"according to the election of grace." This refers to the seven thousand in Israel, whom the Lord had "reserved to himself," in the days of Elijah. These were "a remnant according to the election of grace," and the rest of the nation were not. Is it not then, undeniable, that there was a national election, to external advantages; and a personal election, entirely distinct from it? An election of individuals, from among the elect nation? And that the national election of Israel, was a type and figure, of the personal election of the true Israel," the "church of the first born, whose names are written "in heaven?" Some texts of Scripture follow, which are, almost universally, by expositors, considered as prophecies, relative to the future dealings of God, with the nation of Israel; and coincident with the words of our Saviour: "Except these days should "be shortened, no flesh," (that is, none of Israel,) "should be saved; but for the elects' sake, those "days shall be shortened." "For I will bring a "seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah, an inheritor "of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, "and my servants shall dwell there." "So the holy

"seed shall be the substance thereof."4

P. cciii. 1. 10. "In the, &c.'' This is a decisive

1 Rom. xi. 5, 6.

J Matt. xxiv. 22.

2 Is. xliii. 20. xlv. 4. lxv. 9.

4 Is. vi. 13.

In the numerous passages of the Old Testament, in which they are thus spoken of, there is not the slightest allusion to ⚫ their being predestinated to happiness in the world to come; ⚫ nor indeed will any one contend that all the Jews were designed ⚫ for eternal salvation. They were elected in this world only, as

proof, that the national election of Israel was an entirely different thing, from the election spoken of in the New Testament: being only a shadow or type of it. "God hath from the beginning chosen you unto salvation, through sanctification of the "Spirit, and belief of the truth; whereunto he hath "called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the "glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." "Elect, ac"according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, "through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience, "and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ."2 Wherever election or predestination are spoken of in the New Testament, concerning christians, they are uniformly connected with "things which accompany "salvation." The election of Israel was indeed 'an introductory and preparatory step to the execu tion of God's merciful scheme, &c:' but had the Israelites themselves no advantages, in consequence of it?"What advantage then hath the Jew? Or, "what profit is there of circumcision? Much every 66 way; chiefly because unto them were committed "the oracles of God." It is probable, that from the days of Moses to the coming of Christ, more persons out of this comparatively small nation were spiritual worshippers, and accepted servants, of God, than in all the world besides.

an introductory and preparatory step to the execution of God's merciful scheme of human redemption through the incarnation and sufferings of Christ.

'2 Thes. ii. 13, 14. 2 1 Pet. i. 2. Eph. i. 4, 5. 11-14. Col. iii. 12. 2 Tim. i. 9. ii. 9, 10. 4 Rom. iii. 1, 2.

3 Rom. viii. 28-30.

Tit. i. 1, 2. 1 Pet.

P. cciii. 1. 20. We shall, &c.". This is a statement, which will require much proof: but let every argument have its due weight. What collective ' bodies were converted to Christianity,' in the same manner, that Israel was chosen as a nation? Even the three thousand, converted on the day of Pentecost, and the tens of thousands, who afterwards believed, were merely a remnant of the nation of Israel; and, like the seven thousand in the days of Elijah, "a remnant according to the election of

grace." God had "not cast away his people, whom "he foreknew,"" even when the nation of Israel ceased to be his church. "Israel hath not obtained "that which he seeketh for: but the election hath "obtained it; and the rest were blinded." If the texts referred to, in the last remark, do not prove, that election is uniformly connected with the "things "which accompany salvation:" the point must be yielded. But each text will be more particularly noticed. The more copious of the apostolical epistles are addressed to the churches, or to the saints, and not to individuals; and in those to Timothy and Titus, the apostle joins himself with the person to whom he wrote, when he spake on this subject:3 but he mentions Clement, and others, "whose names

* We shall in like manner find that the same words, elect and 'chosen, are applied to collective bodies of men who were converted to the gospel, without any restriction to those who were ⚫ obedient to its precepts, and will hereafter be saved; and that an 'infallible certainty of salvation, in consequence of a divine decree, is not attributed to any number of christians, or to any single christian, throughout the New Testament."

* Rom. xi. 1-7. 32 Tim. i. 9. Tit. i. 1, 2.

"are written in the book of life;" and St. John addresses one of his epistles unto "The elect lady, and "her children," and mentions her "elect sister." Our Lord calls Paul "a vessel of election." (ExEVOS έκλογης.)

P. cciv. 1. 3. 'St. Peter, &c. Let this whole passage be minutely examined. "Elect, according "to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through "sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace 66 unto you, and peace be multiplied. Blessed be the "God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which "according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us

Phil. iv. 3. Comp. Rev. xvii. 8. 23 John 1. 12. Acts ix. 15. 4 St. Peter tells the " strangers scattered throughout Pontus, "Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia," that they are "elect according to the foreknowledge of God;" and "a "chosen generation, a peculiar people; that they might shew "forth the praises of him, who hath called them out of darkness "into his marvellous light." It is evident that the apostle here ⚫ refers to the calling of these men to the knowledge of his gospel, which, like every other circumstance relative to this gracious dispensation, was foreknown by God; and that by denominating the christians of these five extensive countries, ⚫ indiscriminately, "elect," and "a chosen generation," he ⚫ did not mean to assert that they would all be saved; but that they were admitted to "the marvellous light" of the gospel, ⚫ while other nations were still wandering in the "darkness" of heathenism. And to put this beyond all doubt, the same persons, whom in his first epistle he addresses as "elect according "to the foreknowledge of God; in his second Epistle he addresses as "them that have obtained like precious faith with us, through "the righteousness of God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ:" to be elect, and to be a believer in Christ, are therefore the same thing.'

again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of "Jesus Christ from the dead: to an inheritance, "incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not

66

away, reserved in heaven for you; who are kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time; where"in ye greatly rejoice." And just atter, " Whom," (Jesus Christ,)" having not seen, ye love; in whom

though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye re"joice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory: "Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation "of your souls." Is there here no restriction to those who were obedient to the precepts of the 'gospel?' No assertion, that the persons addressed would all be saved? I do not mean all, called Christians, in these countries; but all those, whom the apostle spoke of by character; for "if any one did "not love the Lord Jesus Christ," he was not one of the persons intended. They to whom the apostle wrote, were "elect, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience, and sprinkling of the blood "of Christ:" therefore none were addressed, but those, who through faith, were sprinkled with the blood of Christ. The apostle joins himself with them, in the next verse," as begotten again unto a lively hope, &c :" none were, therefore, addressed, except those who had this lively hope, in consequence of regeneration:" and every man that hath "this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure." They were also, "begotten again-to

11 Pet, i. 1-8. * 1 John iii. 3.