As to the last scripture mentioned, in which the apostle says, _Our gospel came to you, not in word only, but in power_, I cannot think that he has any reference in that place, to the confirming the gospel by miracles; because this is assigned as a mark of their election, _knowing, brethren, your election of God; for our gospel came unto you, not only in word, but in power_, &c. Now, whether we take election for God’s eternal design to save them, or for the execution thereof, in his applying the graces of the Spirit to them; or if we take it in the lowest sense, which they, on the other side of the question, generally give into, for their being a choice, religious unblameable society of Christians, excelling many others in piety: this could not be evinced by the gospel’s being confirmed by miracles; and therefore this sense seems not agreeable to the apostle’s design; and consequently the objection taken from those scriptures, that speak of the power of God in conversion, as implying nothing else but his power, exerted in working miracles, will not, in the least, be sufficient to weaken the force of the argument we are maintaining. Thus concerning effectual calling’s being a work of power, attributed, in particular, to the Holy Spirit. There is one thing more observed, in the answer we are explaining, which must be briefly considered; namely, that it is a work of grace, which was the internal moving cause thereof; or, the reason of God’s exerting his divine power therein. Effectual calling must be a work of grace, without any motive taken from them, who are the subjects thereof; inasmuch as they had before this, nothing in them, that could render them the objects of divine love, being described as _dead in trespasses and sins, alienated from the life of God_, and _enmity_ itself _against him_: so that their condition, antecedent hereunto, cannot be supposed to be the moving cause hereof; for that which is in itself, altogether unlovely, cannot afford a motive for love to any one that weighs the circumstances of persons and things, and acts in pursuance thereof. _Object._ But whereas it is objected, that though the present condition of unregenerate persons cannot afford any motive inducing God thereunto, yet the foresight of their future conduct might.