It is here taken for granted that nothing but sin can be the cause of God’s inflicting punishment, and nothing can be sin which is not a breach of duty. “Go ye into all the

It is no uncommon thing to distinguish between a formal requisition and that which affords the ground or reason of that requisition. The goodness of God, for instance, though it is not a law or

Repentance, it is allowed, like all other spiritual exercises, has its counterfeit, and which is not spiritual; but neither is it that which God requires at the hands of either saints or sinners. What is

“A hearty choice of God’s appointed way of salvation” is the same thing as falling in with its grand designs. Now the grand designs of the salvation of Christ are the glory of God, the

The Scriptures both of the Old and New Testament abound with exhortations to hear the word of God, to hearken to his counsel, to wait on him, to seek his favour, &c., all which imply

“That which is crooked cannot be made straight, and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.”—Eccles. 1:15. The wise man inquires, “What is that good for the sons of men which they should do all