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2 Kings

xvii. 19.

xii. I.

And presently after it is faid, Alfo Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the ftatutes of Ifrael which they made. No fooner had Reboboam the Son of Solomon, after the Revolt 2 Chron. of the ten Tribes from him, establish'd the kingdom, and ftrengthen'd himself, but we are told, be for fook the law of the LORD, and all Ifrael with him. And we read in 1 Kings another Place, that, in his Reign, Judah did evil in the fight of the LORD, and they provok'd him to jealousy with their fins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done. For they alfo built them High-Places and images and groves,on every high bill, and under every green tree.

xiv. 22.

xiv. 2.

XV. 16.

However, in the Reign of Afa, Grandfon of Rehoboam, things took another turn; 2 Chron. He did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. For he took a way the altars of the ftrange gods, and the high-places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves. And commanded Judah to feek the LORD God of their fathers; and to do the law and the commandment. Alfo he took away out of all the cities of Judah, the High-Places and the images : and

the

the kingdom was quiet before him. MoreI over, he remov'd Maacha his mother from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and cut down her idol, and ftamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron. But the High-Places were not taken away out of Ifrael: (that not being in his Power to effect) nevertheless the heart of Afa was perfect all his days.

xvii. 6.

His Son Jehoshaphat trod in his steps; and took away the High-Places and groves out 2 Chron. of Judah. And when afterwards God was difpleas'd with him for having made an Alliance with Abab King of Ifrael, yet it is faid good things were found in him, in 2 Chron. that he had taken away the groves out of the xix. 2. land, and prepar'd his heart to feek God. Which, after all, we muft understand of his having, only given Orders, to have them taken away; or feen it done only in Part. For afterwards, when his Character comes to be fum'd up, and he is allow'd to have walk'd in the way of Afa his father, there is this Reservation made; poffibly more thro' the Fault of his Subjects than himself; Howbeit the High-Places 2 Chron. were not taken away; for, as yet, the people

bad

xx. 32.

had not prepar'd their hearts unto the God of their fathers.

His Son and Succeffor Jeboram, who had married Athaliah, Daughter of * Omri, an Idolatrous King of Ifrael, himself relaps'd likewife into the fame Abomina2 Chron. tions: He made High-Places in the mounxxi. 11. tains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerufalem to commit fornication, and compell'd Judah thereto.

2 Chron.

xxii. I.

His Son Abaziah (whofe Mother Athaliah outliv'd and fucceeded him in the Government) ftill kept up the High-Places and all the vile Pomp of Idolatry. And Joaf, another of his Sons, tho' he fet out well, yet toward the latter End of his Life was perverted by fome of his idola2 Chron. trous Courtiers; who left the house of the xxiv. 18. LORD God of their fathers, and ferved

groves and idols.

The Reign of Amaziah the Son of Joash was no better than that of his Fa2 Kings ther the High-Places were not taken away ;

xiv. 4.

as yet the people did facrifice, and burnt incenfe on the High-Places.

*She is call'd a Daughter of Ahab. (1 Kings xxi. 6.) because fhe follow'd his ways.

XV. 3.

His Son Azariah,call'd alfo Uzziah,tho' 2 Kings faid to have done that which was right in the fight of the LORD, however has this Exception ftanding out against him; fave that the High-Places were not remov'd; the people facrific'd and burnt incenfe ftill on the High-Places. And it was probably, about this time, that the LORD by the Mouth of the Prophet Hofea, charges them with facrificing upon the tops of the mountains, and Hof. iv. burning incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars, and elms, because the Shadow thereof was good.

Jotham, his Son, follow'd the example his Father had fet him, both in his good and bad Deeds, the people yet did corruptly; that is, they still follow'd their idolatrous practices in the High-Places.

13.

2 Chron.

xxvii. 2.

Abaz the Son of Jotham was utterly given to Idolatry and all the Abominations of the Heathen; be facrificed alfo, and 2 Chron. burnt incenfe in the High-Places, and on the bills, and under every green tree.

xxviii. 4.

His Son and Succeffor Hezekiah was extraordinary for his Piety and Goodness; For he remov'd the High-Places, and brake 2 Kings the images, and cut down the groves, &c.

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xviii. 4

xxi. 2.

2 Kings But his Son Manasseh, who did that which was evil in the fight of the LORD, after the abominations of the heathen, built up again the High-Places which Hezekiah bis Father had deftroy'd.

But, his Grandfon Jofiah, a Prince exceeding zealous for the true Religion of God, utterly clear'd the Land of all its former Idolatries and erroneous kinds of

Worship. In the twelfth Year of his Reign, 2 Chron. When he was but twenty Years old, be xxxiv.3. began to purge Judah and Jerufalem from the High-Places, and the groves, and the

carved images, and the molten images. He 2 Kings made clear Work; even with the Highxxiii. 13. Places that were before Jerufalem, which

were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the King of Ifrael had builded, &c. and had escap'd in the Reign of Hezekiah, and the reft of the reforming Kings. In a Word, like unto him was there no king before him, that turn'd

to the LORD with all his heart, and with 2 Kings all his foul, and with all his might, accordxxiii. 25. ing to all the law of Moses; neither after any like him.

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