all the godly, not excepting even those who are most prejudiced
Sh;;: E,ection' r yet read-v to -^ tbSS;
salvation to the unmerited grace of God? These tiling strongly corroborate the testimonies of reason and Script ad though there are difficulties attending this docf ne Yet aie there much greater difficulties attending the denial c/it And since God has affirmed it to be true, we should say to a 1 objectors, Who art thou that repliest against God*?] *
The principal objection against this doctrine will be obviated, if we consider, II. The ends to which we are elected —
There is no reason to think this doctrine injurious to morality. Indeed there is no other doctrine that secures morality on so firm a basis—
1. We are chosen expressly to good works—
ni<J?r L!r! ^ight refer in part to the kb°urs °f ^'s
SrtdSvC * f° t" C°nse(!uent success ™ them. But he SSTa l. n ^ V1T als° t0 the fruits of righteousness which they should bring forth. In this sense his words are
wavto t "? bGlleVerS- ,G°d haS °rdained holiness - the Zn A? ^ and haS aPP°inted the means no less
aTJonf^ A~:~JG&' he haS decreed the end ^ be ob-
TcenTJ U] "^ !bj the meanS<1 Hence the Perform- ance of good works is secured by that same decree which secures the salvation of God's elect.]
2. We are chosen also to persevere in them—
rn^!-00^065^ leave US at libert? to return to si" : on the contrary he will have no pleasure in those who do'. He will regard all the righteousness which they have wrought as though t had never been-: and their latter end will be worse than their beginning* But against such apostasy God will secure his own elect. He has given them a new heart, that they may
Zl wmJ°T 6TU' He haS Pr°mised' that their Pat» «hall be nS2£? ' Ta Pro^ress.lve y- And every saint may indulge a humble confidence that it will be so2.]
Address —
1. Those who object to this doctrine— [For argument sake, we will give up the doctrine, and
p iRpm; iXo2°^ u -° Heb- xii' 14' EPh- «• 10- Rom- viii. 29. r {tv! \« EPh-3-4- i 2Thess.ii.13.
rieD. x. dS. s Ezek. xviii. 24. t 9 pet jj 20 f]
I ifn X™- 39- X Job xvii- 9- ' Prov/iv! 18'.
z rial, l. 6.