plainly shewes, that in a moment hee can chase them away, whom he hath brought to∣gether; and bring them downe, whom hee hath exalted. And if we referre it to Antiochus, and his like, the sense will not be much diffe∣rent; to wit, that euen those shall not hurt as they would; for they shall not so much as remooue their least finger without Gods leaue.
[Obiect.] But doth not the Prophet seeme to con∣tradict himselfe? For in the former verse hee said, that the wicked should assaile the church vvithout the Lord: and heere hee shewes that they fight as it were vnder his colours, and that vnder his conduct and authoritie, they waste and destroy the Church? I answere, [Ans.] we must consider the opposition; namely, that the Lord had raised vp the Babylonians to scatter the Church: for wee are to note the similitude of the deluge, mentioned in the ninth verse, whereby he signified an vtter de∣struction: so as the Church was then in a ma∣ner cleane wasted by the Babylonians, whom he vsed for that seruice. But he there protests to moderate his indignation so as he will ne∣uer suffer the enemy to abolish his Church a∣gaine, though for a time he giue the same o∣uer to be chastised by their hand. Indeed that is the enemies drift; for they imploy the vt∣most of their power and force, to bring the Church to confusion and vtter ruine, but the Lord represseth their rage, in regard they doe it without him, vers. 15. that is to say, ƲƲithout his commandement.
Some expound, that the Smith is created for his worke: that is to say, to practise his owne death: and the destroier to destroy him∣selfe. But I thinke the first sense is more sim∣ple, where the Lord saith, that hee createth the destroier; it is not onely referred to their nature, as they are borne men, but to the act of destroying: and yet wee must not lay the blame vpon God, as if he were the author of the vniust crueltie which remaines in men: for God consents not with their wicked will, but disposeth of their indeuors by his secret prouidence, and vseth them as the instru∣ments of his wrath. But we haue handled this matter in another place.