Archive for August 12th, 2008
In the Scriptures reprobate, and to reprobate are referred rather to the present conditions of wicked men, than God’s eternal ordination concerning them. But the Decree of Reprobation is expressed in such terms as these, “God is said “not to have given them Christ,” “not to show mercy on some,” “not to have written the name of some in the Book of Life.”
Reprobation is the purpose of God to leave the rest of men to themselves, that he may glorify his Justice in their eternal destruction. Est decretum aliquod quo destinavit alicui Deus damnationem. Twiss. See Mr Manton on the 4th verse of the Epistle of Jude.
The Schoolmen ad others distinguish between Negative and Positive, or affirmative act of Reprobation. The Negative Act is called Preterition, non-election, or a will of not giving life. The positive or Affirmative Act is called Predamnation, or a will of damning the reprobate person. So there are two parts of Election, viz. The Decree of giving grace, by which men are freed from sin by Faith and Repentance: 2. Of rewarding their Faith and Repentance with eternal life.
Preterition or negative Reprobation is an eternal Decree of God purposing within himself to deny unto the non-elect that peculiar love of his, wherewith Election is accompanied, as also that special grace which infallibly brings to glory: of which negations, permissions of sin, obduration in sin, and damnation for sin, are direct consequents. Dr Arrowsmith’s Chain of Principles, Aphor. 5. Exercit. 2.