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).

I answer, it may imply their entrance into the Church under a color and shew of profession: wicked men may creep into the best Church; God permitteth it not only for their own hardening, but for our trouble and trial. Paul complaineth of false brethren privily brought in to spy…

Secondly, there is a court which before seemed to belong to the Temple, left out and not measured: from him that has not shall be taken away even that which he has. The Samaritans of this time, who serve the Lord, and serve their own Gods too, and do after the manners of idolate…

The first of them, (Psalm 33:15) He fashions their hearts alike, gives him no ground at all, except it be the homonomy of the English word alike, which in this place notes nothing else but [in non-Latin alphabet], all mens hearts are alike in this, that God fashions them all, an…

But joining does not always signify joining in Covenant; Philip joined to the Eunuch's chariot, and dust to men's feet (Acts 8:29 & Luke 10:11), and yet there was no Covenant, and therefore men may join to the Church without any Covenant. The word indeed may express any close jo…

And as it was related to that, it was its eastern boundary. It is so spoken of (Genesis 15:18; Exodus 23:31; Deuteronomy 1:7 and 11:24; Joshua 1:4; 2 Samuel 8:3; 1 Chronicles 18:3; 1 Kings 4:21; Ezra 4:20). Agreeable to this diverse respect or relation of this river, under which…

Whether they made any progress at all in the Jewish religion and in the knowledge of God, or utterly abandoned it, is uncertain. It is true that when they wished to join themselves to the returning Jewish people, enticed by the carnal hope of sharing in the privileges that the k…

The remaining parts of the reformation of the Ezraitic church — The solemn restoration of the preaching of the divine word (Nehemiah 8:1, 8) — Its neglect before the captivity — Jehoshaphat's efforts in its restoration (2 Chronicles 17:7-9) — Princes joined to the priests and Le…

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…

The people returning from their captivity with Zerubbabel in the days of Cyrus had laid the foundation of the Temple; but having begun their work, great opposition was made against it, and great discouragements they met withal, as it will fall out with all men that engage in the…

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…

For it is an honor to God, and a comfort to his Church, that our God is not as their God, our enemies being judges and witnesses. Object. 6. The godly Jews would not suffer the Samaritans to build the Temple with them, though they offered themselves (Ezra 4:2, 3). And if singing…