let them betray a decided love to heavenly things, and multi- tudes will exert themselves in every possible way to divert them from so dangerous a path. Hence their prejudices are all on the side of evil and of the world. And how great the effect of prejudice is, may be seen in the adherents both of Judaism and Popery. One would imagine that the superstitions both of the one and of the other must give way before the light of the New Testament : but prejudice, as has been said, has neither eyes nor ears. Truth has no force, and argument no power, when set before one whose mind is pre-occupied with statements of an adverse nature. The Apostle says of the Jews, that " to this day a veil is upon their hearts ; so that, when Moses is read to them, they cannot see the true scope of his instructions'." And precisely thus it is also with the rich, when the Gospel is preached to them : " Their eyes are blinded ; and they cannot discern" the truth of those things which are pro- posed to their consideration™. But the poor are, comparatively, but little subjected to this influence. People take not so much pains to prejudice their minds ; and they are left more to think and act for themselves. Hence, when truth is proposed to them, they are more open to conviction, and more easily brought under its power. And this is one reason why even the " publicans and harlots enter into the kingdom before the Scribes and Pharisees."]
2. They are more enslaved by custom —
[The rich, amidst all their boasted liberty, are the veriest bond-slaves that the world contains. If negroes are afraid of the scourge of their masters, so are the rich afraid lest they should be subjected to the lash of censure amongst their equals. Let an opportunity of spiritual instruction be afforded them, they would be afraid to avail themselves of it, if it were offered at a place not frequented by the rich, or by a person not approved amongst them. Even though in their hearts they would be glad to hear the instruction, they dare not go over tlie line prescribed by custom and fashion, lest they should bring upon themselves some reproach. They would be ashamed to be found reading the Bible ; and would be in per- fect horrors if they were discovered weeping for their sins. True, a rich Papist would not blush at being known to follow the superstitious usages of his Church, because other rich persons both approve and follow the same superstitions : but a rich Protestant would not dare to spend a day in fasting and prayer, because the rich of his own community pour contempt on piety, and on the means by which piety is advanced in the soul. But the poor are more free to follow the dictates of
1 2 Cor. iii. 14, 15. "^ 2 Cor. iv. 4