Newspapers / Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.) / Dec. 15, 1873, edition 1 / Page 2
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18 Zion’s 1 Mi 14. This must mean tliat Christ de- Holy Ghost/^ Tit. 3: 5. In tlicso i (or siionld) every one of us. If we stroyod tlio DcviJ entirely, that is liLs ^ quotations Paul instructs both nega- ! are the children of God ;ind subjects being, or else it means that he de-; tivcly and affirmatively. We are ' of his grace we are not wil limit some stroyed his power against the ehi 1-j saved and called (if at all) “not ac-| evitlenee of it ? If grace is rnanitest- dren—not the former, for if the | cording to our works”—showing that! Iv sufficient fir us it has been exer- Hevil was desti’oyed in his being, ' works, the best wc arc capable of per- | cised or applied in onr calling or re- then his work in opposing the truth would not be so abundant and mani fest ; but that Satan’s power against the children is destroyed is comfort enough for the jiresent—manifesting to them the sufficiency of grace.— Again St. Paul speaking of Christ and his glorious triumph in behalf of his pcojile, says that he “having Sjioiled jirincipalities and powers made a show of them ojicnly, tri- nmjiliing over them,” Col. 2: 15, and ivho in his senses could believe that a [lower, or even ]xnvers which are sp®iled and triumjihcd over, can sjioil the purpose of him who has S[>oiled tjie ])ower. Thus Christ has tri umphed over sin, death, and the Devil, wherebv he obtained a right to his and his chosen, and has s]ioiIeil every power that could otherwise liimler his possessing them. Trust ing that the candid reader may be able to jiereeive from the foi'Cgoing (piotations and considerations that the saints are “complete in him” (Christ), and that his grace is s-uflieient for them, we will jiursue the subject still further for instruction and comfort. We have considci’cd the grace of lection and redemption, finding clear xpressions of each in the scrijitures, nd we need more still for Saul was chosen and' r(Hlecrael at the verv ho was hM'-D’iheaunu' Ala' u Pont ana jiersqenting name his 4nts; or who could or woidd insinu- 'te that he ^vouId have been saved i\v how whether he had repented or , or who, understanding thC' gos- ])cl system, would suppose that there was merit in the repenting and seek ing of Saul or any other. So- far forming, Avould not induce our call ing nor make it effectual. Then af firmatively “but according to his own purpose and grace” &c., from which, with the many example.s of theScrip- tnro.s, we may legitimately infer that the worst work.s Satan can influence men to perform, cannot hinder their calling or make it ineffectual—and Avhy not ? The text .shows the reason —because they are called according to God’s purpose, which purpose against sin .stands more firm than sin does against the jnirpo.se—otherwise none would be either saved or called. Again, negatively—“not by works which we have done” Ac.,—-why not from such motives? Peeause men arc not capable of [lerforming right eous works except they have a will to do .so—and if they have both will and capacity, and then they will be legally just and therefore need no mercy. But affirmatively “according to his mercy he saved u.'; by the re generation and the miewing of the Holy Ghost.” But if such as are called .saints walk as do others, where is the evidenceof their renewal? does not the professed religious world walk as do the opcSily wicked world ? do they not liold the same doctrine ? If we preach the absolute predesti nation and election of God the open- that he | bo anv others. Likewise does the relig- ions Avorld, if Ave jireach the doctrine of special, full, and finished redemp- newal, and if we are called and renewed by the Holy (Jho.‘r, the sen timent and feeling of our heart is as —but 1 cannot think Avith the sjdrit and the nnderstamling, for thev net only affirm, but evi'ii glorv in their affirmution.s that a'l|men aresiifficicnt- ly enlighteiU'd to jiei'ceive and attain their be.st interest, and If so none are “lost” and “bh'nd” as the [xK't said he once Avas. Tlien Avhv rlo th(‘v nor. denounce as falsehood the words Or was exjires.'^ed by one of old, “wherea.s the poet rather than them in I was blind I now .see.” IVe may not have smldenly been .smitten to the earth as .Saul AA'as, we may not have realized the deep and long continued .sorroAV of heart for sin that some of our time have, but if Are have been renewed by grace we have certainly , felt the need of assistance that Ave Arere a.s,snrcd Ava.s far out of the reacli of mortal power to afford. Therefoi'c their a.s.-^emblies ? But though othc rs may not be, yid David rvas, in senti ment agreed Avith the ]ioet, a.s vse gather from his Avords in the 8tli Psalm, “5\ hen I consider thv heavens, the Avork of thy fingei's, the moon and the stars AAduch [Inm iiast ot- dained, Arhat is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man. that thou visitest 1dm ?” Oh 1 what is A\diether Ave uttered a Avord in jiraver, ' man? J^et answci our desires Averc often flowing out that the Lord Avould i-emember us.— Jkfere avc could .see no reason whv wc should be saved, hence the senti ment and feeling of the heart Avas, Jf tliou slif.nid.st scih] niy soul to lieH, Thy riglitoout l;nv igiproves ii well. But though AVC could not see how such an one as avc A’icwed oniAselves to be could be with God A'ct our ‘(juA incajiaci- did Iv Avicked raib and affirms i, oiai.ce to has as od ty to discern the source of mercy not le.ssen our need nor hnider our calling u])on tlie Lord, Avho Avhen we harl been sufiieiently humbled by the afiplication of hi.s grace, manifested to u.s in some Avay as it pleased him that his grace AA’as suilicient, not onlv to lay/us loAv but to lift ns up again and ly save us. I said above, Avhen !--l l.-^- the scriptiire Ills heart is desjieralelv wicked and dccelrfnl above all things, wluve ' feet arc swift to shed blood, the whoii- head is sick and the Avhole heart is faint, thei'c is no souminess In it fmt i wounds, bruises ami [mirilVingsorcs.'’ : d'c. Then he is not .'■uch an excelleiit ^creature noAV that God would be un- ju.st to leave liim to pi'rish Avithout mercy as Arminlans supjiosc ami ai- I lege. But noAvas it does.appear fronn the scrijitures that graci'-is siillieiimt in the election, r(dcmption, and holy calling of the saints ; let us consider the light of rcA’clatlon Avhetlu'r not it is suflicient in their tion through Christ. The most wicked- from it Clu’ist hjmself by his death, resurrection and interces.sion merited all that San] or a-iiy other of his jieo- ple can need in order to their final and eternal settlement in heaven.— Lust here i.s the Arminian’s fatal mistake. He regards the repentenee, penitence, seeking and lielleving of sinners as meritoriou.s Avhcrcb.v thev secure grace—Avhereas the Bible shoAv.s plainly that ail these lU’e- them selves graces of the Spirit freely be- AoAved upon such as Saul,. Mary, the Gadarine, and others posse.s.sed of the Devil; Avhich,, as tlio case foi’inerly .stood Avith them, they neither Avould nor conld.haA’e received—hence that grace should ajipear .sufficient Avith the grace of election and. redemption —clear expre.s.sion.s of an holy and effectual calling, “ Who ha-th .Siged us .and called us.Avitli a- holy calling^ not according to our A’,iorks (Avkether good or bad) but according to his OAvn pur pose (election) and giyacc- which A\ai.s given, ns.in, Gh.rist JesiiS- before the AA’xirld began,” 2 Xiixi. 1: 9;. Again ^tXot by Avorks of righteousness which Ave have done, butTiccording to his class in the land affirms that Christ ditxl for all men, and that to the .same end, and so does the religious AA’orld if Ave preach the Spiritual de pravity of the human heart, and th.-.t natund men are Satan’s evaptives. Such as make no pretentions to religion feel that they have a judgment to change their state Avhenever they will. But that they Avill not noAV .shows the defect in their judgment, or rather that they have none, which if they had they AA'onld .see, feel, and acknoAvlcdge the imjiotency of men. But does not the religious fully agree Avith the Avis'ked Avorld in all this ?— NaA^! Does not their teachino' con- *- O firm the Avicked in their false faith ? and as the professedly rigliteous and the openly Avicked are fully associa ted in fiiitli, Avhere shall we look for an evidence of their renewal? their righteousnes.s in the laAv.ind devotion to tlieir creeds is no evidence of it— for Saul had both of these before he was rencAAaxi. Th.en as all things also are defective and therefore defi cient, should Ave not be gl.a,d that God and his grace i.s sufficient for the poor filication of his grace—uinL in or per.'^evcrance, or to cause tlicm lo jicr- Av the matter, that Ave are hiiin- ])lcd by gr.ace—not that Ave humble our.solves .and thercbv obtain grace; for one (and .sucli are all by nature) that is jH’oud, A'ain, and presumptu ous, before wliose eves the fear of I 7 V j God is not, Avill no sooner humble : him.stif before him than Satan avIIL east out Satan, lint do I notteacli that ' sinneiAsarc or might be .saved Avithout repentance? Xay ! but that by grace it i» given—“him being Avitli the right-hand of God exalted to give unto Israel repentance and forgive ness of sin.s,” nor do I teach that any are or could be sa\’ed Avithout faith ? Xay ! But that faith is the gift (and therefore a grace) of God as St Paul deelare.s, Eph. 2: 8. And Avhen all these and all other spiritual ble.ssiugs are received, they do not jiroduce or severe to the end,if not common judg ment Avonld teach us that it could not bo sufficient at all ; for everv i'ationai liriAtu 1'( .*'A'i.' ^^uilf'j.'-.ide'g that if a real saini ever did fall in!o hell at last, that neither God’s gra\' nor his own Avorks aa'ci’c sufficient for his salvation. 'Put nole, 1 do not teach this point, that tlie .odnts ]>er- ,severe by giving a loose lein to the flesh, as some affirm thev Avouhl do if they believed the doelrinc I.s not in that aaoiv-—liiit by the Devil and sni, that thus Xay, But from Avhence resisting ints ]K'F- do thev severe receiA’e the Splrk of resi.stanee If not from the Lord—as a gift; and if tlu: Lord finst gives, the Spirit of resi.st- S ance that file saints may jierseA’crc, cause, but manitests the election of their recipients and their appoint ment to salvation Avhereby they are jirepared to sing AAuth the Spirit that “ncAV song” and the understanding Avhich l)a\dd said the Ivord put in his ntonth, AA’hich is this— Anr.'izing xnwehow sweet the sounds Tiiat Ha / eel a wreteli like me—• 1 oiave wiAfl, lost but iioav I’m found, AVas, blind b.ut now I see. AMs, amazing, surprizing grace! and destitute ? Oh !. savs some, I do not question the .sufijicieucy of grace, but the greatest matter i.s, am I a what i.s the Arminians’ ? It seems not bicrcy he ..saved us by the Avashlng of subject of that grace? Ti;uly that is 'igeneratioii and, rpupAvin^ of the a point Ayhiclpniprp directly couperu^ Avouder and surprise .It seems not to be th.a,t grace is.sufficieut for any, but that it is not sufficient foi' all, and yet thiCy ^iug tbpsG- linos AviitL apparciit deligh.t Avill he not continue lo give it to tlie .same end? Th.e very moinenl his Spirit be AvithdraAvn from us (AA’liieli may be at times ro sIioaa- us our XA'Cak- nc.^’s) Ave deny him verbaly as Peter did, or by transgression as David did. Then the qne.stii»-n is not Ayhether a real saint may fall into tran.sgrcssion and “pici'ce himself through with many .‘=oitoaa’S,” but AAbcther he may be cast off in the cud—the former I suppose all AA’onld admit may be, but if the latter is passi ble, there are strange wonls written in the scriptures of'tbe language of Christ—in lohn 10: 2L, 28—“My .sheep hear my voice and I knoAV them and they folloAA' me, and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish,” &c. X"oav how could that be eternal Avliich Christ gives his sheep, except they live eternally?.— apd if it be admitted that thev cla.
Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.)
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Dec. 15, 1873, edition 1
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