Calvinistic Controversy: Embracing a Sermon on Predestination and Election and Several Numbers, Formally Published in the Christian Advocate and Journal.Fisk, Wilbur
Religion
Calvinistic Controversy: Embracing a Sermon on Predestination and Election and Several Numbers, Formally Published in the Christian Advocate and Journal.
Fisk, Wilbur
Calvinism; Election (Theology); Predestination
control the _results_ of an act is altogether different from making the
act itself the result of an overruling and controlling power.
Again it is said, "The Lord hath made all things for himself, yea, even
the wicked for the day of evil." That the Lord hath made all things for
his own glory, is a proposition easily understood, and doubted, I trust,
by none; and this is evidently the meaning of the former member of this
passage. The latter clause, if it helps the cause for which it is quoted
at all, must mean, that the Lord has predestinated men to be wicked,
that he might make them miserable. But it is not necessary to make the
text speak this shocking sentiment. We should do the text no violence to
explain it thus--The Lord hath destined the wicked for the day of evil,
and this shall be for his glory.
But there is another class of passages like the following:--"He doeth
according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants
of the earth." "He worketh all things after the counsel of his will." "I
will do all my pleasure." But these passages establish nothing, in
opposition to our views, unless it should first be proved, by other
passages, or in some other way, that it is God's will and pleasure to
work _all things_, even wickedness, in the wicked. These scriptures
prove that all _God's works_ are in accordance with his own will and
pleasure; and that he will accomplish them in spite of the opposition of
sinners. If it pleases him to form his moral government, so as to leave
the responsible acts of his subjects unnecessitated by his decree, this
he will do, for "he will do all his pleasure."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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