We meet with this word so very often in Scripture, that one might have been led to conclude, that it would have been received in the church with implicit faith, referring the act itself, as becometh sinful ignorant creatures to do, into the sovereignty and good pleasure of God. It is in the first and highest instance spoken of, and applied to, the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Christ of God. (Isaiah 42:1 with Matthew 12:17-18 etc.) It is specially spoken of the church of Israel. (Isaiah 45:4; Isaiah 49:22) It is also spoken of in relation to the Gentile church, gathered out of all nations. (Matthew 24:31; Romans 11:5; Titus 1:1) And what endears this sovereign act of grace the more is, that it is all in, and for, Christ. (Ephesians 1:4) The Scriptures uniformly declaring while in the very moment of establishing the truth itself, that it is all of free grace, no merit, no pretensions of merit here or hereafter, becoming in the least instrumental to this distinguishing mercy, but wholly resulting from the sovereign will and purpose of the Lord. (Deuteronomy 7:1; Romans 9:11-16; 2 Timothy 1:9; Ephesians 1:6) Hence the everlasting security of the church, and of the blessings of the church, are all sure, certain and irrevocable. (Romans 8:33) Here also the interest the Lord takes in his church, and all her concerns. Do any afflict them? he saith, "Shall not God avenge his own elect who cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily." (Luke 18:7-8) Yea, the Lord declares, that he will "shorten the days of affliction for the elects' sake." (See Matthew 24:22) And these blessings are heightened in their personal nature. John speaks of an elect lady and her sister. (2 John 1:13) And Peter speaks of the elect church at Babylon. (1 Peter 5:13) I must not overlook, under this article, what%is said in Scripture of elect angels, also. (1 Timothy 5:21) No doubt they owe their steadfastness to Christ, as their Head and Sovereign, in election and dominion; while Christ's seed, the church, are preserved by union. But without this preservation in Christ, by election, angels are no more secure from falling than men, who have fallen. For as some angels have fallen, so might all, if not upheld by a superior power to themselves. For as we read, (Job 4:18) "God putteth no trust in his servants, and his angels he chargeth with folly," that is, with weakness; so it is plain that their preservation is not in themselves, but in the Lord. And when we read of the elect angels, it implies their election, and upholding in Christ. Think what a glorious, blessed Almighty Lord the christian's Lord is! Well might the apostle Peter, under the deep impression of this sacred truth made upon his heart, cry out with holy rapture, "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, grace unto you, and peace be multiplied." (1 Peter 1:2)