Ezra 4

Jeremiah 20:10: Report, say they, and we will report. Ezra 4:15: This city (that is, Jerusalem) is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces. Paul was slandered as a mover of sedition, and the head of a faction (Acts 24:5).

It is known, some have such antipathy with a rose, which is a pleasant creature of God, that the smell of it has made them fall a swooning. Jerusalem is the rebellious city (Ezra 4:12), therefore men are unwilling it should be built. Lusts in men's minds, either heresies, or any…

We have seen the proof of this when the people came out of Babylon (Ezra 1:6), but this was only a small taste of those things which were done by Jesus Christ, to whom all this must be referred. For the Lord indeed inclined the hearts of the nations which hated his people mortal…

That is, the chief of the evil angels, as it is conceived. The word [Satan] signifies an adversary, and so it is often times applied to men; as concerning Solomon, it is said that while he did walk exactly with God, there was neither adversary nor evil occurrence; the word in th…

In this verse are three points to be handled: First, what these Scribes and Pharises were: Secondly, what was their Righteousnesse: and thirdly, what is that true Righteousnesse, whereby a man may enter into the kingdome of heaven, and stand just before God. For the first: a Scr…

"For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even unto Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river." This Artaxerxes king of Persia takes notice of long after: Ezra 4:20. "There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled ov…

It was the effect of his power, who hath the hearts of kings in his hands, and turneth them whithersoever he will; and it was a remarkable instance of his favor to his people. Another remarkable circumstance of this restitution of the state of the Jews to their own land was that…

Another way is to speak evil, and yet so, as to manifest a great deal of grief and sorrow for such reports, and secretly desire that they may spread, and take where they come. Sixthly, when they want apparent matter for reproach, they will pretend some love to get matter for rep…

It is one of the falsest, and yet one of the commonest prejudices that the world has always entertained against true Religion, that it is an enemy to civil power, and government. The adversaries of the Jews charged this fault upon their City, the then Seat of the true worship of…

By what spirit are the Quakers and others acted, and why are these things kept up, but to render Christianity odious? Sanballat and Tobias set up a party among the Jews, to hinder the work of their restoration (Ezra 4:4), that they might foment division among them, and so hinder…