and his people's, enemies*'. If then he kept his people when he was on earth, so that not one of them was lost2, will he now suffer any to pluck them out of his hand ? No : he has said, that " they shall never perisha:" and he will assuredly fulfil his word.
If any thing further be requisite for the comfort of our minds, we find it abundantly supplied in the intercession of Christ. The only doubt that can arise on this subject is, whether our manifold backslidings will not provoke the Father to cast us off? But " Christ ever liveth to make intercession for us," and thereby preserves that peace, which otherwise would be interrupted every hour. If indeed our transgressions were wilful and habitual, we should prove ourselves at once not to be of the number of God's elect. But if they be only such as arise from the infirmity of our nature ; if they be lamented, resisted, and diminished ; and if they make us to cleave more earnestly to Christ, Christ will be " our Advocate with the Father1"," and will prevail so as to " save us to the uttermostc."
From all these grounds we may affirm with the fullest assurance, that " there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus d."]
To improve this subject, let us stir up ourselves,
1 . To humble inquiry —
[Are we of the number of " God's elect?" This is no difficult point to ascertain : for though we cannot look into the book of God's decrees, to see whether God have chosen us, we may search the records of our own conscience, to see whether we have chosen God : and this will determine the point at once. If we have chosen God as our portion, and Christ as our way to the Father, it is an indisputable evidence that God had before chosen us ; because we never should have loved him, if he had not first loved us. But if we feel no such delight in God, we have no reason to think that we belong to him. Let this mode of inquiry be instituted ; and let it be pursued with the seriousness which it deserves.]
2. To grateful adoration —
[What debtors are we to the grace of God, that grace that chose us, that grace that treasured up a fulness for us in Christ Jesus ! What do we owe to him, who, when he had passed by angels, was pleased to choose us ; and when he might justly have driven us beyond the hope of mercy, has placed us beyond the fear of condemnation! Surely, if we pour not out our hearts in
y 1 Cor. xv. 24, 25. z John xvii. 12. a John x. 28.
b 1 John ii. 1. c Heb. vii. 25. d Rom. viii. 1,
1881.1 Paul's assurance of persevering. 329
devoutest gratitude before him, the very stones may well cry
out against us.
But while we render to him the tribute of a thankful heart, let us also glorify him by a holy life. It is " to good ivorks that we are chosen e," and " to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit f," and therefore we must answer the end of our election, if we would finally enjoy its blessings. Let us then walk worthy of our high calling, and cultivate all the disposi- tions of God's elect ; and be as studious to avoid all grounds of accusation, as to escape the miseries of condemnation itself.]
e Eph. ii. 10. Tit. ii. 14. f 2 Thess. ii. 13.