PREDESTINATION (pre-des'ff-na-shiin). No doctrine of the Bible has been a more fruitful theme of controversy than that of Predestina tion. The fiercest and most relentless battles of polemics have been waged in defense of the ten ets of those holding opposite views. Dr. McClin tock says, "The word election in the Scriptures has three distinct applications: (1) To the divine choice of nations or communities for the posses sion of such privileges with reference to the per formance of special services. Thus the Jews were a 'chosen nation,' the elect.' (2) The di vine choice of individuals to a particular office or work. Thus Cyrus was elected of God to bring about the rebuilding of the temple. (3) The divine choice of individuals to be the chil dren of God and therefore heirs of heaven." Inasmuch as a statement of this doctrine, satis factory to those holding to the various teachings on this subject, cannot be consistently made, separate articles fairly covering the Calvinistic and Arminian views will be found below.
1. Predestination as Taught in the Con fession of Faith of the Presbyterian Church. The statement of the doctrine of Predes tination belongs rightly to the Confession of Faith. The defense of the doctrine must be found in the Word of God. Unless the truth is to be found there, any attempted defense will be wholly use less. But if the doctrine he established by the NVord no other argument is needed.
(1) The Confession of Faith. The doctrine is stated in chapter iii, of the Westminster Con fession and is : "God from all eternity did by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass." The doctrine thus stated is guarded by certain declarations which go with it, and are professed on the same authority as the doctrine itself. These guarding statements are, (I) "God is not the author of sin." (2) "Violence is not offered to the will of the creature, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away but rather established." Many passages from different parts of the Bible are brought for ward in proof of the doctrine, as Ephesians "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:" The decree of God, in rela tion to angels and men, is considered in different articles of the same general chapter. For fallen angels no redemption has been provided and to them no Savior is offered. "The angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habi tation he hath reserved in everlasting chains, un der darkness, unto the judgment of the' great day." God magnifies his justice, and judgment, in their everlasting condemnation.
(2) Scripture Teachings. The proof of the predestination of the redeemed to glory is be lieved to be found in Ephesians i :4, "According as he bath chosen us in him, before the founda tion of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love, having pre destinated us unto the adoption of children, by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will."
As the elect have been appointed to glory so bath he by the eternal and most free purpose of his will foreordained all the means thereunto. God is wholly free and sovereign in predestination, magnifying his grace, goodness and justice. Men love God because they were first loved by him. They will be saved only in the way that he has appointed. 2 Thess. ii:13, "God bath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanc tification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." The part of Predestination which has respect to the lost is generally called Reprobation. The Confession deals with it thus: "The rest of man kind, God was pleased according to the unsearch able counsel of his own will, whereby he extend eth or withholdeth mercy as he pleaseth, for the glory of his sovereign power over his creatures, to pass by, and to ordain them to dishonor and wrath for their sin, to the praise of his glorious justice." It is here that the severest battles have been fought. This doctrine is upheld by the ad vocates of it in the use of such Scriptures as Matthew xi :25, 26, "I thank thee 0 Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and bast re vealed them unto babes. Even so Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight ;" and Romans ix: 17-22, "For the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh. even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore bath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault, for who bath resisted his will? Nay, but 0 man, 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 over the clay of the same lump to make one vessel unto konor and another unto dishonor? What if God willing to show, and to make his power known, endured with much long suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction, and that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy which he had afore prepared unto glory." In I Peter ii referring to those who rejected Je sus, the Spirit adds, "whereunto also they were appointed." The Confession makes no attempt to reconcile God's sovereignty with man's free agency, yet both doctrines are emphatically stated. In Ro mans ix:Ii, it is said "That the purpose of God, according to election might stand, it was said unto her the elder shall serve the younger." (3) Summary. The foreknowledge of God implies predetermination. Nothing can be pos sibly known, unless it is fixed, or determined. But who is it that predetermines, unless it be God? At the time the Confession was framed there was emphasis laid on God's sovereignty. In later times there has been emphasis laid on the free agency of man. Attempts at revision of the Con fession are now being made, to do away with misunderstandings and to end bitter controver sies. How far these efforts will succeed cannot now be determined by any of us. W. T. M.