2

THE DOCTRINE OF ELECTION.

THE

DOCTRINE OF ELECTION,

AND

ITS CONNECTION WITH

THE

GENERAL TENOR OF CHRISTIANITY,

ILLUSTRATED FROM

MANY PARTS OF SCRIPTURE,

AND ESPECIALLY FROM

THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.

BY THOMAS ERSKINE, ESQ., ADVOCATE;--
AUTHOR OF "REMARKS ON THE INTERNAL EVIDENCE FOR THE
TRUTH OF REVEALED RELIGION."

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR JAMES DUNCAN, PATERNOSTER ROW :
W. INNES, 31, HANOVER ST., EDINBURGH:

AND J. A. BEGG, ARGYLL ARCADE, GLASGOW.

M DCCC XXXVII.

Printed by AIRD & RUSSELL, 75, Argyll Street, Glasgow.

PREFACE,.....

CONTENTS.

BT8IC
E7

.....pp.ix.-xxiii.

Common view of the doctrine of Election inconsistent with the

representations given in Scripture of the equality of God's

ways, and of man's responsibility..........

...........pp. 1-12.

The parable of the Potter and the clay, Rom. ix. 21, and Jer.

xviii., opposed to the view of Unconditional Election, pp. 13-25.

The purpose of God in Christ, (as set forth in 2 Tim. i. ii.,) shown

to be, that through death, lovingly received, we should enter into

eternal life and glory,
...........pp. 26-43.

The sovereignty of God exercised in appointing man's opportuni-

ties and trials; not in determining his reception of them,-ex-

planation of the history of the two thieves, ..............pp. 43-51.

Besides the inherent principle of evil in man, every one has also

the good seed of the word sown in his heart, and has received

the power of uniting himself to it;-this illustrated by the para-

ble of the corn of wheat, John xii. 24,.......................pp. 52-62.

Conscience, the link between flesh and spirit, -the point of con-

nection between God and man; -the Bible given to teach us

that it is God who speaks in the conscience, and that Man's

Reprover is his Saviour,.....
..........pp. 62-69.

Christ spoke in parables, not that He might keep the people in

darkness, but because this was the mode of instruction most

suited to the condition of their minds-as God still speaks to us

in outward events,......
............pp. 69-74.

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