The Sovereignty of God
By Arthur W. Pink
Chapter Five - The
Sovereignty Of God In Reprobation
"Behold
therefore the goodness and severity of God" (Rom. 11:22).
In the
last chapter when treating of the Sovereignty of God the Father in Salvation,
we examined seven passages which represent Him as making a choice from among
the children of men, and predestinating certain ones to be conformed to the
image of His Son. The thoughtful reader will naturally ask, And what of those
who were not "ordained to eternal life?" The answer which is usually
returned to this question, even by those who profess to believe what the Scriptures
teach concerning God's Sovereignty, is, that God passes by the non-elect,
leaves them alone to go their own way, and in the end casts them into the Lake
of Fire because they refused His way, and rejected the Saviour of His
providing. But this is only a part of the truth; the other part-that which is
most offensive to the carnal mind-is either ignored or denied.
In view of
the awful solemnity of the subject here before us, in view of the fact that
today almost all-even those who profess to be Calvinists-reject and repudiate
this doctrine, and in view of the fact that this is one of the points in our
book which is likely to raise the most controversy, we feel that an extended
inquiry into this aspect of God's Truth is demanded. That this branch of the
subject of God's Sovereignty is profoundly mysterious we freely allow, yet,
that is no reason why we should reject it. The trouble is that, nowadays, there
are so many who receive the testimony of God only so far as they can
satisfactorily account for all the reasons and grounds of His conduct, which
means they will accept nothing but that which can be measured in the petty
scales of their own limited capacities.
Stating it
in its baldest form the point now to be considered is, Has God foreordained
certain ones to damnation? That many will be eternally damned is clear from
Scripture, that each one will be judged according to his works and reap as he
has sown, and that in consequence his "damnation is just" (Rom. 3:8),
is equally sure, and that God decreed that the non-elect should choose the
course they follow we now undertake to prove.
From what
has been before us in the previous chapter concerning the election of some to
salvation, it would unavoidably follow, even if Scripture had been silent upon
it, that there must be a rejection of others. Every choice evidently and
necessarily implies a refusal, for where there is no leaving out there can be
no choice. If there be some whom God has elected unto salvation (2 Thess.
2:13), there must be others who are not elected unto salvation. If there are
some that the Father gave to Christ (John 6:37), there must be others whom He
did not give unto Christ. If there be some whose names are written in the
Lamb's Book of Life (Rev. 21:27), there must be others whose names are not
written there. That this is the case we shall fully prove below.
Now all
will acknowledge that from the foundation of the world God certainly foreknew
and foresaw who would and who would not receive Christ as their Saviour,
therefore in giving being and birth to those He knew would reject Christ, He
necessarily created them unto damnation. All that can be said in reply to this
is, No, while God did foreknow these would reject Christ, yet He did not decree
that they should. But this is a begging of the real question at issue. God had
a definite reason why He created men, a specific purpose why He created this
and that individual, and in view of the eternal destination of His creatures,
He purposed either that this one should spend eternity in Heaven or that this
one should spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. If then He foresaw that in
creating a certain person that that person would despise and reject the
Saviour, yet knowing this beforehand He, nevertheless, brought that person into
existence, then it is clear He designed and ordained that that person should be
eternally lost. Again; faith is God's gift, and the purpose to give it only to
some, involves the purpose not to give it to others. Without faith there is no
salvation--"He that believeth not shall be damned"-hence if there
were some of Adam's descendants to whom He purposed not to give faith, it must
be because He ordained that they should be damned.
Not only
is there no escape from these conclusions, but history confirms them. Before
the Divine Incarnation, for almost two thousand years, the vast majority of
mankind were left destitute of even the external means of grace, being favored
with no preaching of God's Word and with no written revelation of His will. For
many long centuries Israel was the only nation to whom the Deity vouchsafed any
special discovery of Himself- "Who in times past suffered all nations to
walk in their own ways" (Acts 14:16)--"You only (Israel) have I known
of all the families of the earth" (Amos 3:2). Consequently, as all other
nations were deprived of the preaching of God's Word, they were strangers to
the faith that cometh thereby (Rom. 10:17). These nations were not only
ignorant of God Himself, but of the way to please Him, of the true manner of
acceptance with Him, and the means of arriving at the everlasting enjoyment of
Himself.
Now if God
had willed their salvation, would He not have vouchsafed them the means of
salvation? Would He not have given them all things necessary to that end? But
it is an undeniable matter of fact that He did not. If, then, Deity can,
consistently, with His justice, mercy, and benevolence, deny to some the means
of grace, and shut them up in gross darkness and unbelief (because of the sins
of their forefathers, generations before), why should it be deemed incompatible
with His perfections to exclude some persons, many, from grace itself, and from
that eternal life which is connected with it? seeing that He is Lord and
Sovereign Disposer both of the end to which the means lead, and the means which
lead to that end?
Coming
down to our own day, and to those in our own country-leaving out the almost
unnumerable crowds of unevangelized heathen-is it not evident that there are
many living in lands where the Gospel is preached, lands which are full of
churches, who die strangers to God and His holiness? True, the means of grace
were close to their hand, but many of them knew it not. Thousands are born into
homes where they are taught from infancy to regard all Christians as hypocrites
and preachers as arch-humbugs. Others, are instructed from the cradle in Roman
Catholicism, and are trained to regard Evangelical Christianity as deadly
heresy, and the Bible as a book highly dangerous for them to read. Others,
reared in "Christian Science" families, know no more of the true
Gospel of Christ than do the unevangelized heathen. The great majority of these
die in utter ignorance of the Way of Peace. Now are we not obliged to conclude
that it was not God's will to communicate grace to them? Had His will been
otherwise, would He not have actually communicated His grace to them? If, then,
it was the will of God, in time, to refuse to them his grace, it must have been
His will from all eternity, since His will is, as Himself, the same yesterday,
and today and forever. Let it not be forgotten that God's providences are but
the manifestations of His decrees: what God does in time is only what He
purposed in eternity-His own will being the alone cause of all His acts and
works. Therefore from His actually leaving some men in final impenitency and
unbelief we assuredly gather it was His everlasting determination so to do; and
consequently that He reprobated some from before the foundation of the world.
In the
Westminster Confession it is said, "God from all eternity did by the most
wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably foreordain
whatsoever comes to pass." The late Mr. F. W. Grant-a most careful and
cautious student and writer-commenting on these words said: "It is perfectly,
divinely true, that God hath ordained for His own glory whatsoever comes to
pass." Now if these statements are true, is not the doctrine of
Reprobation established by them? What, in human history, is the one thing which
does come to pass every day? What, but that men and women die, pass out of this
world into a hopeless eternity, an eternity of suffering and woe. If then God
has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass then He must have decreed that vast
numbers of human beings should pass out of this world unsaved to suffer
eternally in the Lake of Fire. Admitting the general premise, is not the
specific conclusion inevitable?
In reply
to the preceding paragraphs the reader may say, All this is simply reasoning,
logical no doubt, but yet mere inferences. Very well, we will now point out
that in addition to the above conclusions there are many passages in Holy Writ
which are most clear and definite in their teaching on this solemn subject;
passages which are too plain to be misunderstood and too strong to be evaded.
The marvel is that so many good men have denied their undeniable affirmations.
"Joshua
made war a long time with all those kings. There was not a city that made peace
with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all
other they took in battle. For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that
they should come against Israel in battle, that He might destroy them utterly,
and that they might have no favor, but that He might destroy them as the LORD
commanded Moses" (Josh. 11:18-20). What could be plainer than this? Here
was a large number of Canaanites whose hearts the Lord hardened, whom He had
purposed to utterly destroy, to whom He showed "no favor." Granted
that they were wicked, immoral, idolatrous; were they any worse than the
immoral, idolatrous cannibals of the South Sea Islands (and many other places),
to whom God gave the Gospel through John G. Paton! Assuredly not. Then why did
not Jehovah command Israel to teach the Canaanites His laws and instruct them
concerning sacrifices to the true God? Plainly, because He had marked them out
for destruction, and if so, that from all eternity.
"The
LORD hath made all things for Himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of
evil" (Prov. 16:4). That the Lord made all, perhaps every reader of this
book will allow: that He made all for Himself is not so widely believed. That
God made us, not for our own sakes, but for Himself; not for our own happiness,
but for His glory, is, nevertheless, repeatedly affirmed in Scripture-Revelation
4:11. But Proverbs 16:4 goes even farther: it expressly declares that the Lord
made the wicked for the Day of Evil: that was His design in giving them being.
But why? Does not Romans 9:17 tell us, "For the Scripture saith unto
Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew My
power in thee, and that My name might be declared throughout all the
earth"! God has made the wicked that, at the end, He may demonstrate His
power"-demonstrate it by showing what an easy matter it is for Him to
subdue the stoutest rebel and to overthrow His mightiest enemy.
"And
then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work
iniquity" (Matt. 7:23). In the previous chapter it has been shown that the
words "know" and "foreknowledge" when applied to God in the
Scriptures, have reference not simply to His prescience (i.e., His bare
knowledge beforehand), but to His knowledge of approbation. When God said to
Israel, "You only have I known of all the families of the earth" (Amos
3:2), it is evident that He meant, "You only had I any favorable regard
to." When we read in Romans 11:2 "God hath not cast away His people
(Israel) which He foreknew," it is obvious that what was signified is,
"God has not finally rejected that people whom He has chosen as the
objects of His love"-cf. Deuteronomy 7:8. In the same way (and it is the
only possible way) are we to understand Matthew 7:23. In the Day of Judgment
the Lord will say unto many, "I never knew you." Note, it is more
than simply "I know you not." His solemn declaration will be, "I
never knew you"-you were never the objects of My approbation. Contrast
this with "I know (love) My sheep, and am known (loved) of Mine"
(John 10:14). The "sheep," His elect, the "few" He does
"know"; but the reprobate, the non-elect, the "many" He
knows not-no, not even before the foundation of the world did He know them-He
"NEVER" knew them!
In Romans
9 the doctrine of God's Sovereignty in its application to both the elect and
the reprobate is treated of at length. A detailed exposition of this important
chapter would be beyond our present scope; all that we can essay is to dwell
upon the part of it which most clearly bears upon the aspect of the subject
which we are now considering.
Verse 17.
"For the Scripture saith unto Pharoah, Even for this same purpose have I
raised thee up, that I might show My power in thee, and that My name might be
declared throughout all the earth." These words refer us back to verses 13
and 14. In verse 13 God's love to Jacob and His hatred to Esau are declared. In
verse 14 it is asked "Is there unrighteousness with God?" and here in
verse 17 the Apostle continues his reply to the objection. We cannot do better
now than quote from Calvin's comments upon this verse. "There are here two
things to be considered-the predestination of Pharaoh to ruin, which is to be
referred to the past and yet the hidden counsel of God-and then, the design of
this, which was to make known the name of God. As many interpreters, striving
to modify this passage, pervert it, we must observe, that for the word 'I have
raised thee up,' or stirred up, in the Hebrew is, 'I have appointed,' by which
it appears, that God, designing to show that the contumacy of Pharaoh would not
prevent Him to deliver His people, not only affirms that his fury had been
foreseen by Him, and that He had prepared means for restraining it, but that He
had also thus designedly ordained it and indeed for this end,-that He might
exhibit a more illustrious evidence of His own power." It will be observed
that Calvin gives as the force of the Hebrew word which Paul renders "For
this cause have I raised thee up,"-"I have appointed." As this
is the word on which the doctrine and argument of the verse turns we would
further point out that in making this quotation from Exodus 9:16 the Apostle
significantly departs from the Septuagint-the version then in common use, and
from which he most frequently quotes-and substitutes a clause for the first
that is given by the Septuagint: instead of "On this account thou hast
been preserved," he gives "For this very end have I raised thee
up!"
But we
must now consider in more detail the case of Pharaoh which sums up in concrete
example the great controversy between man and his Maker. "For now I will stretch
out My hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou
shalt be cut off from the earth. And in every deed for this cause have I raised
thee up, for to show in thee My power; and that My name may be declared
throughout all the earth" (Exo. 9:15, 16). Upon these words we offer the
following comments:
First, we
know from Exodus 14 and 15 that Pharaoh was "cut off," that he was
cut off by God, that he was cut off in the very midst of his wickedness, that
he was cut off not by sickness nor by the infirmities which are incident to old
age, nor by what men term an accident, but cut off by the immediate hand of God
in judgment.
Second, it
is clear that God raised up Pharaoh for this very end-to "cut him
off," which in the language of the New Testament means
"destroyed." God never does anything without a previous design. In
giving him being, in preserving him through infancy and childhood, in raising
him to the throne of Egypt, God had one end in view. That such was God's purpose
is clear from His words to Moses before he went down to Egypt to demand of
Pharaoh that Jehovah's people should be allowed to go a three days' journey
into the wilderness to worship Him-"And the Lord said unto Moses, When
thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all these wonders before
Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he
shall not let the people go" (Exo. 4:21). But not only so, God's design
and purpose was declared long before this. Four hundred years previously God
had said to Abraham, "Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger
in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them: and they shall afflict them
four hundred years; and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I
judge" (Gen. 15:13, 14). From these words it is evident (a nation and its
king being looked at as one in the Old Testament) that God's purpose was formed
long before He gave Pharaoh being.
Third, an
examination of God's dealings with Pharaoh makes it clear that Egypt's king was
indeed a "vessel of wrath fitted to destruction." Placed on Egypt's
throne, with the reins of government in his hands, he sat as head of the nation
which occupied the first rank among the peoples of the world. There was no
other monarch on earth able to control or dictate to Pharaoh. To such a dizzy
height did God raise this reprobate, and such a course was a natural and
necessary step to prepare him for his final fate, for it is a Divine axiom that
"pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall."
Further-and this is deeply important to note and highly significant-God removed
from Pharaoh the one outward restraint which was calculated to act as a check
upon him. The bestowing upon Pharoah of the unlimited powers of a king was setting
him above all legal influence and control. But besides this, God removed Moses
from his presence and kingdom. Had Moses, who not only was skilled in all the
wisdom of the Egyptians but also had been reared in Pharaoh's household, been
suffered to remain in close proximity to the throne, there can be no doubt but
that his example and influence had been a powerful check upon the king's
wickedness and tyranny. This, though not the only cause, was plainly one reason
why God sent Moses into Midian, for it was during his absence that Egypt's
inhuman king framed his most cruel edicts. God designed, by removing this
restraint, to give Pharaoh full opportunity to fill up the full measure of his
sins, and ripen himself for his fully-deserved but predestined ruin.
Fourth,
God "hardened" his heart as He declared He would (Exo. 4:21). This is
in full accord with the declarations of Holy Scripture-"The preparations
of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD"
(Prov. 16:1); "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers
of water, He turneth it withersoever He will" (Prov. 21:1). Like all other
kings, Pharaoh's heart was in the hand of the Lord; and God had both the right
and the power to turn it whithersoever He pleased. And it pleased Him to turn
it against all good. God determined to hinder Pharaoh from granting his request
through Moses to let Israel go until He had fully prepared him for his final
overthrow, and because nothing short of this would fully fit him, God hardened
his heart.
Finally,
it is worthy of careful consideration to note how the vindication of God in His
dealings with Pharaoh has been fully attested. Most remarkable it is to
discover that we have Pharaoh's own testimony in favor of God and against
himself! In Exodus 9:15 and 16 we learn how God had told Pharaoh for what
purpose He had raised him up, and in verse 27 of the same chapter we are told
that Pharaoh said, "I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I
and my people are wicked." Mark that this was said by Pharaoh after he
knew that God had raised him up in order to "cut him off," after his
severe judgments had been sent upon him, after he had hardened his own heart.
By this time Pharaoh was fairly ripened for judgment, and fully prepared to
decide whether God had injured him, or whether he had sought to injure God; and
he fully acknowledged that he had "sinned" and that God was
"righteous." Again; we have the witness of Moses who was fully
acquainted with God's conduct toward Pharaoh. He had heard at the beginning
what was God's design in connection with Pharaoh; he had witnessed God's
dealings with him; he had observed his "long-sufferance" toward this
vessel of wrath fitted to destruction; and at last he had beheld him cut off in
Divine judgment at the Red Sea. How then was Moses impressed? Does he raise the
cry of injustice? Does he dare to charge God with unrighteousness? Far from it.
Instead, he says, "Who is like unto Thee, O LORD, among the gods? Who is
like Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders!" (Exo.
15: 11).
Was Moses
moved by a vindictive spirit as he saw Israel's archenemy "cut off"
by the waters of the Red Sea? Surely not. But to remove forever all doubt upon
this score it remains to be pointed out how that saints in Heaven, after they
have witnessed the sore judgments of God, join in singing "the song of
Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous
are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of
saints" (Rev. 15:3). Here then is the climax, and the full and final
vindication of God's dealings with Pharaoh. Saints in Heaven join in singing
the Song of Moses, in which the servant of God celebrated Jehovah's praise in
overthrowing Pharaoh and his hosts, declaring that in so acting God was not
unrighteous but just and true. We must believe, therefore, that the Judge of
all the earth did right in creating and destroying this vessel of wrath,
Pharaoh.
The case
of Pharaoh establishes the principle and illustrates the doctrine of
Reprobation. If God actually reprobated Pharaoh, we may justly conclude that He
reprobates all others whom He did not predestinate to be conformed to the image
of His Son. This inference the Apostle Paul manifestly draws from the fate of
Pharaoh, for in Romans 9, after referring to God's purpose in raising up
Pharaoh, he continues, "therefore." The case of Pharaoh is introduced
to prove the doctrine of Reprobation as the counterpart of the doctrine of
Election.
In
conclusion, we would say that in forming Pharaoh God displayed neither justice
nor injustice, but only His bare Sovereignty. As the potter is Sovereign in
forming vessels, so God is Sovereign in forming moral agents.
Verse 18.
"Therefore hath He mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He
hardeneth." The "therefore" announces the general conclusion
which the Apostle draws from all he had said in the three preceding verses in
denying that God was unrighteous in loving Jacob and hating Esau, and specifically
it applies the principle exemplified in God's dealings with Pharaoh. It traces
everything back to the Sovereign will of the Creator. He loves one and hates
another. He exercises mercy toward some and hardens others, without reference
to anything save His own Sovereign will.
That which
is most repulsive to the carnal mind in the above verse is the reference to
hardening-"Whom He will He hardeneth"-and it is just here that so
many commentators and expositors have adulterated the truth. The most common
view is that the Apostle is speaking of nothing more than judicial hardening,
i.e., a forsaking by God because these subjects of His displeasure had first
rejected His truth and forsaken Him. Those who contend for this interpretation
appeal to such Scriptures as Romans 1: 19-26-"God gave them up," that
is (see context) those who "knew God" yet glorified Him not as God
(v. 21). Appeal is also made to 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12. But it is to be noted
that the word "harden" does not occur in either of these passages.
But further. We submit that Romans 9:18 has no reference whatever to judicial
"hardening." The Apostle is not there speaking of those who had
already turned their back on God's truth, but instead, he is dealing with God's
Sovereignty, God's Sovereignty as seen not only in showing mercy to whom He
wills, but also in hardening whom He pleases. The exact words are "Whom He
will"-not, "all who have rejected His truth"-"He
hardeneth," and this, coming immediately after the mention of Pharaoh,
clearly fixes their meaning. The case of Pharaoh is plain enough, though man by
his glosses has done his best to hide the truth.
Verse 18.
"Therefore hath He mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He
hardeneth." This affirmation of God's Sovereign "hardening" of sinners'
hearts-in contradistinction from judicial hardening-is not alone. Mark the
language of John 12:37-40, "But though He had done so many miracles before
them, yet they believed not on Him: that the saying of Esaias (Isaiah) the
prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report?
and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not
believe (why?), because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and
hardened their hearts (why? Because they had refused to believe on Christ? This
is the popular belief, but mark the answer of Scripture) that they should not
see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I
should heal them." Now, reader, it is just a question as to whether or not
you will believe what God has revealed in His Word. It is not a matter of
prolonged searching or profound study, but a childlike spirit which is needed
in order to understand this doctrine.
Verse 19.
"Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth He yet find fault? For who hath
resisted His will?" Is not this the very objection which is urged today?
The force of the Apostle's questions here seem to be this: Since everything is
dependent on God's will, which is irreversible, and since this will of God,
according to which He can do everything as Sovereign-since He can have mercy on
whom He wills to have mercy, and can refuse mercy and inflict punishment on
whom He chooses to do so-why does He not will to have mercy on all, so as to
make them obedient, and thus put finding of fault out of court? Now it should
be particularly noted that the Apostle does not repudiate the ground on which
the objection rests. He does not say God does not find fault. Nor does he say,
Men may resist His will. Furthermore; he does not explain away the objection by
saying: You have altogether missapprehended my meaning when I said 'Whom He
will He treats kindly, and whom He wills He treats severely.' But he says,
"first, this is an objection you have no right to make; and then, This is
an objection you have no reason to make" (vide Dr. Brown). The objection
was utterly inadmissible, for it was a replying against God. It was to complain
about, argue against, what God had done!
Verse 19.
"Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth He yet find fault? For who hath
resisted His will?" The language which the Apostle here puts into the
mouth of the objector is so plain and pointed, that misunderstanding ought to
be impossible. Why doth He yet find fault? Now, reader, what can these words mean?
Formulate your own reply before considering ours. Can the force of the
Apostle's question be any other than this: If it is true that God has
"mercy" on whom He wills, and also "hardens" whom He wills,
then what becomes of human responsibility? In such a case men are nothing
better than puppets, and if this be true then it would be unjust for God to
"find fault" with His helpless creatures. Mark the word
"then"-Thou wilt say then unto me-he states the (false) inference or
conclusion which the objector draws from what the Apostle had been saying. And
mark, my reader, the Apostle readily saw the doctrine he had formulated would
raise this very objection, and unless what we have written throughout this book
provokes, in some at least, (all whose carnal minds are not subdued by Divine
grace) the same objection, then it must be either because we have not presented
the doctrine which is set forth in Romans 9, or else because human nature has
changed since the Apostle's day. Consider now the remainder of the verse (19).
The Apostle repeats the same objection in a slightly different form-repeats it
so that this meaning may not be misunderstood-namely, "For who hath
resisted His will?" It is clear then that the subject under immediate
discussion relates to God's "will," i.e., His Sovereign ways, which
confirms what we have said above upon verses 17 and 18 where we contended that
it is not judicial hardening which is in view (that is, hardening because of
previous rejection of the truth), but Sovereign "hardening," that is,
the "hardening" of a fallen and sinful creature for no other reason
than that which inheres in the Sovereign will of God. And hence the question,
"Who hath resisted His will?" What then does the Apostle say in reply
to these objections?
Verse 20.
"Nay but, 0 man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing
formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?" The
Apostle, then, did not say the objection was pointless and groundless, instead,
he rebukes the objector for his impiety. He reminds him that he is merely a
"man," a creature, and that as such it is most unseemly and
impertinent for him to "reply (argue, or reason) against God."
Furthermore, he reminds him that he is nothing more than a "thing
formed" and, therefore, it is madness and blasphemy to rise up against the
Former Himself. Ere leaving this verse it should be pointed out that its
closing words, "Why hast thou made me thus," help us to determine,
unmistakably, the precise subject under discussion. In the light of the
immediate context what can be the force of the "thus"? What, but as
in the case of Esau, why hast thou made me an object of "hatred"?
What, but as in the case of Pharaoh, Why hast thou made me simply to
"harden" me? What other meaning can, fairly, be assigned to it?
It is
highly important to keep clearly before us that the Apostle's object throughout
this passage is to treat of God's Sovereignty in dealing with, on the one hand,
those whom He loves-vessels unto honor and vessels of mercy; and also, on the
other hand, with those whom He "hates" and
"hardens"-vessels unto dishonor and vessels of wrath.
Verses
21-23. "Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump, to make
one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew
His wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the
vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that He might make known the riches
of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto
glory." In these verses the Apostle furnishes a full and final reply to
the objections raised in verse 19. First, he asks, "Hath not the potter
power over the clay?" etc. It is to be noted the word here translated
"power" is a different one in the Greek from the one rendered
"power" in verse 22 where it can only signify His might; but here in
verse 21, the "power" spoken of must refer to the Creator's rights or
Sovereign prerogatives; that this is so, appears from the fact that the same
Greek word is employed in John 1: 12-"As many as received Him, to them
gave He power to become the sons of God"-which, as is well known, means
the right or privilege to become the sons of God. The R. V. employs
"right" both in John 1:12 and Romans 9:21.
Verse 21.
"Hath not the potter power over the clay of the same lump, to make one
vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonour?" That the
"potter" here is God Himself is certain from the previous verse,
where the Apostle asks, "Who art thou that repliest against God?" and
then, speaking in the terms of the figure he was about to use, continues,
"Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it," etc. Some there
are who would rob these words of their force by arguing that while the human
potter makes certain vessels to be used for less honorable purposes than
others, nevertheless, they are designed to fill some useful place. But the
Apostle does not here say, Hath not the Potter power over the clay of the same
lump, to make one vessel unto an honorable use and another to a less honorable
use, but he speaks of some "vessels" being made unto
"dishonour." It is true, of course, that God's wisdom will yet be
fully vindicated, inasmuch as the destruction of the reprobate will promote His
glory-in what way the next verse tells us.
Ere
passing to the next verse let us summarize the teaching of this and the two
previous ones. In verse 19 two questions are asked, "Thou wilt say then
unto me, Why doth He yet find fault? For who hath resisted His will?" To
those questions a threefold answer is returned. First, in verse 20 the Apostle
denies the creature the right to sit in judgment upon the ways of the
Creator-"Nay but, 0 man who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the
thing formed say to Him that formed it, Why hast Thou made me thus?" The
Apostle insists that the rectitude of God's will must not be questioned.
Whatever He does must be right. Second, in verse 21 the Apostle declares that
the Creator has the right to dispose of His creatures as He sees fit-"Hath
not the Potter power over the clay, of the same lump, to make one vessel unto
honor, and another unto dishonor?" It should be carefully noted that the
word for "power" here is exousia-an entirely different word from the
one translated "power" in the following verse ("to make known
His power"), where it is duaton. In the words "Hath not the Potter
power over the clay?" it must be God's power justly exercised which is in
view-the exercise of God's rights consistently with His justice-because the
mere assertion of His omnipotency would be no such answer as God would return
to the questions asked in verse 19. Third, in verses 22, 23 the Apostle gives
the reasons why God proceeds differently with one of His creatures from
another: on the one hand, it is to "shew His wrath" and to "make
His power known"; on the other hand, it is to "make known the riches
of His glory."
"Hath
not the Potter power over the clay of the same lump, to make one vessel unto
honor, and another unto dishonour?" Certainly God has the right to do this
because He is the Creator. Does He exercise this right? Yes, as verses 13 and
17 clearly show us-"For this same purpose have I raised thee (Pharaoh)
up."
Verse 22.
"What if God, willing to shew His wrath, and to make His power known,
endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to
destruction." Here the Apostle tells us in the second place why God acts
thus, i.e., differently with different ones-having mercy on some and hardening
others, making one vessel "unto honor" and another "unto dishonour."
Observe that here in verse 22 the Apostle first mentions "vessels of
wrath" before he refers in verse 23 to the "vessels of mercy."
Why is this? The answer to this question is of first importance: we reply,
Because it is the "vessels of wrath" who are the subjects in view
before the objector in verse 19. Two reasons are given why God makes some
"vessels unto dishonour"; first, to "shew His wrath," and
secondly "to make His power known"-both of which were exemplified in
the case of Pharaoh.
One point
in the above verse requires separate consideration-"Vessels of wrath
fitted to destruction." The usual explanation which is given of these
words is that the vessels of wrath fit themselves to destruction, that is, fit
themselves by virtue of their wickedness; and it is argued that there is no
need for God to "fit them to destruction," because they are already
fitted by their own depravity, and that this must be the real meaning of this
expression. Now if by "destruction" we understand punishment, it is perfectly
true that the non-elect do "fit themselves," for every one will be
judged "according to his works"; and further, we freely grant that
subjectively the non-elect do fit themselves for destruction. But the point to
be decided is, Is this what the Apostle is here referring to? And, without
hesitation, we reply it is not. Go back to verses 11-13: did Esau fit himself
to be an object of God's hatred, or was he not such before he was born? Again;
did Pharaoh fit himself for destruction, or did not God harden his heart before
the plagues were sent upon Egypt?-see Exodus 4:21!
Romans
9:22 is clearly a continuation in thought of verse 21, and verse 21 is part of
the Apostle's reply to the question raised in verse 20: therefore, to fairly
follow out the figure, it must be God Himself who "fits" unto
destruction the vessels of wrath. Should it be asked how God does this, the
answer, necessarily, is, objectively,-He fits the non-elect unto destruction by
His fore-ordinating decrees. Should it be asked why God does this, the answer
must be, To promote His own glory, i.e., the glory of His justice, power and
wrath. "The sum of the Apostle's answer here is, that the grand object of
God, both in the election and the reprobation of men, is that which is
paramount to all things else in the creation of men, namely, His own
glory" (Robert Haldane).
Verse 23.
"And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of
mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory." The only point in this
verse which demands attention is the fact that the "vessels of mercy"
are here said to be "afore prepared unto glory." Many have pointed
out that the previous verse does not say the vessels of wrath were afore
prepared unto destruction, and from this omission they have concluded that we
must understand the reference there to the non-elect fitting themselves in
time, rather than God ordaining them for destruction from all eternity. But
this conclusion by no means follows. We need to look back to verse 21 and note
the figure which is there employed. "Clay" is inanimate matter,
corrupt, decomposed, and therefore a fit substance to represent fallen
humanity. As then the Apostle is contemplating God's Sovereign dealings with
humanity in view of the Fall, He does not say the vessels of wrath were
"afore" prepared unto destruction, for the obvious and sufficient
reason that it was not until after the Fall that they became (in themselves)
what is here symbolized by the "clay." All that is necessary to
refute the erroneous conclusion referred to above is to point out that what is
said of the vessels of wrath is not that they are fit for destruction (which is
the word that would have been used if the reference had been to them fitting
themselves by their own wickedness), but fitted to destruction; which, in the
light of the whole context, must mean a Sovereign ordination to destruction by
the Creator. We quote here the pointed words of Calvin on this passage:
"There are vessels prepared for destruction, that is, given up and
appointed to destruction; they are also vessels of wrath, that is, made and
formed for this end, that they may be examples of God's vengeance and
displeasure. Though in the second clause the Apostle asserts more expressly,
that it is God who prepared the elect for glory, as he had simply said before
that the reprobate are vessels prepared for destruction, there is yet no doubt
but that the preparation of both is connected with the secret counsel of God.
Paul might have otherwise said, that the reprobate gave up or cast themselves
into destruction, but he intimates here, that before they are born they are
destined to their lot." With this we are in hearty accord. Romans 9:22
does not say the vessels of wrath fitted themselves, nor does it say they are
fit for destruction, instead, it declares they are "fitted to
destruction," and the context shows plainly it is God who thus
"fits" them-objectively by His eternal decrees.
Though
Romans 9 contains the fullest setting forth of the doctrine of Reprobation,
there are still other passages which refer to it, one or two more of which we
will now briefly notice:
"What
then? That which Israel seeketh for, that he obtained not, but the election
obtained it, and the rest were hardened" (Rom. 11:7 R. V.). Here we have
two distinct and clearly defined classes which are set in sharp antithesis: the
"election" and "the rest"; the one "obtained,"
the other is "hardened." On this verse we quote from the comments of
John Bunyan of immortal memory: "These are solemn words: they sever
between men and men-the election and the rest, the chosen and the left, the
embraced and the refused. By 'rest' here must needs be understood those not
elect, because set the one in opposition to the other, and if not elect, whom
then but reprobate?"
Writing to
the saints at Thessalonica the Apostle declared, "For God hath not
appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ"
(1 Thess. 5:9). Now surely it is patent to any impartial mind that this
statement is quite pointless if God has not "appointed" any to wrath.
To say that God "hath not appointed us to wrath" clearly implies that
there are some whom He has "appointed to wrath," and were it not that
the minds of so many professing Christians are so blinded by prejudice, they
could not fail to clearly see this.
"A
Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence, even to them who stumble at the
Word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed" (1 Peter
2:8). The "whereunto" manifestly points back to the stumbling at the
Word, and their disobedience. Here, then, God expressly affirms that there are
some who have been "appointed" (it is the same Greek word as in 1
Thess. 5:9) unto disobedience. Our business is not to reason about it, but to
bow to Holy Scripture. Our first duty is not to understand, but to believe what
God has said.
"But
these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of
the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own
corruption" (2 Peter 2:12). Here again every effort is made to escape the
plain teaching of this solemn passage. We are told that it is the "brute
beasts" who are "made to be taken and destroyed," and not the
persons here likened to them. All that is needed to refute such sophistory is
to inquire wherein lies the point of analogy between the "these"
(men) and the "brute beasts"? What is the force of the
"as"-but "these as brute beasts'? Clearly, it is that
"these" men as brute beasts, are the ones who, like animals, are "made
to be taken and destroyed": the closing words confirming this by
reiterating the same sentiment-"and shall utterly perish in their own
corruption."
"For
there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to
this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness,
and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ" (Jude 4).
Attempts have been made to escape the obvious force of this verse by
substituting a different translation. The R. V. gives: "But there are
certain men crept in privily, even they who were of old written of beforehand
unto this condemnation." But this altered rendering by no means gets rid
of that which is so distasteful to our sensibilities. The question arises,
Where were these "of old written of beforehand"? Certainly not in the
Old Testament, for nowhere is there any reference there to wicked men creeping
into Christian assemblies. If "written of" be the best translation of
"prographo," the reference can only be to the book of the Divine
decrees. So whichever alternative be selected there can be no evading the fact
that certain men are "before of old" marked out by God "unto
condemnation."
"And
all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, every one whose name hath not
been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life of the Lamb
that hath been slain" (Rev. 13:8, R. V. compare Rev. 17:8). Here, then, is
a positive statement affirming that there are those whose names were not
written in the Book of Life.
Here,
then, are no less than ten passages which most plainly imply or expressly teach
the fact of reprobation. They affirm that the wicked are made for the Day of
Evil; that God fashions some vessels unto dishonor; and by His eternal decree
(objectively) fits them unto destruction; that they are like brute beasts, made
to be taken and destroyed, being of old ordained unto this condemnation.
Therefore in the face of these Scriptures we unhesitatingly affirm (after
nearly twenty years careful and prayerful study of the subject) that the Word
of God unquestionably teaches both Predestination and Reprobation, or to use
the words of Calvin, "Eternal Election is God's predestination of some to
salvation, and others to destruction."
Having
thus stated the doctrine of Reprobation, as it is presented in Holy Writ, let
us now mention one or two important considerations to guard it against abuse
and prevent the reader from making any unwarranted deductions:
First, the
doctrine of Reprobation does not mean that God purposed to take innocent
creatures, make them wicked, and then damn them. Scripture says, "God hath
made man upright: but they have sought out many inventions" (Eccl. 7:29).
God has not created sinful creatures in order to destroy them, for God is not
to be charged with the sin of His creatures. The responsibility and criminality
is man's.
God's
decree of Reprobation contemplated Adam's race as fallen, sinful, corrupt,
guilty. From it God purposed to save a few as the monuments of His Sovereign
grace; the others He determined to destroy as the exemplification of His
justice and severity. In determining to destroy these others, God did them no
wrong. They had already fallen in Adam, their legal representative; they are
therefore born with a sinful nature, and in their sins He leaves them. Nor can
they complain. This is as they wish; they have no desire for holiness; they
love darkness rather than light. Where, then, is there any injustice if God
"gives them up to their own heart's lusts" (Psa. 81:12).
Second,
the doctrine of Reprobation does not mean that God refuses to save those who
earnestly seek salvation. The fact is that the reprobate have no longing for
the Saviour: they see in Him no beauty that they should desire Him. They will
not come to Christ-why then should God force them to? He turns away none who do
come-where then is the injustice of God foredetermining their just doom? None
will be punished but for their iniquities; where then is the supposed
tyrannical cruelty of the Divine procedure? Remember that God is the Creator of
the wicked, not of their wickedness; He is the Author of their being, but not
the Infuser of their sin.
God does
not (as we have been slanderously reported to affirm) compel the wicked to sin,
as the rider spurs on an unwilling horse. God only says in effect that awful
word, "Let them alone" (Matt. 15:14). He needs only to slacken the
reins of providential restraint, and withhold the influence of saving grace,
and apostate man will only too soon and too surely, of his own accord, fall by
his iniquities. Thus the decree of reprobation neither interferes with the bent
of man's own fallen nature, nor serves to render him the less inexcusable.
Third, the
decree of Reprobation in nowise conflicts with God's goodness. Though the
non-elect are not the objects of His goodness in the same way or to the same
extent as the elect are, yet are they not wholly excluded from a participation
of it. They enjoy the good things of Providence (temporal blessings) in common
with God's own children, and very often to a higher degree. But how do they
improve them? Does the (temporal) goodness of God lead them to repent? Nay,
verily, they do but despise "His goodness, and forbearance, and
longsuffering," and "after thy hardness and impenitent heart
treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath" (Rom. 2:4, 5).
On what righteous ground, then, can they murmur against not being the objects
of His benevolence in the endless ages yet to come? Moreover, if it did not
clash with God's mercy and kindness to leave the entire body of the fallen
angels (2 Peter 2:4) under the guilt of their apostasy still less can it clash
with the Divine perfections to leave some of fallen mankind in their sins and
punish them for them.
Finally,
let us interpose this necessary caution: It is utterly impossible for any of
us, during the present life, to ascertain who are among the reprobate. We must
not now so judge any man, no matter how wicked he may be. The vilest sinner,
may, for all we know, be included in the election of grace and be one day
quickened by the Spirit of grace. Our marching orders are plain, and woe unto
us if we disregard them-"Preach the Gospel to every creature." When
we have done so our skirts are clear. If men refuse to heed, their blood is on
their own heads; nevertheless "we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ,
in them that are saved, and in them that perish. To the one we are a savor of
death unto death; and to the other we are a savor of life unto life" (2
Cor. 2:15, 16).
We must
now consider a number of passages which are often quoted with the purpose of
showing that God has not fitted certain vessels to destruction or ordained
certain ones to condemnation. First, we cite Ezekiel 18:31-"Why will ye
die, 0 house of Israel?" On this passage we cannot do better than quote
from the comments of Augustus Toplady:-"This is a passage very frequently,
but very idly, insisted upon by Arminians, as if it were a hammer which would
at one stroke crush the whole fabric to powder. But it so happens that the
'death' here alluded to is neither spiritual nor eternal death: as is
abundantly evident from the whole tenor of the chapter. The death intended by
the prophet is a political death; a death of national prosperity, tranquillity,
and security. The sense of the question is precisely this: What is it that
makes you in love with captivity, banishment, and civil ruin. Abstinence from
the worship of images might, as a people, exempt you from these calamities, and
once more render you a respectable nation. Are the miseries of public
devastation so alluring as to attract your determined pursuit? Why will ye die?
die as the house of Israel, and considered as a political body? Thus did the
prophet argue the case, at the same time adding-'For I have no pleasure in the
death of him that dieth saith the Lord God, wherefore, turn yourselves, and
live ye.' This imports: First, the national captivity of the Jews added nothing
to the happiness of God. Second, if the Jews turned from idolatry, and flung
away their images, they should not die in a foreign, hostile country, but live
peaceably in their own land and enjoy their liberties as an independent
people." To the above we may add: political death must be what is in view
in Ezekiel 18:31, 32 for the simple but sufficient reason that they were
already spiritually dead!
Matthew
25:41 is often quoted to show that God has not fitted certain vessels to
destruction- "Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared
for the Devil and his angels." This is, in fact, one of the principal
verses relied upon to disprove the doctrine of Reprobation. But we submit that
the emphatic word here is not "for" but "Devil." This verse
(see context) sets forth the severity of the judgment which awaits the lost. In
other words, the above Scripture expresses the awfulness of the everlasting
fire rather than the subjects of it-if the fire be "prepared for the Devil
and his angels" then how intolerable it will be! If the place of eternal
torment into which the damned shall be cast is the same as that in which God's
arch-enemy will suffer, how dreadful must that place be!
Again: if
God has chosen only certain ones to salvation, why are we told that God
"now commandeth all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30)? That God
commandeth "all men" to repent is but the enforcing of His righteous
claims as the moral Governor of the world. How could He do less, seeing that
all men everywhere have sinned against Him? Furthermore, that God commandeth
all men everywhere to repent argues the universality of creature
responsibility. But this Scripture does not declare that it is God's pleasure
to "give repentance" (Acts 5:31) everywhere. That the Apostle Paul
did not believe God gave repentance to every soul is clear from his words in 2
Timothy 2:25--"In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if
God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the
truth."
Again, we
are asked, if God has "ordained" only certain ones unto eternal life
then why do we read that He "will have all men to be saved, and come to
the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:4)? The reply is, that the words
"all" and "all men," like the term "world," are
often used in a general and relative sense. Let the reader carefully examine
the following passages: Mark 1:5; John 6:45; 8:2; Acts 21:28; 22:15; 2
Corinthians 3:2, etc., and he will find full proof of our assertion. 1 Timothy
2:4 cannot teach that God wills the salvation of all mankind or otherwise all
mankind would be saved-"What His soul desireth even that He doeth"
(Job 23:13)!
Again; we
are asked, Does not Scripture declare, again and again, that God is no
"respecter of persons"? We answer, it certainly does, and God's
electing grace proves it. The seven sons of Jesse, though older and physically
superior to David, are passed by, while the young shepherd-boy is exalted to
Israel's throne. The scribes and lawyers pass unnoticed, and ignorant fishermen
are chosen to be the Apostles of the Lamb. Divine truth is hidden from the wise
and prudent and is revealed to babes instead. The great majority of the wise
and noble are ignored, while the weak, the base, the despised, are called and
saved. Harlots and publicans are sweetly compelled to come in to the Gospel
feast while self-righteous Pharisees are suffered to perish in their immaculate
morality. Truly, God is "no respecter" of persons or He would not
have saved me.
That the
Doctrine of Reprobation is a "hard saying" to the carnal mind is
readily acknowledged-yet, is it any "harder" than that of eternal
punishment? That it is clearly taught in Scripture we have sought to
demonstrate, and it is not for us to pick and choose from the truths revealed
in God's Word. Let those who are inclined to receive those doctrines which
commend themselves to their judgment, and who reject those which they cannot
fully understand, remember those scathing words of our Lord's, "0 fools,
and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken" (Luke
24:25): fools because slow of heart; slow of heart, not dull of head!
Once more
we would avail ourselves of the language of Calvin:
"But,
as I have hitherto only recited such things as are delivered without any
obscurity or ambiguity in the Scriptures, let persons who hesitate not to brand
with ignominy those Oracles of Heaven, beware of what kind of opposition they
make. For, if they pretend ignorance, with a desire to be commended for their
modesty, what greater instance of pride can be conceived, than to oppose one
little word to the authority of God! as, 'It appears otherwise to me,' or 'I
would rather not meddle with this subject.' But if they openly censure, what
will they gain by their puny attempts against Heaven? Their petulance, indeed,
is no novelty; for in all ages there have been impious and profane men, who
have virulently opposed this doctrine. But they shall feel the truth of what
the Spirit long ago declared by the mouth of David, that God 'is clear when He
judgest' (Psa. 51:4). David obliquely hints at the madness of men who display
such excessive presumption amidst their insignificance, as not only to dispute
against God, but to arrogate to themselves the power of condemning Him. In the
meantime, he briefly suggests, that God is unaffected by all the blasphemies
which they discharge against Heaven, but that He dissipates the mists of calumny,
and illustriously displays His righteousness; our faith, also, being founded on
the Divine Word, and therefore, superior to all the world, from its exaltation
looks down with contempt upon those mists" (John Calvin).
In closing
this chapter we propose to quote from the writings of some of the standard
theologians since the days of the Reformation, not that we would buttress our
own statements by an appeal to human authority, however venerable or ancient,
but in order to show that what we have advanced in these pages is no novelty of
the twentieth century, no heresy of the "latter days" but, instead, a
doctrine which has been definitely formulated and commonly taught by many of
the most pious and scholarly students of Holy Writ.
"Predestination
we call the decree of God, by which He has determined in Himself, what He would
have to become of every individual of mankind. For they are not all created
with a similar destiny: but eternal life is foreordained for some, and eternal
damnation for others. Every man, therefore, being created for one or the other
of these ends, we say, he is predestinated either to life or to
death"-from John Calvin's "Institutes" (1536 A. D.) Book III,
Chapter XXI entitled "Eternal Election, or God's Predestination of Some to
Salvation and of Others to Destruction."
We ask our
readers to mark well the above language. A perusal of it should show that what
the present writer has advanced in this chapter is not
"hyper-Calvinism" but real Calvinism, pure and simple. Our purpose in
making this remark is to show that those who, not acquainted with Calvin's
writings, in their ignorance condemn as ultra-Calvinism that which is simply a
reiteration of what Calvin himself taught-a reiteration because that prince of
theologians as well as his humble debtor have both found this doctrine in the
Word of God itself.
Martin
Luther in his most excellent work "De Servo Arbitrio" (Free Will a
Slave), wrote: "All things whatsoever arise from, and depend upon, the
Divine appointments, whereby it was preordained who should receive the Word of
Life, and who should disbelieve it, who should be delivered from their sins,
and who should be hardened in them, who should be justified and who should be
condemned. This is the very truth which razes the doctrine of freewill from its
foundations, to wit, that God's eternal love of some men and hatred of others
is immutable and cannot be reversed."
John Fox,
whose Book of Martyrs was once the best known work in the English language
(alas that is not so today, when Roman Catholicism is sweeping upon us like a
great destructive tidal wave!), wrote: "Predestination is the eternal
decreement of God, purposed before in Himself, what should befall all men,
either to salvation, or damnation."
The
"Larger Westminster Catechism" (1688)-adopted by the General Assembly
of the Presbyterian Church-declares, "God, by an eternal and immutable
decree, out of His mere love, for the praise of His glorious grace, to be
manifested in due time, hath elected some angels to glory, and in Christ hath
chosen some men to eternal life, and the means thereof; and also, according to
His own will (whereby He extendeth or withholdeth favor as He pleases), hath
passed by, and foredained the rest to dishonour and wrath, to be for their sin inflicted,
to the praise of the glory of His justice."
John
Bunyan, author of "The Pilgrim's Progress," wrote a whole volume on
"Reprobation." From it we make one brief extract:
"Reprobation
is before the person cometh into the world, or hath done good or evil. This is
evidenced by Romans 9:11. Here you find twain in their mother's womb, and both
receiving their destiny, not only before they had-done good or evil, but before
they were in a capacity to do it, they being yet unborn-their destiny, I say, the
one unto, the other not unto the blessing of eternal life; the one elect, the
other reprobate; the one chosen, the other refused." In his "Sighs
from Hell," John Bunyan also wrote: "They that do continue to reject
and slight the Word of God are such, for the most part, as are ordained to be
damned."
Commenting
upon Romans 9:22, "What is God willing to shew His wrath, and to make His
power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to
destruction," Jonathan Edwards (Vol. 4, p. 306 - 1743 A.D.) says,
"How awful doth the majesty of God appear in the dreadfulness of His
anger! This we may learn to be one end of the damnation of the wicked."
Augustus
Toplady, author of "Rock of Ages" and other sublime hymns, wrote:
"God, from all eternity decreed to leave some of Adam's fallen posterity
in their sins, and to exclude them from the participation of Christ and His
benefits." And again, "We, with the Scriptures, assert: That there is
a predestination of some particular persons to life, for the praise of the
glory of Divine grace; and also a predestination of other particular persons to
death for the glory of Divine justice-which death of punishment they shall
inevitably undergo, and that justly, on account of their sins."
George
Whitefield, that stalwart of the eighteenth century, used by God in blessing to
so many, wrote: "'Without doubt, the doctrine of election and reprobation
must stand or fall together... I frankly acknowledge I believe the doctrine of
Reprobation, that God intends to give saving grace, through Jesus Christ, only
to a certain number; and that the rest of mankind, after the fall of Adam,
being justly left to God to continue in sin, will at last suffer that eternal
death which is its proper wages."
"Fitted
to destruction" (Rom. 9:22). After declaring this phrase admits of two
interpretations, Dr. Hodge-perhaps the best known and most widely read
commentator on Romans-says, "The other interpretation assumes that the
reference is to God and that the Greek word for 'fitted' has its full
participle force; prepared (by God) for destruction." This, says Dr.
Hodge, "Is adopted not only by the majority of Augustinians, but also by
many Lutherans."
Were it
necessary we are prepared to give quotations from the writings of Wycliffe,
Huss, Ridley, Hooper, Cranmer, Ussher, John Trapp, Thomas Goodwin, Thomas
Manton (Chaplain to Cromwell), John Owen, Witsius, John Gill (predecessor of
Spurgeon), and a host of others. We mention this simply to show that many of
the most eminent saints in bye-gone days, the men most widely used of God, held
and taught this doctrine which is so bitterly hated in these last days, when
men will no longer "endure sound doctrine"; hated by men of lofty
pretentions, but who, notwithstanding their boasted orthodoxy and much
advertised piety, are not worthy to unfasten the shoes of the faithful and
fearless servants of God of other days.
"O
the depth of the riches both of wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable
are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For what hath known the mind
of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor? or who hath first given to Him,
and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of Him, and through Him, and to
Him, are all things: to whom be glory forever, Amen" (Rom. 11:33-36).*
* "Of
Him"-His will is the origin of all existence; "through" or
"by Him"-He is the Creator and Controller of all; "to
Him"-all things promote His glory in their final end.