he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained. Acts 17. 30.

When these apostles and servants of our Lord wrote to the churches they held a consistent doctrine. After that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared: Man, not men, but man in general. Tit. 3. 4. Writing to another minister, Paul declares, God will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth; for there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himfor all, to be testified in due time. John goes still further; if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

self a ransom

1 Tim. 2. 4.

1 John 2. 2. And Peter and Paul go still greater lengths, when one says; They that fall away, crucify to themselves the son of God afresh. Heb. 6. 6. and the other; There shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them. 2 Pet. 2. 1.

All these declarations and expressions of our Saviour, and his servants are as to individuals of the human race without any personal exception or exclusion, and as to the whole bulk they are general, universal, No man therefore can say

that God is an enemy to him, or that he is excluded from all salvation by a personal decree, or act of God, made known to him individually. This is a secret thing which belongs to God alone, the rest. is plainly enough revealed, and belongs to us, and to our children. Deut. 29. 29. Man's enmity is proved by despising, refusing, and abusing so great, so good an offer. At the same time that none have any just reason from what God has said to despair: so none are encouraged to lay hands on, or take hold of God's covenant in their own strength. In all these expressions of kindness, and love, and good-will, salvation is plainly said to be a gift,and to be by faith. It is not deserved, it is not to be earned. For Christ as life is God's gift, and by grace we are saved thro' faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God. Eph. 2. 8. Thus then men are equally cautioned against unbelief and presumption. In all the passages above mentioned there is one thing omitted. There is kindness, there is love, there is good-will. And I believe every good man, when under the first influences of God's love to his soul, and after, when that love is enjoyed— desires the welfare of the children of men, and would, if possible, do them everlasting good. Nor is this carnal, but the very nature of love, of kindness, of good-will.

But what effect had, or has such preaching of good things upon the world? The Jews put it from

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them, and judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life. Acts 13. 46. You will not, says our

Lord, come unto me that ye might have life. I say these things to you that ye might be saved, but ye will not. John 5. 34. 40. The Gentiles were no better, for an assault was made both of the. Gentiles, and also of the Jews, to use the servants of Christ despitefully. Acts 14. 5. Both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin, all are enemies in their minds by wicked works. Christ crucified is unto the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness. 1 Cor. 1. 23. What shall we say then to these things? Is God disappointed? Hath Christ died in vain? God forbid. What if some did not, and many do not believe; shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God. forbid. Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar as it is written; That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. Rom. 3. 4. For out of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, a great multitude stand before the throne. Rev. 7. 9.

It is true that the gospel message is mocked at by men. Acts. 17. 32. Is refused by others. Is neglected by many. Heb. 2. 3. Is abused by some. Jude 4. And all are unwilling and unable to obey it and receive it, being dead in sin. Yet by these very things-is the grace of our God abundant, it is most gloriously displayed.—I said

there was one thing omitted in all the passages that speak of the love of God to man in general, and that one thing is what in its own nature precludes and shuts out general salvation, or the salvation of all, and this is Mercy. There is a good-will, and this is evidently spoken of. Many have seen and desired to be partakers of this good-but it has been too late. But there is also the mystery of God's will: as Paul writes, Having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself. Eph. 1. 9.— And by this will, done by Christ, we are sanctified by the offering of his body once for all. As all reject his offer, there is room for the exercise of his mercy, and in the production of good to us, mercy alone can do it. Therefore Paul writes: After that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared; not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us. Tit. 3. 5. And again, God who is rich in mercy, for the great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sin, hath quickened us together with Christ. Eph. 2. 4. And again, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. Rom. 9. 15. Here is then his will of mercy which make us obedient. Thy people shall be willing in he day of thy power. Ps. 110. 2. And this will

of mercy on some, is very different from his will of good, or good-will. There is also his choice of us, being obliged to force his favours upon none, he hath chosen us in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world. Eph. 1. 4. He is pleased to make us his people, for we are not pleased, but offended with him; according to the good pleasure of his will he hath predestinated us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ. 5. And as we have no strength, there is the putting forth his power, for the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, and this faith comes as a free gift; By grace ye are saved thro' faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. But all men have not faith to receive it, tho' they have unbelief to reject it. Therefore unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ to believe on him.

God our Saviour will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. The precise due time then in which the ransom of Christ, as to the number and persons for whom it is intended, is testified, is when, as the Apostle speaks, we are without strength; in that due time, Christ died for the ungodly, and this number is a great multitude out of the world of every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. For all these the ransom was