A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 75 (Question 20 cont.)
SERMON LXXV.
II. REPROBATION may be thus deſcribed, It is the Predeſimation of a def… number of non for the maniſejation of the glory of God's revenging juſtice in them. For the clearing this obſerve,
[1.] THAT there is ſuch a decree of Rep… hation; there needs no more to be ſaid to prove this, than that there are ſome, and b…t ſome Elected. The doctrine of Election necceſſarily inters that of Repr…bation; for, if we conſider God as the creator and governour of all creatures; we muſt ſuppoſe he deſigned what to do with them before he made the…, elſe why were they made? And if, when under the law of ſpecial government, all were condemned to die, there are but ſome of them choſen to be reſtored again to life, for the glory of grace, the reſt muſt needs be deſigned to glority him another way, by remaining under the ſentence, or elſe we muſt ſay that God hath taken no order about them: And this is properly Reprobation. Hence that diſtribution, Rom. 11.7. The election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded Beſides, if God intended the exaltation of the glory of revenging Juſtice, He deſigned a ſubject in which to exalt it, according …, Rom. 9.22. It hat if God willing to ſhew his wrath, and to make his power known, end…d with much long ſuffering the veſſels of … fitted to deſtruction. And this is Reprobation.
[2.] THAT Reprobation is of a definite number. And herein alſo it runs parallel with Election, which we obſerved is ſo; and gave the evidence of it. Now if Election puched upon individuals, Reprobation muſt do ſo to, as will appear if we conſider,
1. THAT God determined within himſelf how many reaſonable creatures he would made. We formerly obſerved that the decree comprized in it all Individuals, yea all the circumſtances of things, which is more. David tells us, every member, &c. Pſal. 139.16. The number of men, women, and children that ſhould be from the beginning to the end of time, was ſet down and determined. For this purpoſe of God was it which cut the thread between …erly pol…ble beings, and thoſe that were ſuture; and therefore all his works are ſaid to be known, &c. A… 13.18.
2. THAT whom God dearced to make theſe beings, be alſo purpoſed what to do with th… He allotted to every one the end to which it was to be led; or how it ſhould ſerve to his glory: for otherwiſe there would be ſome things of which it might he ſaid, that they were in vain; which would be a refection upon, and is inconſiſtend with the divine wiſdom. Hence we read, Prov. 16.4. The Lord hath made all things for himſelf: yea, even the teaked for the day of evil.
3. THAT there are a ſet number of theſe Electel. There are a company whom God hath choſen out of the whole and that by name, whom he hath ſet his love upon and firmly reſolved to make them partakers in eternal life. This hath already been fully and undeniably evidenced under the former head.
4. HENCE of nec…rity there muſt be alſo a ſet number of thoſe that are Re… …ted. They are all the reſt. Rom. 11.7. and they are a deſ…nite number, for the whole of mankind are ſo; and God knows theſe individually as well as he doth the Elect, and what he will do with them. Reprobation therefore had no more a reſpect to foreſeen qualifications as the reaſons of the paſſing ſuch a decree, than Election had: ſince all were of the ſame lump, and equal capacities, and therefore was a meer act of God's lordſhip. And ſo he reſolves it, Rom. 9.20, 21. Nay but O men, who art thou that replieſt againſt God? ſhall the thing formed ſay to him that formed it, why haſt thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power ever the clay, of the ſame lump to make one veſſel unto honour, and another unto diſhnour?
[3.] THAT the laſt end of Reprobation is the manifestation of the glory of divine revening Juſtice. We have obſerved that there are two Attribates or moral perfections in God, which he will have the everlaſting monuments of, viz. Grace and vi…dictive Juſtice. For which the Scripture is full, and they are both intimated, in Rom. 9.22, 23. Now the proper ſubjects of the former are the Elect, thoſe therefore of the latter are the Reprobate. It is true, the grace of God is occaſionally or accidentally greatly illuſtrated by the Reptobate, in as much as contraries give light one to another; it is a wonderful circumſtance to ſet forth the good will of God to ſome in appointing them to life, when others as good by nature, and as capable in themſelves are left to periſh; …t directly the ſhine of this Juſtice is intended in the ſubject. God is his own laſt end in all things, and therefore he muſt be ſo in the act of Reprobation. Prov. 16.4. Now he is glorified in the Reprobate, by executing his judgments upon them: it is in taking vengeance, Pſal. 9.15, 16. And the glory which redounds from hence to him muſt be that of his Juſtice. For although in abſolute ſovereignty he may afflict his creature if he ſees meet, and none can impeach him for it; yet if he take revenge, it muſt be righteous, or elſe there is no reaſon for it, and then it is not his glory. Hence that in, Rom. 3.5.6. Is God unrighteous who taketh …? (I ſpeak as a man) God forbid: for … then ſhall God judge the world? Juſtice is either Commutative or Diſtributive. I here is no from for the former properly between God and the Creature, for we can give him nothing but what is his own: it is then the latter that belongs hither. Diſtributive Juſtice conſiſts in giving arecompence according to a ſtated ſale of righteouſneſs. When the rule is right, and the recompences are meaſured by it exactly, that is Juſtice: and we call it Relative in diſtinction from Sovereign Juſtice, becauſe it proceeds according to a covenant Relation between God and his Creature. Diſtributive Juſtice is either rewarding or revenging: the former is the recompence of obedience, the latter of diſobedience. The former is in the accompliſhment of the promiſe, the latter in the execution of the threatning. By the former God diſcovers how much he is delighted in holineſs, by the latter he makes it appear how much he loaths ſin; and in both his own holineſs is diſplayed. Now the ultimate aim of the decree is to make known to the creature this Attribute in its triumphs.
[4.] IN Reprobation God predestinated them to the means as well as to the end. There muſt be a way in which this purpoſe may be brought about; and it muſt be ſo accommodated as that Juſtice may be ſeen and adored in it. Now as the glory of Grace, which is the end of Election, is manifeſted in the ſalvation of the Elect; ſo the glory of Juſtice, which is the end of Reprobation, is manifeſted in the damnation of the Reprobate. And hence they were predeſtinated to this as a medium. Hence that, Jud. 4. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation. Yea and to all the other media to this. 1 Pet. 2.7, 8. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious; but unto them which be diſobedient, the ſtone which the builders diſallowed, the ſame is made the head of the corner. And a ſtone of ſtumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word being diſobedient, whereunto they alſo were appointed. Now in the ordering of theſe media, it is ſo over-ruled that the ſinners damnation is juſt, and ſo juſtice is celebrated in and by it: which means, though in the decreeing they were altogether; yet in the execution they have an order of ſubſerviency. And they are,
1. SUCH at are common to the Elect and Reprobate, in which a foundation was laid for both theſe decrees to take place. And they are all ſuch as were before mentioned under Election, till we have found man under the guilt of the apoſtacy. For the creature was not a fit ſubject either for mercy or revenge till then; and yet all that went before were ſteps to this. If man had not been, he could not have been a monument of God's glory: That which is not doth not praiſe him. If he had not been made a cauſe by counſel, he could not have been treated with in the way of a covenant, or indeed been capable of being either happy or miſerable, according to a tule of moral juſtice. For if he had not been capable of knowing his rule, he could not have been blameable for not obſerving it. If he had not had a rule given him, to which he was in duty bound to yield perfect obedience, he could not have tranſgreſſed it; for, where there is …a… there is no tranſgreſſion, Rom. 4.15. If he had not been inveſted with the image of God, whereby he was ſanctified to an ability for univerſal obedience, his coming ſhort of it could not have been righteouſly imputed to him. If the creature loſe its ſtrength by its own fault, it is no excuſe; but if it had been at firſt made without it, the caſe had been otherwiſe. If there had been no ſanctions added to the law, the creature would not: have known what it had to ſtand to; nor have underſtood either its pri…ledge, or its danger. If man had not been ſuffered to fall, but been preſerved in his integrity, there had been only the rewarding juſtice of God ſhining out in giving him a conſtant life of happineſs; but no room either for mercy to appear in his ſalvation, or revenging juſtice in his damnation. Rom. 10.5. It man had not been left to the freedom of his own will, and ſo fallen voluntarily, but been under a compulſive neceſſity, he had not been the blameable cauſe of his own ruin, not could it have been ſaid of him, as Hoſ. 13.9. O Iſrael, thou haft deſtroyed thy ſ…lf. But becauſe all theſe things are met together in his fall, he is hereby come under a righteous ſentence of condemnation, and is rendred a ſubject nextly capable either of mercy or revenge, as his Judge ſhall ſee meet. Now all theſe things came to paſs according to the eternal purpoſe of God; being under his government: and conſequently his permiſſion.
2. SUCH as are peculiar to the Reprobate. And they are two,
(1.) THE leaving them under the bondage of ſin and death. They are juſtly condemned, and he will not deliver them from it, but let it take place upon them; in which, though he exerts his Sovereignty, as Rom. 9.18. yet he diſplays his Juſtice, and is reſolved that as they are fallen into the hands of it, ſo they ſhall ſuffer according to it. And this is righteous. And this dereliction of his appears in two things,
1. SOME there be to whom God doth not afford the means and offers of ſalvation by Chriſt. And theſe muſt needs periſh. There is but this one way of ſalvation, Acts. 4.12. Neither is there ſalvation in any ether: for … is none ether name under b…en given any men, whereby we muſt be ſaved. And when it is not diſ…red ſuch a people are … cut hope, Eph. 2.12. they are …ct, 2 Cor 43 And there are multitudes of theſe in the world; they have no new of a Sari… reports of the way of life. There is … viſion afforded them: and what their … tion is ſee, Prov. 29.12. Where there in a wiſdom, the people peri….
2. OTHERS d…cr… the reward …, he be d…th not apply them for ſalvation to them. There are many called, but few … They have the Goſpel, but it is not a favour of life but of death to them. The … efficacy of the means depends on the Spirits application, but he doth not ſo apply them to all. Dent. 29.2, 3, 4. And they abuſe them to the increaſe of their own guilt. They hear, and will not obey; He ſtre…eth … his hand all day to them, but they g…ſy and are diſobedient; they hold faſt de… and refuſe to return: and becauſe they do not believe on the Son of God, with … on them. Joh. 2.26.
(2.) THE damning of them for ſin. In which damnation he executes upon them the … curſe under which they were fallen, a…ding to the tenor of the law which they had violated, being found under the curſe, and not delivered from it, by their emb…ing of Jeſus Chriſt. Hence we read, Rev. … And wh…ſeever was not ſound … book of life, was caſt into the lake of five. In the execution of which wrath upon them his juſtice ſets in ſtate, and ſhines ſuch through all eternity. Herein he gives being to the threatning of his own law and deth… his righteous judgments.
[5.] HENCE it follows that Reprobation is not …eerly negative, but alſo …ſi…ne. Some … vines, to av…d the prejudices of men, whoſe pride will not ſuffer them to acknowledge the ſovereignty of God in this doctrine, … about to make this Reprobation barely … tive, and call it preterition, or a paſſing by. Election they will have peſitive and abſolute; but Reprobation to be nothing elſe … leaving, or not chufing of them. But it is vain for men to mince here; for as it … not the caſe of ſinners ſo leſt, any thing better: If God leave them, under ſin and guilt, they muſt needs come under condemnation, and their end will be deſtruction: ſo the glory of God is hereby grea… derogated from; as if he left the cr… wholly to it ſelf, and had ſuſpended his government of it. Here then obſerve,
1. THAT God's permiſſion or deſertion is … thing only negative. It belongs to his providence, and that to his efficiency; in which he hath an hand in all things, though the way and manner of it be myſterious and beyond our comprehenſion, and therefore ſuch things of permiſſion are ſaid to be of the Lord, ſo, 1 Rin. 12.15. and elſewhere.
2. THAT God's appointing them deſ…nitely to their end, and ſaying …u… the way o… …eans in which they ſhall reach it, muſt needs be p…ſ… …. If God hath ordained to glorify his …ging juſtice on them and hath deſ…itely de…mi…ed who are the ſubjects in whom be will do it; and for that old lets them …, and leaves them i…, and condemns them for ſin, and all this according to his c…ſei, this muſt needs be …ſtive, and not only …gative: abſolute, and not meerly co… …nal; but this hath been in the premiſes …de evident.
[6.] THAT this d…trine of Reprobation … the reprobate …juſt cauſe either of com…ing …ſt God, or ex…ſing thereſeives for ther ſi…, and …eal impenitency. The car…al … relucts and riſeth here. Men think they have a great deal to ſay; if they die …d are damned, who can help it? So the … beings in ſome arguing, that God may …k himſelf if they remain in their unbelief, and periſh Rom. 9.1…. And the Proper brings in the houſe of Iſrael talking to the ſome purpoſe, Ezek. 22.10. Arminians alſo, and Jeſuits ſeek to load the doctrine with rep…o…ch, and tell the world that we … that G…d made ſome men on purpoſe … them; which, ſay they, is to charge … with an untruth, who himſelf with g…ſt ſolemnity declares the contrary …p… Oath, …ging it as a ſtrong perſwaſion of … to repentance, Ezek. 23.11. Say unto th…, As I five, ſaith the Lord God, I have no p…ſure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O …ſe of Iſrael. But this is a calumay. ſ…ere therefore give me leave to clear the truth by offering theſe few obſervations on this affair,
1. THAT Reprobation is no act either of ju…e or injuſtice, ha… of …eer ſovereignty. J…e and injuſtice, as they are diſtinguiſhed from abſolute ſupremacy, refer to a … or tranſaction between God and his …e: but there is no ſuch law to direct God in this act; but he was at perfect liberty: He had not tranſacted with the creature at all, for it was not; only he had aſ…pream right with him, as, either to give, … not give it a being, ſo to diſpoſe of it according to his wiſdom and will. In a ward, the creature was under no f…rſeiture, and ſo it was not an act of relative Juſtice … appoint it to ſuch an end, and it was at his free diſpoſal, and ſo there could be no injuſtice in the caſe. God indeed intended the manifeſtation of his Juſtice in the exe…tion of this decree, but he exerted his …er ſupremacy in the enacting of it. And …o this the Apoſtle reduceth it. Rom. 9.20.
2. THAT Reprobation is no cauſe of the ſin for which the ſinner is damned. We muſt here …guiſh between an antecedent and a cauſe. …ction is indeed the firſt leading cauſe of ſalvation. Jer. 31.3. The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, ſaying, Yea, I have loved thee with an overlaſting love: therefore with loving kindneſs have I drawn thee. That love diſpoſeth all to this end. But though Reprobation, be an antecedent, yet it is not the …r… not phyſical cauſe of man's either ſin or miſery. For,
(1.) REPROBATION did not take away the liberty of the creature. God put into man, in creation, a freedom of will, and this decree did no ways abridge him of it. Adam acted as a cauſe by counſel, and was not forced, but ſpontaneous in his compliance with the temptation. Men ſin of choice, and not by compulſion. They act with as much liberty, as it there were no ſuch decree. Men are wilful, Pſal. 81.11. But my people would not bearken to my wice: and Iſrael would none of me. Jer. 41.16. As for the word that thou haſt ſpoken unto as in the name of the Lord, we will not bearken unto thee. Joh. 5.40. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
(2.) HENCE man's ſin is properly chargable on himſelf, and conſequently his own damnation. God is not the author of ſin; He diſclaims it. It is true, his Providence is converſant about it: yea, and he decreed that it ſhould be, but not to be the author of it. And therefore we read, Eccl. 7.29. Lo, this only have I ſound, that God hath made man …pright; but they have ſought out many inventions. We are therefore forbidden to change the remptation to ſin upon him, Jam. 1.13, 14. Let no man ſay when he is tempted, I … tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth be any man. But every man is tempted, when be is drawn away of his own laſt, and enticed. David hereupon calls it his own iniquity, Pſal. 18.23. And ſo the deſtruction which follows upon it is chargeable upon man as procuring it for himſelf, Hoſ. 13.1. For in all this man acts on his own accord, and according to the naughtineſs of his heart.
(3.) THAT God made no man on purpoſe to dawn him. i. e. This was not God's laſt end in making of any creature. He indeed made ſome for the glory of his Juſtice, which will triumph over them in their damnation: but that the creatures everlaſting miſery ſhould be the bottom of God's purpoſe about it is contrary to truth, and that which is calumniouſly charged upon our Doctrine; the upſhot whereof is expreſt in, Prov. 16.4. The Lord …th made all things for himſelf: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Hence, though another gloſs might be made on, Ezek. 31.11. and other ſuch like expreſſions in Scripture, yet we readily aſſent to it as a truth, that God takes no delight in ſeeing the creature miſerable, meerly as it is miſery that it undergoes; though that he is contented and well pleaſed with the damnation of unconverted obſtinate ſinners, that is warrant enough to confirm it, Prov. 1.24, &c. Ezek. 8.18. Deut. 28.63. but that God did not deſign this as his laſt end, appears, 1. BECAUSE God then only can be ſaid to make a thing for ſuch an end, when be gives it a nature and qualities fitting for that end. For this is properly the wiſdom of an agent, to adapt his work to his deſign, becauſe elſe it cannot ſerve to it, and to his labour about it will he loſt. But God did not make man with a nature qual…ying and fitting him for damnation, but for happineſs. He was every way adapted for bleſſedneſs, as he came out of God's hand at firſt, and ſtood fair for it, though matob…, and ſo capable of miſery: the making of him a ſubject firted for deſtruction is of himſelf, it is he that brought himſelf into ſuch a plight. Hoſ. 13.9. O Iſrael, thou haſt deſtrayed thy ſelf. 2. HENCE the ſinners demnation comes in only is a medium for the ad…an…ement of God's end on the Reprobate. God is glorified in the ruine of ungodly men, and that by exalting of his Juſtice in taking vengeance on them, which vergeance is diſcovered in their ſuffering of all the miſeries which are contained in the threatnings of the law, by which they are condemned. But that which is to have its ſhine in all this, is Juſtice; and that is the attribute which he is in love with, and will make manifeſt. This therefore, and not the other muſt needs be his end. See Ezek. 28.22.
(4.) THAT God intended to damn none but for ſin. Damnation is not an act of meer Sovereignty, but of relative Juſtice. God damns none meerly becauſe he will damn them, but becauſe they have brought it upon themſelves. Hence that, Jer. 2.17. Ha… thou not precured this unto thy ſe…f, in that thou haſt forſaken the Lord thy God, when he led thee by the way. Sin therefore is the only cauſe of men's deſtruction. It is true, there is an infallibility of conſequence upon Reprobation, that all ſuch as are under that decrce will die, but they do not die becauſe they were reprobated, but becauſe they ſinned. And were it not ſo, revenging Juſtice would not be maniſeſted in this. For Juſtice appears in rewarded men according to their doings, reſerring to the law under which they are That Juſtice then may take place, it muſt appear that the man really deſerves the penalty which is inflicted on him. Now this deſert ariſeth from the nature and merit of ſin: the man therefore muſt be a ſinner before he can be juſtly damned; and if he be ſo, he then rightly deſerves it. So we read, Rom. 6.23. For the wages of ſin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord. And this proceeds according to the terms of the covenant. Gen. 2.17. But of the tree of the knowledge of the good and evil, thou ſhalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eateſt thereof, thou ſhalt ſurely die. We are on this account told how this death was introduced, Rom. 5.12. Wherefore as by one man ſin entred into the world, and death by ſin: and ſo death paſſed upon all men, for that all have ſinned, So that notwithſtanding the decree, there is none falls under this ſentence, till by his fin he hath brought it upon himſelf. No man is doomed to bed and deſtruction, becauſe he was repro…, but becauſe he was a finner and deſerved in.
USE. LET me draw three words of Counſel from the premiſes,
1. LET us all ad…re the Sovereignty of God, wh… diſpl…s it ſ…lf in this aſ…r; and be this pat us to ſ…c…. Take need of u… tined reffections on him who doth his pleaſure. It is enough for us, … if God … ling, &c Rom. 9.22. It is en…ugh for …, that …one are docmed to the pit but for ſ… Hell is Jud… …a place, but he ſound the way to it, by his wickedneſs. Acts. 1.2…. The Am…ru…s are devoted to ruin, but they muſt fill up their meaſure, Gen 15.16. B… why did God purpoſe to leave them th…? Sovereignty muſt determine what is righ… on this account, and there are many fink things with him. Why muſt ſo many inf… be burnt in Solom? So many in the O… World drow…ed in their Mothers wo…? So many babes in Baby… daſh…d againſt the ſtones? Were not others as great Si… as they? God ſaith, He took …ay Sodom a he ſaw good, Ezek. 16.50.
2. LET Sinners who are yet in their ſ… ur…rtain of their everlaſting oſ…ce, in o… clu… themſelves Reprobates. You have to rule to do ſo in the word of God. H…ce do not deſperately …eglect the uſing of the means of Grace, as if there were no hope: there is, an who knows, concerning you: you have the Goſpel; though you have found never ſo grievouſly, God can give you … peatence, and bring you to Sa…ration, and he invites you to it. Take heed then of … fing up againſt the decrees of God. Iſai… Wo…unt him that ſtriveth with his maker: Is the potſbeard strive with the p…tſi…ards of the earth: ſhall the clay ſay to him that ſa… it, What makeſt thou? or thy work, He b… bands? It Is the ſpirit of Devils, and … belical men, to cry out, why doth be find fault; if he hath reprobated and will do… me, how can I help it? An in amble S…d will ſay, I deſerve to be for ever left; I he ſays, he delights not in me, let Ang… and Men read his ſpotleſs Juſtice in my … for ever: I have forfeited my Soul into his hands, and I owe it, if he ſeeth meet, … eternal vengeance, and have nothing … ſovereign mercy to ſeek to, which may I it will, &c. and there I will lie.
3. LET the Children of God who are ſound of their Election, be taught from hence to … nify the grace of God to them hereby. … yourſelves then in an equal ballance; … member there did but the Sheers go bet… you and others. Say then, the Lord … have appointed my claim before Throne, and my eternal crown, to J… and Pharoah; and the free Sovereign L… might have made the furnace of Jules he bottomleſs pit to have been my ſurnace: … how ſhall I enough ad…re this Grace, …nd adore this good will of God, who was a perfect liberty, that he prepared a King…m for me, when he ordained ſo many …onſands to wrath? Can Time and Eternity …preſs Hallelujahs enough on my part to … forth the he…ghth, and depth, and length, … breadth of this l…ve to me, in writing …y nane in the book of Life, who was a …ece of clay in the hands of the potter and …e might, if he had ſeen good, have made …e a veſſel of diſhonour.
[AUGUST 7. 1694]