The holiness of God is not tarnished by His withdrawing of grace from sinful creatures, leading them to further sin. God’s withholding of grace is a negative act, leaving man to his natural inclination towards sin. God is not obligated to continue his grace after it has been repeatedly refused or abused.… Read More Theodicy & God’s Restraining Grace
God ordains all events freely and unchangeably, without authoring sin or impeding free will. God’s concurring power sustains and governs all actions without tainting His holiness. Actions are distinct from their sinfulness, and God’s concurrence with the substance of an action does not corrupt His nature. Actions have separate causes from their sinfulness, and God’s intention differs from man’s intention.… Read More Theodicy & The Concurrence of Primary & Secondary Causes
God’s holiness is not tainted by his permitting of sin. Although God has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass, he does not will or cause sin. God allows sin to occur for a greater purpose, namely the manifestation of his own glory through the triumph of grace over sin in Christ. God’s permission is not the cause of sin, but rather a means to demonstrate his wisdom and goodness.… Read More Theodicy & God’s Permission of Sin
Stephen Charnock discusses God’s holiness and reprobation, arguing that God’s decision to leave some in sin is not the cause of their wickedness. He emphasizes that God’s actions are in line with justice and are not repugnant to his holiness. Charnock also highlights God’s sovereignty and goodness in bestowing grace as a free gift.… Read More Theodicy & God’s Decree of Reprobation
God’s holiness is not blemished by enjoining man a law, which He knew he would not observe. Man was created with the ability to obey God’s law. God’s prescience is His prevision of things arising from their proper causes, and it does not take away Adam’s free choice. Man is responsible for his own sin.… Read More Theodicy & God’s Foreknowledge of Sin
The ceremonial law was abolished to promote the spirituality of divine worship. That service was gross, carnal, calculated for an infant and sensitive church. It consisted in rudiments, the circumcision of the flesh, the blood and smoke of sacrifices, the streams of incense, observation of days, distinction of meats, corporal purifications; every leaf of the law is clogged with some rite to be particularly observed by them. The spirituality of worship lay veiled under a thick cloud, that the people could not behold the glory of the gospel, which lay covered under those shadows: ‘They could not stedfastly look to the end of that which was abolished’ (2 Cor. 3:13). They understood not the glory and spiritual intent of the law, and therefore came short of that spiritual frame in the worship of God, which was their duty; and therefore, in opposition to this administration, the worship of God under the gospel is called by our Saviour in the text, a worship in spirit; more spiritual for the matter, more spiritual for the motives, and more spiritual for the manner and frames of worship.… Read More The Abrogation of the Ceremonial Law
Man’s practical atheism is evidenced in our corrupt matter or ends of prayer and praise. When we are importunate for those things that we know not whether the righteousness, holiness, and wisdom of God can grant, because he hath not discovered his will in any promise to bestow them, we would then impose such conditions on God, which he never obliged himself to grant. When we pray for things not so much to glorify God, which ought to be the end of prayer, as to gratify ourselves.… Read More Practical Atheism: Corrupt Prayer & Praise
The object of God’s absolute power is all things possible; such things that imply not a contradiction, such that are not repugnant in their own nature to be done, and such as are not contrary to the nature and perfections of God to be done. The impossibility of God’s doing some things, is no infringing of his almightiness, but rather a strengthening of it. (1.) First, Some things are impossible in their own nature. (2.) Some things are impossible to the nature and being of God. (3.) Some things are impossible to the glorious perfections of God. (4.) Some things are impossible to be done because of God’s ordination.… Read More God Cannot Contradict Himself Nor His Will
A Discourse For The Comfort of Childbearing Women Stephen Charnock, Works, vol. 5, pp. 399-414. “Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety” (1 Timothy 2:15). I shall not take my rise any higher than verse 12, where the apostle orders that a woman should… Read More Discourse For The Comfort of Childbearing Women
Purely Presbyterian 