whence those blessings flow : as the Apostle says, " God has chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (not because he foresaw that we should be holy, but in order that we might be holy) and without blame before him in loved." And it is on this electing love of his, and not on any merits or strength of ours, that our security, in reality, depends : for it is said, " The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are hise."
But does God manifest this his electing love to any now, as he did to Moses ? Yes : not indeed by an audible voice, but by other means sufficiently intelligible both to themselves and others. What else is meant by the Witness of the Spirit ? for, now, as well as in former days, " The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of Godf." Nor is it hi that way only that he makes known our relation to him, but by a work of grace upon our souls : for it was from the " work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ," which St. Paul saw in his Thessalonian converts, that lie " knew their election of Gods."
The fact, then, which Moses pleaded with God is no other than wThat all his saints are at liberty to plead : for as it is true, that " he knows them by name, and that they have found grace in his sight," so is it true, also, that he has, more or less evidently, declared it to them all ; not indeed to any by an audible voice ; but to some by the secret influences of his Spirit, and to all by the visible operations of his grace.]
The next point for our consideration is,
II. The petition urged —
It is thought by many, that an assurance of our acceptance with God would render us careless and supine: but —
The very reverse was its effect on Moses —
[The mercies vouchsafed to him, only stimulated him to a more earnest desire after further blessings. He does not say, " If I have found grace in thy sight, I am content : but, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me thy way, that I may know thee, and that I may find further grace in thy sight."]
And such will be its effect on all God's chosen people —
[Blessings will be regarded by them, not as gifts wherein to rest, but as pledges and earnests of future blessings. It was a wise and truly spiritual argument which was offered by
dEph. i. 4. e2Tim. ii. 19. f Rom. viii. 1G. e 1 Thess. i. 3, 4.