Chapter 5: Of Divine Providence
PARAGRAPH 6
As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as the righteous judge, for former sin doth blind and harden;17 from them He not only withholdeth His grace, whereby they might have been enlightened in their understanding, and wrought upon their hearts;18 but sometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had,19 and exposeth them to such objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin;20 and withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan,21 whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves, even under those means which God uses for the softening of others.22
17 Rom. 1;24–26,28, 11:7–8
18 Deut. 29:4
19 Matt. 13:12
20 Deut. 2:30; 2 Kings 8:12–13
21 Ps. 81:11,12; 2 Thess. 2:10–12
22 Exod. 8:15,32; Isa. 6:9–10; 1 Pet. 2:7–8
