National Election--Individual Election.

Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. - 13: 29 When they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.

1 Pet. 2:8 A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

Jude 4 There are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rev. 17: 17 God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. [See 3, 264-7.]

253. National election.

Dt. 4: 20 The LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.-7: 6 Thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. 32: 9 The LORD'S portion is his people; Jocob is the lot of his inheritance. 10 He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.

Ps. 33: 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. Is. 45: 4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name.

Rom. 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. 9: 4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises.

254. Individual election.

Mat. 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last for many be called, but few chosen.-24: 22 For the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

Jn. 13: 18 I speak not of you all; I know whom I have chosen. 15: 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit,

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Individual Election.

and that your fruit should remain. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Ac. 13: 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life, believed.

Rom. 8: 28 We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren. - 9: 10 Not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac. 11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God, according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth ;) 12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses: I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.-11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

Ep. 1: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved. 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.

1 Th. 1: 4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. -5: 9 God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Th. 2: 13 We are bound to give thinks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth.

1 Pet. 1: 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. [See 234, 242, 584.]

Election before faith-Vessels of Wrath - Means and Ends.

255. Election previous to faith.

Ep. 1: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.

Rev. 17:8 The beast that thou sawest, was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, (whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world,) when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

256. Purposes respecting the "vessels of wrath” —reprobation.

Ex. 9: 16 In very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

Pr. 16: 4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea even the wicked for the day of evil.

Mk. 4: 11 He said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

Rom. 9: 17 The Scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory.

2 Cor. 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

2 Pet. 2: 12 These, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption. [See 252, 260, 267, 435, 436, 560.]

257. God's purposes inciu le means and ends.

Ac. 27: 22 Now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God,

Nature and efficacy of.

whose I am, and whom I serve, 24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Cesar: and lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. 30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under color as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, 31 Paul said to the centurion, and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.

2 Th. 2: 13 We are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth.

1 Pet. 1: 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. [See 17, (3).]

258. God's purposes encourage the use of means.

Dan. 9: 2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. And I set my face unto the Lord GOD, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes.

Ac. 18: 9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: 10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee, to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. 11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. [See 431.]

PROVIDENCE OR AGENCY OF GOD.

259. Nature and efficacy of God's providence.

Gen. 1: 3 God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

Ps. 29: 4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. 5 The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. 7 The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire. 8 The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve. 33: 6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 8 Let all the carth

Particularity and extent of.

fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 9 He spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.- 66: 7 He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves.

Heb. 11: 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. [See 218.]

260. Particularity and extent of God's providence.

1 Ch. 29: 12 Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto. all.

Ps. 135: 6 Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. 7 He causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries. 147: 8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. 9 He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. 15 He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly. 16 He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes. 17 He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? 18 He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.

Pr. 16: 33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

Is. 26: 12 Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. -45: 7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Jer. 10: 13 When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.

Am. 3: 6 Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it?

Mat. 10: 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall rot fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Rom. 11: 36 For of him, and through him, and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever.