his grace*, and bring them to the saving knowledge of his truth". These also will he keep, and not suffer so much as one of them ever to be lost''. For their full and complete salvation God has made abundant provision in his word. If ever they should perish, it must be through their own departure from him, or through their being wrested out of his hands, or by his casting them off: but on all these heads he has revealed his immutable purpose and decree. Is it apprehended that they will depart from liim? He will " put his fear in their hearts, that they may not do so^." Is it feared that either men or devils may wrest them from him ? He assures us that " none shall pluck them out of his hands %" or " separate them from his love^" Is it supposed possible that he himself may cast them off and forsake them ? He gives the fullest possible assurance to them all, that he will not do so''; that " not one of his little ones shall perish*^;" and that, however sifted, " not the smallest grain among them shall ever fall to the ground'^." Their state may appear distressing, and even desperate, for a time ; but God will not abandon them to themselves®; for " all his pro- mises to them are yea and Amen in Christ Jesus*'."]
2. The destruction of his enemies —
[Babylon, just previous to its destruction, seemed capable of defying all its enemies : but it was destroyed, precisely at the time, and in the manner, and by the person, that had been foretold two hundred years before. Thus, how secure soever God's enemies at this day may think themselves, they shall assuredly perish at the appointed time.
Of the people of God we have spoken as God's elect : but we are not therefore to imagine of God's enemies, that they have from eternity been doomed to destruction. No : though we maintain, and have not a doubt about, tlie doctrine of elec- tion, we do not beHeve the doctrine of absolute reprobation. It is true, we do not know where to draw the line so as to answer all the questions that may be asked. We acknowledge that we are ignorant, and contentedly ignorant, of many things relating to this mysterious subject : but, in our apprehension, God's oath, " that he willeth not the death of any sinner, but rather that he should turn and live," is a satisfactory proof, that he has " not ordained any to wrath," except as the fruit and consequence of their own wickedness. We apprehend that the true distinction between the elect and non-elect is marked with admirable precision by the Apostle Peter ; who speaks of
t Ezek, xxxiv. 11 — 13. " Isai. Ixv. 1. ^ John xvii. 12.
y Jer. xxxii. 40. z Johnx. 27—29.
a Rom. viii. 33 — 39.
•^ 1 Sam.xii.22, Heb. xiii. 5,6. The Greek. = Matt, xviii. 14.
^ Amos ix. 9. « Isai. liv. 7—10. f 2 Cor. i. 20.
883.] IMMUTABILITY OF GOD's COUNSELS. 577
the elect, as saved purely in consequence of God's eternal choice ; but of others, as perishing purely through their own obstinate unbelief, to which God has irreversibly decreed a sentence of eternal condemnation s. This is sufficiently plain, that, if God be true, the unrighteous, and unregenerate, can never enter into the kingdom of heaven^. We are ready to think, that God will rescind his decrees in relation to this matter ; but he will not : he will not from pity ; for however we may knock, and cry, " Lord, Lord, open to us!" he will not open the door ; nor, when " weeping and wailing and gnashing our teeth" with anguish, will he grant us so much as " a drop of water at our request to cool our tongue." Nor shall any be able to resist his will : for when he shall say, " Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire," we cannot maintain our ground one moment ; nor, if we call on the rocks and mountains to fall upon us, can they afford us the desired aid. Even in this life the infliction of punishment is sometimes irreversibly de- creed ; and much more shall it be in that day, when God will only laugh at our calamity, and execute upon us all the judg- ments which he has denounced against us'.]