Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-01-28

And here, | repeat the promise !. made to
you in John xiv re-, because I live We
shalt live also. Rev.. IS, am he
that liveth, and was dead and behold 1
am. alive forevermore, Amen and have
the keys Of he'll and Of death"
p" By these blessed assurances the guide
inspires the almost fainting traveller with
fresh courage and strength, who pressing
forward with the rest, they all at length
find themselves safely conducted through
all the difficulties and dangers of the way
to their desired rest.
i This comparison exhibits but a small
specimen of the means which God uses
under his experimenting providence, and
Of the manner in which, through the
Spirit he applies them to believers to Sc
cure their perseverance to eternal glory.
They are not carried, but led through
the dangers of the present world. Mel
Their are they constrained against their
wills, but go voluntarily, influenced only
by motives addressed to their minds cal
culated to lead them to a right course Of
action.
Now let some question be asked in re-
gard to the comparison. l. Was there
any danger in those places where some Of
the company turned of. from. the right
path? Yes; there was precipice and a
lion. Would they have been inevitably
lost if they had gone on in those paths?-
Certainly !; in one case they would have
been irrecoverably dashed down the pre-
cipice, and in the other torn in peices by
the lion Gould they have persisted and
gone on in those paths? Yes; they had
ability to do it. They had no lack Of nat
ural faculties, nor any insurmountabIe OBJ
stacles to prevent their doing it if they
would But did they do it? No; not
because they could not, but, because that
knowing the fearful consequences, they
nroutd not. They were prevented, not by
any natural, insurmountable barrier, but
by a moral influence which left them en-
tirely free to 60 on or not to dot as they
should choose; but with these warnings
before them, it was morally certain they
would return to the right path. -
In the case of those who were discour-
aged, ifthey had set down and given up
all further effort, would they ever have
got safely through? No. None but
those who overcome shall eat Of the tree
of life. Could they have remained mac
five and perished? Yes. They could, if
they ecould And without the warnings
exhortations and promises of tie gospel
presented to them by their guide, they
might, or might not have done so. But
with these before them, it was morally
certain, they acouM not And it is the bu-
siness ofthe guide to hold out to them
these considerations and impress them on
their minds wherever he sees it to be nc
cessary.
Now under the guidance of Christ the
Captain of our salvation, his followers are
in danger of apostatizing, and unceasing
effort and watchfulness on their part is ne
cessary to prevent it :; yet when the Cos
pei motives are brought to bear with full
weight on their minds by the influence of
the Spirit, under the experimenting prov
idence and grace of their leader, their per-
severance is with him no matter of contin-
gency. And it is morally certain that
they will hold on their way unto eternal
life. Hence he promises eternal life to
all who by faith and repentance come to
him And hence again an apostle says
2 Tim l. IL, Il know whom | have be-
lieved, and am persuaded that he is able
to keepthat which I have committed unto
him against that day." -
Ifthen the salvation of all who believe
=, on the Lord Jesus Christ is secured so a:
to be matter Of certainty with him, wha
is the need of all those warnings &c. p
, Because means are inseparabl y connect
I ed with the end These warnings, ex
f hortations and promises are the tert
, things achich render their SaLratIOm Ger
tain, under the providence of God. AM
: all these means are determined by him
: This subject may be illustrated by a smal
l. portion Of scripture history: (Acts 27.)-
n When Paul and his company were over
: taken by a storm. ia their voyage to Rome
: the Lord assured him that there should b
r the loss7of no mans life, but only of tn
+ ship This assurance he made known t
e his pany.,sdeclaring that hei 6etieue
n God, thatIt shOutd DO eeeR as itacas tot
N him. = Afterwards when the sailors wer
" about to fee out of the ship, he saidto tn
,e centurion and to,the soldiers, except thes
IN abide in the ship We cannot be saved
1 Now could the promise of God whic
m Paul had .madetknoWn to- them be relic
ir Iupen4 nj Certainly w. And the sequel pro
!" ed it so. IL the9sailofs had left the shi
r would they .have,tbeen saTed2 Paul sal
st ftheyaTould not Gould. they have bee
a. suffered to leave theaship2 Yes; the
ed could, and probably ~aOOaId have done
i'd thad not Paul waTnedt the centurion al
III soldiers Of the danger. But being war
On ed, it was very certain they would tax
at measures TO prevent i" After the DO
e, was sent adrif, the shipmen might ha1
20 tthrown themselves into the sea and ha
n IL c.l l. ].