For there is no respect of persons with God.
] It will not come into consideration, at the day of judgment, of
what nation men are; or from what parents they are descended; nor
of what age and sex persons be; nor in what state and condition
they have lived in this world; nor will it be asked to what sect
they have belonged, and by what denomination they have been
called; or whether they have conformed to such and such externals
and rituals in religion; but only whether they are righteous men
or sinners; and accordingly as they appear under these
characters, judgment will proceed. Some object from hence, though
without any reason, to the doctrine of particular election of
certain persons to everlasting salvation. This passage respects
matters of strict justice, and is a forensic expression relating
to courts of judicature, where persons presiding are to have no
regard to the faces of men, but do that which is strictly just
between man and man; and does not respect matters of grace and
free favour, such as giving alms, forgiving debts A judge, as
such, is to regard no man's person, but to proceed in matters
before him, according to the rules of law and justice; should he
do otherwise, he would be chargeable with being a respecter of
persons; but then he may bestow alms on what objects he pleases;
and forgive one man who is personally indebted to him, and not
another, without any such imputation. This, applied to the case
in hand, abundantly clears it; for though God, as a Judge,
respects no man's person; yet in matters of grace he
distinguishes one person from another, as it is plain he does by
the bounties of his Providence. Besides, God is not bound to any
person by any laws, but acts as a Sovereign; he is not moved by
anything in the creature; as his choice is not confined to
persons of any particular nation, family, sex, or condition, so
neither does it proceed upon anything, or a foresight of anything
in them, or done by them; and as there is no worthiness in them
that are chosen, and saved above others, so no injury is done to
the rest: add to all this, that those that are saved by virtue of
electing grace, are saved in a way of righteousness agreeably to
the holy law, and strict justice of God; so that no complaint can
be made against the distinguishing methods of grace, upon the
foot of strict justice.