Page 44 - Absolute Predestination With Observations On The Divine Attributes

'He that believeth shall be saved'; I believe, therefore, I am in a saved state.
'Whom He did predestinate, He called, justified and glorified'; I have reason to
trust that He hath called and justified ME; therefore I can assuredly look
backward on my eternal predestination, and forward to my certain

glorification." To all which frequently accedes the immediate testimony of the
Divine Spirit witnessing with the believer's conscience that he is a child of God
(Rom. 8.16; Gal. 4.6; 1 John 5.10). Christ forbids His little flock to fear,

inasmuch as they might, on good and solid grounds, rest satisfied and assured
that "it is the Father's" unalterable "good pleasure to give them the
kingdom" (Luke 12.32). And this was the faith of the apostle (Rom. 8.38,39).

POSITION 8.—The true believer ought not only to be thoroughly established in
the point of his own election, but should likewise believe the election of all his

other fellow-believers and brethren in Christ. Now, as there are most evident
and indubitable marks of election laid down in Scripture, a child of God, by
examining himself whether those marks are found on him, may arrive at a sober
and well-grounded certainty of his own particular interest in that unspeakable

privilege; and by the same rule whereby he judges of himself he may likewise
(but with caution) judge of others. If I see the external fruits and criteria of
election on this or that man, I may reasonably, and in a judgment of charity,

conclude such an one to be an elect person. So Paul, beholding the gracious
fruits which appeared in the believing Thessalonians, gathered from thence that
they were elected of God (1 Thess. 1.4,5), and knew also the election of the

Christian Ephesians (Eph. 1.4,5), as Peter also did that of the members of the
churches in Pontus, Galatia, etc. (1 Peter 1.2). It is true, indeed, that all
conclusions of this nature are not now infallible, but our judgments are liable to

mistake, and God only, whose is the book of life, and who is the Searcher of
hearts, can absolutely know them that are His (2 Tim. 2.19); yet we may,
without a presumptuous intrusion into things not seen, arrive at a moral
certainty in this matter. And I cannot see how Christian love can be cultivated,

how we can call one another brethren in the Lord, or how believers can hold
religious fellowship and communion with each other, unless they have some
solid and visible reason to conclude that they are loved with the same

everlasting love, were redeemed by the same Saviour, are partakers of like
grace, and shall reign in the same glory.

But here let me suggest one very necessary caution, viz., that though we may, at
least very probably, infer the election of some persons from the marks and
appearances of grace which may be discoverable in them, yet we can never