John 9:31

31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

Ver. 31. We know that God heareth not sinners ] Their incense smells of the hand that offers it: the leper’s lips should be covered, according to the law: the wicked "compass God with lies," Hosea 11:12 , when they cry, "My Father, my Father," &c. This is one of those natural notions that the devil could never blot out of man’s mind, that God heareth not sinners; he will never accept a good motion from a bad mouth, as that state in story would not. Hinc Achilles Homericus, ος κε Θεοις επιπειθηται μαλα τ εκλυον αυτου . He silenced the devil acknowledging him: and of witches’ good prayers one saith, Si magicae, Deus non vult tales: si piae, non per tales.