Verse 9. And thinke not to say within your selves.]
Hypocrites are never without their starting-holes, out of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they must be ferretted. There are infinite turnings and windings in the heart of man, studious of deceiving it self by some paralogisme. Therefore the Apostle so oft premiseth, Be not deceived, when he reckons up* 1.1 reprobates, 1 Cor 6 9. Eph. 5. 6 &c.
What of that? so had Ishmael* 1.2 an 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Esau a castaway, &c. Externall priviledges profit not, where nothing better can be pleaded. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the fool was of the line of faithfull Caleb, Qui 〈◊〉〈◊〉 post me, Followed me fully, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 God, Numb. 14. 24. Vertue is not, as lands, inheritable. Why should these men brag they had Abraham to their father, when they might have observed, that God had raised up of this stone, a son to Caleb?
His power is, 1. Absolute, whereby he can doe more then he doth. 2. Actuall, whereby he doth that only that he willeth. Some things he can doe, but will not, as here, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 26. 53. Rom. 9. 18. Some things he neither will nor can, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 lie, to die, to deny himself. 2 Tim. 2. 13. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1. 3. Heb. 6. 17. for these things contradict his 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and imply impotency.