QUEST. VII. Whether Iacob offended in his dissimulation.

HEre further a question is moved, whether Iacob sinned in dissembling himselfe to be Esau: 1. Some excuse Iacob herein, because Iacob non studio nocendi contexit fraudem, did use fraud, but without a fraudulent mind, or desire to hurt, having respect to the promise of God, Chrysost. hom. 53. in Genes. 2. Some because primogeniti benedictionem non per fraudem surripuit, sed sibi debitam accepit, hee did not by fraud steale the blessing, but received it as due, Gregor. hom. 6. in Ezech. 3. Augustine excuseth Iacobs fraud, be∣cause it was done in mystery. 4. Tostatus, because Rebecca, spiritu Dei mota, being moved by the Spirit, perswaded Iacob. 5. Some make a difference betweene dissimulation or lying in words, which no way is lawfull, and dissembling in behaviour, which may bee excused: because words doe properly expresse the minde, the behaviour and gesture but accidentally, Perer. 6. All these wayes doe make Iacobs dissimulati∣on some way excusable, but not simply justifiable: for although the will and purpose of God were thus brought to passe, yet there was some failing in the meanes; though the action in generall intendment was good, yet the execution wanted not particular error, Mercer. Muscul.