Wesley Corpus

I hope you do not deny these.” I answer, No; by no means. The sovereignty of God appears, (1.) In fixing from eternity that decree touching the sons of men, “He that believeth shall be saved: He that believeth not shall be damned.” (2.) In all the general circumstances of creation; in the time, the place, the manner of creating all things; in appointing the number and kinds of creatures, visible and invisible. (3.) In allotting the naturalendowments of men, these to one, and those to another. (4.) In disposing the time, place, and other outward circumstances (as parents, relations) attend ing the birth of every one. (5.) In dispensing the various gifts of his Spirit, for the edification of his Church. (6.) In ordering all temporal things, as health, fortune, friends, every thing short of eternity. But in disposing the eternal states of men, (allowing only what was observed under the first article,) it is clear, that not sovereignty alone, but justice, mercy, and truth hold the reins. The Governor of heaven and earth, the IAM, over all, God blessed for ever, takes no step here but as these direct, and prepare the way before his face. This is his eternal and irresistible will, as he hath revealed unto us by his Spirit; declaring in the strongest terms, adding his oath to his word, and, because he could swear by no greater, swearing by him self, “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth.” The death of him that dieth can never be resolved into my pleasure or sovereign will. No; it is impossible. We challenge all mankind, to bring one clear, scriptural proof to the contrary. You can bring no scripture proof that God ever did, or assertion that he ever will, act as mere sovereign in eternally condemning any soul that ever was or will be born into the world. 55. Now, you are probably thinking of Esau and Pharaoh. Do you then set it down as an unquestionable truth, that these were eternally condemned by the mere sovereign will of God? Are you sure that they were eternally condemned? Even that point is not altogether certain. It is nowhere asserted in holy writ; and it would cost you some pains to prove it.