instrumentality of the Hebrew New Testament, which to a great extent, is now circulating among them in different quar- ters of the globe : and, as in the covenant made with Abraham, not all his descendants were comprehended, but only those who should proceed from Isaac and from Jacob ; so in the loins of those who are yet alive are millions of millions com- prehended ; and of them also an elect remnant. And who shall say how many of them " are ordained to eternal life ?" Sure we are, that they will be numerous as the stars of heaven ; or rather, " as the sands upon the sea-shore, innumerable." At whatever period these shall come into the world, God will call them to the knowledge of himself; and give them, if not the possession of the land of Canaan, yet the possession of that better inheritance, which Canaan typified, and which was assured to them in the promises that were made to Abraham. Those promises were not made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for themselves only, but for their seed: and "not a jot or tittle of those promises shall ever fail ;" all shall be fulfilled in their season : and from respect to the fathers to whom they were made, are the present generation of their descendants yet loved ; and to the latest generations shall the elect among them be loved, even as the fathers themselves were loved. Thus, " as touching the election, are that people," notwith- standing all their enmity, "yet beloved for their fathers' sakes ;" as God has said : " I know the thoughts that I think towards you ; thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end1."]
All this is secured by, II. The determined purpose of his mind towards them —
Exceeding strong is the assertion with which the Apostle confirms the foregoing declarations. The general and unqualified manner in which the assertion is made, will lead us to notice it,
I. As a general truth — [Certain it is, that " God's gifts and calling are without repentance." Whatever God has given, of spiritual and eternal blessings, he has given in consequence of " his own eternal purpose, which he purposed in Christ Jesus before the world began k. The favoured persons were not originally chosen on account of any superior goodness that was, or would be, in them1; but they were " predestinated to the enjoyment of those blessings, according to the purpose of Him who worketh
1 Jer. xxix. 11. k 2 Tim. i. 0. ] Deut. ix. 6.