serve him, and shalt
swear by his name. Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the
people which are round about you."[529] The answer of God to the
lamentation of Elijah concerning the defection of Israel, is applied to
believers of New Testament times, as a people in covenant chosen from
the wicked. "God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye
not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God
against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged
down thine altars: and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what
saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven
thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so
then at this present time also, there is a remnant according to the
election of grace."[530] The apostle does not quote the words of the
prophet,--"The children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant;"[531] but
he states the evidence for the fact which these words announce, "They
have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars." The seven
thousand who had not bowed the knee to the image of Baal, were steadfast
in God's Covenant. All believers are so. As thus steadfast, all of them
in every time are a remnant, according to the election of grace.

The people of God were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the
world. Hence a visible church was erected therein. Hence Israel, as a
people, were endowed with peculiar privileges. Hence the ordinances of
Divine grace are dispensed in every age. But all are not elect who wait
on the institutions of religion. Israel was chosen from among the
heathen; but all of them were not chosen in Christ. The members of the
visible church, by profession, are separated from the world; but all of
them do not enjoy the privileges, and do not discharge the duties of
God's elect. All are not Israel who are of Israel. When the Lord entered
into covenant with his people Israel, he chose them from among
idolaters. He did so because of his choice of them from everlasting. Why
the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, is, that
he chose them from eternity. And the Lord will have mercy on the
Gentiles as a covenant people, set apart from the wicked, according to
his eternal sovereign good will. "The Lord did not set his love upon
you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for
ye were the fewest of all the people; but because the Lord