of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Matt. xxiv. 31. For whose comfort he saith, "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand." John x. 28. Oh! for grace to adore the Father of mercies, for such unspeakable love, such a rich donation, and such perpetual safety in Emmanuel's hand. In John vi. 37. our Lord sheweth the certainty of all coming to him, whom he received from the Father, and to encourage them in all their approaches to his throne of grace, he saith, "him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out." Here are no pre-requisites called for, no conditions to be performed; but only a sense of need supposed, and a personal application made. Then how blessed is the inference; for as none can come to Christ, except the Father draw them, John vi. 44. and as all who come must have been first instructed of the Father, it follows, that all who come to Christ, are drawn by the Father; which drawing, is the result of his electing love, and proves the election of the spiritual applicant.

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The design of the Lord in the ministry of the gospel is further explained in his commission to his servant Paul, to whom he said, "I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan unto God; that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." Acts xxvi. 16, 17, 18. With this authority he went forth, not exhorting sinners to perform that which God alone could accomplish, or giving man to suppose he possessed the power of recovering himself from the corruption of his nature, if he would but exert it, or that some were not so depraved as others; but he said, they are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." Rom. iii. 12. And further he adds, “ now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." But though he knew this to be the awful condition of all the sons of men, he knew also, there was a remnant according to the election of grace, Rom. xi. 5. who were to be called according to God's purpose, Rom viii. 28; and npon the strength of his commission he said, "there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all, is rich unto all that call upon him.” Rom. x. 12. And all who were predestinated to the adoption of sons by Jesus Christ, are turned from darkness to light in the day of God's power; but until this turning is effected they remain in gross darkness, as to their original depravity, the nature of actual sin, the spirituality of the law, the necessity, suitableness, and preciousness of Christ. By the effectual operations of God the Holy Ghost, the elect are turned from

the darkness of their fallen condition, to the light of spiritual convictions; from the darkness of their false hopes, lying refuges, and vain expectations in self, to the light of salvation, by faith in the blood and righteousness of Christ. It is also a turning from the power of satan, his reigning, keeping, damning power. His tempting and ensnaring power will be felt until we quit the wilderness, and his threatening power may alarm the feeble-minded; but neither shall ever be able to separate a soul from Jesus. It is a turning to God, to the throne of God's mercy, to the kingdom of God's grace, to the covenant of God's love; to the gospel of God's salvation; to the promises of God's help; to the provisions of God's house; to the invitations of God's word; to the testimony of God's Spirit; and to the final enjoyment of God's glory. This is a glorious and effectual change, which God the Holy Ghost alone can accomplish: and this turning may be further said to be, from the darkness of sin, to the light of grace; from the darkness of guilt to the light of pardon; the darkness of fleshly strivings to the light of rest; the darkness of bondage to the light of liberty; the darkness of poverty to the light of durable riches; the darkness of the old covenant to the light of the new; the darkness of self-righteousness to the light of God's righteousness; the darkness of unbelief to the light of precious faith; the darkness of carnality to the light of spiritual love; and from the darkness of creature deformity, to the light of Christ's beauty. And after all the conflicts of this mortal state, they shall be turned from the darkness of the shadow of death, to the pure light of everlasting life, and uninterrupted communion with God.

If the reader has been refreshed by contemplating such infinite displays of grace, I affectionately beg his attention to the forgiveness which is received by all who are turned to the Lord, and which supposes an atonement made for such; for "without the shedding of blood there is no remission, Heb. ix. 22. but by the one offering of the Lord Jesus Christ," he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified:" and he says, "their sins and iniquities will I remember no more for ever." Heb. x. 14-17. Then how truly encouraging is the consideration, that all who are turned from darkness to light, are pardoned, justified, and accepted persons; and to them the gospel is preached that they may receive the remission of sins. Mark, it is not said their sins shall be forgiven; but that they may receive remission, even a knowledge and enjoyment of it; as saith St. John, "I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you." 1 Eph. ii. 12. and in chap. v. 13. he saith, "these things have I written unto you that believe, that ye may know that ye have eternal life." And further it is explained in our Lord's words to the man sick of the palsy, " son, be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee." Matt. ix. 2.

From hence we learn the necessity of preaching the atonement of Christ, that all whom God the Spirit has turned, may receive the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of sins. And while men VOL. III.-No. 27.

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of a corrupt mind are distressing the Lord's chosen people, by directing them into themselves for comfort, and perpetually laying stumbling blocks in their way, it is the high privilege of all the faithful to comfort the church by saying, "that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins." Isa. xl. 2. and amidst the temptations of satan, and their unbelieving fears, the scriptures bear record to the character of those who have received forgiveness. Even Manasseh when humbled in affliction. 2 Chron. xxxiii. 12, 13. Isaiah when sensibly undone. vi. 5, 6, 7. The woman in the gospel of Luke distinguished as a sinner. vii. 37-48. and the poor dying thief, Luke xxiii.43. But lest any dear child of God should be tempted to write bitter things against himself; and argue upon the nature of his inbred corruptions, and the extent of his backslidings; let him read the interesting account of David's conviction, humiliation, and pardon, 2 Sam. xii. 13. the Lord's address to Israel after the most flagrant transgressions, Jer. iii. 13, 14-22. and add to these, the account of Peter's fall and recovery, Mark xiv. 71. Luke xxii. 61, 62. Surely such testimonies, accompanied with such encouragement, is calculated to embolden every poor sensible sinner to expect the knowledge of forgiveness of his sins, upon the foundation of the Father's love, who gave his dear Son to be a ransom for many; upon the efficacy and perfection of Christ's blood and righteousness; upon the Holy Spirit's love displayed in the translation of the elect from death to life; and upon the covenant faithfulness of each Person in the Godhead to accomplish the many great and precious promises made to such in the gospel.

Thus the remission of sins is received as a free gift, whereby the sinner is raised above his guilt. But such is the stupendous love of God, he stops not here, but gives unto such an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in Christ; and though by union to their fallen head they lost all they possessed in him, yet by virtue of a grace-union to, and interest in the Lord Jesus, they have, and hold for ever, more real blessedness than Adam knew in his state of innocence: and whereas their first inheritance was held upon a law-condition, and forfeited by a breach in the law, this inheritance is secured upon the immutable oath and promise of God, who saith, "I will be their God," 2 Cor. vi. 16. and "I am their inheritance, Ezek. xliv. 28. And as Jeremiah said, "the Lord is my portion," Lam. iii. 24. and David, "the Lord is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup,” Psalm xvi. 5. even so it is the right of each believer in Jesus to adopt the same precious words, and to boast of possessing all things in union to him. If the reader be a recipient of grace, and is truly sensible of human weakness, let him consider how blessed it is for those, who can do nothing for themselves, to have this inheritance by believing, and not by working, Rom. iv. 5. as Jesus said to Paul, "that they may receive remission of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith, that is in me." All is in him, in whom they were

sanctified from everlasting. Jude 1. 1 Cor. i. 2. In him they were sanctified, when he suffered without the gate, and washed away the filth of the daughter of Zion, Heb. xiii. 12.-Isa. iv. 4. and in him they were sanctified, manifestly, by the regenerating power of the Holy Ghost. Therefore, we conclude that all the elect were eternally sanctified in Christ and from the moment the Holy Spirit takes up his abode in them, they are declared holy, and in a state of preparation for death. Yet the old man of sin will remain unchanged, until that which is "sown in corruption, shall be raised in incorruption."

Now, dear reader, may the God of peace be with you, and the whole spiritual church, in his word preached, in his promises applied, in his love revealed, and in his faithfulness displayed; and amidst the deluded lights of this mock religious age, and the many antichrists of an ungodly world, may you and I be led by the Holy Ghost into all truth, and, from his divine unction may we derive support in weakness, comfort in sorrow, succour in temptation, and help in every time of trouble. And till we join the church in glory, and swell the triumphs of the Lamb in the everlasting destruction of sin, death, and hell, amidst the present clamour of infidels, and the most violent opposition from mere pretenders to religion, let this be our daily song, "Jesus loves, and loves for ever,

Zion on his heart does dwell;

He will never, never, never,

Leave his church a prey to hell:

All is settled,

And my soul approves it well.

(For the Spiritual Magazine.)

SON OF JESSE.

THE GENERAL ELECTION OF 1826.

"VAIN man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt," said Zophar, one of Job's friends; and the sad fact is confirmed by the principles and practices of the world in every day's experience. But on no one truth of revelation is the stupidity and stubbornness of the human heart more clearly evinced, than on that which the title to these remarks necessarily leads the spiritual mind to contemplate. What determined hostility pervades the carnal mind, in its contemplations on Jehovah's purpose to save whom he will with an everlasting salvation! What rebellious accusations arise in the thoughts, and what mad resolutions issue from the lips, against him who hath said, "I will work, and who shall let it "while on matters connected with human affairs, from the meanest circumstance of which the mind is cognisant, to that which employs all its capacious energies; the utmost freedom of thought and determination marks the conduct and, pursuits of all. So that man, fallen, degraded, proud man, denies the eternal Jehovah, whose everlasting honours are enfolded in the existence and accomplishment of his own voluntary, unbiassed will, the

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identical attribute which through a life of rebellion and sin governs every principle, and directs all his actions.

The mind occupied in contemplating the rude and boisterous applauses and the evanescent honours, which accompany the popular choice of him who has undertaken to perform important public duties; often freely enough admits a propriety in the rejection of one whose character and qualifications even surpass those of his favoured rival. But when Jehovah makes HIS election, who, among the unregenerate, even bow submissively to his sovereignty? who responds, in the language of our Lord's comprehensive prayer, "thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven ?"

Base depravity! Shall all men be at liberty to fix their desires and affections on persons and on things as they will? and shall "the only wise God" be the only one who may not exercise the power of choice? Is it permitted the thing formed to reject and forsake that which he please? and shall the Creator of the heavens and the earth be the only being who must of necessity approve, and accept, and delight in that which is obnoxious to him?

It is not only against the free, eternal choice of the Lord's people, as a truth of the Lord's word, that the enmity of the unrenewed heart prevails; but also against its gracious display, in the sovereign, separating influence it has on the heart and affections. Neither the world generally, nor the world of professors, approve the constraining effects of divine grace, when its possessor, obeying the command, come out from among them, and be ye separate," will not endure unsound doctrines, nor an unfaithful ministry. But the influences of saving grace, as witnessed in him who lives in the enjoyment, and acts to the honour of his high privileges, puts to shame the whole phalanx of fallen spirits, unbelievers and false professors, and innate corruptions, which are ever marshalled against him; and exemplify the true and spiritual consequences of that love which waited not for the sinner to choose God, but, irrespective of worth or worthlessness, first freely chose the sinner.

The interesting circumstance of a general election among men, is adapted to lead to very many profitable reflections on Jehovah's particular election of his spiritual family. May the sanctifying grace of the Lord the Spirit guide the hearts and minds of the "elect according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father," to a belief of the truth, and unto" the obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ;" that he who is the sole Candidate for the love and adoration, and the only true Representative of the persons and interests of his people, may obtain-not merely their voluntary and universal suffrages-but receive from each individually the homage of their whole heart and their whole soul, in a willing surrender of all they have and are to his service and glory. Blessed be God that he hath caused us to know, and to acknowledge from the heart, "we love him BECAUSE he hath first loved us.”

London, June, 1826.

ELAM.