Wesley Corpus

It is nowhere asserted in holy writ; and it would cost you some pains to prove it. It is true, Pharaoh’s death was a punishment from God; but it does not follow, that he was punished everlastingly. And if he was, it was not by the mere sovereign will of God, but because of his own stubbornness and impenitence. Of this Moses has given us a particular account: Accordingly we read, “When Pharaoh saw that there was respite,” (after he was delivered from the plague of frogs,) “he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them.” (Exod. viii. 15.) So after the plague of flies, “Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.” (Verse 32.) Again: “When Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.” (ix. 34.) After God had given him all this space to repent, and had expostulated with him for his obstinate impeni tence, in those solemn words, “How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me?” (x. 3;) what wonder is it, if God then “hardened his heart,” that is, permitted Satan to harden it? if he at length wholly withdrew his softening grace, and “gave him up to a reprobate mind?” 56. The case of Esau is widely different from this; although his conduct also is blamable in many points. The first was, the selling his birth-right to Jacob. (Gen. xxv. 31, &c.) The next, his marrying against his father’s consent. (xxvi. 34, 35.) But it is highly probable he was sensible of his fault; because Isaac appears to have been fully recon ciled to him when he said, “My son, make me savoury meat, that my soul may bless thee before I die.” (xxvii. 4.) In the following verses we have an account of the manner wherein he was supplanted by his brother Jacob.