in the dark places of the Earth, where the sound of the Go∣spel is not heard, the Devil drives them along in huge droves to destruction, scarce a man reluctating or hanging back.
And though some Nations enjoy the inestimable priviledge of the Gospel of Salvation, yet multitudes of precious Souls perish notwithstanding, sinking into Hell daily as it were betwixt the merciful arms of a Saviour stretched out to save them. The light of Salvation is risen upon us, but Satan draws the thick curtains of ignorance and prejudice about the multitude, that not a beam of saving light can shine into their hearts: 2 Cor. 4.3, 4. But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
If our Gospel] Ours, not by way of institution, as the Authors, but by way of dispensation, as the Ministers and Preachers of it: and certainly it was never preached with that clearness, authority, and efficacy by any meer man, as it was by Paul and the rest of the Apostles, and yet the Gospel so powerfully preached, is by him here supposed to
Be hid] If not as to the general light and superficial know∣ledge of it, yet as to its saving influence and converting efficacy upon their hearts, this never reacheth home to the Souls and spirits of multitudes that hear it; but it is never finally so hidden, except
To them that are lost,] So that all those to whom the con∣verting and saving power of the Gospel never comes, what∣ever other knowledge they have, whatever duties they per∣form, whatever names and reputations they may have among men, yet this Text looks upon them all as a lost generation: they may have as many amiable homilitical Vertues, as sweet and lovely Natures, as clear and piercing eyes in all other things as any others; but they are such however
Whose eyes the God of this world hath blinded,] Satan is here called the God of this World, not properly, but by a Mi∣mesis, because he challenges to himself the honour of a God, a••d hath a world of Subjects that obey him; and to secure their obedience he blinds them, that they may never see a better way or state than that he hath drawn them into.