The subject may be improv'd,

I.

To let us into the meaning of feveral of the acts of God's providence.

Thus we are from hence furnish'd with a reafon, why the human race was not cast off by God, upon the apoftacy, as were the angels that finned. It was because there was an election of grace amongst them. This gave birth to the early promife of the feed of the woman to break the ferpents head. To this it was owing that there was an arrest of judgment, after the fentence was pronounc'd on our apoftate parents; and that mankind was allow'd to partake fo largely of the divine goodness.

We also learn from hence the reafon of God's patience with the present world, that is grown fo finful. It is because of a diftinguifh'd remnant of mankind that are in it now, and are to be born into it hereafter. So thofe words are to be expounded, Ifa. 65. 8, 9. Thus faith the Lord, as the new wine is found in the cluster, and one faith, deftroy it not, for a bleffing is in it fo will I do for my fervants fake, that I may not destroy them all. And I will bring forth a feed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect fall inherit it, and my fervants shall

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dwll there. So our faviour faid that for the elects fake, the days of the deftruction of the Fws thou'd be thortned, and a stop put to that defolation, which otherwife wou'd have proceeded to that degree, that no flefh fhou'd be laved, Mat 24. 22. When the elect of God are all born into the world, and ripened for heaven, then judgment will commence, the patience of God with our fintul fpecies will be at an end, and that deftruction by fire unto which the world is referv'd will come on.

Again,

Here's a reafon of the divine forbearance and long-fuffering towards particular finners. If they are not among the elect themselves, who are to be effectually called in due time, it may be fome of the elect are to Spring from them,and for this reafon they are ípar'd notwithstanding all their provocations. If God fhould make quick work, and early defroy all the wicked of the earth, whence fhou'd his elect arife in the world? Feroboam and Abaz were not cut off in their firft tranfgreffions, becaufe good Abijab and Hezekiah were to fpring from them. Many that will heartily embrace Chrift, muft rife rom fuch as reject him. The Lord fuffers many a wicked perfon to ftand for a time under his patience, fays holy Mr. Flavell, because children are to fpring from them,

who

who will obey and embrace that Chrift whom their wicked parents rejected." The world then has no need to murmur at, and quarrel with this doctrine of election as they do. It is well for the reft of the world' that there is an election of grace ou of it. Others fare the better for this: Since for the fake of these the wicked world is fpar'1 from age to age, and the execution of divine juftice towards particular finners delayed.

2. This doctrine affords much comfort and encouragement to ferious and thoughtful minds, in times of great defection and corruption.

When there is a wide fpread of error, and a mighty torrent of profaneness; when evil men and feducers wax worfe & worse, as they will do in the last days; when many are turned from the faith, and numbers loose their first love; let the pious and faithful in Chrift Jefus remember for their encouragement,it is impoffible to deceive the elect, in things that are effential to falvation; and the foundation of God ftands fure; having this feal, the Lord knoweth them that are bis. And it may be the number of thefe is much larger than we are fometimes ready to fear. As in Elijahs time, when the apoftacy from the true worship

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and fervice of God was fo general, that the good prophet tho't there was no one befide himself who preferv'd his integrity,he was told for his comfort, there were thousands more. The apoftle mentions this inftance, and applies it to the times of the preaching of the gospel, Rom. 11. II. 2, 3, 4, 5. God hath not caft away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the fcripture faith of Elias? bow be maketh interceffion toGod against Ifrael, faying, Lord, they have killed thy praphets, and digged down thine altars ; and Í am left alone, and they feek my life. But what faith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to my felf feven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even fo then,at this prefent time alfo,there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

3. Since fome of the children of men are chofen unto falvation, predeftinated unto life, let us'inquire, Whether we have, at prefent, any good ground to hope that we are of the diftinguifh'd number.

This may be known, or the apofle would not have exhorted us to give diligence to make our election fure; as he does in 2 Pet. I. 10. And he writes to the Thefalonians, as if their election, (or the election of the body of that church) was

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no longer a matter of doubt, but of certainty. The ift ep. 1 ch. 4. v. Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

We need not here fay in our hearts, Who fhall afcend into heaven, to fee whether my name is written there? Who will bring the book of life down to me, to fee whether I am enroll'd in it, or not? The proof of this matter is near us, even in the book of fcripture which we have in our hands.

The apoftle in the place juft mentioned, tells the Theffalonians what was the proof of their election. Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God: For our gofpel came to you, not in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much affurance. Inquire then, what effect the word of the gospel has had upon you Has it come to you with power? Has it had a convincing, enlightning, humbling, converting efficacy upon you? Have you found it as a fire, and as a hammer, that breaketh the rock in pieces ?--Has it come to you in the Holy Gheft? accompanied with fuch an energy of the (pirit,as to kill fin in you, and make you alive to God? for the letter killeth, but it is the spirit giveth life. Has it come to you with much affurance? Are you fo convinc'd of the truth of the gofpel, as to adhere to the profeffion of it againft