Page:The rock of wisdom.djvu/92

 left, and they seek my life to take it away. 1st Kings 19: 9, 1 0. And it is said by some in the kingdom of Israel, or of the ten tribes, for in the kingdom of Juda religion was at that time in a very flourishing condition under the kings Asa and Josaphat, and even in Israel, there remained several prophets, though not then known to Elijah. 1st Kings 20: 13, 2S, 35. "And all the prophets prophesied so saying go up," &c. 1st King 22: 12. This was spoken ironocally and byway of jesting at the flattering speeches of the false prophets; and so the king understood it, as appears by his adjuring Miciah in the following verse, to tell him the truth in the name of the Lord God, who standeth not in need of any counsellor, nor are we to suppose that things pass in heaven in the manner here described, but this representation was made to the prophet to be delivered by him in a manner adapted to the common ways and notions of men ; and the Lord said unto him wherewith, and he said I will go forth and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. 1st Kings 22: 22. This was a command, but a permission: for God never ordaineth lies, though he often permitteth the lying spirit to deceive. those who love not the truth. 2d Thess. 2: 10. "Because they receive not the truth that they might be saved;" and in this sense it is said in the following verse "the Lord hath given a lying spirit in the mouth of all the prophets;" and Miciah said "thou shalt see in that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself." 1st Kings 22: 25. This happened when he heard the King was slain, and justly apprehended that he should be punished for his false prophecy, and by this we may perceive that truth and error cannot agree together, nor love nor vice can dwell together, for God is the true spirit of light, and they that dwell in him dwell in love, because God is love the true foundation; on the other hand you all may see that every foundation that has been built by any other means, never could stick together, for the author of it is filled with confusion, he raiseth his walls in malice, the covering thereof is neither wind tight nor water tight and thus exposed even the weakest prayer in faith, shakes the foundation; much more when the heralds of free grace, mount the walls with their trumpets sounding; they give the word of God's command with