¡$ GOD'S ELECTION OF MEN IN JESUS CHRIST. [SEAM. IL. the original. In this book of life were written the names of those persons who should not yield to antichristian idolatry, and should be preserved from the general cor- ruption that came upon the christian world. Upon the whole it appears from the language of scripture, that those who are sanctified and saved by divine grace, were before chosen òf God, to be made holy and happy. - I proceed now to the second general head of my dis- course, viz. That God from the beginning appointed his Son Jesus Christ to be the medium of exercising all this grace, and gave his chosen people to the care of his Son, to make them partakers of this salvation. This seems to be the meaning of my text. Are we blessed with all spiritual blessings ? It is as the members of one body, in Jesus Christ, as our common, head. Are we chosen ? It is still in Christ the Son of God. " In all things he must have the pre-eminence : He is the head of the body, the church ;" Col. i. 18. He was first chosen by the Father to be the glorious head of a holy and happy number of mankind, and we are chosen in him that we might become his holy and happy members. He is called " the elect of God, in whom his soul delighteth ;" Is. xlii. 1. " The mighty one on whom God has laid our help, who was exalted and chosen out of the people ;" Ps. lxxxix. 19. You may observe he is represented here to be chosen, as a man from among the people of Israel to be their Lord and Saviour; but that he might be equal to this work, and mighty to save, he was " one with God, all the fulness of the godhead dwelt in him bodily ;" Col. ii. 9. He is " the Word who was with God, and who was God ?" John i. 1. And in due time this Word was made flesh and dwelt among us ?" verse 14. Are we chosen that we might be saved ? It is in and through Christ, who was chosen to be our Saviour. Are we predestinated to the adoption of children ? It is still in Christ, who is the original Son, the " bright- ness of his Father's glory, the express image of his per- son, and who was appointed to be heir of all things ;" Heb. i. 2, 3. " And we are appointed to be conform- able to his image, tobe heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, and possessors of the inheritance;" Rom. viii. 17, 29,
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