saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye."

Q. What conclusion may be drawn from what has been said?

A. That some will be saved, and that all may, if they will come unto Christ, that they may have life. "All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out," John vi. 37.

Scripture Proofs.

Ephesians i. 4, 5. 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: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.

2 Timothy i. 9. Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

In treating of these matters,' the pious Bishop Ridley says, 'I am so fearful that I dare not speak farther, yea almost none otherwise than the very text does, as it were, lead me by the hand.' This article seems to have been framed in accordance with the text: "All that the Father hath given me shall come to me; and whosoever cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out,"-teaching, in other words, that some will be saved; but that none are

excluded except those who "will not come unto Christ that they may have life." There is no doubt but that Calvinists and Arminians agreed about the wording of this article; and why they should not agree about it now, I know not. One thing, however, is certain,-that when we see a man live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present evil world, whether Calvinist or Arminian, we see a real Christian, beyond all doubt: for real Christians, differing as they do in some minute points of controversial theology, all agree in this, viz., they are all penitent for their transgressions; they are all mourning over their innate depravity; they are all looking up to the same Saviour for pardon through his blood; they are all praying for the influences of the same Spirit; they are all striving against the same body of sin; and all are pressing forward towards the same mark for the prize of their high calling of God in Christ Jesus. With respect to the much-disputed doctrine of final perseverance, the Scriptures tell us that "he that endureth unto the end, shall be saved." The doctrine then is best shewn by persevering. Though I am no Arminian,' says Mr. Simeon, I do think that the refinements of Calvinism have done great harm to the Church, they have driven multitudes from the plain and popular way of speaking, used by the inspired writers, and made them unreasonably and unscripturally squeamish in their modes of expres

sion.' We all want a Saviour, and God be praised, we may all possess Him; and as to Calvinists and Arminians, observes a pious writer, as there are only five points on which they differ, and at least five hundred on which, if real Christians, they agree, I desire to embrace all the articles of our common faith, and leave the rest to be settled in heaven. "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God but those things which are revealed belong unto us, and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law," Deut. xxix. 29.

XVIII.

OF OBTAINING ETERNAL SALVATION ONLY BY THE NAME OF CHRIST.

They also are to be had accursed, that presume to say, that every man shall be saved by the law or sect which he professeth, so that he be diligent to frame his life according to that law, and the light of nature. For Holy Scripture doth set out unto us only the name of Jesus Christ, whereby men must be saved.

Q. Who are to be had accursed?

A. Those who presume to say that any man shall be saved by the law or sect which he professeth. Q. Upon what conditions is it asserted, that a man shall be thus saved?

A. So that he be diligent to frame his life according to that law, and the light of nature.

Q. Wherefore is this an accursed doctrine ?

A. Because Holy Scripture doth set out to us only the name of Jesus Christ, whereby men must be saved.

Scripture Proofs.

Galatians iii. 21, 22. For if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Acts iv. 12. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.

Acts xvi. 30, 31. And he said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.

John xiv. 6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way.

John iii. 18. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only-begotten Son of God.

In every respect, from first to last, our Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation of all our hopes of salvation. From Him arises the beginning of religion, repentance; "Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance," no less than forgiveness of sins. From Him proceeds Faith; "He is the author and finisher of our faith." From Him is derived our reconciliation with God; "through Him we have access to the Father." This article is to be considered as directed against those, who (like the liberals of the present day) maintained, that all religions were equally acceptable to God; whereas the Bible