Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-01-21


none such have been found, J and if on the
other hand, the most definite declarations
are made that all who are born of the
Spirit will hold on their way and be saved
at last; then the doctrine offnaf persever-
ance ofthe saints is established.
AS other criptur4s than those adduced
are necessary to prove the perseverance
the saints, so other notices than those
contained in warnings and exhortations
are indispensable to secure it. These ad-
dressed to their consciences and to their
fears although necessary, cannot be relied
upon, without other motives adapted to
bring into exercise the two great springs
OF action in the human mind-faith and
hope. Were it not for confidence in the
great Captain Of our salvation, and hope
Of happy triumph at last, no other con-
sideration would avail 10 influence the
christian to hold his way.
After all the warnings and exhortations,
the christian may say there are so many
fficulties to encounter and so many dan
gers in the way, and am so weak and
have such a propensity to 60 astray that
shall certainly fail and | may as we'll
give it up now. To such God says: Isa
xii: 10, Fear thou not; for am with
thee; be not dismayed for | am thy God
l will strengthen thee; yea l will help
thee; yea will uphold thee with the
right hand Of my righteousness" 2 Cor.
xii: 9, MY grace is sufficient for thee;
for my strength is made perfect III weak
ness" Ps xviii: 8, and xxx, H.
Is xl: 20, 81.
Such assurances may convince the
christian that, looking to God for help, he
will be able to hold out to the end of life.
But even this is not enoug h. If he per-
severes to the end, will he be saved g
This question must be settled in the afir-
native, and sufficient foundation laid for
his faith and hope to rest upon in order to
move the springs Of action and draw from
him those efforts which are indispensable
to perseverance. Christ says, Matt. xiv
13, "He that shall endure to the end, the
same shall be saved" Rev ii: I, ITO
him that overcometh will l give to eat of
the tree Of life which is in the midst of
the paradise of God" LlOl Be thou faith
full unto death and l will give theea crown
oflife"
Paul felt the influence of these. 2 Tim
i: IL, Il know whom have believed,
and am persuaded that he is able to keep
that which | have committed unto him
against that day" Thess. v: %, "a,
" And the very God of peace sanctify you
wholly; and l pray God your whole
spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved
blameless unto the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ Faithful is he that calleth
you, ,oho also aoiU do It,"
The following declarations are among
those on which the doctrine of final per-
severance Of the saints is founded. John
v: "a. Verify, rertly, l say unto you,
He that heareh my aoOrd, and be!tereth
on him that sent me, hath everlasting life,
and shall not come into contamination, bat
is passed from death unto lite.' Here is
plain unequivocal declaration that such
as hear the son and believe on him that
sent him, in other words that are regener-
ated, "shdll not come into condemnation y
and thousand warnings and exhortatlons
will not in the least weaken, much less,
do away the truth Of this testimony. The
truth then, of the sentiment, that every
truly degenerate person will persevere
unto eternal life does not rest on lnferen-
ciaI testimony, but on the reraclty of
Christ.
Jesus discussed this subject at large in
the sixth chapter Of John where he repre-
sents it as the will Of the Father that ofall
he had given him he should lose nothing,
! but should raise 1t upat the last day, and
he repeats the assurance that he 4olu do 1T.
John vi 35, $40, Il am the bread of
! life. he that cometh to me shall never hun
ger and he that believeth on me shall
never thirst" =" "All that the Father
giveth me, shall come to me; and him
that cometh to me- | will in no wise cast
out. For came down from heaven, not
to do mine own will, but the will of him
that sent me. And this is the Fathers
will which hath sent me, that of all which
7 he hath given me, | should lose nothing,
! but should raise it up again at the last
day. And this is the will of him that
sent me, that every one that sceth the son,
and believeth on him, may have everiast
ing life, and l eoiU raise him up at the
last day"
Nothing can be more definite and une-
quivocal than these positive declarations
of Jesus that he will raise up at the last
day every one which seeth the son and
beiieveth on him" And the assurance is
not Conditional one There is no #,
: nor any contingency implied in it. 1.-THE
Savior had designed to settle and confirm
the doctrine beyond all possible contro-
, versy he could not have found language
= more appropriate. Yet he continued and
t dwelt upon the subject, repeating again
E and again the sentiment already advanced,
E verse, "A, As, 47-5l, mo man can come