from this labour of love and fidelity, read it with meekness, humility, and fervent prayer for the Holy Spirit to instruct and guide you into all truth. Let your mind be deeply impressed with these words of the Saviour: "In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight."-Luke x. 21. In what hour did Jesus so rejoice? In that hour in which he had exhorted his disciples to rejoice, because their names were written in heaven. The wise and prudent in their own conceit will not understand these truths, but babes in Christ-those who for humility, are compared to little children. The apostles of Christ were much more humble after the Spirit was poured out upon them, and far more enlightened in the The important truths of the gospel. apostle Paul thought himself the chief of sinners, not meet to be called an apostle, and less than the least of all saints; yet he was more enlightened than all the apostles in the deep things of God. The Lord grant that we may possess his spirit of wisdom, knowledge, and humility! then we shall not desire to wrest his writings, but readily receive the truths, which he and other holy men were inspired to teach. The Author of this small work, believing that whatever is requisite to the glory of God, the honour of the Redeemer, the conversion of sinners, and the comfort, support, and establishment of saints, must be revealed and applied by the Holy Spirit; rests his whole dependence for success upon that divine and blessed Agent. Believing also, that his principles, motives, ends, and means, are perfectly known to the Sovereign of the universe, whose truth he has en deavoured to defend, and whose glory he has sought; he now meekly resigns his feeble efforts into the hands of the Almighty, to do with them as shall seem good in his sight: praying that his Name may be hallowed, his kingdom come, and his will be done upon earth as it is in heaven. Amen and Amen. CONTENTS. Sect. 1. God has chosen persons to Salvation. 3. They were chosen before the Foundation of 4. They were chosen to be Holy. 5. They were chosen of Sovereign Grace. From the Experience of the Saints-- Of the Old and New Testaments. From the days of the Apostles. In all Christian Countries. SECT. I. Premises-Objections brought against all the Important Doctrines-They are not rejected on this account, but defended from Sacred Scripture-- Election should not on this account be rejected, but examined by the word of God-Objections arise from misunderstanding, misrepresentations, and unjust |