Sermon Tone Analysis

Scripture

Commentaries

Note, Our being put into a possibility of salvation, and a capacity for it, ought to be the matter of our rejoicing; when the Gentiles did but hear that the offers of grace should be made them, the word of grace preached to them, and the means of grace afforded them, they were glad.

“Now there is some hope for us.”

Many grieve under doubts whether they have an interest in Christ or no, when they should be rejoicing that they have an interest in him; the golden sceptre is held out to them, and they are invited to come and touch the top of it.

God by his Spirit wrought true faith in those for whom he had in his councils from everlasting designed a happiness to everlasting.

(1.)

Those believed to whom God gave grace to believe, whom by a secret and mighty operation he brought into subjection to the gospel of Christ, and made willing in the day of his power.

Those came to Christ whom the Father drew, and to whom the Spirit made the gospel call effectual

Thus all those captives, and those only, took the benefit of Cyrus’s proclamation, whose spirit God had raised up to build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, Ezra 1:5

This is an exposition of the member next going before, at least in my judgment.

For Luke showeth what manner [of] glory they gave to the word of God.

And here we must note the restraint, [reservation,] when he saith that they believed, (but) not all in general, but those who were ordained unto life.

And we need not doubt but that Luke calleth those τεταγμενους, who were chosen by the free adoption of God.

For it is a ridiculous cavil to refer this unto the affection of those which believed, as if those received the gospel whose minds were well-disposed.

For this ordaining must be understood of the eternal counsel of God alone.

Neither doth Luke say that they were ordained unto faith, but unto life; because the Lord doth predestinate his unto the inheritance of eternal life.

And this place teacheth that faith dependeth upon God’s election.

And assuredly, seeing that the whole race of mankind is blind and stubborn, those diseases stick fast in our nature until they be redressed by the grace of the Spirit, and that redressing floweth from the fountain of election alone

No marvel, therefore, if all do not receive the gospel;2 because, though our heavenly Father inviteth all men unto the faith by the external voice of man, yet doth he not call effectually by his Spirit any save those whom he hath determined to save.

Now, if God’s election, whereby he ordaineth us unto life, be the cause of faith and salvation, there remaineth nothing for worthiness or merits.

For it doth not find faith in men, save only because God doth call those inwardly whom he hath chosen, and because he draweth those who were his own before unto Christ, (John 6:37.)

Also Luke teacheth in the same words, that it cannot be that any of the elect should perish.

For he saith not that one or a few of the elect did believe, but so many as were elect.

For though God’s election3 be unknown to us until we perceive it by faith, yet is it not doubtful or in suspense in his secret counsel; because he commendeth all those whom he counteth his to the safeguard and tuition of his Son, who will continue a faithful keeper even unto the end.

The indwelling divine power of the Gospel manifests itself not only by leading to the conversion of those who believe, and by filling them with holy joy and happiness (ver.

48, 52), but also by not permitting those who reject it to remain as they are, since it incites them to exhibit an unholy zeal and violent passions, as well as to utter blasphemous words, ver.

45.

To some, the Gospel is a savour of life; to others, a savour of death

The words bear no other sense than that all those, and those alone, were really converted, who were ordered, appointed, by God to eternal life.

It is not the result of accident, nor of the unconditional caprice or whim of men, when any one, or, any particular individual, attains to saving faith; this result depends, on the contrary, on the providence of God, which orders all things even before the decisive moment arrives.

For, in matters pertaining to salvation and eternal life, not even the most inconsiderable circumstance can occur, without being ordered, guided and arranged by the will and power of God.

This is a truth which humbles as well as strengthens and comforts us.

We believe that the Lord knows them that are his, and knows them before they are openly manifested, so that he says of a certain place, “I have much people in this city.”

Do you think that the Lord does not foreknow?

How, then, can he prophesy?

If God foresees a certain thing is to be, why, then, it must be; and has not this all the fixity of predestination?

Moreover, “whom he did foreknow, he did predestinate.”

Is it not God that gives the disposition to believe?

If men are disposed to have eternal life, does not he in every case dispose them?

Is it wrong for God to give grace?

If it be right for him to give it, is it wrong for him to purpose to give it?

Would you have him give it by accident?

If it is right for him to purpose to give grace to-day, it was right for him to have purposed it before that date.

He is a God that changes not, and what he performeth to-day is not the purpose of to-day, but the purpose of all eternity: “For known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.”

God knows and God appoints those who shall believe and be saved.

But please note this fact: God can effect his purpose with man without violating his will.

He can leave man a man, with full use of his faculties, and yet turn his mind as he pleases.

The will is never more free than in conversion, and yet it is never more under subjection to divine power.

I do not know how the Lord governs the will: if I did know, I should be God.

Is not this cheering for the preacher?

We shall not labour in vain, nor spend our strength for nought.

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but the gospel shall not fail.

Men may rage against the gospel, and think to defeat its purpose; but the counsel of the Lord shall stand.

All that the Lord intended in creation, and in providence, and in grace, will be assuredly accomplished to the last jot and tittle.

In the kingdom of grace there shall be nothing to mar the glory of the Lord’s triumph when the record has been fully written.

This is a great comfort to the worker.

Let him be always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as his labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Bowed to the earth with horror at the guilt involved in the wilful rejection of the Lord Jesus by our hearers, we nevertheless triumph in the firm conviction that God, who sends us, will go with us, and that his purpose shall stand.

We believe in the sovereignty of God, not only in his right to do as he wills with his own grace, but also in his power to do so.