And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
Ver. 12. And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him] By my spiritual sagacity I smelt him out; as having my inward senses habitually exercised to discern good and evil, Hebrews 5:14. Doth not the ear try words, as the mouth tasteth meat? Job 12:11. What though we have not received the spirit of the world (we cannot cog and comply as they can, yet), we have received a better thing, the Spirit of God, the mind of Christ, 1Co 2:12; 1 Corinthians 2:16 .
But that he pronounced this prophecy against me] To make my righteous soul sad with his lies, Ezekiel 13:22, and to bring me to disgrace and danger. Luther was wont to advise preachers to see that these three dogs did not follow them into the pulpit: pride, covetousness, and envy.
For Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him] A mere mercenary he was then, and had Linguam Venalem; he could call good evil, and evil good, justify the wicked for a reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him, Isaiah 5:20. Such false prophets were Dr Shaw and friar Pinket in Richard III's time, who made use of them as his studges to obtrude bastardy on his brother, King Edward IV, and so to disable his children for the crown, that he might settle it upon his own head (Dan. Hist.). What became of Pinker I know not, but Shaw (as ashamed of his sermon at Paul's Cross) disconsolately departed, and never after that was publicly seen. Like unto these were Bishop Bourn and Cardinal Pole in Queen Mary's days. The cardinal, hired with the archbishopric of Canterbury, took for his text, Isaiah 66:8, and applied it to England, as then happily reduced to the pope's obedience. Bourn, for the bishopric of Bath, preached such stuff at Paul's Cross, that the people were ready to tear him in pieces. They flung a dagger at him in the pulpit. Phlugius and Sidonius, authors of the Popish book published in Germany by the name of Interim, Chrisma et oleum pontificium defendebant, ut ipsi discederent unctiores, defended chrism and extreme unction, as being liquored in the fists, and promoted to fat bishoprics (Melch. Adam). But a minister, as he should have nothing to lose, so he should have as little to get; he should be above all price or sale. Nec prece, nec pretio, neither request nor reward, should be his motto.