“The Saint’s Desire” by Samuel Richardson
(Supposed to have been written 1643-1658)
The Depository of Salvation
“First, not any shall be saved by Christ, but those who were predestinated in him, according to His eternal purpose, (Eph. 1. 4, 5; 3: 11). And that there was not any foreseen faith or works in any kind, why he chose these rather than others, the will of God was the cause one was chosen, and not another; all was according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise and glory of his grace, (Eph. 1: 5, 6).
The Completeness of God’s Love
Are we better than they? No, in no wise, (Rom. 3: 9). It was from His great love, wherewith He loved us, (Eph. 2: 4). This love of God was the cause of God’s sending Christ, (John 3: 16). And the chief cause of man’s election and salvation, (1 John 4: 10; Eph. 1: 4; John 17: 23). And that it is impossible for this great love to decrease or increase, because it is infinite, as appears by (Psalm 139:17, 18; Jam. 1: 17). God is perfect and infinite; He knows and understands all things that ever were, are, or shall be at once: So, He is one pure act; therefore, when we were chosen in Christ, we were justified and complete in Him, God looked upon the Elect to be in Christ before the world was, (Eph. 1: 4).
The Legal View from God’s Justification and Glory
And so He ever looks upon the Elect: So that they ever appear to Him perfect and righteous as Christ; for they are one, and are in Him, (1 Cor. 1: 30). You are in Christ Jesus, and ever shall be in him, being justified freely by his grace in his sight, (Rom. 3:20, 24). God properly was never wroth with Christ, nor the Elect, and therefore Christ could not suffer God’s wrath; (see Heb. 2: 9). So that in respect of their justification, God sees no sin in any of the Elect, even before their calling and after. And as it is God’s will, so it should be ours, to set His glory above our salvation, that in the ages to come, He might show the exceeding riches of his grace in His kindnesses towards us, to the praise of the glory of his grace, (Eph. 1: 5, 6; 2: 7).”
These thoughts were written by Samuel Richardson in his "The Saints Desire". He was an original signer of the 1644 London Baptist Confession.
(Thanks to Elder Gene Thomas for alerting us to these facts, Feb. 6th, 2015.)
