SERM. IL) GOD'S ELECTION OF MEN IN JESUS CHRIST. 23 Is there a book of life written ? It is in the Lamb's book of life : The names Of all the chosen sons and daughters of God were written down in this book, but his name stands first there in divine characters, as the first chosen, and the head of all the rest : for before the foundation of the world, God gave the care of all these persons to his best beloved Son. Hence it is you find our Saviour so often speaking of those who were given hirn by the Father, out of this world ; John xvii. 2. " Thou hast given thy Son power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as Many as thou bast given him ;" which the twentieth verse of this chapter teaches us to apply to all who should believe on him, through the word of the apostles, as well as to . the apostles themselves. And in verse 24. " All that the Father bath given me, must be with me whereI am." And John vi. 57. " All that the Father bath given me, shall come unto me, that they may have life." ' Hence also arise those glorious expressions of St. Paul ; 2 Tina.' i. 9. God hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling ; not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus, before the world began." Tit. i. 1, 2. " St. Paul speak- ing of the faith of God's elect, he adds in,.hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lie, hath promised before the world began. "' Here is grace given to men, before the beginning of the world ; but it is given more immediately to Christ their head, in trust for them,: Here is .a promise of eternal life made before the crea- tion ; but it was made to Christ, for them, before they had a being. Examples of this kind are common among men, when one person is made trustee of an estate for many children, or heirs that are yet unborn, and he stands engaged to make them possessors of it in succes- sive seasons. I have put all these texts together, that we may ob- serve the whole current of scripture running this way, and leading our thoughts to'this great doctrine, viz. that as God has chosen his people before the foundation of the world to holiness and salvation, so he has given them for this purpose into the hands of his Sou. -Nor did the Son of God refiise this glorious trust, but chearfully un- dertook the work : So he is represented in the Old Tes- c4
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=