men's unbelief was to be traced ultimately to the decrees of God respecting them. We cannot however understand them as establishing so awful a doctrine : nay, we cannot think that the doctrine of absolute reprobation can ever be established, while those words remain in the Bible, " As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of a sinner '." Nevertheless we are not disposed to explain away the words of the text ; for tliey certainly have a very awful and import- ant meaning, to which it becomes us to attend. God has de- creed, that they who will not receive the Gospel for the illu- mination of their minds, shall eventually be blinded by it ; that they who are not softened by it, shall be hardened "' ; that they to whom it is not " a savour of life unto life, shall find it a savour of death unto death"." The Gospel is cer- tainly so constituted, that it shall produce these effects. Christ is " set for the fall, as well as for the rising, of many in Israel"." "He is for a sanctuary," to protect and save the humble ; but he is also " for a stone of stumbling," yea, " for a gin and a snare, that many (even all that are proud, per- verse, and obstinate) may stumble and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken''."]
"But^ye" (Believers) are exalted to the highest privileges by the Gospel —
[The various terms liere used were originally intended to mark the privileges of the Jewish nation'' : but they are applicable to Believers in a higher and more appropriate sense.
Believers are "a chosen generation :" they have been "chosen of God from before the foundation of the world '." Though the misery of Unbelievers is owing, not to any absolute de- crees of reprobation, but to their own pride and wickedness, we must not imagine that the happiness of Believers is owing to their own inherent goodness : for they have no good quali- ties which they have not first received from God"; and con- sequently their good qualities are the effect, not the cause, of God's kindness to them. Though therefore we cannot ac- cede to the doctrine of reprobation, we have no doubt what- ever on the subject of election ; since both by Scripture and experience it is established on the firmest grounds.
Believers are also " a royal priesthood :" they are now made both "kings and priests unto God'." They are chosen of God to reign over their own lusts, and to have the nearest ac- cess to him in all holy duties. There is no difference now between Jew and Gentile, or between male and female : but
aU
' Ezek. xxxiii. 11. "" Isal. vi. 9, 10. " 2 Cor, ii. 1(5.
" Luke ii. 34. '' Isai.viii. 14, 15. '^ Exod.xix.6.Deut.vii,6,
' Eph. 1.4. M Cor. iv. 7. ' Rev. i. 6.