the appointed path to heaven; and " without holiness no man shall see the Lord." To those, therefore, who would take the comfort arising from this subject, we recommend, that they judge of their state by their character and conduct: if they resemble Christ, and are walking truly in his ways, let them confidently trust in Him who " is able to keep them from falling, and to present them faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy :" but let them never entertain the thought of reaching heaven in any other than the appointed way: for, if they resemble "the goats," it is in vain to hope that they shall have their portion with " the sheep."]
2. Defend it against objections —
[Many are the objections confidently urged against the doctrines here maintained : and I most willingly acknowledge that these mysterious truths are to be stated with extreme caution, and that they should occupy only such a space in our general ministrations as they appear to occupy in the Holy Scriptures. Yet we must not keep back any part of divine truth ; but, when occasion offers, must " declare the whole counsel of God." It is true, that many pious men cannot receive these doctrines ; and therefore we should, as much as possible, avoid such a statement of them as may wound their minds : still, however, we are not called to suppress the men- tion of them, but only to concede to others what we claim for ourselves, the right of forming our own judgment, and of being treated with respect and candour by those who differ from us.
It is said that the doctrines before stated are contrary to Scripture, to fact, and to the interests of morality.
The Scripture, it is said, abounds with warnings and exhor- tations to obedience ; in many of which our final enjoyment of God's favour is actually suspended on our perseverance in his ways. All this is true ; and we are grieved, when any, from an undue attachment to human systems, attempt to deny it : but is it not also true that the Scriptures abound with pas- sages of like import with the texte? The great fault of those who adopt human systems is, that they will be wise above what is written, and, instead of receiving God's word as little children, will presume to reject every thing which they cannot reconcile with their own favourite opinions. Who could ever reconcile God's fore-knowledge with the free-will of man? but who will venture to deny either ? So, we may not see how to reconcile God's determination to keep his people, with his cautions against the clanger of apostasy ; and }Tet God's deter- minations may exist, without superseding the need of fear and
9 Job xvii. f). Isai. liv. 17. Jer. xxxii. 40.
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