The Sovereignty of God
By Arthur W. Pink
Foreword To The First
Edition
In the
following pages an attempt has been made to examine anew in the light of God's
Word some of the profoundest questions which can engage the human mind. Others
have grappled with these mighty problems in days gone by and from their labors
we are the gainers. While making no claim for originality the writer,
nevertheless, has endeavored to examine and deal with his subject from an
entirely independent viewpoint. We have studied diligently the writings of such
men as Augustine and Acquinas, Calvin and Melanethon, Jonathan Edwards and
Ralph Erskine, Andrew Fuller and Robert Haldane*. And sad it is to think that
these eminent and honored names are almost entirely unknown to the present
generation. Though, of course, we do not endorse all their conclusions, yet we
gladly acknowledge our deep indebtedness to their works. We have purposely
refrained from quoting freely from these deeply taught theologians, because we
desired that the faith of our readers should stand not in the wisdom of men but
in the power of God. For this reason we have quoted freely from the Scriptures
and have sought to furnish proof-texts for every statement we have advanced.
It would
be foolish for us to expect that this work will meet with general approval. The
trend of modern theology-if theology it can be called-is ever toward the
deification of the creature rather than the glorification of the Creator, and the
leaven of present-day Rationalism is rapidly permeating the whole of
Christendom. The malevolent effects of Darwinianism are more far reaching than
most are aware. Many of those among our religious leaders who are still
regarded as orthodox would, we fear, be found to be very heterodox if they were
weighed in the balances of the Sanctuary. Even those who are clear
intellectually, upon
*Among
those who have dealt most helpfully with the subject of God's Sovereignty in
recent years we mention Drs. Rice, J. B. Moody, and George S. Bishop, from
whose writings we have also received instruction.
other
truths, are rarely sound in doctrine. Few, very few, today, really believe in
the complete ruin and total depravity of man. Those who speak of man's
"free will," and insist upon his inherent power to either accept or
reject the Saviour, do but voice their ignorance of the real condition of
Adam's fallen children. And if there are few who believe that, so far as he is
concerned, the condition of the sinner is entirely hopeless, there are fewer
still who really believe in the absolute Sovereignty of God.
In
addition to the widespread effects of unscriptural teaching, we also have to
reckon with the deplorable superficiality of the present generation. To announce
that a certain book is a treatise on doctrine is quite sufficient to prejudice
against it the great bulk of church-members and most of our preachers as well.
The craving today is for something light and spicy, and few have patience,
still less desire, to examine carefully that which would make a demand both
upon their hearts and their mental powers. We remember, also, how that it is
becoming increasingly difficult in these strenuous days for those who are
desirous of studying the deeper things of God to find the time which such study
requires. Yet, it is still true that "Where there's a will, there's a
way," and in spite of the discouraging features referred to, we believe
there is even now a godly remnant who will take pleasure in giving this little
work a careful consideration, and such will, we trust, find in it "Meat in
due season."
We do not
forget the words of one long since passed away, namely, that "Denunciation
is the last resort of a defeated opponent." To dismiss this book with the
contemptuous epithet--"Hyper-Calvinism!" will not be worthy of
notice. For controversy we have no taste, and we shall not accept any challenge
to enter the lists against those who might desire to debate the truths
discussed in these pages. So far as our personal reputation is concerned, that
we leave our Lord to take care of, and unto Him we would now commit this volume
and whatever fruit it may bear, praying Him to use it for the enlightening of
His own dear people (insofar as it is in accord with His Holy Word) and to
pardon the writer for and preserve the reader from the injurious effects of any
false teaching that may have crept into it. If the joy and comfort which have
come to the author while penning these pages are shared by those who may scan
them, then we shall be devoutly thankful to the One whose grace alone enables
us to discern spiritual things.
June 1918
Arthur W. Pink.
Foreword To The Second
Edition
It is now
two years since the first edition of this work was presented to the Christian
public. Its reception has been far more favorable than the author had expected.
Many have notified him of the help and blessing received from a perusal of his
attempts to expound what is admittedly a difficult subject. For every word of
appreciation we return hearty thanks to Him in Whose light we alone "see
light." A few have condemned the book in unqualified terms, and these we
commend to God and to the Word of His grace, remembering that it is written,
"a man can receive nothing, except it be given him from Heaven" (John
3:27). Others have sent us friendly criticisms and these have been weighed
carefully, and we trust that, in consequence, this revised edition will be unto
those who are members of the household of faith more profitable than the former
one.
One word
of explanation seems to be called for. A number of respected brethren in Christ
felt that our treatment of the Sovereignty of God was too extreme and
one-sided. It has been pointed out that a fundamental requirement in expounding
the Word of God is the need of preserving the balance of Truth. With this we
are in hearty accord. Two things are beyond dispute: God is Sovereign, and man
is a responsible creature. But in this book we are treating of the Sovereignty
of God, and while the responsibility of man is readily owned, yet, we do not
pause on every page to insist on it; instead, we have sought to stress that
side of the Truth which in these days is almost universally neglected. Probably
95 per cent of the religious literature of the day is devoted to a setting
forth of the duties and obligations of men. The fact is that those who
undertake to expound the Responsibility of man are the very ones who have lost
'the balance of Truth' by ignoring, very largely, the Sovereignty of God. It is
perfectly right to insist on the responsibility of man, but what of God?-has He
no claims, no rights! A hundred such woks as this are needed, ten thousand
sermons would have to be preached throughout the land on this subject, if the
'balance of Truth' is to be regained. The 'balance of Truth' has been lost,
lost through a disproportionate emphasis being thrown on the human side, to the
minimizing, if not the exclusion, of the Divine side. We grant that this book
is one-sided, for it only pretends to deal with one side of the Truth and that
is, the neglected side, the Divine side. Furthermore, the question might be
raised: Which is the more to be deplored-an over emphasizing of the human side
and an insufficient emphasis on the Divine side, or, an over emphasizing of the
Divine side and an insufficient emphasis on the human side? Surely, if we err
at all it is on the right side. Surely, there is far more danger of making too
much of man and too little of God, than there is of making too much of God and
too little of man. Yea, the question might well be asked, Can we press God's
claims too far? Can we be too extreme in insisting upon the absoluteness and
universality of the Sovereignty of God?
It is with
profound thankfulness to God that, after a further two years diligent study of
Holy Writ, with the earnest desire to discover what almighty God has been
pleased to reveal to His children on this subject, we are able to testify that
we see no reason for making any retractions from what we wrote before, and
while we have re-arranged the material of this work, the substance and doctrine
of it remains unchanged. May the One Who condescended to bless the first
edition of this work be pleased to own even more widely this revision.
Arthur W.
Pink, 1921 Swengel, PA
Foreword To The Third
Edition
That a
third edition of this work is now called for, is a cause of fervent praise to
God. As the darkness deepens and the pretentions of men are taking on an
ever-increasing blatancy, the need becomes greater for the claims of God to be
emphasized. As the twentieth century Babel of religious tongues is bewildering
so many, the duty of God's servants to point to the one sure anchorage for the
heart, is the more apparent. Nothing is so tranquilizing and so stabilishing as
the assurance that the Lord Himself is on the Throne of the universe,
"working all things after the counsel of His own will."
The Holy
Spirit has told us that there are in the Scriptures some things hard to be
understood," but mark it is "hard" not "impossible!" A
patient waiting on the Lord, a diligent comparison of Scripture with Scripture,
often issues in a fuller apprehension of that which before was obscure to us.
During the last ten years it has pleased God to grant us further light on
certain parts of His Word, and this we have sought to use in improving our
expositions of different passages. But it is with unfeigned thanksgiving that
we find it unnecessary to either change or modify any doctrine contained in the
former editions. Yea, as time goes by, we realize (by Divine grace) with
ever-increasing force, the truth, the importance, and the value of the
Sovereignty of God as it pertains to every branch of our lives.
Our hearts
have been made to rejoice again and again by unsolicited letters which have
come to hand from every quarter of the earth, telling of help and blessing
received from the former editions of this work. One Christian friend was so
stirred by reading it and so impressed by its testimony, that a check was sent
to be used in sending free copies to missionaries in fifty foreign countries,
"that its glorious message may encircle the globe"; numbers of whom
have written us to say how much they have been strengthened in their fight with
the powers of darkness. To God alone belongs all the glory. May He deign to use
this third edition to the honor of His own great Name, and to the feeding of
His scattered and starved sheep.
Morton's
Gap, A. W. P. Kentucky 1929
Foreword To The Fourth
Edition
It is with
profound praise to "God most high" that another edition of this
valuable and helpful book is now called for. Though its teaching runs directly
counter to that which is being promulgated on every hand today, yet we are
happy to be able to say that its circulation is increasing to the strengthening
of the faith, comfort and hope of an increasing number of God's elect. We
commit this new edition to Him whom we "delight to honor," praying
that He may be pleased to bless its circulation to the enlightening of many
more of His own, to the "praise of the glory of His grace," and a
clearer apprehension of the majesty of God and His Sovereign mercy.
I. C.
Herendeen. 1949.