2 Kings 8

Answ. 1. He teaches us to see into our own hearts. Take the most Mercurial wits, the greatest politicians, that understand the mysteries of state, yet they know not the mysteries of their own hearts, they cannot believe there is that evil in them as is (2 Kings 8:13): Is your se…

4. Original sin, though it lies latent in the soul, and is as a spring which runs under ground, yet often it breaks forth unexpectedly. Christian, you cannot believe that evil which is in your heart, and which will break forth suddenly if God leaves you (2 Kings 8:13, 15). Is yo…

Little do persons think, many times, what they shall be, and the reason is, they know not what they are at present. Hazael seemed at present to abhor the thoughts of doing such a great wickedness, as the prophet foretold that he would do (2 Kings 8:12, 13): Is your servant a dog…

They will surely show themselves, as much as any other sins, which do stir, and work in the heart or life. Hazael will show himself to be a dog, though at present he himself cannot think it (2 Kings 8:13). 3. When the Commandment comes, there is as it were a great alarm given to…

1. To know himself: Take the most mercurial wit, the subtle politician, who is able to dive into the arcana Imperii, the mysteries of state, yet he is acutely obtuse, ignorant of his own heart: There are those meanders and sophisms, those intrinsic pollutions, that he cannot fin…

Should they not be as careful for religion also? But even good people give a suspicion sometimes that they do not believe what they do profess; that this is the ready way to undo all that has been set on foot for God, is evident by Scripture and experience — in Scripture we read…

If you will know what company there is in hell, that Catalogue will inform you, Fearful, and Unbelievers, &c. (Revelation 21:8). If you look to temporal judgements, that Nobleman was trodden to death for distrusting God's power (2 Kings 8:2), and could only see the plenty, but n…

There are, says he, [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩], three worlds; [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩], the upper world which is the world of angels and spirits; [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩], the world of the heavens and stars; and [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩], this world below. But in the first resp…

No song so musical as that which is set to the highest strain of lamentation. I remember the Prophet Elisha's passion, when he foresaw evils that should be acted; he looked upon Hazael, says the text (2 Kings 8:11), and wept; and Hazael said, Why does my Lord weep? He replied, B…

This, as it is in itself a vile vice, so is it a cause of many other vices, as of presumption, rebellion, and even of adultery itself many times: and it is also a main hindrance of all duty. It commonly rises either from self-conceit (whereby wives overween their own gifts, thin…

As to actual sins, there is a difference; but as to original sin, it is the same in all. All the sins that ever have been, or shall be committed in the world, they are virtually in our natures, they are but original sin acted and drawn out this way, and that way, as all numbers…

In hiding the disease; the heart hides sin as Rachel hid her father's idols (Genesis 31:34). Hazael did not think he was as sick as he was; he could not imagine that so much wickedness lay lurking in him (2 Kings 8:13): is your servant a dog that he should do this great thing? A…

The better the heart is, the more suspicious; Satan has a party within us — the heart is not true to itself, therefore it needs excubation and caution. Little did Hazael think what was in his heart (2 Kings 8:13). Had one come to Noah and said: Noah, you will be drunk shortly, h…

Not here to insist on that [illegible] of Herod's infanticide (Matthew 2:16, 17). We need not so much wonder at Hazaech's cruelty against the Children of Israel in slaying their young men with the sword, and dashing their children, [illegible] ripping up their women with child (…

Theodoret. God acts the noon-day sun meridionaliter in every heart: the man himself is without, and God within (Jeremiah 17:9). Man searches not his own heart and reins, for there are plottings and inclinations to evil in the heart, which the heart knows not (2 Kings 8:12-13). P…

(1 Kings 15:28): Baasha slew him and reigned, [in non-Latin alphabet]. (2 Kings 8:15): He slew him, and Hazael reigned, [in non-Latin alphabet]. (2 Kings 15:10): Shallum slew him, and reigned in his stead, [in non-Latin alphabet].

Objection: But this Covenant is made to, and with David, that Solomon, and one of David's line, shall sit upon David's Throne, until the Messiah, the true beloved shall be born (2 Samuel 7:12-13). Answer: It is true, and although these of David's line sinned, yet by virtue of th…

'For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he is offended' (Matthew 13:21). But should one have told them in the days of their first profession, that all their zeal and labor in religion would have ended in this, it is likely they would have rep…

We little think what a strange alteration an exalted estate will make upon our spirits. When the prophet would abate the vain confidence of Hazael who could not believe that ever he should be turned into such a savage beast as the prophet had foretold: he only tells him, 'The Lo…