vinists, in the established church: and the term partial redemption, (264;) being ambiguous, is used by none, but the opposers of Calvinism.

P. cclxv. Note. Predestination, &c." The original word, translated predestinate; (for the noun predestination is not found in Scripture,) occurs in the Acts of the apostles. "To do whatsoever thine "hand and thy counsel determined before to be "done." (powρire predestinated.) St. Luke was' not an apostle, but he records the words of the apostles, before St. Paul was numbered among them.

• Predestination is always used in Scripture în a good sense ; no persons are said to be predestinated to death, or to punish ment, or to unbelief. Nefas est dicere Deum aliquid nisi bonum prædestinare.' Aug, de Præd. cap. 2.-Even the authors of the Centuria Magdeburgenses, who were Calvinists, say, Quoties apostoli verbo prædestinationis utuntur, (St. Paul is the only apostle who does use it,) nihil aliud eo indicant, quam ut inqui rentem causas cur ad salutem æternam consequendam pulla alia sit via, quam ea quæ a Christo est nobis parata, docent sic Deo in arcano suo consilio, quo voluit miseriis generis humani mederi, placuisse, eumque ut eo modo fierit ordinasse, et velle ut ⚫a se præscriptum ad salutem compendium agnoscamus et appre 'hendamus. Cent. Magd. Cent. 1. lib. 2. cap. 4. p. 238.'

•Пpo prius definio, prius constituo, to determine before hand, from p, and op, or opes, a boundary. The horizon. * Acts iv. 28.

It is unlawful to say, that God predestinates any thing but good.' **As often as the apostles use the word predestination, they indicate "nothing else by it, thán that they may teach one, who enquires, why 'there is no other way to attain eternal salvation, except that which is 'prepared for us by Christ, that so it has pleased God in his secret counsel, ' by which he willed to heal the miseries of the human race; and he has ' ordained, that it should be effected in this way; and willed, that we should acknowledge and apprehend it, as a compendium prescribed by 'bim unto salvation.'

A parallel passage in the same book does not indeed contain the compound word; but it has the uncompounded verb in a connexion, amounting to precisely the same. "Him being delivered by the determi"nate counsel, and foreknowledge of God; ye have "taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and σε slain.” Ωρισμένη θηλη, και προγνώσει τη Θεέ, must mean the same as predestination: for the foreknowledge and decided purpose or decree are inseparably joined together. The same may be said of another text, "He hath determined the times before ap"pointed." Όρισας προτεταγμένες και φες. The only difference here is, that the preposition #po, is annexed to Trayμves, instead of 'Opiras: but would any learned man object to the translation, He predetermined, (or predestinated,) the appointed times?'"The Son of man goeth, as it was de❝termined.” (xaтa to`úpioμevov.) Пpo is not here added, either to the participle, or to any other word in the sentence; but surely the meaning is precisely the same; for the word is in the preterite sense, implying a previous determination, or predestination "But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, " which God ordained before the world unto our

"glory."3 (Пpowpiov, predestinated.) "Who were "before ordained to this condemnation." (poye

papuvo, written before hand.)

The result of this investigation seems to be: 1. That predetermination, as to the counsels and works of God, and his dealings with mankind, was

Acts ii. 23. * Acts xvi. 26. 31 Cor. ii. 7.

4 Jude 4.

an idea familiar to the minds of the apostles. 2. That St. Luke, reporting the words of the other apostles, and not of St. Paul, uses the word powpice, predestinated; and this with respect to the base conduct of the worst of men. But 3dly. That the word, rendered predestinate, is never used concerning the eternal estate of men, with respect of any, except those "who are chosen unto salvation." And this serves to confirm what has been before advanced; namely, that the Scripture, in speaking on this subject, is far more full and explicit, concerning election, than concerning what is improperly called reprobation; and that we are warranted in adopting a similar reserve, on the latter subject. The rest of the note is not very perspicuous: but if the writers were Calvinists, they, on this occasion, seem to have lost sight of their own principles, which is no uncommon case among Theologians.

P. cclxv. 1. 12. Predestination, &c." The article

''Predestination to life is here declared to be the eternal pur 'pose of God, to deliver from curse and damnation, and to bring to ' everlasting salvation.-But who are to be thus delivered and 'saved?' Those whom God hath chosen in Christ out of man. 'kind,'' that is, those to whom God decreed to make known the ' gospel of Christ. And are all to whom the gospel is made known, predestinated to life? No; to prevent this conclusion, 'the article proceeds to describe those who are 'endued with so

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' excellent a benefit of God,' in these words, They be called ' according to God's purpose, by his Spirit working in due season: they through grace obey the calling: they be justified 'freely: they be made the sons of God by adoption; they be 'made like the image of his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ: 'they walk religiously in good works, and at length by God's 'mercy they attain to everlasting felicity, that is, they on their

says, to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he bath chosen in Christ out of mankind, and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salva'tion, as vessels made to honour.' Those whom ' he hath chosen in Christ out of mankind; that is, 'those to whom God decreed to make known the gospel.' Now are all, to whom God decreed to make known the gospel, chosen in Christ, to be delivered from wrath and damnation, and to be brought by Christ unto everlasting salvation? Such a comment is an addition to the article, a total alteration of its plain meaning, and, in fact, substituting another article in its place. And are all, 'to whom the gospel is made known, predestinated unto life?' Thus his Lordship proceeds to argue from his own words, as if they were a part of the article: and in this way, it may be easy to prove any doctrine from any premises. No, to prevent 'this conclusion, &c.' What conclusion? that all 'to whom the gospel is made known, are predesti"nated unto life.I cannot conceive, that such a thought ever arose in the minds of those who compiled the article, or of any man who read it without a comment. Are there then, two sorts of persons spoken of in this part of the article? • Predestina

! part conform to the conditions of the gospel-covenant, by obey. ⚫ing the calling, and walking religiously in good works, under

the influence and assistance of the Holy Spirit; and, as a re'ward, they are justified in this world, are made sons of God by adoption, are made like the image of Christ, and at length ' attain everlasting felicity.'

Art. xvii.

'tion to life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby, (before the foundations of the world 'were laid,) he hath constantly decreed by his counsel, secret to us, to deliver from curse and damna'tion those, whom he hath chosen in Christ out of 'mankind, and to bring them by Christ, to ever'lasting salvation, as vessels of honour.' Is there in this passage any, even the most distant intimation of 'those to whom God had decreed to make known 'the gospel,' as distinct from those, whom he predestinated unto life? Wherefore, they which be 'endued with so excellent a benefit of God, be called, according to God's purpose by his Spirit 'working in due season; they through grace obey 'the calling; they be justified freely: they be made 'the sons of God by adoption; they be made like 'the image of his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ; 'they walk religiously in good works, and, at length, by God's mercy, they attain to everlasting felicity. 'Endued with so excellent a benefit.' Does not this particle so, expressly refer to the persons before described? If not, to what does it refer, and why was it inserted? That is, they on their part perform 'the conditions of the covenant, &c. Certainly they do; being called by his Spirit working in due season; through grace they obey the calling, &c. "God worketh in them to will and to do of his good pleasure. And, as a reward, &c.' No doubt God graciously rewards the good works, which are "the fruits of his Spirit;" but good works are 'the fruits of faith, and follow after justification:"

'Art. xii.