160 Meaning of Election CHAP. 



mifids since the period of the Reformation, had been 

 asked of Saint Paul, we can see plainly enough, 

 from his writings, how he would have answered it. 

 Most of his epistles are addressed to congregations, 

 and he always addresses these as consisting of men 

 whom God had called and chosen. We consequently 

 cannot doubt that his reply would have been some- 

 what to this effect : " The fact that you confess 

 Christ and seek salvation, is proof enough that you 

 are of God's elect. God is your Father, and as a 

 Father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them 

 that fear Him. 1 You are already in possession of all 

 Christian privileges, and we have a right to be con- 

 fident that He who has begun a good work, in you 

 will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ. 2 But 

 these privileges may be lost by abusing or neglecting 

 them ; wherefore, let him who thinketh he standeth 

 take heed lest he fall." 3 



It is in this, and not in any absolute sense, that 

 Saint Paul habitually speaks of election. 4 Probably 

 the most signal instance of the kind is in his first 

 epistle to his Thessalonian converts : " Knowing, 

 brethren beloved of God, your election; how that 

 our Gospel came not unto you in word only, but 

 also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much 



1 Psalm ciii. 13. 2 Philippians i. 6. 3 1 Cor. x. 12. 



4 See the chapter on Election in Archbishop Whately's 

 Difficulties of Saint Paul. It is somewhat remarkable, how- 

 ever, that Whately does not mention the passage, Romans viii. 

 28, 30, which most persons probably regard, though I do not, 

 as the "classical passage " on election. See farther on. 



