IN this Context we have the History of the Pious Life, and Tragical Death of good King Josiah. ⟨p. 118⟩The History of his Life gives u• an account of both what he was, and what he did. As to his Personal Endowments and Qualifications, they were singular and eximious, as appears by the fourfold Character by which he is described in the Context: for,
First, He espoused the interest of Religion betimes, even in his Youth; cap. 34. ver. 3. For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: And that under the great disadvantage of an ill Education, such a Morning promised a glorious Day.
Secondly, He hated all corruptive mixtures in the Worship of God, and was answerably zealous for Reformation; ibid. And in the twelfth year he began to purge Juda• and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, &c. as knowing well he and his people might expect no more of Gods blessing on the Ordinances, than there was of his presence in them; and no more of his presence can rationally be ⟨p. 119⟩expected, than there is of his own Order and Institution.
Thirdly, He was of a very tender impressive heart, mourning for public sins and dangers; ver. 26, 27. Because thy heart was tender, and thou didst humble thy self before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof; and humbledst thy self before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me, &c. He was not so intent upon his own pleasures (though in the sprightly vigour of Youth) nor on the weighty concerns of the Kingdom, as to forget the interest of God, and the greater concerns of his Glory.
Fourthly, He was exceeding careful to propagate the interest of Religion, and spread it far and wide among his People. Though he could not infuse the inward Principle, (that was the work of God) yet he did enjoin the external practice of it upon all his Subjects, which was his part and duty; ver. 33. He made all that ⟨p. 120⟩were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the Lord their God. And all his days they departed not from following the God of their Fathers.
IN this Context we have the History of the Pious Life, and Tragical Death of good King Iosiah. ⟨p. 118⟩The History of his Life gives u• an account of both what he was, and what he did. As to his Personal Endowments and Qualifications, they were singular and eximious, as appears by the fourfold Character by which he is described in the Context: for,
First, He espoused the interest of Religion betimes, even in his Youth; cap. 34. ver. 3. For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: And that under the great disadvantage of an ill Education, such a Morning promised a glorious Day.
Secondly, He hated all corruptive mixtures in the Worship of God, and was answerably zealous for Reformation; ibid. And in the twelfth year he began to purge Iuda• and Ierusalem from the high places, and the groves, &c. as knowing well he and his people might expect no more of Gods blessing on the Ordinances, than there was of his presence in them; and no more of his presence can rationally be ⟨p. 119⟩expected, than there is of his own Order and Institution.
Thirdly, He was of a very tender impressive heart, mourning for publick sins and dangers; ver. 26, 27. Because thy heart was tender, and thou didst humble thy self before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof; and humbledst thy self before me, and didst rend thy cloaths, and weep before me, &c. He was not so intent upon his own pleasures (though in the sprightly vigour of Youth) nor on the weighty concerns of the Kingdom, as to forget the interest of God, and the greater concerns of his Glory.
Fourthly, He was exceeding careful to propagate the interest of Religion, and spread it far and wide among his People. Though he could not infuse the inward Principle, (that was the work of God) yet he did enjoyn the external practice of it upon all his Subjects, which was his part and duty; ver. 33. He made all that ⟨p. 120⟩were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the Lord their God. And all his days they departed not from following the God of their Fathers.
