people stood towards God;-they were enemies, yet beloved. "As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sake: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes," ver. 28. The import of which is, they were enemies by reason of their rejection of the gospel, and they were beloved in consequence of their connexion with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The apostle then adds the reason for their being beloved in consequence of their connexion with these patriarchs;-"For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance." The application of this general principle to the particular case of the Jews, is as follows: Although the Jewish people had shewn themselves unworthy of their high calling and distinguished gifts, God did not repent that he had made them his peculiar people in former times, but would, agreeably to his former kindness, still shew a readiness to accept them into his favour, on their believing in Jesus Christ.

6th, John x. 28, 29. "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all, and none is able to pluck them out of my Father's band."-The period, when those who are, in the context of this passage, denominated Christ's sheep, were given to him, was not before the foundation of the world, but when they were attached to him as his personal followers." All that the Father giveth me shall come to me," John vi. 37. This giving scems to be synony

mous with the divine drawing, thus-" No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him," ver. 44. Again, this giving and drawing seem to consist in the imparting of the knowledge of the Messiah, as he is pointed out in the Old Testament—" It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned, of the Father, cometh unto me," ver. 45. In short, this passage and its parallels are applicable only to our Lord's disciples as his personal followers.

VIII. “And inscribed their names in his book of life."

1st, Luke x. 20. "Notwithstanding, in this rejoice not that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven."This passage does not affirm that their names were written in heaven from eternity. The design of our Lord's advice, we conceive, was to shew, that the approbation of the Divine Being was more to be coveted than the power of working miracles. It is unnecessary to prove, that caution should be used in explaining the figurative language of Scripture. The admonition ought to be particularly attended to in this case, for we are told, that a man's name may be blotted out of the book of life. See Rev. iii. 5. xxii.19.

2nd, Ps. iv. 3. "But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself."-The obvious meaning of this passage is, not that the Lord hath set apart from eternity certain individuals to be godly

sets apart for himself At the second verse,

in time, but that he, in time, those who are already godly. the psalmist is saying to his enemies, "How long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing?" He then addresses them in the words before us-" But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself." On this persuasion he builds his hopes for future protection-"The LORD will hear when I call unto him," ver. 3.

3rd, Rev. iii. 5, xiii. 8. xvii. 8. See above.

IX. "And thus distinguished them from the rest of mankind, who were left in their corruption, and the misery thereby deserved."

1st, 1 Cor. iv. 7. "For who maketh thee to differ?" The apostle having, in the preceding chapters, enlarged on the evil of schism, and on the nature of the ministerial office, continues thus; "And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another," ver. 6. Having thus shewn, that there was no room for vaunting on their part, in reference to the spiritual qualifications which he and Apollos enjoyed, he proceeds to shew, that there was no room for vaunting in reference to the spiritual qualifications which they themselves enjoyed; for the difference that was manifest among them, as it regards the extraordinary gifts and operations of the Spirit, (chap. xii. 4—10.) did

not originate in themselves, but was effected by the sovereign will of God, xii. 11. "For who maketh thee to differ," (or excel,) that there should be any occasion of being puffed up; for "what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive, why dost thou glory, as if thou didst not receive," ver. 7. He goes on ironically to reprove the boastful spirit of some of the gifted members of the church, saying, "Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you," ver. 8. He next shews how seemingly destitute and forlorn was the condition of himself and Apollos, ver. 9-13. In order to blunt the poignancy of these remarks, he adds, "I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though [such is the number of your members who excel in gifts, that it may be said] ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore, I beseech you, be ye followers of me," [in humility and lowliness of mind, for thus it becomes children to imitate their father.]

2nd, 1 Cor. i. 26-28. Rom. ix. 13. Eph. i. 4, 5, 6. See above.

X. "And in the same wise and unchangeable counsel, fixed the mediation of Christ, effectual calling to him, spiritual union with him, and an interest in and partaking of him and his righteous

ness and fulness, together with faith and holiness, as means of their eternal salvation."

As the passages annexed to this head either have already been explained, or present a meaning so obvious as to require no explanation, it will be deemed unnecessary to do more than transcribe the references. These are as follow:-John iii. 16, 17. x. 26-29. xvii. 4, 6. Eph. i. 4. Col. i. 19. 2 Tim. i. 9. 1 Thes. v. 9. 1 Pet. ii. 19, 20. Rom. viii. 1-4, 28-30. Is. xlv. 24, 25. Acts xiii. 48. 2 Thes. ii. 13. 1 Pet. i. 2. Heb. xi. 6. xii. 14. John iii. 3, 5.