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Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmds d des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clichd, il est film6 d partir de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. D 32 X 1 2 3 4 5 6 If AND i?0 ' EXCUSE FOB rMAOilON, BBINO AF EXPOSITO RY BIS CO URSM On 2 fpES. II. j3--?r7. Ok I ABBA T H , 1 4 T H J U N E^ 18 68. ■■■ 'BY M. WlIiLIS, D.D., KUD. PtfU.t8HlD BY ili^UiST. ' MONTREAL: PRtSTRD At TB« Vfmt% OF JOHN" 0. BBOKBT, 78 OKRAT SAIST JAW.8 STBKKr. ry 1868. '^^?=^= !» tiMWBWMIMMiW) ^^^=;^ 1 11 .;«. GOD'S DECREE OF ELECTION NO liMunagmc: ^ [\? Ok' t\ '(^t AXD XO EXCUSE FOR INACTION;; BEING AN EXPOSITORY D I SC O URSE On 2 Thep. n. 13 — 17. DELIVERED IN COTE STREET CHURCH, On sabbath, 14th JUNE, 1868. BY M. WILLIS, D.D., L.L.D. PUBLISHED BY REQUEST. MONTREAL : PRINTED AT THK OFFICK OF JOHN C. HF.CKET, 78 OREAT SAINT JAMES STREET, 1808. t Montreal, 17th June, 1868. Rev. Prin. Willis, D.D., L.L.D. Dear Sir, We, tho undersigned Ministers and Elders, having had the pleasure of hearing you preach last Sahbath Morning, in Cote Street Church, iMontreal, beg to request that you will con- sent to the publication of the excellent Discourse then delivered. We believe that its wide circulation is fitted, under the Divine blessing, to promote the interests of truth and the com- fort and edification of God's people. Yours respectfully, * .Tames Coubt, Elder, Cote St. Ch. John Stirling, Elder, Cote St. Ch Thomas Mair, Do. Do. Jambs Rosa, Do. Do. Philip Ross, Do. Do. Adam Stbvbnson, Do. Do. D. MORRICK, Do. Do. Jamis Davidson, Do. Do. A. McGowAN, Do. Do. Archd. FiRonsoN, Do. Do. Jobs Campbell, Do. Do. F. W. ToRRANCi, Do. Do. MINISTERS. U. H. Macvicar. John McDonald. John Ross. Nathl. Patibbon. A. Wilson. W. Ghkgq. A. C. McDonald. Dear Brethren, A request, so respectably subscribed, though coming upon me unexpected, I could not but meet with favourable con- sideration. I consent to hand you the Discourse, hoping that it may in some degree promote the good results you are pleased to anticipate from its publication. Very truly yours, In the service of Christ, M. WILLIS. To the Rev. D. H. MoVioar, JameB Court, Esq., and others. LECTURE ON '2 Thcssalojiians : t//. 2, i'. 13-17. The prcceJin;j; vei-Hcs eoiituiii one of the plainest predictions of tlie rise of tiu; Man of Sin, and nio.st striivinj; delineations of the character of tiiat apostaey, to be loiind in all the Bible. ,The «,'eneral consent of Protestant interpreters has referred the passage to the church of Home; and its a>,n-eement with liistory iistothe manner in which the ;.;reat antichristiansy.steni attained to siieh formidable influence is certainly confirmatory of this interpreta- tion. It may be observed that the Apostle speaks of the sub- ject as one with which the Christians at Thessalonica were fa- miliar, and on which he had discoursed when present viiih them. " Remember ye not that when I was yet with you, I told you these things ; and now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work ; only he who now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way." The prophet Daniel had foretold the rise of the great spiritual usurpation as coincident with the dismemberment of the Roman Empire, and the Apostle had no doubt pointed the attention of the Church to so r. i. rkable a prediction; since he supposes those "to whom he wrote to understand what was yet the let or hinderance to the full development of the Apostaey. Rome Pagan— the empire— still stood, of whose dismemberment when it should occur the Papal power was to take advantage. It is in dreadful terms that the havock this antichristian sys- tem should make of men's souls is here described, as well as the diabolical policy by which it should insinuate itself: "Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders, and vnth all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish ; because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved." It is not necessary, indeed, to take these words and the following — "that thoy nil might be damned,' as necessarily importing that every adherent of the Papacy is doomed to certain destruction * But surely it is a very solemn warning of the danger of wilful departure from the truth ; for the Apostle at least affirms that where error works its full effect in enslaving the mind and cor- rupting the heart, it is indeed deadly or danming. Nor are the fatal conH(Miueiices the less :;ranted to him more than to others of the book of the deerees, or of the names written in the book of life ; it was by the reception they had given to the gospel, and the fruits it had prodticed on their lives. But it is very iu- htruetive to observe, that I'aul rests his confidence of their final well being and steiidfiwt perseverance on (Jod's unchanging pur- pose. Nor does he dream of its being unsale to a,s8ure them of their interest in that purpo.se. We shall see immediately how he guards against an abuse of this doctrine. But mark first, how, MO fur from ooueealing his belief of their interest in the dacree of love ; when he would give expression to his firmest hope of their eonstaney. it is with this he begins; "Brethren, beloved of the hord. " Such is the designation he applies to them, recogniz- ing in this the surest guarantee for their abiding in the faith :— they were interested in that special love or grace which having eternally chosen them to everlasting life, would not fail to carry on the good work to its consummation. Few passages appear to us more explicit than this, in proving a decree of election, and in demonstrating that the election has been from everlasting ; that it respects individuals ; that it is free, uncaused, I mean, by the foresight of the faith or good works of some as compared with others; that it is holy withal, including provision for the sanctification as well as salvation and final happiness of the chosen. " From the beginning," says the Apostle, " he hath chosen you." This is undoubtedly expressive of the eternity of the choice. It was before all time. It is in vain that it has been attempted to give another meaning to the words as if de- noting the beginning of the gospel only: for it is matter of history that the Thessalonians had not received the Gospel -^L I I'roiii '• tho bc^inninfr," in tliat sense of tlie words.* They wore hiter than luaiiy otliers in recei vinj.^ it. Any reader of the Acts , uitry reinoniber tliat tho Apostles had hirgoly prosecuted tho work of their inis.-sion iii other parts bcfonf they were beckoned to go intcJ ^laeedonia. ; and Thessaloniea was (ine of (ho famous Macedo- uuui chiuvhes. IJi'sidos, tiic expression — ;'• from the beffinnin"," has its obviiius iii(erpretati(:ii in parallel ]iassages where we have the same idea, only in diflerenl, words. 'I'hus in Ephes. 1, 4, " before the foundation of the world." i.-; the phrase used in the very same relation to electing love: '■Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, wlm liatii blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places iu Clirist; according as he hath cho.seu us in him before the foundation of the world; that we should bo holy and without blann- before him in love." Tiien. i'urther, the electiion is -'to salvation." It is not merely to the opportunities or means for salvation. To these also, no doubt: tliey are mentioned anon. But .salvation itself Ib here, and here hrst — the end before the means. For, that final salvation is to bo understood, is plain from this, that the salva- tion is inclusive of "tho glory of our Lord Jesus Christ" men- tioned in ne.xt verse, as the end both of the election and of the calling; anil because, moroovei', it is distingui.^ilicd from nanrt!- Jkatiou which, though itself a part of tin; salvation, is here ranked as a means to tho eimiplote end, — •' through sauetification of the Spivit, and belief of tho truth." * Tlio intcri)retation .sought to bo forced on the worcLs " in tho begaii.n.^,"— though .sn])i)orto(l by Michaolis. h;is been rejected on cri- ti«iU ground,., by Schott, Kllicott, Liin-e, ie. The argument briefly in, that siieh a sense would require some .siippleuientary expre.«.»ion with urohe (as Ml Phil. 4, I.'),) or obviously involved in the context 1 .Tohn ''• 7 •'4 see al..o Dr. Kadie on ICiih. 1, 4,) who justly marvels at Adjim Clarke findiuB an allusion ni the plira.se " from the foundation of (he world" to the eom- meneeinent of the .Jewish siate. Xeander trifles with tho subject in a 1.140 manner. Calvin rightly saw, long ago, that the Apostle's object was to comfort the elect m all time, as well as christians of the earliest ago of thoOospel. The word /(f.>7o^> forbids such an unnatural interpretation (Lange). Indeed no relief is found from the supposed difTiculty of those subjects in those theories Hiat suppose a iTfcronce lucrolv to h general choice of the (.entiles to rm- privilege of „ (;,„pol slate, for sovereientv iiMLst still on tins hypothesis be conf.'sscd. All nations have not been chosen, and masses of the ,.ntwar,lly called, rcjcn the offered salvation. Suvoly It was not for a thing of so uncertain result that the Apostle breaks forth in thanksgivings and blessings so fervent ! y/ ' s< D, y/ • U * .9 , How interesting to olfserve the relation among these things ! Salvation is first stated comprehensively as the fruit of electing love. But, lest anj one should exclaim : Is our safety tlicn irre- fpective of our holy living? Ho essential, says the Apostle, is sanctification^ that it is no less provided for, no less certainly related to tlnal glory, than is the belief of the truth; u;,y, so essential is sanctilication, that wiiatevcr of salvation is enjoyed in the present life may be comprehended under that very word or name. And this (io.spel holiness is as much deeper and more thorough than any mere virtue of man, as the divine person who undertakes for it is greater than a mere creature : the love of the Father is carried into efhct • the love of the Spirit." We seem to miss here " redemjition" by the Son. But, besides that -'the glory" to be obtained is called^ic glory ..f our Lord Jesus Christ, I doubt not the word sanctification here is to be taken in its largest extent ol" meaning, including all that the Spirit jis the applier of redemption works in the soul, from its first enlightenment in the knowledge of Christ and union with him, to its highest advances in comforuiity to his image. Re- demption, tlien, or reconciliation by the cross, is implied. And next to sanctification of the Spirit, comes here " belief of the truth:" before it, no doubt, in the order of our experience. As be- longing to the external means, it is, in its own place, as essential as the agency ol' the Holy (Jhost. Let no one say, then, if we are passive in the hands of God, and if salvation, as it would appear, is so independtjnt of us, we may leave ourselves to fate, or wait inactive the will of our sanctifier. No! He who applies redemp- foa— He whose»work sanctification is, requires faith as well as in- clines us to exercise it. Nor does he pass by the understanding, but acts through the medium of it, presenting the truth to the mind, tnd enabling us to receive it, and love it,—'' through belief of the truth." Not to perceive that truth— l»y so clear a light does it shine -i is represented in the preceding context as the evi- dence of a heart ill aflected to the matter oi' the truth; and, so, they who perish are said to perish bec;;use "they have not le ceived th« love of the truth that they might be saved." Sad (Joom ! But their condemnation, obser, e, is connected with their Bin ; and however iuscrutable to us the decree which abandons \ i^. >■ 10 unbelievers to their choice, or leaves them to believe a lie, even these darkest words of the passage or its context imply the most comforting assurance against any mere arbitrary procedure on God's part, or such exercise of absolute sovereignty as might render faith or diligence vain. The election docs not take effect but through I'aith ; and none who believes perishes. Effectual calling is the very evidence of electing love ; and we need no more than the outward call, the Gospel invitation, to warrant faith: — "whereunto he called you by our Gospel." " He called you," and '' by our Gospel." The "calling" is inclusive doubtless both of tiie external and internal or effectual call. The Apostle undoubtedly refers to both in the case of those to whom lie was writing — tliey were such as had believed. _ But the outward call or invitation had been addressed to them just in common with others. The secret decree of God's love could only .be affirmed of them when that outward or common call was complied with. And how expres- sive of con rsion this word "called!"' How expressive ol' the power as well as the sovereignty of grace concerned in that change ! He but calls ; he speaks to the heart — and it is done. "He hath saved us and called us (2 Tim. i.) with an holy call- ing, not according to our works, but according to his own pur- pose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.' And we learn too what is the means or instrument in the hand of the Spirit, in this effectual operation. No doubt the whole word of truth — law as well as Gospel — is of use- but emphatically it is said, " by our Gospel." This is the great power of God. This it is which moves, draws the soul; convinced and alarmed by the law — but now only sweetly con- strained. " Our Gospel" — the Gospel which I preach — says Paul : and he leaves us at no uncertainty what this wa,s : — " We preach Christ crucified; to the Jew a stumbling-block, and to the Greek foolishness, but to them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." In the Gospel is eminently beheld the glory of God in the face of Jesus. There is seen provided the righteousness which the /->■ • I 11 t,. " law requires. There conscience finds the satisfying answer to its question, How shall I come before the Lord? There the balm effectual to heal its wounds. Nor are the promises of the Gospel limited to forgiveness. As free as its offer of grace is its pro- mise of glory, and the attainment of it a.ssured to him who be- lieveth. No partial salvation this, nor uncertain, nor conditional ; for, observe, it is " to the obtaining of the glory ol" our Lord Jesus Christ," we are called. The sacred writer embraces all a.s posses.sed by one faith— received on one calling. The very first step on the way of life, once taken, is no surer than the final prize is sure that is yet to be run for and pre,s,sed towards. Christ has purchased all, and he gives all or none ! So it is called " his glory,"— that glory transccndant and eternal which he was made perlect through sufferings to bring many sons to enjoy— his also, as being in his hand to be dis"- pensed by him in that day. Who is competent to describe that glory? What tongue of man or angel can describe it? No expectation, nor imagination, surely, can exceed what is not so much described as only indicated by this representation ol" it— it is the glory of our Lord Jesus Chri.st ; a glory which is the reward of the Saviour's merits, and proportional to these; a glory which he has gone into the lieavens to receive, and prepare for his people; and which he will give them to enjoy in fellowship with himself eternally. For, says he, " the glory which thou hast given to me I have given to them." How enhanced the sweetness of the reward, that it is to be enjoyed by believers as joint heirs with Christ; given by him, the Lord, the righteous Judge, and secured by their mys- tical union to his very person ! The Apostle lingers on the Saviour's name, every letter in which is precious, as connected with so blessed a prospect:-" the glory of our Lord, Jesus Christ!" The conclusion ol' the passage contains an exhortation and a prayer: very suitable both, as following his words;- of congratu- lation or thanksgiving. Just as if the final salvation were un- certain, or conditional, he enjoins '• Ktanding fast" as a duty: 12 and knowing that i'ur all duty assistinn- tiiace is ueedrul, he com- uieuds his converts to tiiat jina-c. •• Tlierdbre, Ijrethron, stand fast." Yes, he urges as a mo- tive to diligence and steadfastness, the very knowledge of their interest in the divine love on wliich lie had congratulated them. This i.s ever the way of the sacred writers. The same Apostle who tells us that the i,)undation of the Lord standeth sure, hav- ing this seal — "the Jiord knoweth them that are His," adds un- hesitatingly iis lai tli(i obverse, ■■ Let every (ini; f!i;tt nameMi the name of Chri.st depart from ini(|uity."— (2 'fini. ii. !!).) I'aul does not wait to reconcile these things, or to .satisfy every caviller how it can be that the certainty ol" an interest in the divine love influences the Christian not to al)ate, but to increa.se his watch- fulness. So John as Paul. He who .says, (1 Ep. ii 27), "the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you," says again, (v. 2K), "And lutw, little children, abide in him;" and again, (2 Ep. v. 8), " ]ji)ok to younselves that we lose not tho.se things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full re- ward." 15oth things are true— throughout all Scripture a.o recog- nized as true — the adequacy of the provisions of the covenant of grace, or the unconditional nature of the promises as concerns the end; yet, the necessary relation of the means to tlie end, or the conditional dependance of one bles.sing on another, as indi.s- pensahly anterior to its enjoyment. Sanctifieation, itself a part of the free salvation, is conditional of the full salvation. Faith itself a grace, is tlu! prerequisite to ulterior grace. So, perse- verance is both a secured privilege and a commanded duty- "Therefore." .says tlie Apo.stle, ".stand fast," not the less that he says el.sewheri!, " he who stablisheth us with yiui, and hath anointed us is God, who hath also .sealed us, and given tlie earn- est of the Spirit in our hearts." (2 Cor. i. 21.) And in order to this stjuidiiig fa.st, see how he again com- mends the word of truth, ever honoured as the means of spiritual life and growth in grace. What is of the Spirit effectually is, our Saviour himself tells us, of the word of God instrumentally : •—'•sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." And the Apostle, like his Master, tell..; Christians that they are clean 13 through the word as really as throup.h the blood of Christ : (Eph. V. 25, 2().) Christ • loved the Chureh and !<;uve hiin.*elf ibr it, that he might sanetHy and cleanse it witli the washing nf water by the word." "Hold the traditions."— r need scarcely explain that tiuTe are no other traditions recognized by Paid than the oral or writ- ten words of inspired men : what was afterwards written was yet partly oral. Tic explains himself — " whether Jty word or our epistle." The canon being not yet complete in that day, he na- turally charges it on these Thessalonians, who had enjoyed his personal ministrations, to have his doctrines in rcniombrance. The quarrel of Protestants is not with the word " tradilion, ' which signifies what has been delivereil to the Church, anil comiuitted to it as a sacred deposit to be guarded and handed down from one generation to another. All Scripture is a "tradition" in this good sen.se. It is unauthorised traditions and uncertain, which wc decline, such as have (oo often been substituted for the wonl ol' the living (iod. And the very connnand to hold fast the Apostolic tradition, oral once, now written, and well authenti- cated, is what renders imperative the avoiding the mere com- mandments of men. Finally,— the prayer of this pa.ssage— how much is it in keeping with the doctrine and with the precept foregoing! The matter of the prayer; how much in few words! the manner, how assured, and how assuring! The Apostle insinuates the ample grounds for expecting the blessings prayed for, in his intro- duction, or description of the source whence he invokes them. "Now our Lord Jesus Christ, and God the Father." He lingers again ou the precious names of the Saviour, in this instance men- tioned even before the Father, as if to remind us that he is n(» less than the Father, and with the Spirit, the fountain ol' grace, as well as especially, and so most fre((uently represent(>d, the channel through which it flows: — "our Lord," — divine Master ; "Jesus," Saviour; "Christ," anointed; no vain tautology, since each name is suggestive of grounds of encouragement in prayer. But just as the Master himselfteaehes his disciples also to comfort themselves with this, " the Father himself loveth you," (John xvi. Ji7) so does the Apostle add, " and Uod, even our Father, who hath 14 loved us." And both from what he is, and from what he hath done, he draws the cheerin- inference as to what he will do : "may he comfort your hearts!" His is the power to reach the heart; no other can soothe it ofTectually : " and stablish you in every good word and work." liehold here the far-reaching mo- rality of the Gospel ! 8ee the help provided for every faithful and obedient disciple ! Thus, as the Apostle does not the less enjon. the dutyof standing, fast, that he ha.s just told them of the securities of the covenant ; so, not the less docs he plead for sta- bhshing grace, that such grace is promised. The promises are our warrant to plead ; and the Spirit of adoption teaches Chris- tians to guide thcins<.lvos by all (;„d's revealed will. Enough for them to know that he will be inquired of Jbr these thin-s to do them for them. They use without gainsaying the appoint<3d instrumentality; an.l tlieblc,s,.i„g (.'„,n,.s only Mveetened the more that what was rendered sure by love i.s «een to be acomplished m faithfulness:-the gift at once of preventing grace, and the nilfiiment of prayer ! PRACTICAI. LMPROVEMENT. The exposition has nearly anticipated our practical remarks. Yet we would invite attention to certain great lessons to be de- rived from the passage as a whole. 1. It is very significant how often Paul exemplifies the duty of thanksgiving for distinguishing grace. It is not in the spirit of vain boasting that any one should contemplate the grace that has made him to differ. But neither is it a small matter for congratulation, if mercy hath chosen xv<. There are some who would take away the praise of virtue by referring to the various lots of mdividuals, and by supposing what might have been the event had our circumstances and disadvantages been the same a. those of others. They think they assign a sufficient reason not only for sympathy with the ignorant or the errorist, but for holdin- .the chances, of acceptance with God equal as between men of .sound creed and unsound, when they can say : "Had you been born where these were, and trained as they were, you mi-ht have thought as they do, and feel as they do. Why value your- selves on a distiuctiou of privilege which as to you has been so ac. i^ 15 M cidental ?" Wo would, they would t^&y " providential," and then the taunt is already half answered. For it is all very well to re- buke the spirit of boasting ; the Scripture itself rebukes it, and says, Who raaketh thee to differ? But does it follow that the good- ness of Providence is not to bo devoutly acknowledged ? Docs it make truth the less valuable that the mind that has beon pri- vileged to see it, must own a divine illumination ? And if by hu- man instrumentalities provided to us without our foresight, and by favourable influences brought to bear on us while yet un- conscious of them, our minds were induced to choose the good and avoid the evil, arc wc less to appreciate the favour of Pro- vidence that led us thus in the right way and preserved us from the paths of the destroyer? The fact, if admitted, that luider other circumstances we might have been what others are, is no argument that all circumstances are indiff'crent, or all creeds alike safe. The apostle does not speak thus. He distin- guishes between the truth that saves, and the lie that is damn- ing. He connects the hope of salvation with the belief and love of the truth, and he gives thanks on behalf of those— surely teach- ing them to be thankful themselves— whom God had chosen, and who by the gospel had been called. Only be sure that you have been brought to know the truth spiritually, and that you are able to give a reason for your faith and your hope ; then care not for the taunt, you believe just as your fathers and others be- lieved. None the worse surely for your faith, if these loved it be- fore you; and only an additional reason for thanksgiving to God's preventing goodness, who, purposing your salvation, anticipated your own choice and counsel ; and so early familiarized you with the lessons of wisdom that your decision at length for God and for truth seemed ea,sy, and your very prejudices have seemed to be on virtue's side. But it is well, howsoever you derived your convictions, when you can say like the people of Samaria, to her who first guided them to Christ: " Now we believe, not because of your word, but we have heard him ourselves." So, however, led by parents, or led by pastors, bless God if you have heard and proved the word to your own content. And to him who would say; " Had you been born among Mahometans, ;rou would have been a Mahometan; had you been trained a Ro- 16 • manist, you might have lived and died a Romanist;" let it be your reply : " Possibly ., it might have been ; but i is no les au.o „,. my hun.ble gratitude to Him who makes me to d ff "H"^, and that I was trained to know the true traditionllhe .nspu-ed word of life, „nd to turn a deaf ear to those invent on of .nc„ wh.chm,g thave corrupted my heart, „„d perilled ""1,! Do n.en less value civilisation because it may be true fh7 if born mother tunes or i„ other cinumstances, they mi^ht have I.S .be. ty the less pr.zed, or is the distinction between freedom n.1 bcmdage less real, because the degraded vassal of tyrL y ^I we a.e . ( u: thanksgu,ngiordistinguishingg,-ace is to include the cu.ev„nstunccs..rou,. lot, the means, the appliances, the pro- v.dent,,.] arrangon.ents by which the result on which we eon^ra- ula e our^vcs was brought about, |>a„I blesses God fbrX .ng love ! We can do this without despising others, and without extolling ourselves. ■" wimoui 2. We see how eternal election, so alarming to n.any, n.ay b • v,ewed as a doctrn.e fraught with con.fort. Only know your clectum ; what .s this but to know that God loves you, thlt h" covenant ,s established with you'/ What a repose to'the soul, an .sp tual hfc ,s the developn.ent of an eternal purpose of grace ' That every Sep taken n. the spiritual Journey is a nearer ap! proaeh to a blessed consummation infallibly secured ! Only let o.n- electron be once made sure by our calling ; and let our 'at ing be proved by the appropriate tests. And hence, ;!. We may observe how different a thing election is, in its eonnect.on w,th hfe and practice, fron. what by n.any it, 'i. '. posed to be In is no less an elcctio.. to holiness than to Hory We cannot know that God hath chosen us or others, apart from the consciousness or perceptio.. of the fruits of faith, and pro- gress ,n sanctificatio... What a n.otive here to holy dili^onee' what an answer to every plea of indolence, or false securUy as it onec elected and knowing ourselves the elect, wc may con- , 17 elude to live as we lint! Ou the eoutrary, the value of holy deeds .8 enhanced by this, that they are proofs indispensable of a title to heaven. Nor, surely, are christians less likely to love God,_and love is the fulfilling of the law,-when they have once attained to the knowledge that God has first loved them Sure- ly thecertainty, as well as the greatness, of the provisions divine love .8 seen to have made for our safety and happiness, roust operate by a sufficiently natural and intelligible law to induce a grateful ingenuous obedience. And we- see that the passage just expounded proceeds on this. ^^Therefore," says the Apostle ''stand fast," just as else- where he makes this practicul appeal to the hearts of Christ- ians . (Col. 3. 12.) " Put on therefore, as the elect of God, bow- els of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, if any man have a quarrel agiiin.st smy : even as Christ forgave you so also do ye." 4. In its aspect on the iiniuirer us well as on the man already leading the Christian life, the decree of love has really nothin- to discourage. Election is not God's taking one and refusing another of those who seek, and seek perhaps with like earnest- ness. So some picture the matter, and others wantonly misre- present it. Election is the cause of any one seeking— it hinders none who seek from finding. So that, as we cannot know our election but by our calling, the very first or incipient desire God- wards and heavenwards is a symptom of the divine favour for us. The decree bars the access of none who would come, nor does the condemnation of any sinner rest on non-election TJie invitation is indefinite to all. I,„tead of being discouraged be- cause God has not alike loved and cliosen all, oh, let it encourage and excite us, that God has loved any of Our race whatever, yea many! and that sure as the connection established between God's plans and their accomplishment, is the connection between faith and salvation, between holiness and heaven, between seeking in earnest and finding ! The very sovereignty connected with the free- ness of God s choice is calculated to inspire hope into the breast even of the chief of sinners. For, since it is not foreseen faith or holiness that determines the divine decree, or is acknowled.-ed a^ T^te 18 tlmmHOMM^ ot trTi' tlivino ehoioe : seeing' that nut of ii conriemucd world (iud saves whom he will, and hisdecreeof salvation is a de- cree to save by sanctifying; the unsanctiiied may venture to hope — the most unsanctitied need not despair. "I will be gra- cious to whom I will be gracious," silences every claim of com- parativo merit; but it should equally prevent every feeling of despair. Jehovah may will your salvation, oh sinner, and whf» shall let it ? Nay, take not merely hope, but certainty, from hiB promise, if only you lay hold on it believingly, penitently. The husbandman may sow and never reap ; yet on the general probabi- lity of gathering he goes forth, bearing the precious seed. Had you no more ground of hope than he, the part of wisdom would be to .seek, to try — to knock at the door of mercy. But you have greater ground of confidence than this, 'they that .sow to the Spirit" ever rcaj); " they that seek .shall find." '• All that the Father liath given to me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in nowise cast out. ' .'^ // i K<