Archive for October 23rd, 2009
DOCTRINE OF ELECTION
ILLUSTRATED AND ESTABLISHED.
Whatever may be our views concerning the doctrine of Election, in whatever perplexity and darkness it may to our minds be enveloped, or however strenuously we may deny it; it is evident that the Apostle Paul believed it, and has stated it with great precision in the words of our text. But my brethren,
this subject is involved in no such perplexity as is sometimes imagined. It is one of those important, plain, practical truths which must be believed and loved. In endeavoring to give as scriptural and intelligible view of this subject as I can, I propose–
To illustrate the doctrine;
To evince the truth of it, and
To vindicate it from objections.
1. I am to illustrate, or explain the doctrine of Election.
This is the more needful, because it is sometimes identified with things that are not true, and often confounded with things that are true but which are foreign to the subject. Let us observe therefore.
1. That it is no part of the doctrine of Election, that God created a part of mankind merely to damn them. This is often said by those who wish to bring this doctrine into contempt. But it is not true. The ultimate object for which God created all men is the advancement of his own glory. He will punish multitudes of the human race, “with everlasting destruction from his presence;” but he did not bring them into being merely for the sake of punishing them. “God is love.” There is not one malevolent emotion rankling in his bosom. It is one of the foulest stains that was ever cast upon his spotless character, to admit the thought that he brought creatures into being merely for the purpose of making them forever miserable. In itself, he desires the salvation of every living man. We have his oath, “that he has no pleasure in the death of him that dieth.” If he destroys the wicked, it is because their perdition is inseparable from the promotion of his own glory, and the highest good of his Kingdom, and not because it is well pleasing to his benevolent mind, or the ultimate object of their creation.
2. It is no part of the doctrine of Election, that Christ died exclusively for the Elect. Such a representation is an unjustifiable perversion of the doctrine, and exposes it to unanswerable questions. Though there would have been no atonement but for God’s design to save the elect, and though there could have been no designs of mercy toward the elect without an atonement; yet the doctrine of atonement and election are two distinct things. Much idle breath and illiberal crimination might have been spared, by giving them that place in the Christian system which they hold in the word of God. It has never yet been proved that Christ died exclusively for the elect. If language has any meaning, we are bound to believe that “he tasted death for every man.” One would imagine that if the Apostle had intended to put this question forever at rest, he could not have said more than he has in these memorable words: “And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for our sins only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”