not alone sufficient. We know that 66 many are called" to outward privileges, who are not finally "chosen" to inherit the heavenly kingdom. But though nothing can prove that we are predestinated to glory, except a faith and practice conformable to the gospel ;—still our outward calling is an earnest of the goodwill of God towards us, which nothing but our own unbelief and hardness of heart can render vain. As the wife of Manoah argued, (Judges xiii. 23,) "If the Lord were pleased to kill us, he would not have showed us all these things.' We cannot expect that "the book of life" should be opened before our eyes. But if my heavenly Father has sent down a message to me, and the messenger his beloved Son, inviting me to his service here, and his inheritance hereafter, what more can I ask, what further assurance of his favour can I desire?

LECTURE XXVI.

THE CERTAINTY OF GOD'S LOVE TOWARDS HIS PEOPLE A MOTIVE FOR ENDURANCE UNTO THE END.

ROMANS viii. 13-39.

31. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

32. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

33. Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

34. Who is he that condemneth?

died, yea

It is Christ that

rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

These are the considerations by which the Christian might be encouraged, under all the trials to which he is exposed. And many have been the seasons in the general history of the church, as well as in the history of the apostles, when assurances like these would be not only as a cheering cordial, but as necessary food. When assaults were made upon the people of Christ which threatened to leave none remaining who bore the christian name, it was needful they should feel that he who was with them was greater than those that were against them: that the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, purchased by his blood, and secured by his intercession, could never forsake those whom he had called and justified. The world might be against them; all manner of evil might be said against them falsely for Christ's sake: they might be brought before kings and rulers on account of their religion. But if God be for us, who can be against us? "The Lord is on my side, I will not fear what man can do unto me." And that the Lord is on our side, we have the surest proofs. He that spared not his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Can we doubt his favour, which he has proved so signally? All that is needful, all that is expedient, he surely will provide, who has provided so much already. "All things are yours; for ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's."1

Men, indeed, condemn us, might the apostles say. They accuse us, that we turn the world upside down: that we teach customs which ought not to be received: that we are movers of sedition, among all the 1 1 Cor. iii. 23.

Jews throughout the world. But it is little for us to be opposed or to be condemned of man, or of man's judgment: he that judgeth us is the Lord: and if God justifieth, who is he that condemneth? They need

not heed the condemnation of man, who are "at peace with God through Jesus Christ." Their God has chosen them for his own; and who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? They "have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous :"+ he that died, yea rather that is risen again, also maketh intercession for them. For as he “died for our sins, he rose again for our justification:" and they who are his "shall never perish," either through the malice of man, or by the power of Satan.

As then, on the one side, nothing could separate God from his people, so, on the other side, let nothing separate them from God. Let them "hold fast the profession of their faith without wavering," in nothing terrified by their adversaries."

35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36. As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

"I am now ready to be offered,"-so writes Paul to Timothy," and the time of my departure is at hand. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them that love his appearing."

66

With this confidence he may justly ask, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? What enemy of the truth shall be so powerful, as to make us unfaithful to him, who " has opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers?" Tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, are certainly for the present "not joyous, but grievous:" and it may be conceded, that if" in this life only we had hope, we were of all men the most miserable." 998 But it is no new thing for the people of God to be in circumstances of affliction. Long ago it was written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long: we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. So far, then, from being overcome, and forced to yield up that which we have chosen as most precious, in all these things we are rather conquerors than vanquished; nay, more than conquerors through him that loved us, and stands by us, and strengthens us.1

We straitly threaten you, said the chief priests and rulers to Peter and John, that ye "speak not at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus." To whom they replied, "Whether it be right in the sight of God to

7 2 Tim. iv. 6-8.
1 See 2 Tim. iv. 17.

8 1 Cor. xv. 19.

9 Ps. xliv. 22. 2 Acts iv. 18-20.

hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."

Surely here they were more than conquerors through him who loved them. That which has most power over a man, in his natural state, is death. When he loses life, he loses everything. But Christ has overcome death. And therefore the Christian overcomes it. Because he liveth who loved him, the Christian shall live also.3 He then may defy what otherwise would be irresistible-Death. Death might threaten, life might allure; evil angels might attempt to deceive, principalities and powers might contend against them: things present might be adverse, and things to come might terrify: all creation, from its loftiest heights to its lowest depths, might unite to shake and overthrow them: but in vain. Paul spoke with the confidence of experience when he said: I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Therefore, let them "comfort one another with these words:" and "be stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord."4 "Let them that

suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well doing to him, as to a faithful Creator," to whom they are more closely bound by the violence of the storm which vainly threatens to estrange Him from them, or them from Him.

3 John xiv. 19.

5 1 Pet. iv. 19.

4 1 Cor. xv. 58.