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LECTURE XI.

PERSEVERANCE OF SAINTS.

ROMANS VIII. 30.

WHOM HE DID PREDESTINATE, THEM HE ALSO CALLED ; AND WHOM HE CALLED, THEM HE ALSO JUSTIFIED; AND WHOM HE JUSTIFIED, THEM HE ALSO GLORIFIED.

AFTER What has been proved in former Lectures in regard to Election, the question respecting the Perseverance of the Saints is reduced to this: Are any regenerated besides the elect? For if none but the elect are regenerated, none of the regenerate can finally apostatize. I presume no good reason can be given why any should be "created in Christ Jesus unto good works," who are not to be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ;"-why any should be raised from the dead only to return to their graves. But our text settles the question. Here we are plainly taught that all who are elected are effectually called; that all who are effectually called are justified; that all who are justified are glorified; therefore, that the elect alone are regenerated, and that all who

1

The apostle

are regenerated are finally saved.
introduces the subject by saying, "We know that
all things work together for good, [for salvation,
not for destruction,] to them that love God, to
them who are the called according to His pur-
pose. For whom He did foreknow, [as His own,
not as being holy; for the predestination which
followed appointed them to this character,] He also
did predestinate to be conformed to the image of
His Son, that He might be the first-born among
many brethren. Moreover, whom He did predes-
tinate, them He also called; and whom He called,
them He also justified; and whom He justified,
them He also glorified." He then breaks forth into
this triumphant language, "Who shall separate
us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness,
or peril, or sword?-Nay, in all these things we
are more than conquerors through Him that loved
us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor
life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor
things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor
depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to se-
parate us from the love of God which is in Christ
Jesus our Lord." Here you see joined in one
chain four indissoluble links; viz. Election, effec-
tual calling, justification, and glorification. The
elect only are effectually called, and all that are
effectually called are glorified.

With this passage before us it becomes manifest that the doctrine of Perseverance stands inse

parably connected with that of Election.

If one

has been established, the other follows of course. And since the beginning of the world I know not that any one in his senses ever doubted of the Perseverance of the Saints, who believed in absolute, personal Election.

In another point of view the foregoing Lectures have prepared the way for a ready belief of this article. They have made it apparent that in every step towards salvation God moves first, and the creature afterwards, that men advance just as far as they are propelled by divine power and no further. The most negligent go thus far, because God is stronger than they; the most vigilant go no further, because in them, that is in their flesh, dwelleth no good thing. The difference between the slothful and the diligent is made altogether by divine influence. If then any of the regenerate apostatize, it is because God changes His conduct towards them, and withdraws His influence. Now they who have maintained the hypothesis of falling from grace, have always told you that the Christian breaks away from God, not God from him,that God will not forsake us till we first forsake Him ; thus placing in the creature the reason that the divine influence does not continue to be effectual. But the truth is, that influence does continue to be effectual as long as it is exerted, (as has been shown in former Lectures,) and if the Christian apostatizes it is because that influence first forsakes him. The old nature is so averse to the heavenly

course that the best man will not advance a step further than he is propelled; and so far the worst will certainly go; for God's propelling hand, if it does any thing, overcomes the resistance, and makes His people willing in the day of His power. As far as His sanctifying influence is exerted it always produces this effect. None are willing further than God makes them willing; all are willing thus far. If any cease to be willing and apostatize, it is because He ceases to make them willing. The change must commence on His part. No one, I believe, with this view of divine and hu.. man agency, ever doubted of the Perseverance of the Saints.

The question then really comes to this: Does God, after changing the hearts of sinners, relinquish the work which He has begun, and that too as the first mover in this process of undoing, and without any special cause given Him by the creature? I say, without any special cause given Him by the creature, for such a special cause presupposes the partial withdrawment of His influence. The best man sins just as far as God leaves him, and opportunity and motives present: as far as God's sanctifying influence is exerted, the worst man is preserved from sin. Any special sinfulness in a Christian, therefore, presupposes the partial withdrawment of that influence. Does God then, as the first mover in this retrograde course, and unprovoked by any special offence, withdraw from a work which He has begun? This is the

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