Page 45 - Absolute Predestination With Observations On The Divine Attributes

judge any man whatever to be a reprobate. That there are reprobate persons is
very evident from Scripture (as we shall presently show), but who they are is
known alone to Him, who alone can tell who and what men are not written in
the Lamb's book of life. I grant that there are some particular persons mentioned

in the Divine Word of whose reprobation no doubt can be made, such as Esau
and Judas; but now the canon of Scripture is completed, we dare not, we must
not pronounce any man living to be non-elect, be he at present ever so wicked.

The vilest sinner may, for aught we can tell, appertain to the election of grace,
and be one day wrought upon by the Spirit of God. This we know, that those
who die in unbelief and are finally unsanctified cannot be saved, because God in

His Word tells us so, and has represented these as marks of reprobation; but to
say that such and such individuals, whom, perhaps, we now see dead in sins,
shall never be converted to Christ, would be a most presumptuous assertion, as

well as an inexcusable breach of the charity which hopeth all things.

CHAPTER IV.

OF REPROBATION, OR PREDESTINATION AS IT RESPECTS
THE UNGODLY.

FROM what has been said in the preceding chapter concerning the election of
some, it would unavoidably follow, even supposing the Scriptures had been
silent about it, that there must be a rejection of others, as every choice does,

most evidently and necessarily, imply a refusal, for where there is no leaving
out there can be no choice. But beside the testimony of reason, the Divine Word
is full and express to our purpose; it frequently, and in terms too clear to be

misunderstood, and too strong to be evaded by any who are not proof against
the most cogent evidence, attests this tremendous truth, that some are "of old
fore-ordained to condemnation." I shall, in the discussion of this awful subject,

follow the method hitherto observed, and throw what I have to say into several
distinct positions supported by Scripture.

POSITION 1.—God did, from all eternity, decree to leave some of Adam's fallen
posterity in their sins, and to exclude them from the participation of Christ and
His benefits. For the clearing of this, let it be observed that in all ages the much
greater part of mankind have been destitute even of the external means of grace,