Isaiah^, as cited and explained by the Apostle Paul'. And it is remarkable that, at particular seasons, the Jews, not except- ing children of ten or twelve years of age, at this hour wear veils in their synagogues ; a sad emblem of the veil which yet remains upon their hearts !]
But let us turn from this painful subject to observe, that,
II. His putting off the veil v^^as designed to shew the manifestations that await them — When Moses spake with the children of Israel, he put the veil on his face ; but when he went in to speak with the Lord he took off the veil^. However this, so far as his own feelings were concerned, might mark his humility, it covertly intimated to the Jews, that whilst they should converse only with men, and hearken to nothing but their own superstitions, the veil would remain on their hearts : but, '' when once they should turn to the Lord their God," to converse with him, and to seek instruction from him, " the veil that was on their hearts should be taken away." So God promised them by Moses, at the very time that he foretold their present dispersion^; and so it shall assuredly be in due season. In this respect their conversion will differ widely from the conversion of the heathen. The heathen, for want of previous instruction, will have their eyes gradually opened: the removal of the veil from their heart will do no more than give them a suitable disposition to receive the great truths of Christianity, which shall be sub- sequently set before them : but the Jews, being pre- viously acquainted with their own law and with the writings of their prophets, will at once behold them all as centering in the Lord Jesus : their sight will be like that of a man, who, having been long conversant with the different wheels and springs of some com- plicated machine, (a steam-engine or a watch,) but never having had any notion of their relation to each other, and their harmonious adaptation to one common end, beholds them at once combined, and
t' Isai. xxix. 9, 10. ^ Rom. xi. 7, 8, 25.
^ Exod. xxxiv. 33, 34. • Dent. iv. 20, 27, 30, 31.