Vers. 14. Behold, they shall be as stubble, the fire shall burne them, they shall not de∣liuer their owne liues from the power of the flame: there shall be no coales to warme at, nor light to sit by.
HE heere inueyes more sharply against these Astrologians,* 1.1 who aggrauated Ba∣bels pride by their vaine brags: for such de∣ceiuers are wont to bereaue men of all feare of God, by attributing all things to the dispo∣sition of the starres, so as they leaue nothing to Gods prouidence. See from whence the contempt of God and of all his threatnings springs,* 1.2 namely, from not attributing the pu∣nishments which he sends to his hand, but to destinie, and to a meeting of second causes, which wizards fondlie imagin in their owne braine. This is the reason why he takes vp the Chaldeans in such a rigorous sort, re∣sembling them vnto stubble set on fire, which is consumed in an instant; for hee compares them not to vvood with which one may make a fire of some continuance to vvarme himselfe by, but to stubble, or hemp-stalks, to shew, that there is nothing of so short continuance as such kind of men.