Their sanctification through his truth,
ver. 17.

Their perfect union in one body in him-
self, ver. 21-23.
Their participation of his eternal glory,

IV. The power of his intercession.

ver. 24.

Satisfying the demands of justice, Job

xxxiii. 24.

Rebuking the accusations of the enemy,
Zech. iii. 1-3.

Bearing the iniquity of holy things, Exod.

xxviii. 38.

Silencing charges from every quarter,

Rom. viii. 33, 34.

Obtaining all gifts and blessings for his
church, John xiv. 16.
Upholding his people under temptation,
(Text.) Luke xxii. 31, 32.
Saving them to the end (Text,) with
Rom. v. 10.

V. The fruits of his intercession in our present experience.

Support under a sense of sin, 1 John ii. 1.
Boldness in our christian confidence,

Heb. x. 21, 22.

Stedfastness in our daily profession,

Heb. iv. 14.

Encouragement to persevering prayer,

Heb. iv. 16.

XLI.

ROMANS viii. 30.

Moreover, whom he did predestinate.

We cannot fathom the mystery of this doctrine.

But we may reverently search into the ground of it.

We may trace its connection with the whole Christian system.

We may detail its practical fruits.

I. The ground of this doctrine lies,

Not in man's foreseen goodness, ix. 11.
Gen. vi. 5. 2 Tim. i. 9.

Not in man's will or power, John i. 13;
xv. 16. Eph. ii. 1-5. Phil. ii. 13.
Jam. i. 18. 1 John iv. 10, 19.
Not in any unjust dispensation of God,

ix. 13-15.

But In the engagements of the everlasting covenant, Isa. liii. 10-12. John xvii. 2, 9, 11, 12. In the divine foreknowledge, 29. 1 Pet. i. 2.

In the just and holy sovereignty of God, ix. 15-18. Deut. vii. 6-8; x. 15. Ps. cxxxv. 4-6. Jer. iii. 19. Matt.

xx. 15, 16. Eph. i, 5.

In the display of his own glory, Is. xliii. 21. Eph. i. 6; iii. 10, 11. 2 Thess. i.

11, 12. In the unchangeableness of his purpose, xi. 2, 29.

II. This doctrine is connected

With man's complete responsibility,
Luke xxii. 22. Acts ii. 23; iv. 27, 28.
With man's utter helplessness, John ví.

44, 65.

With the power of God's effectual calling, 30. Ps. cx. 3. Jer. xxxi. 3. 2 Thess. ii. 13, 14. 2 Tim. i. 9. Rev. xvii. 14. With the continued long-suffering and goodness of God, ix. 22; xi. 22. Is. i. 9. Matt. xxiv. 21, 22. With the great ransom of the blood of Christ, Eph. i. 5-7. 1 Pet. i. 2, 18

-20.

With the free declarations of his Gospel,
John vi. 37.

With all needful blessings for time and
eternity, 30. Matt. xx. 23; xxv. 34.
Luke xii. 32. Eph. i. 3, 4, 11.
With the eternal election of Christ as the
head of his people, 29.
Eph. i. 4. 9, 10; iii. 11.

Is. xlii. 1, 6.

2 Tim. i. 9.

1 Pet. i. 20.

III. The practical fruits of this doctrine are

manifest.

Does it minister to pride? xi. 20. 1 Cor. iv. 7. Does it encourage sin? 29; John xv. 16. Eph. i. 4; ii. 10. 2 Thess. ii. 13. 2 Tim. ii. 19.

Does it engender despondency? John vi.

37.

It strips us of self-righteousness, xi. 5, 6,
It gives to God the glory of his own
work, Ps. cxv. 1. 1 Cor. i. 27-29.
It fills us with fervent thankfulness, Luke

x. 20. Eph. i. 3, 4. 1 Pet. i. 2, 3. It establishes our confidence, 28-39; 1 Sam. xii. 22. Zech. iii. 2. Luke xviii.

7,8. It quickens our exertions, Phil. ii. 12, 13. 2 Pet. i. 10.

It prepares us for the cross, Is. xlviii. 10.

John xv.

19.

It excites to all the exercises of practical godliness, Deut. x. 15, 16. Col. iii. 12, 13. 1 Thess. iv. 3-7; v. 8, 9.

For caution

Beware of an exclusive or disproportionate application of this doctrine, Acts xx. 20, 21, 27. 1 Cor. iii. 2. Beware of stopping short of a full reception of it, Heb. v. 12-14; vi. 1. Beware of considering it in a reasoning spirit, ix. 18-23.

Beware of abusing it for the indulgence

of sin, Jer. vii. 8—11; xviii. 1-6, 12. 2 Pet. iii. 15, 16. Jude 4.

K

For instruction

Reverence the deep mystery of this doc-
trine, xi. 33-36. Matt. xi. 25, 26.
Never separate it from its connections or
practical fruits. (See III.)

Do not let an imperfect apprehension of
it hinder an immediate apprehension
of the Gospel, John vi. 28, 29.
Take the broad provisions of the Gospel
as the ground of your present faith,
Is. lv. 1-3. Matt. xi. 28. Article

xvii.

Make your election sure by the evidence of a holy calling, 1 Thess. i. 3—5. 2 Pet. i. 5-10. Lie in the dust as creatures destitute of all good, 2 Sam. vii. 18-20. Job xl. 4. Ps. cxv. 1. Awaken your song, as creatures infinitely indebted to the grace of God, Is. xii.

1-3.

For encouragement

Expect from this fountain of sovereign grace a large and refreshing blessing,

Is. li. 1-3.

Rejoice in the security of your eternal salvation, (Text.) ix. 23. 1 Thess. v. 9. 2 Thess. ii. 13, 14.