Study Desk

you are not in such a state, but in a spiritual one, provided the divine spirit dwell in you. now if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

for if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead, dwell in you; he that raised up Christ from the dead, shall likewise restore your mortal bodies to life, by his spirit that dwelleth in you.

mankind impatiently desire that the divine being would display himself to his creatures,

We know too, that all things co-operate for the good of those who love God, who, pursuant to his purpose, has now called them:

for whom he before approv'd, he predispos'd to follow the example of his son, who was to conduct them all as their elder brother;

he that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, will he not with him likewise freely give us all things?

that is, the children by natural descent are not thereby the children of God: but the children of the promise are alone considered as his posterity.

for before they were born, and had done neither good or evil, that the distinction which God had purposed to make might appear to be, not in consideration of their actions, but of his own free call,

thus some he pursues with his favours, and abandons others to their obduracy, according as he thinks fit.

But you will object, why does he then find fault? for "who can resist his will?"

is not the potter the master of his own clay, of the same mass to make one vessel for use and ornament, and another for a meaner purpose?

if the divine Being has patiently bore with those objects of his displeasure, that had been working out their own destruction, why may he not reveal himself to make them feel his vindictive power,

and display his infinite goodness to such objects of mercy, as he had prepared for glory?

You will say then, hath God discarded his people? by no means. for I my self am an Israelite, of the posterity of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

God hath not discarded his people whom he formerly approv'd. don't you know what the scripture says of Elias? how he complain'd to God against Israel,

consider then the divine benignity, and his severity: his severity to those who fell, and his benignity to you, provided you adhere thereto; otherwise you likewise will be lopt off.

and then all Israel shall be saved: as it is written , "there shall come out of Sion the deliverer, and shall turn away Jacob from his impiety.

O the depth of the divine goodness, wisdom, and contrivance! how impenetrable are his decrees, and his ways past finding out!

for who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his counsellor?

Now it is by virtue of my apostolical commission, that I charge every man among you, not to entertain too high an opinion of himself; but modestly consider, that 'tis God who has dealt to every man his proportion of spiritual gifts.