Reference: Election
Fausets
(See ELECT.)
Hastings
The idea of election, as expressive of God's method of accomplishing His purpose for the world in both providence and grace, though (as befits the character of the Bible as peculiarly 'the history of redemption') especially in grace, goes to the heart of Scripture teaching. The word 'election' itself occurs but a few times (Ac 9:15 'vessel of election,' Ro 9:11; 11:5,7,28; 1Th 1:4; 2Pe 1:10); 'elect' in NT much oftener (see below); but equivalent words in OT and NT, as 'choose,' 'chosen,' 'foreknow' (in sense of 'fore-designate'), etc., considerably extend the range of usage. In the OT, as will be seen, the special object of the Divine election is Israel (e.g. De 4:37; 7:7 etc.); but within Israel are special elections, as of the tribe of Levi, the house of Aaron, Judah, David and his house, etc.; while, in a broader sense, the idea, if not the expression, is present wherever individuals are raised up, or separated, for special service (thus of Cyrus, Isa 44:28; 45:1-6). In the NT the term 'elect' is frequently used, both by Christ and by the Apostles, for those who are heirs of salvation (e.g. 24/22/type/mstc'>Mt 24:22,24,31; Lu 18:7; Ro 8:33; Col 3:12; 2Ti 2:10; Tit 1:1; 1Pe 1:2), and the Church, as the new Israel, is described as 'an elect race' (1Pe 2:9). Jesus Himself is called, with reference to Isa 42:1, God's 'chosen' or 'elect' One (Mt 12:18; Lu 9:35 RV, Lu 23:35); and mention is once made of 'elect' angels (1Ti 5:21). In St. Paul's Epistles the idea has great prominence (Ro 9; Eph 1:4 etc.). It is now necessary to investigate the implications of this idea more carefully.
Election, etymologically, is the choice of one, or of some, out of many. In the usage we are investigating, election is always, and only, of God. It is the method by which, in the exercise of His holy freedom, He carries out His purpose ('the purpose of God according to election,' Ro 9:11). The 'call' which brings the election to light, as in the call of Abraham, Israel, believers, is in time, but the call rests on God's prior, eternal determination (Ro 8:28-29). Israel was chosen of God's free love (De 7:6 ff.); believers are declared to be blessed in Christ, 'even as he chose' them 'in him'
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And I will make of thee a mighty people, and will bless thee, and make thy name great, that thou mayst be a blessing. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee. And in thee shall be blessed all the generations of the earth."
And Moses went up unto God. And the LORD called to him out of the mountain saying, "Thus say unto the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel, 'Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians and how I took you up upon Eagles' wings, and have brought you unto myself. read more. Now therefore if ye will hear my voice and keep mine covenant: ye shall be mine own above all nations, for all the earth is mine. Ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests and a holy people.' These are the words which thou shalt say unto the children of Israel."
Either, whether God assayed to go and take him a people from among nations, through temptations and signs and wonders and through war and with a mighty hand and a stretched-out arm and with mighty terrible sights, according unto all that the LORD your God did unto you in Egypt before your eyes.
And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them and brought thee out with his presence and with his mighty power of Egypt:
For thou art a holy nation unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a several people unto himself of all nations that are upon the earth. It was not because of the multitude of you, above all nations, that the LORD had lust unto you and chose you: For ye were fewest of all nations.
And except the LORD of Hosts had left us a few alive, we should have been as Sodom, and like unto Gomorrah.
Nevertheless, the tenth part shall remain therein, for it shall convert and be fruitful. And likewise as the Terebinths and Oak trees in winter cast their leaves and yet have their sap in them, so shall the holy seed continue in their substance."
Now lay the witnesses together and seal the law with my disciples. Thus I wait upon the LORD that hath turned his face from the house of Jacob, and I look unto him. read more. But lo, as for me, and the children which the LORD hath given me: we are a token and a wonder in Israel, for the LORD of Hosts' sake, which dwelleth upon the hill of Zion.
Behold now therefore, this is my servant whom I will keep to myself: mine elect; In whom my soul shall be pacified. I will give him my spirit, that he may show forth judgment and equity among the Gentiles.
But who is blinder, than my servant? Or so deaf, as my messengers, whom I send unto thee? For who is so blind as the perfect man, and so blind as the LORD's servant? They are like, as if thou understoodest much, and keptest nothing: or if one heard well, but were not obedient.
I say to Cyrus, "Thou art mine herdsman," so that he shall fulfill all things after my will. I say unto Jerusalem, "Be thou builded," and to the temple, "Be thou fast grounded."
Thus sayeth the LORD unto Cyrus his anointed, whom I have taken by the righthand, to subdue nations before him: I will loose the girdles of kings, that they shall open the gates before thy face, and not to shut their doors. I will go before thee, and make the crooked straight. I shall break the brazen doors, and burst the iron bars. read more. I shall give thee the hid treasure and the thing which is secretly kept, that thou mayest know, that I the God of Israel have called thee by thy name: and that for Jacob my servant's sake, and for Israel my chosen. For I called thee by name, and ordained thee before thou knewest me. Even I the LORD, before whom there is none other: for without me there is no God. I have prepared thee before thou knewest me:
Even I the LORD, before whom there is none other: for without me there is no God. I have prepared thee before thou knewest me: that it might be known from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, that all is nothing without me. For I am the LORD, and there is else none.
"Before I fashioned thee in thy mother's womb, I did know thee: And before thou wast born, I sanctified thee and ordained thee, to be a Prophet unto the people."
'You only have I accepted from all the generations of the earth: therefore will I visit you in all your wickednesses.
"Ye are the salt of the earth: but and if the salt have lost her saltiness, what can be salted therewith? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden underfoot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill, cannot be hid, read more. neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it lighteth all them that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven.
"Behold my child, whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul delighteth: I will put my spirit on him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles.
Yea, and except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: But for the chosens' sake, those days shall be shortened.
for there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets and shall do great miracles and wonders. Insomuch that if it were possible, even the very elect should be deceived.
And he shall send his angels with the great voice of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his chosen from the four winds, and from the one end of the world to the other.
And there came a voice out of the cloud saying, "This is my dear son, hear him."
And shall not God avenge his elect, which cry night and day unto him? Yea though he defer them:
And the people stood and beheld. And the rulers mocked him with them, saying, "He helped other men, let him help himself if he be Christ, the chosen of God."
For God so loveth the world, that he hath given his only son, for the intent that none that believe in him should perish: But should have everlasting life.
All that the father giveth me, shall come to me: and him that cometh to me, cast I not away.
And this is the father's will which hath sent me: that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing; but should raise it up again at the last day.
And this is the father's will which hath sent me: that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing; but should raise it up again at the last day.
To him the porter openeth the door, and the sheep hear his voice; And he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he hath sent forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: For they know his voice. read more. A stranger they will not follow, but will fly from him. For they know not the voice of strangers."
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life: and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. read more. My father which gave them me, is greater than all men; and no man is able to take them out of my father's hand.
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that ye go, and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit remain, that whatsoever ye shall ask of the father in my name he should give it you.
for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
The Lord said unto him, "Go thy ways: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the gentiles, and kings and the children of Israel:
The Lord said unto him, "Go thy ways: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the gentiles, and kings and the children of Israel:
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, "Of a truth I perceive, that God is not partial:
When they heard this, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, "Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."
to open their eyes that they might turn from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith in me.'
For we know well that all things work for the best unto them that love God, which also are called of purpose.
For we know well that all things work for the best unto them that love God, which also are called of purpose. For those which he knew before, he also ordained before, that they should be like fashioned unto the shape of his son, that he might be the first begotten son among many brethren.
Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's chosen? It is God that justifieth:
Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's chosen? It is God that justifieth:
Yea and I am sure that neither death, neither life, neither angels; nor rule, neither power, neither things present, neither things to come, neither height, neither lowth, neither any other creature shall be able to depart us from the love of God, showed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I speak not these things as though the words of God had taken none effect. For they are not all Israelites which came of Israel; Neither are they all children straightway because they are the seed of Abraham: But in Isaac shall thy seed be called, read more. that is to say; They which are the children of the flesh, are not the children of God. But the children of promise are counted the seed. For this is a word of promise, "About this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son." Neither was it so with her only: but also when Rebecca was with child by one, I mean by our father Isaac, yer the children were born, when they had neither done good neither bad - that the purpose of God, which is by election, might stand - it was said unto her, not by the reason of works, but by grace of the caller,
yer the children were born, when they had neither done good neither bad - that the purpose of God, which is by election, might stand - it was said unto her, not by the reason of works, but by grace of the caller,
yer the children were born, when they had neither done good neither bad - that the purpose of God, which is by election, might stand - it was said unto her, not by the reason of works, but by grace of the caller,
yer the children were born, when they had neither done good neither bad - that the purpose of God, which is by election, might stand - it was said unto her, not by the reason of works, but by grace of the caller, "The elder shall serve the younger." read more. As it is written, "Jacob he loved, but Esau he hated." What shall we say then? Is there any unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
So lieth it not then in a man's will, or cunning, but in the mercy of God.
So lieth it not then in a man's will, or cunning, but in the mercy of God.
Even so at this time is there a remnant left through the election of grace.
Even so at this time is there a remnant left through the election of grace.
What then? Israel hath not obtained that that he sought. No but yet the election hath obtained it. The remnant are blinded,
What then? Israel hath not obtained that that he sought. No but yet the election hath obtained it. The remnant are blinded,
I would not that this secret should be hid from you my brethren, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits: that partly blindness is happened in Israel, until the fullness of the gentiles be come in.
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sake: but as touching the election, they are loved for the fathers' sake.
Likewise, greet all the congregation that is in their house. Salute my well beloved Epaenetes, which is the firstfruit among them of Achaia.
We are God's laborers: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, which is understood and read of all men; in that ye are known, how that ye are the epistle of Christ, ministered by us and written not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart.
For it is God that commanded the light to shine out of darkness, which hath shined in our hearts, for to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
But when it pleased God, which separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God. To the saints which are at Ephesus, and to them which believe on Jesus Christ. Grace be with you and peace from God our father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. read more. Blessed be God the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which hath blessed us with all manner of spiritual blessings in heavenly things by Christ, according as he had chosen us in him through love, before the foundation of the world was laid, that we should be saints, and without blame before him, through love.
according as he had chosen us in him through love, before the foundation of the world was laid, that we should be saints, and without blame before him, through love.
according as he had chosen us in him through love, before the foundation of the world was laid, that we should be saints, and without blame before him, through love.
to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherewith he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
in whom we are made heirs, and were thereto predestinate according to the purpose of him which worketh all things after the purpose of his own will:
For by grace are ye made safe through faith, and that, not of yourselves: For it is the gift of God,
For it is God which worketh in you both the will and also the deed, even of good will.
For it is God which worketh in you both the will and also the deed, even of good will.
giving thanks unto the father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of saints in light. Which hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear son,
Now therefore as elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering,
I testify before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without hasty judgment, and do nothing partially.
Paul, the servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to preach the faith of God's elect, and the knowledge of that truth,
to make the young women soberminded, to love their husbands, to love their children,
neither be pickers, but that they show all good faithfulness, that they may do worship to the doctrine of God our saviour in all things.
looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of the mighty God, and of our saviour Jesus Christ:
The God of peace that brought again from death our Lord Jesus Christ, the great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting testament,
The God of peace that brought again from death our Lord Jesus Christ, the great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting testament, make you perfect in all good works, to do his will, working in you that which is pleasant in his sight through Iesus Christ: To whom be praise for ever while the world endureth. Amen.
make you perfect in all good works, to do his will, working in you that which is pleasant in his sight through Iesus Christ: To whom be praise for ever while the world endureth. Amen.
Of his own will begat he us with the word of life, that we should be the first fruits of his creatures.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a peculiar people, that ye should show the virtues of him that called you out of darkness into his marvelous light,
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a peculiar people, that ye should show the virtues of him that called you out of darkness into his marvelous light,
These are they, which were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These follow the lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from men being the first fruits unto God and to the lamb,
Morish
??????, 'choice.' Spoken of :
1. the Lord Jesus: "Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect (bachir) in whom my soul delighteth." Isa 42:1; 1Pe 2:6. He was fore-ordained to be a mercy-seat through faith in His blood. Ro 3:25, margin; 1Pe 1:20.
2. Cyrus, who was called by God to be His 'shepherd' to work out His will, saying to Jerusalem, "Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid." Isa 44:28; 45:1-4. It was Cyrus who released the captives to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. Ezr 1:2-3.
3. When Jacob and Esau were born, Jacob was elected for blessing, and his descendants as the only nation chosen by God for His special favour. Ro 9:11-13; Am 3:2.
4. When God again restores Israel into blessing it will be a remnant that will be chosen, whom He calls His 'elect.' Isa 65:9,15,22; 24/22/type/mstc'>Mt 24:22,24,31; Ro 11:28.
5. Elect angels. 1Ti 5:21.
6. Election of persons to eternal life. Ro 8:29-30,33; 11:5,7; Col 3:12; 1Th 1:4; 2Ti 2:10; Tit 1:1; 1Pe 1:2; 5:13; 2Pe 1:10; 2Jo 1:13.
The reason Christians feel a difficulty as to the doctrine of election to eternal life, is because they do not see the extent of the fall of man, and his utterly lost condition. Were it not for election, and the prevailing grace that follows it, not one would be saved. Christ died for all, and the gospel is proclaimed to all, Ro 3:22; Heb 2:9; but alas, except for the election and grace of God, none would respond. Lu 14:18. God must have all the glory.
Another error that has caused a difficulty as to 'election ' is the idea which some maintain that as some are ordained to eternal life, others likewise are fore-ordained by God to perdition, called 'reprobation.' But this is not taught in scripture
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"Remember that which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, 'The LORD your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land.
"Thus sayeth Cyrus the king of Persia: 'The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the land and hath commanded me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. Whosoever now among you is of his people, the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel. He is the God that is at Jerusalem.
Behold now therefore, this is my servant whom I will keep to myself: mine elect; In whom my soul shall be pacified. I will give him my spirit, that he may show forth judgment and equity among the Gentiles.
I say to Cyrus, "Thou art mine herdsman," so that he shall fulfill all things after my will. I say unto Jerusalem, "Be thou builded," and to the temple, "Be thou fast grounded."
Thus sayeth the LORD unto Cyrus his anointed, whom I have taken by the righthand, to subdue nations before him: I will loose the girdles of kings, that they shall open the gates before thy face, and not to shut their doors. I will go before thee, and make the crooked straight. I shall break the brazen doors, and burst the iron bars. read more. I shall give thee the hid treasure and the thing which is secretly kept, that thou mayest know, that I the God of Israel have called thee by thy name: and that for Jacob my servant's sake, and for Israel my chosen. For I called thee by name, and ordained thee before thou knewest me.
But I will take a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah, one to take possession of my hill. My chosen shall possess these things, and my servants shall dwell there.
Your name shall not be sworn by among my chosen, for God the LORD shall slay you, and call his servants by another name.
They shall not build, and another possess; they shall not plant, and another eat. But the life of my people shall be like a tree, and so shall the work of their hands.
'You only have I accepted from all the generations of the earth: therefore will I visit you in all your wickednesses.
Shame shall come upon thee, for the malice that thou showedest to thy brother Jacob. Yea, for evermore shalt thou perish,
and hated Esau: Yea I have made his hills waste, and his heritage a wilderness for dragons."
Yea, and except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: But for the chosens' sake, those days shall be shortened.
for there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets and shall do great miracles and wonders. Insomuch that if it were possible, even the very elect should be deceived.
And he shall send his angels with the great voice of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his chosen from the four winds, and from the one end of the world to the other.
And they all at once began to make excuse. The first said unto him, 'I have bought a farm, and I must needs go and see it, I pray thee have me excused.'
The righteousness, no doubt, which is good before God cometh by the faith of Jesus Christ: unto all, and upon all them that believe.
- whom God hath set forth for a mercy seat through faith in his blood, to show the righteousness which before him is of valour, in that he forgiveth the sins that are passed,
For those which he knew before, he also ordained before, that they should be like fashioned unto the shape of his son, that he might be the first begotten son among many brethren. Moreover, which he appointed before, them he also called; and which he called, them also he justified; which he justified, them he also glorified.
Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's chosen? It is God that justifieth:
yer the children were born, when they had neither done good neither bad - that the purpose of God, which is by election, might stand - it was said unto her, not by the reason of works, but by grace of the caller, "The elder shall serve the younger." read more. As it is written, "Jacob he loved, but Esau he hated."
Even so at this time is there a remnant left through the election of grace.
What then? Israel hath not obtained that that he sought. No but yet the election hath obtained it. The remnant are blinded,
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sake: but as touching the election, they are loved for the fathers' sake.
Now therefore as elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering,
which will have all men saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
I testify before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without hasty judgment, and do nothing partially.
Paul, the servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to preach the faith of God's elect, and the knowledge of that truth,
neither be pickers, but that they show all good faithfulness, that they may do worship to the doctrine of God our saviour in all things.
Nevertheless, we yet see not all things subdued unto him. But him that was made less than the angels, we see that it was Iesus: which is crowned with glory and honour for the suffering of death; that he, by the grace of God, should taste of death for all men.
which was ordained before the world was made: but was declared in the last times for your sakes.
Watsons
ELECTION. Of a divine election, a choosing and separating from others, we have three kinds mentioned in the Scriptures. The first is the election of individuals to perform some particular and special service. Cyrus was "elected" to rebuild the temple; the twelve Apostles were "chosen," elected, to their office by Christ; St. Paul was a "chosen," or elected "vessel," to be the Apostle of the Gentiles. The second kind of election which we find in Scripture, is the election of nations, or bodies of people, to eminent religious privileges, and in order to accomplish, by their superior illumination, the merciful purposes of God, in benefiting other nations or bodies of people. Thus the descendants of Abraham, the Jews, were chosen to receive special revelations of truth; and to be "the people of God," that is, his visible church, publicly to observe and uphold his worship. "The Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth." "The Lord had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you, above all people." It was especially on account of the application of the terms elect, chosen, and peculiar, to the Jewish people, that they were so familiarly used by the Apostles in their epistles addressed to the believing Jews and Gentiles, then constituting the church of Christ in various places. For Christians were the subjects, also, of this second kind of election; the election of bodies of men to be the visible people and church of God in the world, and to be endowed with peculiar privileges. Thus they became, though in a more special and exalted sense, the chosen people, the elect of God. We say "in a more special sense," because as the entrance into the Jewish church was by natural birth, and the entrance into the Christian church, properly so called, is by faith and a spiritual birth, these terms, although many became Christians by mere profession, and enjoyed various priviledges in consequence of their people or nation being chosen to receive the Gospel, have generally respect, in the New Testament, to bodies of true believers, or to the whole body of true believers as such. They are not, therefore, to be interpreted according to the scheme of Dr. Taylor of Norwich, by the constitution of the Jewish, but by the constitution of the Christian, church.
2. To understand the nature of this "election," as applied sometimes to particular bodies of Christians, as when St. Peter says, "The church which is at Babylon, elected together with you," and sometimes to the whole body of believers every where; and also the reason of the frequent use of the term election, and of the occurrence of allusions to the fact; it is to be remembered, that a great religious revolution, so to speak, had occurred in the age of the Apostles; with the full import of which we cannot, without calling in the aid of a little reflection, be adequately impressed. This change was no other than the abrogation of the church state of the Jews, which had continued for so many ages. They had been the only visibly acknowledged people of God in all the nations of the earth; for whatever pious people might have existed in other nations, they were not, in the sight of men, and collectively, acknowledged as "the people of Jehovah." They had no written revelations, no appointed ministry, no forms of authorized initiation into his church and covenant, no appointed holy days, or sanctioned ritual. All these were peculiar to the Jews, who were, therefore, an elected and peculiar people. This distinguished honour they were about to lose. They might have retained it as Christians, had they been willing to admit the believing Gentiles of all nations to share it with them; but the great reason of their peculiarity and election, as a nation, was terminated by the coming of the Messiah, who was to be "a light to lighten the Gentiles," as well as "the glory of his people Israel." Their pride and consequent unbelief resented this, which will explain their enmity to the believing part of the Gentiles, who, when that which St. Paul calls "the fellowship of the mystery" was fully explained, chiefly by the glorious ministry of that Apostle himself, were called into that church relation and visible acknowledgment as the people of God, which the Jews had formerly enjoyed, and that with even a higher degree of glory, in proportion to the superior spirituality of the new dispensation. It was this doctrine which excited that strong irritation in the minds of the unbelieving Jews, and in some partially Christianized ones, to which so many references are made in the New Testament. The were "provoked," were made "jealous;" and were often roused to the madness of persecuting opposition by it. There was then a new election of a new people of God, to be composed of Jews, not by virtue of their natural descent, but through their faith in Christ, and of Gentiles of all nations, also believing, and put as believers, on an equal ground with the believing Jews: and there was also a rejection, a reprobation, but not an absolute one; for the election was offered to the Jews first, in every place, by offering them the Gospel. Some embraced it, and submitted to be the elect people of God, on the new ground of faith, instead of the old one of natural descent; and therefore the Apostle, Ro 11:7, calls the believing part of the Jews, "the election," in opposition to those who opposed this "election of grace," and still clung to their former and now repealed election as Jews and the descendants of Abraham; "But the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded." The offer had been made to the whole nation; all might have joined the one body of believing Jews and believing Gentiles; but the major part of them refused: they would not "come into the supper;" they made "light of it;" light of an election founded on faith, and which placed the relation of "the people of God" upon spiritual attainments, and offered to them only spiritual blessings. They were, therefore, deprived of election and church relationship of every kind: their temple was burned; their political state abolished; their genealogies confounded; their worship annihilated; and all visible acknowledgment of them by God as a church withdrawn, and transfer red to a church henceforward to be composed chiefly of Gentiles:
and thus, says St. Paul, "were fulfilled the words of Moses, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish," ignorant and idolatrous, "people I will anger you." It is easy, therefore, to see what is the import of the "calling" and "election" of the Christian church, as spoken of in the New Testament. It was not the calling and the electing of one nation in particular to succeed the Jews; but it was the calling and the electing of believers in all nations, wherever the Gospel should be preached, to be in reality what the Jews typically, and therefore in an inferior degree, had been,
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What then? Israel hath not obtained that that he sought. No but yet the election hath obtained it. The remnant are blinded,