An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth, & tenth chapters of…

He shall break down their Altars: he shall spoil their Images.

The Divisions of this People, of which you have heard so largely^*, were much about the way of Worship, most of them contending for the way of False Worship against the True; they would have their Images and their Altars honoured: but God saith, he would break them down, and spoil them; ye keep a stir for them, but you shall not have them: But he will break down their Altars. Decollabit, the word comes from a root that signifies a Neck; ²and so that which you have in your Books translated,³ break down, it is, break their necks; he will break the necks of their Altars. Ternovius a learned Interpreter hath a Note upon the place, it hath an allusion (saith he) to that that they were wont to have upon their Altars,⁴ they were wont to have Ornamenta quasi Capitela, that were (as it were) the heads of their Altars, they were wont to have brave things upon their Altars, and Crowns upon their Altars: I, but saith the Lord, I will break the necks of them all: He will break down their Altars, and spoil their Images.

The Divisions of this People, of which you have heard so largely^*, were much about the way of Worship, most of them contending for the way of False Worship against the True; they would have their Images and their Altars honored: but God saith, he would break them down, and spoil them; ye keep a stir for them, but you shall not have them: But he will break down their Altars. Decollabit, the word comes from a root that signifies a Neck; ²