mind, means the same as from eternity. For who that believes in the immutability of God, can imagine that he has any new purposes, or purposes formed in time? It is therefore, evident, that God's election of all those who ever become the subjects of his grace, is an eternal and immutable election. And for what purpose they are chosen, we have already seen; "That they should be holy:" That they should obtain salvation. Since it is evident, that salvation is by grace alone; since no man will, of his own accord, come unto Christ, that he may have life; it is reasonable to conclude, that whenever divine, renewing grace is exercised, in the conversion of sinners, it is, by the same grace, rendered effectual to their salvation. Hence the Apostle, in his letter to the saints at Philippi, expresses his confidence in this one thing, that "he who had begun a good work in them, would perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ."

If the perseverance of the saints depended on their own strength and constancy, all would soon fall away to perdition. Unsupported by the special grace of God, not even a patriarch, or a prophet would ever have entered into the kingdom of heaven. But, on the plan of divine grace, christians are said to be " kept, by the power of God, through faith unto salvation." If so, then how can they fall away to final and eternal perdition? Who can pluck them out of the hands of Christ, or of his Father? If God's purposes, and the exertions of his power may be frustrated here in the infancy of our existence; why not hereafter, in the eternal world? And why do the elect angels persevere? What security is there for the perpetuity of the church on earth, or of the church in heaven? God has absolutely promised to build up his church to all generations; so that no weapon that is formed against it shall prosper. He has promised, that a multitude which no man can number, out of all nations, shall be saved. But if the perseverance of all individual saints be insecure; then all are in danger of falling from grace; and even the whole church, consisting of individuals, is liable, in a very short time, to become utterly extinct. The consequence is, that all the rich and precious promises respecting the glorious MILLENNIUM, are groundless and hopeless. Set aside the doctrine of perseverance, and no hope remains of such a glorious period of the church, as the scriptures

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have so abundantly promised. Set aside the doctrine of perseverance, and not one of the divine promises, in the covenant of redemption, nor in the covenant of grace is secure. In the eternal covenant of redemption, God the Father has made rich and glorious promises to his Son. One is, that, in consequence of his humiliation, and sufferings for sin, as predicted in the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah; "He shall see his seed, see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied.". "Therefore," saith the Father, " will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he hath poured out his soul unto death; and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." In the second Psalm we read another promise of the Father to the Son; "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." Many and great are the promises to Christ in the eightyninth and other Psalms; and in the prophets. A specimen is this: "Once have I sworn in my holiness, that I will not lie unto David; his seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me." This is the true David, the Messiah, who richly merited the promises. But all these, and an hundred more infinitely great and precious promises, will doubtless fail for ever, should the doctrine of perseverance fail. Also the promises in the covenant of grace will be groundless. The covenant of grace is made between God, even the Mediator, and all true believers. It was expressly said to be made between the Lord and Abraham. “I will make my covenant between me and thee." The substance of this covenant is, that true believers have the promise of salvation. And the Lord also gives precious intimations of saving mercy to the seed of the faithful. "I will be a God to thee, and to thy seed after thee in their generations," is the summary of the promises. All the rich and precious promises of this covenant depend on the truth of the doctrine of per"He only that endureth unto the end,

severance.

For,

shall be saved."

We now proceed to a number of plain testimonies of scripture, to establish, more fully, the doctrine before us. "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.”

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: For the Lord upholdeth him with his hand." "Thou shalt

guide me with thy counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory." These and many other things in the Psalms, are exactly in point. Through the imperfection of his heart, David fell into some great and crying sins. But he was, at no time, utterly cast down. At no time, did he cease to be a subject of inward, sanctifying grace. If he, who had been so wonderfully enlightened, and had tasted more, perhaps, than any other man, of the heavenly gift; had actually fallen away; it would surely, have been impossible to renew him again to repentance. But, of the repentance of David, and even of the most prompt and genuine repentance of David; who can entertain a doubt ? After his grievous lapses, as well as before, he was the man after God's own heart; and fulfilled his will.

"And

In the new testament, as well as the old, we have ample evidence of the doctrine of perseverance. Relating to the covenant of redemption, the Saviour says, All that the Father hath given me, shall come unto me, and him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out." this is the Father's will, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing; but should raise it up at the last day." The plain import is this, that of all who were given to Christ, in the covenant of redemption, as the reward of his sufferings, he should lose none; but should raise up the whole with him to eternal glory. Speaking of his followers, the Saviour adds this further testimony; "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish." "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life."

In the eighth chapter to the Romans, we have as decisive evidence of the doctrine of perseverance, as can be expressed in human language. Speaking of the Saviour's intercession for the saints, according to the will of God, the Apostle adds, " And we know, that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For, whom he did foreknow, them he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son; that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." If all things work together for the good of Christians, and if they are brought

into a state of brotherhood, and heirship with the Son of God; will they not be continued the subjects of persevering grace, till they obtain the eternal inheritance? It is added, "Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all; how shall he not, with him also, freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again; who is even at the right hand of God; who also maketh intercession for us. Will the blessed Redeemer, who has died for our sins, and risen again for our justification; who has ascended to heaven, and become an infinite advocate and intercessor for all his saints; pleading for them, and claiming them, as the reward of his humiliation and sufferings, according to the covenant of redemption; will the faithful Redeemer, after all this, suffer his saints to apostatize? become reprobate? and bring an indelible reproach upon his kingdom? In prayer to the Father, Christ says, "I know that thou hearest me always." Will he refuse to hear his intercession for his elect, who are given to him as trophies of his victory over all the powers of darkness? The memorable passage before us proceeds: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or perril, 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 heighth, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

The Holy Ghost, foreseeing what strenuous opposition would be made, in every successive age of the Christian church, to the doctrine of perseverance by grace alone; took care, it seems, to make a statement, and proof of this doctrine, which exceeds almost every thing of the kind, on any subject. To say more, in confirmation of this doctrine, must be wholly needless.

REMARKS.

1. It is evident from the discussion of this subject, that the actual perseverance of the saints consists in growth of grace. The growth of the children of God, like the growth of natural children, may often be retarded; and at times be imperceptible. But, at other times, the progress may be visible and great. In their Christian childhood, they "desire the sincere milk of the word, that they may grow thereby." Christians delight to search the scriptures; of course, they grow in knowledge. They delight in Christian conversation; of course, they grow in brotherly love. They call the sabbath a delight; of course, they grow in Christian fellowship, and social improvement; and the worship and ordinances of the sanctuary, become more and more interesting. They are gradually weaned from the world, and become more and more humble, penitent, patient, submissive and joyful in God. At some times, as the Apostle says, "Their faith grows exceedingly ;" so that "believing, they rejoice, This is essenwith joy unspeakable and full of glory.'

tial to the Christian character. "For the path of the just is as the shining light, which shineth more and more, unto the perfect day." Where actual perseverance is realized, there is evidence of religion; but where this evidence fails, there is awful reason to fear, that all the past appearances of religion are a delusion. Thus it is, that the Apostle John assigns the reason of apostasies from the profession and external practice of religion. "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.

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2. Actual perseverance, being a solemn test of our character, and exhibiting so clearly, the sovereignty of God, in the bestowment of his grace, is, to sinners, an alarming and offensive doctrine. On these accounts it is, that so many oppose the doctrine, choosing rather to trust their eternal interest in their own hands, than in the hands of the wise and holy Sovereign of the universe. In their own strength, they hope to persevere, and work out their final salvation; little considering the remainder of the text, "For it is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do, of his good pleasure.'