"indignation shall be accomplished: for that that is "determined shall be done." This is a part of the history of the doctrines now called Calvinistick, in respect to the decrees and purposes of God in gene-. ral; of which we should by no means lose sight, in our enquiries on these subjects. = Concerning personal gratuitous election to eternal life, less satisfactory documents may be expected. The ages preceding the fuiness of times, for the appearance of the promised Messiah, exhibited divine truths, principally under types and shadows: and the election of Abraham, and of his descendants in him, to be outwardly "the elect and chosen "people of God," was a shadow of "our election "in Christ, from the foundation of the world," to be truly and spiritually his people, his worshippers, his children: "a chosen generation, a royal priest"hood, a holy nation, a peculiar people." Yet the Every circumstance of one people being chosen, not for their righteousness, but because of their natural relation to chosen Abraham, to the enjoyment of very valuable religious advantages, which were withheld from other nations, not more undeserving than they; is not only an outward shadow, of our election in Christ, and for his sake, as his seed by regeneration, not for our works, to spiritual and eternal blessings, but it is an instance and example of the divine sovereignty, in conferring undeserved benefits on some, and not on others, according to the "good "pleasure of his will;" in a manner, which many de Dan. iv. 35. ix. 26, 27. xi. 36. claim against, as "respecting persons."-In attempt. ing, however, to prove, that the history of the tenets now called Calvinistick, ought to begin with the very first revelation, which God made to fallen man, even as to personal gratuitous election to eternal life: I hope to adduce a few intimations, which, (especially with the divinely inspired comments on them in the New Testament,) may be thought worthy of peculiar notice in this argument.-The election of Israel, as a nation, in Abraham, it is allowed, was only to outward advantages: but was not the choice of Abraham, "the father of the faithful," personal, gratuitous, and to eternal life?-That it was personal, cannot be doubted.-" Look unto "Abraham, your father, and unto Sarah, that bare ઠંડ you; for I called him alone, and blessed and "encreased him." It is also evident, that it was gratuitous: "Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of "Abraham, and the father of Nahor; and they "served other gods: and I took your father Abra"ham, &c." This example is also a striking illustration of effectual calling. calling. Is it even said of Abraham, that he first began to call upon God? Is not the principium, the beginning, always ascribed unto God? And that Abraham's election was to eternal life, the whole Scriptures declare.' The same things might be shewn personally concerning ■ Is. li. 1, 2. Matt. xxii. 32. * Josh. xxiv. 2, 3. Acts vii. 2, 3. Rom. iv. 1-5. 13-18. xi. 10-16. Luke xvi. 22. Isaac and Jacob; whose faith and piety, and salvation, as the chosen of God, are fully attested in Scripcure; while all that can be said concerning Ishmael and Esau, is that, their final rejection is not explicitly and directly revealed; and we are not allowed to decide any thing on such subjects, beyond express revelation.-But a profound silence is observed respecting them, except such terms as these, "profane Esau," "Esau have I hated." "The son of the "bond woman shall not be heir with the son of the "free woman ; so then, brethren, we are not children "of the bond woman but of the free."-" Yet "have I left me seven thousand in Israel: all "the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him." Does this passage, with the apostle's comment on it, give no intimation of a gratuitous personal election to sternal life, made within the national gratuitous election to many external advantages?" "Blessed "is the man whom thou choosest and causest to "approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy ">courts." "Remember me, O LORD, with the "favour that thou bearest unto thy people: Oh, "visit me with thy salvation: that I may see the good of thy chosen; that I may rejoice in the 'gladness of thy nation: that I may glory with "thine inheritance." 4 Does this most fervent prayer relate to nothing more, than the outward Gen, xxviii. 11–15 xxxi. 42. xxxii. 28, 29. xlix. 10. Mark xiii. 26, 27. Heb. xi, 13-16. * 1 Kings xix. 18. Rom. xi. 2-7. • Ps. lxv. 4. Ps. cvi. 4, 5. advantages of Israel, as a nation; of which, it is highly probable, the Psalmist was at the time in full possession?" The holy seed shall be the sub"stance of it."-"I will bring a seed out of Jacob, " and out of Judah an inheritor of my holy moun"tains; and mine elect shall inherit it, &c."—" Ye "shall leave my name for a curse unto my chosen: "for the LORD GOD shall slay you, and call his people by another name." Was not this a prediction of the rejection of the elect nation of Israel, except an elect remnant among them, who, with the elect Gentile converts would be called by the name of Christians? And also of a future elect multitude, to descend from the present stock of Jews, who shall at length be called into the Christian church, and re-established in their own land; and for the sake of whom, the nation has hitherto been preserved from utter destruction, and as a separate people? If these things are so; (for "known unto "God are all his works, from the beginning of the "world;") personal election from the beginning; gratuitous election to eternal life, is taught in the old Testament, and from the fall of Adam: and the history of the tenets now called Calvinistick, ought to commence from that time. I speak not of reprobation or preterition: they who are not elected, are passed by; which is nearly all that the New Testament teaches on the subject: and, though Calvin and others have abundantly supplied this supposed deficiency; a majority of those * Is. vi. 13. lxv. 9. 15, 22—25. Matt. xxiv. 22. called modern Calvinists, especially among the evangelical clergy, choose to adhere to the reserve of the Scripture, even if reproached for so doing. 1 993 5. But can any thing be produced concerning final perseverance from the Old Testament?" The "LORD will not forsake his people, for his name's "sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people." 1 "He hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure for this is all my salvation, and all my de“sire.”—“The righteous also shall hold on his 66 way and he that hath clean hands shall wax "stronger and stronger.' "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and he delighteth "in his ways: Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down for the LORD upholdeth him " with his hand.". "The salvation of the righteous " is of the LORD; he is their strength in time of "trouble: the LORD shall help, and deliver them; "he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save "them, because they trust in him." "The mercy "of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting "upon them that fear him."s 66 66 "The. They that trust in "the LORD shall be as Mount Sion, which cannot "be removed, but standeth fast for ever." "path of the just is as the shining light, which "shineth more and more unto the perfect day."7 |