| 525 and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him; and this includes the general principle of election, (i. e.) that God chose, elected, or ordained, Jesus Christ, his son, to be the Creator, Governor, Savior, and Judge of the world; and Abraham to be the father of the faithful, on account of his fore-knowledge of their obedience to his will and commandments; which agrees with the saying in the 2nd Timothy ii, 21, if a man purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and meet for the masters use, and prepared unto every good work.
Thus it appears that God has chosen or elected certain individuals, to certain blessings, or to the performance of certain works; and that we may more fully understand the movements of the Supreme Governor of the universe in the the order of election, we proceed to quote the sacred writers.
Rom. viii, 29, 30, For whom he did feroknow [foreknow], he also did predestinate [predestined] to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first born among many brethren: moreover, whom he did predestinate [predestined], them he also called, and whom he called, them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he also glorified. And whom did he foreknow? Those that loved as him, we find in the 28the verse of the same chapter, for we know that all things shall work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. And who are the called according to his purpose? Those whom he foreknew, for he foreknew, that those, who loved him, would do his will and work righteousness, and it is in vain for men to say they love God, if they do not keep his commandments. Cain found it so when he presented an unrighteous offering, for God, said unto him (Gen. iv, 7) if thou doest well shalt thou not be accepted; and yet he was not accepted; but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected; and hereby we know that we are in him, (1 John ii, 5) or, that we are the called according to his purpose.
But did not God foreknow all; things, and all men? Surely, known unto God are all his works, from the beginning of the world; (Acts xv, 18, but does that prove that all men would love him and keep his commandments, so that he would predestinate [predestined] them unto eternal life? Certainly not, for that would make God to foreknow things which were not to be, and to predestinate [predestined] men to that, unto which they could never attain; (Matt. vii, 13) for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be who go in thereat.
The principles of God's kingdom are perfect and harmonious, and the scriptures of truth must also agree in all their parts, so that one sentiment thereof shall not destroy another, and when we read that whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [predestined]; and that known unto God are all his works: so that it might appear from an abstract view thereof, that God foreknew all, and consequently predestinated [predestined] all to be conformed to the image of his son; we ought also to read (Mark, vi, 16) he that believeth not shall be damed [dammed]; and (John viii, 24) if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins; also, (Matt. xxv, 41) depart from me ye ursed [cursed], for I was an hungered and ye gave me no meat, &c.
Paul referring to the Saints, [Rom. i, 7] calls them beloved of God, called to be saints; and says [Rom viii 1] there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit; and goes on to show in his Epistle to the Romans, that the law, (the law of carnal commandments given to the children of Israel, the covenant people,) could not make the comers thereunto perfect, [see Heb. x, 1] but was given for a schoolmaster, to bring us unto Christ; [Gal. iii, 24,] so that when he had come, and offered himself without spot to God, [Heb. ix, 14] the sacrifice of the law should be done away in him that the honest in heart all might come unto the perfect law of liberty, [James i, 25] or the gospel of Christ, walking no longer after the flesh, but after the spirit, and be of that number who love God and keep his commandments, that they might be the called according to his purpose; [Rom. viii, 28] and these were the individuals referred to, whom God foreknew; such as Abel, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Melchizedec [Melchizedek], Abraham, Lot, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Caleb, Joshua, the harlot Rahab, who wrought righteousness by hiding the servants of God when their lives were sought by their enemies, Gideon, Barak, Sampson, Jeptha, David, Samuel, and the Prophets, [Heb. xi,] who, through faith, subdued kingdoms, wrought
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