^j$ G ni'S ELECTIOIf. This great truthis not designed to be matter of mere speculation, and much less to be tossed and bandied about in noisy quarrels and controversies among the disciples of Christ, but it bath its sacred and glorious uses ; among which are such as these : Use. I.Since we are chosen töbe holy, as well us happy; we may search and find out our election by our. sanctification, and make it sure and evident. , So the apostle Peter advises; 2 Pet. i. 10. Give diligence to makeyour calling and election sure, that is, to make your election sure by your calling, by your obedience to the heavenly call. And St. Paul infers that the Thessalonians were elect of God, because the 'gospel carne to them, not in word only, but in power, and they became followers of him, and of Christ ; 1 Thess. i. 4-43. Have you chosen God for your por- tionand happiness, as he reveals himself by Christ Jesus in the gospel ? Then his word will assure you God has chosen you in Christ. Have you given up your souls to the hands of Jesus, the Saviour, without reserve, that you may be made holy and happy ? Then you may infer with assurance, that God has given youalso into thehands'ofChristforthisblessed purpose. Haveyou the characters ofthe children of God upon you, and are you made like to hisfirst beloved Son ? You may assure yourselves then, that you are predestinated to the adoption of childrenby Jesus Christ. Odivine science ! O blessed skill of searching intothe secret ofthe decrees of God,. and of. finding that our names are written in the book of Iife ! II. Let those who by a sinceresearch have found the bles- sed marks and evidences of their election in Christ Jesus take the comfort of it, rejoice in it, live upon it, and walk worthy of so divine a privilege. See that you keep your evidences of grace everclear and bright by holy watchfulness, that'ye may%have a strong defence in every hour of temptation. " Shall I who am chosen out of the world that I may be holy, shall I minglemyself with sinful men and indulge iniquity ? Shall I who am adopted into God's family, live like one of the children of'Satan ?" This is a sweet refuge also for us to have recourse to in every outward distress : " Shall I faint and be overwhelmed under a present might perhaps be as easily answered, if time wouldallow. But if all our reason- ing powers should fail us in the vindication of this sovereignty of God, in cha- sing particular' persons tei be the objects of any of his favours, whether earthly or heavenly; yet St. Paul teaches us to answer; Rom. ix. 1l-24. Oman! who art thou that replies: against God? Shall the thing formedsay to him that formed it, why hast thou made me thus? God will have mercyon :ohm he will have Mercy, and that not among the Jews only, but atso among the Gentiles. Nor is there any unrighleousness with God, in any of these transactions; and the purpose of God according to eleètion must stand Andwe may remark by the way, that such a sort of answer as this makes it pretty evident, that our doctrine is the same withthat of St.. Paul : forif persons were chosen of Gcdon the account of foreseen good works, there won't lave been no room for such au objection and such an answer.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=