358 RUIN AND RECOVERY, 'Ste. receive this salvation. Thus I think I have proved it pretty clearly, at least to my own satisfaction, that the non-elect among men are not predestinated to eternal misery by any absolute act of reprobation, nor are they left in the state of fallen angels or devils, for whom there is no Saviour appointed, and who cannot have any reasonable hope ; but that there is a conditional salva- tion provided for all men, and offered to then) in the gospel, by the glorious all-sufficiency and redundance ofthe merit of Christ. The doctrine of reprobation, in the most severe and abso- lute sense of it, stands in such a direct contradiction to all our notions of kindness and love to others, in which the blessed God is set forth as our example,:that our reasoncannot tell la) A, to receive it. Yet, if it were never so true, and never so plainly revealed in scripture, it would only be a doctrine which might require our humble assent, and our silent submission to it, with awful reverence of the majesty and sovereignty of the great God. Rut it is by no means a doctrine, in which - we, as men, could or should rejoice and glory, or take pleasure in it ; because it bath so dreadful an aspect on far the greatest part of our fellow-creatures, considered as merecreatures. Nor do I think the blessed God would require us so far to divest ourselves of humanity, as to take a secret satisfaction in the absolute and eternal appointment of such numbers of our kindred in flesh and, blood, to everlasting perdition : Much less should we make this awful and terrible article a matter of our public boast and triumph, even if we could prove it to be revealed, but rather mourn for it. And sincethere are so many expressions of scrip- ture, that give us reason to think that Christ lived and died in some respects as a common Mediator of mankind, though witha peculiar regard to the elect, methinks this doctrince of the exten- sive goodness of God, is a much moré desirable opinion, And should be more chearfully received by us, as it is so agreeable to our duty of charity to all men, and seems so necessary to us at present, for vindicating the justice, goodness, and sincerity of the blessed God, in his transactions with mankind. When there- fore f hear men talkof the doctrine of reprobation, with a special gust and relish, as a favourite article, I cannot but suspect their good temper, and question whether they love their neighbour as they do themselves. Thecase is very different when saintsarecal- led in scripture to rejoice in the public judgments of God, exer- cised upon the antichristian state, or upon the wicked oppressors, and incorrigible sinners of the world : For that is the effect of God's equity and righteousness,as a wise and faithful Governor ; but this would be an instance merely of his dreadful sovereignty and terror, and hardly consistent with goodness. 1 would ask leave also in this place to enquire, what great advantages can be derived to religion or Christianity, by endea-
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