Secondly, How this is a ground of establishment and consolation.
1. By this gift we have an interest both in God and Christ : 1 John i. 3, ' That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us ; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ;' 2 John 9, ' He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.' God will make good his gift, and Christ his trust. God bestowed us upon his Son, to oblige Christ to the greater respect ; and Christ hath bought us of his Father, that the gift might be sure and certain. The Son loveth us, because the Father required it ; the Father loveth us, because the Son merited it. If Christ be faithful to his Father, or the Father be loving and respectful to Christ, we cannot miscarry. We have an interest in the Father, who is the fountain of mercy; in the Son, who is the golden pipe and conveyance. God made the elect to be members of Christ's body, that he might redeem them ; and Christ made them children of God's family, that he might
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love them and bless them. Electing love and Christ's pm*chase are the two fountains of salvation. God, who is the supreme judge, offended party, first cause and fountain of blessing, he requireth the Son to die for us ; and Christ hath undertaken it, and made good his word.
2. God hath put the business of our salvation into safe hands. He would not be defeated of his purpose, therefore he hath given the elect to Christ, that they may be quickened by virtue of that power and life which was given to liim. He would deal with us upon sure terms, and therefore took order sufficient to attain his end ; he would not trust us with any but his own eternal Son. There is a charge laid on Christ, who is a good depositary, of such care and faithfulness, that he will not neglect his Father's pledge ; of such strength and ability, that nothing can wrest us out of his hands ; for he that doeth it had need of a stronger arm than Christ's, John x. 28, 29. Of such love, that no work can be more pleasing to him ; he loveth us far better than we do ourselves, or else he would never have come from heaven for our sakes. Of such watchfulness and care, that his eyes do always run to and fro throughout the earth. Providence is full of eyes, as well as strong of hand. As the high priest bore the names of the tribes upon his breast and shoulders, so doth Christ the memorial of every saint ; he knoweth their names and their necessities ; though many thousands in the world, yet every single believer falleth under the care of Christ, as if none besides him ; he knoweth them by head and poll, their wants, necessities. They are written in the ' Lamb's book of life,' Kev. xiii. 8. Christ keeps a register of them. There is not only God's book of remembrance, but the Lamb's book of life. He knoweth every distinct sheep by name, and constantly giveth an account of them to God : ' I am glorified in them.' It is grievous to our advocate when he is forced to be an accuser. He taketh a distinct and implicit notice of them : Isa. xl. 27, ' Why sayest thou, 0 Jacob, and speakest, 0 Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God ? ' Ps. xxxiv. 6, ' This poor man cried, and the Lord heard liim, and delivered him out of all his troubles.' If it were not for this our keeper, we should surely perish ; but Christ is our keeper, who is faithful, loving, able, watchful. Qui potest et vult, facit. Christ's own charge cannot miscarry. If the elect should not be saved, Christ would neither do his work, nor receive his wages.
Use. To press us to come under these sweet hopes. There is nothing wanting but the clearing up of our interest, that you may be of the immber of those that are given to Christ. You will know it by God's act towards you, and by your act towards God.
1. By God's act towards you. If we be given to Christ, Christ is given to us. We are given to Christ before all time, and in time Christ is given to us; by converting grace he and we are brought together. God makes an offer in the gospel ; are we willing to receive him for Lord and Saviour ? Then you put it out of question. Are you moved by the Spirit to receive him upon God's offer. Conver- sion, it is as it were an actual election. By original election the heirs of salvation are distinguished from others in God's purpose ; so by conversion, or actual election, they are visibly distinguished. What
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excitements of grace can you speak of that urge you to come to Christ? All that are given to him come to him.