Required reading
Remarks on Important Theological Controversies in Vol 2 of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude Chapter III of 'Remarks on Important Theological Controversies'.
My summary
This week we finish Edwards' comments on divine decrees, which includes reflecting on:
(i) Christ's election;
(ii) the objection that the apostate are called elect;
(iii) the objection that election is dishonourable to God's benevolence;
(iv) the objection that election teaches God may do evil;
(v) the objection that there is inconsistency between the decretive and preceptive will of God;
(vi) the objection that God cannot always preserve men from sinning.
What grabbed me
I loved Edwards' concluding paragraph: 'To conclude this discourse; I wish the reader to consider the unreasonableness of rejecting plain revelations, because they are puzzling to our reason. There is no greater difficulty attending this doctrine than the contrary, nor so great. So that though the doctrine of the decrees be mysterious, and intended with difficulties, yet the opposite doctrine is in itself more mysterious, and attended with greater difficulties, and with contradictions to reason more evident, to one who thoroughly considers things; so that, even if the Scripture had made no revelation of it, we should have had reason to believe it. But since the Scripture is so abundant in declaring it, the unreasonableness of rejecting it appears the more glaring.'
An Arminian has to swallow more difficulties than a Calvinist.
Next week's reading
Commence Chapter IV 'Concerning Efficacious Grace' by reading up to the paragraph commencing '16. A command and a manifestation of will are not the same thing.'
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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