Universal redemption of mankind, by the Lord Jesus Christ stated and cleared by the…

But the Text that I find alleged most frequently and confidently by very many Learned Men, is 2 Chron. 28. 23. (and I desire God to forgive me, that in my ignorance I have oft so abused it my self) The words are these [For he Sacrificed to the Gods of Damascus that smote him; and he said, because the Gods of the King of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me] The last words are confessed to be the false words of the deluded Idolater Ahaz; but all the question is of the former words, which are the words of the Holy Ghost [He Sacrificed to the Gods of Damascus that smote him,] where by supine oversight, ⟨p. 330⟩Men have taken it, as if the Text made this smiting the act of the Gods, whereas it makes it the act of Damascus, or the Men of Damascus. It was Damascus that smote him, and not the Gods of Damascus, according to the Text.

But the Text that I find alledged most frequently and confidently by very many Learned Men, is 2 Chron. 28. 23. (and I desire God to forgive me, that in my ignorance I have oft so abused it my self) The words are these [For he Sacrificed to the Gods of Damascus that smote him; and he said, because the Gods of the King of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me] The last words are confess'd to be the false words of the deluded Idolater Ahaz; but all the question is of the former words, which are the words of the Holy Ghost [He Sacrificed to the Gods of Damascus that smote him,] where by supine oversight, ⟨p. 330⟩Men have taken it, as if the Text made this smiting the act of the Gods, whereas it makes it the act of Damascus, or the Men of Damascus. It was Damascus that smote him, and not the Gods of Damascus, according to the Text.

Tremelius and Junius render it thus plainly, [Sacrificavit enim Diis Damascenorum percutientium ipsum] not Diis Damascenorum percutientientibus ipsum. And would one think now that so great a stress should be laid by prudent sober men, on such an oversight. Darmesek being a collective, the Cities name put for the Peoples (than which nothing more usual when there is mention of the acts of Cities and Countries) did truly smite Ahaz: As England did smite Scotland: Or Rome conquered so much of the World: And Venice holds War with the Turk.