O heavenly light! illumed with thee, In earth, and air, and skies; The best their noblest things can boast, And loathsome to my eyes. Moreover how blessed to know that Jesus the Son of God, sun of glory, hope of glory in the heart of every soul-humbled sinner, having given grace, will crown that grace with glory, according to his own eternal, electing, unalterable love. So inseparably are these grand truths connected, that, attempt to sever them, and the good hope of the soul is blasted; he trembles at the very thought, and well he may, for the foundation of all his expectation totters, and the building must inevitably fall, and great would be the fall thereof: for if this foundation standeth not, what must the righteous do? But, blessed be God, we have a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto we do well to take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place; such heed as shall verify in our experience, under an unction from the Holy One, the sweet consolation, that the personal glories and merits of Christ are such, that nothing in heaven, earth, or hell, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Knowing then, beloved in the Lord, that we have so learned Christ, let us stand in the evil day, having on the whole armour of God, triumphing in the Lord, rejoicing to know that the glory of Father, Son, and Spirit, are divinely united and connected in the salvation of the subjects of grace. Surely on these principles the believer in Jesus, though but a lamb of the fold, is entitled and encouraged personally to appropriate the blessed heart-cheering words of the prophet, "Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." Since very precious it is to notice that which attaches all importance to the exhortation, namely, the personal claim to a personal possession: and this, inasmuch as all the blessings in Christ, the sure mercies of David, are and were from all eternity designed for a special people. Therefore, the blessings become very precious, and doubly enhanced as the soul is led to claim and realize its adoption character, as the son of God, an heir and joint heir with Jesus Christ, in all his divine and human glories, as made over to his church and betrothed bride. Arrived at this high yet humble standing in the divine life, the soul having seen so much of the beauties of Immanuel as its God and glory, waits and watches to pass through the valley of the shadow of death, believing that his glory and his light will guide it in safety. And then, Oh! blissful thought! that sublime scripture shall have its accomplishment, "the sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee; but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory." There may I meet you, Mr. Editor, with all the blood-bought throng, to celebrate the praise of a triune God for ever and ever. Amen. S. O. L. ORIGINAL ESSAYS. XX. ON ELECTION. PREDESTINATION is the distinguishing act of Jehovah's sovereign will, and the origin of all the blessings of grace enjoyed by man either in time or eternity. It is one of the massive pillars which support the spiritual building, the church; and the fabric of truth claims this for its firm basis. Can it be surprising, then, that the world of the ungodly should rave against that which eternally separates them from others of mankind? and can it be wondered at, that those who have a name to live under a profession of godliness, and are dead, should manifest an hatred of what so fully distinguishes their character ? But it is truly a source of astonishment that any, who confess their reliance on free grace alone for the salvation of their souls, should be found in opposition to divine sovereignty, in this the highest and most explicit declaration of that attribute. So powerful is the influence of satan over the mind, that many of the Lord's people are long beset with doubts on this conspicuous truth of the bible, and essential article of the believer's creed. For the benefit of such as repose the whole of their concerns on him who is mighty and sovereign to save, but by the instigation of the father of lies are, sometimes ready to say, "how can these things be?" we take up the subject; with an unchangeable conviction that it is in the power of no man to convince of any one truth of God's word, to the saving of the soul, or the consolation of a doubting christian, unless the power of God accompany the statement of his truth for that purpose. He who seeks to prove the scriptures opposed to the doctrine of predestination, does by his bold daring give undeniable evidence of its truth, and, at the same time, he shews himself under the baleful influence of a scepticism closely allied to that of the avowed deist. And if the denunciations against him who takes away from the words of the book of God be awful; what plagues are they which shall light on the man who attempts to remove the foundation, and to demolish the superstructure, of that temple which proclaims the glory of God, and exhibits the privileges of the church? The first branch of predestination consists in the particular and personal election of "a number that no man can number" to eternal life and salvation in Christ. The charter of grace, enrolled in the councils of eternity, in which are recorded the high decree and the means of its accomplishment, was opened and revealed to our first parents in the garden, immediately after the fall, (Gen. iii. 15.) and in every age an astonished world has heard the proclamation, and received the testimony, or, died the second death to prove its reality. Moses received from the mouth of the Lord himself the declaration: "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy." But it would be idle to pretend, in this place, to prove what every book contained in the two testaments plainly asserts. If men believe not Moses, the prophets, the Lord himself, nor his servants who have ministered since his incarnation; neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead! It is sufficient for the subject of grace, whom the Lord the Spirit hath guided into truth, to know that "the Lord hath spoken it!" And in proportion to his advancement in spiritual knowledge, will faith fix itself on the firm and immutable decree, and dispose him to acquiesce in and approve its irreversible enactments. And on his way to Zion he will meet with ten thousand occasions to adopt the language of Christ, as particularly applicable to his own character and experience: "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight." Among the devices of Satan, to hide the deep-rooted enmity of the natural mind to this doctrine, one is, an acknowledgment of the divine choice, but qualified with the idea of foreseen good works on the part of the creature. Just as absurd would it be to argue that effectual calling, justification, and the like, are the consequence of creature acts. Few persons will allow the latter: then how dishonouring to the author and giver of all grace to pretend, that the first step in salvation is founded on other principles than those which bring to pass its visible accomplishment. Of the good works said to be foreknown in the divine mind, and to induce the election of those who shall perform them, some assert that faith and repentance are indispensable. When will men have done mistaking the effects for the cause of salvation? 66 Repentance towards God," is a royal grant to the elect family, (Acts xi. 18.) and "faith in our Lord Jesus Christ," is not of works, but by free gift, (Eph. ii. 8, 9.) Again; the high and lofty One whose name is holy, is accused of injustice, in making choice of some to eternal honour and glory, while others are left to reap that which they have sown. But the universal procedure of men in the common occurrences of life rebuts the impious charge, and proves the bold accuser worthy of the hottest indignation of him who " giveth not account of any of his The child makes choice of his favorites, the master of his servants, the prince of his ministers: and is any injustice done to those that are neglected? But man will not allow his Maker the liberty which he every day takes and may lawfully exercise. Why, O man, dost thou strive against him? matters." While predestination in both its branches, election and reprobation, is conceived to be the cause of those interminable dissensions which that distract the professing church; how plainly it appears, to the welltaught soul, that from the natural enmity of the human heart to the sovereignty of Jehovah springs every opposition to revealed truth. The man hardened in iniquity, (who is not a confirmed atheist) rejects the counsel of God against his own soul with the pretence, that the benevolent Creator of the universe purposes that all his creatures shall be made happy in a future state of existence. Deluded professors of the gospel, with unscriptural views of the purposes of God and the state of man by nature, presume every man has an inherent principle which needs only to be brought out into action to secure the salvation of the soul. The babe in grace may have beclouded views of Jehovah's purpose in appointing his people to eternal life, and in bringing them to the knowledge and enjoyment of salvation by Christ. But the strong believer is made acquainted with the scripture doctrine of electing love, and reads in the glorious order of the covenant of grace all things pertaining to the honours of Jehovah, and to the safe conduct of many sons to glory. Herein the amazing design of the Holy One of Israel, in creating all things for himself, is seen. The glory of Jehovah is paramount to all other considerations; whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come. He that is established in grace will aim in all things to render honour to whom alone it is due to each person in Jehovah, whose thoughts of love towards the church form part of that design which in all its progress, to a degree inconceivable by mortals, redounds to the praise and glory of his holy name. How needful, then, that the Lord's people should ever have in remembrance the apostolic admonition: " Brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure." The strong believer will always prove himself on firm standing when, in the exercise of this diligence, the fruit of election, which is effectual calling is made sure. As a son of full age he knows the privileges of the family to which he belongs; he knows his heirship-for in the family of God all are heirs; and he partakes of and rejoices in the indescribable honors. such a relationship confers. The weak believer, under the rich anointings of the divine Spirit, will constantly and diligently seek to ascertain his calling, and thereby learn his election according to the foreknowledge of God. Yea, they will with all diligence, by prayer and supplication, and continually approaching the mercy-seat, obtain an assurance of interest in this personal and distinguishing act of grace: thus fulfilling the design of the exhortation, by proving themselves followers of the Lord-his dear children. The Lord hasten the consummation of his people's hope and joy, and bring to pass the blissful period when the Son of Man, coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, "shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other!" Sir, (To the Editor of the Spiritual Magazine.) BEING at Brighton the other day, the following original letter was put into my hand, which was addressed to my friend there a few weeks ago. I was so much pleased both with its substance and style that I obtained his permission to send it to you for insertion in the Spiritual Magazine. London, August 23, 1826. My dear Friend, I am, your's, &c. A CONSTANT READER. ORIGINAL LETTER. What think you of " the shadow of a great Rock" this hot weather? What think you of the sanctuary waters, to cool and strengthen the ancle joints, confirm the feeble knees, gird up the loins; and deep enough to drown a man's sins, while he may himself swim in salvation? May you, my friend, enjoy the pleasures of these waters! they will cure the gout, &c. What think you of a parson preaching well from this text in the morning?"The church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood." 1. The dignity and glory of the purchaser. 2. The infinite value of the price paid. 3. The infinite worth of the purchase, "the church of God." The preacher defended the ancient land-mark well, which eternally separates the world and the church; the line of distinction was well drawn, and God's sovereign, personal, electing love well defended, so that there was not a mouse-hole left for an arminian to creep through this you know pleases me well. The same gentleman took another text in the evening: "I have written to them the great things of my law, but they have accounted them a light thing." Now you know that after a good play it is not unusual to have a silly afterpiece: at least I found it so when satan and I used to go to the theatre together. The same reverend gentleman who was at high water mark in the morning; in the evening was up to the chin in mud! so much for white and black feathers in the same cap. I would rather hear old Billy Waters play the fiddle; for he was always in the same strain and the same style. Please to give my respects to Mr. S. successor to John the Baptist, tell him I am glad that his predecessor was put into prison, that an opportunity might be afforded the Lord Jesus to open his mouth, which he could not do, till then. John stood as a flood-gate between the curse of the old testament, and the blessing of the new; and when he was drawn up (though it was by the intrumentality of the dancing daughter of Herodias) then, rushed forth the boundless and bottomless ocean of everlasting love from the lips of the Lord Jesus. Him of whom John had said, "He must increase, I must decrease." Now what is it to decrease? but surely to get less and less, shorter and shorter. This I believe John spake prophetically of Jesus and himself, though, perhaps, at that time he had never seen Herodias or her daughter. The Lord be with you. Amen. |