God hath not discarded his people whom he formerly approv'd. don't you know what the scripture says of Elias? how he complain'd to God against Israel,

I must acquaint you, brethren, with the contribution which the churches of Macedonia have religiously made,

for it is God that influences your desires and endeavours, out of his benevolence to you.

the sheep) make you perfect in every virtue, to the accomplishment of his will: effecting that in you by Jesus Christ, which is agreeable to him: to whom be glory thro' all ages.

Day

but ye shall receive the influence of the holy spirit, which will descend upon you: and ye shall be witnesses for me, in Jerusalem, in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the remotest part of the earth.

therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the father the promise of the holy spirit, he has diffused that spirit, the effects of which ye now see and hear.

by displaying thine hand in miraculous cures, and prodigies, which by the name of thy holy child Jesus shall be done.

thus the christian doctrine flourish'd and prevail'd.

for tho' he was crucified with the appearance of weakness, yet he lives by the power of God; tho' we are afflicted upon his account, we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

but when it pleased God, who ordained me from my birth, and called me by his especial favour, to reveal his son to me,

Beauties

according as he had chosen us in himself before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, free from vice, and devoted to virtue.

for God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness:

who gave himself for us, to redeem us from all iniquity, and qualify us to be his peculiar people, passionately affected to virtue.

From the womb, etc

After this I beheld, and there was a great multitude, which no man could number, of every nation, tribe, people, and language, who stood before the throne, and before the lamb cloathed in white robes, having palms in their hands.

General references

so that this is a matter not dependent on him that wills or runs, but on God, who shews mercy.