Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 16:20

20 Moreover, thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters , whom thou hast born unto me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured: is this of thy Whoredomes a small matter.

They were hers by Birth, and shou'd have be[illegible: 1 letter]n hers in Affection, Care, and Preservation; but as Idolatry is from the Father of Lies, the old Murtherer, 'tis even cruel, and spares neither Sons or Daughters.

That are usually the Fathers darlings, are always the strength and glory of the Family, without respect to him that begat them, were by this Adulteress design'd to please the Idol.

Usually the Mothers great delight, whose tender Sex required better usage, unregarded are by a cruel Mother in Idolatrous Abominations destroy'd.

Which were mine born within Covenant, before the lew'd Mother was divorced, born to be of my Family, and to serve and love me.

These very Children of mine, to my dishonour and grief; to provoke me to utmost anger hast thou destroy'd.

Not only consecrating them to be Priests to dumb Idols. Dunghil Gods, as chap. 20.26. and 2 Chron. 33.6. or Idolatrously purifying them, called lustration, or which is most inhumane cruel, burning them in Sacrifice to Molech, which cruelty the Iews themselves did barbarously imitate. 2 Chron. 28. ver. 3.

To be consumed to Ashes, being made a Burnt-Offering to the Devil: as Psal. 106. ver. 37.

Were thy Whoredoms a small matter with thee, that thou hast proceeded to this height of unnatural cruelty? Or, is both Face and Heart so hardned by an impudent course of Adulteries, that thou can'st do this, as if it were no great matter? Will Spiritual Adulteresses as well as Bodily thus hunt the precious Life? Cou'd such commit the worst, who were forbid to commit any Murther?

Marginal references: 2 Kin. 16.3. Isa. 57.5. chap. 20.26.; Heb. to devo[illegible: 1 letter]r.