iniquities" (Lamentations 5:7). And so it was — for in the Babylonian captivity God punished the sins of their forefathers, especially those committed in the days of Manasseh (2 Kings 23:26–27). As af…

So the servants of God do heartily desire and endeavor to obey God in all his commandments, as it is said of King Josiah, that he turned to God with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his might, according to all the laws of Moses, etc. Yet because they are clogged with t…

Indeed all sin in many things: but all sin not after the same manner. The righteous when they sin, are drawn into sin either through their own weakness, or through the violence of some temptation: they take not liberty wittingly and willingly to nourish any sin, or omit any duty…

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…

(6) Because, though the Israelites worshipped the true God, by an image (for Aaron built an altar, and made proclamation, and said, tomorrow is a feast to the Lord) yet are they accused of the sin of idolatry, and for that cause severely punished (Exodus 32:21, 27, 35). (7) Beca…

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…

For they do not look upon the Word as their Rule, seeing (as they dream) they have a Light within them, beyond that more sure Word of Prophecy, which the Apostle Peter prefers to a voice from Heaven. Indeed, they have so little veneration for the Scriptures, that they will not s…

By what reasons are they confuted? (1) Because, under the Old Testament, Councils, and Synods were appointed and called by godly Kings (1 Kings 8:1; 2 Kings 23:1; 2 Chronicles 29:4). (2) Because, it is the duty of the civil magistrate being born within the church, to take care t…

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…