ject. We might enquire of a considerable number of the most eminent divines, and experienced christians, now living; and they would bear their testimony to the truth. We might further enquire the sentiments of the pious, enlightened, and zealous Reformers; and they would to a man, answer in the affirmative. But we will appeal to inspired writers, and to the Son of God; and this will form our last argument. 7. The declarations of inspired writers, and of the Lord Jesus Christ himself. (1) of inspired writers. "The Lord will keep the feet of his saints." 1 Sam. 2. 9. "The Lord forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever." Pm. 37.28. "The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy O Lord endureth for ever." Pm. 138. 8. "The Lord preserveth the way of his saints." Pr. 2 8. "The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Pr. 4. 18. "Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end." Is. 45. 17. "In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory." Is. 45. 25. Similar declarations are contained in the new Testament. "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Phil. 1. 6. "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." 1 Thes. 5. 24. "Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation." 1. Pet. 1. 5. "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us.' 1 John 2. 19. Such assertions from persons inspired by the Holy Ghost, are sufficient to silence every objection of our unbelieving hearts, and produce a strong confidence, and consolation. Can we wish for stronger evidence? Though what has been given is abundantly sufficient; yet God who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,-"has given us more: we may ask (2) the testimony of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, concerning this important truth. What has he declared? "It is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish." Math. 18. 14. What is not the will of God, never shall come to pass: hence the weakest believer shall be preserved unto eternal life. "Verily, verily I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." John 5. 24. These declarations are express,-and perfectly inconsistent with the perishing of the true believer. They are the declarations of him whose knowledge is infallible. Let us hear him again on this most interesting, and delightful subject. "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6.37-40. What precious words are these! How : - do they confirm what we have established! But this is not all. The Saviour has also declared, saying,"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, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. My father who gave them me, is greater than all; and no one is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." John 10.2729. The hand and the heart, both of the Father and Christ, are engaged and exerted for their preservation! Shall they not be safe? O believer, keep near to God, and near to the Saviour, and rest wholly on them, however weak in yourself. Is.40.11. If the language we have cited will not prove the point, no language can be invented to do it. But blessed be God, it is sufficient, and justly warrants the confidence of the Poet. Firm as the earth thy gospel stands, My Lord, my hope, my trust; Nor death nor hell shall e'er remove His fav'rites from his breast; In the dear bosom of his love, They must for ever rest. "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." Glory to God the Father, Son, and Spirit, now and for ever. Amen and Amen. There are other arguments, presented by Divines; but those mentioned above, appear quite sufficient, and abundantly confirm the important, and consolatory truth. Though there are some passages of scripture, that might appear at first sight, opposed to this truth; yet when the description of character we have given, is rightly considered, and the means whereby they are preserved, I conceive, these objections will lose their weight. Dr. Dwight's remark appears to be just. "Generally, it may be observed, that the doctrine, against which I contend, is not supported in a single unequivocal declaration of the scriptures." Again he observes, "A conditional promise, collateral to an absolute one, can never affect, much less make void, the absolute promise. The promises, which I have recited, of eternal life to every christian, are all absolute; as are also many others of the same nature. They cannot, therefore, be made void by these conditional ones." Ser. 87. But we may say, that the absolute promises, render those, which, by some, are called conditional, effectual to salvation; by working in and by the person, that which is required;-as faith, repentance, holiness, and perseverance. The word of the Lord is tried. His work is perfect; he will not leave it unfinished. But he will complete his work in his own way,-in the use of the means, which he has appointed. Let us therefore proceed to consider the means. CHAPTER III. The Means of Perseverance. God generally works by means; even when his. promises are absolute. He has promised that, "While the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest shall not cease." Gen. 8. 22. Yet he requires the means to be attended; and imparts skill to use them aright. Is. 28. 23-29. He promised Abraham the land of Canaan; yet, what a variety of means he required to be used, in order to its enjoyment. He promised David the kingdom: but he trained him up by various dispensations of providence for the enjoyment of it. He promised the Apostle Paul, that all in the ship with him should be saved from the shipwreck; but they were all to attend strictly to the way, and manner, which he prescribed. Acts 27. So God has promised to every believer in Jesus Christ eternal life; but he accomplishes this in the use of means which he has appointed. He requires these means to be diligently attendedsends his Holy Spirit to help the believer in attending them-gives his blessing to render them effectual unto salvation. This is the direction"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Phil. 2. 12-13. The means whereby the Lord enables the saints to persevere, are 1. By continual influence of the Holy Spirit. By gracious dispensations of Providence. 2. 3. By constant supplies of Grace. 4. By directing, exciting, and assisting the believer to attend the means which are appointed for his preservation. Means 1. By continual influence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit begins, carries on, and completes the work of grace: for we can do nothing spiritually, and savingly, but by the influence of the Spirit. There is a strong propensity in man, after being renewed, to return to his original state of depravity. And if left to himself, he certainly would return; for his heart is bent to backslide from the living |