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NOTES

TO THE

Sermon

ON

PREDESTINATION.

NOTE (A) p. 199. "Tremendous Purpose."

CALVIN himself styles the Decree of Reprobation, "horribile." Inst. III. 23. 7. Unde factum est, ut tot gentes, una cum liberis eorum infantibus, æternæ morti involveret lapsus Adæ, absque remedio, nisi quia Deo ita visum est? Hic obmutescere oportet tam dicaces alioqui linguas. Decretum quidem horribile, fateor: inficiari tamen nemo poterit, quin præsciverit Deus, quem exitum esset habiturus homo, antequam ipsum conderet; et ideo præsciverit, quia decreto suo sic ordinarat.

I here subjoin citations from Calvin, sufficient to justify the description given (page 199) of Calvinistic Predestination:

1. His Definition of Predestination, and division of the Predestinate into Elect and Reprobates :

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Inst. II. 21. 5.

Prædestinationem vocamus æternum Dei

decretum, quo apud se constitutum habuit quid de unoquoque homine fieri vellet. Non enim pari conditione creantur omnes; sed aliis vita æterna, aliis damnatio æterna præordinatur. Itaque prout in alterutrum finem quisque conditus est, ita vel ad vitam, vel ad mortem prædestinatum dicimus.

Inst. III. 21. 7. Quod ergo Scriptura clare ostendit, dicimus, æterno et immutabili consilio Deum semel constituisse, quos olim semel assumere vellet in salutem, quos rursum exitio devovere. Hoc consilium quoad electos in gratuita ejus misericordia fundatum esse asserimus, nullo humanæ dignitatis respectu quos vero damnationi addicit, his justo quidem et irreprehensibili, sed incomprehensibili ipsius judicio, vitæ aditum præcludi. Jam vero in electis vocationem statuimus electionis testimonium: Justificationem deinde alterum ejus manifestandæ symbolum: donec ad gloriam, in qua ejus complementum extat, perveniatur. Quemadmodum vocatione et justificatione electos suos Dominus signat; ita reprobos vel a notitia sui nominis, vel a Spiritus sui sanctificatione excludendo, quale maneat eos judicium istis veluti notis aperit.

2. Irresistibility of grace, and certainty of salvation in the Elect:

De Præd. p. 614. Alibi Christus in sua manu electos esse docet, e qua nemo eos rapere poterit: quia Deus toto mundo sit potentior-omnibus electis certa est vita æterna-excidere nemo potest-nulla violentia nullove impetu quisquam rapitur— invicta Dei potentia nititur eorum salus.

3. Fewness of the Elect:

Inst. I. 22. 7. A maledictione, et ira Dei, ac morte æterna, non multos eripit gratia, qui alioqui perituri erant : mundum autem in suo interitu, cui destinatus est, relinquit.

4. The inevitable and Eternal perdition of the Reprobates.

Inst. III. 23. 1. Quos ergo Deus præterit, reprobat: neque alia de causa, nisi quod ab hæreditate quam filiis suis prædestinat, illos vult excludere.

Inst. III. 24. 12. Quemadmodum suæ erga electos vocationis efficacia, salutem, ad quam eos æterno consilio destinarat, perficit Deus: ita sua habet adversus reprobos judicia, quibus consilium de illis suum exequatur. Quos ergo in vitæ contumeliam, et mortis exitium creavit; ut iræ suæ organa forent, et severitatis exempla; eos ut in finem suum perveniant, nunc audiendi verbi sui facultate privat, nunc ejus prædicatione magis excæcat et obstupefacit.

Inst. III. 25. 12. Porro divinæ in reprobos ultionis gravitatem nulla descriptio æquare potest.-Quare non vulgare aliquid pronuntiavit Apostolus, quum dixit, infideles daturos pænas interitu æternas a facie Domini, et a gloria virtutis ejus.

5. No respect to any foreseen merits, or demerits, in the Elect or Reprobate :

Com. in Rom. ix. 11. Nihil hic valere merita-non respici

dignitatem.-Falsum est Deum, prout unumquemque gratia sua dignum vel indignum prævidet, ita vel eligere vel reprobare.

But for a just idea of Calvin's system of Predestination, I beg leave to refer to, "The Articles of the Church of England proved not to be Calvinistic," by Thomas Kipling, D. D. late Dean of Peterborough: a masterly and valuable treatise, comprehending, in the least room possible, a distinct delineation of Calvinism in its several parts; and each head confirmed by the requisite citations.

NOTE (B.) p. 200.

Being a more particular Interpretation of the Verses of the Text, viz. Rom. viii. 28, 29, 30.

Ver. 28. τοις αγαπωσι τον θεον τοις κατα προθεσιν κλητοις εσιν. "To them that love God-to them who are the called according to his purpose."

These two clauses are in apposition, and denote the same persons. This is of importance to be remarked; for hence it appears, that none but sincere Christians, those that love God, and keep his Commandments, are concerned in the benefits here predicated of God's Predestination.And throughout this whole Chapter, "Walking according to the Spirit," i. e. Holiness of heart and life, is presumed or implied. Ver. 1. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit :" and Ver. 13. "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

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