In the words are two things : —
1. An acknowledgment of this obligation to give thanks for them: hut we are hound to <jiue thanks always to God for you, brethren, &c.
104 THE ELEVENTH SERMON. [2 ThES. IL 13.
2. The matter or particular cause of his tlianksE^ivinj^ : because the Lord hath from the beginning chosen yon to salvation, &c.
First, There are — (1.) The titles he giveth : ' brethren,' and ' beloved of the Lord.' They were not only beloved of the apostle, but the Lord himself; both with an antecedent love, bestowing grace upon them, and also a consequent love, they believing in his name, living accord- ing to his precej)ts, suffering for the truth. (2.) His obligation to bless God in their behalf: ' We are bound to give thanks to God always for you.' There is — First, ' Giving thanks,' which showeth his esteem of the blessing. Secondly, ' Always,' which showetii how deeply he was affected with it. (3.) '0(f>6lXo/xev, ' We are bound ;' he acknowledgeth a debt and bond of duty. We must not only give llianks to God for our own election, but the election of others, out of the law of brotiierly love, we loving them as our own souls, and respect to the glory of God, which is promoted by the salvation of others as well as ourselves.
Secondly, The matter of the thanksgiving, their election to salvation, which is two ways amplified: — (1.) By the antiquity of it : 'from the beginning ; ' that is, from everlasting, lor so it is taken sometimes ; as John i. 1, ' In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God ; ' that is, before the first point of time, before God began to create all things. (2.) From the means of its accomplishment. Two are mentioned — one on God's part, ' the sanctification of the Spirit ; ' the other on ours, ' the belief of tiie truth.' From th.e whole observe : —
Doct. That the great matter of our thanksgiving to God is his eternal election of us, whether for ourselves or others ; this is that which leaveth a debt, or an indisi)ensable obligation, always to bless and praise his name.
In pursuing this point I shall first consider how election is here set forth ; secondly, give you the reasons why this is the great matter of thanksgiving : —
1. How it is here set forth.
[1.] By the rise of it, which is the mere love of God ; for he calletli these ' brethren, beloved of the Lord ; ' and that the only original cause and motive of election is God's love and grace. This is asserted in otiier scriptures; as, for instance, in the types of election and repro- bation : Hom. ix. 13, ' Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated.' God's respect to Jacob above Esau is ascribed to his love. So to the posterity of Jacob, whom he distinguished from other nations : Deut. vii. 7, 8, ' The Lord did not set his love upon you, and choose you, because ye were more in number than any people, for ye were the fewest of all people ; but because the Lord loved you.' And still the Lord's election is an election of grace. There is no antecedent worthiness in the people whom he chooseth : 2 Tim. i. 9, * Not accord- ing to our works, but according to his own pur^jose and grace, which was given in Christ Jesus, before the world began.' Now grace is nothing but the love of God working freely and (A its own inclination.
[2.] The act itself: he ' hath chosen you ; ' making a distinction be- tween them and others. Upon them he shall send strong delusion, but you hath he chosen to salvation through the belief of the truth. Those whom God hath chosen he separates from the world of the un-
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godly, or the corrupt heap of mankind, and consecrateth them unto himself ; so that election is not a taking all, bat some, and passing by others : 1 John v. 19, ' We are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness,' A choice implieth a setting apart some for objects of his grace and instruments of his glory in the world, Ps. iv. 3. And the number is certain, for their names are said to be written in the rolls and records of heaven, when others are not written : Luke x. 20, ' Re- joice not that the spirits are subject unto you ; but rather rejoice be- cause your names are written in heaven : ' Phil. iv. 3, * Whose names are written in the book of life.' And others are said not to be written : Rev. xvii, 8, ' And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world.' • And Rev. xx. 15, ' And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire ; ' namely, those that perish by these delusions.
[3 ] It is set forth by the antiquity of it : ' from the beginning.' Eph. i. 4, ' He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world ; ' and Mat. xxv. 34, ' Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world ;' namely, as they belonged to his choice election. Love in God is of an old standing, even from all eternity. His thoughts and purposes of love were towards us a long time before they were discovered. Surely the ancientness of his love should beget an honourable esteem of it in our hearts ; for who are we, that the thoughts of God should be taken up about us so long ago ? And what is from everlasting is to ever- lasting, Ps. ciii. 17 ; for what is from eternity is to eternity, and de- pendeth not upon the accidents of time.