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Untitled Article
With regard to the scriptural arguments which have been adduced in support of this tremendous doctrnte , I observe , in the first place , that many of the expressions on which the greatest stress is laid , are adopted by the apostles from the Old Testament , and were naturally suggested to them hy the analogy between the separation of God ' s ancient people the Jews , for his worship and service , and the separation , which was then in progress , of the church of Christ , from both Jewish and Gentile unbelievers . Hence ^ X-9 J ^§ tyM ^*? l ? saints , ' ' a peculiar people , ' holy nation / ' a royal
priesthood ;'—terms which were familiar to fh" ^ m ~ 1 rr ~ their ~ own"S"criptures and which they adopted as aptly describing the condition and circumstances of the first converts . But these circumstances were in many respects widely different from any thing which prevails at the present day . They were a little flock—recently selected as it were by the especial providence of God , without any peculiar merit or exertion on their part , to receive the
preaching of the apostles , and by that means to be introduced to the enjoyment of great and distinguished privileges . They obtained a knowledge of the Divine nature and perfections which their wise men of old had in vain sought for ; and were encouraged to entertain views of the pardoning grace and mercy of God towards repentant sinners , as well as of his intentions respecting all men in another state , which it was impossible for them by the exercise of unaided reason to establish as facts , or in some instances even to
suggest as mere conjectures . When therefore the disciples , whether Jews or Gentiles , compared their own condition with that of the great majority of their countrymen , who were still left in the darkness of heathen superstition , or subject to the overpowering influence of Jewish prejudices against the nation of a suffering Messiah , and a revelation addressed indiserirninately to all mankind , they would naturally feel that they had been elected to enjoy peculiar advantages through the especial grace of God manifested . towards them . In conformity with what has now been observed , it will appear upon
examination , that in all the passages on which any considerable stress has been laid , as favouring the commonly received doctrine upon this subject ; the writer has in view , not the character of the faithful and obedient disciple in general as opposed to the sinner , but the condition of the converts in the newly-formed Christian church , as distinguished from Jewish and Gentile unbelievers . Thus , ( 1 Thess . i . 4 . ) ' Knowing brethren your election of God ;'—and again , ( 2 Thess . ii . 13 . ) ' But we ought to give thanks always to God for you , brethren beloved of the Lord , that God from the beginning
chose you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit , and through belief of the truth ; for which end he hath called you by the gospel which we preach , to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ . ' When it is considered that these epistles were addressed chiefly , if not exclusively , to Gentile Christians , very recently converted from heathenism , we cannot but refer the above expressions to the grace of God manifested in separating them to his knowledge and service from their idolatrous practices , and affording , them the opportunity of working out their own salvation by faith
and obedience to the Jaw of Christ . It has no reference to a firidV election , because it evidently refers to something that is past and already completed . The great goodness of God in sending them the word of this salvation , and calling them out of darkness into his marvellous light , could not butbefresh and lively in their minds . They would therefore be fully prepared to feel it as a great and undeserved blessing which they had received immediately from the hand of their heavenly Father , and to enter into the full meaning of the apostle ' s representation of it , when he styles it the grace of God bestowed on them , not of works , but through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ .
Untitled Article
76 UNITARIAN CHRONICLE .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 1, 1833, page 76, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2609/page/12/
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