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the same sense our Saviour said to the perverse jews, who attended him without any sire or capability of improvement :-" he that hath ears to hear, let him hear ;-implying that if through the influence of sinful prejudices, mankind will still turn a deaf ear to that which is for their own good, and which God has no other view in proposing to them, than the advancing of their interest and happiness, the time will come when they cannot hear.— They will become liable to be given up, and applied to no more, either by salutary correctives,* or inviting suggestions, and "there remaineth only a fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation, which shall consume the adversaries."+

Pharoah, the type of Antichrist, is an eminent instance of this effect of a judicial blindness, of whom the scripture says, that God hardened his heart, and yet it says again, that be hardened his own heart; from whence we may easily understand the true meaning of similar declarations. The passionate lamen

*Psalm xxxix, 11.

Hebrews x. 27.

tation that God makes over Israel,—“ turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die, O house of Israel,"* declaring at the same time, that be hath no pleasure in the death of sinners, but rather in their conversion unto life, clearly evinces, (as the gospel also every where teaches,) that "God is not willing that any man should perish, but that all should come to repentance and live." The tears which our Saviour shed, and the sincere compassion with which he bewailed the approaching doom of Jerusalem, notwithstanding she had been the destroyer of the prophets, and was soon to thrust him also out of the world, by a death the most ignominious and painful of all deaths; is a convincing evidence, that the divine mercy and justice are not dealt out by partial measures, and do not act in contrary ways towards mankind, but by one invariable and most equitable plan of universal and fatherlylove to all his creatures. That some indeed, are incapable of salvation, but not through any defect of mercy on God's part, but inattention on their own, through sinful or world

Ezekiel xxxiii, 11.

ly motives. "In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not; lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (2 Cor. iv. 4.)

The real purport even of that text, so confidently brought forward in support of the opposite doctrine, is doubtless only to be collected from the general testimony of the scriptures, and to be interpreted in a manner not inconsistent with the often declared goodness* and impartiality of the all perfect Being the Maker and common Father of all. "Therefore hath

he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. (Rom. ix. 18.)

It holds forth to us nevertheless, a loud warning against the in-dwelling enemy that is in our flesh. That "the heart of man is deceitful above all things, and desperately, wicked, who can know it?" And that im

position in no instance is ever practised with

reign was to be so notoriously marked, should nevertheless not have been known by the peo ple to whom (in punishment of their sins) he is sent is a thing that must affect every reflecting mind with great astonishment, as it did that of St John. (Rev. xvii. 6.) It is a mystery to which there is nothing comparable, except the similar fact of our blessed Lord sustaining the office and character of the Messias amongst his own people, with all those signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds, ascribed to him in prophecy; and yet rejected by the very people who were eye and ear-witnesses to the indisputable facts.* And surely both these instances of an incredible blindness and infatuation, are as full proofs as can be required of the actual existence of that strong delusion that they should believe a lie, which is sent sinners who will not pay a proper attention to the evidences of the truth that are vouchsafed to them. It is both the natural consequence and, at the same time, the welldeserved punishment of their unbelief.

upon

*Mat. xiii. 17..

Yet although Antichrist has actually so come, "as it was written of him," and that so many centuries ago, that the term of dura tion assigned to him is now well nigh run out, and the measure of his iniquities almost filled up; though he has "sat in scorners chair,"and" in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God," by bearing the appro priate ensigns of the Deity, claiming his attributes, and his names, and usurping his headship over all, and exercising an authority superior to his:yet the blindness upon his worshippers is such, that, like the jews, they cling to their error for better for worse, in prosperity and in adversity; and with as bigotted a zeal in the day of his judgment, as in that of his uncontrollable pride and power.

Their future fidelity to this god of their idolatry is however now about to be put to the test, and as Christ hath had his martyrs, so Antichrist hath had, and must still have his; and a severe retaliation of blood for blood, and persecution for persecution, is at hand. "He that leadeth into captivity, must

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