First, Many that live under the gospel are so entirely swallow- ed 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 knowledge of these men are, whether the god of this world hath not blinded their eyes. If it were not so, it were impossible that ever they should thus waste the most precious opportunities of salvation upon which their ever- lasting 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 eartli hath opened her mouth and swallowed up their time, thoughts, studies, and strength, as it did the bodies of Corah and his accom-
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plices. The first, the freest, yea, the whole of their time, is de- voted to the service of the world; for even at that very time when they present their bodies before the Lord, in the duties of his wor- ship, their hearts are wandering after vanities, and " going after " their covetousness," Ezek. xliii. 81. Judge whether the god of this world hath blinded these men or no, who can see so 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 and quietness of men's consciences, under the most rousing and awakening truths of the gospel, plainly prove that the god of this world hath blinded their eyes. For did men see and apprehend the dangerous condition they are in as the word represents it ; nothing in the world would quiet them but Christ. As soon as men's eyes come to be opened, the next enquiry they come to make is, " What shall we do to be saved ?" It is not impossible that a man should hang over hell, see Christ and the hopes of salvation going, and the day of patience ending, and yet be quiet. O ! it cannot be, that conscience should let them be quiet in such a case, if it were not blinded and stupitied ; but whilst the god of this world, " that strong man armed keepeth " the house, all his goods are in peace," Luke xi. 21. If once your eyes were opened by conviction, a man may then say, be quiet if you can ; sit still, and let the hopes and seasons of salvation pass quietly away if you can. Suppose one should come into the con- gregation, 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 sit still after such an information ? much less when a man apprehends his own soul in immediate danger of everlasting burnings.
Thirdly, The strong confidences and presumptuous hopes men have of salvation, whilst they remain in the state of nature and un- regeneracy, plainly shew their minds to be blinded by the policy of Satan. This presumption is one of those tfafaXoy/c/xo/, false reason- ings, by which Satan deludes the understanding, as the apostle calls them, James i. 22. It is the cunning sophistry of the devil, fathered by self-love, Prov. xxi. 2. " Every way of a man is right " in their own eyes," and partly by self-ignorance^ Rev. iii. 17. " Thou saidst I am rich, and have need of nothing, and knowest " not that thou art poor." You have no fears, no doubts, no case to propound that concerns your future state ; and why so ? but be- cause you have no sight ; your consciences are quieted, because your eyes are blinded.
Fourthly, The trifling of men with the duties of religion plainly
SERM. XXXIV. THE METHOD OF GRACE. 457
discovers the blinding power of Satan upon their minds and under- standings, else they would never play and dally with the serious and solemn ordinances of God at that rate they do ; if their eyes were once opened, they would be in earnest in prayer, and apply themselves with the closest attention of mind to hearing the gospel. There are two sorts 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 so close to Christ, to heaven, and to hell, as they do immediately upon their illumina- tion. When Johns ministry enlightened the people's minds, it is said, Matth. xi. 12. " From the days of John the Baptist until " now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the vio- " lent take it by force." Surely these men were more in good earnest who 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 word had not blinded your minds you would never pray with so much unconcernedness, nor hear with so much negligence and carelessness ; pray as if you pray- ed not, and hear as if you heard not. It is with many of your hearts as it was with Aristotle, who after a quaint oration made be- fore him, was asked how he liked it ; truly, said he, I did not hear 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 men's eyes among us, for that they fear not to commit great sins 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 sin as sin, in the glass of God's law, " will chuse as Moses did, to suffer any " affliction with the people of God, rather than enjoy the plea- " sures of sin, which are but for a season,1' Heb. xi. 25. Those that have seen and felt the evil of sin in the deep troubles of their spirits for it, will account all reproaches, all losses, all sufferings from men, to be but as nothing to the burthen of sin.
Sixthly, The pride and self-conceitedness of many thousands who profess Christianity, plainly shew their minds to be blinded by the sophistry of Satan, and that they do not understand themselves, and the woful state of their own souls. Those that see God in the clearest light, abhor themselves in the deepest humility, Isa. vi. 5. John xliii. 5. If ever the Lord had effectually opened your eyes by a clear discovery of your state by nature, and the course of your life, under the efficacy and influence of continual temptations and corruptions, how would your plumes fall ? None in the world would rate you lower than you yourselves would. By all which it appears that multitudes are blinded by the god of this world,
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Thirdly, In the third place we are to consider what policies Satan useth to blind the minds of them that believe not, and we shall find there are three sorts of policies practised by the god of this world upon the minds and understandings of men, which he darkens, by
1. Hindering the reception of gospel-light
2. Obstructing the efficacy of it when received.