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Reprobation Asserted: By J O H N.B U N Y A N of Bedford, A Lover of Peace and Truth. L O N D O N, Printed for G. L., and are to be sold in Turn-stile-alley, in Holbourn, 1674. (Year approximate.) Published two years after John Bunyan's twelve year incarceration. |
CHAPTER 1.
hat there is a Reprobation.
In my discourse upon this subject, I shall study as much brevity as clearness and
edification will allow me; not adding words to make the volume swell, but contracting
myself within the bounds of few lines, for the profit and commodity of those that
shall take the pains to read my labours. And though I might abundantly multiply arguments
for the evincing and vindicating this conclusion, yet I shall content myself with
some few scripture demonstrations: the first of which I shall gather out of the ninth
of the Romans, from that discourse of the apostle's, touching the children of the
flesh, and the children of the promise.
1. At the beginning of this chapter, we find the apostle grievously lamenting and
bemoaning of the Jews, at the consideration of their miserable state: 'I say the
truth in Christ, [saith he] I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the
Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could
wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according
to the flesh': Poor hearts, saith he, they will perish; they are a miserable sad
and helpless people; their eyes are darkened that they may not see, and their back
is bowed down alway (Rom 11:10). Wherefore? Have they not the means of grace? Yes
verily, and that in goodly measure. First they 'are Israelites; to whom pertaineth
the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the
service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning
the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.' What then should
be the reason? Why saith he, though they be the children of Abraham according to
the flesh, yet they are the children of Abraham BUT according to the flesh: 'For
they are not all Israel [in the best sense] which are of Israel: neither, because
they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, in Isaac shall thy seed
be called.' That is, they that are the children of the flesh, they are not the children
of God; but the children of the promise shall be counted for the seed. So then, here
you see that they that are only the children of the flesh, as the greatest part of
Israel were, they are those that are neither counted for the seed, the children of
promise, nor the children of God; but are rejected, and of the reprobation. This
therefore shall at this time serve for the first scripture-demonstration.
2. Another scripture you have in the eleventh chapter of this epistle, from these
words, 'The election hath obtained it, and the REST were blinded' (Rom 11:7). These
words are shedding[1] words, they sever between men and men; the election, the rest; the chosen,
the left; the embraced, the refused: 'The election have obtained it, and the rest
were blinded.' By rest here, must needs be understood those not elect, because set
one in opposition to the other; and if not elect, what then but reprobate?
3. A third scripture is that in the Acts of the Apostles, 'And as many as were ordained
to eternal life, believed' (13:48). 'And as many'; by these words, as by the former,
you may see how the Holy Ghost distinguisheth or divideth between men and men; the
sons, and the sons of Adam. 'As many as were ordained to eternal life, believed':
If by many here, we are to understand every individual, then not only the whole world
must at least believe the gospel, of which we see the most fall short, but they must
be ordained to eternal life; which other scriptures contradict: for there is the
rest, besides the elect; the stubble and chaff, as well as wheat: many therefore
must here include but some; 'For though - Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant
shall be saved' (Rom 9:27; Isa 1:9, 10:22,23).
I might here multiply many other texts, but in the mouth of two or three witnesses
shall every word be established. Let these therefore for this, suffice to prove that
there is a reprobation. For this I say, though the children of the flesh, the rest
besides the election, and the like, were not mentioned in the word; yet seeing there
is such a thing as the children of the promise, the seed, the children of God, and
the like, and that too under several other phrases, as predestinated, foreknown,
chosen in Christ, and written in the Book of life, and appointed unto life, with
many others: I say seeing these things are thus apparent, it is without doubt, that
there is such a thing as a reprobation also (Rom 8; Eph 1:3,4; 1 Thess 5:9).
Nay, further, From the very word election, it followeth unavoidably; for whether
you take it as relating to this, of distinguishing between persons as touching the
world to come, or with reference to God's acts of choosing this or that man to this
or that office, work, or employment in this world, it still signifieth such a choosing,
as that but some are therein concerned, and that therefore some are thence excluded.
Are all the elect, the seed, the saved, the vessels of mercy, the chosen and peculiar?
Are not some, yea the most, the children of the flesh, the rest, the lost, the vessels
of wrath, of dishonour, and the children of perdition? (Rom 11:9; 1 Peter 2:8,9;
Matt 10:16; 2 Sam 6:21; Psa 78:67,68; John 15:16; 2 Cor 4:3; Rom 9:21,22; John 17:12).
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