29i E L E C T. able than That of the Medea and Pe^rfians , that it j call ndt return void to Him that fent it, but/hall accomplifh all his Pleafure. a If he be of the Number of GOD's Elea let him be perfuaded, that this bleffed Number fhall never be broken. If he be really a Member of Cbr ; let him truft, that Chr will never leave a Mem- ber forgotten upon Earth, nor fuller fí`ichan unalienable Part of Himfelf to perifh inHell: If he be indeed one of the Sons ofGOD, and a Joint -Heirwith Chrifl-; let him be confident, that all the Powers ofDarknefs, or even the hated Corruptions of his own evil Heart, below, fhail never be able to wreft away the leaft Particle of his Efate, or feparate him from his Father's Houfe and Home in Heaven. But let him remember (and, while he remembers, let him be humbled and thankful), that' his Advancement to Favor was the ftmple Refult of GOD's own fpon- taneous Mercy, without the leaft Pr evifion or Regard to- any thing, which he could do, to obtain it. Indeed, it was impoffible that he fhould do any thing, without Power from above : And, if Power, from above, be given, to perform the leaft good AEtion ; it is a free Donation, which could never be defèrved at ftrft by a Sinner with- out Strength, nor certainly afterwards by the Exercife of itfelf. Faith, Love, Joy, and Power over Sin, are Fruits of EleEtion, becaufe they proceed from GOD ; and are no more the Caufe of EleEtion, than EleEtion can be the Caufe of itfelf. If a Man could pofl'efs thefe Qualities without recurring to GOD for them, he might have Tome Plea for believing, that he was chofen of GOD on account of them. But it is the abfurdeft of all Abfur- ditics to imagine, that GOD eleEts from a Prævifion of Faith and good Works, when thefe very Qualities can have no more Exiftence in a Man's Heart, than in the Mind of a Devil, till GOD himfelf has placed them there. And iffuch a crude Pofition could be admitted ; then Man really and entirely eleEts himfelf: the Choice 'Ifäláh lv. r r. lS
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