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influence the heart and conduct. mise, covenant, and counsel, Many of those who are called, and firmed with an oath: that by two who call themselves Arminians, are immutable things, in which it was far enough from boasting, nay, are impossible for God to lie; we might remarkably pious and humble: and have a strong consolation, who have too many Calvinists are haughty, fled for refuge to lay hold upon the dogmatical, censorious, and conten- hope set before us; which hope we tious. But a humble believer in have as an anchor of the soul both Jesus is a brother, and entitled to sure and steadfast." Heb. vi. 17-19. our cordial love, though he cannot" Whom he did foreknow, he also subscribe our whole creed. did predestinate to be conformed to This, however, being the real the image of his Son. Moreover, question, it contains nothing that whom he predestinated them he militates against invitations: we in- also called: and whom he called, vite all that will to come to Christ them he also justified: and whom for his salvation: and as it is not he justified, them he also glorified. necessary to make any limitation in What shall we say then to these respect of the unwilling, who suffi- things? If God be for us, who ciently distinguish themselves; so can be against us? He that spared we give the invitation in all respects not his own Son, but delivered him general and unincumbered. "As up for us all, how shall he not many as ye shall find bid to the mar- with him freely give us all things? riage." My fellow-sinners, if you Who shall lay any thing to the are willing, you will apply to our charge of God's elect? It is God merciful Saviour, and you shall find that justifieth." "Who shall sepamercy and grace; but if any of you rate us from the love of Christ? are not willing, raise no slander For I am persuaded that neither against him; charge him not with death, nor life, nor angels, nor prinunwillingness, but be sure the fault cipalities, nor powers, nor things is entirely your own. I proceed present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other V. To observe that Christ's com- creature, shall be able to separate mission reacheth to the infallible us from the love of God, which is in and everlasting salvation of the Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom. viii. body and soul of every individual 29-39. To object, that though who is given to him, who sees him, nothing else can, our own sin may and believes on him. "This is the separate us from Christ, is a mere Father's will which hath sent me, evasion; for nothing has any tenthat of all, which he hath given me, dency to separate betwixt Christ I should lose nothing, but should and the believer, except sin, or as raise it up again at the last day. any thing powerfully tempts him to And this is the will of him that sent sin. me, that every one which seeth the In like manner Peter confirms the Son, and believeth on him, should doctrine of his "beloved brother have everlasting life, and I will Paul," at the very opening of his raise him up at the last day." In- first epistle, which begins in this deed this unavoidably follows from manner. "To the strangers-elect all that hath been already discours-according to the fore-knowledge of ed; and likewise from that un- God the Father, through sanctificachangeable wisdom, faithfulness, tion of the Spirit unto obedience, and love of God; and from his pro-and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus

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-Grace unto you and peace be enemy must be unsuccessful, acmultiplied. Blessed be the God cording to the obvious meaning of and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, such express and absolute promises: which, according to his abundant and if this conclusion may not be demercy, hath begotten us again unto duced from them, both these, and a lively hope, by the resurrection of all the other numerous Scriptures Jesus Christ from the dead; to an which are calculated to give a strong inheritance incorruptible and unde- consolation to them who flee for refiled, and that fadeth not away, re-fuge to Christ, not providing against served in heaven for you, who are this only danger, mean just nothing kept by the power of God through at all. faith unto salvation." 1 Pet. i. 7. What though many professors of Comp. Luke xxii. 22. And again, the gospel apostatize! Who can "Unto you that believe he is pre-warrant their preceding sincerity? cious; but unto them that be dis-" They went out from us, because obedient, the stone which the build-they were not of us," says one aposers disallowed, the same is made the tle. 'There must be heresies" head of the corner; and a stone of (false teachers and false doctrines) stumbling and a rock of offence," that they that are approved may even to them which stumble at the be made manifest," says another. word, being disobedient, whereunto But surely this is not applicable to also they were appointed. But ye all who decline in their profession! are a chosen generation, a royal Let us then suppose the persons in priesthood, an holy nation, that ye question not to be apostates but should show forth the praises of backsliders. Can we positively say, him who hath called you out of this or that man dies impenitent? darkness into his marvellous light." Such decisions belong to God, not 1 Pet. ii. 7-10. "For God had us. Without all doubt if a pronot appointed them to wrath, but to fessed Christian run into notorious obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus sin, or renounce his religion, and Christ." 1 Thes. v. 9. Thus like- live and die impenitent, "he will wise says another apostle, Of his perish everlastingly:" for he alone, own will, begat he us with the word" who continueth unto the end shall of truth; that we should be a kind be saved." The doctrine of final of first fruits of his creatures." James perseverance is not at all concerned i. 18. And our Lord himself says, in this case; for the man's apostasy "My sheep hear my voice, and I is the detection of his hypocrisy: know them, and they follow me; and the only question is, whether and I give unto them eternal life, God hath not in his word engaged and they shall never perish, neither to preserve all real believers from shall any pluck them out of my thus finally departing from him. hand. My Father, who gave them Except a man be truly converted, is greater than all, and none is he can only persevere in open unable to pluck them out of my Fa- godliness, or in hypocrisy. Except ther's hand, I and my Father are he have scriptural evidence of his one." John x. 27-30. The only conversion he cannot warrantably way in which Satan, or any other conclude any thing concerning his enemy, can endeavour to pluck the perseverance: and if a professor of sheep out of Christ's hand, is by the gospel, while living in habitual tempting them to wilful and final sin, or in a negligent and slothful apostasy but in this attempt every manner, encourages himself by this

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doctrine, he is guilty of awful pre-gression, he has to mourn over: and sumption. But the true Christian, if he steps farther out of the way, habitually and sincerely abiding in his security lies in the following proChrist, and walking in all his ordi-mises and assurances: "As many nances and commandments; amidst as the Lord loves he rebukes and his sharp conflicts with corruption chastens." They shall be my and temptation, and his fears of fu- people, and I will be their God; ture consequences, may find a most and I will give them one heart and reviving cordial to refresh his droop- one way, that they may fear me for ing spirits, and renew his strength; ever, for the good of them and of from the assurance that Christ will their children after them: and I make him at length more than con- will make an everlasting covenant queror, and "preserve him from with them, that I will not turn away every evil work unto his heavenly from them to do them good, and I kingdom." will put my fear into their hearts, The stony-ground hearers, how-that they shall not depart from me.' ever flourishing, having "no root in Jer. xxxii. 38-40. For in this themselves," must one day wither manner the Lord brings back his ofaway. The ground overgrown with fending children with weeping and thorns, the emblem of worldly pro- supplication. The final perseverfessors, will "bear no fruit to per-ance of all who hold certain docfection." But" they who receive trines, relate plausible experiences, the seed in good ground, in un ho- or make a credible profession, cannest and good heart," made such by not be made to consist with matter divine grace, will "bring forth fruit of fact. But the final perseverance with patience." "Whosoever drink- of the true penitent believer in eth of the water that I shall give Christ, who is delivered from the him," says our Lord to the woman dominion of sin; who through faith of Samaria, meaning especially the in Christ hath in some degree overSpirit of life and holiness, "shall come the world, and aspires after a never thirst, but the water that I more complete victory; who has shall give him, shall be in him a well learned to hate all sin, and delight of water springing up into everlast- in the law of God, and is hungering ing life." It will spring up in all and thirsting after righteousness, is holy affections, and flow forth in all doubtless a truth of God's word. holy thoughts, words, and actions, Yea, without a peradventure, the until it be perfected in eternal glory. meanest, feeblest, true believer on John iv. 14. vii. 37-39. earth shall infallibly "be kept by

The real Christian is generally the power of God,_through_faith very far from thinking he has at- unto salvation." "For this is the tained perfection. As a poor sinner will of him that sent me, that of all he still feels abundant cause for the whom he hath given me I should daily exercise of repentance and lose nothing, but should raise it up faith; and he daily needs the free again at the last day." mercy of the Father, the precious blood of the Son, and fresh supplies

And this leads me,

VI. To observe,-That all this of the grace of the Spirit. He has is perfectly consistent with many occasion for constant watchfulness things which some object to as Arand prayer: and he often wants re- minianism. It is surprising to hear proof and chastisement. Seasons some persons, who profess themof slackness, and instances of trans- selves Calvinists, in doubt whether

their principles be consistent with wickedness: for what a world would the government of the world by re- it be were all the wicked entirely wards and punishments, proposed liberated from all the fear of future as motives to the hopes and fears of punishment, or wholly desperate ! mankind. Surely if the Bible do in At the same time the Lord, in callany part teach those doctrines which ing his elect, and in preserving them are denominated Calvinism, they in his ways, draws them on, and must implicitly pervade the whole effects his purposes of love, in a of it; and we can have no occasion considerable degree, by means of to have recourse to an opposite sys- their hopes of future happiness, and tem, in order to explain any part of their fears of future misery. the sacred volume! For what rea- What then is there in these docson can any one suppose that pu-trines inconsistent with charging nishment is less deserved on these guilt upon men's consciences; warnprinciples than on the other? The ing them to flee from the wrath to fore-knowledge, or secret purpose come; laying open the law as the of God is not the effective cause ministration of condemnation; callor inducing motive of any man's re-ing upon sinners to repent and bebellion, impenitence, and rejection lieve the gospel; and exhorting of the gospel; and therefore cannot them to "labour for the meat which form an excuse for him, or render endureth unto everlasting life;" to his condemnation less just. This" strive to enter in at the strait decree neither deprives a man of gate:" to search the Scriptures, to any thing good which he either pos- pray, "to press into the kingdom sessed or merited, nor puts any evil of heaven; to forsake their sins, disposition into his heart. The and to separate from sinners?" Lord merely determines to leave These are the appointed means, the sinner to himself; without any which in all ages have been owned efficacious, invincible, or unmerited of God for the conviction of sinners: interposition, to prevent him from and though, without supernatural destroying himself by his voluntary grace, they prove insufficient to wickedness and obstinacy. On the overcome man's strong corruption : other hand, a man must deviate very yet they are suitable means; as far indeed from the whole scheme suitable as ploughing and sowing to of Christianity, who supposes that procure the crop, though here also the reward of a believing sinner is God alone can give the increase: merited. Many Arminians allow as so suitable, that in the mouth of the expressly (though not perhaps quite prisoner Paul they made even a so consistently) as the Calvinists, proud Felix tremble, and almost that the reward is not of debt but persuaded Agrippa to be a Chrisof grace. Fear of future punish-tian! ment, yea, hope of future reward, What is there inconsistent with (though blind and presumptuous), inviting sinners to come to Christ; answer, even respecting those who with warning them not “to neglect eventually perish, important pur- so great salvation," nor "to refuse poses in God's providence, exactly him that speaketh;" or with dethe same upon one scheme as upon claring that it shall be more tolethe other. They are not effectual rable for Sodom and Gomorrah, for the salvation of the ungodly; than for those who reject the gosbut they keep mankind in some mea- pel? What inconsistent with exsure of order, and prevent much horting men to "examine them

selves whether they be in the faith;" | but against all preaching; and we and to "look diligently lest any man may as sensibly give over ploughing fail of the grace of God;"" to give our fields, eating our food, and takdiligence to make their calling and ing medicinet. But if means, as well election sure;" and to be careful as ends, be provided for in the dithat no man deceive them, and that vine counsels; then these doctrines they do not deceive themselves? form as firm a foundation for all exWhat is there inconsistent with dis- hortations, instructions, warnings, tinguishing between the true Chris-invitations, and expostulations of tian and the false professor: with the preacher; and for all diligence, exhorting Christians to adorn their and watchfulness, and activity of profession; to glorify God, to "let the hearer, as the opposite tenets: their light shine before men;" to be and as long as I believe them true, "faithful to the unrighteous mam- I shall have no doubt but they give mon;" to "redeem their time;" to us an advantage in enforcing all "walk circumspectly;" to beware these topics; for I shall not easily of growing negligent; to press for- be convinced that error subserves ward, and to be ready to every good holy practice, and truth subverts it. work? What inconsistent with de- Indeed, besides the native tendency claring that "hereby we know the of these means, there appears a children of God, and the children more close connexion of the means of the devil; every one that doeth with the blessing, from the consinot righteousness is not of God:" deration that the same Lord, who Every one that committeth sin is appointed the means, hath promised of the devil?" the blessing, and inclines the heart

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Finally, what is there inconsist- to use them. ent with discoursing to Christians

And now in applying the subject very particularly concerning the I would observe, Christian temper and walk; con- 1. That while numbers argue with cerning relative duties, and all other the greatest vehemence against the duties; and admonishing, persuad-points in question, and groundlessly ing, reproving, beseeching, exhort-charge them with implying the most ing them, in every method, and by dishonourable thoughts of God, and every motive, "to walk worthy of tending to the most pernicious conGod, who hath called them to his sequences; others are ready to say, kingdom and glory?" There must be a vast disadvantage in arguing against these things, which are so fully handled in the Scriptures, and are so naturally expressed in scriptural terms; and if we be proved inconsistent, we have this consolation, that every writer of the sacred Scriptures will share the same cen

sure.

†The apostle Paul was assured, in a vi sion, that the life of every individual who sailed with him should be preserved: yet afterwards he declared as positively, "That except the seamen continued in the ship, they could not be saved." (Acts, xxvII. 24-31.) Was the event then doubtful? Was there any alteration in the purpose of God? Was the apostle inconsistent? Or did the passengers act rationally, when, without hesitation, or any accusation of the apostle as inconsistent, they went and cut the cords, and let the boat fall into the sea, thus defeating the intention of the sailors?

This was (as a friend observed to me) common sense, which is a very different thing from the vain reasonings of men in matters of religion. The truth is, God de

But, in one word, are means any part of God's plan *? If they are not, the argument not only concludes against practical preaching,termined to save the lives of Paul and those

* That is, did God predestinate the end with, or without reference to the means, by which he intended to accomplish the end?

that sailed with him; but he determined to save them in this precise manner, and in no other; and the means were as infallibly decreed as the event.

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