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From a comparison of the two passages, we are led to make the following remarks: 1. The Greek word rendered condemnation in Jude, is the same as that which is rendered judgment in Peter. 2. The words, "whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not," literally mean," to them the punishment [threatened] of old lingereth not.” 3. The words, "who were before of old ordained,” literally signify, "who long ago have been fore-written." We have an instance of such a translation in Rom. xv. 4. "For whatsoever things were written afore-time, were written for our learning."

The following paraphrase of Jude 4, taken from a work formerly quoted, may be found to be satisfactory: "For some crafty and pernicious men have, as it were with a serpentine art, glided in among us, who were of old, as it were, described and registered to this condemnation, by God's righteous sentence denounced against crimes like theirs, long before they appeared in the world." This view is confirmed by what is added in the eleventh verse, of which the following is a paraphrase: "Wo is their portion; for in destroying the souls of their brethren by their false doctrine, they have followed Cain in the murder of his brother; and by misrepresenting the oracles of God for the sake of gain, they have run far in the error which Balaam followed for hire; and, on pretence of superior illumination, opposing the apostles of Christ, they shall perish, as the men who perished in the rebellion of Korah."

Again, it does not appear evident that our author's doctrine could be established on this passage, even supposing the word ordained to be preferable to the word fore-written. The persons spoken of were not ordained to condemnation for such sins as had no reference to the gospel, but for their rejection and corruption of the truth, for they "denied the Lord that bought them;" consequently, they must have been called to the reception of the gospel. Hence it follows, that, if they had been bought by the Lord, and yet refused to be saved by him, their condemnation was appointed on grounds essentially different from what our author wished to establish. But the apostle Peter informs us, that they not only refused to accept the salvation of the gospel themselves, but strenuously endeavoured to withdraw from the faith those that had escaped the pollutions of the world. 2 Pet. 1, 2, 15, 18, 20. Finally, it may be observed, that this passage, instead of referring to unbelievers in general, as our author's view requires it to do, refers only to false teachers, who had used every means in their power to corrupt the truth.

CHAPTER IV.

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AN EXPOSITION OF THE PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE THAT ARE REFERRED TO BY THE LATE REV. JOHN BROWN, IN HIS DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE, UNDER THE ARTICLE-PERSEVERANCE.

CONCERNING PERSEVERANCE," says our author, "whatever decays of grace the saints really have, if left to themselves, they would lose their whole stock of grace; and the use of watchfulness, and of other means of steadfastness, is necessary to their perseverance in their gracious state, nature, and course; yet their total or final fall from the same is evidently inconsistent with the unchangeable love, the justice, the wisdom, and faithfulness of God; inconsistent with his unchangeable purposes, promises, covenant, and oath; inconsistent with the honour of the Father as the chooser, as the giver of them to Christ for his reward, and as their establisher and keeper; inconsistent with the honour of the Son, as their purchaser, advocate, builder, shepherd, husband, life, and one body and spirit with them; inconsistent with the honour of the Holy Ghost, who is in them as a perpetual inhabitant, worker, comforter, fountain springing up

to everlasting life, seal of redemption, and earnest of glory."

Before entering on the examination of the following passages of scripture, it may be proper to remark, 1. That our author admits that "the saints may have partial decays of grace," or, in other words, that they may fall into gross sins. 2. That the Scripture distinguishes between the faithfulness of God, and the faithfulness of the believer; for it declares, that "God abideth faithful," and it exhorts the believer to "be faithful unto death." 3. That the doctrine of absolute perseverance, which is that held by our author, requires, that the faithfulness of God be engaged to secure the faithfulness of the believer; consequently, if the faithfulness of God is found, according to Scripture-testimony, to take for granted, instead of securing, the faithfulness of man, then the doctrine under consideration remains unproved.-Our author refers to

Job xvii. 9. "The righteous also shall hold on his way; and he that hath clean hands, shall be stronger and stronger."-If this passage describes the absolute state of the righteous, then it opposes the doctrine of a partial, as much as that of a complete, decay of grace, and consequently proves too much for our author's purpose.

2nd, Prov. iv. 18. "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."-The same reasoning is applicable in this, as in the foregoing case.

3rd, Prov. x. 25. "As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation."-If this is spoken of the wicked and righteous when they leave this world, the latter clause has nothing to do with the doctrine of perseverance. And if it is spoken of them while they live in this world, our author's application would lead us to infer, that the wicked, as well as the righteous, never change character.

4th, Ps. ii. 8. "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." Let us add the next verse; "Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”—The reader is left to judge whether this passage supports the doctrine of perseverance, or only proves Christ's sovereignty over the nations of the earth.

5th, Ps. cxxv. 2. "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so is the Lord round about his people, from henceforth even for ever."-The preceding verse says, "They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever." Here it is evident, that the faithfulness of God is viewed as taking for granted the faithfulness of the people of God.

6th, Ps. cii. 28. "The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee."-This passage, taken in a spiritual sense, regards the perpetuity of the Christian church,

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