Predestination
Dear Brethren and Friends: --Surely far too much has been imprudently said and written of late years on predestination. Indeed in some localities I fear it has become a partisan hobby, where it does seem that extreme and unscriptural statements have been made on the subject. So in view of this and my great imperfections, I feel with fear and prayer to avoid extremes, and to seek that prudence which comes from above. This subject, as every other one of God's ways, is a vast mystery, which cannot be fully comprehended nor explained by mortals--because "past finding out." "O! the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!" Then let us not follow inference, nor try to find out and explain all about this comforting doctrine. But let us rejoice in the plainly revealed truth of God's sovereign predestination, seek the evidences of our special interest therein, be of the same mind and dwell together in unity. Let us remember that the word predestinate means to predetermine or to determine results before hand; to decree, appoint or ordain beforehand; to forelimit, or to purpose future events. The predestination of God is abundantly taught in the scriptures of truth; and is often linked with His election or gracious and rightful choice of some men to salvation, as in Eph. i. 4, 5. I think we may safely conclude that predestination neither condemns nor injures men, but contributes to their good and to God's glory. Like election, it appears that this predestination, or purpose, is special, sovereign, eternal and unchangeable. While God's predestination is thus special, extending only to the salvation of all His elect, yet in a general way it seems that His predestination, purpose or overruling providence extends to and sovereignly controls all things; so that our God is Supreme Ruler of the entire universe prompting or causing the good suffering, restraining or overruling the bad. The devils were subject to Jesus, and God restrains the wicked and suffered not satan to take Job's life. Job ii. 6. The Lord our God is so great that He has notice and control of things below our feeble sense, and also of those things above our highest comprehension. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isa. lv. 9. Oh! let us magnify the Lord, for great is our Lord, and of great power; His understanding is infinite. Psa. cxlvii. 5. He feedeth the ravens and hath "appointed the moon for seasons." Psa. civ. 19. "Who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain; who maketh the clouds His chariot; who walketh upon the wings of the wind." Ps. civ. 2, 3. Dear children of God, let us stand together upon these foundation scriptural principles and clasp hands as brethren beloved. Proofs of predestination: "God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain, salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." I Thes, v. 9. "Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain." Acts ii 23. We are said to be "predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will;" Eph. i. 2. "Whom He did foreknow them He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son." Rom. viii. 29. Kind reader let us believe the Bible, and rejoice in this plainly revealed, God honoring and soul comforting truth. Praise the Lord! While God has predestinated that Jesus die for our sins; he has also predestinated that we be regenerated by the Holy Ghost's renewing work; and that we perform good works here, and finally dwell with our dear Saviour in our sweet home in heaven.
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