When once we have learned what was the true na- ture of God's agency, and how far it was concerned in the hardening of Pharaoh's heart, we shall beat no loss,
II. To vindicate it —
We must neverforget that " God's ways and thoughts are infinitely above ours;" and that, whether we ap- prove of them or not, " he will never give account of them to us:" vet, constituted as we are, we feel a satisfaction in being able to discern their suitableness to the divine character. Of the dispensation then which we are considering, we may say,
1. It was righteous, as it respected the individual himself —
[It was perfectly righteous that Pharaoh should be left to himself. What injury would God have done, if he had acted towards the whole human race precisely as he did towards the fallen angels ? What reason can be assigned why man, who had imitated their wickedness, should not be a partaker of their punishment ? If then none had any claim upon God for the exercise of his grace, how much less could Pharaoh have a title to it, after having so proudly defied God, and so obstinately withstood his most express commands? If there was any thing unjust in abandoning Pharaoh to the corrupt affections of his heart, all other sinners in the universe have reason to make the same complaint, that God is unrighteous in his dealings with them. In that case, God could not, consistently with his own
e 2 Cor. iv. 4. 2 Tim. ii. 26.