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…

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…

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…

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…