Page 42 - Absolute Predestination With Observations On The Divine Attributes

that we do not speak at all improperly when we say that the salvation of His
people is necessary and certain. Now that is said to be necessary (quod nequit
aliter esse) which cannot be otherwise than it is, and if all the perfections of
God are engaged to preserve and save His children, their safety and salvation

must be, in the strictest sense of the word, necessary. (See Psalm 103.17. &
125.1,2; Isa. 45.17. & 54.9,10; Jer. 31.3. & 32.40; John 6.39. & 10.28,29. &
14.19. & 17.12; Rom. 8.30,38,39. & 11.29; 1 Cor. 1.8,9; Phil. 1.6; 1 Peter

1.4,5).

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Thus Augustine: "Of those whom God hath predestinated none can perish,
inasmuch as they are His own elect," and ib., "They are the elect who are
predestinated, foreknown, and called according to purpose. Now, could any of

these be lost, God would be disappointed of His will and expectation; but He
cannot be so disappointed, therefore they can never perish. Again, could they be
lost, the power of God would be made void by man's sin, but His power is
invincible, therefore they are safe." And again (chap. 9), "The children of God

are written, with an unshaken stability, in the book of their heavenly Father's
remembrance." And in the same chapter he hath these words: "Not the children

of promise, but the children of perdition shall perish, for the former are the
predestinated, who are called according to the Divine determination, not one of
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whom shall finally miscarry." So likewise Luther: "God's decree of
predestination is firm and certain, and the necessity resulting from it is, in like
manner, immoveable, and cannot but take place. For we ourselves are so feeble
that, if the matter was left in our hands, very few, or rather none, would be

saved, but Satan would overcome us all." To which he adds: "Now, since this
steadfast and inevitable purpose of God cannot be reversed nor disannulled by
any creature whatever, we have a most assured hope that we shall finally

triumph over sin, how violently soever it may at present rage in our mortal
bodies."

POSITION 5.—The salvation of the elect was not the only nor yet the principal
end of their being chosen, but God's grand end, in appointing them to life and
happiness, was to display the riches of His own mercy, and that He might be

glorified in and by the persons He had thus chosen.

For this reason the elect are styled vessels of mercy, because they were
originally created, and afterwards by the Divine Spirit created anew, with this

design and to this very end, that the sovereignty of the Father's grace, the
freeness of His love, and the abundance of His goodness might be manifested in