4. In infatuating the counsels of men. God sets a stamp of folly upon
success, when he appeared against Mordecai, because he was of the race of the Jews, Esth. 6:13, so much did God own them by his gracious providence. They were also so entire in all their captivities before their crucifying of our Lord and Saviour, that they count their genealogies.
4. In infatuating the counsels of men. God sets a stamp of folly upon the wisdom of men, Isa. 44:25, 'that turns the wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolishness, and makes their counsels as chaff and stubble.' Isa. 33:11, 'Ye shall conceive chaff, and bring forth stubble.' Herod was a crafty person, insomuch that Christ calls him fox.* How foolish was he in managing his project of destroying
Christ, his supposed competitor in the kingdom! When the wise men came to Jerusalem, and brought the news of the birth of a king of the Jews, he calls a synod of the ablest men among the Jews! The result of it is to manifest the truth of God's prediction in the place of our
Saviour's birth, and to direct the wise men in their way to him. Herod had no resolutions but bloody concerning Christ, Mat. 2:3–8. God blinds his mind in the midst of all his craft, that he sees not those rational ways which he might make use of for the destruction of that which he feared: he sends those wise men, mere strangers to him, and entrusts them with so great a concern; he goes not himself, nor sends any of his guard with them to cut him off immediately upon the discovery, but leaves the whole conduct of the business to those he had no acquaintance with, and of whose faithfulness he could have no assurance. God crosses the intentions of men. Joab slew
Amasa because he thought him his rival in David's favour, and then imagined he had rid his hands of all that could stand in his way; yet God raised up Benaiah, who drew Joab from the horns of the altar, and cut him in pieces at Solomon's command. God doth so order it, many times, that when the most rational counsel is given to men, they have not hearts to follow it. Ahithophel gave as suitable counsel for Absalom's design as the best statesman in the world could give, 2
Sam. 17:1, 2, to surprise David while he was amused † at his son's rebellion, and dejected with grief at so unnatural an action, and whilst his forces had not yet made their rendezvous, and those that