1 rance should lead us to be very cautious in what ·, we pronounce concerning the decrees and counsels of God; it should make us reluctant to speculate upon these awful and mysterious subjects, and solicitous to avoid the pernicious error of aiming at being "wise above that which is written (1)." The prescience of God, as extending to every instance of human conduct, from the creation of man to the final consummation of all things, is a fit object of our belief; but we are utterly incapable of comprehending how this prescience consists with the other attributes of the Deity and with the free-agency of man; nor can we conceive how those future contingencies, which depend upon the determination of the human will, should be certain and infallible: and yet, that they are so, is fully proved by the accurate accomplishment of prophecies. Rather than bewilder ourselves in the inextricable difficulties of such contemplations, to which our limited faculties are by no means competent, we should exclaim with the pious and humble Psalmist, "Such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent for us, we cannot attain unto it (m)." WHEREFORE THEY WHICH BE ENDUED WITH SO EXCELLENT A BENEFIT OF GOD, BE CALLED ACCORDING TO GOD'S PURPOSE BY HIS SPIRIT WORKING (1) 1 Cor. c. 4. v. 6. (m) Ps. 139. v. 5. WORKING IN DUE SEASON; THEY THROUGH GRACE OBEY THE CALLING; THEY BE JUSTI· FÍED FREELY; that is, they who conform to the conditions of the Gospel dispensation, are made partakers of its benefits, according to the gracious. purpose of God, who planned this scheme of redemption they are assisted by the influence of his Spirit; and are accepted through his free and voluntary offer of pardon and justification. And such are the glorious privileges and effects of this state of acceptanee, that we are assured in Scripture, that by itmen BE MADE SONS OF GOD BY ADOPTION; THEY BE MADE LIKE THE IMAGE, OF HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON JESUS CHRIST; THEY WALK RELIGIOUSLY IN GOOD WORKS, AND AT LENGTH BY GOD'S MERCY THEY ATTAIN TO EVERLASTING FELICITY. "That we might receive the adoption of sons (n)."-" To be con formed to the image of his Son (o)."—" Created in Christ Jesus unto good works (p)."-" Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who (n) Gal. c. 4. v. 5. (0) Rom. c. 8. v. 29: are are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time (q)."-" According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love, having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will (r)." "The errors and vain disputes," says Mr. Pyle, "that have arisen in the latter ages of Christianity concerning faith and works, justification and sanctification, election and reprobation, that have distracted the minds of many Christians, have proceeded from applying particular phrases or passages in the Epistles to particular persons, which originally referred to the state and condition not of particular persons, but of whole churches in their collective capacity. Thus the body of heathens, while in their heathen state, are called aliens, strangers, enemies to God, &c.; but such of them as were converted (the churches to whom the Apostles wrote) are styled no longer strangers, but of the household of God, a chosen or elected generation, a royal priesthood, justified, sanctified, saints, &c. So the major part of the Jewish nation, who obstinately rejected the Gospel of Christ, instead of being any longer the holy nation, the people of God, (q) 1 Pet. c. 1. v. 3, &c. (r) Eph. c. 1. v. 4 & 5. God, are called the vessels of wrath, fitted (by their own obstinacy) for destruction, reprobate; while the believing Jews became vessels of mercy, foreordained, predestinated, to be called into the kingdom or covenant of the Gospel, chosen to eternal life; which expressions mean no more than their having been offered the means and opportunities of attaining to the future happiness. of heaven, by their knowledge and practice of Christ's religion. Their actual enjoyment of future happiness depended entirely on their virtuous obedience to the Gospel; on their diligence to make their calling and election sure, that is, effectual to their salvation. No private persons are ever mentioned in these writings as elected to eternal life by any absolute decree of God. Paul was a chosen vessel; but he was chosen as a proper minister of Christ's Gospel, to bear his name to the Gentiles; his being chosen to the crown of life hereafter, was the fruit of his earnest endeavours to keep the faith, (his fidelity) to finish his course, and of his labouring abundantly. To take these expressions otherwise, is to pervert the design of these writings. It is this mistake that has diverted the minds of many good men from attending to the more excellent parts of these writings, the moral and weighty exhortations given to Christians; and by puzzling them about former controversies that do very little, if at all, concern us now, have turned off their, thoughts from the great matters of the Christian law, which are most easy to be understood, and requisite to be put in practice (s).” AS THE GODLY CONSIDERATION OF PRE DESTINATION, AND OUR ELECTION IN CHRIST, IS FULL OF SWEET, PLEASANT AND UNSPEAKABLE COMFORT TO GODLY PERSONS, AND SUCH AS FEEL IN THEMSELVES THE WORKING OF THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, MORTIFYING THE WORKS OF THE FLESH, AND THEIR EARTHLY MEMBERS; AND DRAWING UP THEIR MINDS TO HIGH AND HEAVENLY THINGS, AS WELL BECAUSE IT DOTH GREATLY ESTABLISH AND COMFIRM THEIR FAITH OF ETERNAL SALVATION TO BE ENJOYED THROUGH CHRIST, AS BECAUSE IT DOTH FREQUENTLY KINDLE THEIR LOVE TOWARDS GOD: SO, FOR CURIOUS AND CARNAL PERSONS, LACKING THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, TO HAVE CONTINUALLY BEFORE THEIR EYES THE SENTENCE OF GOD'S PREDESTINATION, IS A MOST DANGEROUS DOWNFALL (t), WHEREBY THE DEVIL DOTH THRUST THEM EITHER INTO DESPERATION, OR INTO WRETCHLESSNESS (u) OF MOST UNCLEAN LIVING, (s) Preface to the Epistle to the Romans. (t) The Latin word is præcipitium, a precipice, which seems better to describe the dangerous situation in which such persons are placed. (u) Wretchlessness signifies carelessness. Duce diabolo, vel in desperationem præsentem objiciuntur præcipites, |