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2. THE reformation, which was fo happily advanced, had been awfully crushed by the affinity of the family of David with the house of Ahab. The edge of the Church's teftimony, in Afa's reformation, pointed directly against the idolatry of the ten tribes. But, for political reasons perhaps, Jehoshaphat got his fon Jehoram to marry Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab, and fhe introduced idolatry into his family; which was greatly displeasing to God, and feverely punished by him. Jehoshaphat probably meant to put a period to the war which had long fubfifted between Ifrael and Judah; but he broke the peace with heaven, and brought a bloody fword into his own house. His heir flew all the rest of his fons as foon as he afcended the throne; and Athaliah murdered all the feed-royal when fhe understood that her firstborn had died by the hand of Jehu. Thus, though the law condemning idolaters was not duly executed, yet vengeance did not fuffer them to live. Athaliah, however, meant not fo, neither did her heart think fo: She intended to make the houfe of David like the houfe of her father Ahab; and, at once, to gratify her ambition, as well as fecure herself from the victorious arms of Jehu, fhe grasped at the throne and fceptre of David. This gave additional fecurity to the worship of Baal, which was practifed during the fix years of Athaliah's ufurpation. This idol had his temple, to rival

that

that which was built by Solomon; and his priest, to rival the priest of the Moft High after the order of Aaron: But both fell a facrifice to an injured people. Now it was neceffary to make a reformation from fuch flagrant corruption; and to confirm this reformation by folemn covenanting. It was proper to remove the rubbish of idolatry, and also reftore fuch parts of reformation as God had beftowed on their fathers; as well as to make fuch alterations in the facred bond as their cafe, and the circumftances of their time required.

3. THE Lord had accomplished a moft favourable revolution in the State, profpering the enterprize of Jehoiada to restore the family of David unto the throne of Judah. The scheme was wifely concerted and vigorously executed, as well as faithfully concealed until it was ripe for execution: And every thing fucceeded even to the most fanguine expectation. Now, fuch remarkable fuccefs called for a grateful acknowledgment; and covenantrenovation was the fitteft for their circumftances, and the best improvement of their deliverance.

LASTLY, I fhall now make fome REFLECTIONS on the whole,

1. SEE the juftice of Heaven in avenging the fhedding of innocent blood. God requires the blood of the children of Jehoshaphat at the hand of their brother: And that of the innocents of Jerufalem at the hand of Atha- liah.

2. GOD over-rules the providential changes in kingdoms and nations for the good of his Church; and makes the efforts of the people, in favour of law and civil liberty, fubfervient to a work of reformation. The reftoration of David's line was accompanied with the renovation of the Church's engagements to the

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ON THE

COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND JUDAH,

IN THE REIGN OF HEZEKIAH.

2 CHRON. xxix. 10.

THE

ding one.

HE accounts of this tranfaction are ftill more fparing than those of the preceWe fhall only,-I. Survey the Character of the Covenanters.-II. The Refolution into which they entered.-III. The Occa❤ fions of this Covenant.-And, IV. Deduce a few Inferences from the whole.

FIRST, I shall furvey the CHARACTER OF the Covenanters in this tranfaction.

1. THE glorious party unto whom they were bound to furrender themselves is, THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL. This designation was relative, and led the covenanters back to review the relation in which the Moft High stood

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1. SEE the juftice of Heaven in avenging the fhedding of innocent blood. God requires the blood of the children of Jehoshaphat at the hand of their brother: And that of the innocents of Jerufalem at the hand of Atha- liah.

2. GOD over-rules the providential changes in kingdoms and nations for the good of his Church; and makes the efforts of the people, in favour of law and civil liberty, fubfervient to a work of reformation. The restoration of David's line was accompanied with the renovation of the Church's engagements to the

Lord.

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