Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Reader! the oftener I read this precious verse, the more my soul becomes impressed with the sublime truths contained in it. Was there ever a form of words chosen, or can be chosen, to express the plainest and most palpable truths by, than is here used; both to shew and manifest the existence of the three distinct personalities of the Godhead, and their distinct office-characters, as revealed to the Church of God in Christ? What can more fully prove the joint operation of the Holy Three in One, by way of defining their distinct personality; and, at the same time, what more fully shew their oneness in all the essential nature and design, and in their merciful tendencies to the Church? Let us briefly consider each.
Elect, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. This foreknowledge doth not simply mean that divine perfection which comprehends an intimate acquaintance with all things, and which hath relation to all that is past, present, and future; but fore-appointment, choice, election, purpose, will, and pleasure. And therefore hath a special reference to what is uniformly ascribed, throughout the whole scriptures, to the personal act of God the Father, in the economy of grace. The Apostle Paul hath a similar phrase, when speaking with peculiar respect to the personal act of God the Father, he ascribes the election of the Church of God in Christ to him. According (saith he) as he hath chosen the Church in him before the foundation of the world, Ephesians 1:4
The next act of grace the Apostle takes notice of is in the same direct reference to the Person of God the Holy Ghost: Through sanctification of the Spirit. Here is evidently included the gracious work of the Holy Ghost, under all the branches of his sovereign power, in regeneration; and the whole blessings of spiritual life arising out of it. And, in this distinct agency of the Holy Ghost, the Person, and Godhead of the Lord the Spirit, flowing from the same love and complacency to the Church as the Father, are equally and expressly ascribed to Him, as his own free, gracious, and sovereign acts.
The third enumeration of grace is in reference to the Lord Jesus Christ, under the two great branches of his love to his Church, namely, his obedience, and his death, which the Apostle names by the words, unto obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Some have ventured to make the application of this obedience, as if was meant the obedience of Christ's people. But not to mention that all the obedience of creatures are but effects of grace, and not in any part the cause of salvation; how highly unsuitable and improper would it be, to introduce anything belonging to the creature, in the midst of those high and distinguishing acts of sovereign grace and mercy, which belong only to God, and which God in his threefold character of Person hath shewn the Church? Surely nothing can be more plain and self-evident, than that the Lord the Spirit, by his servant the Apostle, is here declaring to the Church the foundation truth of our holy faith, of the existence of the Three Persons in the Godhead; and that by these distinct acts of grace, they are known in the Church: and, that they have mutually entered into this Covenant-engagement with each other, for the accomplishment of those gracious works to the Church. And hence, the benediction which follows comes from those holy Persons unitedly; which, if the obedience of the creature was admitted between, would render improper, grace unto you, and peace be multiplied.
If the Reader will indulge me one moment, to offer a short reflection by the way, as we go, I would say, on this blessed verse of God by the Apostle, (which is an epitome, or compendium of all the precious things of our holy faith;) what a full and complete provision is here at once made, by and in the Persons of the Godhead themselves, for the present, and everlasting security and welfare of the whole Church of God? The Father's choice, in which there can be no change. The Son's obedience and blood, to which there can be nothing added, and is of the same everlasting efficacy, yesterday, and today, and forever. And the Holy Ghost's regenerating, sanctifying grace, renewing and making holy, and eternally keeping so, by which the chosen in Christ are blessed in time, and blessed to all eternity! Oh! the preciousness of this Scripture!
And, what a miserable going off from this everlasting Covenant, which is ordered in all things and sure, must that be, which some men are so fond of, but which none of them ever found could make happy; that these grand sources, act but as procuring causes, to bring men into an ability of doing somewhat towards their own salvation; that their obedience, joined to the sprinkling of the blood of Christ, may become the united cause of their acceptance. And thus, they make no more of the great and finished salvation of Christ, the regeneration of the heart by the Holy Ghost, and the everlasting love of the Father in the choice of the Church, to be holy, and without blame before him in love; than that of vamping and brushing up the old nature anew, and sending it forth a second time, at a peradventure, that man's free will may join God's grace, and so the first disobedience of man by the fall, be repaired by the after good behavior of the sinner; and Christ and he share the merits jointly together, of eternal life and salvation? Reader! what think you of this? Would you adventure your soul upon it? Would you think such a righteousness as this safe to enter eternity with? Would you go forth at the call of God into the eternal world with a covering so flimsy? Reader! I know not what your views are: but I bless God that I have not so learned Christ. But in how many hearts such an error reigns, in how many congregations such an error is taught in this awful day, I leave with the Lord. Sufficient be it for me, to bear, thus publicly, my testimony against it.