knowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. He, seeing" this before, spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. Acts 2: 23, 31.-Whoverily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you. 1 Pet. 1: 20.

My substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. Ps. 139. 15, 16.Known unto God are all his works, from the beginning of the world. Acts 15: 18.

From these scriptures, the attentive and contemplative reader will find how God, in his providence, has chosen and elected the believers in Christ Jesus, and rejected and reprobated the unbelievers. Of this read farther:-Hearken, my beloved brethren; hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which he hath promised to them that love him? James 2: 5.--For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and

base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are; that no flesh should glory in his presence. 1 Cor. 1: 26-29..

I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass, I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them; and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them. Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb. Isa. 48: 5, 8.---And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ; to the intent that now, unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places, might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Eph. 3: 9-11.

-Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. 2 Tim. 1: 9.---And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them. Isa. 44: 7.

me,

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Rom. 8: 28--30.----Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee; and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Jer. 1: 5.----According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him. in love having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved. Eph. 1: 4--6----Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. 2 Tim. 1: 9.

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. John 15: 16.--I have set thee to be a light of the Gen

tiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life, believed. Acts 13: 47, 48.----· For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Eph. 2: 8--10.

ARTICLE ELEVENTH.

OF THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD: CONTAINING ALL THE BOOKS OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS.

Or the written Word of God, the Law of Moses, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we acknowledge, That the law given by Moses, and received by the disposition of angels, was a complete doctrine and rule for the race of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, with whom the Lord God entered into, and established his covenant. By this law and doctrine, as given by Moses, these tribes were to be governed and ruled in all their manners and conversation, without either adding to the word, or diminishing aught from it, much less should they walk in their own ways. And if any of them transgressed this law, they were to be cut off from their people and lie under its heavy curses; but those who kept the

law, and by faith in the promised blessings fulfilled its commands, had the promise of life, with many glorious blessings. These blessings and curses, however, were mostly extended to temporal things.

This law of God consists of the five books of Moses, to which also belong the writings of the Prophets, Priests and Kings, who arose among this people, the children of Israel, and who have, by the Spirit of God, prophesied and spoken the things of the Spirit, all of which is in perfect accordance with that of the books of Moses, and are, as written by inspiration, for us, by the grace of God, assigned to the Bible; the whole of which compose the Old Testament. This law is also spiritual, tending to the bringing in of a better hope, and is a school-master to bring us unto Christ. Gal. 3: 24.----Moreover the law, with its manifold types, figures and shadows, such as the Levitical priesthood, the ceremonies and offerings, the land of Canaan and its kings, the city of Jerusalem with its temple, pointed, as it were, with the hand, and led to Christ Jesus the great Antitype: seeing the law was an intolerable yoke, which gendered to bondage, and which none were able to bear, inasmuch as it pronounced its curses upon every one that continued not, in all the things which are written in the book of the law, to do them; and as man was unable, through the infirmity of the flesh, to fulfil the demands of the law, they could not thereby attain the blessed