_former_, to persecute and take Vengeance on the _latter_. Hath not God, by his own Decree of Damnation, set them an Example? and if he has set a Mark on the Reprobate, they (the Elect) may very reasonably, in Imitation of the _Divine Conduct_, endeavour to make them as wretched as possible here in this Life, and _who shall lay any Thing to the Charge of God's Elect?_ I am now shewing, what are the genuine Effects of this Doctrine, not charging Consequences on such as neither do _see_ nor _approve_ of them: there is great Difference in the Conduct of Men of this Principle; and its natural Effects are, by other Things intervening, often prevented, the chief of which may, I believe, be Want of Power and Opportunity; for tho' many, when out of Power, might be apt to say (as _Hazael_ did) _what is thy Servant a Dog, that he should do this Evil?_ yet they would perhaps be in some Danger of behaving as that great Man did, when he came to be tried. Some again, who tho' they profess the Doctrine, are yet (I doubt not) often under the Influence of God's _Grace_, which, as it tends to humble the Soul, and render it more loving and humane than before, naturally prevents the Spirit of Persecution from taking such deep Root as otherwise it might. And here, though I do not pretend to be a _nice Judge_ of the spiritual Part of Religion, yet I have heard such as have been accounted Men of the best Experience say, that when the Grace of God operates on the Soul, the ardent Love of Mankind is _inseparable therewith_. If then the better Sort of those, who profess this Doctrine, are ever sensible of this _most agreeable_ and humbling Operation in the Soul, I ask them, if it does not _naturally distend_ and enlarge their Wishes, in Behalf of all Mankind? and if this Spirit of Love be the genuine Effect of the Operation of God's Grace, what shall be said of that ineffable and immense Fountain of Grace and Goodness, from whence it proceeds? But, on the other hand, it has been observed, that among mere _enthusiastick and traditional Believers_, of the Doctrine of Election, their Hypocrisy, Deceit and Dissimulation has overtop'd that of all the World besides, even beyond what human Nature could be thought capable of, in its most wicked and corrupt State; in short, they seem to have made the Deceit of _Jacob_, and all other parallel Places of Scripture, that furnish the worst Part of the Lives of good Men, a _standing Rule_ of Behaviour--What a blessed Company has the Lord set apart for himself!