tinues through every obstacle to urge on his way until, finally, through the power that works within. him, he comes off victorious. In the spiritual conflict, he may receive many wounds, some of which may lay him by, so that it would seem as if he were mortally wounded. But, by the skill and compassion of the great Physician of souls, he revives and is again prepared for action. Thus, by the continued attention of the Captain of his salvation, he fights not in vain-as one that contends with the air-he conquers. This apostle expresses his confidence in realizing his hope, in language as strong, if not stronger in Rom. 8: 35, 39—“ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things, we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Again, in writing to Timothy, in 2 Tim. 1: 12"For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." This does not indicate, in the least, that the great apostle of the Gentiles, the leader of the Christian Church, believed that he should be among the missing when God should come to make up his jewels. He had committed his soul unto the keeping of the Lord, and he had full confidence in him in whose hands he had entrusted so important a treasure. It would seem that

what he had here said to Timothy was sufficient. But, as though it were not, he adds, in his closing remarks, in chap. 4: 18-" And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and wILL PRESERVE ME UNTO HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

If the doctrine of the final perseverance of the saints were not a prominent article in the creed of the pri mitive churches, then Paul, the chief of the apostles, justly merited, not only the displeasure of God, but also the censure of the whole Church and ministry, for so bold an expression of his faith in that sentiment. For he not only himself believed it, but he taught it to young Timothy and to the churches, in his several Epistles. But, as God superintended his own holy oracles of truth, and has suffered that doctrine to be plainly taught therein, who is he that dare reply against God? Indeed Paul affirms that he taught the churches what he had received by the revelation of Jesus Christ, and not the communications of men. It is a truth, then, stamped with the seal of immutable sanction.

Rom. 8: 31. "What shall we then say to these things? If God
be for us, who can be against us."

THROUGHOUT this whole chapter, the inspired apostle
is laboring to confirm the believer in the doctrine be-
fore us.
In the passage preceding our text, he says,
"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." Thus
showing a regular chain of events, or in other words,
a regular and certain progress of the believer's spirit-
ual life, which clearly establishes the fact, expressed
elsewhere by this apostle, " that he which hath begun
a good work in us will carry on to its completion."
The verses which follow our text affirm that "
thing shall be able to separate us from the love of
Christ," which indicates it is a truth that, if God,
either by his presence or his Word, be for his people,
no weapon found against them shall prosper-none
can be against them, and succeed in overthrowing
them or their faith.

no

Well might the apostle then inquire, "What shall we then say to these things?" Proof, under God's authority, is so undeniably expressed, that, however nuch the fact may be above our reason, or contrary .o our peculiar prejudices, we are obliged to close our

mouths and be silent. We can say nothing against it for fear of incurring the displeasure of Him who has affirmed the sentiment.

We are, however, aware that notwithstanding the doctrine of the final perseverance of the saints is so clearly taught in the Word of God, there are those in the Christian Church who conscientiously reject it, through fear of the consequences of believing it, and because they cannot reconcile it with some other portions of Scripture. It will be necessary, therefore, to take notice of the various objections which are urged against this doctrine. And if they cannot be fairly answered, the preceding arguments will have but little effect in accomplishing our object. But, on the other hand, if, at the close of this lecture, it shall appear plain, that the objections are only imaginary, or if even they bear some marks of reality, but are much lighter than the evidences in favor, the doctrine should be received as from God, because he has said so much to confirm it. And no injury can be sustained by believing it.

Obj. 1.-The Scriptures promise salvation to those only who endure to the end. Mark 13 13—

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Rev. 2 10-"Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." By carefully reading the chapters, wherein these passages occur, it will be seen that our Lord is apprising his infant Church of the peculiar sufferings which they should experience. And to encourage them in the midst of their trials he carries their minds beyond their present suffering, to the enjoyment of eternal glory in heaven.

God no more intends to secure the final salvation of his children without their faith and obedience unto death, than to save them in the beginning without faith and repentance. As he cannot, at first, repent and believe for them, so neither can he perform their duties through life—duties indispensable to their perseverance. But as in the first instance He works in their hearts" to will and to do according to his good pleasure," giving them repentance and faith, &c., so does he continue "to cause them to walk in his statutes to do them," and "to hold on their way." Who could "endure to the end" or "be faithful unto death" without the grace of God? And if the grace to persevere is of God, what is there in the creature, man, to hold on his way and grow stronger and stronger, independent of the continued supplies of this heavenly grace? Well, if the Christian could not take a single step towards heaven at first without the grace of God, and if he cannot endure or be faithful until death without God, and He has pledged his faithfulness to keep his children, so that no man shall be able to pluck them out of His hand, I cannot see the force of this objection. It is only imaginary.

Obj. 2.-The Scriptures express the danger of the apostacy and ruin of Saints. Ezek. 18: 24"But when the righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die." Heb. 6: 4-6—“ For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened,