Dogmatic Theology Vol 1 - Shedd - XXIX - Chapter 6 The divine decrees continued

Required reading

Dogmatic Theology Vol 1 by William G.T. Shedd (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Chapter 6 The Divine Decrees by reading up to the paragraph beginning: 'The two great systems of theology which divide evangelical Christendom, Calvinism and Arminianism, are marked by their difference respecting the doctrines of election and preterition' (page 448 of my edition).

My summary

Following on from last week's discussion of reprobation, Shedd discusses preterition:

1. The decree of preterition, or omission, is a branch of the permissive decree;

2. There may be individual preterition in connection with national election;

3. There may be individual election in connection with national preterition;

4. The decree of preterition supposes the free fall of man, and his responsibility for the existence of sin;

5. The decree of preterition does not necessitate perdition, though it makes it certain;

6. The decree of preterition makes perdition certain, because the bondage of the sinner's will to evil prevents self-recovery;

7. The reason for preterition, or not bestowing regenerating grace, is secret and unknown to man;

8. The final end of both election and reprobation is the Divine glory, in the manifestation of certain attributes.

What grabbed me

I think some of the language today about God's saving some apart from the word of God verged on careless.

But I enjoyed much of the reading, including this illustration: 

'The sentence of the last day will not be founded upon God's negative act of not saving, but upon the sinner's positive act of sinning. Christ will not say to the impenitent, "Depart, because I did not save thee," but, " Depart, because thou hast sinned, and hast no sorrow for it." Should John Doe throw himself into the water and be drowned, while Richard Roe stood upon the bank and did nothing, the verdict would be that the act was suicide, not homicide: "Drowned, not because Richard Roe did not pull him out, but because John Doe threw himself in." It is true that Richard Roe, in this instance, would be guilty of a neglect of duty towards God, in not saving the life of John Doe, but he would not be guilty of the murder of John Doe. Richard Roe's non-performance of his duty towards God, would not transfer the guilt of John Doe's act of self-murder to him. Were God under an obligation to save the sinner, the decree of preterition would be unjustifiable. It would be a neglect of duty. But salvation is grace, not debt; and therefore the decision not to bestow it, is an act of justice without mercy. "On them that fell, severity," or exact justice, is inflicted. Rom. 11: 22.'

Everyone in hell only have themselves to blame, not God.

Next week's reading

Conclude Chapter 6 The Divine Decrees.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.