who might read the epistle, was not sure, either as 'infallibly decreed,' or in any other way: but Calvinists think, that the salvation of all, who had obtained "like "precious faith," with the apostle, was sure in itself. Yet, even in respect of these, their personal assurance of salvation, and the comfort arising from it, must depend on their own diligence, as the appointed means.* Indeed the salvation of true christians is so connected with diligence, in the means of grace, and in all holy duties; that every confidence of a happy event must be suspected, if not absolutely condemned, which is not obtained and preserved by it. In respect of what is said of false teachers, and their success, it may suffice to say, with our Lord, "If it were possible, they would de"ceive the very elect:" and with his apostle, " They "went out from us; but they were not of us: for if they "had been of us, no doubt they would have continued "with us; but they went out, that they might be made "manifest, that they were not all of us."+ P. ccv. Note. • Election, &c.' By calling, in this exhortation, Calvinists understand regeneration and conversion. They be called according to God's purpose, by his Spirit, working in due season; they through grace obey the calling; they be justified freely; they be made the sons of God by adoption; they 'be made like to the image of his only begotten Son Jesus Christ, they walk religiously in good works, and at length by God's mercy they attain to everlasting felicity.' An infallible decree' cannot be made more sure in itself; but it may be made more sure to a man's

* Heb. vi. 10-12.

† John ii. 19.

'Election in the Calvinistick sense includes an infallible decree but the apostle could not call upon the christian converts to make an infallible de

own mind, that "God has from the beginning chosen "him unto salvation;" and that, in consequence," he "hath called him according to his purpose." This "full assurance of hope,"* this inward satisfaction of our election to eternal life must be sought by diligence: and the more evidently we love God, and "keep his "commandments," with alacrity and delight; and love the brethren and all men, and take pleasure in every work and labour of love; the more full assurance of our eternal salvation, and consequently of our election, we scripturally attain. Negligence brings a man's interest in the promises of God, into doubt, as well as his personal election; but the promises of God are sure, and will infallibly be fulfilled, to those who are interested in them. "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful, he "cannot deny himself."+ Our diligence cannot make his promises more sure in themselves, than they really are; any more than it can make an infallible decree more sure; but it may lead us to the assurance, that the promises will surely be fulfilled to us. The apostle did not call on those, whom he addressed to make an infallible decree sure; but to make it sure to their own consciences, that they were true believers, and thence to infer their election. But if calling only mean, the outward invitation of the gospel; and election, only a choice of collective bodies to means of grace: and if these persons had, in this sense, been indisputably called of God, "into his eternal glory by Jesus Christ;" in what way would their calling and election be made more sure?§ · P. ccv. 1. 23.. "The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, &c." The word church is not found in this passage.

Η εν Βαβυλωνι συνεκλέκτη.

" She in

* Heb. vi. 11. 203, Refutation.

† 2 Tim. ii. 13.

# 1 Pet. v. 10.

§ See on

¶ 1 Pet. v. 13.

"Babylon who is elected together." It is probable, however, that a church, and not a person, is intended; though we read no where else of a church in that neighbourhood. The whole church of Babylon, &c.' Some may be led by this language to conceive of the church ' of Babylon,' as including the bulk of the inhabitants, like the whole church of England, or, the whole 'church of Scotland,' or, the whole church of Rome;" yet probably the church at Babylon,' consisted only of a remnant of believers, collected together, by the apostle's ministry, inconsiderable in number, compared with the multitudes among whom they lived. A company thus collected and circumstanced, it may be sup posed, were in general true believers, and entirely such as made a credible and intelligent profession of faith, which their conduct did not invalidate. They were. therefore spoken of, as true christians, in the judgment of charity; as being what they professed to be: and so elected together with other christians in different parts of the world. Yet, possibly, there might, unperceived by man, be some hypocrites among them."

P. ccvi. 1. 5% 'It is not, &c.'* Calvinists do not hold, that all, who think themselves, or are thought by others, even by the most discerning ministers, to be true christians," the elect of God, holy, and beloved," will necessarily be saved: but only, that all, whom God, who "searches the heart," knows to be true believers. His decrees are wholly unknown to man, till manifested by the event. When any person, or persons, become, as far as we can see, true believers, showing their faith by their works; we consider them as "called and chosen, "and faithful:"+ and we speak of them, as they appear

'It is not confined to individuals who must necessarily be saved, or who were predestinated by God to certain salvation, or even to those who will ' actually be saved.'

Rev. xvii. 14.

to us, and not as, perhaps, they appear before God. Even the apostle himself says of Silvanus, "a faithful "brother unto you, as I suppose."* Men may deceive themselves, or impose on others; but the purpose of God shall be established. And this is "the Father's “will, which hath sent me, that of all which he hath "given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it

up at the last day: and this is the will of him that "sent me, That every one which seeth the Son, and "believeth on him, may have everlasting life; and I' "will raise him at the last day."+

P. ccvi. 1. 10. St. Paul begins his epistle to the 'Ephesians in this manner.' (In order duly to examine the beginning of the epistle to the Ephesians; the whole passage must be viewed together. Instead, therefore of printing below those parts, which are quoted in the Refutation; the whole passage will be thus printed, with brackets, marking what is omitted by his Lordship.)

"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of "God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the "faithful in Christ Jesus; Grace be to you and peace "from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus "Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual bless"ings in heavenly places in Christ. According as he "hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the "world, that we should be holy, and without blame "before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the "adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, ac"cording to the good pleasure of his will, [To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made "us accepted in the beloved: In whom we have redemp

⚫ 1 Pet. v. 12.

† John vi. 39, 40.

“tion through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, accord"ing to the riches of his grace: Wherein he hath "abounded towards us in all wisdom and prudence.] "Having made known unto us the mystery of his "will, according to his good pleasure, which he hath purposed in himself. [That in the dispensation of "the fulness of times, he might gather together in one "all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and "which are on earth, even in him.] In whom also we "have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated ac"cording to the purpose of him who worketh all things "after the counsel of his own will; [That we should "be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ; "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word "of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also, "after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy

Spirit of promise: Which is the earnest of our in

heritance, until the redemption of the purchased pos"session, unto the praise of his glory. Wherefore I "also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and "love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for

you, &c."] The apostle here addresses the Ephesians, as "saints," or holy persons; as "faithful in Christ "Jesus," or believers in Christ. He joins himself with them, as those, whom God had "blessed with all spiri"tual blessings, in heavenly things;" and this "accord

ing as he had chosen them in Christ before the founda❝tion of the world,"" that they should be holy," (or saints)" and without blame before him in love." He had "predestinated them to the adoption of children by "Jesus Christ unto himself." And, "if children, then "heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ."* "This was according to the good pleasure of his will."

Rom. viii. 17.