Deuteronomy 13

Deuteronomy 13:1

DReamer] Which saith he hath things revealed to him in Dreames.

Deuteronomy 13:2

come to passe] As the Prophecies of such Prophets are false, so are their wonders fallacious and counterfeit, 2 Thes. 2. 9. else, if they were true wonders they were Gods seales, which are never set to confirme an untruth: and therefore the Devils argument was good, (though his meaning was naught) when from a miraculous mutation of stones into bread, Matthew 4:3. he inferred the Divinitie of the Sonne of God. For if God had wrought a miracle to confirme the position, it must needs have beene assured as undoubtedly true. But many things forespoken may come to passe, and yet not by any Divine revelation: for the Devill may to a false and idolatrous suggestion (as in this verse) affixe a prediction by his skill in naturall causes: as if a Jesuite to perswade the Indians to the Popish party should give them for a signe of assurance a prediction of the Eclipse of the Sunne: In such a case we must bring the proposall to the triall of the Scripture, and alwaies preferre the Divine word before a naturall, or diabolicall worke.

Deuteronomy 13:3

proveth you] Tempteth, or trieth. See Annot. on Genesis 22:1.

to know] Or, (as some render the Hebrew word) that it may be manifest, or knowne, and discerned to themselves or others, or so convicted in the fight of God, that he may without suspition of injustice punish them for their Apostasie.

Deuteronomy 13:5

put to death] When their evill hearts are made known by their evill workes, and of those evill works they are sufficiently convicted, and for them judicially condemned, Chap. 18. 20. Jeremiah 14. 15. Zac 13:3.

Deuteronomy 13:6

if thy brother] All naturall affection must give place to Gods honour: and in such a case we must shew our selves rather children of God then brethren, or kinsmen or kinswomen, in what degree of relation soever, Chap. 17. 2.

Deuteronomy 13:9

thou shalt surely kill him] When his cruell heart is discovered sufficiently by his cruel worke; and when of that worke he is convicted for it and judicially condemned by the Magistrate, Chap. 17. 7.

thine hand] Thou who art a witnesse to accuse him, shalt cast the first stone at him: for the witnesses were to begin, and all the people to follow in throwing stones at the offender, Chap. 17. 7. Acts 7:58.

Deuteronomy 13:13

children of Belial] Belial signifieth without yoke, and it is usually applied to such as are most unruly, submitting to no yoke, living by no rule, and so most wicked and licentions; and therefore the word is often taken for the Devill, 2 Corinthians 6:15. and for conformitie to him, wicked men may be so named, who are Devils incarnate. See 1 Samuel 1:16. & 1 Samuel 2:12. & 1 Samuel 25:25. Judg. 19. 22.

Deuteronomy 13:14

inquire] This is spoken chiefly to the Magistrate, who hath power to punish such faults.

abomination] Though Idols be set out gloriously in Images of gold and silver, and curious mixtures of colours, and their tempers gorgeously garnished, yet is idolatry a loathsome and abominable thing in the fight of God; and so it should be in the sight of men, Exodus 8:26.

Deuteronomy 13:15

destroying it utterly] Which sheweth that no Idolatry is more execrable, nor more grievously to be punished then theirs, who have formerly professed God, and have fallen off from that profession.

Deuteronomy 13:16

an heape] Of rubbish, a monument of ruine, never to be repaired or built up againe.

Deuteronomy 13:17

to thine band] Though it come to thine hand, it shall not cleave or stick to it, so as to tarry with thee, but thou shalt cast it away as an execrable thing, Chap. 7. 25, 26.

of the cursed thing] That is, of the spoile of that Citie, which God hath accursed to such confusion and ruine.