A treatise concerning the indifference of humane actions

Ames His Triplication.

Because the Defender did make this one ground of denying our con∣sequence from Hezekiahs zeale against the monuments of Idolatry, that he did not abolish the Idols which Solomon suffered to be set up in favour of his strange Wives: because they were (at that time) neg∣lected Idols. It was replyed, that it may be well thought, they were destroyed by Hezekiah, and set up againe before the time of Josiah. This the Rejoinder calleth rashnesse to be repented of: because it is said (2. Reg. 23.13.) that Josiah destroyed those high places, which Solomon had set up. And was it such a rashnesse, to say that it may be thought so? the phrase is more modest then theirs, who perempto∣rily affirme those Idols to have been neglected, untill after Hezekias time: when the Scripture testifieth plainly, that Ahaz Hezekias his father worshipped Molech (which was one of those Idols) by making his son to passe thorow the fire: and was so madly given to superstition, that he sacrificed under every green tree. 2. Reg. 16. Nay lesse was said, then some learned have with great probability affirmed: (z) Namely,

that those Idols with their appurtenances were first defaced by Solomon himselfe, after his repentance; and being restored after by Idolaters, were againe defaced. Salianus (in his Annals ad an. 3309.) saith thus: we think•• also that while Solomon lived, that while shop of Divels was broken up and ruined. And withall the statues, the groves, and altars, as also the rest of Idolatrous monuments. 2. King. 23.13. to have reference to Manasses, and Ammon (who had set them up in the same place, and upon the same foundation) and not to Solomon, who dyed 250 yeares Before. It is incredible to speake, that when Asa, Josaphat, and Jehoiada did farre and neare destroy ido∣latery, they notwithstanding suffered a scandall so apparent. And to the yeare 3406. It were very strange if those idols after 350 yeares should yet remaine, the which Solomon after his repentance, and o∣ther good Kings had abolished. So that it is probable that such like temples, and Idols were repaired, and built up againe by other suc∣ceeding ungodly Kings, which Solomon in former time had made: that that which Solomon builded should be all one with such like as he had builded.

Where he sheweth by divers instances, both out of scripture, and out of common speech, how that word which, doth not alwayes note the same singular substance; therein confuting all the ground that the Rej. had for censuring the Repl. of rashnes to be repented of. This sen∣tence is the more also to be favoured; because according to the other, which our Def. and Rej. maintaine, it will be very hard to answer that objection against Solomons repentance, which (a) Rabanus on 2 Reg. 23. groundeth on that supposition: Solomon never truly re∣pented of his Idolatry: for if he had manifested fruits worthy repen∣tance, he would have taken order with those Idols, which he had set up by remooving them, and (being so wise a man) never have left them to stand for stumbling blockes to fooles, as if what he had erroneously devised, had been well and wisely done. Beside all this, it is not credible, that the same individuall Temples stood by Jerusa∣lem from Solomons time to Josias; if it were but for this, that the Assyrians came even to the gates of Jerusalem, spoiling and breaking downe all costly buildings, (Such as Solomons Temples were) not sparing, but deriding the Gods of nations. 2. Reg. 8.

Unto the second branch of the Reply Dr. Burges thus re∣joineth

Notes

• (z)

  Existima∣mus etiam, vivo Salomone, om∣nem illam dae∣monum offici∣nam disruptam fuisse, dilacera∣tam, atque dis∣perditam. Vi∣denturque refe∣rendae illae sta∣tuae, & luci, & ••rae & reliqua Idolatriae mo∣numenta (2. Reg. 23.13.) ad Manassem, & Ammonem (qui excitave∣rant illa in eo∣dem loco & su•• pra eadem fun∣dāenta) non ad Salomonem, ante annos 250. extinctum. Incredibile dictu est, tantum scandalum ab Asa, Josa∣phato, Joiada, cum late idolatriam disperderent, in oeulis ipsis positum, non vidisse, aut non auso•• attingere, & ad annum 3406. Mirum profectò si Idola illa post tercentos 50. annos subsiste∣rent, quae Salomon ipse poenitens, & caeteri reges boni sustuliffent. Utique dicendum videtur, ab impiis regibus extructa fuisse ejusdem generis fana, & Idola, quae olim Salomon in iisdem locis extruxerat: ut illud quae aedificaverat Salomon, sit idem ac si dixisser, qualia aedificaverat.
• (a)

  Solomon de admiffo Idola∣triae scelere, nunquam per. fectè paenituit. Nam si fractus paenitentiae dig∣nos faceret, sa∣tageret ante omnia, ut idola quae aedificave∣••at, ••ollerentur, & non in scan∣••alum stulto∣tum, quae ipse ••um fuisset sa∣••ientissimus, ••tronea fecerat ••uasi sapientè ••c rectè facta ••elinqueret.