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    selves that their own names will be found in the former catalogue i that they will be guided to the strait gate and the narrow way , instead of being carried along by the crowd which throngs the broad road that leadeth to destruction . As they have no means of penetrating the secrets of God's absolute decrees , which indeed , they are assured , are ( as far at least as they are concerned ) alj £ gejthex _ jy ^

    chances whether they shall ultimately belong to the one class or the other . They ought therefore on all fair and rational principles to conclude that the probability is strongly against their being admitted to the mansions of the blessed . I apprehend that , if men generally came to examine the evidence for these doctrines under the influence of this impression ,, which is certainly the proper one , the view they would be disposed to take of them would

    be materially altered . But when they read or hear from their preachers appalling details of the dreadful condition of the reprobate , or the horrors of eternal damnation , it never occurs to them to imagine that they can have any personal interest or concern in such descriptions , still less that according te-tlie only consistent practical application of these notions , it is more than probable that this tremendous lot will be their own . If it were possible to induce them to undertake the serious examination of the evidence

    under the influence of such views of their personal interest in the just determinationi of the quesition 7 it is reasonable to" think they would be more ready to perceive how utterly insufficient are the scriptural grounds upon which so terrific a superstructure has been erected . In the preceding pages I have endeavoured to show that the terms , election , chosen , called , and several others of similar import which frequently occur in the apostolic writings , were intended to

    relate , not to Christians at large , but to the disciples of those times ; so that many of those who have attempted to give them a universal application , have greatly misconceived the true meaning of Scripture ^ and have consequently been led into much talse and dangerous doctrine . Somfe may , perhaps , be disposed to object that if these views of the interpretations of such passages be admitted , a great part of . Scripture being supposed to have no longer any immediate reference to us and to our circumstances

    and duties , will lose its interest and value to the great body of Christians at the present day . This however is not a well-founded objection . In the first place , it must be rejm ^ ej ^ ej ^ dj , ^ thit . a ? Ch'flSttainify"is " pr 5 perly ^ peaKing'S'riTTSwsVfoyicaZ religion , depending for its authority upon the truth of certain facts which supply the foundation and evidence of its doctrines ; the sacred writings must ever derive their main value to us ( and a value beyond all price it surely is ) from their containing the authentic and unquestionable record of those facts and of the doctrines founded upon them . Of these doctrines , one of primary importance is that great mys *

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    OF PARTKTCJIAR ^ ELECTION . 109

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 1, 1833, page 109, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2611/page/13/