munity of natural men, into a communion of saints." They reason from the secret, rather than the declared will of God. And because it is said, that "a remnant shall be saved," and that "there is an election of grace," are withheld from proposing the Gospel as a universal remedy. To such, a large portion of Scripture seems to be mere dead letter: they oppose the secret will of God to his revealed will; and because the real Church of Christ consists of the 66 "" secret ones of God, they see no meaning in "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." Thus they elevate themselves into the throne of God, arrogate to themselves the "secret things" which "belong" to, and are eminently the attributes of "the Lord our God," while from the "things which are revealed," and "belong unto us and to our children," we are to derive no practical benefit. Thus they have resolved in their practice the great turning-point of faith, how a select Israel of God, is consistent with the offer of the Gospel to every creature. A point, which both the page of Scripture, and the general confession of the Saints, has placed far beyond the ken of the acutest reason; and which, it seems, ever has afforded, and ever shall afford, in this world, exercise for patient faith, and which never shall receive its complete developement, till faith is matured into the full vision of intellectual. blessedness before the throne of glory. Others say, "We can go with you part of the way, but we cannot go your whole length." To such I can only reply, Once admit the principle-salvation by promise, as faith may apply the same and when shall that faith cease to operate, from its apprehension of the first rise of salvation in the electing love of God before the world was, through the calling, conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, and religious walk of the soul in time, to the final accomplishment of the promise in the complete beatification of that soul in the regions of glory? Only once embark at the fountain of grace, and where can you stop till you arrive at the confluence of glory? I again commit the work to Him, to the honour of whose grace it is devoted, and implore Him to make it an instrument, however humble, of promoting His cause of free grace and sovereign mercy upon earth. TABLE OF CONTENTS. |