260 Chap.i 2. An Expofition upon the Bookof J+Ò B. Verf.I bounds,, if Goddid not bound it. But becaufe he doth,therefore though they would, yet they fliall proceed no further. No man can do good till God afl'tlls him, and no man lhall do hurt when Godwill flop him. Thus far. the Lord is aaive in ordering the deceiver , and the deceived. That Scripture is clear for it (r King.22.22.) Ahab was deceived, and the falle prophets deceived him ; whence was it ? The deceivers and the deceivedwere underthe hand of God. Micajah fpáke it out plainly, as Ahab had defired (r Kixtg;22; 19,20.) 1 fábv the Lordfitting upon his Throne, &c. And the LordPaid; whofhall perfiwade Ahab, that he may go upandfall at I?amoth-Gilead' &c. And there carneforth afpirit andflood before the Lord etndfaid, 1will perftvade him. And the Lord raid, thou fbalt perfivade him, andprevail. alfo;gofirth, anddo fa. Tow. therefore (faith the Prophet) the Lordbath put a lyingfpi_ rit in the mouthofall thefe thy Prophets. The Lord bath done it: 'He was aftive in it, yet full ofholinefs and truth in himfelf, as well as ofjuftice and wrath againft Ahab. Becaufe Ahab hated the true Prophet, thereforehe is givenup tothe teachingoffalfe Prophets, Here was more then a bare fuffcring :, God as a Judge, put a lying fpiritas his Executioner, into tine rtttiths of thofe lying Prophets. They who likenot plain -dealing, are, juR. ly flattered into dePcruftion. The Apoflle fpeaking of that grofsdeception under which the Jews then lay, and fill lye to this day ; afcribes it to God by Scripture Authority, According As it is written , God bath given them the fpirit of(lumber ; eyes that they fhouldnet fee , andears that they fhouldnot hear unto this day (Korn. r r.8.) And the Lord takes it upon.himfelf in down right words.(Ezel¿, r 4.9.) If the Prophet be deceivedwhen he barb fpoken a thing, .I the Lordhave deceived that Prophet. Not that the Lord did 'inflill or infufe error into the Prophet ;; he is the God of truth , he is the author oftruth , and therefore cannot be the author of error ; he is the revenger oferro.r , and there. fore alfo becannot be the abetter ofit. Yet the LOrd faith', I have deceived, him. Obferve (faith Calvin) Godflinkl not into a `corner,flying I permitted it, and fuffered it,. Idrew a curtain be- twren meand thv world, and let.ïeuen ¿o what they pleated. No, but oe flandeth in the open light, andfaith , Ihave deceived that Pro- phet. The man offin is prophefied coming with'all deceiveable- ablencfs oftenrighteoufrtefs in them thatperijh becaufe they-re .,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=