is addressed to all that will come to Christ, and will press forward through the gates of his Elect Church on earth to secure the prize of their high calling, the end of their election, the heavenly crown of their faith and perseverance. If according to the express declarations of the Gospel God receives all who flee unto the Son, and those only who despise him does he deliver up to wrath, we may be assured that as members of Christ, of his visible Church in which the Elect are to be found, and against which the gates of Hell shall not prevail, our prayers will be heard and grace bestowed upon us to enable us to withstand the assaults and temptations of the world, the flesh, and the Devil. No greater consolation than this can the pious Christian desire or feel!

From Scripture.

SECTION I.

Rom. xvi. 25, 26. Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, (according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith.) Ephes. iii. 5, 6. Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel. Isai. viii. 20. To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. 1 Tim. vi. 3, 4. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings. 2 Tim. ii. 14-16. Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit; but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But skun profane and vain babblings; for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

SECTION II.

Rom. viii. 29, 30. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called : and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Ephes. i. 5. 11, 12. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. Rom. i. 18. 32. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness who hold the truth in unrighteousness: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. 2 Cor. xiii. 5. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your ownselves. Know ye not your ownselves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2 Tim. iii. 8. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. Tit. i. 16. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. 1 Cor. ix. 27. But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjec tion; lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast-away.

of men,

SECTION III.

Isai. xlii. 1. Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth: I have put my spirit upon him; he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

Chron. xxix. 1. Furthermore, David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great : for the palace is not for man, but for the Lord God. Psal. cvi. 23. Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them. Isai. xlv. 4. For Jacob my servants' sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. Deut. vii. 6. For thou art an holy people unto the Lord. thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. Psal. xxxiii. 12. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord ; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. Matt. xii. 18. Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. Luke xxiii. 35. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. Luke vi. 13. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named Apostles. Acts i. 24. And they prayed and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen. 1 Pet. ii. 9. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 1 Pet. i. 1, 2. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Eleet according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit; unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ; Grace unto you, and peace be multiplied. Tit. i. 1. Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the

truth which after godliness. Rom. ix. 22-26. What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction; and that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. Rom. xi. 5. 7. 26, 27, 28. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the Gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers sakes. 1 Pet. v. 13. The church that is at Babylon elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my 1 Thess. i. 1. 4. Paul and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians, which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 2 Thess. i. 1. Paul and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thess. ii. 13. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. Matt. xx. 23. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on my right hand and on my

son.