Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

But the Prophet useth a phrase of speech very ordinary. For the holy Ghost is wont to say, that God causeth men to err, hardens, and gives men up into a reprobate mind: 2. Thes. 2.11. Rom. 9.18. and 1.28. Now when the faithful speak thus, they mean nothing less then to make God the author of evil, and of sin, as if themselves were innocent; or as if they meant to extenuate their crime. But they aim at an higher market, and rather confess that their sins have separated them from God, and is the cause why they are left destitute of his holy Spirit. Yea, that thence is came to pass, that they have been plunged into infinite miseries.

But the Prophet vseth a phrase of speech very ordinary. For the holy Ghost is wont to say, that God causeth men to erre, hardens, and giues men vp into a reprobate mind: 2. Thes. 2.11. Rom. 9.18. and 1.28. Now when the faithfull speake thus, they meane nothing lesse then to make God the author of euill, and of sinne, as if themselues were innocent; or as if they meant to extenuate their crime. But they aime at an higher market, and rather confesse that their sinnes haue separated them from God, and is the cause vvhy they are left destitute of his holy Spirit. Yea, that thence is came to passe, that they haue been plunged into infinit miseries.

Those who say that God leads us into error by privation, that is to say, in regard he bereaves us of his spirit, hit not the very white. It is said that God both hardens and blinds when he delivers men up to be blinded by Satan, who is the minister and executioner of his wrath, for otherwise we should ever be a pray unto the will of the devil: but in regard he is able to do nothing of himself without Gods commandment,