The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

Secondly, God when he doth ruin them, he doth it no other way but by their own wisdom, by their own craft. And this is the greatest conquest that can be, when God overcometh them by their own weapon, as it was said of Goliath's sword. None like that, because by that he cut off Goliath's head, whose sword it was. So there are no Providences of God so remarkable and glorious as those, which make the very craft and wisdom wicked men have, to bring about their confusion. We see this fulfilled first in the Devil, who is called the old Dragon or Serpent, Rev. 12.9. because of his great subtlety, as well as poisonous enmity. Now wherein was he overcome? by his own craft, even in this respect. He used all the Instruments he had to bring Christ to be crucified: He enters into Judas his heart, and he had filled the hearts of the Jews and Priests before, and so at last obtaineth his plot; Christ is crucified, but then he riseth again, and is ascended, and thereby he conquers the Devil and all his power. So that by that very death which the Devil so much laboured for, the works of the Devil were destroyed. We see this also in Joseph's Brethren, how politic and crafty were they in their malicious designs against Joseph? and all was, That he might not reign over them: And all those means they took to hinder it, were ordained by God to further it.

Secondly, God when he doth ruine them, he doth it no other way but by their own wisdome, by their own craft. And this is the greatest conquest that can be, when God overcometh them by their own weapon, as it was said of Goliah's sword. None like that, because by that he cut off Goliah's head, whose sword it was. So there are no Providences of God so remarkeable and glorious as those, which make the very craft and wisdome wicked men have, to bring about their confusion. We see this fulfilled first in the Devil, who is called the old Dragon or Serpent, Rev. 12.9. because of his great subtilty, as well as poisonous enmity. Now wherein was he overcome? by his own craft, even in this respect. He used all the Instruments he had to bring Christ to be crucified: He enters into Judas his heart, and he had filled the hearts of the Jews and Priests before, and so at last obtaineth his plot; Christ is crucified, but then he riseth again, and is ascended, and thereby he conquers the Devil and all his power. So that by that very death which the Devil so much laboured for, the works of the Devil were destroyed. We see this also in Joseph's Brethren, how politique and crafty were they in their malicious designes against Joseph? and all was, That he might not reign over them: And all those means they took to hinder it, were ordained by God to further it.