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offspring, both angels and men, I condemning the finner to death, fhall be punished with everlafting and also that they knew his so dodeltruction from the prefence of ing would be equal. If it fhould the Lord, and from the glory of be faid, that they enjoyed revelahis power. This awful truth, | tion, and therefore were better which the Bible reveals, is the capable of judging than others, it main reafon why men difbelieve may be replied; that according to and reject the Bible. They can- St. Paul, the Heathens always not feel it to be juft and good in knew that they who commit iniGod to inflict eternal torments on quity are worthy of death; and the creatures he has made. If it that the judgment of God against fhould be faid, that men would not fuch is according to truth: 3d, It object to this, if their hearts were is a great advantage, after being right towards God; and that fatisfied that a book, which claims their objections are always remov to be a revelation from God, is ined, when they are renewed by di- deed fo, to commence and profevine grace: The anfwer is, their cute the ftudy of it, with a certain objections are, in such case, equally perfuafion that God is effentially removed which arife from the fin and immutably holy and true; for, and mifery, they fee in this world, in that cafe, we have only to learn and they can and do fee the glory its true meaning, or what it conof God in the fun, the moon, the tains, to receive it with all readiftars, the earth, the fea, the winds,nefs of mind, and, in things which the rain, and, in a word, in that are above our comprehenfion, tɔ fulness of good which God has bow our reason to the testimony provided for all creatures, fuited to of God; knowing, that nothing their respective natures, and by can be more certain than this, which he fatisfies the defires of that it is impoffible for God to lie. every thing which has life, as well OMICRON. as in the gofpel of Chrift. 2d, It (To be continued.) confirms the truth contended for, that the Bible prefuppofes us to have the knowledge of God, and it opens upon us accordingly "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." And God frequently appeals, in the fcriptures, to the common fenfe of men, to judge of his conduct, in his treatment of them. As in Exekiel xviii. 25. Hear now, O Houfe of Ifrael, is not my way equal? Are not your ways unequal? When a righteous man turneth away from his righteoufnefs, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them, for his iniquity that he hath done, fhall he die. This appeal certainly fuppofes they were capable of judging, whether God's ways would be equal or not in

Doctrine of election the only just ground of encouragement to the ufe of means.

NUMBER II. (Continued from p. 373.)

1 Tim. ii. 10. 66 Therefore I endure all things for the elea's fakes, that they may also obtain falvation."

H

AVING fhewn, in a prece

ding number, that the dectrine of election afforded no reason, why minifters of the gospel fhould not faithfully preach and inftruct, and people seriously hear and attend upon the means of grace; it is now proposed to evince, that this doctrine is in fact the only just

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ground of encouragement, which either minifters or people have to pay any attention to divine things. As the impenitent are dead in fin and enemies to God and holinefs; fo they will never repent and cordially embrace the gofpel, unlefs influenced by the fpirit of God It is therefore declared, that no man can go to Chrift, except the Father draw him-that Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the encreafe-that Chriftians are God's workmanship, and that he worketh in them both to will and to do. Such paffages plainly teach, that minifters depend wholly upon God for fuccefs in their preaching. If therefore he had not eternally determined to render the gofpel and means of grace effectual to awaken and bring a number to repentance, or thus elected fome there would not be the leaft encouragement to preach, warn, and inftruct mankind in divine things. For all these means, without the attending influences of God's fpirit, would be wholly ineffectual to difpofe a fingle individual to become holy, or comply with the terms of falvation. Yea, no human power or means can renew a depraved heart, or bring perfons to evangelical repentance. Had God therefore elected none to Talvation, it is certain, that none ever would repent and be faved.

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just ground of encouragement, that any perfon can have to pay any attention to the means of grace., Had not God, of his mere grace and mercy, determined to render thefe means effectual to the falvation of fome, none would ever have been faved; and fo there would have been no encouragement to attend upon any means. But fince God has determined to make the means of grace efficacious in awakening and faving fome in every age; there is now great encouragement feriously to attend upon them, and make divine things our highest concern; as this is the way in which perfons are generally brought to repentance, and is the most probable method of ob taining falvation.

How great then the mistake of thofe, who object, that the doctrine of election renders the means of grace of no advantage, and tends to difcourage a serious attention to divine things? This, we fee, is fo far from being the cafe, that it is on the contrary the only foundation of hope for depraved. finners, and fo affords them the only juft ground of encouragement to attend to the means of falvation.

Were it not for this doctrine, finners under a juft conviction of their depravity and oppofition to God would be in total defpair. For when by the convicting influences of the holy fpirit they are brought to a juft fenfe of their

The only just ground of encouragement then, which any can have to preach the gofpel, is the doctrine of election, or the divine de-character, and feel, that they are termination to render fuch means efficacious in quickening and bringing fome to faith and holinefs. Were it not for this, all minifters, who believe the fcriptures, and are acquainted with their own hearts, would wholly defpair of all fuccefs in preaching the gofpel.

This doctrine is alfo the only

dead in fin, and their carnal mind is enmity against God; they are then fenfible, that they have nothing to commend themselves to the divine favor-that they fhall never go to Chrift in faith and love. unlefs drawn by the Father, and that God might in justice leave them to go on in fin to everlasting de

Atraction. And in this view of their fituation, their only ground of hope is in the fovereign electing grace of God that he, of his mere mercy, has determined to awaken, renew, and fave fome guilty unworthy finners, and that therefore he may have mercy upon fuch great finners, as they feel themselves to be. But did they fuppofe, that God would never forgive any, till they had done fomething good or holy to commend themselves to his favor, or till they were of themfelves difpofed to repent and cordially believe in Chrift; they would be thrown into utter despair Hence it is, that finners, under deep and genuine conviction, fo generally fall into the doctrine of election, which they are before fo inclined to deny and oppofe. They then fee it to be their only ground of hope.

The fubject fuggefts a number of important remarks, fome of which will be noticed.

1. It appears, that the doctrine of election is a very important and ufeful truth, which ought frequently to be held up to view in preaching the gofpel. This is evident from various confiderations. It was frequently taught by the Lord Jefus, and his apoftles, which fhews that they confidered it as an important doctrine, useful and neceffary to be inculcated. Preaching the doctrine of election or the fovereignty of God brings his real character into view, that all may examine, whether they are cordially reconciled to it; and thus it has a tendency to convince formal hypocrites and careless finners of their oppofition to God. For if they are oppofed to the fovereignty or electing grace of God, it manifefts, that they are enemies to his true character, and under his wrath; and fo tends to convince

them of guilt and danger. It has a peculiar tendency to fhew man. kind their real character and fitua tion-ftrip them of their felf-rightcoufnefs and felf-dependence, make them fenfible of their dependence upon the mere mercy of God, and thus prepare them to receive Chrift and the grace of the gofpel. This doctrine alfo affords the only juft encouragement for minifters to preach, and people to pay any fe rious attention to the means of grace, and is necessary to prevent finners under a true conviction of their guilt and depravity from utter defpair, Thefe confiderations fhew, that it is a very interesting and use. ful doctrine, and that it ought to be plainly held up to view in preaching the gofpel.

How great then the mistake of thofe, who, altho they allow the truth of this doctrine, yet fuppofe it to be a hurtful and dangerous truth, which minifters ought feldom or ever to preach? Is it not highly impeaching the wisdom and goodnefs of God to fuppofe, that he has in his word fo frequently and plainly revealed a truth, which is of a hurtful and dangerous tendency, and which preachers ought not to inculcate? Is it not prefuming to know better, than the Lord Jefus and his infpired apostles, what truths are ufeful, and ought to be taught? Be fides, the fcriptures teach, that minifters are not to fhun to declare all the counfel of God, whether the people will hear or forbear. Is it not then very wicked and prefumptuous to object, that the doctrine of election, if true, is of a hurtful and dangerous tendency, and ought feldom or ever to be preached?

2. The doctrine of election is infeparably connected with regeneration or a divine influence in renewing the hearts of finners. If God by his Spirit does renew the bearts

of his people, and make them willing | in the day of his power, as the fcripture declares; then it is certain, that he has determined, whose hearts he would renew, and whofe not. And this his determination must be eternal, fince he is unchangeable in his purpofes and defigns, and known unto him are all his works from the beginning. If then we allow, that regeneration is the work of God's Spirit, which no real Christian can deny; we must alfo allow the doctrine of election, which is infeparably connected with it. Then the denial of election neceffarily involves the denial of regeneration, which is the foundation of all real religion in the hearts of depraved finners.

fition and reviling are directly a gainft God, and their mouths are against the heavens. They should remember, that the Lord Jefus is coming with ten thousands of his faints to execute judgment upon all, and to convince ungodly fin ners of all their hard fpeeches, which they have spoken against him.

A bitter oppofition against this important doctrine, fo plainly taught in fcripture, affords a degree of evidence, that those persons have never become cordially reconciled to the divine character or the truth of the gospel.

ly juft ground, on which any of mankind can hope for falvation. Could they overthrow this truth, and establish the fentiment, that God had chofen none in particular to falvation, and would not renew any, till they had done fomething to procure his favor, or render themfelves worthy of his grace, it is certain from fcripture, that

4. It appears from our subject, that thofe, who are oppofing the doctrine of election, or the fover3. Since the doctrine of elec-eign grace of God in renewing and tion is fo plainly and frequently | faving finners, are oppofing the ontaught in the word of God, and is fo infeparably connected with the great effential truths of the gofpel; is it not very wicked and prefumptuous to oppofe and revile it with fuch bitterness, as many do? Many openly declare, that if this doctrine is true, God is a partial, unjuft, unreasonable Being-that they will not acknowledge any fuch God, and ufe many other hard and bitter expreffions against it-Yea, fome are fo oppofed to the fentiment, that they can hardly bear to hear it mentioned without being offended. But fince none can deny, that this doctrine is frequently taught in the fcripturesthat most when awakened and renewed, do at once embrace it, and that this is often the cafe with those who were bitter oppofers, while unawakened; ought not these confiderations to render perfons cautious of bitterly oppovery. fing and reviling this fentiment; left haply they be found fighting and fpeaking againft God? For if it is a fcripture truth, their oppo

none would ever be renewed or faved. Thus the oppofers of this truth are foolishly laboring to overthrow the only ground of hope for fallen man; and could they really deftroy this truth, as they wish, they would enfure the eternal deftruction of the whole human race.

5. A juft ftatement of the doctrine of election fhews at once the abfurdity of the objection, that perfons will be faved, if elected; whether they attend to divine things and the duties of religion, or not. Election is God's determination to render divine truth efficacious in awakening and bringing a certain number to repentance, faith, and a ferious attention to

ruin. He has therefore a juft right to bestow his grace upon one and not upon another, as he fees beft. And by fending his Spirit to awaken and renew fome, he does no injury to thofe who are left to follow their own finful inclina tions, and thus go to deftruction.

er fuffer any thing more than they juftly deferve, and therefore have no reafon to complain of any injuftice.

the duties of religion, that they may in this way obtain falvation. Since therefore election is the divine determination, that a number shall obtain falvation, by repenting and forfaking fin, believing in and obeying Chrift, and living in a careful obfervance of religious duties; how abfurd and contradic-Thofe, who are thus left, will nev tory to affert, that any can be faved, whether they comply with thefe conditions, or not; and that it is no advantage to attend to thefe means? This is as abfurd as to affert, that if it is determined, that a certain number, unknown to us, fhall live 80 years by means of temperance; they will certainly live this time, whether they are temperate or not, and therefore there is no advantage in endeavoring to preferve our lives thefe 80 years by means of temperance.

In both thefe cafes, the divine determnination renders the means neceffary to obtain the end. It is therefore as impoffible for any to obtain falvation without repentance and a serious attention to di. vine things; as it would be to live eighty years without temperance, when this was to be the means of preferving our lives fo long. The more temperate a perfon was in this cafe, the greater would be the probability of his living thefe eigh ty years. So the greater fenfe perfons have of their fin and danger, and the more attentive they are to their eternal concerns, the greater is the probability of their falvation.

6. The doctrine of election gives none any juft occafion to charge God with partiality, as fome imagine. Asallmankind are finners, fo all juftly deferve deftructionAnd as none will ever go to Chrift for falvation, unless drawn by the Father; fo God might in juftice leave all to go on in fin to eternal

Neither does the doctrine of election afford any just excufe to any for neglecting divine things, or living in impenitence. The calls, warnings, and invitations of the gofpel are to all" God now commandeth all men every where to repent" The language of his word is to all," Turn ye, turn ye; for why will ye die?" "Whofoever will, let him take the water of life freely." There is no obstacle in the way of our going to Christ and obtaining falvation, but what arifes from our own wicked oppofition of heart. God's determination to fend his Spirit to awaken and bring fome to repentance, does not at all prevent others from repenting, if difpofed. It is ftill true, "Whofoever will, let him come, and take the water of life." If any therefore, who enjoy the gofpel, perifh; it will be through their own neglect and oppofition, or becaufe they will not go unto Christ, that they may have life.

Finally, how unreasonable and dangerous for any of us to be neglectful of divine things, and our eternal concerns.

Our fituation in the prefent world is very folemn. We have begun an exiftence, which will never end. Before us lies everlafting happiness or mifery. Yes, we fhall in the eternal world be forever rifing in glory and felicity, or

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