Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1868-01-07
Calvinism Continued.

As the reader might infer from tn,
closing words of the last article OIL
Calvinism that the next would presen
quotations from Calvin's writings ex
pressive of his mind on universal re
demption, so accordingly we will Civ,
some of the quotations in this article
and my apology for dwelling unto
the length Of two articles on this sub,
ject is my consciousness of the inlu
rious work Calvinism, in some one 0,
its forms,is working against too many
in this community. When we set
any one suffering under Calvinism
most assuredly spiritual disease, ev
en- an ordinary love ior our fellow
man would put forth efforts, though
they be feeble, to bring about a cure
or more healthy state of mind.
Redemption" says Calvin, lis the
eternal decree OF God, by which he
determined what he would do with ev.
cry man, for all men are not created
on equal terms but to some of them
eternal life is preordained, and to 9th
ers eternal condemnation. Therefore
accordingly as a person is created fol
one or other Of these two ends, so
affirm, he is predestinated either to
life or death" The grace ofGod does
not rescue many from death, and il
leaves the world in that perdition to
which it has been doomed
He teaches that they who once re.
ceived grace can never fall away
"They,' ne says, "who are once en-
| grated by Christ into His body can
never perish for Christ will exert
the power of God to preserve them,
which poweris greater than all. Those
incorporated in Christ can never
fail of salvation" All they who fail
of salvation are represented by Gals
vim as created for the purpose Of be-
ing condemned. No wonder modern
times are beginning to rejoice in the
false and treacherous liberty of Uni>
versalism, for Universalism is a very
natural reaction to the other extreme
from such teaching as this. GAL,
mighty God created them for shame
in life, and perdition in death. y
"They are born from their mother
womb devoted to inevitable destruc>
ton" From these words it appears
that Calvin did not believe in the
doctrine of Universal Redemption -
nor can Calvinists. The exercise OF
reason is most injurious when on sub
jects which lie beyond the natural
limits of the understanding. The ex-
ercise of reason is most profitable
when on what subjects do not lie be-
You'd the natural limits of the under
standing, in order that some truth:
may be classed as mysteries of the
faith" and others as within the reach
of the natural powers Of the mind
Reasons exercise concerning reveals
ed truth is only profitable and safe
when its sole aim is to discover what
God has said. Having already per-
ceived that what comes from God
must be true, then it wisely sets to
work to learn what God said concern
ing this or that matter.
But to the great increase of infdel>
ity, soon after the introduction OF
Calvinism into England, reason was
not SO wisely exercised by the Cali
vinists and their opposers. Their ar
guments took a metaphy steal rather
than scriptural turn. They fixed
upon certain idea of Gods fore
knowledge, worked out by the limit
ed or finite powers OF the human
mind. This idea or conception was
first fixed in the mind, erroneous CT
course, for finite mind cannot form
a perfect conception Of that which is
beyond its natural powers, as is God S
foreknowledge in all its relation to
man. Yet this erroneous idea was
allowed voice in the Interpreting OF
Gods holy word that was as pow :
erful with them as it it had come from
a mind of supernatural power, more
than human. Reason then worked
upon Gods foreknowledge, some
thing which God has made us so that
we cannot comprehend it-something
whose comprehension God has com
manded US in the very constitution o.
the mind never to attempt; just as il
not giving us wings, be has hereby
commanded us never to attemp ito fly
Yet reason did then make this at
tempt-did then diStortfrom scripture
an Interpretation favorable to this It's
human conception of Gods foreknow
edge. This was their error, but let
it not be ours. Let us adhere closely
to Gods word-to the sure word OF
| God. Ii we want to exercise reason,
why let us confine it to its proper
sphere, to its proper objects. For in
stance, when God tells us that the
light Of his revelation makes to the
greater condemnation thesinner upon
| whom it shines reason will also tell
US that the heather to whom this
word has not been given, will escape
condemnation, just acco riding as the
light has been withheld from them
This exercise of reason L. safe, be-
cause it draws its conclusions solely
from Gods word. Also when we hear
st. Paul say, ".If by any means |
| might attain unto the resurrection OF
the dead, Chat is the joyful resurrec-
ton, not as though | had already at,
tanned" Also in another place, "Lest
that by any means, when | have
preached to others, | myself should be
a cast away" Reason will here tell
us that st. Paul's salvation depended
upon the exercise OF his own free will
that his salvation was not a fixed
thing, a decree of God, although he
was one of the elect. For our Savior
calls him chosen uessel. Oh let US
adhere closely to Gods word il
this matter, for herein is our safety
Reason may work out very plausa
BILE theory. but nevertheless it is more
reasonable to abide under the shelter
of Gods word. "The Lord is no
slack concerning his promise, as some
men count slackness, but is long suf
| fering to us>ward, not willing tina
any should perish, but that all Shout,
come to repentance. "Who vii