^ Either a proverbial expression, perhaps referring to Jer. ii. 24 ; or else a misprint. — Ed.
no THE ELEVENTH SERMON. [2 TlIES. 11. 13,
between us and others. Surely liis peculiar love to ourselves doth most atiect us.
(3.) There we see that grace that doth take off all self-boasting : Eph. ii. 8, 9, ' For by grace are ye saved, through faith ; and that not of yourselves, it is the gilt of God ; not of works, lest any man should boast.' Elective love jirevented all actual or foreseen worth in us ; and frou) tirst to last it is carried on in a way of grace ; the means, the efficacy, all is of grace. This was God's great end, that grace might be admired and esteemed by us, and be matter of eternal praise and tlianksgiving : Eph. i. tl, ' To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.' The whole design is to show us how we are beloved of God, and that we may love him again.
Use 1. If election be the great matter of thanksgiving to God, then surely this doctrine should be heard in the church ; for the life and soul of Christian religion is gratitude ; and what feedeth gratitude is of great use unto us. Our gratitude doth not rise high enough till it come to the first cause that stirred and set all the wheels a-work in the business of our salvation. Surely this is a very profitable point.
1. To detect the pride of man, for here we see the true and proper cause of difierence between us and others: 1 Cor. iv. 7, ' Who maketh thee to difier?' The differencing grace of God, proceeding from his election, is the only true grace.
2. Nothing more extolieth the glory of God in our salvation ; for if man can assume nothing to himself, the glory alone redoundeth to God. The mere reason and cause why some are chosen and others passed by, is God's good pleasure : ]\Iat. xi. 2G, ' Even so. Father, be- cause it pleased thee.' Christ himself consents to it, giveth thanks for it, as an act of free and undeserved mercy.
3. No greater incentive to holiness ; for here we see the absolute necessity of it, together with the strongest, sweetest motive to enforce it. (1.) Tiie absolute necessity of it ; becau.se it is a necessary means to bring God's purposes to pass : Eph. i. 4, ' He hath chosen us, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love.' He hath cho.sen none to enjoy everlasting glory after this life, but such as he hath chosen to be holy here. Fiist, They must be sanctified and re- newed by the Spirit, and then walk in all holy conversation and god- liness. And whatever assurance of election is pretended unto them who lead an unholy life, it is but a vain presumption or ungrounded persuasion ; yea, a strong delusion. Secondly, Here is the sweetest and strongest motive to enforce it, and that is the singular love of God, which breedeth in us a sincere love to God again, and all serious en- deavours to approve ourselves to him in purity of living. There is no such constraining force in anything as there is in love: 2 Cor. v. 14, ' For the love of God constrainelh us,' ttc. And no such holiness as that whicii fioweth from it ; this is thankful and evangelical obedience.
4. It is the ground of our solid comlort, in the midst of all the calamities and tem[)tati()iis of the present life ; because our final happi- ness is apj)ointed to us by (iod's electing love : Luke xii. 32, ' Fear not, little Hock, for it is your iiitlier's good pleasure to give you the king- dom.' And this is accompanied with his active providence and care
2 ThES. II. 13.] THE ELEVENTH SERMON. Ill
over us all the way thither. So that all thinj^s are sanctified to us, that we may he sanctified to God : Rom. viii. 28, ' And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.'
Use 2. It showeth us that the elect have cause to bless God if they he chosen to salvation, though not to wealth, pleasure, and honour. These Thessalonians endured great afflictions for the gospel's sake, yet Paul looked upon himself as bound to give thanks always to God for them, because he had chosen them to salvation. God dispenseth his gifts variously. Some are, shall I say, chosen — or condemned rather? — to worldly felicity. It is the will of God they should attain great wealth and honour here ; and will you envy them and repine against providence, though God hath reserved you for a better estate hereafter ? Compare two places ; one is Jer. xvii. 13, ' All that forsake thee shall be written in the earth ;' the other is Luke x. 20, ' Rejoice in this, that your names are written in heaven.' Which is the better privilege — to be written in earth, or to be written in heaven ? to have a great name in the subsidy-book, or to have our names written in the book of life ? The one is their punishment, the other your blessedness.