2 Kings xvii. 33. They feared the Lord, and served their own
gods.
THE views which men in general have of rehgion are extremely indistinct. Hence arises the necessity of unfolding religion to them in every possible way. Sometimes we attempt it by a clear exposition of its principles from the declarations of the Inspired Vo- lume. Sometimes we bring forth the examples of the Apostles, and shew what their views of religion were. On the present occasion, I will proceed in a way of contrast, that so the difference between true religion and false may the more fully appear.
The persons of whom my text speaks were the in- habitants of Samaria. When the king of Assyria had subdued the ten tribes of Israel, he took away the inhabitants, and dispersed them throughout his own dominions, and sent a number of his own subjects to occupy and cultivate the land. These persons, coming from different parts of the Assyrian Empire, took with them their own gods, whom they had severally been wont to worship. But, after a season, the lions of the forests multiplied, and caused such destruction among them, that they could not but re- gard it as a token of God's displeasure, for not being worshipped and served in a way conformable to his own appointed ordinances. The people stated this to the king of Assyria ; and requested that one of the priests who had been taken from the land, should be sent back, in order to instruct them how Jehovah, whom they supposed to be a local Deity, and the god of that particular land, was to be worshipped. This request was complied with : a priest was sent to them : a number of others were appointed to officiate with him under his direction : and thus the people united the worship of Jehovah with that of their own idols ; or, as my text expresses it, " feared the Lord,
M r.i 2