GERM. II.] GOD'S ELECTION OF MEN IN JESUS CHRIST.. 27 the " promise of the Holy Spirit ; ` Luke xxiv. 49. that he might send him down ina variety of gifts and graces, upon his apostles at first, to begin his gospel-church on earth, and upon all his chosen people for their sanctifi- cation through all ages, to the end of the world. He' appointed 'him of old to be the judge of men andangels ; and all this authority and glory was promised him in that early covenant, partly as a proper recompence for his sufferings, and partly as a means to enable him to fulfil all the articles of his engagement to God, his Father. " Father," said he, " glorify thy Son, for he bath finished the work thou gayest him to do on earth ; and thou hast given him, that is, promised to give hire, power over all flesh, that he may give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him ;" John xvii. 1 -4. These things are recorded in a variety 9f scriptures, which it would be too large at present to rehearse. A glorious covenant ! with sacred and divine engagements, which are fulfilled on both sides, with perfect honour and faithfulness! What an effectual security is derived hence, for the salvation of all that believe. in Christ !. What an assurance is hereby given, that none of his chosen ones shall perish ! What matter of delightftil meditation, of holy wonder, and devout thankfulness, may the saints of God derive from this blessed covenants which reaches beyond the limits of this world and time, and extends from one eternity to another ! In condes- cension to our understandings, the holy prophets com- pare the firmness of this covenant to the ordinances of heaven, to the foundations of the earth, to the certain periods of the moon, and the established course of na- ture : But by the light of the New Testament, we may venture boldly to rise higher, and say, that when these heavens shall be folded up as a, curtain, when the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon be deprived of her light, when the foundations of the earth shall totter, and all things in it be burned up, this covenant shall remain in its full force, shall bring everlasting ho- nours to God the Father, and his Son Jesus, and for ever establish all the children of God in holiness and Joy There are yet four things that remain to be done, with relation to this great doctrine of the election ofsinners
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