The Decrees of God: A Discourse (Classic Reprint) - Tapa blanda

Excerpt from The Decrees of God: A Discourse

Second - It is objected, that if God fore-ordains whatsoever come to pass he is the author of sin. Some may say and think so, but Presby terians neither say nor think so. We do not understand the term ordain or fore-ordain to mean fatality or physical necessity. When it is said that Christ was verily fore-ordained before the foundation of the world, we do not mean that he was under the physical necessity of dying or was compelled by fate to die. But this is Our meaning when we speak of fore ordaining an event: It is to form such a purpose respecting it, as retr ders certain its future existence, through positive or permissive agency. Now, does it follow that because God fore-ordained or purposed to save a portion of our race, and fore-ordained to permit another portion to go on in sin, or to leave them to themselves to pursue their own course, that he is the author of their sins? Take an illustration: Suppose you knew that by preaching the Gospel to five men, one of them would repent and turn from sin, but you also knew that the repentance of that one would so enrage the others that they would curse the very God of their existence, and cruelly persecute the man that repented. Knowing these things with certainty, you determined to preach to the five men, and thus save one instrumentally; do you not at the same time decree, IN one sense, the cursing and persecution of the others and yet you are in no sense the author OF their wickedness. Because God enlightens some, and others are hardened by the use of the same means and God punishes them for the neglect and abuse of the means of grace, does that make God the author of sin? There certainly is a vast difference between the sun's being the source of heat and light and being the cause of darkness. When the sun sets darkness follows, but would any man in his senses say, that the sun, which is the fountain of light, was also the fountain of dark ness 7 SO God is not the source of sin, but when he withdraws his pre sence and influence, sin invariably follows but that no more makes God the author of sin, than the setting of the sun makes it the source of darkness.

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This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from The Decrees of God: A Discourse

"Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." - [1 Peter, ch. iii, v.xv.

This passage of scripture has not been selected so much for the purpose of confining my remarks to the exact spirit of the passage, as for another purpose. Contrary to my custom, it will be used as a motto in discussing an important and greatly controverted subject, viz :"The Decrees of God."

This doctrine, as held by Presbyterians, has had, and still has, many bitter opponents, who, in the heat of debate, have accused us of heresy, and of "teaching the doctrines of devils." In opposition, however, to all railing and calumny, true Presbyterians are firm believers in the doctrine of divine decrees, and it is hoped that they will remain steadfast in the faith of their fathers, until the Lord changes the Bible. In giving reasons for our faith, instead of giving railing for railing - as might easily be done - instead of using personalities and abusive language, I design, God helping me, dispassionately to discuss the subject proposed, with the spirit of christian kindness and courtesy; in other words, "I will give an answer to every man that asketh a reason of the hope that is in me, with meekness and fear," i.e. with the fear of God, but not of man, before me.

I am now to vindicate the Decrees of God, and show that the doctrine of the Presbyterian Church on this subject, is consonant with reason and revelation. For the sake of order, I will speak, first, of God's General Decree; secondly, of the Decree of Election; thirdly, of the Decree of Reprobation; and, fourthly, will notice some of the objections commonly urged against this doctrine.

1. We are to consider, first, the General Decree of God. "What are the decrees of God?" This question, you will readily perceive, is the twelfth one of our Larger Catechism, and this is the answer: "God's decrees are the wise, free, and holy acts of the counsel of his will, whereby, from all eternity, he hath, for his own glory, unchangably fore-ordained whatsoever comes to pass in time, especially concerning angels and men." Here it is necessary to remark that to decree, to purpose, to fore-ordain, to predestinate, are so nearly the same in meaning that they will be used as synonymous terms.

Now for the proof that "God has from eternity fore-ordained whatsoever comes to pass."

First - It may be argued from the intelligence of God. No man can doubt that God is an intelligent being, for this attribute of his character is fully manifested in his word and works. Consider what this means. "An intelligent being is one who knows and judges, who purposes ends and devises means, who acts from design, conceives a plan, and then proceeds to execute it." Then, if God is an intelligent being and the creator of all things, as he is represented in his word to be, nothing ever came into existence without his knowledge and efficient or permissive purpose, or his direct or indirect agency. If God is an intelligent being, before he created the universe he must have formed some plan or purpose to create.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.