Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

We read that a lying spirit was let loose by means of the false Prophets, the better to blind Ahab, who pleased himself in such beguilings: 1. King. 22.21. It was good reason also that the profane nations who had forsaken the true God, should be entangled in the snares of error, and so drawn headlong into perdition. Thus then it is a fond dispute whereabout Saint Augustine labours so much;¹ to wit, how the devils may be partakers of this prescience which the good Angels have: for the cause hereof must not be sought out in nature. So in times past, when God gave the bridle to false Prophets, he by their fallacies avenged himself upon the peoples wickedness: not that such imposters had any great gift of knowledge, but being fitted for this purpose, they did according to the licence given unto them.

We reade that a lying spirit was let loose by meanes of the false Prophets, the better to blind Ahab, who pleased himselfe in such beguilings: 1. King. 22.21. It was good reason also that the prophane nations who had forsaken the true God, should bee intangled in the snares of error, and so drawne headlong into perdition. Thus then it is a fond dispute whereabout Saint Augustine labors so much;¹ to wit, how the diuels may bee partakers of this prescience which the good Angels haue: for the cause hereof must not be sought out in nature. So in times past, when God gaue the bridle to false Prophets, he by their fallacies auenged himselfe vpon the peoples wickednesse: not that such imposters had any great gift of knowledge, but being fitted for this purpose, they did according to the licence giuen vnto them.

1. 1S. Austen.