be the first born among many brethren; might have the honour of being the great pattern of holiness, as well as the meritorious caufe of our falvation, and fo in all things might have the preheminence.

2;

alfo called.

Whom he did predeftinate, them he Not only with the external call; fo many are called, that were not chofen †; but with the internal and effectual call; which is the work of the Spirit of God, whereby he convinces the confcience of guilt and wrath, enlightens the understanding in the knowledge of Chrift; bows the will, and inclines the heart, to embrace him as a faviour, and obey him as a king and lord. 'Tis, fays one, an effectual call from felf and earth, to God, and Chrift, and heaven, as the end; from fin and vanity, to grace and holiness, and ferioufnels, as the way. This is the first open work of grace upon an elect perfon. And all whom God has from eternity predeftinated to grace and glory, he does in his own way and time, thus effectually

call,

3. Whom he called, them he allo juftified. Being in their effectual calling perfwaded and enabled to embrace the Lord Jefus

+ Matt. 12. 16.

Christ as he is offered in the gospel, they are thro' him abfolved from guilt, and accepted as righteous; are no longer look'd upon and dealt with as criminals, but own'd and lov'd as friends and favourites.

4. Whom he juftified, them he allo glorified. The other privileges the elect of God are made partakers of in time, this of glorification, when time fhall be with them no more; in the foul firft at death, in foul and body united after the refurrection, through a blefled never-ending eternity. To this they were defign'd in their election; for this they are prepared by their effectual calling, and the fan&ification of the fpirit; that which hindreth is taken out of the way in their juftification; and now, what can come between fuch a foul and glory? As for God his work is perfect t; and in the glorification of all the elect, his defign of love to them will have its full accomplishment.

It is not my intention to speak of all these privileges in the order in which they ftand connected in our text; and I have but lately difcours'd concerning two of them, effectual calling and juftification. My present purpose therefore is, to treat only

↑ Pfal. 18. 30.

of

of that which is the ground of them all, and from which the reft refult, namely, Election, or Predeftination anto life.

This is an illuftrious and very precious doctrine of christianity; fo plainly reveal'd in the holy fcriptures, that 'tis really ftrange that any who profels to regulate their faith by the bible can deny it. Yet 'tis not only deny'd by many, but decried and reproach'd as unworthy of God, and prejudicial to religion; while others who don't care to deny it, yet fpeak of it as amongst thofe mysterious,controverfial,and fpeculative points, which it is best not to meddle with; and fo they would have it fmother'd in the church, and fhut out of our fermons.

True indeed this doctrine has its myfteries, and abftrufe difficu cies, when our minds try to enter far into it; fo has other doctrines of the gofpel which yet we must affirm conftantly, and endeavour to explain. Nor is it a doctrine purely fpeculative; no, it has a powerful influence upon vital religion, and practical godlinefs - It has a direct tendency to advance the glory of God's grace in our falvation,to humble the pride of man, to engage the love, excite the praifes, and conftrain the obedience of God's children.

Our

Our faviour preach'd this doctrine; fo did his apoftles after him; and the epiftles to the churches are full of it; which plainly fhews God would not have it lock'd up from his people. Should we therefore,who now preach the gospel to you, pass it over in filence, we should not be able to say we have declar'd to you the whole counsel of God. I humbly apprehend fuch an omiffion would be in effect to say, that Chrift and his apoftles preach'd, and the fcriptures reveal a doctrine, which is found to be useless if not hurtful, and therefore may not now be infifted on. And would not this be to reproach the Holy Spirit who has indited the fcriptures, and to do an unfpeakable injury to revelation it felf?

Befides, we are verily perfwaded the edification and confolation of the people of God, are not a little concern'd in the opening and applying of this truth; and that many other doctrines of the gospel cannot be rightly understood without it --I have therefore chofen this for my fubject, out of the chapter that has been read in courfe this afternoon; fenfible, I hope, that 'tis an awful and tremendous fubject; and with an humble dependence on the Holy Spirit fo to enlighten and affift me, as that the truth may not fuffer, nor any foul be hurt, thro' an unskilful management.

C

Indeed,

Indeed, let the subject be managed never fo cautiously & fcripturally, it can hardly be expected but it will be treated as the difcourfes of the apoftle himself were, of whom we read, Acts 19. 8, 9. That when he went into the fynagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, difputing and perfwading the things concerning the kingdom of God divers were hardned, and believed not, but Spake evil of that way before the multitude. But duty is ours, and the event God's. We muft always leave the fuccefs of our preaching with him; and we are aflured his word will not return void, but will accomplish the thing wereunto it is fent † If any should be enrag'd and hardn'd by the things that are fpoken, and wreft them to their own deftruction, (which God forbid !) fome, I truft, may be confirm'd, edified and comforted Yea, poffibly these difcourfes on election, may be blefs'd for the converfion of fome of the elect of God, who may be awakned hereby to give diligence to make their calling and election fure: And if fo, free-grace will have the glory.

Tho' I fhall ftudy as much brevity as is confiftent with clearness, yet I can't profecute my design within the compals of a

↑ Ifa. 55. II.