to sinners, will not endure the mention of a condition, or admit that there is any kind of conditionality in such passages as that before us. Others, because of such passages, will not endure to hear of God's electing grace, which they suppose to be inconsistent with them. Others again, because of the difficulty of reducing every thing to their comprehension, are ready to reject Christianity as altogether inconsistent with itself. But there are no two positions in the whole book of God, which are inconsistent with each other. That there are difficulties, we admit : but so there are also in every other work of God, whether of creation or providence : and if there were none in the work of redemption, we should have reason to think that it was not really of divine original. No man that ever lived could reconcile the existence of sin with the holiness of God : but is there therefore an absolute inconsistency between them ? Does not every one see that the inability to reconcile them arises from the weakness of our intellect and the narrow limits of our knowledge ? The same difficulty is complained of by some in reference to the subject before us ; but it is obvious, from the statement we have made, that enough may be said to satisfy an humble mind, though there may still be difficulties left for the confounding of a proud spirit. This is really the case with respect to every other doctrine in the Bible : tliere may be, as in some works of human art, wheels moving in a variety of directions, and appearing to an ignorant person to obstruct each other ; but there is an unity in the whole design, and a subserviency in every part to the production of one common end.
Let us then be on our guard against that controversial spirit that leads men to wrest or stumble at the word of God : and, if there be difficulties which we cannot reconcile, let us be con- tent to say, " What I know not now, 1 shall know hereafter."]
2. Its equity —
[It is astonishing to hear with what presumption many will arraign the justice of God: 'If he has not elected me, how can I help myself? If he imposes on me conditions which I cannot perform, with what equity will he condemn me?' The Apostle's answer to such proud objectors is that which most befits their state : " Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?" Yet the subject before us may suffice to shew, that " God wiU be justified in his sayings, and be clear when he judgeth:" the day of judgment is called "the revelation of the righteous judgment of God ;" and such it will appear to all. Those who now quarrel with the deep doctrines of predestination and election, will then find, that God has ordered every thing in perfect wisdom and equity. None will then presume to arraigni his counsels. None will then object
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