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

We find when the good Kings of Judah reformed, they did not search only into what was done in the ages immediately before them, or what their next fathers had done, but they searched what was done in the times of their godly fathers, how many removes soever distant from them. ⟨p. 60⟩Hezekiah (2 Chron. 29.6.) tells the Levites that their fathers were in an error, that they had trespassed, and done that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and had forsaken him; and Chap. 30.5. speaking of the observation of the Passover, he saith, They had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written; therefore, v. 7. he dehorteth them saying, Be not ye like your fathers which trespassed against the Lord God of your fathers; he doth not mean that they should not be like their first fathers, who had the truth purely committed to them, and so worshipped God purely; but be not like your immediate fore-fathers, or your corrupt fore-fathers, how many descents and generations so ever, ye can number from them. And this was a thing so strange, that when Hezekiah sent the Posts from City to City through the Countries of Ephraim and Manasseh with this message, that he would have a reformation according to the first institution or pattern, and would not have them stay in what their fore-fathers had done; It is said, vers. 10. That they laughed the messengers to scorn, and they mocked them, what must we now be wiser then our fathers? Yes, saith he, you have done evil a long time, you and your fathers, therefore I must bring you back to your first fathers, in comparison of whom, the fathers you claim by were but children, and those degenerate children. It is said of Josiah's reformation (2 King. 23.22.) That there was not the like from the days of the Judges, nor in all the days of the Kings of Israel and Judah, he went to the very beginning of all, there had not been such a thing done before. So that if any should have objected, why may not such a reformation serve us as served those Kings and Judges? No, saith Josiah, I will search what was beyond their time, into the remotest antiquities. The Church makes humble confession (Psal. 106.6.) We have erred with our fathers; let not any turn this into a stubborn resolution, and say, We will err with their fathers: if that be an error which our fathers believed and practised, we will err with them.