the humility and modesty that become us. It is undeniable that the Apostles mention occasionally, and without the smallest appearance of hesitation, the doctrines of predestination and election : and therefore we are bound to explore the meaning of the inspired writers in reference to these passages, as well as to any others. We are aware that great diffi- culties attend the explanation of these doctrines ; (though certainly not greater than attend the denial of them :) and we are aware also, that they are open to abuse : but there is no doctrine which has not its difficulties ; nor any which has not been abused : and, that we may not be supposed to enter- tain an undue partiality for these obnoxious tenets, or to wish to establish them on inadequate grounds, we have selected a large portion of Scripture which cannot easily be perverted ; and which is indeed so plain, that it speaks for itself. We shall be careful also to bring them forward precisely in the way in which they are declared by the Apostles themselves, that is, not in a speculative and controversial way, but in a practical manner, as incentives to holy gra- titude and obedience.
St. Paul, under a deep sense of the mercies vouch- safed to himself and to the whole Church at Ephesus, breaks forth into the devoutest acknowledgments to that God from whom they had flowed, and to whom all possible thanks and praise were due.
In considering his words, we shall shew,
I. What are those blessings which we have received from our God — " He hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings " — [The Ephesian Church, though chiefly composed of Gen- tiles, consisted in part of Jews alsoa. And, though it is pos- sible there might be some hypocrites there, as well as in other Churches, St. Paul does not stop to make distinctions of that kind, but speaks of them all in the judgment of charity, as real
a Acts xviii. 19, 20, 24, 28. with ver. 11, 12, 13. of our text, where the distinction is made between " ive" Jews " who first trusted in Christ," and " ye " Gentiles who believed afterwards. See also Gal. ii. 16—18. '
2092.] THANKS FOR GOD's GRACE AND MERCY. 267
Christians, and partakers of all the blessings which by their profession they were supposed to possess. As believers, they had been blessed with " spiritual blessings in heavenly things b," widely different from those which were possessed by any " na- tural man," and from those which the earthly and carnal Jews expected their Messiah to bestow. Of these, some of the principal are here enumerated.
God has adopted us into his family — dealt ivith us as chil- dren— and given to us the inheritance of children.
Once the believer was " afar off" from God, being an " alien from the commonwealth of Israel, a stranger from the cove- nants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world :" but by an act of rich mercy and grace he has been adopted by God, and made to stand in the relation to him of a child to a father. Though he neither has any thing, nor ever can have any thing, that can recommend him to God, yet " is he accepted" to the Divine favour, having all his past iniquities " forgiven," and his soul washed from all its stains, in " the Redeemer's blood." Being thus brought into the nearest relation to God, he is treated, " not as a servant, who knows not what his lord doeth ; but as a son," who may fitly be made acquainted with all his Father's will. To him is that stupendous mystery made known, that, in the time appointed of the Father, the whole intelligent creation of men and angels, who were once of one family, but were separated by the fall of man, shall be brought once more under the same Head, the Lord Jesus Christ, who at first created them, and to whom originally they paid all due allegiance. As to men, there should be no difference between them in this respect : the common Father of all would equally receive all, whether Jews or Gentiles, and incorporate them all into one body, who should equally and without any distinction be partakers of his grace, and heirs of his glory. For all of them without exception, pro- vided only they believe in him, he has provided an inheritance, to which, on the instant that they believe in him, they become entitled, and which, after the period fixed for their abode on earth, they shall possess to all eternity.]