when truth is set before them, they reply, " This is a hard saying: who can hear it0?" Especially if they be called to renounce self altogether, and to glory in Christ alone, they have no ears to hear it : they are like those of whom our Lord said, " Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my words p."]
2. Indisposes them for walking according to the light they have —
[Much, doubtless, they may see: but they are kept in bondage by " the fear of man that bringeth a snare." As far as relates to a speculative view of the truth, they may have a strong conviction of it ; so strong as, in the common accepta- tion of the term, to be said to possess faith. Thus we are told, respecting many who beheld our Lord's miracles : " Among the chief rulers, many believed on him : but, because of the Pharisees, they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue : for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of Godq." Here their incapacity to give themselves up to Christ is marked as proceeding from the very same cause to which it is ascribed in the text : " They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." Thus it is that this evil principle operates in ten thousand instances, keeping men from an attendance on public ordinances, from the society of the Lord's people, and from that public confession of Christ, whereby they ought to glorify his name.]
3. Leads them into courses directly contrary to the
truth —
[A desire of worldly favours draws men, of necessity, not only to a neglect of what is good, but also to the positive com- mission of evil. The world will never be satisfied, till they bring us, in some measure at least, into a conformity with their views and habits. The compliances which they first desired are perhaps innocent : but gradually they increase their de- mands upon us, till they ensnare our feet, and defile our con- science, and lead us to dishonour our holy profession, if not altogether to renounce the faith.]
Now let me make this subject —
1. A matter of appeal — [Our blessed Lord appeals to the persons themselves, whose spirit he reproves. And I also will venture to ask of you, my brethren, Whether you have not found in your con- verse with others, that a love of man's applause, wherever it has obtained, has proved a bar to the introduction of light into
0 John vi. 60. r John viii. 13. i John xii. 42, 43.