| 541 have become extinct, for Pharaoh commanded the midwifes to destroy the sons of the Israelitish women as soon as they were born, (Ex. i, 16) and called them to account for saving the men children alive, (verse 18) and charged all his people saying every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, (verse 22) and yet God would have mercy on whom he would have mercy, (Rom. ix, 18) for he would have mercy on the godly child, Moses, (when he was hid and laid in the flags (Ex. ii, 3) by his mother to save him from Pharaoh's cruel order) and caused that he should be preserved as a prophet and deliverer to lead his people up to their own county; and whom he would he hardened, for he hardened Pharaoh by passing before him in mighty power, and withdrawing his spirit and leaving him to his own wicked inclination, for he had set taskmasters over the Israelites, to afflict them with their burdens; and caused them to build treasure-cities for Pharaoh, and mad them serve with rigor; and made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar and brick and all manner of service in the field (Ex. 1st ch.) beside destroying the men children: thus proving to the God of heaven and all men that he had hardened his own hard heart, until he become a vessel of wrath fitted for destruction, (Rom. ix, 22) all this, long before God said unto Moses, I will harden his [Pharaoh's] heart (Ex. iv, 21.
Are men then to be saved by works? Nay, verily, by grace are ye saved thro' faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, (Eph. ii, 8.) Not of works, lest any man should boast, (v. 9.) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saves us, (Titus iii, 5) and yet faith without works is dead being alone, (James ii, 17.) Was not Abraham our father justified by works? (v. 21) Shall we then be saved by faith? Nay, neither by faith nor works; but by works is faith made perfect, (v. 22) but by grace are ye saved, (Eph. ii, 8,) and if by grace, then it is no more of works, otherwise grace is no grace: and if it be of works then it is no more grace; otherwise work is no more work. (Rom. xi. 6.) Ye see then how that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only, (James ii, 4),
Rom. x, 3, 4. For they, [Israel] being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submiited [submitted] to the righteousness of God; for Christ is the end of the law for righteousees [righteousness] to every one that believeth, Thus the righteousness of God is made manifest in the plan of salvation by his crucified Son; for there is none other name under heaven, given among men whereby we must be saved, but the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth; (Acts iv, 10, 12,) but of this the Jews were ignorant although they themselves crucified him; and they have been going about, wandering among all the nations of the earth ever since, for the space of eighteen hundred years, trying to establish their own righteousness, which is of the law of Moses; which law, can never make the comers there-unto perfect, (Heb. x, 1;) yet notwithstanding their darkness and long dispersion, there is a remnant according to the election of grace, (Rom. xi. 5) whom God will gather from among all people whither they are scattered, and will be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen; then shall they dwell in their land which God gave to his servant Jacob, and they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards, yea they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgements [judgments] upon all those that despise them round about; and they shall know that I am the Lord their God; (Eze. xxviii, 25, 26. Isa xi, 11 to 16,) and when this gathering shall be completed, it shall no more be said the Lord liveth that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; but the Lord liveth that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them; and I will bring them again unto this land which I gave unto their fathers, (Jer. xvi, 14, 15, &c. to the end).
Rom. xi, 7. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for, but the election hath obtained it? And why have they not obtained it. Because they sought it not by faith, but it were by the works of the law, for they stumbled at that stumbling-stone; as it is written behold I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offence [offense], (Rom. ix 32, 33,) to both the houses of Israel; and for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and many of the them shall stumble, (Isa. viii, 14, 15,) but have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid; but rather
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