SERMON XXXIV
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Christ in the gospel, is the light of the world; all the nations of the earth that want this light are benighted; and those upon whom this light is risen, have but a short time under it : " Yet.
" a little while the light is with you:" and whatever patience God may exercise towards poor, ignorant souls, yet commonly he makes short work with the despisers of this light.
The light of the gospel is a shining lamp, fed with golden oil ; God will not be at the expence of such a light for them that do but trifle with it.
The night is coming,whennomancan work.
There are many fad signs upon us of afetting fun, a night of darkness approaching ; manyburningandshining lights are extinguished, and many put under a bushel ; your work is great, your time short ; this is the only space you have for repentance,
Rev. ii. 21.
If this opportunity of salvation be lost, it willne ver come again, Ezek. xxiv. 13. How pathetical was that lamentation which Christ made over Jerusalem, Luke xix. 41,
42. " And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and 66 wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least
" in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace, but "now they are hid from thine eyes."
Christ is threatning thosenationswith the removal of his gospel presence; he hath found but cold entertainment among us: England hath been unkind to Christ, many thousands there are that rebel against the light, that say unto God, " Depart from us, we desire not " the knowledge of thy ways."
Christ will not tarry where he is not welcome ; who would, that hath any where else togo ?
Obey the light therefore, lest God put it out in obscure dark-. ness.
SERMON XXXIV.
The blinding Policies of Satan opened, as the Cause of Unbelief, and Forerunner of Destruction.
2 COR. iv. 3. 4. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are loft ; in whom the God of this world bath blinded the minds of them which believe not, left the light of the gloriousgospelof
Christ, who is the image of God,Should Shine unto them.
T HE aversations of menfromJesus Christ, their only re medy, is as much to be admired as lamented; one would
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think the news of deliverance should make the hearts of captives leap for joy, the tidings ofa Saviour should transport the heart ofa lost tinner. Am an would think a little rhetoric might persuade the naked foul of afinner toputonthe rich robes of Christ's righteousness,which will cost him nothing, but acceptance; or the perishing, starving sinner to accept the bread of
God which comethdown from heaven, andgiveth life unto the world.
This is the great design I have managed in this whole discourse; the centre to which all these lines are drawn; many arguments have been used,and many ways attempted to prevail withmen to apply and put on Christ, and I am afraid, all too little.
I have but laboured in vain, and spent my strength for nought; all these discourses are but the beating of the air, and few, if any, will be persuaded to come unto Christ, who is clearly opened, and freely offered in the gospel to them.
For alas ! while I am reasoning, Satan is blinding their minds with false reafonings, and contrary persuasions; the god of this worldturnsaway the ears, and draws away the hearts of almost the whole world from Christ; " The god of this world hath blinded the " minds of them which believe not, left the light of the glorious
" gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto " them."
Satan is a great and jealous prince, and is well aware, thatfo many of his subjects as shall be brought to fee the misery of their condition, will never endure to abide any longer in subjection to him: it is therefore his great policy to put out their eyes, that he may secure their souls; to darken theirunderstandings, that he may keep his interest firm and entire in theirwills and affections : and this makes the effectual application of Christ fo great a difficulty, that, on the contrary, it is just matter of admiration that any foul isperfuaded and prevailed with to quit the service of Sat an, and come to Christ. And therefore, in the last place, to discover the great difficulty of conversion, andthew you where it is that all our endeavours are obstructed, fo that we can move the design no further, with all our labouring and striving,reasoning and persuading ; as also, to mourn over, and bewail the miferyof christless andunregenerate fouls, with whom we must part, upon the saddest terras ; I have chose this scripture, which is of a most awakening nature, ifhaply the Lord, at last, may persuade any foul to come over to Christ thereby.
These words come into the apostle's discourse, byway of prolepsis; he had been speaking, in the former chapter, of the transcendentexcellencyofthegospel above the law, and, among other respects, he prefers it to the law in point of clearness.
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The law was anobfcure and cloudy dispensation, there was a veil upon the face of Moses, and the hearts of the people, that theycouldnotfee totheendofthatwhich is abolished; but uader the gospel we all, with open face, behold, as in a glass, the gloryoftheLord.
Against this discourse,the apostle foresaw, andobviated this objection : if your gospel be so clear, what is the reason that many, who live under the ministration of it,
(andtheynoneofthe meanest,neither, for wisdom, and understanding) do yet see no glory,nor excellency in it ? To this he returns, in the words I have read, " If our gospel be hid, it is
" hidtothem that are loft,whose eyes the god of this world hath " blinded," &c. q. d. It is true, multitudes there are, who fee no glory in Christ, or the gospel,but the fault is not in either; but in the minds of them that believe not. The fun thines forth in its glory, but theblindseenoglory in it; the fault is not in the fun, butintheeye.
In the wordsthemselveswe have three parts toconfider :
1.A dreadful, spiritual judgment inflicted.
2. The wicked instrument by whom it is inflicted.
3. The politic manner in which he doth it.
First, We have here a very dreadful, spiritual judgment inflicted upon the souls of men, viz. the hiding of the gospel from them: if our gospel be hid.
For these words, Ει 3 και εσι, are aconceffion, that so it is ; avery fad, but undeniable truth.
Many are there who fee no beauty in Christ, nor necessity of him; though both are fo plainly and evidently revealed in our gospel, " if our gospel be hid:" It is called our gospel, not as if St. Paul, and the other preachers of it, were the authors, and javentors of it; but our gospel, because we are the preachers, anddifpenfers of it.
We are put in trust with the gospel, and though we preach it, in the demonstration of the Spirit, and of power, using all plainness of speech to make men understand it; yet it is hidfrommany, under our ministry : it is hid from their understandings, they fee no glory in it; and hid from their hearts, thy fee no power in it.
Our gospel, notwithstanding all our endeavours, is a hidden gospel unto some; this is the forest, and most dreadful judgment.
Secondly, We have here an account of that wicked instrument by whom this judgment is inflicted, viz. Satan, called here (by a mimesis) the god of this world; not simply and properly, but because he challenges to himself the honour of a god, rules over avast empire, and hath multitudes offouls, even the greater part of the world, in subjection, and blind obedience to his government.
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Thirdly, Here, also, we have an account of the politic manner of this government, how he maintains his dominion among men, and keeps the world in quiet subjection to him; namely, by blinding the minds of all them that believe not; putting out the eyes of all his subjects, darkening that noble faculty, the mind, or understanding; the thinking, considering, and reasoning power of the soul, which the philosophers truly call το ηγεμονικον, the leading, and directing faculty: for it is to the soul, what eyes are to the body, and it is therefore called " the " eyes of the understanding," Eph. i. 18.
These eyes Satan blinds, (i. e.) he darkens the mind, and understanding, with ignoranee, and error; so that when men come to fee, and consider spiritual things, " they fee, indeed, but perceive not,"
Isa. vi. 9, 10.
They have some general, confused notions, but no distinct, powerful, and effectual apprehenfions of those things : and this is the way, indeed, none like it, to bar me in effectually from Jesus Christ, and hinder the application of the benefits of redemption to their souls.
It is true, the righteous God permits all this tobedonebySatan, upon thefouls of men; but wheresoever he finally prevails thus to blind them, it is, as the text speaks, εν τοις απολλυμένοις, in them that are loft, or appointed of God unto perdition. The elect of God are all blinded for a time, but Christ applieth unto them his eye-salve; effectually opens the eyes of their understandings, and recovers them thereby, out of Satan's power and dominion : but as for thofewho still continue thus blinded, the symptoms and characters of eternal death, appear upon their souls ; they are a company of loft men.
Doct. That the understandings of all unbelivers are blinded by Satan's policies, in order to their everlasting perdition.
Four things must be opened in the doctrinal part of this point.
First, What the blinding of the understanding, or hiding of the gospel from the understanding, is.
Secondly, I hall demonstrate, that the understandings ofmapyare thus blinded, and the gospel hidden from them.
Thirdly, I shall shew what policies Satan uses to blind the minds of men.
Fourthly, That this blindness is the forest judgment, and in order to mens everlasting perdition.
Fifthly, And then apply the whole.
First, We shall enquire what the blinding of the mind, or hiding the gospel from it, is. Two forts of men are thus blinded in the world.
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1. Those that want the means of illumination .
2. Those that have the means, but are denied the blessing andefficacyofthem.
The former is the case of the Pagan world, who are inmidnightdarkness, for want of the gospel. The latter is the case of the Christian world. The greatest part of them that live within the foundofthegospel, beingblindedbythegod of this world, Isa. vii. 9, 10."And he said,Go, and tell this people;
" hear ye, indeed, but understand not; and feeye, indeed, but " perceive not : Make the heart of this people fat, and make
" their ears heavy; and shut their eyes, left they fee with their " eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their
"heart, and convert, and be healed."
Thus, when the Sun of righteousness actually arose in the world, it is said, John i. 5.
"The light (hinedindarkness, but the darkness comprehended " it not." So we may say of all that light which is in the understanding of all unbelievers, what Job speaks of the grave,
Jobx. 22. " That the light there is as darkness."
But more particularly, to open the nature of this spiritual blindness, I will thewyou, 1. What it isnotopposedunto.
2. What it is opposed unto.
1. Let us examine what spiritual blindness, or the hiding the gospel from the minds of men, is not opposed unto: and we shall find, First, That it is not opposed unto natural wisdom; a man may be of an acute and clear understanding ; eagle-eyed, to difcernthe mysteries of nature, and yet the gospel maybe hidden from him who were more sagacious, and quick-sighted, in natural things, than the Heathen Philosophers, renowned for wisdom in their generation? yetuntothem the gospel was but foolishness, 1 Cor. i. 20, 21.
St. Augustine confesseth, that before his conversion, he was filled with offence, and contempt of the simplicity of the gospel. Dedignabar effeparvulus, faith he, I scorned to become a child again. And that greatBradwardine, the profound doctor, who was learned, usque adstuporem, even toa wonder ; professed, that when he first read
Paul's epistles, hedespisedthem,becausehefound not in them, metaphyficum igenium, those metaphysical notions which he expected. Upon this account it was, that Christ brake forth into that pathetical gratulation of his Father's love to the elect, Mat.
Ki . 25. " At that time Jesus answered, and said, I thank thee,O " Father, Lordofheavenandearth; because thou hast hid these
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" things from the wife and prudent, and hast revealed them untobabes."
Secondly, It is not opposed to all light, and knowledge, in spiritual truths. A man may have a true understanding of the scriptures, give an orthodox exposition of them, and enlighten the minds of others by them; and yet the gospel may be hidden from himself, Mat. vii. 22. "Manywillsayunto me in that " day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name ?"
So, Rom. ii. 19. "And art confident that thou thyself art a " guide of the blind, a light to them that fit in darkness," &c.
Am an may thew others the way to Christ, and salvation, whilst both are hid from himself.
Thirdly,It is not opposed to all kind of influences upon the affections ; for, it is possible, the gospel may touch the affections themselves, and cause some sweet motions and raptures in them; and yet be an hidden gospel to the soul, Heb. vi. 5, 9.
But if these three things may consist with spiritual blindness, unto what then is it opposed ? To which I answer, that spiritual blindness stands only opposed unto that saving manifestation of Jesus Christ in the gospel, by the Spirit, whereby the soul is regenerated, and effectually changed, by a real conversion unto God : Wherever thegospelthus comes, in the demonstration of the Spirit, and of power; producing such an effect as this in the soul; it is no longer an hidden gospel to that foul, though such persons do not see clearly all that glory which is revealed by the gospel; though they know but in part, and fee darkly, as through a glass ; yet the eyes of theirunderstandings are opened, and the things which belong to their peace are not hidden from them .
Secondly, But though thisbe the happiness of some men, yet it is demonftrable, that the eyes of many are blinded by the God of this world, and the gospel is anhiddengospel from them; for, First,Many that live under the gospel are so entirely swallowed up in the affairs of this world, that they allow themselves no time to ponder the great concernment of their souls in the world to come; and judge you, whatever the gifts and knowledgeofthese men are, whether the god of this world hath not blinded their eyes.
I fit were not so, it were impossible that ever they should thus waste the most precious opportunities of salvation, upon which their everlasting well-being depends, and spend time, at the door of eternity, about trifles which so little concern them.
Yet this is the case of the greatest number that go under the Christian name. The earth hath opened her
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mouth and swallowed up their own time,thoughts, studies, and strength, as it did the bodies of Corah and his accomplices.
The first, thefreest, yea, the whole of their time, is devoted to 2the service of the world; for even at that very time, when they present their bodies before the Lord, in the duties of his worship, their hearts are wandering after vanities, and" going
" after their covetousness," Ezek. xliii. 31. Judge whether the god of this world hath blinded these men or no,who can see fo much beauty in the world, but none in Christ, and put an absolute necessity upon the vanities of this world, but none-upon their own salvation.
If this be not spiritual blindness, what is?
Secondly, The great stillness, andquietness ofmens consciences, under the most rouzing, and awakening truths of the gospel, plainly proves that the god of this world hath blinded their eyes.
For, did men fee, and apprehend the dangerous condition they are in, as the word represents it; nothing in the world would quiet thembutChrist. As soon as mens eyes come to be opened, the next enquiry they make, is, " What shall we do to " be saved?" It is not possible, that a man should hang over hell, feeChrift, and the hopes offalvation going, and thedayofpatienceending, and yet be quiet. O! it cannot be, that confcienceshould let them be quiet in such a case, if itwerenotblinded and stupified ; but whilst the god of this world, " that strong
" man armed, keepeth the house, all his goods are in peace,"
Luke xi . 2 r .
If once your eyes were opened by conviction, a man may then say, be quiet if you can ; fit still, and let the hopes, and seasons of salvation, pass quietly away, if you can.
Suppose oneshouldcome into the congregation, and whisper but such a word as this in your ears, your child is fallen into the fire, and is a dying, since you came from home ; will it be in the power of all friends you have, to quiet you, and make you fit still after such an information ? much less when a man apprehendshisown soul inimmediatedanger of everlasting burnings.
Thirdly, The strong confidences, and presumptuous hopes men have of salvation, whilst they remain in the state of nature, and unregeneracy, plainly shew their minds to be blinded by the policy of Satan.
This presumption is one of those wapaλογισμοί, false reasonings, by which Satan deludes the understanding, as the apostle calls them, James i. 22.
It is the cunning fophiftry of the devil, fathered by self-love, Prov. xxi.
2. " Every way of am an is right in his own eyes," and partly
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by self-ignorance, Rev. iii. 17. " Thou saidst I am rich, and " have need of nothing, andknowest not that thou art poor."
You have no fears, no doubts, no case to propound that con . cerns your future state ; and why fo ? but because you have no sight; your consciences are quieted, because your eyes are blinded.
Fourthly,Thetriflingofmen, with the duties of religion, plainly discovers the blinding power of Satan upon their minds and understandings, else they would never play, anddally with the serious, and solemn ordinances of God, at that rate they do ; if their eyes were once opened, theywouldbe in earnest in prayer, and apply themselves with the closest attention of mind to hearing the gospel.
There are two forts of thoughts about any subject of meditation. Some think at a distance, and others think close to the subject.
Never do thoughts of men come fo close to Christ, to heaven, and to hell, as they do immediately upon their illumination. When John's ministry enlightened the peoples minds, it is said,Matth.xi. 12. " From the days of John
" the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth vio- " lence, and the violent take it by force."
Surely these men were more in good earnest, that would receive no repulse, take no denial, but even force themselves through all difficulties into heaven; and so would it be with you.
If the god of this world had not blinded your minds,you would never pray with so much unconcernedness, nor hear with somuchnegligence, and carelefness ; pray, as if you prayed not, and hear as if you heard not.
It is with many of your hearts, as it was with Ariftotle, who after a quaint oration made before him, was asked how he liked it ; truly, said he, Ididnothear it; for I was thinking all the while of another matter.
Fifthly, This also is a plain evidence, that the god of this world hath blinded many mens eyes among us, for that they fear not to commit great fins, to avoid small hazards and troubles, which all the world could never persuade them to do, if they were not hood-winked by the god of this world.
Those that have seen fin, as fin, in the glass of God's law, " will chuse as " Moses did, to suffer any affliction with the people of God, ra- " ther than enjoy the pleasures of fin, which are but for a sea- " son," Heb. xi . 25.
Those that have seen, and felt the evil of fininthedeep troubles of their spirits for it, will account all reproaches, all losses, all sufferings from men, tobebutasnothing to the burthen of fin.
Sixthly, The pride, and self-conceitedness ofmanythousands, who profess Christianity,plainly shew their minds to be blinded
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by thefophistry of Sat an, and that they do not understand themselves, and the woful state of their own souls.
Those that fee God in the clearest light, abhor themselves in the deepest humility, Ifa. vi. 5. John xliii. 5. If ever the Lord had effectuallyopened your eyes, Įby a clear discovery of your state by nature, andthecourseofyour life, under the efficacyandinfluence of continual temptations, and corruptions, how would your plumes fall? None in the world would rate you lower, than you your. selves would.
By all which it appears, that multitudes are blinded by the god of this world.
Thirdly, In the third place, we are to consider, what policies Satanuseth to blind the minds of them that believe not, and we shall find there are three forts of policies practised by the god of this world upon the minds andunderstandings of men, which hedarkens, by 1. Hindering the reception of gospel-light,
2. Obstructing the efficacy of it when received.
3.Making misapplication of it to other purposes.
It is a great policy in Satan, to blind the understandings of men, by hindering, and preventing the reception of gospel-light, which he doth especially these five ways ;
First, By tempting the dispensers of the gospel to darken the truths thereof, in thedeliveringofthem, to shoot over the heads of their hearers, inloftylanguage, and terms of art, so that commonunderstandings can give no account, when the sermon is done,whatapreacher would have; but, however, commend him for a good scholar, and an excellent orator.
I make no doubt but the devil is very busy with ministers in their studies, tempting them, by the pride of their own hearts, to gratify his design herein; he teaches them how to paint the glass, that he might keep out the light.
I acknowledge, a proper, grave, and comely stile, befits the lips of Christ's ambassadors; they would not be rude, and careless in their language, or method. But this affectation of great swelling words of vanity, is but too like the proud
Gnostics, whom the apostle is supposed to tax for this evil, Jude, ver. 16. " This is to darken counsel, by words without " knowledge," Job xxxi. 2. To amuse, andbemist poor igno. rant fouls, andnullifythedesign of preaching ; for everything is accounted fo far good, as it is good to the end it is ordained for. A sword, that hath an hilt of gold, set thick with diamonds, is no good sword, if it hath no edge to cut, or want agoodback to followhomethe stroke. O that the ministers
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of Christ would chuse rather * found, than great words, such as areapt to pierce the heart, rather than such as tickle the fancy ; and let people beware of furthering the design of Satan against their own souls, inputting atemptationupontheir ministers, by despising plain preaching. The more popular, plain, and intelligible our difcourses are, so much the more probable they are to be successful ; that is the most excellentoratory, thatperfuades men to Christ.
Secondly, Satan hinders the access of light to the understandings of men, by employing theirmindsabout impertinent things, while they are attending upon the ordinances of God; thus he tempted them in Ezek. xxxiii. 31, 32. " And they come unto
" thee as the people cometh, and they fit before thee, as my people; and they hear thy words, but they will not do them;
" for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart " goeth after their covetousness. And lo! thou art unto them
" as avery lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice."
The modulation of the prophet's voice was very pleasing to their ears, but mean while their fancies, and thoughts were wandring after their lusts, their hearts were full of earthly projects.
Thirdly, Satan binders the access of light to the understand. ings of men, by raising objections, and picking quarrels with the word, on purpose to shake its authority, and hinder the afssent of the understanding to it, and fo the word makes no more impression than a fable, or a romance would do. And never did this design of Sat an obtain more than in this atheistical age, wherein the main pillars and foundation of religion are shaken in the minds of multitudes.
The devil hath persuaded many, that the gospel is but a cuaningly devised fable ; fabula Christi, as thatblafphemingpopecalled it; that ministers must say something to get a living. That heaven and hell are but fancies, or at most, things of great uncertainty, and doubtful credit. This being once obtained, the door of the soul is shut against truth.
And this design ofSatanhath prospered the more in this generation, by the corrupt doctrines of seducing spirits, " Which 66 have overthrown the faith of some," 2 Tim . ii, 18. And partly from the scandalous lives of loose and vain professors, the gospel hath been brought into contempt ; but especially by Satan's artificial improvement of the corrupt natures of men, in an age wherein conscience hath been so much debauched, and Atheifin thereby spread as a gangrene in the body politic.
*They who speak in a popular, plain, and simple manner, are the best instructors of the people, Bucholtz.
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Fourthly, Satan hinders the access of light, by helping erroneous minds to draw false conclusions, and perverse inferences from the great and precious truths of the gospel; and thereby bringing them under prejudice and contempt: Thus he assists the errors ofmens minds about the doctrine of election ; when heeitherperfuades them, that it is an unreasonable doctrine, and not worthy of credit, that God should chuse some, and refuse others every way as good as those he hath chosen; or if there beanycertainty in that doctrine, then inen may throw the reins upon the neck of theirlufts, and live at what rate they lift. For if God have chosen them to salvation, their wickedness shall not hinder it; and it he have appointed them unto wrath, their diligence and self-denial cannot prevent it.
Thus the doctrine of free grace is by the like sophistry of Sat an turned into lasciviousness.
If grace abound, men may fin the more freely; and the shortness of our time upon earth, which in its own nature awakens all men to diligence, is, by thefubtilty of Sat an, turned to a quite contrary purpose, " Let
" us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die."
Fifthly, Satan darkens the minds of men, and shuts them up against the light, by blowing them up with pride, and self-conceitedness, perfuadingthem that they know all these things already,and causing them tocontemn the most weighty and precious truths of God, as trite and vulgar notions.
The word cannot be received without meekness, and humility, of mind, Jam. i. 21. Pial. xxv. 8, 9. and pride is the nurse of ignorance,
1 Tim. vi. 4. 1 Cor. viii. 7.
The devil is aware of this, and therefore blows up the pride, and conceitedness ofmenshearts, all that he can : And this temptation of his generally prevails wherever it meets with aknowinghead, matched with a graceless, and unfanctified heart. And thus we see by what wiles and policies, Satan keeps out the light, and prevents the access of it to the minds of men.
But if he miss hisdesignhere, and truth gets into the mind, Then Secondly, He labours to obstruct the efficacy, and operation of the light; and though it do shine into the understanding, yet it shall be imprisoned there; and send down no converting in- -fluences upon the will, and affections : And this design he promotes, and manages divers ways.
First, By hastening to quench convictions betimes, and nip them inthebud.
Satanknows how dangerous athing it is, and destructive to his interest, to suffer convictions to continue long; and therefore it is said of him, Mat. xiii. 19.When any
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" oneheareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it " not,thencomeththewickedone,andcatchethaway that which was sown in his heart."
Satan is compared in this scripture to the fowlsinthe air, which pickup the feed before it take any root in the earth. The devil is veryjealousofthis, and therefore labours all he can to destroy the word before it comes to operate upon the heart ; which he doth sometimes by the cares of the world, and sometimesbyvaincompanions, who prove mere quench coals unto the beginning convictions.
One finnerdettroyeth much good.
Secondly, No sooner doth the god of this world observe the light of truth begin to operate upon the heart, but he obstructeth that design by procrastinations and delays, which delude and baffle convinced fouls; he persuades them if they will alter their course, it will be time enough hereafter, when such encumbrances and troubles, in the world, are over; if he prevail here,
'tis a thousand to one but the work miscarries.
Jam. i. 13, 14.
If the hearer of the word be not adoer (i. e.) a present doer, while the impressions of it are fresh upon the soul, he doth but deceive himself.
For it is with the heart, as it is with melted wax, if the feal be clapped to it presently, it will receive a fair impression ; but if it be let alone,but for a little while, you can make none at all ; it was therefore David's great care and wisdom to set about the work of religion under, the first impetus, or vigorous motion of his heart and affections.
Psal. cxix. 60. " Г " made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments."
Multitudes of fouls have perished by these delays.
It is a temp. tation incident to all that are under beginning convictions, especially young persons, whom the devil persuades that it were nobetterthan madness in them to abridge, and deny themselves fomuchdelight, and pleasure, and steep theiryouthful thoughts infuchamelancholy subject as religion is.
Thirdly, If all this will not do, but convictions still continue togetground in the conscience, then he endeavours, to scare, and fright them out of their convictions, by representing to them the inward terrors, troubles, anddespairs into which they are about to plunge themselves, and that hencearth they must never expect a pleasant day, or comfortable hour. Thus doth the God of this world blind the minds of them that believe not, both by hindering the access of light to the mind, and the influence of it upon the heart.
Thirdly, There isyetone policy of Sat an to keep fouls in darkness, and that is,by the misapplication of truth; persuading them, that whatsoever they read, or hear of the misery,
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and danger of christless, and unregenerate persons, doth not in the least touch or concern them, but the more notorious andprophane part of the world; and by this policy he blinds the minds ofallciviland moral persons. Thus the " Pharifces
" trusted in themselves thattheywererighteous, and despised o- " thers."
And so the Laodiceans thought themselves rich, and encreased with goods; this is, in a very safe and good condition*. Now there are divers things notably improved by Satan's policy, in order to these misapplications of truth. As,
First, The freedom of their lives from the most gross pollutions of the world.
Mat. xix. 20. " All these things have I kept from my youth up." A civil, sober course of life is a most effectual blindbeforetheeyesofmanyaman'sconfcience.
Secondly, It is the policy of Satan topreventconvictions by conviction : I mean effectual convictions, by convictions, that have been ineffectual, and are now vanished away.
Thus the troubles that some persons have been under, must pass for their
conversion, though the temper of their heart be the same it was :
Their ineffectual troubles are made use of by the devil to blind them in the true knowledge, and apprehensionoftheircondition.
For these men andwomencanspeak of the troubles they have had for fin, and the many tears they have shed for it; whereby thorough conviction is effectuallyprevented.
Thirdly, Gifts, and knowledge are improved by the policy of Sat an, against the true knowledge of Jesus Christ, and our own estate by nature. As conviction, is improved by Satan's policy against conviction, so is knowledge against knowledge.
This was the case of them in Rom. ii. 17, 18. " Thou art " called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of 66 God, and knowest his will, and approvest the things that are
" excellent; being instructed out of the law, andartconfident " that thou thyself art a guide to the blind," &c.
And this is the temptation, and delusion of knowing persons, who are fo far frombeingblindin their own account, that they account themselves the guides of the blind: Yet whoblinder than fuchmen?
Fourthly, External reformation is improved by the policy of Satanagainst true spiritual reformation, and passes current up and down the world for conversion; though it serves only to strengthen Satan's interest in the soul, Matth. xii.44. and for want ofa real change of heart, doth but encrease their fin and misery, 2 Pet. ii. 20.
This is the generation that is pure in their own eyes, and yet are not washed from their filthiness.
*See myTouchstone of Sincerity upon Rev. iii. 17, 18 .
The Method of Grace.
SERM . XXXIV.
The cleannessoftheir hands blinds them in discovering thefoulness of their hearts.
Fifthly, The policy of Satan improves diligence in some duties, against the convictions of other duties.
The external duties of religion, as hearing, praying, fasting, against the great duties ofrepenting and believing.
This was their case, Ifa.lviii.
2, 3. " Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, " as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordi- " nances of their God. They ask of me the ordinances of ju- " stice, they take delight in approaching to God.
Wherefore " have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not ? Wherefore " have we afflicted our souls, and thou takest no knowledge ?"
Thus duty is improved against duty, the externals against the internals of religion,and multitudes are blinded this way.
Sixthly, The policy of Satanimproves zeal against zeal ; and thereby blinds a great part of the world: he allows men to be zealous against a false religion, if thereby he may prevent them from being zealous in the true religion. He diverts their zeal against their own sins, by spending it against other mens. Thus
Paulwas once blinded by his own zeal for the law, Acts xxii.
3. And many men, at this day, fatisfythemselves in their own zeal against the corruptions of God's worship, and the superstitions of others, who never felt the power of true religion upon their own hearts ; a dangerous blind of Satan.
Seventhly, The policy of Satan improves the esteem and respect men have from the people of God, against their great duty and interest to become such themselves, Rev. iii. 1. " Thou
" hast a name that thou livest, but thou art dead."
It is enough to many men that they obtain acceptation among the saints, though they be none of that number ; the good opinion of others, begets and confirms their good opinion of themselves.
Eightly, The policyofSatanimprovesfoundness of judgment, against soundness of heart. An orthodox head, against an orthodox heart and life; dogmatical faith, against justifying faith.
This was the case of them before-mentioned, Rom. ii. 18, 19.
Men satisfy themselves, that they have a found understanding, though, at the fame time, they have a very rotten heart.
It is enough for them that their heads are regular, though their hearts and lives be very irregular.
Ninthly, The policy of Sat an improves the blessings of God, against the blessings of God,blindingusbythe blessings of providence, so as not to discern the want of spiritual blessings ; perfuadingmen that the smiles of providence, intheirprofperity, success, and thriving designs in the world, are good eviden