"not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are

kept by the power of God through faith unto "salvation." And again," Unto you that be"lieve he is precious; but unto them that be dis"obedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, "the same is made the head of the corner; and a "stone of stumbling and a rock of offence, even "to them which stumble at the word, being diso"bedient whereunto also they were appointed. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priest"hood, an holy nation, that ye should shew forth "the praises of him, who hath called you out of "darkness into his marvellous light." For God "had not appointed them to wrath but to obtain "salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." Thus likewise says another apostle, "Of his own will,

begat he us with the word of truth; that we "should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.4" And our Lord himself says, "My sheep hear my "voice, and I know them and they follow me; "and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out "of my hand. My Father who gave them me, is

greater than all, and none is able to pluck them "out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are "One."" The only way, in which Satan, or any other enemy, can endeavour to pluck the sheep out of Christ's hand, is by tempting them to wil

Į Į Pet. i. 1-5. Comp. Luke xxii. 22.

3 1 Thess. v. 9:

4 James i. 18.

21 Pet. ii. 7-10,

5 John x. 27-30.

ful and final apostacy: but in this attempt every enemy must be unsuccessful, according to the obvious meaning of such express and absolute promises: and if this conclusion may not be deduced from them; both these, and all the other numerous Scriptures, which are calculated to give a strong consolation to them who flee for refuge to Christ, not providing against this only danger, mean just nothing at all.

What though many professors apostatize? Who can warrant their preceding sincerity? They "went out from us, because they were not of us, says one apostle. "There must be heresies” (false teachers and false doctrines) "that they that are "approved may be made manifest," says another. But surely this is not applicable to all who decline in their profession. Let us then suppose the persons in question, not to be apostates, but backsliders. Can we positively say, this or that man dies impenitent? Such decisions belong to God, Without all doubt, if a professed christian turns aside to notorious sin, or throws up his religion, and live and die impenitent, he will perish everlastingly: for he alone, "who endureth "unto the end shall be saved." The doctrine of final perseverance is not at all concerned in this case; for the man's apostacy is the detection of his hypocrisy and the only question is, whether God hath not in his word, engaged to preserve all real believers from thus finally departing from him?

not to us.

Except a man be truly converted, he can persevere only in open ungodliness or in hypocrisy : except he have scriptural evidence of his conver sion, he cannot warrantably conclude any thing concerning his perseverance: and if any one, while living in habitual sin, or in a negligent and slothful manner, encourages himself by this doctrine, he is guilty of awful presumption. But the true Christian, habitually and sincerely abiding in Christ, and walking in all his ordinances and commandments; amidst his sharp conflicts with corruption and temptation, and his fears of future consequences, may find a most reviving cordial to refresh his drooping spirits, and renew his strength, from the assurance that Christ will make him at length more than conqueror, and " preserve him from every evil work unto his heavenly kingdom.” The stony-ground hearers, however flourishing, having no root in themselves, must one day wither away. The ground overgrown with thorns, the emblem of worldly professors, will "bear no fruit "to perfection." But they who receive the seed in good ground, in an honest and good heart, made such by divine grace, will "bring forth fruit "with patience." "Whosoever drinketh of the "water that I shall give him," says our Lord to the woman of Samaria, meaning especially the Spirit of life and holiness, "shall never thirst, but the

water that I shall give him, shall be in him a "well of water, springing up into everlasting

"life." It will spring up in all holy affections, and flow forth in all holy thoughts, words, and actions, until it be perfected in eternal glory.'

The real Christian is generally very far from thinking he has attained perfection. As a poor sinner, he still feels abundant cause for the daily exercise of repentance and faith; and he daily needs the free mercy of the Father, the precious blood of the Son, and fresh supplies of the grace of the Spirit. He has occasion for constant watchfulness and prayer, and he often wants reproof and chastisement. Seasons of slacknesss and instances of transgression, he has to mourn over : and if he steps farther out of the way, his security lies in the following promises and assurances :-"As many as I love I rebuke and chasten." They shall be my people, and I will be their "God; and I will give them one

way, that they may fear me for

heart and one

ever, for the good of them and of their children after them: "and I will make an everlasting covenant with "them, that I will not turn away from them to "do them good, and I will put my fear into their "hearts, that they shall not depart from me."" For in this manner, the Lord brings back his of fending children with weeping and supplication. The final perseverance of all, who hold certain doctrines, relate plausible experiences, or make a credible profession, cannot be made to consist with ! John iv. 14. vij. 37-39.

2 Jer. xxxii. 38-40.

matter of fact. But the final perseverance of the true penitent believer in Christ, who is delivered from the dominion of sin; who through faith in Christ has in some degree overcome the world, and aspires after a more complete victory; who has learned to hate all sin, and delight in the law of God, and is hungering and thirsting after righteousness, is doubtless a truth of God's word. Yea, without a peradventure, the meanest, feeblest, true believer on earth shall infallibly "be kept by the power of God, through faith "unto salvation." "For this is the will of him "that sent me, that of all whom he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up "again at the last day."

66

And this leads me,

V. To observe,-THAT ALL THIS IS PER FECTLY CONSISTENT WITH MANY THINGS

WHICH SOME OBJECT TO, AS ARMINIANISM. -It is surprising to hear some, who profess themselves Calvinists, in doubt whether their principles be consistent with the government of the world by rewards and punishments, proposed as motives to the hopes and fears of mankind.Surely if the Bible do, in any part of it, teach those doctrines, which are commonly denominated Calvinism, they must implicitly pervade the whole of it; and we can have no occasion to resort to an opposite system, in order to explain