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heavenly messenger who was empowered to make theifl , known . In this point of view , far from indicating that their work was accomplished , or that their final - ( perseverance to speak in the technical language of modern theology , a language however which derives little , if any , countenance from that of holy writ ) was fixed and certain , so as to render it impossible for them to fall away Ffoln ^ race rTt ^ Sthertniposed ~ -on—them ™ additional ~ d ufeies-and
responsibilities ; it called upon them to use further and increased diligence to show themselves ^ in some measure , worthy of the privileges with which they had been honoured ; to make that calling and election which they had already received , firm add stedfast , by bringing forth the fruits of righteousness . They had been already signally distinguished by the-grace and blessing of God in Jesus Christ ; but their knowledge of the right way would be of no use to them , unless they carefully trod therein . Their belief
in the reality of the precious promises which he came to publish would be of no benefit but rather the contrary * if it did not operate as an eifectual motive with them to . add to their faith greater degrees of fortitude , prudence ^ patience , godliness , brotherly kindness , and charity . For these things being in them and abounding , the knowledge which they possessed of our Lord Jesus Christ , and the exceeding riches of the grace oFGod published to mankind by him , would : not be found , in them vain and fruitless .
That those who were elected did in general persevere unto the end , so as to reap the blessed fruits , we have every reason to believe ; those who were admitted to receive this unspeakable gift , for the most part showed themselves in such a sense worthy of it , as to lead a life pot unsuitable to their Christian profession . But though this might be generally , it was by no means always or necessarily true 5 nor is there any passage of scripture which in the slightest degree countenances such an idea . There are , on
the contrary , frequent allusions to a falling away ; as though some of those who had been thus distinguished , had shown themselves still under the fatal influence of the god of this world ; crucifying to themselves the Son of God afresh , and putting him to open shame ; of whom the writer to the Hebrews declares that it is impossible to renew them again to repentance ; by which he means morally impossible , since , in order to this , no new or additional arguments remain to be urged upon them which they have not already heard and heard in vain , *
* It is surprising , that notwithstanding the frequent occurrence of allusions to this falling away , which we know to have taken p lace in the priwiitive church , through ttis evil influence of false judaizing teachers , and from other causes , the notions of an absolute unconditional election has prevailed very extensively , and , if I mistake not , has , in several instances , led the authors of our common translation to xm ' srepresent the true sense of scripture , Of this we have a remarkable example ( Matt . xxiv . 24 , not corrected in , the Improved Version , where by the unauthorized insertion of two Jjttle words , they have entirely altered the sense of the passage ; ' so as to deceive , if [ it
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OB BARTIGULAft BIBCTIOJN . . 107
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 1, 1833, page 107, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2611/page/11/
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