you have reason to fear. Your apprehensions of eternal punishment have a real foundation. You' have reason to tremble every moment. But you

will do well to remember, that though you be ever so much afraid of the final event; though everlasting damnation be ever so dreadful, yet it is what you have deserved. Your injured Maker and affronted Sovereign may inflict it upon you, and be righteous, and holy, and glorious in it. However dreadful it now is, in your apprehension; or however intolerable it would be to you in the execution ; yet, in regard to God, neither the one nor the other can render it the less righteous. You should remember, sinner, that your Maker sustains the character of an universal Sovereign, and of a righteous Judge. His honour, therefore, is deeply concerned in punishing the guilty. Though damnation be worse than the loss of being, yet you have no reason to complain of injustice; except you can form a perfect estimate of what degree of guilt attends innumerable acts of rebellion against unlimited authority, infinite majesty, and boundless perfection; and, upon a just comparison of the degree of guilt, with the intenseness and duration of the punishment, pronounce them unequal. But who can tell to what an enormous height, the guilt of one single act of rebellion against infi nite Majesty must arise in the boundless empire of God? We may boldly affirm, that none but the Omniscient-none but he who is possessed of that peerless majesty, can solve the question. Meditate on these awful truths; and may the Lord enable you to flee from the wrath to come !*

* Hence it appears, that as the doctrine of God's general and equal love to mankind, and the sentiment of universal redemption, are too evidently calculated to lull the conscience asleep. under a false presumption of interest in the Redeemer and of

Does my reader profess to believe and embrace this divine truth? Has he tasted that the Lord is gracious, and is he a real christian? This doctrine informs him whence his happiness flows, and to whom the glory is due. Hence he learns, that Grace is an absolute sovereign; that she dispenses. her favours to whomsoever she pleases, without being subject to the least control. Here she appears, maintaining her rights and asserting her honours, with a grandeur becoming herself. Yes, reader, this doctrine presents you with GRACE ON THE THRONE; while, as an herald, with a friendly importunity and a commanding voice, it cries in your ear, Bow THE KNEE-And as this doctrine presents you with a view of grace in its sovereign glory, so it points out the objects of eternal love, as in a state of the utmost security. For who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect ? To know your interest in the election of grace, is therefore a matter of great importance; and that such knowledge is attainable, is evident from that exhortation of the Holy Ghost; Give all diligence to make your calling and election sure; sure to your own mind, and satisfactory to your own conscience. That such a persuasion, grounded on truth, is intimately connected with a christian's peace and joy, is beyond a doubt. Nor is there any other difficulty in attaining the certainty, than what attends a well founded persuasion of our being called by grace. Whoever has reason to conclude that he is called by the gospel

happiness by him, where there is no evidence of love to God and his ways; so the doctrine of distinguishing grace, and of the Mediator's substitution in the stead of his chosen seed, has an obvious tendency to alarm the careless sinner, and to awaken the drowsy formalist.

and converted to Christ; may, from the very same premises, infer, his election. For none but those that were chosen to life and happiness are born of God, or believe in Christ.-If you then espouse the doctrine, you should not be satisfied with merely avowing the sentiment as an article of your belief; but should consider it as a truth according to godliness, and seek the advantage resulting from it. For you will find it of little avail, that you have adopted the sentiment into your theological system, if you experience no benefit from it, in a way of humility and love, of consolation and joy. Viewed in such a connection with experimental religion, you should meditate on it: considered as thus important, you should endeavour to vindicate it from the hateful charges of the sons of pride.

Are you, on divine authority, not only convinced that the doctrine is true, but also persuaded of your interest in the love it reveals? remember the exalted privileges to which you are chosen. Chosen you

are, to a participation of grace, with all its immense donations to the fruition of glory, with all its eternal felicity. Regeneration, justification, adoption, sanctification, and perseverance in faith; these, christian, with all that inconceivable bliss which results from the enjoyment of God himself, are the blessings designed for you in the decree of election. Surely, then, with such blessings in hand, and such prospects in view, it is but reasonable that you should be entirely devoted to God, and live his obedient servant. If gratitude have any persuasive energy, or if love have any constraining influence, here they should operate with all their force. Henceforth the glory of God and the honour of that adorable Person, by whose mediation you come to enjoy these wonderful favours, should be your main concern, and

G

the end of all your actions.-Remember the honourable character conferred upon you in the sacred writings. Among those names of distinction which the people of God bear, that of the elect is none of the least remarkable. Of this character the Spirit of wisdom reminds believers, when he urges upon them the duties to which they are called. Ye are a chosen generation, a peculiar people. Would we know to what end they were chosen, and why they are a people distinguished from others, as God's peculiar property? the following words inform us.That ye should show forth the praises of Him, who, as a fruit of his electing love, hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Here is the christian's duty in general, and to perform it should be his constant business: for he was chosen in Christ that he might be holy and without blame before him

in love.

Or, is my reader one of those to whom the remark would be applicable? This man entertains high notions in religion, and pretends to sublime attainments in knowledge. Eternal purposes and absolute sovereignty, unchangeable love and distinguishing grace, are his favourite topics; yet he lives in open neglect of the plainest precepts, and of the most important duties. While pride and covetousness, wrath and malice, with various other unsanctified tempers, govern his conduct, and render him a scandal to christianity."-The very thought of such a reflection is grieving to godly persons for lamentable is the state of that professor to whom it may be justly applied! You may dispute as long as you please, in vindication of divine sovereignty in the affairs of grace; but it will be to little purpose, as to yourself. Because it is plain that you are an enemy in your heart, and a rebel in your

life against that infinite Sovereign whose rights you pretend to maintain. By such a neglect of his precepts and such a transgression of his laws, you virtually deny his absolute authority, and renounce his supreme dominion. Sinful appetites are the law you obey, and carnal pleasure the end you pursue: while your Maker and Lord has neither the affection of your heart, nor the service of your hands. May that omnipotent, sovereign grace, of which you talk without any experience, deliver and save your sinking soul! For, verily, it would be hard to find a more shocking character out of hell.

CHAP. IV..

Of Grace, as it reigns in our effectual Calling.

WE have seen in the preceding chapter, that grace

presided in the eternal councils, and reigned as an absolute sovereign in the decree of election. Let us now consider the same glorious grace, as exerting its benign influence in the regeneration and effectua Calling of all that shall ever be saved.-Election makes no alteration in the real state of its objects. For, as they were considered in that gracious purpose, in a sinful, dying condition; so they continue in that situation, till the energy of the Holy Spirit, and the power of evangelical truth, reach their hearts. The means being decreed as well as the end, it is absolutely necessary, to accomplish the great design of election, that all the chosen in their several generations, should be born of the Spirit and converted to Jesus; called of God, and bear his image.