God's agency in delusions and moral evils.

Mk. 4. 11. Unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

Rom. 9. 22. What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction.

2 Tim. 2. 25. If God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.

257. Does God exert any agency in respect to moral delusions and evils?

Ex. 7. 3. And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.

Ex. 9. 12. And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaon, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had spoken unto Moses.

Ex. 10. 1. And the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants; that I might show these my signs before him.

Ex. 11. 10. And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land.

Ex. 14. 8. And the Lord hardened the heart of Pha-· raoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel. 17. And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host.

Dt. 2. 30. But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the Lord thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.

Jos. 11. 19. There was not a city that made peace

Delusions and moral evils.

with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle. For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly-as the Lord commanded Moses.

Jud. 7. 22. And the Lord set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host.

2 Sam. 24. 1. And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

1 K. 22. 23. Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets.

1 Ch. 5. 26. And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgathpilnessar king of Assyria, and he carried them away.

Ps. 105. 25. He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilely with his servants.

Ps. 119. 36. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

Ps. 141. 4. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity. Is. 19. 14. The Lord hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof.

Is. 29. 10. For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.

Is. 45. 7. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.

Is. 63. 17. O Lord, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear?

Ez. 14. 9. And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him.

Zec. 8. 10. For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there

Delusions and moral evils occasion good.

any peace to him that went out or came in, because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbor.

Lk. 10. 21. In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. Mat. 11. 25.

Jn. 12. 39. Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things spake Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.

Rom. 9. 18. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

Rom. 11. 7. Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

2 Thes. 2. 10. They received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteous

ness.

Rev. 17. 17. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

258. Will the delusions and moral evils that prevail occasion good?

Ps. 76. 10. Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

Delusions and moral evil not of God.

Rom. 3. 5. If our unrighteousnes commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man,) God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? And not rather (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

Rom. 5. 20. Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.

Rom. 8. 28. And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God.

259. Is there any sense in which delusion and moral evil are not of God?

Jer. 7. 9. Will ye steal, and murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?

Lam. 3. 38. Out of the mouth of the Most High proceedeth not evil and good?

1 Cor. 14. 33. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. Jam. 1. 13. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man. But every

man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Jam. 3. 14. If ye have bitter envying, and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly

Mankind, God's voluntary instruments.

sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

1 Jn. 2. 16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Is there any sense in which delusion and moral evil are from the devil and his angels? [See 18, 19.]

260. Does God employ mankind as voluntary instruments to accomplish his designs?

2 K. 5. 1. Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria.

1 Ch. 6. 15. And Jehozadak went into captivity, when the Lord carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

Job 1. 15. And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away. 17. The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword. 21. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

Ps. 17. 13. Deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword; from men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life.

Is. 10. 5. O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against a hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Howbeit he meaneth not so; neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. 12. Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the