the reformation, indeed; but it was greatly crushed by the apoftacy of Joafh, after the death of Jehoiada. As long as the High-prieft lived he was ready to promote the reparation of the temple, both by his royal edict and example; but he was no fooner dead than the princes of Judah flattered him into that idolatry from which they had been but lately reformed. They came and made obeifance to the king: Then the king hearkened unto them. And they left the houfe of the Lord God of their fathers, and ferved groves and idols. Such is the inconftancy and inconfiftence of many profeffors in almost every age! And, to add unto their guilt, when the Spirit of the Lord came upon Zechariah, the fon of Jehoiada, and he teftified against them, faying, "Why tranfgrefs ye the commandment of the Lord, that ye cannot profper?" they stoned him with ftones, at the commandment of the king, in the court of the houfe of the Lord. When perfons fall into irreligion and impiety against God, it is not ftrange to fee them guilty of ingratitude and cruelty to the beft of men. The vengeance of heaven overtook that perfecuting monarch: For he was vifited with war abroad, and confpiracy at home. His own fervants confpired against him, for the blood of the fons of Jehoiada the priest, and flew him on his bed. The ftate of reformation, however, advanced in the three following reigns:

reigns: For the Spirit of God witneffeth, notwithstanding various blemishes, THEY DID

THAT WHICH WAS RIGHT IN THE SIGHT

OF THE LORD. The space of their reigns, taken altogether, exceeds eighty years; a period of Reformation ftill longer than the for

mer one.

BUT this long day of reformation was fucceeded with a dark night of horrid apoftacy, in the reign of Ahaz; the darkest, by much, that had ever befallen the Jewish Church, fince the acceffion of David's family unto the throne. Ahaz was not content with introducing the worship of idols into his kingdom; but, when punished for his idolatry, in the time of his diftrefs he did trefpafs yet more against the Lord, by fhutting up the gates of the houfe of the Lord, as well as putting forth his facrilegious hands unto the facred veffels and treafures. The Spirit remarks that he was eminent in wickedness; for, having fpecified his crime, he adds, "THIS IS THAT KING AHAZ." The rubbish which filled the temple was fo dreadfully enormous, as to hinder temple fervice until the Priests and Levites had performed the heavy task of clearing it. The altars of Baal had been erected in every corner of his city; and the vengeance of heaven, ever fervent against idolatry and falfe worship, had wasted his kingdom.

Such was the difinal plight of Judah

when

when Hezekiah fucceeded his father. Though Ahaz had facrificed many of his children unto devils, yet Hezekiah seems to have been referved by heaven for the purpose of restoring the worthip of Jehovah, as well as repairing the temple. This covenant was made in purfuance of that reformation which Hezekiah had fo happily begun, to induce these reformers to finish their teftimony. Thefe were the circumftances of the covenanters at this time. The children of Judah, in short, had to acknowledge their iniquity, and fupplicate the removal of their plagues: Therefore, it was proper to return unto the Lord their God by covenant-renova→ tion.

FOURTHLY, I fhall now deduce a few INFERENCES from what has been offered.

1. GRACE comes not unto any by natural generation: Jotham begets a wicked Ahaz; THAT KING AHAZ good Hezekiah; and this laft reformer a wicked Mánaffeh. The fons of God are born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth; but of God who fheweth mercy.

2. THE work of reformation is more easily marred, by the example and edicts of wicked princes,

princes, and the fupple, or perverfe conduct of fervile teachers, than it can be advanced by the zealous and firm deportment of the most fteady reformers. It was more eafy for Ahaz

to break down the carved work of Zion, as with axes and hammers, than for Hezekiah to build it up. With what amazing facility did Ahaz introduce the worship of Baalim; and perfuade the deluded votaries of that idol to devote their moft tender offspring to the most direful torments, in paffing through the fire to Molech! How eafily did Ahaz and Judah chime in with those very Syrians whom God ufed for the rod of their correction! Ahaz was not more pleafed with the altar of Damafcus, than Urijah with the pattern which was fent from thence unto Jerufalem: And, after both were convinced that the god of that altar was unable to deliver, by the deftruction of Damafcus, did they fet up this ftrange altar, and break down that of the Moft High God. What grofs ftupidity? How wretched the exchange! Yet there will, in all ages, be fome men found wicked enough to execute the most impious commands that come from a throne! The demolition of divine worfhip is the more easily accomplished, as there are ufually more bad men than good in the world; and, even in good men themselves, the corrupt and unrenewed part greatly pre

vails.

3. AN univerfal obedience unto the law of God, and an univerfal attendance unto divine inftitutions, goes hand in hand with right covenanting, and is greatly influenced by it. It has ufually been urged against this duty, the neglectors of it, that covenanters lay a difproportionate ftrefs upon it, and overlook, or undervalue other duties. But Hezekiah's practice fhews the very reverfe. Covenanting is fo far from. relaxing the obligation of the Law, that it affords an additional motive to keep it. It diffufeth its benign influence upon the heart, engaging it to refpect all God's commandments.

DISSER