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Untitled Article
It ought not to be forgotten > in our examination of this subject , that the doctrine of election implies that of reprobation , which is a necessary consequence from it ; or rather an equally essential part of the same tremendous system . If some are elected from all eternity as the objects of divine grace , then it is equally certain ( in fact it is only the same thing expressed in different words ) that the rest are appointed by an absolute decree , altogether independent of any evil works of theirs determining him theretoTtcTbe
vessels of God ' s wrath , ordained to eternal torments , to the praise of his glorious justice ! This is a part of the question which is not unfrequently kept in the background by the advocates of this doctrine , and t 6 say the truth , it is not much to be wondered at that they should be unwilling to look such a consequence of their principles fairly in the face . It becomes them , however , to consider it attentively , both as it affects the character of God and their own condition and future prospects , which may be more deeply involved in it than they are often ready to imagine .
If I mistake not , we shall find upon attentive observation , that one great cause of the extensive reception of such tenets as that of particular election , and several of the kindred doctrines of Calvinism , arises from the confidence which most men repose in their own good fortune . They are instructed by this system that God Has arbitrarily , and without any reference whatever to any of their own good works determining him thereto , but purely of his own sovereign will and pleasure , elected some of his rational creatures to eternal life , and doomed the rest , not in themselves more
undeserving of his mercy , to the regions of intolerable woe . From a misapplication , similar to what has already been pointed out , of certain words of our Lord , which were probably intended to have an immediate reference to the circumstances of those times , but which they understand as relating to the future prospects of the whole race of mankind , they have concluded that the number of the elect will be small , in comparison with those who are rejected . Nevertheless , there are few who do not persuade
themwere ] possible , even the elect . ' With this insertion it seems to imply that it was quite impossible that the elect should be deceived , notwithstanding that these in > postors attacked their faith with lying wonders and great powers of deceit . The correct translation is simply , ' so as , if possible , to deceive even the elect j even those who have enjoyed the unspeakable advantage of a thorough knowledge of the gracious intentions of God , as made known in the gospel , authenticated by the preaching and miracles of my apostles . Having been led to speak of mistranslations , it may not be amiss to advert to another instance in which a text of Scripture has been perverted to
the support of this false doctrine by ( to say the least of it ) a very dubious rendering , ' The Lord hath made all things for himself , yea even the wicked for the day of evil , ' Prov . xvi . 4 . So the passage is given in our authorized version , ( following the vulgate , ) and in this form it is cited among their proof texts by the Westminster Assembly . The correct translation I conceive to be , ' The Lord hath done all things for himself , and the wicked also ( have done all things ) for the evil day . ' That i « , the lord hath done all things for the promotion of his own excellent designs in the government of the world , and the wicked ajso have done that which , in a day of righteous retribution , wiU end in their destruction ,
Untitled Article
108 ON THE CALVIMSTIC DOCTRINE
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 1, 1833, page 108, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2611/page/12/
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