141. And Jacob begat Joseph the _husband_ of Mary, of whom was born
Jesus, who is called Christ. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this
_wise:_ When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came
together, she was _found with child of the Holy Ghost_. Then Joseph
her _husband_ being a just man, and not willing to make her a public
example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on
these things, behold the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream,
saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy
_wife_: for that which is conceived in her _is of the Holy Ghost_. Mat.
i. 16--20.
[Here God is represented as committing --------.]
142. And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians;
and it shall come to pass, that when ye go ye shall not go empty: But
every woman shall borrow of her neighbor, and of her that sojourneth
in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment; and
ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall
spoil the Egyptians. Exodus iii. 21, 22.
[Here he is represented as commanding the Israelites to rob the
Egyptians, under the _pretence of borrowing of them_; thus encouraging
them to steal.]
143. So Jehu _slew all that remained of the house of Ahab_ in Jezreel,
and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests, until he left
him none remaining. And the Lord said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done
well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto
the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, _thy children
of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel_. 2 Kings x.
11--30.
[Here he is represented not only as pronouncing the most heinous of
all crimes, _murder_, to be _right,_ but actually rewarding Jehu for
committing it.]
144. And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul,
seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn
with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite; for I have
provided me a king among his sons. And Samuel said, how can I go? If
Saul hear me he will kill me. And the Lord said, take an heifer with
thee, _and say, I am come to sacrifice to the Lord_. 1. Samuel xvi. 1,2.
[Here he is represented as commanding Samuel to act the most _consummate
hypocrite_.]
145. Wherefore 1 gave them also statutes _that were not good_, and
judgments _whereby they should not live_. Ezek. xx. 25.
146. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish;
because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be
saved. And for this cause, _God shall send them strong delusion_, that
they should _believe a lie_. 2. Thes. ii. 10. 11.
147. And the Lord said, Who shall entice Ahab, king of Israel, that he
may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake, saying after this
manner, and another saying after that manner. Then there came out a
spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said I will entice him. And
the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go out and be a
_lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets_. And the Lord said, Thou
shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail; go out _and do even so_.
2 Chron. xviii. 19, 20, 21.
148. And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, _I the
Lord God have deceived that prophet_, and I will stretch out my hand
upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel. Ezek.
xiv. 9.
149. And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the
bottomless pit, and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the
dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him a
thousand years. And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up,
and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more,
_till the thousand years should be fulfilled_; and after that he must be
loosed a little season. And _shall go out to deceive the nations_ which
are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them
together to battle, the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. Kevel.
xx. 1, 2, 3, 8..
150. He is a merchant, the balances of _deceit_ are in his hand _he
loveth to oppress_. Hosea xii. 7.
151. The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea; and the Lord
said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee _a wife of whoredoms and children of
whoredoms_; for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from
the Lord. Hosea i. 2.
152. And I will _make drunk_ her princes, and her wise men, her captains
and her rulers, and her mighty men; and they shall sleep a perpetual
sleep, and not wake, saith the king, whose name is the Lord of hosts.
Jer. li. 57.
153. Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts,
the God of Israel, _Drink ye and be drunken, and spue, and fall,
and rise no more_, because of the sword which I will send among you,
Jeremiah xxv. 27.