HOLD FAST THIS FORM OF SOUND WORDS...

"God hath chosen us in Christ, before the foundation of the world." —Ephesians 1:4 [KJV]

So the apostles wrote and preached, to comfort and establish their brethren in the faith of Christ, in the love of God, and in the sanctification of the Spirit unto all true holiness. The election of sinners, by God the Father in Christ Jesus, from all eternity, is the foundation from which all faith and hope spring. If this truth is rejected, the atonement of Jesus is made precarious, the work of the Spirit uncertain, salvation doubtful, faith void, the promise of none effect, and the hope of eternal life is made to depend on the will and power of weak and vile sinners, instead of the grace and truth of God. But in every age, men of corrupt minds, destitute of the truth, have opposed God's sovereign grace, everlasting love, and eternal purposes. God hath suffered it, "that those who are approved might be made manifest."—I Corinthians 11:19. Humble, self-emptied sinners, who are poor in spirit, and lowly in their own eyes, plainly discern that systems of human pride, schemes of self-confidence, are set up to establish vain hopes and self-righteous pleas, in opposition to the truths of God: "If it were possible to deceive the very elect of God."—Matthew 24:24. But His love towards His children is too great to suffer it. And they do well to take heed to the true light of electing grace and love; which shines with such glory in the person of Jesus, to the comfort of their souls, through the faith of Him.

"Beware of men; call no man Rabbi," saith our divine Teacher. Yet saith Paul to his son Timothy, "The things which thou hast heard of me, the same commit thou to faithful men; who shall be able to teach others also."—II Timothy 2:2. So a standing ministry hath been established, whom God hath sent forth in every age boldly to preach the God-glorifying, soul-humbling, faith-establishing, sin-subduing truths of the gospel. Human compositions, agreeable to God's truth, are precious; as they are made establishing to the faithful. Thanks to God for those sweet and comfortable words of the 17th article of the established church. Our pious reformers say, 'The godly consideration of predestination, and our election in Christ, is full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godly persons, and such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of the flesh and their earthly members, and drawing up their minds to high and heavenly things. It doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation, to be enjoyed through Christ. It doth fervently kindle their love towards God." Here are blessed scriptural marks of a true Christian: if thou findest them in thine own heart, give God the glory of electing love, and "hold fast this form of sound words in faith and love."—II Timothy 1:13.

-William Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)

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