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the action is good, as an action ; man deviates from his rule, hence it is sinful in respect of its qualifications and adjuncts. Man writes fair letters upon a wet paper, and they run all into one blot ; not the skill of the scribe, but the defect in the paper is the cause of the deformity. He that makes a lame horse go, is the cause of his going ; but the defect in his joints, is the cause of his going lame. The sun exhales a steam from the dunghill ; the sun is the cause of the ex- halation, but the dunghill of the unwholesome savour. The first cause is the proper cause of a thing's being, but the second of its being evil.
[3.] Consider the several operations and actings of God and man : for instance, in a rebellious people's fighting against their helpers under hira.
Now the acts of God herein may be referred to six heads :
1st. A continuance of the creature's being and life : 'up- holding him by the word of his power,' Heb. i. 3. when he might take him off in a moment: 'Enduring them with much long-suffering,' Rom. ix. 22. when he might cut him off, as he did the opposers of Elijah, 'with fire from heaven;' 2 Kings i. 12.
2dly. A continuance of power of operation to them, when he could make their hands to wither like Jeroboam's, when they go about to strike; 1 Kings xiii. 4. or their hearts to die within them like Nabal's, when they intend to be churl- ish; 1 Sam. XXV. 37. But he raiseth them up, or makes them to stand, that they may oppose; Rom. ix. 11.
3dly. Laying before them a suitable object for the draw- ing forth their corruption unto opposition, giving them such helpers as shall in many things cross their lusts, and exas- perate them thereunto ; as Elijah, a man of a fiery zeal, for a lukewarm Ahab.
4thly. Withholding from them that effectual grace, by which alone that sin might be avoided ; a not actually keep- ing them from that sin, by the might of his Spirit and grace. That alone is effectual grace, which is actual. ' He suffers them to walk in their own ways.'
And this the Lord may do,
(1st.) In respect of them, judicially ; they deserve to be forsaken. Ahab is left to fill up the measure of his iniqui- ties, * add iniquity to iniquity;' Psal. Ixix. 27.
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(2dly.) In respect of himself, by way of sovereignty, doing what he will with his own, ' hardening whom he will ;' Rom. ix. 15.
5thly. He positively sends upon their understandings that, which the Scripture sets out under the terms of blind- ness, darkness, folly, delusion, slumber, a spirit of giddiness, and the like : the places are too many to rehearse. What secret actings in, and upon, the minds of men; what disturb- ing of their advices, what mingling of corrupt affections with false, carnal reasonings, what givings up to the power of darkness, in Satan the prince thereof, this judicial act doth contain, I cannot insist upon ; let it suffice, God will not help them to discern, yea, he will cause that they shall not discern, but hide from their eyes the things that concern their peace, and so give them up to contend with their only helpers.
6thly. Suitably upon the will and affections he hath se- veral acts, obfirming the one in corruption, and giving up the other to vileness, Rom. i. 24. 26. until the heart become thoroughly hardened, and the conscience seared ; not forc- ing the one, but leaving it to follow the judgment of prac- tical reason, which being a blind, yea, a blinded guide, whi- ther can it lead a blind follower, but into the ditch ? not defiling the other with infused sensuality, but provoking them to act according to inbred, native corruption, and by suffering frequent vile actings to confirm them in ways of vileness.
Take an instance of the whole : God gives helpers and deliverers to a sinful people, because of their provocations, some or all of them shall not taste of the deliverance, by them to be procured : wherefore, though he sustains their lives in being, whereby they might have opportunity to know his mind, and their own peace ; yet he gives them a power to contend with their helpers, causing their helpers to act such things, as under consideration of circumstances, shall exceedingly provoke these sinners : being so exasperated and provoked, the Lord, who is free in all his dispensations, refuseth to make out to them that healing grace, whereby they might be kept from a sinful opposition: yea, being justly provoked, and resolved that they should not taste of the plenty to come, he makes them foolish and giddy
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in their reasonings and counsels, blinds them in their under- standings, that they shall not be able to discern plain and evident tilings, tending to their own good, but in all their ways shall err like a drunken man in his vomit; whence that they may not be recovered, because he will destroy them, he gives in hardness and obstinacy upon their hearts and spirits, leaving them to suitable affections, to contend for their own ruin.