THOSE that have been Eminent Reformers in the Church of God, have seldom or never been so happy, as to Effect a perfect Reformation. Asa reformed many things, But the high places were not taken away, 2 Chron. 15. 17. And tho' it is said of Jehoshaphat. that he took away the high places out of Judah, 2 Chron. 17. 6. Yet, Chap. 20. v. 33 it is noted, that in the latter end of his Reign, That the high places were not taken away: the meaning is, that he did take them away in part, yet did not perfectly effect it. Corruption is wont to creep upon the Church by degrees, and Reformation is not effected at once. Sometimes when those things that are more gross are taken away, some lesser Corruptions are retained: and sometimes when men go from one extreme, they don't stop where they should, but trespass on the other hand. This comes to pass, partly through the dim-sightedness of men: when many Corruptions are grown up in the Church, it must be a work of Time to make a discovery of them; those that discern some, are not suspicious of others; when the Church is much corrupted, it is a time of darkness, and Errors do not lye open to Observation. Partly it comes to pass through the perverseness, and stubbornness of People, who are backward to turn out of those ways that they have been naturalized unto: that is given as the reason why the High places were not taken away, because the People had not prepared their heart to the Lord God of their Fathers, 2 Chron. 20. 22.
THOSE that have been Eminent Reformers in the Church of God, have seldom or never been so happy, as to Effect a perfect Reformation. Asa reformed many things, But the high places were not taken away, 2 Chron. 15. 17. And tho' it is said of Jehoshaphat. that he took away the high places out of Judah, 2 Chron. 17. 6. Yet, Chap. 20. v. 33 it is noted, that in the latter end of his Reign, That the high places were not taken away: the meaning is, that he did take them away in part, yet did not perfectly effect it. Corruption is wont to creep upon the Church by degrees, and Reformation is not effected at once. Sometimes when those things that are more gross are taken away, some lesser Corruptions are retained: and sometimes when men go from one extream, they don't stop where they should, but trespass on the other hand. This comes to pass, partly through the dim-sighredness of men: when many Corruptions are grown up in the Church, it must be a work of Time to make a discovery of them; those that discern some, are not suspicious of others; when the Church is much corrupted, it is a time of darkness, and Errors do not lye open to Observation. Partly it comes to pass through the perversness, and stubborness of People, who are backward to turn out of those ways that they have been naturalized unto: that is given as the reason why the High places were not taken away, because the People had not prepared their heart to the Lord God of their Fathers, 2 Chron. 20. 22.
