In a word, there seems to be a perfect correspondence between God's works of providence and grace : in the former, " he worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will," yet leaves men perfectly free agents in all that they do ; so in the latter, he accomplishes his own eternal purpose both in calling, and in keeping, his elect; but yet he never puts upon them any constraint, which is not perfectly compatible with the freest operations of their own will.
The Author well knows that these doctrines may be, and
" John x. 27, 28. o i Cor. hi. 1, 2. p Heb. v. 12—14.
alas! too often are, so stated as to be really contradictory. But that they may be so stated as to be profitable to the souls of men, he hopes is clear from the illustrations that have been just given q.
He trusts he shall be pardoned if he go yet further, and say, that, in his judgment, there not only is no positive contradic- tion in this statement, but that there is a propriety in it, yea, moreover, a necessity for it, because there is a subserviency in these truths, the one to the other. God elects us ; but he car- ries his purpose into effect by the free agency of man, which is altogether influenced by rational considerations. So also he carries on and completes his work in our souls, by causing us to feel our proneness to apostatize, and by making us cry to him daily for the more effectual influences of his grace. Thus, while he consults his own glory, he promotes our greatest good, in that he teaches us to combine humility with earnest- ness, and vigilance with composure.
The Author would not have troubled the Reader with this apology, were it not that he is exceedingly desirous to coun- teract that spirit of animosity, which has of late so greatly prevailed against those who adhere to the principles of the Established Church. Not that he has himself any cause to complain : but he would wish his Work to be brought to this test — Does it uniformly tend
TO HUMBLE THE SINNER? TO EXALT THE SAVIOUR? TO PROMOTE HOLINESS?
If in one single instance it lose sight of any of these points, let it be condemned without mercy. But, if it invariably
i Many have carried their attachment to system so far, that they could not endure to preach upon any passage of Scripture that seemed to oppose their favourite sentiments ; or, if they did, their whole endea- vour has been to make the text speak a different language from that which it appeared to do. In opposition to all such modes of pro- cedure, it is the Author's wish in this preface to recommend a con- formity to the Scriptures themselves, without any solicitude about systems of man's invention. Nor would any thing under heaven be more grateful to him than to see names and parties buried in eternal oblivion, and primitive simplicity restored to the Church.
VOL. I. c
xxii PREFACE.
pursue these ends, then let not any, whatever system they embrace, quarrel with an expression that does not quite accord with their views. Let them consider the general scope and tendency of the book : and, if it be, as he trusts it is, not to strengthen a party in the Church, but to promote the good of the whole ; then let smaller differences of sentiment be over- looked, and all unite in vindicating the great doctrines of Salvation by Grace through Faith in Christ.
Why these Discourses have been multiplied to such an extent the Author will briefly explain. The Reformers of the Church of England, by the publication of HOMILIES on some of the fundamental topics of religion and morals, have rendered an inestimable service to all classes of society. But it is obvious, that these Homilies embrace only a few of the subjects to which it is essential to call the attention of mankind. It is also a known fact, that the Reformers themselves designed considerably to enlarge the number of these truly Scriptural addresses. The Ministers of the Church, accordingly, have never considered their private labours as superseded by the Homilies; but have, from age to age, supplied to the nation Discourses of the highest value.