and " by manifestation of the truth must commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of Godf." It must be our labour to rend away the veil from the hearts of our hearers : for " if our Gospel be veiled, it is veiled to them that are lostg." " The glory of God shines in the face of Jesus Christ ;" and to shew them that glory in all its brightness, is to be the one object of our labour, as it is the unwearied effort of the devil to conceal it from their view11.]
2. To hearers —
[You should be aware that there is a veil upon your hearts, else you will never pray unto the Lord to remove it. Even the Apostle Paul, learned as he was in all biblical know- ledge, had, " as it were, scales fall from his eyes," when God was pleased to lead him to a clear view of his Gospel. So must " the eyes of your understanding also be enlightened," before you can " discern aright the things of the Spirit." But though God has appointed ministers to instruct you, you are all at liberty, yea you are required, to go yourselves, like Moses, into the presence of your God. Do not however veil your faces before him, but go exactly as you are. Your fellow- creatures could not endure to see all that is in your hearts ; nor would it be of any use to reveal it to them : but " to God all things are naked and open ;" and the more fully you unbosom yourself to him, the more will his blessing come upon you. It is by putting off the veil from your own hearts, that you shall with " open unveiled face behold his glory ;" and, by beholding it, " be changed into the same image from glory to glory, by the Spirit of the Lord." Truly you shall, in a mea- sure, experience the same benefit as Moses did : you shall be " beautified with salvation ;" " the beauty of the Lord your God shall be upon you ;" and all that behold you shall be " constrained to acknowledge, that God is with you of a truth." When this effect is produced, " let your light shine before men." You are not called to veil it, but rather to display it ; not indeed for your own honour {that were a base unworthy motive), but for the honour of your God, that they who " behold your good works may glorify your Father that is in heaven."]
»" 2 Cor. iv. 2.
e Compare the language in the original. It is the same word throughout: KEKaXvfifiivov. 2 Cor. iii. 13. to iv. 6.
h 2 Cor. iii. 13. to iv. 6. The beauty of the passage is lost if the two chapters be not read together.
116.]