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From the Missionary Magazine.
FRANCE.
LETTER OF REV. J. W. PARKER.
RIDE TO SEBVAIS.
The morning of the 25th rose most beautiful
upon us, and we started early from La Fere on
fool to Servais, about four or five miles distant,
where the meeting was to bo holdeti that day.
We passed through and near several villages;
the people were, sonic of them, attending to
their ordinary business, and some preparing
for church. After walking several miles, we
called at a cottage where a brother resided, who
had recently embraced Christ; his wife had also
become a disciple. When they learned I came
from America, and was a friend of the mission,
they expressed great satisfaction. There was
in them both the most decided evidence of a
deepaud radical change. The wife was to have
been baptized that day, but her illness prevent
ed. We were now passing the scene of M, Fou
ion’s labors. In many of the cottages along
the wayside had the evangelists preached
Christ and Him crucified to the wondering and
earnest Catholics. JVlany had listened, and some
believed, while a few had opposed and perse
cuted. Jt was in one of the cottages on this
beautiful elevation of land, that one of our young
brethren, who was acting as a cel purling evan
gelist, was seized a lew months be lore by an of
ficer of government, and dragged with great
violence from the house. As ot old, they seem
ed to rejoice that they were counted worthy to
suffer for Christ.
We descended into the beautiful valley, and
reached the house of M. Ledouble about 10
o’clock, where we found the brethren and sis
ters assembling in and about the chapel. They
came from great distances, in some cases four or
five leagues, and always on foot. The chapel
is a small room in
longing to the old chateau or castle of Henry IV.
It is a smgiilarluit not uninteresting coincidence
that our brethren are occupying the spot where
this Huguenot prince, about 300 years since,
used to assemble with the disciples of Jesus ol
Nazareth, and encourage and defend them.
Nor is it less a matter of gratulnliou than an oc
casion of gratitude to Cod, that the present oc
cupant and owner of this interesting and volu
ble estate is the friend of our brethren. While
the people were coming in, my min i was occu
pied with the scenes which had recently been
witnessed here. It was hero that Foulon Was
seized, and from hence taken to prison in La
Fere. Here many papists had learned the way
of life, and hero, to-day, others were to join the
company of disciples. In a short time I found
myself among a number of our principal la
borers in this field, and all were welcomed with
the most affectionate greeting.
BAPTISMAL SEIiV ICE3.
At the time the services commenced, there
werelso or 200 present. M. Foulon preached.
His sermon was a clear statement ot the doc
trine of baptism, and an able argument for the
manner in which the rite was a bout to he per
formed. At the close of the service, those who
wished for baptism andudmission to the church
were called forward. Filteeii persons separa
ted themselves from the congregation. I’heir
examination was conducted by M. Lepoids, in
presence of the church, and before their Itieuds
and Catholic acquaintances. Many of the lis
teners were deeply affected, and under convic
tion for sin. Most of the candidates were past
middle age. and had came out from the Catholic
church amid great opposition. There was a
solemn earnestness about them, which gave otic
great confidence in their declarations. ‘1 lie
whole number were admi'ted for baptism, and
the congregation dispersed, to re-assernble at the
place ol’ils administration. It was in a quiet
stream, which flowed at the foot ot the garden
of the chateau, that these disciples were to be
buried with their Master, in the ordinance ol
His appointment. Ic was a brilliant day—
everything was in the beautiful attire of spring.
The'garden, the margin of the stream, shaded
by poplars, the highway beyond, thronged with
people*the cultivated grounds ol the castle in
the rear, the ancient abode of royalty, and the
home of the best king France ever had, deepen
ed the feeling inspired by this most interesting
service. After singing and prayer, M. Lepoids
began to speak to the people. As he proceed
ed, the occasion and the circumstances moved
his spirit most strongly. lie stood before more
than a. thousand Catholics, who had been dis
missed from a neighboring chufch at an earlier
hour than usual, that they might witness and
rfjsturb this Protestant service. He was in pres
ence ofthff officers who had recently bound him
and led him away to prison. Few who were
among the crowd had ever witnessed a baptism
and many now listened to the gospel for the
first time. Ilis whole soul was deeply stirred,
ppd he poured forth his words and tears with
gypat pathos. He spoke for the truth and his
Mastpy yith the directness and boldness of a
man vyho lyas po fear. He warned and exhort
ed the careless crowd with much affection and
earnestness. The manifestations of opposition
subsided. The careless became attentive, and
the noisy <jniet. When the first candidate was
| led into the water, there seemed to pass thro*, h
the crowd a general sensation of horror; tli
| expected drowning as the consequence. Win
he was safely led out, this feeling subsided, and
they listened attentively and observed carefully.
Oil more than one face the smile, of contempt
gave place to tears. The sighs and sorrows of
many were most cheering evidence that the
great Head of the church was present and ap
proved the service. At its close the assembly
quietly dispersed, and returned, hundreds of
them, with such thoughts and feelings as never
were theirs before. A spirit of inquiry was
awakened in many minds, which will issue in
, good to their souls.
A CO.WKUt’s MESSAGE.
On our way hack to the city of La Fere, the
brother, at whose cottage, we called in the morn
ing carne out, and grasping me by the hand,
gave utterance to his feelings in the most affec
tionate and grateful mention of the benefit the
disciples in America had conlerred on his conn
try m aiding them to publish the gospel to the
poor ignorant Catholics, lie charged me to ex
press Ids gratitude to the Executive Committee
and the contributors to the Union, for the inter- 1
cst they had taken in his brethren. “0,” said
lie, with the deepest emotion, “if they had not
sent these men among us, I should have been
lost forever—l should never have knowh Christ.”
And he fell on my neck and kissed me, atnid |
his tears ol grateful joy, bidding me adieu again j
and again. The renovation of these men dis
tinguishes them so clearly from their neighbors
that all see the change. We spent the night
again in the house of our dear brother Foulon.
ASSOCIATION’ OF FRENCH BAPTISTS.
On the fitli of June the brethren of the mis- :
sion, met at Vet-boric, to hold the first Associa
tion of French Baptists. This is the central and |
principal station of our brother Cretin. He is !
one ot the most energetic and resolute of men;
his influence is widely felt in the department of
Oise. j
Nearly all our laborers were gathered at tit's
meeting. The various interests of the mission
in France were discussed, and some course of
act on decided on in each cjfise. The session
was continued for several days; the discussions
were spirited and earnest. The brethren all
evinced deep interest in the progress of the work
among tliuir countrymen. The churches are
agreed in their articles of faith, which arc very
simple ami evangelical. There were several
young brethren at this meeting, from whom 1
-•-*> MtiV God spare anit ordstief
; rrotwin’ lYmnjr 1 1 v ~r
I wiTsd, by hwntcrestctf in seeing the whole ;
force in tlTPlfmat field brought together. There
\va; great diversity of character—each a most
efficient aci rin his way. M. Thietfry presi
ded—M. Ci in was clerk. Hr. “Willard set
the rest to work, and acted as a kind of balance
wheel in the movements of the machinery.—
The stale of tilings in the field, as a whole, w.
most gratifying. A s-iey* looked back a few
years,all were const. dto say, “What has
Clod wrought!”
•
1‘ A It A ! i L US.
The word parabh is u. i iri the Old and New
Testament in a variety ol eases. It is employ- j
ed Inra weighty or author , tive sentence, to j
denote a simple comparison, or a proverb; but
when used in the discourses ol Christ, its signif- ;
ication is generally restricted. Hr. Lowth ob
serves, “ Ii consists of a continued narration ol ‘
a fictitious event, applied by wav ol simile to
the illustration oi so ne important event.”
But for what reasons did Chr.si speak in par- i
allies? Our answer is, that tins style suited the ,
manners and the taste of the Oriental nations. :
It was a mode of exercising the understanding
ol the hearer,ln order to discover the meaning,
which was not only a salislaclion to those who
discerned, but enforced personal reproof with- ;
out exciting anger. It was a inode peculiarly
adapted to excite attention. Jerome says, “It
is a common thing with the Syrians, and espe- j
ciully with the- people ol Palestine, with every
discourse to join parables, that what the heater
cannot la v hold of by a single precept, may be
laid hold of by similitude and example.” Para
bles deeply impress upon the memory the truth
taught. This is shown in our power of retain
ing moral precepts, in consequence ol their as
sociation with the tables of rid sup, with which
most persons ate familiar.
But there were peculiar reasons why our >
Lord adopted this plan of instruction. In the
first place, it was attended with signal success
in compelling the enemies ol Christ to justilv
their own condemnation. An example ol its
effect is recorded in Matt. xxi. 40, 41. In the
second place, it was peculiarly suitable to the
predictions of Christ concerning the destruction j
of Jerusalem. On a subject so displeasing to j
the nation, this mode was singularly happy. In
the third place, this mode gave to all teachable
persons an opportunity ot seeking explanations,
which not only resulted in lull salislaclion, but
j led to further instruction. In the fourth place,
it was adopted by Christ, in order that it might
( be the means of just punishment upon the obsti
nate and perverse. NVe learn tins fact lrom
! Mark iv. 10-18: “When lie was alone, they
that were about him, with the Twelve, asked ot
j him the parable. And be said unto them, Unto
i you it is given to know the mystery ol the king*
(lom of Chid; but unto them that are without,
ad the.se things are done in parables; that see
ing, they may see, and not perceive; and hear
ing, they may hear, and not understand ; lest at
any time they should he converted, and their
sins should be forgiven them.” They rejected
I his miracles ; which were complete demonstra
! tionsol h:s divine mission. They called linn a
! gluttonous inun and a winebibber. They said
1 that lie cast out devils by Beelzebub. They
I were determined not to receive him, nor to re-
Igardhis instructions. He, therefore, spake in
Penfield, Gctfgia, Titiiif ay, January 10, 18J0.
THE TRtJWS IN LOVE.
parables, that those wloi were obstinate and re
solved not to be taught, night he punished with
continued blindness ofjiind and hardness of
heart; not that any disnlied to learn,should he
deprived of this privily c. Had they been
humble, and Willing to c me to light, no mode
was better adapted to pr note spiritual knowl
edge--none more simple “easy and impressive.
To the proud, on tea eh ale, and obstinate, no
mode was more dithenlt 1 and to
apply, unless very point illy directed against
them, and then productive danger and increased
hostility. It thus bccam a sell-wrought judg
ment ; and it was the i itention of Christ, Tn
adopting this plan of teaching, that it should
proven judgment upot. all that wickedly op
posed the truth. Indeed, whether this design
were announced or not, the result was oiie
which could Hot but occur, in tiie very nature of
things. The teachings of he Bihle, to this day,
are bringing down self-wrought destruction up
on the heads ot those wlki scornfully reject, or
wickedly oppose. The luttiblc read, and are
saved. j
(fkiiyiiifll.
For the Christian hides. r
Dear Brother L. —ln y utr note to tne of
18th inst., you set forth serie objections to the
articles of faith as publisliec in lire Minutes of
tin: Sarepta Associat on. I Suppose your allu
sion is mainly to the fourth article, which reads
as follows:
‘•We believe in the everlasting love of God
to his people, and the etenialLclection ofa defi
nite number of the human mqe to grace and
glory, and that there was a coiliiaiit of grabc or
redemption, made between the Father and the
Sou, before the world began, in which their sal- I
vat ion is secure, and they, in phrticulur, are re
deemed.” ‘‘Y?Aposf v * •’ *i
Now the question with ns sl>
abovedeclarmioussupporled i.ties ‘
the Bible, in other words, contain and set forth ,
as truth, the sentiments embodi <1 ju the above
article? Let us examine. f
1. In regard to God’s everlasting low’ to his <
people; the Lord says, Jeremiah 01:3. “1 :
have loved time with an cv rhiVing love, there- :
fore, with loving kindness, Itavl 1 drawn thee.” 1
Os Jestt it is said, ‘•juttdn.ii.Yvoii tnhiti .wu ,
whieffc V. ere in tlio worm, lie I(A Rftinlo
1 ‘.'..-LliJ •..of it .f finite nnmbet
to grave and glory. Paul lotlapUimans It: 11.
“The children being not vet horn, neither
having done any good orevil, tfciat the purpose
of (hid according to elcctiour ‘might stand, not of
works, but of him that callellt,” verse 15, “lie
sailli to Moses, I will have lriefcy on whom I
will have mercy,” verse 17, “and whom he will,
lie hardoncllt,” verse Iff, “so tljen, it is nit of
it'm that willetli, nor of him that rmnioth, hut
‘od I lint sho wet h mercy. “The fouqdatiou
.. •: id siandotli sure, having this seal, the Lord
R. . veth them that are his,” 2 Tina 2: l!t.
Jo: is says, “1 know whom I liarecliosen,” Joint
18: 18. “lie hath chosen us in him before the
foundation of the word, that woshould be with
out Ida hie before him in love, having predesti
nated us to the adoption of children by Jesus
Christ, to himself, according to the good pleas
ure of his will,” Ephesians 1 : 4, 5.
Wc are bound to give thanks always to God,
for you brethren beloved of the Lord, because
God hath from the beginning, chosen you to
salvation, through sanctification of the spirit .
and belief of the truth.”—2 Tiles. 2: 13.
8. In regard to the covenant of grace nr re. :
demplion he/ween the Father and the Son.
See Zcclt. 9 11, “As for lltec also by the blood
of thy covenant, 1 have sent forth the prisoners
out of the pit wherein is no water,” Hebrew
S : 5, “He is the mediator ofa belter covenant,
which was established upon better promises,”
and 9 : 15, “And for thiscunsc he is the media
tor of the New Testament, (or covenant,) that
by means of death for the redemption ol the
transgressions that were under the first Testa
ment, that they which arc called, might receive
the promise ofeternal inheritance,” Heb. 13:
20, 21, “Now the God of peace that brought
again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great
shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the
everlasting covenant make you perfect in every
good work.” The covenant between the Fath
er and the Son, is established from Psalm 2: 8
—110: 1. Hebrew 8: 9, 10. The Father
says to the Son, “Ask of me and I will give
thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and
the uttermost parts of the earth for thy posses
sion.” “The Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou
at iny right hand until I make thine enemies
thy footstool.” “Sacrifice and offering, and burnt
offerings and offering for sin thou wotilclest not
neither hadst pleasure therein, (which are off’ert
cd by the law.) Then said he, Lo, I come to
do thy will O God. He takt-th away the first
that he may establish the!>second. By the
which Will we arc sanctified .through the offer
ing of the body of Jesus oncer”
4. Particular redemption- Such as were
chosen and for whom the covenant was entered
i into, were redeemed hv Jcpis Christ, as ap
pears from Kph. 1: 7, “hi whom we have
: redemption through his blodd, the forgiveness
of sins according to the riches ot his grace
Col 1: 18, 14, “Who hath?delivered u.-from
’ the power of darkness, and translated ns into
the kingdom of his dear Son io whom we have
redemption through his blood, even the forgive
ness of sins ! ” Hebrew 9 : 12, “By his own
blood he entered in once into the holy place,”
having obtained eternal redemption lor us.
Titus 2: 14, “Who gave himself for us, that
lie might redeem us from all iniquity, and puri
fy unto iiimselfa peculiar people, zealous ofgood
! works.” Is. 51? 11, “Therefore the redeemed
l
of the Lord, shall return and come with singing
unto Zion, atul everlasting joy shall he upon
their Itead ; * they shall obtain gladness and
joy, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.”
I have above referred to” a portion of the
scripture passages in proof of the statement ex
pressed in the article alluded to.
I hat a part of the human family will he saved,
and a part lost, all hut. Uni versa lists agree,
j That tlie part saved are the elect of God,chosen
in Christ before tlie world began, the scriptures
| plainly teach, and that the provisions ol the
j everlasting covenant between the Father and
I dm Son, secure their salvation by grace to
! eternal life. Sec Titus 1: 1,2, “Paul a ser
vant of God. and an apostle of Jesus Christ, ac
; cording to tlie faith of God’s elect, and the ac
knowledging of the truth which is after godli
ness. In hope of eternal life, which, God that
cannot lie, promised before the world began.”
But I know from your acquaintance with the
scriptures, that you will readily admit that they
j teach the doctrine of particular election. But
you say it is a mysterious doctrine, beyond tlie
comprehension of the human mind, and there
fore should not lie investigated. May not the
same he said of the doctrine ol the Trinity, and
of the Godhead and manhood of Jesus Christ,
of the soul, body and spirit, of man, his fall and
apostaev, the extent of his depravity, his ac- 1
countability as a responsible agent, Ins inability
to do the leftist thing towards saving himself,
his consequent depondanee upon God for every
j blessing, b >th common and special? Wo find
, all tbis revealed jn the Bible. .Man is a mystery
|to hitnself. All things.in the material universe,
front tint lowest to the highest order of beings
which inhabit the globe or move through the
air, are full ol mystery, and continue, lobe so,
after all the investigations of which tlie human
mind is capable. Godliness is truly a mysiory •’
as the inspired Apostle ot tlie Gentiles declares
“Without controversy, great is the mystery of
godliness, (“off was manifest in tlie flesh, jus
tified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached to
•the gentiles, believed on in tiie world, and re
ceived np into glory,” 1 Tim. 3: Iff. “0 the
depth ot the riches, both of the wisdom and
knowledge of God ! Itovv unsearchable are his
judgments, and his ways passed finding out!”
God lias made known in plain language, the
truth of election, in his word: shall we refuse lo
recognize it as truth ? Should we not rather
“give all diligence to make our calling and
election sure?” The number of tin elcpl is only *
Ah?.'?)”!!. to r-ffcVy -ffl f ofv.<pu
the fruits ‘of Te}>enfaucft,. fjri(lifted obedience ;
by their conformity to the immftj! of Jesus Christ;
“by their fruits shall ye know them.”
Y u say in you letter, that “it seems to me,
that this doctrine as set forth in our Minutes of
this and last year, makes man a mere machine,
being operated upon so far, at least as all good
qualities or motives are concerned, by a super
nal it ral agency or influence, in which he has n >
choice or volition of his own.” li is true, that
• fallen, unregencrate men, never move towards
God and holiness with true fervor of soul in the
exercise of repentance and faith, till they are
moved by the spirit and grace of G*d; (for the
Saviour said—John G: 41,) “no man can come
to me, except the Father which hath sent me,
draw him.” Men differ from inanimate ma
chines, in that they are living, acting, responsi
ble livings, endowed with reason and intelli
gence, ami acting with free volition. But the
misfortune is, with men in nature, they are all
moving in the wrong direction, their will leads
them to disobey God, and at choice they run in
the Broad road to destruction. G din tlicpur
poscs of liis grace, lias instituted the means for
the conversion of his chosen; through the preach
ing of the gospel, he saves them that believe ; as
it is written in John C: 45. “il is written in
the Prophets, And they shall he all taught of
Gnd. Every man therefore that hath heard
and hath learned ofllie Father, comotli unto me, j
also Psalm 110:3,“Thy people shall be willing
in the day of thy power.”
Thus when Paul and Bariialms preached to
the Gentiles it is said, “as many as were or
dained to eternal life believed.”
Jesus said “all that the Father giveth nic
shall come to me ; and liitn that comelh to me
I will in n ) wise cast out,” (John ff : 37.) “Ye 1
believe not, because ye are not of my sheep.
My sheep hear my voice, and 1 know them,and
they fo/loic ate. And t give unto them eternal
life and they shall never perish, neither shall
any pluck them out of my hands.”—(John 10:
1 ati, 27, 28.) VYe think it will appear lo every
one who will read the scriptures with an unbi
ased mind I hat die doctrine of Election and Pre
destination is inseparably connected with cflect
i iul calling, the obedience and final persever
ance of the chosen of God. Notice a few pas
! sages, roaiUhc whole of Bth Romans, especially
1 from 2.S verse to the eml of the chapter, “And
i we know that all things work together for good
to them that love God, to them who are the ;
1 called according to his purpose. For whom lie
1 did foreknow, he also did predestinate, to be
i conformed to the image of his Soli, that he
might he the first horn among many brethren.
. Moreover whom lie did predestinate, them he
’ also called, and whom lie called, them he also
justified; and whom ho justified, them he also
glorified. YVhat shall we then say to these
things? if God he for us who shall be against
us? He that spared not his own Son, hut de
livered him up for us all, Imw shall he not with
him also freely give us all things. Who shall
lay any thing tn the charge of God’s elect? It
is God that juslifieth. Who is he that condoni
cth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is
risen again, who is even at the right hand of
God,?who also inaketli intercession for us.—
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?—
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or
! famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay
J. T. PLAIN, Printer.
in all these things we are more than conquerors,
through him that loved ns. lor I am persuaded
that neither death, nor life, uor angels, nor priu
cipalites, nor powers, nor things present, nor
things to come, nor height, nor dept, nor any
other creature, shall bo able to separate us
front the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus
oni Lord.”
Head also 1 Peter I: 2 C verse inclusive.
■‘Elect according to the fore-kuowledgc of God
the Father, through sanctification of the spirit,
unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of
Jesus Christ. Grace 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 ns again unto a
lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ
trom the dead. To an inheritance incorruptible
and mulefiled, and that fadeth not away, re
served in heaven for you, who are kept by the
power of God through faith unto salvation}
ready to he revealed in the last lime.”
Also 2 Peter 1: 3—12 inclusive. “According
as his divine power hath given unto us all
things that pertain unto life and godliness,
through the knowledge of him who hath called
us to glory and virtue. Whereby are given
unto us exceeding great and precious promises;
Glut by these ye might he partakers of the
divine nature, having escaped the corruplion
that is in the world through lust. And besides
this giving ail diligence, add to your faitlfi
virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowl
edge, temperance; and to temperance, patience;
and to patience, godliness; and to godliness,
brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness,
charity; for if these things be in you, and
abound, they make you that ye shall neither bd
barren nor uutruitful, in the knowledge of our
Lord Jesus Christ. but ho that lacketh these
IS iMMirTj and ltct 1* liiXXia
forgotten that lie was pursed from his yld sins.
Where! ore the rather, brethren, give diligence
to make your calling and flection sure; for if
ye do these things ye shall never fail; for so ait 1
entrance shall be ministered unto you abund
antly, into tiie everlasting kingdom of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ.” Also 2 Tim. 1: 9,
“\\ Ijo hath saved us, and called us with a holy
calling, not according to our works, but accord
ing to his own purpose and grace, which was
given us in Christ Jesus, before the wprld be
gan. but is now made byjdjjyaQ---
pearnncrTof our Saviour Jesus tiltjlsf, wnoTraenW
abolisheddteaiVi, and hath hroughtv*- “ nri **>*’-
x ctiii iiftjioinioft h in***- i|io vosnel, aposf/e, ami
a teacher of the Gentiles.” Frtfrlie which cause
I also suffer those tilings; nevertheless lam
not a.-liaiiied, for I know whom I have be
lieved, unit am persuaded that he is able toke'Sp
that which I have committed unto him against
that day.” Col. 3: 12—16, “Put on there
fore as “the elect of God, holy and beloved
bowels olmercios, kindness,humbleness ofmind,
mceko ‘ mg suffering ” Col. 3 : 15, “And let
the p . ‘God rule in your hearts, to the which
also ye ; called in one body; and be ye thank
ful.” So that it is evident that the doctrine of
election does not lead to licentiousness, or un
holy living, but includes all the practical graces
of Christjauity, and is proniotivc of gratitude
and humble thanksgiving. All men have sinned
and forfeited all claim to God’s bounty ; every
sinner who embraces salvation is previously
brought to the acknowledgment that lie might
in jiistici’ have been damned, and that it is only
free mercy that saves him, while others arc left
to perish in their sins, hut still where they have
the gospel preached to them they perish in a
wilful neglect of the great salvation. Election
does not destroy the accountability of man. It
is God’s purpose according to his own righteous
and sovereign will, by winch he regulates his
own conduct in reference to the salvation of his
people. lie is under obligation to none of
Adam’s fallen race, only so far as lie renders him
self so, in the act of bis sovereign grade in the
covenant of redemption, which as wo have be
fore shown, was made originally with Ids Son,
and through him to his people. Let us view
the uinnxing condescension of God in his deal
ings with the Father of the faithful: for it is
written, Hebrew (i: 13, “For when God made
promise to Abraham, because he cob Id swear
by no greater, lie swore by himself. (10 verse.)
For men verily swear by the greater, and an
oath for confirmation is to them an end of all
strife. (Verse 17,) —Wherein, God, willing
more abundantly toslimv unto the heirs of prom
ise the immutability of bis council, confirmed it
by an oath, (verse 18.) that hv two immutable
things, in which it was impossible for God to lie,
we might have a strong consolation, who hare
tied for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set be
fore us. God has in bis amazing condescension
bent pleased, both by an immutable promise
and oath, to secure the blessings of salvation K*
all who shall ever fly for refuge to the Lord
Jesus Christ, as the hope set before thorn.
Election harms no one; God nevor made
man s‘n, hut after man had viola tod God’s Indy
law and merited his just displeasure,and entail
ed sin and death upon the whole race, (“all have
i sinned and come short of the glory of God,”) it.t
1 1 is gracious purpose of election, he gathers, out
of the guilty and pullnted mass, a multitude
whotn no man can number of all nations,kin-,
deeds people and tongues, who are sweetly in-,
elined to obey the requisitions of thegospd, and
who become faithful unto death, God gracious
ly working in them both U> will and to da of hist
good pleasure,
God could justly have passed by alt and left
them to porislT. hut a rich, display of his mercy is,
made in the Sgivglio,ni>f a pact,'vUU.Qj.ds justice*
will be dedaratiYoiv glorified in the desuuctjou
of those who are left, to Inflow their own incli
nations in a continued course of sin and rebell
ion. Mortals may never be able satisfactorily
j to account, why God should save in pity ohq
Number 2.