dient unbelievers, as such, to damnation. Thus the scriptures teach us to consider election and reprobation, according to the foreknowledge of God, from the foundation of the world.

13. But here some may object, that I hold our faith and obedience to be the cause of God's electing us to glory.

I answer, I do hold, that faith in Christ producing obedience to him, is a cause without which God elected none to glory: for we never read of God's electing to glory, any who lived and Idied a disobedient unbeliever. But I do not hold, that it is the cause for which he elects any : the contrary of this is easily shown, thus:

Suppose my obedience is a cause of my election to salvation, What is the cause of my obedience?

Answer. My love to Christ.

But what is the cause of my love to Christ?
Answer. My faith in Christ.

But what is the cause of my faith in Christ? Answer. The preaching of the gospel of Christ. But what is the cause of the preaching of the gospel to us?

Answer. Christ dying for us.

But what is the cause of Christ dying for us? Answer. God's great love of pity wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses and sins.

for

14. Thus all men may see that I do not hold, God chose any man to life and salvation any good which he had done, or for any which was in him, before he put it there. this I shall now show more at large from the oracles of God.

And

1. God's great love of pity wherewith he loved the sons of men, even while they were dead in trespasses and sins, was the cause of his sending his Son to die for them; as appears from the following scriptures; John iii. 16, God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, to the end that all who believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' For, Rom. v. 6, &c. when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.' And 'God commendeth his love to us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.'

2. Christ's dying for our sins is the cause of the gospel's being preached to us, as appears from those scriptures, Matt. xxviii. 18. Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations.' Mark xvi. 15, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.'

3. The gospel's being preached to sinners is the cause of their believing, as appears from those scriptures, Rom. x. 15, &c. How shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.'

'

4. Men's believing is the cause of their justification, as appears from these scriptures, Acts xiii. 39, By him all that believe are justified from all things.'-Romans iii. 26, &c. He is the justifier of all that believe in Jesus,

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the law;' Rom. iv. 3. 23, &c. Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus from the dead; who was delivered for our offences, and rose again for our justification.'

5. Our knowing ourselves justified by faith, is the cause of our love to Christ, as appears from these scriptures, 1 John iv. 10, Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.' ib. ver. 19, We love him, because he first loved

us.'

6. Our love to Christ is the cause of our obeying him, as appears from those scriptures, John xiv. 15, 21, &c. 'If ye love me, keep my commandments. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me.' And, 'If any man love me, he will keep my words.' 1 John v. 3, For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.'

7. Our obeying Christ is the cause of his giving us eternal life, as appears from those scriptures, Matt. vii. 21, 'Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.' Rev. xxii. 14, 'Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have a right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.' And, Heb. v. 9, Christ being made perfect through

sufferings, he became the author of eternal salvation to all that obey him.'

15. This may be more briefly expressed thus : 1. God's love was the cause of his sending his Son to die for sinners.

2. Christ's dying for sinners is the cause of the gospel's being preached.

3. The preaching of the gospel is the cause, or means, of our believing.

4. Our believing is the cause, or condition, of our justification.

5. The knowing ourselves justified through his blood, is the cause of our love to Christ.

6. Our love to Christ is the cause of our obedience to him.

7. Our obedience to Christ is the cause of his becoming the author of eternal salvation

to us.

16. These following things therefore ought well to be considered by all that fear God.

1. There was a necessity of God's love in sending his Son to die for us, without which he had not come to die.

2. There was a necessity of Christ's love in dying for us, without which the gospel could not have been preached.

3. There was a necessity of the gospel's being preached, without which there could have been no believing.

4. There is a necessity of our believing the gospel, without which we cannot be justified.

5. There is a necessity of our being justified by faith in the blood of Christ, without which we

cannot come to know that he loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.'

6. There is a necessity of knowing his love, who first loved us, without which we cannot love him again.

7. There is a necessity of our loving him, without which we cannot keep his commandments.

8. There is a necessity of our keeping his commandments, without which we cannot enter into eternal life.

By all of which we see, that there is as great a necessity of our keeping the commandments of God, as there was of God's sending his Son into the world, or of Christ's dying for our sins.

17. But for whose sins did Christ die? Did he die for all men, or but for some?

To this also, I shall answer by the scriptures, showing, 1. The testimony of all the prophets. 2. Of the angel of God. 3. Of Christ himself. And 4. Of his Apostles.

First, the prophet Isaiah saith thus, chap. liii. 4, 5, 6, Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet did we esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. we like sheep have gone astray: we have turned every one to his own, way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all.' Thus Isaiah showeth plainly, that the iniquities of alt

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