himself: but that he reprobates any, and from all eternity de- creed to consign them over to perdition without any offence or fault of theirs, we cannot admit: we think that oath of God's, that " he has no pleasure in the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live," is deci- sive on the point ; and all the reasonings of fallible men are lighter than vanity, in opposition to it. But, not to enter into dispute about these things, one thing is clear, that of whatever sect, or party, or nation we may be, if we " fear God and work righteousness, we shall be accepted." What then have we to do with the Divine decrees ? What reason has any man to say, ' It is in vain for me to seek after God ; because God has not elected me?' Who ever ascended to heaven, to see whether his name were, or were not, written in the book of life ? " Secret things must be left to God, to whom alone they properly belong : the things that are revealed belong to us :" and this declaration in our text is plain, and clear, and absolute. Let every one therefore put away all distressing apprehensions about the decrees of God, and seek to attain that character which shall infallibly lead to happiness and glory ]
3. That if we improve diligently the light we have, God will give us more light —
[God forbid that we should for a moment entertain the thought, that we, by any diligence of ours, can merit any thing at the hands of God, or lay him under an obligation to con- fer upon us the blessings of salvation. We have no claim upon him, except that which his own free and gracious pro- mises have given us : but if, in dependence on those pro- mises, we press forward in his appointed way, then may we expect assuredly that those promises shall be fulfilled to us. Now God has promised, that " then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord; &c. p' We may be confident therefore that we shall not use the means in vain. Whether Cornelius would have been saved if this fresh revelation had not been made to him, we will not take upon ourselves absolutely to determine ; though Peter, and the rest of the Apostles appear to have considered his salvation as altogether effected by his conversion to Christianity m. But throughout the whole history, frequent notice is taken of the prayers and alms of Cornelius, as approved of God, and as being the means of bringing down yet greater blessings upon him : they are represented as being accepted before God, precisely as the meat-offerings were accepted from the Jews : as a memorial of the latter, when burnt upon the altar, was an offering of a
1 Hos. vi. 3. Quote and explain the whole verse. m Acts xi. 14, 18.