CHAPTER IX.

ON THE PERSEVERANCE OF SAINTS.

THE ACTS of God, as we remarked in the last

apter, are the result of his previous and corresponding PURPOSES. Whatever he does, he designed to do. Is it not equally true that he accomplishes whatever he has designed. This is the present object of inquiry. The truth has been demonstrated that God purposed to save sinners before the world began. Will he execute this purpose ? The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand. (Isa. 14. 24, 27.) God is not a man that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent : hath he said, and shall he not do it? hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good ? (Num. 23. 19.) For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us. (Heb. 6.

or

16. 18.)

He, then, “ with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning,” will fulfil his determination to save his chosen inheritance. But salvation, when completed, will be the perfect and everlasting holiness of heaven. The execution of this purpose, therefore, requires not merely conviction, and regeneration, and sanctification, but it must secure the saints against forfeiting, by disobedience, the promised redemption. The simple question, then, is—Will God perform the good work which he has begun, and keep the saints by his power, through faith, unto salvation ? This is not denied by those who admit the doctrine of personal election, as it has been explained ; for it is absurd to maintain that those who are absolutely predestinated unto life will be suffered to wander away from the fold and perish. If the purpose respecting their salvation is absolute and unchangeable, equally sure must be the fulfilment of the

purpose. The

perseverance of the saints, therefore, is the result of their election, and the two doctrines must stand or fall together. The truth of the one has been already demonstrated ; and, since the truth of the other follows as a necessary consequence, we have only to illustrate the doctrine of perseverance-exhibit its practical tendency-and guard it against perversion.

The word PERSEVERANCE signifies steadiness in pursuit, constancy in progress. As used with reference to the present subject, it means that real saints, notwithstanding their imperfections and backslidings, will preserve to the end of life some degree of holiness. Or, in other words, they will not relapse into their former unregenerate state. In order to maintain this position, it will be necessary to account for the instances of apostacy mentioned in the Scriptures, and the warnings against defection addressed to Christians. I shall consider,

I. The instances of supposed apostacy.

The truth was predicted that many deceivers and deceived should unite with the visible church, and afterwards fall away from their vain profession. When Christ spake of the mysteries of redemption, and the necessity of divine agency in bringing sinners into his kingdom, from that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. (John 6. 66.) Paul says to Timothy : This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia, be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. He says also that Hymeneus, Alexander, and Philetus, “made shipwreck concerning the faith.” Of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus : who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some. (1 Tim. 1. 19, 20:2 Tim. 1. 15: 2. 18.) Those who are called "stony ground hearers,' may be reckoned in the same class, and we may

add the enemies of the truth mentioned 2 Tim. chap. 3. Now it is evident that unregenerate men may be much enlightened, and bear in their external conduct a very near resemblance to Christians. The Saviour forewarned his disciples of this : False Christs and false prophets shall arise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. (Mark 13. 22.) Beloved, remember ye, says the apostle Jude, (v. 17-19.) the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts? These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. Paul says of such: They are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ; and no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2 Cor. 13. 13–15. May we not account, then, for the cases of apostacy recorded in the Scriptures, without supposing that any child of God was deceived, and left to perish? No matter if some of those who fell away from their profession of faith, prophesied, and did many wonderful works. Balaam, and Saul, and Caiaphas, might have accomplished all these things in an unregenerate state. Many in that day will say unto me, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils ? and in thy name done many wonderful works ? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you—never acknowledged you as my disciples. (Matt. 7. 22, 23.) Many who professed to be disciples of Christ, were offended when he called himself the bread from heaven. They said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? and they walked no more with him. But it is written concerning them : Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. (John 6. 60–66.) If this testimony is insufficient to establish the truth that the apostates which have been mentioned were never true believers, the apostle John is a decisive witness : They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us : but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. But

ye

have an unction from the HOLY ONE. (1 John 2. 19, 20.) The only correct interpretation of this passage is the following -and if there were no other proof in the Bible, it would establish the perseverance of the saints: They professed to be Christians, but they were not, for if they had been Christians, they would have remained such. There must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. (1 Cor. 11. 29.)