True it is that God in his unsearchable wisdom stirred up many of them to be his instruments to punish peoples rebellions against God. In which respect they are called the 1Rod of the Lord, his staff, his sword. Yea God is said to put his sword into their hands: and because the Lord useth them as his instruments, they are in that respect styled The Lords Anointed, his servants, his Shepherds. Yet notwithstanding this secret intent of the Lord which he by their Ministry brought to pass, they were stirred up by pride and ambition ⟨p. 288⟩to do what they did. So saith the Lord of Ashur: O 2Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, &c. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, &c. I will give him a charge to take the spoil, &c. Howbeit he meaneth not so, &c. For, he saith by the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, &c. And further to show that they by their inward wicked disposition were set on work, it is said, that when God gave 3people into their hands, they showed them no mercy: and again, when the Lord was a little displeased, they helped forward the affliction.
True it is that God in his unsearchable wisdome stirred up many of them to be his instruments to punish peoples rebellions against God. In which respect they are called the 1Rod of the Lord, his staffe, his sword. Yea God is said to put his sword into their hands: and because the Lord useth them as his instruments, they are in that respect stiled The Lords Annointed, his servants, his Shepheards. Yet notwithstanding this secret intent of the Lord which he by their Ministry brought to passe, they were stirred up by pride and ambition ⟨p. 288⟩to do what they did. So saith the Lord of Ashur: O 2Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, &c. I will send him against an hypocriticall nation, &c. I will give him a charge to take the spoile, &c. Howbeit he meaneth not so, &c. For, he saith by the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdome, &c. And further to shew that they by their inward wicked disposition were set on worke, it is said, that when God gave 3people into their hands, they shewed them no mercy: and againe, when the Lord was a little displeased, they helped forward the affliction.
- 1Isa 10. 5. Jer. 12. 1•. Ezek. 30. 24. Isa. 45. 1. Jer. 25. 9. Isa. 44. 28.Isa 10. 5. Ier. 12. 1•. Ezek. 30. 24. Isa. 45. 1. Ier. 25. 9. Isa. 44. 28.
- 2Isa 10. 5, 7, 13.
- 3Isa. 47. 6. Z•c 1. 15.
