3. Because the Def. did make this one ground of denying our consequence from Hezekias zeal against the monuments of Idolatry, that He did not abolish the Idols which Solomon suffered to be set up in favour of his strange wives; because they were (at that time) neglected Idols. It was replied, that it may well be thought, they were destroyed by Hezekiah, and set up again before the time of Josiah. This the Rej. calleth rashness to be repented of: because it is said (2. Reg. 23.13.) that Josiah destroyed those high places, which Solomon had set up. And was it such a rashness, to say that it may be thought so? the phrase is more modest then theirs, who peremptorily affirm those Idols to have been neglected until after Hezekias time; when the Scripture testifieth plainly, that Ahaz, 1Hezekiah his father, worshipped Moloch (which was one of those Idols) by making his son to pass through the fire; and was so madly given to superstition, that he sacrificed under every green tree. 2. Reg. 16. Nay less was said, then some learned have with great probability affirmed: namely, that these Idols with their appurtenances were first defaced by Solomon himself, after his repentance; and being restored after by Idolaters, were again defaced. Salianus (in his Annals ad an, 3309.) saith thus: We think also that while Solomon lived, that whole shop of devils was broken up and ruined. And withal, the statues, the groves, and altars, as also the rest of idolatrous monuments 2. King. 23.13. to have reference to Manasseh and Ammon (who had set them up in the same place, and upon the same foundation) and not to Solomon, who died ⟨p. 397⟩250. years before. 2It is incredible to speak that when Asa, Jehoshaphat, and Ichoiada did far and near destroy idolatry, they notwithstanding suffered a scandal so apparent. And to the year 3406. it were very strange if those Idols after 350. years, should yet remain, the which Solomon after his repentance, and other good Kings had abolished. So that it is probable that such like temples and Idols were repaired, and built up again by other succeeding ungodly Kings, which Solomon in former time had made: that that which Solomon builded should be all one with such like as he had builded.
3. Because the Def. did make this one ground of denying our consequence from Hezekias zeale against the monuments of Idolatry, that Hee did not abolish the Idols which Solomon suffered to bee set up in favour of his strange wives; because they were (at that time) neglected Idols. It was replied, that it may well be thought, they were destroyed by Hezekiah, and set up againe before the time of Iosiah. This the Rej. calleth rashnesse to be repented of: because it is said (2. Reg. 23.13.) that Io•iah destroyed those high places, which Solomon had set up. And was it such a rashnesse, to say that it may be thought so? the phraze is more modest then theirs, who peremptorily affirme those Idols to have beene neglected untill after Hezekias time; when the Scripture testifieth plainely, that Ahaz, 1Hezechias his father, worshipped Mol•ch (which was one of those Idols) by making his sonne to passe thorow the fire; and was so madly given to superstition, that he sacrificed under every green tree. 2. Reg. 16. Nay lesse was said, then some learned have with great probability affirmed: namely, that these Idols with their appurtenanceces were first defaced by Solomon himselfe, after his repentance; and being restored after by Idolaters, were againe defaced. Salianus (in his Annals ad an, 3309.) saith thus: We thinke also that while Solomon lived, that whole shop of divels was broken up and ruined. And withall, the statues, the groves, and altars, as also the rest of ido•atrous monuments 2. King. 23.13. to have reference to Manasses and Ammon (who had set them up in the same place, and upon the same foundation) and not to Solomon, who died ⟨p. 397⟩250. yeares before. 2It is incredible to speake that when Asa, Iosaphat, and Ichoiada did farre and neare destroy idolatry, they notwithstanding suffered a skandall so apparant. And to the yeare 3406. it were very strange if those Idols after 350. yeares, should yet remaine, the which Solomon after his repentance, and other good Kings had abolished. So that it is probable that such like temples and Idols were repaired, and bui•t up againe by other succeeding ungodly Kings, which Solomon in former time had made: that that which Solomon builded should be all one with such like as he had builded.
- 1Existimamus etiam, vivo Salomone, omnem illam Daemonum officinam disruptam fuisse, dilaceratam, atque disperditam. Videnturque referendae illa statuae, & luci, & ara, & reliqua idololatria monumenta (a Reg. 23.13.) ad Manassem, & Ammonem (qui excitaverant illa in eodem loco, & supra eadem fundamenta) non ad Salomonem, ante annot 250.
- 2250. extinctum. Incredibile dictu est. tantum scandalum ab Asa, Josaphato, Joiada, cum lat è idololatriam disperderent, in oculis ipsis positum, non vid•sse, aut non ausos attingere, & ad annum 3406. Mirum profecto si Idola illa post tercentos 50. annos subsisterens, quae Salomon ipse poenitens, & caeteri Reges boni sustulissent. Utique dicendum videtur, ab impijs Regibus extructa suisse ejusdem generis fana, & Idola quae •lim Salomon in ijsdem locis extruxerat: ut illud quae aedificaveret Salomon, fit idem ac si dixisset, qualia aedificaverat.250. extinctum. Incredibile dictu est. tantum scandalum ab Asa, Iosaphato, Ioiada, cum lat è idololatriam disperderent, in oculis ipsis positum, non vid•sse, aut non ausos attingere, & ad annum 3406. Mirum profecto si Idola illa post tercentos 50. annos subsisterens, quae Salomon ipse poenitens, & caeteri Reges boni sustulissent. Vtique dicendum videtur, ab impijs Regibus extructa suisse ejusdem generis fana, & Idola quae •lim Salomon in ijsdem locis extruxerat: ut illud quae aedificaveret Salomon, fit idem ac si dixisset, qualia aedificaverat.
