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I. THE GOSPEL IS THE TRUE LIGHTHOUSE. First, then, the gospel is the true lighthouse. The gospel, like its glorious Author, is the light of the world.

II. BY WHOSE AGENCY IS THIS LIGHT HID FROM ANY? "The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not." How does Satan seek to hide the light?

1. By a show of wisdom. He endeavours to persuade such that the light of reason and conscience is sufficient.

2. But there are others, and these are the young, especially, who are blindfolded by Satan with a show, not of wisdom, but enjoyment. Satan endeavours to prove that the world can yield all the happiness they want, and that religion tends only to mar it.

3. But there are others more advanced in life, who are engrossed and distracted with manifold cares and anxieties, and earnest pursuit of earthly things.

III. THE STATE OF THOSE FROM WHOM THE GOSPEL IS HID. They are said, here, to be lost, as if they were already lost, because they are as good as lost — "He that believeth not is condemned already." As we would say of a ship, drifting with the wind and tide towards a ledge of rocks, she is lost, although she has not yet struck; even so, we cannot but say of every unconverted impenitent soul, that he is a lost man.

(H. Verschoyle.)

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KJV: But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

WEB: Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who perish;