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29.O that there were such an heart in them. God signifies that they would not be so firm and faithful in keeping their promises, as they were ready and willing to make them; and thus that hypocrisy was not altogether banished, or purged from their minds. Moreover, He figuratively (improprie) assumes a human feeling, because it would be vain and absurd for Him to desire what it was in His power to confer. Certainly He has the power of bending and directing men’ hearts whithersoever He pleases. Why, then, does He wish that it were given to the people from some other quarter, that they should be always kept in the path of duty, except that, speaking in the character of a man, He shows that it was rather to be wished than hoped that the people would constantly persevere in their fidelity? Wherefore this and similar passages have been ignorantly abused by some, to establish man’ free will. (220) They understand this passage, as if man’ will were capable of bending either way, and that he possessed the power of doing right, whilst God without interfering looked on at the event; as if God’ secret counsel, and not rather the end and use of external teaching, were referred to here. But we, taught by innumerable testimonies of Scripture, maintain, that it is the attribute of God alone to give what He here requires. So also immediately afterwards He says, that he wishes it may be well with the Israelites and their children, viz., because it is certain that it depends on men whether they are happy or not, as often as God invites them, when they refuse the grace offered to them; yet does it not therefore follow, that it depends on every man’ free will to attain happiness for himself. But here we must consider God’ will as it is set before us in His word, not as it is hidden in Himself; for, while by His word He invites all promiscuously to (eternal (221)) life, He only quickens by His secret inspiration those whom He has elected. In sum, although God approves of the people’ answer, he says that there will be too much difficulty in the performance of it, for the event to accord with it.
(220) Tels docteurs cornus. —Fr.
(221) Added from the French.