CALVIN. destination by which God has marked out whom he would as his children. And the word purpose, which is added as a synonymous term, and in common speech is always expressive of fixed determination, undoubtedly implies that God, as the author of our salvation, does not go out of himself.-Institut. l. 3. c. 22. s. 6. But the discriminating election of God, which is otherwise concealed within himself, he manifests only by his calling, which may therefore with propriety be called the testification or evidence of it. "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called and whom he called, them he also justified," in order to their eventual glorification.Though by choosing his people the Lord has adopted them as his children, yet we see that they enter not on the possession of so great a blessing, till they are called: on the other hand, as soon as they are called, they immediately enjoy some communication of his election.On which account, Paul calls the spirit received by them, both the spirit of adoption, and the seal and carnest of the future inheritance;" because, by his testimony, he confirms and seals to their hearts the certainty of their future adoption.-Institut. l. 3. c. 24. s. 1. Dr. Tomline states his opinion on Predestination in the following manner: "Predestination to life is not an absolute decree of eternal happiness to certain individuals, but a gracious purpose of God, to make a conditional offer of salvation to men, through the merits of Christ." p. 266. While the objects of " Predestination to life" are described in the Article, as "those whom God hath chosen in Christ out of mankind, and constantly decreed to bring by Christ to everlasting salvation," *Rom. viii. 29, 30. † Rom. viii. 15, 16. -his lordship describes them as those to whom God decreed to make known the gospel of Christ." p. 266. He then introduces a question, "Are all to whom the gospel is made known predestinated to life ?" and, inconsistently with himself, answers it in the negative. For, if "predestination to life" be" a purpose to make a conditional offer of salvation to men through the merits of Christ;" p. 266. and if "salvation has been offered to all to to whom the gospel has been made known, since its first promulgation;" p. 193, how can we avoid the inference, that all to whom the gospel is made known are predestinated to life?". The absurdity of this inference proves some fallacy in the premises. If, as the Article asserts, "those which be endued with so excellent a benefit of God," as predestination to life," do "at length by God's mercy attain to everlasting felicity;" then "PREDESTINATION TO LIFE" must be something more than "A GRACIOUS PURPOSE TO MAKE A CONDITIONAL OFFER OF SALVATION,”—and can be nothing short of "AN ABSOLUTE DECREE OF ETERNAL HAPPINESS TO CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS." Heylin, who is frequently quoted by Dr. Tom-` line, was a violent anti-Calvinist ; yet how different is his interpretation of the 17th Article from the unnatural and inconsistent exposition given by his lordship! "Predestination to life is defined in the 17th Article; in which definition there are these things to be observed: 1. That predestination doth presuppose a curse, or state of damnation, in which all mankind was presented to the sight of God. 2. That it is an act of his from everlasting; because from everlasting he foresaw that misery into which wretched man would fall. 3. That he founded it, and resolved for it, in the man and mediator Christ Jesus, both for the purpose and performance. 4. That it was of some special ones alone; elect, called forth, and reserved in Christ, and not generally extended unto all mankind. 5. That, being thus elected in Christ, they shall be brought by Christ tò everlasting salvation. And 6. That this counsel is secret to us: for though there be revealed to us some hopeful signs of our election and predestination to life, yet the certainty thereof is a secret hidden in God."-Life of Laud. Introd. CHAPTER XVII. The Comfort of Predestination. CHURCH OF ENGLAND. As the godly consideration. of predestination and our election in Christ is full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godly persons, and such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of the flesh, and their earthly members, and drawing up their mind to high and heavenly things; as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation, to be enjoyed through Christ, as because it doth fervently kindle their love towards God.-Art. 17. CALVIN. The certainty ofit, indeed, we are to seek here; for, if we attempt to penetrate to the eternal decree of God, we shall be ingulfed in the profound abyss. But when God has discovered it to us, we must ascend to loftier heights, that the cause may not be lost in the effect. For what can be more absurd and inconsistent, when the Scripture teaches that we are illuminated according as God has chosen us, than our eyes being so dazzled with the blaze of this light as to refuse to contemplate election? At the same time I admit, that in order to attain an assurance of our salvation, we ought to begin with the word, and that with it our confidence ought to be satisfied, so as to call upon God as our Father. For some persons, to obtain certainty respecting the counsel of God, which is nigh unto us in our mouth and in our CALVIN. heart," preposterously wish to soar above the clouds. Such temerity therefore should be restrained by the sobriety of faith, that we may be satisfied with the testimony of God in his external word respecting his secret grace; only the channel which conveys to us such a copious stream to satisfy our thirst, must not deprive the fountain head of the honour which belongs to it.-Institut. 1. 3. c. 24. s. 3. While the Article represents this doctrine as agreeably only "to GODLY persons," Dr. Tomline insists, that "The PROUD and SELFISH nature of man falls an easy victim to the fascinating doctrines of election and grace." p. 283. Dr. T. does indeed say, in reference to HIS statement of Predestination, "THIS godly consideration of Predestination and our Election in Christ is full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort." But it has been shown that the doctrine of Predestination, as stated by him, is completely at variance with the doctrine of the Church. While the Article states, that it (the godly consideration of Predestination and Election in Christ by godly persons) doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation"-his lordship's gloss on this part of it is, that their faith of eternal salvation is greatly established and confirmed from a consciousness of their own obedience and religious walking in good works." P 267. * Deut. xxx. 14. |