of the fall. When we accurately peruse our own characters we shall soon discover that we stand in need of the doctrine of predestination. "I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee." It is self-knowledge we stand in need. of, in order to understand rightly every doctrine which God hath revealed. He, who, despairing of self, throws himself into the bosom of the Saviour, wisely uses this doctrine. 1 Secondly. The predestination of God is absolute; there is but one conditional predestination-that is Christ's. "Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." 2 Νο one was ever rich enough to present God with a condition, but God himself. God's purpose is absolute the creation of all being must emanate from this, and is it not reasonable that the new creation of the soul, in the image of Christ Jesus, must also emanate from God's absolute and sovereign purpose? Next to the creation of the manhood of Christ, nothing is more glorious than the new creation of the believer. Thirdly. The predestination of God is infi nitely glorious :-it comprehends two thingsthe divine perfections of God-and all the good that can be conferred upon the creature. Fourthly. The purpose of God is replete with love. There is nothing in God's purpose which, properly speaking, militates against the devil; the purpose of God hath conferred nothing but good upon the devil; if so, what will he not confer upon his people in Christ Jesus, who live in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began. But for this purpose of God, there would have been no Saviour; but for this, no Holy Spirit; but for this, nothing spiritually good could have been bestowed on man, he must have sunk into eternal woe like the fallen angels: but for this purpose, man must have been without a gospel, without an invitation to repentance. Great, in the sovereign purpose of God, is his mercy towards those who finally perish: Noah was sent as a warning voice, a preacher of righteousness, to those who perished in the deluge: those who are in hell are much indebted to the sovereign purpose of God. Fifthly. God in his covenant, as fully meets the responsibility, as he does the wants of man: God never sent any one to hell by his secret purpose. Sixthly. There is in the predestination of God, every good; among others, a purpose that will overrule every evil, so as to make it lead to the believer's good. Seventhly. The predestination of God is only partially developed here below: we can perceive some things in it very interesting, yet there are shades of darkness which we cannot penetrate. Our wisdom consists in making use of the means, and seeking the blessing which predestination secures to the believer. God meets his creatures in responsibility, he meets them in the use of means. Would you study the purpose of God wisely, study the means of his appointment; instead of endeavouring to learn the secret purpose of God, lay hold of his blessing in the use of means, and then you will delightfully understand the whole; the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him. In the deepest distress of doubts and fears, the purpose of God never gave me any uneasiness; my conscience ever told me, your sins and your hell are your own, and, if you perish, it will be your own fault. In teaching me this, I bless God, for I saw myself welcome when I would turn to my God. Eighthly. The purpose of God is destined to travel, laden with all blessings, to the believer, through the countless ages of eternity: among these, the image of Christ, in soul and body-both reunited, as free from sin, and as far removed from the curse and all enemies, as the Saviouras far as Deity himself,-" predestinated to be conformed to the image of his Son,”—to be delightfully dependent upon him for all things in time and eternity. Every blessing upon the Saviour's family is due to him from God. Look infinitely beyond your own desert, or indesert, to the covenanted mercies of Christ; his glories are infinitely greater than either. However unworthy we are, He is infinitely worthy. Do not let Satan or your own heart deceive you by the doctrine of election; there is no election for hell, in God; your hell is your own; God in his covenant calls upon all the sons of Adam; if you reject this call, it is your own sin, the rebellion is your own, you cannot trace it to God. Some have religion enough to make a little hell within their bosom-conviction of sin enough to make them miserable, but not a renewed will to turn to God, and embrace the covenanted mercies of the gospel ; and with this hell within them, they madly travel on through time, purchasing one hell with another. Oh seek the bliss God intended to bestow upon the believer; He is himself consummate bliss, and he intended to make you like himself; every thing needful is promised; |