cious, in its nature, in the blessings which it appropriates, and in its holy fruits. It is "our most holy "faith." I

'When the christians of these five extensive 'countries,' are spoken of; a superficial reader might suppose, that the population of these regions were in general professed christians, as those of England now are: whereas, in fact, they were only a small company, in the several cities and districts, who professed christianity, amidst an immense majority of Gentiles or Jews; and this small company generally from among the lower orders in society. Even, as at present, a few hundreds in a town, or city, appear in earnest about the concerns of religion, while the bulk of their neighbours, though called Christians, do not so much as seem to be real christians, and make no pretensions to the title of saints. -The words, while other nations, &c;' still further uphold the supposition of national churches: as if the bulk of the inhabitants of these regions were not as much wandering in the darkness of heathenism', as those of any other nations.

2

P. ccv. 1. 5. Among, &c.' The salvation of all,

* Jude 20.

'Among other precepts and exhortations he says, "Give diligence to make your calling and election sure:" "for if ye do "these things, ye shall never fall :" therefore the salvation of 'these elect, of this chosen generation, was so far from being certain, that it depended upon their own "diligence;" their "not falling" was so far from being infallibly decreed, that it depended upon their doing those things which the apostle com'manded: and he even predicts, that "false teachers, who "would bring in damnable heresies, denying the Lord that

who might read the epistle, was not sure, either as 'infallibly decreed,' or in any other way: but Calvinists think, that the salvation of all, who had obtained "like precious faith," with the apostle, was sure in itself. Yet, even in respect of these, their personal assurance of salvation, and the comfort arising from it, must depend on their own diligence, as the appointed means.' Indeed the salvation of true christians is so connected with diligence, in the means of grace, and in all holy duties; that every confidence of a happy event must be suspected, if not absolutely condemned, which is not obtained and preserved by it. In respect of what is said of falseteachers, and their success, it may suffice to say, with our Lord, "If it were possible, they would "deceive the very elect:" and with his apostle,

They went out from us; but they were not of us : "for if they had been of us, no doubt they would "have continued with us; but they went out, that they might be made manifest, that they were not

all of us."

P. ccv.

192

Note.

'Election, &c." By calling, in

this exhortation, Calvinists understand, regeneration

and conversion.

They be called according to God's

"bought them, should make merchandize of some of them ;** that is, should seduce them from the true faith in Christ, and consequently defeat their salvation: some therefore of these ⚫elect persons were not saved.'

* Heb. vi. 10-12. 2 John ii. 19.

3 Election in the Calvinistick sense includes an infallible decree; but the apostle could not call upon the christian converts to make an infallible decree sure,'

4 2 Pet. i. 10.

1

purpose, by his Spirit, working in due season; they through grace obey the calling; they be justified freely; they be made the sons of God by adoption; they be made like to the image of his only begotten Son Jesus Christ, they walk religiously in good 'works, and at length by God's mercy they attain "to everlasting felicity." An infallible decree' cannot be made more sure in itself; but it may be made more sure to a man's own mind, that "God "has from the beginning chosen him unto salva"tion;" and that, in consequence, "he hath called "him according to his purpose." This "full assu"rance of hope," this inward satisfaction of our election to eternal life must be sought by diligence: and the more evidently we love God, and "keep his "commandments," with alacrity and delight; and love the brethren and all men, and take pleasure, in every work and labour of love; the more full. assurance of our eternal salvation, and consequently of our election, we scripturally attain Negligence brings a man's interest in the promises of God, into doubt, as well as his personal election: but the promises of God are sure, and will infallibly be fulfilled, to those who are interested in them." If we "believe not, yet he abideth faithful, he cannot deny "himself." Our diligence cannot make his promises more sure in themselves, than they really are; any more than it can make an infallible decree, more sure; but it may lead us to the assurance, that the promises will surely be fulfilled to us. The apostle

* Art. xvii.

Heb. vi. 11. 232 Tim. ii, 18.

did not call on those, whom he addressed to make an infallible decree sure; but to make it sure to their own consciences, that they were true believers, and thence to infer their election. But if calling only mean, the outward invitation of the gospel; and election, only a choice of collective bodies to means of grace and if these persons had, in this sense, been indisputably called of God, "into his eternal "glory by Jesus Christ;" in what way would their calling and election be made more sure ?2

P. ccv. l. 23. "The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, &c." The word church, is not found in this passage. Η εν Βαβυλωνι συνεκλέκτη, "She in Babylon who is elected together." It is probable, however, that a church, and not a person, is intended; though we read no where else of a church in that neighbourhood. The whole church ' of Babylon, &c. Some may be led by this language to conceive of the church of Babylon,' as ineluding the bulk of the inhabitants, like the 'whole church of England, or, the whole church "of Scotland,' or, the whole church of Rome;' yet probably the church at Babylon," consisted only of a remnant of believers, collected together, by the apostle's ministry, inconsiderable in number, compared with the multitudes among whom they lived. A company thus collected and circumstanced, it -may be supposed, were in general true believers, and entirely such as made a credible and intelligent profession of faith, which their conduct did not inva

' 1 Pet. v. 10. 2 See on 203, Refutation. 3 1 Pet. v. 13.

lidate. They were therefore spoken of, as true christians, in the judgment of charity; as being what they professed to be: and so elected together with other christians in different parts of the world. Yet, possibly, there might, unperceived by man, be some hypocrites among them.

Calvinists do not

P. cevi. 1. 5. It is not, &c." hold, that all, who think themselves, or are thought by others, even by the most discerning ministers, to be true christians, "the elect of God, holy, and "beloved," will necessarily be saved: but only, that all, whom God, who "searches the heart," knows. to be true believers. His decrees are wholly unknown to man, till manifested by the event. When any person, or persons, become, as far as we can see, true believers, shewing their faith by their works; we consider them as "called and chosen, "and faithful:"2 and we speak of them, as they appear to us, and not as, perhaps, they appear before God. Even the apostle himself says of Silvanus, "a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose."3 Men may deceive themselves, or impose on others; but the purpose of God shall be established. And this is "the Father's will, which hath sent me, that of "all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, "but should raise it up at the last day: and this is "the will of him that sent me, That every one "which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may

'It is not confined to individuals who must necessarily be

'saved, or who were predestinated by God to certain salvation, or even to those who will actually be saved.'