Romans 9:18

whom he will The emphasis is of course on these words, in each clause: to us, the onlyaccount of the differences of His action is His Will. The following verses prove beyond fair question that St Paul means fully to enforce this truth, intensely tryingas it is to the human heart. He lays it down without mitigation or counterpoise: not that there is nomitigation; but mitigation is far from his purpose here. The deepest relief to thought in the matter is just this, that this sovereign and unaccountable will is His Will; the Will of the living God, the Father of our Lord. But it is none the less sovereign;and that is the point here. Observe that the Gr. pronoun rendered "whom" throughout this verse is singular. The application is to individuals.

hardeneth Judicially; by "giving upto the heart's lusts."