Rome ruin'd by VVhite Hall, or, The papall crown demolisht

SECT. 3.

2. IN the next place, I am to shew by what meanes it is effected* 1.1 and procured, of which subject there are varieties of opini∣ons, I shal give you the most materiall of them.

Some are of opinion that the Lord hardneth the heart by way of manifestation, instansing in Pharaoh, where the Lord by his plagues and judgements, declared how hard Pharaohs heart was. But this cannot be the sence of it, for so God might be said to commit any other sins, when he doth manifest them, and bring to l••ght; and though the expression might serve upon that occasion, yet it faileth in other places; as Deut. 2. 30. where it is said, that God hardened the heart of Sihon King of the Amorites, and Joshua 23. where the Lord is said to harden the hearts of the Can∣••a••it••s, and Rom. 9. 15. God hath mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will h•• hardneth; in these places it cannot be expounded that God hardned; that is, declared their hearts to be hard.

Others expound it by way of permission, because those that are hardned, God depriveth of his grace, and leaveth them to them∣selves, as God is said to shut up all in unbelief, and that he gave▪ them 〈◊〉〈◊〉 spirit of slumber, eyes that they could not see, &c▪

Now these sayings (say they) are not to be taken as though God did these things, but that he suffered them to be done; As I wil harden the heart of Pharaoh, that is, suffer it to be hardned; as that he gave them up to a reprobate sence, is nothing else, but that he permitted it; as a Captaine leaving his Souldiers in the midst of a Battell, may be said to deliver them up to his enemies hands

But although this be most true that God suffereth such to con∣tinue in the hardnesse of their hearts, yet this is not all, for so the Lord suffereth all other sins to be done; for there is nothing done in the world, unlesse the omnipotent God will have it done, either by suffering it to be done, or doing it of himself; againe, if so* 1.2 the Lord might as wel be said to steale, or the like, because he suffereth such things to be done; but the Lord doth not only concurre in the hardning of the heart, by permission, or suffering it to be hardned, but according to his owne power and action, not by the which immediately the hardnesse of the heart is made; but whereby many things are done, by the which a sinner by his own corruption doth conceive the hardnesse of the heart.

Now the induration of the heart is two waies to be taken, or* 1.3 considered; 1. As it is a sin. 2. As it is a punishment of sin. In the first of these God hath no part, but for the other, as he is a just Judge, he inflicteth the hardnesse of the heart as a punish∣ment, as the Apostle sheweth, Rom. 2. 28, For as the Gentiles re∣garded not to know God, so God delivered them up to a reprobate minde. And 2 Thes. 2. 11. because they received not the love of the truth, &c. therfore God sent them strong delusions, that they should beleeve lyes; in which places the Apostle sheweth how the Lord punished them with blindnesse of heart, because of their former sins; as also Sam. 12. 11. Behold, I will raise up evill upon thee out of thine owne house, which was verified in Absol••m, that rose up against his father; as also in the act of Shimei in cursing Da∣vid, whom David saith, The Lord bid curse him. Now concer∣ning this rebellion of Absolom, and rayling of Shimei; they are not to be ascribed to God, as they were sins in Absolom and Shimei, but as they were punishments of the sins of David, they were sent of God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  How the hard∣nesse of the heart is effe∣cted.
• * 1.2

  The Lord go∣eth further in the act then by his per∣mission.
• * 1.3

  The Indura∣tion of the heart two wayes taken.