not what the scripture saith of Elias? Even so at this present time also, there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then it is no more of works. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for, but the election hath obtained it, and the rest are blind ed-Whom he did predestinate, them he also called-We give thanks to God always for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth-As many as were ordained to eternal life believed."* They think also that the greater part of these passages, being found in the epistolary writings, after the pouring out of the holy Spirit, who was promised to guide the apostles into all truth, is an argument in favour of the doctrine. They do not consider predestination, however, as affecting the agency or accountableness of creatures, or as being to them any rule of conduct. On the contrary, they suppose them to act as freely, and to be as much the proper subjects of calls, warnings, exhortations, promises, and threat enings, as if no decree existed.† The connexion in which the doctrine is introduced by the divines at Dort, is to account for one sinner's believing and being saved rather than another; and such, the Calvinists say, is the connexion which it occupies in the scriptures. With respect to the conditional predestination admitted by Arminians, they say, that an election upon faith or good works foreseen, is not that of the scriptures; for that election is there made the cause of faith and holiness, and cannot, for this reason, be the effect of them. With regard to predestination to death, they say, If the question be, Wherefore did God decree to punish those who are punished? The answer is, On account of their sins. But if it be, Wherefore did he decree to punish them rather than others? There is no other reason to be assigned, but that so it seemed good in his sight.§ 2. They maintain that though the death of Christ be a most perfect sacrifice, and satisfaction for sins, of infinite value, abundantly sufficient to expiate the sins of the whole world; and though on this Ephes. i. 4. Rom, ix, xi. 1-6. xiii. 48. + Calvin's Inst. book 3, chap. sect. 4. Ephes. i. 3, 4. John vi, 37. 1 Pet. i. 1. Rom. ix, 15, 16. xi. 5, 6. 24, sect. 14, viii. 29, 30. 2 Thes, ii. 13. Acts 22, sect. 10: also book 2, ch. 5, Rom viii. 29, 30. Acts xiii 48 § Calvin's Inst. book 3, pp. 22-- ground the gospel is to be preached to all mankind indiscriminately; yet it was the will of God that Christ by the blood of the cross should efficaciously redeem all those, and those only, who were from eternity elected to salvation, and given to him by the Father. Calvin does not appear to have written on this subject as a controversy; but his comments on scripture agree with the above statement.* The following positions are contained in the resolutions of the. synod of Dort, under this head of doctrine: The death of the Son of God is the only and most perfect sacrifice and satisfaction for sins, of infinite value and price, abundantly sufficient to expiate the sins of the whole world-The promise of the gospel is, that whosoever believeth in Christ crucified shall not perish, but have everlasting life: which promise, together with the command to repent and believe, ought promiscuously and indiscriminately to be published and proposed to all people and individuals to whom God in his good pleasure sends the gospel-Whereas many who are called by the gospel do not repent nor believe in Christ, but perish in unbelief, this proceeds not from any defect or insufficiency, in the sacrifice of Christ offered on the cross, but from their own fault-As many as truly believe, and are saved by the death of Christ from their sins, and from destruction, have to ascribe it to the mere favour of God, which he owes to no one, given them in Christ from eternity-For it was the most free counsel, and gracious will and intention of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should exert itself in all the elect, to give unto them only justifying faith, and by it to conduct them infallibly to salvation: that is, it was the will of God that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should efficaciously redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity elected to salvation, and given to him by the Father."t These positions they appear to have considered as not only a declaration of the truth, but an answer to the arguments of the Remonstrants. In proof of the doctrine, they allege, among others, the following scripture passages: "Thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should * See on John iii. 15. † Acta Synodi, Sess, 136, p. 250. give eternal life to as many as follows:-"Original sin seems thou hast given him--The good to be the inheritable descendshepherd giveth his life for the ing perverseness and corrupsheep-I lay down my life for tion of our nature, poured the sheep-He died not for abroad into all the parts of that nation only, but that he the soul, which first maketh might gather together in one us deserving of God's wrath, the children of God that are and then also bringeth forth scattered abroad--He gave those works in us, called in himself for us, that he might scripture the works of the redeem us from all iniquity, and flesh. These two things are purify unto himself a peculiar distinctly to be noted; that is, people, zealous of good works- that being thus in all parts of He loved the church, and gave our nature corrupted and perhimself for it, that he might verted, we are now, even for sanctify and cleanse it, and such corruption only, holden present it to himself, &c.- worthy of damnation, and And they sang a new song, stand convicted before God, saying, Thou art worthy; for to whom nothing is acceptable thou wast slain, and hast re- but righteousness, innocence, deemed us to God by thy blood, and purity. And yet we are OUT OF every kindred, and not bound in respect of antongue, and people, and na- other's fault; for where it is tion."* said that by the sin of Adam we are made subject to the judgment of God; it is not so to be taken, as if we, innocent and undeserving, did, bear the blame of his fault: but as in consequence of his offence we are ultimately clothed with the curse, therefore it is said that he hath bound us. Nevertheless from him not the punishment only came upon us, but also the infection distilled from him abideth in us, to the which the punishment is justly due." The resolutions of the di 3. They maintain that mankind are totally depraved, in consequence of the fall of the first man, who, being their public head, his sin involved the corruption of all his posterity; and which corruption extends over the whole soul, and renders it unable to turn to God, or to do any thing truly good, and exposes it to his righteous displeasure, both in this world and that which is to come. The explanation of original sin, as given by Calvin, is as * John xvii. 2. x. 11, 15. xi, 52 † Rom. v. 18. Tit. ii, 14. Ephes. v. 25-27. Rev. v. 9, Inst. buok 2, chap. 1, sect. 8. vines at Dort on this head did understand, that did seek contain the following positions: Such as man was after the fall, such children did he beget.... corruption by the righteous judgment of God being derived from Adam to his posterity.. ...., not by imitation, but by the propagation of a vicious nature. Wherefore all men are conceived in sin, and are born the children of wrath, unfit for every good connected with salvation, prone to evil, dead in sins, and the servants of sin; and, without the holy Spirit regenerating them, they neither will nor can return to Gód, amend their depraved nature, nor dispose themselves for its amendment."* In proof of this doctrine, the Calvinists allege, among other scripture passages, the following:-"By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned By one man's disobedience many were made sinners—I was born in sin and shapen in iniquity-God saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every imagination of his heart was only evil continually -God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that God. Every one of them is gone back; they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doth good, no not one-And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world among whom also we all had our conversation in times past, in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”+ 4. They maintain that all whom God hath predestinated unto life, he is pleased in his appointed time effectually to call by his word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ. They admit that the holy Spirit, as calling men by the ministry of the gospel, may be resisted; and that where this is the case, "the fault is not in the gospel, nor in Christ offered by the gospel, nor in God calling by the gospel, and also conferring various gifts upon them; but in the called themselves. They contend, however, that where men come at the divine call, and are converted, it is not to be * Acta Synodi. † Rom. v. 12-19. Psal. li. 5. Gen. vi. 5, ascribed to themselves, as though by their own free-will they made themselves to differ; but merely to him who delivers them from the power of darkness, and translates them into the kingdom of his dear Son, and whose regenerating influence is certain and efficacious."* In proof of this doctrine, the Calvinists allege, among others, the following scripture passages:— "Whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called .... them he also glorified That ye may know what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the de"d-Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works-God, that commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined into our hearts, &c.-I will take away the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them hearts of flesh.+" 5. Lastly: They maintain that those whom God has effectually called, and sanctified by his Spirit, shall never finally fall from a state of grace. They admit that true believers may fall partially, and would fall totally and finally but for the mercy and faithfulness of God, who keepeth the feet of his saints; also, that he who bestoweth the grace of perseverance bestoweth it by means of reading and hearing the word, meditation, exhortations, threatenings, and promises: but that none of these things imply the possibility of a believer's falling from a state of justification.‡ In proof of the doctrine, they allege the following, among other scripture passages:- "I will put my fear in their hearts, and they shall not depart from me-He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved―The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life-This is the Father's will, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing-This is life eternal to know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent-Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of GodThey went out from us, but they were not of us; for if` *Acta Synodi, p. 257, 258. Calvin's Inst, book 3, chap. 24. † Rom, viii, 29, Ephes. 1. 19, 20. ii. 9. 10. 2 Cor. iv. 6. Ezek. xxxvi. 26. Calvin's Inst. book 2, chap. 5, sect, 3, 4. Acta Synodi, p. 265–268. |