true of us all in the Divine will, purpose, and ordination.

But what one out of the whole number hath God chosen from among his brethren, and promised to acquit him at the day of final judgment? Not one. It is true still that God will judge every man according to his deeds. Our privileges are in this world,-in the world to come we also shall give account of them to a God of infinite equity.

So then we may thus paraphrase these three verses: To them that love God all things, even sufferings, work together to bring them to that good, eternal glory in heaven, which God hath prepared for them that love Him. I speak to Christians, to them who are called, according to His purpose, into His Church, and I place this glory distinctly before their eyes, because God foreordained them (His people whom He foreknew) to this glory, conformity to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren. And those whom God thus foreordained to this glory, them He calleth into His Church and forgiveth them their past sin,-for them He hath also prepared this glory. Patience, therefore, brethren, under your sufferings, for all things tend to bring those who love God to that good which God has foreordained for them.

SERMON XXVI.

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be

for us, who can be against us ?"

WE come at length to the nine last verses of this chapter, which bring this part of the Apostle's subject to a complete conclusion. They are a series of rapid, earnest, eloquent sentences, in which the Apostle declares the absolute certainty of that good, that glory, which God hath prepared for them that love Him.

"What shall we then say to these things? If God is for us, who shall be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? God is He that justifieth, who is he that condemneth? Christ is He that died, yea more, that is also risen again, who is also at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."

The order of thought in this passage and its connection with the former seems to be this:-If there have been from the beginning a Paradise of pleasures for evermore at God's right hand (Ps. xvi, 12), foreordained for them that love Him; if our glorification together with Christ be God's ultimate purpose towards us; if, in order to its attainment, He hath called us into His Church, and hath forgiven us all trespasses (Eph. iv, 32); if God is, as He is thus evidently shown to be so far, for us, or, on our side, who shall be against us? opposed to us? In the battle against manifold temptations which we have to fight, from the day of our admission into the Church militant here on earth until our admission into the Church triumphant in heaven,-shall not God continue to be for us? If we be worsted in that battle, surely it will not be for lack of His help? He who hath begun the good work" surely will not be wanting in carrying on that work to completion. (Phil. i, 6.) He who hath brought us up out of the land of Egypt, through the water, into this wilderness, will not here desert us. If He spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, for our good;—is there anything that He will spare in order to the same end? Surely there is nothing. That which He hath done for us is a pledge of what He doeth now and will do even unto the

end. Such is our Father's love for us His chosen people.

Yea! but (this thought seems to occur, verse 33, and it will occur to any man who ever cares to think at all) we, His chosen people, do nevertheless rebel against Him; and if we, God's elect, "say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves;" for we are justly chargeable with guilt incurred day by day: but "who shall bring any charge against God's elect ?" Not that there is no charge to bring. There are charges in abundance. But they must be brought before God. But "God is He that justifieth,-who is he that condemneth ?" There is none but God to condemn them, and it is He that justifieth, that pardoneth them, that heareth their daily prayer, "Forgive us our trespasses." And why? For Christ's sake. For Christ is not a dead, but a living Saviour: His work is not all past, but is "It is Christ that died, yea!

still going on for us. more, that is also risen again, who is also at the right hand of God, who also maketh (is now making) intercession for us:"-for us, Christians, the elect people of God. As another Apostle expresses it: "If any man (of us, Christians) sin, we have an Advocate with the Father." (1 John ii, 1.)

It would be hard to find, in the whole sacred volume, four verses so full of God's loving mind

towards us as these. They are (as it were) free and unrestrained in their expressions. "God's bounty, like a flowing tide," runs over to all His chosen people. There are no limitations, no cautions, no suspected possibilities. All is large, free, generous love towards all His people. They sin,-true! but who shall lay anything to their charge? He forgiveth their sin,-is not Christ their living Intercessor?

It is an ungracious task to have to warn God's people against abusing this confession of God's love for them and ready mercy for their sins. Let no man take liberties with God's love and mercy. God's mercy is an awful thing. "There is mercy with Thee" (says the Psalmist), "therefore shalt Thou be feared." (Ps. cxxx, 4.) It may not be put to the test. "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God;" i. e. put

His promises to

the test. He justifieth, He not only hath remitted our birth-sin in our baptism,-but, since that time, He remitteth our sins;-but what sins? God remits the sin you hate,-not the sin you love. The sin you have and hold and cherish, like a viper, in your bosom, God assuredly will punish. Sin is remitted only upon repentance," repentance whereby we forsake sin." God indeed is a God who justifieth: as He proclaimed of Himself to Moses (Exod. xxxiv) :