Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 2:12

12 And being, warned of God in a dream, that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own Country another way.

Now the wise God beginneth to defeat the crafty Counsels of Herod, whose bloody Hand he had stayed, till he should from the Wise Men have had a perfect Intelligence, concerning this new born King. God in a Dream appeareth to the Wise Men, and warneth them to go no more to Herod The Wise Men came with no intention to serve Herod's bloody Designs, but came in the Simplicity of their Hearts: This Simp[illegible: 1 letter]icity o[illegible: 1 letter] theirs, Herod would have abused, to have made them Accessaries to his Guilt. God will not suffer it: He who walketh uprightly, walks safely. Thus the Integrity of Abimelech in taking Sarah protected him from Guilt with reference to her, Gen. 20.6. The word which we here translate warned of God, is used of Persons, whom God is pleased to Honour so far as to Discourse with: Either, by himself ▪ or an Angel▪ Luk. 2.26. Acts 10.22. Heb. 8.5. and 11, 7. Thus hath God honoured these Wise Men, whose Hearts were inclined towards him and his Christ. 1. By giving them a Star, to guide them. 2. Confirming their Hearts by his Word, from the Mouths of the chief Priests and Scribes, that they were not mistaken concerning the Star and its Indication. 3. By speaking himself to them, to keep them from any Guilt or being so much as Accessaries any way to that bloody Tragedy, which upon their departure he knew would be Acted: They take another way to go into their own Country, so we hear o[illegible: 1 letter] them no more.