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THE SavEREIGN DOMINION

OF GOD

ELDER W. S. CRAIG l<EARNEY, NEBRASKA

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Samford University Library

THE SOVEI{EIGN DOI\IINION

OF GOD

ELDER W. S. CR.\IG KEAR'IEY. "EBRASKA

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THE SOVEREIGN DOMINION OF GOD. +++

Some Notes and Observations Intended to Illustrate and Explain this very Important Subject.

+++ "Ascribe ye greatness unto our God."- Deut.

xxxii. 3; 1 Chron. xxix. 11 "The Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom ruleth over all."-Ps. ciii. 19. "And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, 'What doest Thou ?"-Dan. iv. 35. "He removeth kings, and setteth up kings."-Dan. ii. 31. "That the living may k-now that the Most High ruleth in the ldngdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will, ancl setteth up over it the basest of men."-Dan. iv. J 7. "All nations before Him are as nothing; and they are counted to Him less than nothing, and vanity."-Is. xl. 17. "Behold, the nations arc as a ch·op of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance."-Is. xl. 15. "The Lord of Hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass ; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand."-Is. xiv. 24. "I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by My great power and l\1y outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto Me."--Jer. xxvii. 5. "The Lord hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet."-Nahum i. 3. "And


~ THE SOVEREIGN DOMINION OF COD

hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth , and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation."-Acts xvii. 26. "I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall s tand, and I will do all My pleasure. "-Is. xlvi. 9, l 0. "By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the hosts of them by the breath of His mouth."-Ps. xxxii. 6. ''For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast."-Ps. xxxii. 9. "All Thy works shall praise Thee, 0 Lord; and Thy saints shall bless Thee. They shall speak of the g lory of Thy Kingdom, and talk of Thy power."-Ps. cxlv. 10, J 1. "For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers : all things were created by Him, and for Him."-Col. i. 16. "Thou art worthy, 0 Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created."-Rev. iv. 11. "The Lord God omnipoten t reigneth."-Rev. xix. 6. "But He is in one mind, and who can turn Him? and what His soul desireth, even that He doeth."-Job xxiii. 13. "Our God is in the heavens : He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased."-Ps. cxv. 3. "Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did He in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places."-Ps. cxxxv. 6.


THE SOVEREIGN DOMTNION OF GOD 8

This very high sounding title, THE SOVERIGN DOMINION O'F GOD, which is so positively descriptive of the wonderful nature and characteristics of the MOST HIGH, in His divine authority, ruling dispensations and distinguishing appointments, as related to all created things, should be most carefully studfied in the light of the Scriptu1·es. F or most surely the Bible is needed for a compass, together with heavenly light and wisdom, for the investigation of this weighty and sublime subject that enor may be avoided. Hwnan opinions, conceptions and presumptions must all be cast aside, for we dare not form our views and draw our conclusions from such a fallible source. I am sure that this very important article of the Cbristian religion is far t oo generally neglected, and lightly considered even by many who assume to be expounders of the deep things of God.

"The Sovereignty of God is His power and right of dominion over His creatures, to dispose and determine them as seemeth Him good. This attribute is evidently demonstrated in the systems of creation, providence, and grace; and may be considered as absolute, universal, and everlasting." -Buck, page 753.

This very wonderful dominion of God's kingly authority over all creation, embracing the full, absolute and unlimited right to place, order and dispose of all things as seemeth good in His sight, both for time and eternity, is indeed an ocean of such vastness that it seems to have neither shores nor bottom. Yet I take my pen to


4 TilE SOVEREIGN DOMJNTON OF GOD

write on this momentous subject without the least fear of !iuccc.s.sful contradiction, or worry from the denials and criticisms of the learned and worldly wise.

"Of all the p1·esumptous sins that fallen man i::; guilty of, we think that of railing against God's SO\'el·cig-nty and presuming upon God's obliga. tions to men, is none of the least. Such presumption, we know, is not of the Spirit of God; but is earthly, sensual and clevilish."-Rowe, page 53. "If men find fau!L wilh that which God has evidently done, let them answer to Him. He deig11s not to apologize for H is own conduct."-Scott, 1-Hl.

Sovereignty is a veil·y comprehensive term, for it denotes supremacy, indepenclencc

1 optional

power and authority. And the infinitely great God possesses all these characteristics to a most wonderful degrcc. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are l\1y ways higher than your ways, and l\ly thoughts than your thoughts." -h. lv. 9. Therefore, we should not "judge the Lord by feeble sense," but ever remember that He does nothing through compulsion from earthly sources, or from obligation to any creature; but what He docs is mo:;t freely and willingly of His own accord and wholly from His own motives, which arc always righteous and holy. Fatalism and chance docs not govern the world.

"God's Sovereignty stands just where it did from everlasting, afler all that has been said and written against it. God is not accountable to H is creatures for His conduct. He cannot do wrong ,


THE SOVEREIGN DOMINION 01" GOD 5

for He is righteous in all His ways and holy in all His works.-Ps. cxlv. 17. His sovereignty is one of His distinguishing characteristics, and is founded in perfect rectitude, let the pride and arl'Ogancy of men or devils cavil at it. It is one among the many precious signs of grace in the heart, when the mind and affections are brought over to the conviction, not only that this sovereignty distinguishes God's character, but that in the full exercise thereof, all is just and right. So a child of God seeing anything which appears to him mysterious in His government or appointment, should conclude that it is his own defect, and not the Lord's. It is a most blessed frame of mind that bends to the Lord's appointments with faith and satisfaction. The great mass of men reject the sovereignty of God, even with the Bible in their hands."-Condensed from Hawker, 8-313.

I feel sure that God's own glory, praise and honor was the very first important design or consideration with Him· in His creation, appointment and government of all things; since this certainly would be the very highest purpose for His actions. The salvation of the elect is plainly "to the glory of His grace."-Eph. i. 6. "His Sovereignty is the rule of all His actions, and His will and pleasure the invariable standard of good."Hawker, 8-314.

In Exodus, iii. 14, we have a most wonderful name of the Lord-"! AM THAT I AM." Surely this very solemn and sublime name well deserves our adoration and reverence. 0, that we could but ente1· into a larger comprehension of the fulness


6 THE SOVEREIGN DOMINION OF GOD

of its descriptive meaning, as it sets forth the divine right, authority and power of His wonderful nature and existence, which is so very far above, over and exch.tsive of every other. Without beginning or ending, but eternally the same. For He is self-existent, absolutely independent, and possessing the fullest and highest degree of sovereign authority over all things. We should never view Him as being subject to clisappointments, failures or mistakes. To Him belongs glory and we should endeavor to give it, both in our life and doctrine.

'That the Throne of God is in the heavens, and that there He sits as an absolute Sovereign should be accepted by all who claim to believe and acknowledge the nature and character of His heavenly authority; for surely it is the most wicked rebellion against His majesty and government to deny Him this kingly and sovereign right. And I feel certain that the Bible clearly and abundantly proves that He so rules and reigns, and none should so far forget themselves, as being but feeble creatures of God, to dispute this fact in any way. While none but unbelievers, scoffers and infidels would dare to squarely contradict the Bible authority for the sovereign dominion of the Great Jehovah, yet it quite plainly seems that many who so loudly claim to be believers of the Scriptures, will so undermindingly deny this full sovereignty as to actually clisown it in their life, docti·ine and practice. For according to the general faith of this unbelieving age, the powerful and discriminating hand of the Al-


THE SOVEREIGN DOMINION OF GOD 7

mighty God seems to be so far shelved into the background, as to make it plainly appear that He now has but little or nothing to do with much of the affairs of this world. But whether people will believe it or not, yet the Bible fact remains that God has the destines of all the nations in His allpowerful and sove1·eign hands, as well as each and all of the individuals of them. People are not now on trial just for God to see and find out what they will do, because He so perfeetly forelrnows all about them, and in full justice has long ago pronounced that awful Adamic death-sentence upon them. "And so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."-Rom. v. 12. For Adam was a universal representative of the human family, and his condemnation was long ago passed upon them all in him for his disobedience.

While drouths and famines are not accidents, and refreshing showers and bountiful crops do not come by chance, but are all under God's full and sovereign control, yet it seems that people in general of this age · .ook on these things as being but lightly governed by His almighty power, direction and supervision. They seem to look on these things as being merely governed by nature's laws, and plainly overlook the all-wise and allpowerful hand of Him who made these laws. For nature itself would indeed be quite powerless without His continuous support and direetion. And in all that He directs and does His actions are governed by His infinite wisdom and righteous purposes. He never punishes nor chastises the innocent.



I am very positive that there can be but one Infinite, and one Omnipotent, and only one supreme Ruler and Disposer of all things and events. For the Lord repeatedly declares by the prophet Isaiah, that "There is no God besides Me."-xlv. 5, 6, 21; xliv. 6; xlvi. 9. And surely His word ought always to be accepted as good and sufficient authority. Therefore, the vain and contradictory words of man, "whose breath is in his nostrils" (Is. ii. 22), should never be considered as of equal or superior authority.

An exalted belief concerning God's sovereignty is inseparably connected with all correct conceptions concerning His wonderful greatness and kingly authority to rule and determine all things under His government. For we cannot rightly conceive of Him as a Creator without believing that He possesses such a sovereign dominion, because guch heavenly right is necessary to this high position. He is a divine Monarch over all creation who makes laws for His subjects and binds them with such obligations. He, though unseen, presides in general over all things in this world, and overthrows powerful kingdoms, dynasties and em-~ires, when such is His sovereign will, and that with the same ease that a strong wind carries away the light chaff and dust. And the motives which determine His actions spring from His own will and purpose, though it be shown in the execution of merited judgments. Neither does what we may consider as being quite small and insignificant things escape His notice, for in no place does chance reign. "I am the first, and I am the



last ; and beside Me there is no God. And who, as I , shall call , and shall <~e c it, and set it in order for Me, since I appoin t e ancient people? and the things that are co g , and shall come?" -Is. xliv. 6, 7.

It was with a high and glorious view of God's infinite greatness and dominion that Paul so rapturously exclaimed, "0 the dept h of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsetr hable are His judgments, and His ways past ··n.ting out!"-Rom. xi. 33. And what right has oor, weak and sinful men to question God's own divinely lawful or heavenly author ity to do as it may seem right ·unto Him with any and all th:ngs under His dominion? Since man is actually so very sinful, unworthy :tnd insignificant, in and of himself, before his Maker, that even a ll the nations together arc before Him as less than nothing, and are counted as but a drop of a bucket, and as the small dust of the balance. Is. xl. 15, 17. Yet we see men, in their vanity and presumption, so boastfully and daringly attempt t he impeachment of the Lord's justice, and quite loudly question H is sovereign right to work and determine all things according to the council of His own will ! If such men only had in some small measure, correct conceptions of their own !>infnlness and nothingness in God's sight, on the one hand, and even some small degree of con·ect conceptions of the infinite greatness, authority and dominion of God, on the other hand, they would never, never dare fly in the face of Omnipotence in such an insolent manner. For instead



of anything of that boastful and unreconciled nature, they would :feel to lay their mouths in the dust before their sovereign Creator, and in meekness freely acknowledge His full and sovereign rig ht to work and dispose of them (both for time and eternity), and all things else as may seem good in His sight. But whether men cares to admit this fact or not, yet it will forever remain a Bible doctrine that the Almighty God will perform all His sovereign pleasure. And though He is so often opposed, yet His grand and sovereign designs are never thwarted nor hindered. He declares that He "maketh diviners mad, turneth wise men backward, and maketh their lmowledge foolish."-Is. xliv. 25.

The Lord's absolute sovereignty is very clearly shown in the works of creation. For it was plainly with Him, and Him alone, as to whether He would create the world or not; and determine its size, shape, etc., and so on down through all the other work of His hands. And in spreading the nations over the earth, appointing their 1-jse and fall, and where they should live, etc. Also, in giving some individuals among these many nations longer life than others, and in bestowing more wealth and honor on some, and in giving some stronger bodies or minds than others, etc. For people are brought into this world without being consulted about it, and likewise the number of their days is previously dete1mined (Job vii. 1 ; xiv. 5, 14; Ecc. iii. 2; He b. ix, 27; Gen. iii. 19; Ps. xxx.i. 15), and also other things relating to and effecting their life here.



It seems to me that it is proper to consider that God's moral government of people in this world as being subordinate to His sovereign dominion over them, since through His exercise of such dominion they at·e first made accountable subjects to Him and His authority, and then as such are placed under moral government. While not overlooking the respects in which God's government over people in this life is a moral government, we should also be careful not to ignore in anyway the plain discriminations of His sovereign appointments. 1\lan's mind can readily g-rasp something of the principles of moral goveinmcnt, but God's appointments must ever remain mysterious. His discriminating hand is mysteriously manifested in many things under our notice, and His own good pleasure and sovereign will alone was consulted in such dispositions. And while it seems to be quite generally admitted that in the beginning God was the Creator of heaven and earth and all things therein, yet this unbelieving age plainly seems to think that since then He has somehow almost lost the controlling 1·eigns of His original government over these things. But He has lost none of His first power and ruling dominion, for He is still the very same unchangable God. And therefore it must forever remain true, that "I am God, and the1 e i~ none Uke Me, Declaring the end fro::n the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My plcasm·e."-Is. x.lvi.

9, 10.


12 THE SOVEJff:ICN J)Q~f!NION OF GOO

We can plainly ce m:•rks of the Lord's soverci~rn di >CI iminations, in thf" variNI dispensations of His favor,., almo t from lhP b<'• inninJ~ of time. The np£>nl \'.as included in an awful cur.e, when it plainly seems to have only bf"cn an instrument \\ h1ch Sat;m was permitted to employ. Why did God g-ive faith to Abel and not to Cain? The Lord has C\ en s uspended the laws of n~tlure (sun and moon stood still, Jos. x. 12, 13), and rever:-cd it, la,,s to protect. the thrE.'c Hebrews from the fiery furnace's consuming flames.-Dan. iii. 22-27. These miracles plainly show th~'l.t nature is undc1· His so,·ereign dominion and control.

Let the r eader carefully note how these creature's, "hich have such little or no reason, were :-elected out from all the others and made to willingly and quietly go into the Ark to their allotted places. The I icc, frog-s, locusts, etc., so greatly afflicted thf" Egyptians that. their O\V'll magicians declared "This is the finger of God.''-Ex. viii. 1!>. But at. God's command these plagues as strangely disappeared when their work was done. A lion killed a disobedient propl1ct, but did not eat his flesh, nor injure the beast. on which the prophet rode. 1 Kings xiii. 21-28. Ravenous birds broug-ht Elijah food. 1 Kings xvii. 6. The perpared fish swallowed Jonah and casting him out ali,·e on dry land at God'g command; Jonah i. 17;

ii. 10. The lions did not even hurt Daniel, but greedily devoured his accusers; Dan. vi. 22, 24. It must indeed be a mogt sovereign and mighty dominion which superintends, restrains and con-


THE ~OYEREI<;N nOMINION 01-' COil IS

trois the very course of nature in guch marvelous ways.

The sovcrciJ.,'ll dominion of God i~ ~trikingly

shO\'•'ll in regard to the cntrnncc of .::in into thl' world. It \\Ould have been quite an ca~y mullPr for Him to have altogether prevented this sad and ruinous event, but no doubt for good, holy, wise and fully sufficient rcacon;; of His own, howcwr mysterious and unfa•homablc it may appear to any of us, He did not sec fit to do so, but chose to allow or suffer sin to enter, thou~h ~o perfectly foreknowing all the vast multitude of !iOrl"O\\[ul and certain con~cqucnces. For He was not in the least taken by surpt·ise in this matter, not· in anyway deceived. His foreknowledge is a branch of His Omniscience, which is one of His wonderful attributes, and is very far beyond the feeble understanding of '' eak and sinful mortals. Y ct. I believe it to be true upon the authority of the Bible, for it is not necessary that any point of Christian doctrine be comprehended or understood by weak-minded mortals before it can be true. But is necessadly a truth in and of itself, and irrespective of the belief of any one of Adam',; sin-ruined race. The work of faith is to accept divine authority as being amply sufficient to establish any declared point of doctrine.

"All Calvinistic Confessions, without exception, trace the !<'all to a permissive decree, make man responsible and justly punishable for sin, and reject as blasphemous slander, the charge that. God is the author of sin."-Hassell, page 497. YeF>, it would indeed be the most. awful blasphemy to as-


14 THE SOVEREIGN llOMINlON OF GOD

sert that God was the author or clireet cause of sin, and no Primitive Baptist believes that lie is. While they always ascribe such infinite g1·eatness, sovereign dominion and kingly authority unto God, yet none of them believe that He is the author or approver of sin; but that He most justly \ and very positively hates all manner of sin and wickedness with an intense and perfect hatred.

I believe that it has pleased the perfectly holy and great God of all creation and sovereign Disposer of all things, times and events, to purposely suffer, allow, permit or endure the sil::ts of this wicked world for a certain and definite season or period of time, having no doubt a most wise and holy purpose within Himself for so doing, however inscruitible that may appear to any man; and also, that He in His own most sovereign way, manner and time, and according to His own most righteous will, holy purposes, unerring wisdom, inflexible justice and almighty power, most certainly and surely does and will punish, restrain, lintit, bound, control and over-rule the whole of, and all manner of sin and wickedness. I believe that Calvin was right in declaring that "The will of God is not only pure from every fault , but the highest standard of perfection, even the law of all laws." And also, when saying that "Foolish mortals enter into many contentions with God, as though they could arraign Him to plead their accusations."-Ins. 2-165. The Lord's relation to righteousness must surely be causative, for He is the very fountain and source; while His relation to sin and wickedness must as surely be permissive,


THE SOVEREIGN DOMINION OF COD 16

for He is not the author or source. Sin entered into the world by the disobedience of one man; Rom. v. 12, 19.

"SIN: The Hebrews had in use several words by way of expressing the nature of sin in the diversities of it. But the truth is, that sin doth not consist in this, or in that act of it, for the acts of sin are but the branches; the root is within: so that strictly and properly speaking, in the fallen and conupt nature of man, sin itself is alike in every son and daughter of Adam. And that it doth not break out alike in all is not from any difference in the nature of man, but in the power of the divine restraints . If this doctrine, which is wholly Scriptural, were but thoroughly and fully understood by all men, what humbling views would it induce in all!"-Hawker, page 850.

Surely all believers in God should with meekness bow their heads in humble obedience and trustful submission to His sovereign will, and ever remember that the infinite Ruler of the universe, who hath declared the end from the beginning, is far too wise to err in one single instance; far too powerful to fail in any one of His undertakings; and far too merciful to be unkind to the least one of His weak, poor, needy and contritehearted children. The reconciled follower of the Lord does not feel to complain against Him because of troubles and trials in this life, because he feels his unworthiness too greatly. It is very wrong for anyone to complain against Him because of His sovereign discriminations, believer or unbeliever, because none possibly can or ever


16 Tin; SOv EREIGN UOl\111\lON OF COD

will receive the least deg ree of injustice in any "ay from Him, let come what may. The t rue bellcvcl" prays tlvtt God may deal wi th him in a '' ay of mercy and g-race, and not in the way of exacting justice.

God is the sole and sovereig n Author of all spi ritua l blessings, and t he motive of Jove with Him springs wholly from His own breast. Had He not this full and heavenly dominion and authority not a single one of our sinful r ace could po%ibly escape f rom suffering the exact demands of violated justice, for their g-uilt. Because without the least degree of Yiolence to the demands of His divine justice, since by it all arc considered so very guilty, in and of themselves (Gen. vi. 5; Ps . xi,·. 2, 3; Jiii. 2, 3; Jer. xvii. 9; Rom. iii. 9-19), H e surely could have most justly sentenced each and every one of them to forever suffer the just penalty of their sins. But in His great and sovereign mercy, l-Ie was pleased to choose some of them in J esus Christ in that blessed Covenant of l"ecleeming love and salvation, an d so graciously arrange to rescue and deliver them from all their damning guilt. This election Jid not injure those who were not chosen, since they in divine justice had not the least patticle of claim on Him for the least degree of mercy or pardon. And so in the sovereign dispensations of His electing mercy it is sometimes seen that He h as been pleased to select some that man would naturally think were the most unlikely and undeserving. P aul, in the midst of his murderous persecutions against the true followers of J esus Christ , was ca lled by


TilE SOVEREIGN DOMINION OF GOD l7

grace; while the young man who claimed to do so many good works was sent away sorrowfuLMatt. :xix. 1 G-22.

It should always be remembered that nonelection is not a punishment, neither does it put anything of evil into anyone, nor the least condemnation upon them; but that it is the withholding of a free favor which the sovereign Lord may in full justice deny to any of the sinful and unworthy. \Vhen we consider the Almighty as choosing any of the fallen 1·ace to glory, we behold Him as exercising the loving mercy of a gracious Father towards some of His sinful creatures. And when we view Him as choosing this person rather than that one, when both are such great criminals before His eyes that they so well deserve to enternally perish, we view Him as a sovereign Lord and sole dispenser of His own favors. The reason that any are saved when all actually deserve to eternally suffer, is plainly because our Lord is pleased to be savi11gly gracious and merciful to some.

The gr acious Lord, in the exercise of His Covenant love and mercy, most sovereignly takes away the hard and stony heart from His chosen people, and gives them a tender heart that they may feel and mourn on account of sin. Ezek. :xi. 19. And in like manner He opens blind eyes, unstops deaf ears, and casts out devils. None of these gracious acts are regulated by the will of the creature, but the will of the creature is often regulated by the sovereign will of God. His people are made willing in the day of His power. Ps.


18 THE SOVERElGN DOMINION OF GOD

ex. 3. They should not be discouraged because of doubts, fears, darkness of mind and the corruptions of the flesh; for Satan takes advantage of all these to try to prove to them that God has forsaken them. The moRt eminent saints have much to do with sin in their own breasts, and which often makes them cry out like Paul, "0 wretched man that I am ! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? ''-Rom. vii. 24. An<• all those who feel this struggling warfare in theil· hearts are children of God, and the blessed gospel bids them rest assured that they will at last sing His wonderful praises in that glorious world above.

The Lord's own sovereign will is pla inly followed in hiding things concerning His kingdom from the wise and prudent, and revealing them unto babes ; and the very reason is quite plainly given. "Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Thy sight.''-?.Iatt. xi. 25-6. God was pleased to declare some 3500 years ago that He would "be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy."-Ex. xxxiii. 19. This is such an important article of the Christian Religion that Paul takes it up in his Roman letter and by inspiration declares, "For He saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will ha\'e mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." And fmther explains, ''Therefore hath He mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardeneth." Most of the ninth chapter is taken up with the defence and explanation of this wonderful point of Chris-


THE SOVEREIGN DOMINION OF GOD HI

tian doctt;ne. The ca~e of the harlot Rahab quite well illustrates the discriminating hand of God.

The sovereignty of God is so plainly displayed in the calling of His people, as declared by Isaiah {lxv. 1), and approvingly quoted by Paul, "I was found of them that sought Me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after Me."Rom. x. 20. And that wo1·ship of God can only be mockery by those who claim to love and follow Him, when at the same time they hate His will as manifested by refusing submission to it; and they always do hate His will until they are reconciled to it. People very plainly show their state of enmity against God and their unreconciliation to His will when they oppose the doctrines of the Bible. For the truly humbled and reconciled he:ut does not feel to rail against the sovereign discriminations of the Lord.

f1'\ God's sovereign dominion is plaily shown in

punishing some sins in some people 'lhore than in others. While no doubt but what some sins are much worse than others, though all manner of sin is black with guilt before God's holy eyes, yet He may use His own pleasure with regard to the time and measure of the punishment He sees fit to meet out upon it in this world. For instance, Uzzah was stricken with immediate death for putting forth his hand to steady the Ark of God, while the Philistines had been suffered to cany it away in seeming triumph. Though Moses was much provoked, yet he was excluded from Canaan

because. of an hasty act and word, in a moment of

I Samford University Library


unbelief, while it seems that J onah was mildly reproved for loud murmuring.

The free exercise of this sovereignty is plainly shown in confirming and preserving some of the angels in that original state of holiness in which they were created; while others were permitted to corrupt themselves, and thereby become objects of God's displeasure and punishment. And it also is so plainly shown in the choice of some of Adam·s race, before the foundation of the world, to that graciously free and wholly unmerited salvation from their sins ; and the passing by, in righteous judgment, of others who were just as good by nature. For if any were worthy of being chosen, this choice would not be "according to the election of grace."-Rom. xi. 5. And if it were according to works, there would be no grace in it. But in order for the promise to be sure to all the seed, it was made according to grace.-Rom. iv. 16. Therefore God bestows this saving grace as in Covenant He was pleased to promise in Jesus Clu-ist, and without the least measure of obligation whatever to anyone because of their merits moving Him to do so. Consequently, this wholly unmelited choice is an act of His gracious sovereignty. It should be noticed that if there was not anything in man when in his original state of primitive innocency that could or did oblige or induce the Lord to preserve him in that sinless condition, surely there can be nothing about him now in his fallen, corrupt and

guilty state that would compel the Lord to re-



cover him from the ruined consequences of hts sins.

Abraham was most sovereignly called out of a nation of idolators to be the renowned head of an elect nation. This choice of Abraham beg~m therefore on the part of God, and was altogether free and unmerited, unlooked for and unsought by Abraham. And the discriminating hand of God is quite as plainly seen in the history of his descendents. Several nations wel'e destroyed out of Canaan that the I sraelites might have the l::tnd. "So Joshua smote all the country of the hill s, anrl of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remain;ng, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the Lord God of Israel commanded."-Joshua x . 40-2. (It will be noticed that even infants were commanded to be slain: 1 Sam. xv. 3; Jos. vi. 21; Deut. xx. 16-17).

There is nothing that excites the bitter hatred of the unrenewecl and unreconcilecl in heart, and especially if they are professors of relig;on, like the doctrine of unconditional election. And they will so quickly and often wr~thfully declare that God would be most unjust should He make such great discriminations. If the righteous Judge of all the earth, who cannot but do right, declare that He hath mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardeneth (Rom. ix:. 18), the proud and unhumbled heart of man is always so ready to quickly rise up with boilings of anger, and loudly and arrogantly complain against God for such discriminating conduct. We see the



great mass of professors so plainly reject the doctrine of God's sovereignty, and with the Dible in thei1· hands which they profess to bel ieve. This wu·econciliation is a fruit of the corrupted and depraved state of the heart of man because of the Adam-fall.

It is surely one of the precious signs of the work of free and sovereign grace in the heart when the mind and affections have been brought over to sincerely feel a~elieve that whatever the Lord appoints is jus~1·1ght, and that in His sovereign discriminations no in justice whatever is or can be done t o them. Yes, it is indeed a blessed frame of mind that in confiding faith feels to bend in such sweet r econciliation, and not murmur or complain at His appointments or providences. But as long as anyone feels that they have ability t o place God under any obligations whatever to bestow favors upon them through the merit of their own performances, they are very far from possessing a truly humble spirit or feeling reconciled to Him. But since man is a lready, in and of himself, in a condenm ed state as viewed by divine justice, he therefore should not dare to in anyway attempt to dictate how God shall deal with him, either in time or eternity. It is only the humble soul that can believingly sing , "That if my soul be sent t o hell, His righteous . law approves it well."

The Lord was sovereignly p leased to love Jacob and hate Esau, though they were twin brothers. "(For the chilch·cn being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the



purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him that calleth;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve ihe younger. As it is ·written, Jacob have I loved, hut Esau have I hated."-Rom. ix. 11-13. I believe thHt the love for Jacob that is here referred to was one of gracious choice and acceptance to spiritual blessings ; while God's hatred for Esau was as plainly one <Yf non-acceptance or non-election to such spiritual favors. For it so plainly seems that t he positive and condemning hatred which God declared against E sau was on accountofhissins, and especially his great anger is mentioned. Amos i. 11. Paul in Romans is quite plainly illustrating the sovereign purpose of God in the election of Jacob, and in bestowing His amazing love upon him. Jacob performed no active part whatever in his being elected, for this gracious choice was made before he was born, or "done any good or evil." (See my booklet, The Elder shall serve the Younger.)

To the elect, this sovereign choice is a free and wholly undeserved favor. And those who are not elected cannot rightly charge God with any degree of injustice whatever , since they have no valid claim whatever to any favor or right which on terms of strict justice they could demand to be elected, or even given any chance to be saved. And right here the matter must and will stand forever, and that in spite of all the ungodly reasonings of any man. The boasting Pharisee never begs for mercy, for sin does not trouble his breast; but he so proudly demands because of the merit <Yf his



good works, that God will perform His obligations to him, for he blindly supposes that he is worthy of salvation. Yet it cannot be unjust in God to exercise His sovereignty in the distribution of His own gracious favors, for He expressly claims that right: "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy."-Ex. xxxiii. 19.

In full accordance with His sovereign pleasure, the Lord may rise up men and appoint them to whatever service He 'vv!ll, as is witnessed in the case of Pharaoh. "For the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew My power in thee, and that My name might be declared throughout all the ea1th."-Rom. ix. 17. And in full harmony with this how pointedly Paul declares, "Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another tmto dishonor?" And :it should be noticed that Paul quite carefully answers the very same objections of injustice that is made by the unbelieving world today against the· Lord's rightful authority to do with fallen man as it may please Him.

In full justice the Lord once destroyed the world by a flood, and shortly after\vards most sovereignly obligated Himself by a solemn covenant ·never to do so again, although it plainly seems that the wickedness of the world continues as great as ever. To limit God in His ways of working or disposing to our own ways of thinking, or standard of action, is plainly showing contempt



for His sovereign dominion and government. We should never forget that He now actually governs this world and that He will continue to do so. And also, that in full righteous ness He so rules, for in no way does He ever punis h or chastise the innocent. The Lord has been pleased to make many promises of His grace and mercy, and obligate Himself to fulfill them, and all such promises quite strongly show the sovereign character of His actions.

"Old School, Primitive, or Bible Baptists, believe and rejoice in the absolute sovereignty of God, their heavenly Fathet·- in the entire dependence of all creatures upon Him, both in nature and in grace; a doctrine that leads its adherents to abandon all confidence in creature power, and to exercise a living and a loving trust in the Most lligh."-Hassell, Chruch History, page 327.

Sometimes people make loud claims of believing that God will take all care of them after they are dead, but manifest such little trust in His preserving care over them in this life. But do they not need His protection now? True faith, when in lively exercise, always looks to the Lord for help and protection. And I believe that the gracious God loves the trustful dependence of His people upon Him, for He so well knows that they are but "dust." So they should plainly manifest such dependence in their lives.

To the infinitely great God, who rules in the armies of heaven and on earth among men, surely belongs the most supreme power, absolute dominion, full lawful authority and sovereignty over


26 THE ::>OVEREIGN DOMINION OF GOD

men and ang-els, both for time and eternity, and just the same a:-; over the balance of crcal.ion. For He "ho is the Creator and Preserver of all, may ccrt~.in ·y in full justice db pose of all in whatever way He please:; for His own glory and praise. And though people have such a very fond attachment for \\hat they feel to be their most near and dear interests in many things, yet none of their claims to anything can possibly ever set aside His far better right to dispose of such things, and them ah-:o as may !:ieem good in His sight. People never quarrel with God because of any blessings received, but the weakness of human nature is so great that if He but remove or deny them, they so often munnur and complain. Yet it must be admitted that He has the very same right to take away as to give. Murmuring is among the greatest of evils in God's sight that can afflict His children, because it is so plainly founded upon unbelief. When they find themselves feeling unable or unwilling to trust God as they should for needed blessings, their hearts are then so ready to break out in murmw·ing contradiction of the teachings of the Bible. Though they may never posse~s nor enjoy many things they may so greatly want, yet it is a most solemn truth that they can never suffer the least degree of injustice whateYer from His hands, let come what may, because they all are so very undeserving of the least one of His fa\·ors. And so very much of their fears, troubles and uneasiness of mind and disappointments in this world, comes from their narrow conceptions of this divinely lawful sovereign-

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ty. For if they only could trustingly, and with a. fair measure of humble reconciliation to God's will, feel to commit all that they have, all that they are, and all that they want and wish for, into His wise, merciful and powerful hands, to do with them all as He pleases, then surely their most an.xious concerns would be just as secure, their real comforts far greater and their minds certainly would be far more serene and tranquil. And surely all believers in God should prayerfully beg for grace that will enable them to live in trustful dependence upon Him. So it will be seen that this doctrine of God's sovereign dominion possesses a very important and practical side in the Christian life of faith while traveling through this sinful world.

God <san do no wrong, because that would be so positively contrary to the perfections and holiness of His divine nature. Therefore He can do nothing but what He has the full sovereign 1·ight to do. This heavenly right most positively is a royal prerogative of His being, and is necessary to His divinity. He would cease to be the Almighty God that He is should He loose His heavenly character, and ''·hich is quite inconceivable. So He rightfully exercises those qualifications which so lawfully belong to His heavenly dominion and authority. We would be denying His wonderful government, if we would deny Him the use of His sovereignty in that government. If we admit His government, we must admit His authority to exercise His sovereign dominion. Most certainly He has the undoubted right, as the Great



Lawgiver and Ruler of the world, to enact such Jaws as has pleased Him, and that without consulting any of His creatures. And also, He may dispose of any of His fallen creatures as may seemeth Him good, either for time or eternity, for "Is it not lawful for Me to do what I will with mine own ?"-Matt. xx. 15. Yet He does not exercise His ruling authority and reigning dominion over any of His subjects after any blind and arbitrary manner, for it must not be forgotten that all His actions are governed by His infinite wisdom, holiness and righteous purposes, and this forbids His unjust punishment of any one.

The powerful hand of God is seen in the history of the nations of the world. Their rise, prosperity, decay and disappearance quite plainly make it manifest that He exercises an overruling power over them. His wonderful hand is quite plainly displayed in the overthrow of large empires and powerful dynasties. The history of flourishing cities, like Tyre, Nineveth, Babylon, etc., very plainly show the great power of His dominion over them. '

This wonderful dominion and sovereignty of God is the very foundation upon which the glorious doctrine of unconditional election is built, that without which there would be no salvation for any of the fallen sons of Adam. For if God elects or chooses people in Jesus Chlrst unto salvation, and that before the foundation of the world, He must surely have the full lawful right to do so. And he certainly has this divine r ight to so elect, because it is only the lawful exercise


TilE SOVERElGN nOMTNlON OF GOO :!!1

of Ilis sovereign dominion ov<'r Tlis own <(nful and unworthy subjects. So, if this la,vful domit;ion of God be admitted, all of man's objection:.; against election, since a.ll men without exception arc so very undeserving·, must farle av•ay I ike darknegs before the sun. 'l' hc Bible plainly dl'clarcs the doctrines of God's ~ovcreign <'lection and i'Overeign dominion. The first is l;u;lt upon the last, and one is just a!-l t1-uc as the o' her. So, if anyone really bclie,·es the la!!t, it is quitl' <'a.<.y for them to believe thr first. T hey a-:.-e both cardinal articles of the Christ ian Religion.

The Bible plainly teaches that ~ome arc lost. (Ps. ix. 17; Dan. xi i. 2; Matt. xii. 32; xxiii. 3!3; :x:xv. 4J; Mal. i. 4; John v. 2!); viii. 21, 24; 2 Th<'s'l. i. 9; Jude 7-13; Rev. xx. 15; etc.) The guilty arc certainly the only ~mes that are fit~ally lost, for sin is most surely the real cau,:e why a'1ybocly is so lost. While God's rede"ming love i,; th" fh·st and moving cause why an~ boc1y is sa,·crl. Hedcmption through the blood of J esus Christ is th~> procuring cause of salvation, hut the wondct·ful love of God led Him to provide and spread Otlt the limits of that redemption. Election ig 110t

the cause why anybody is lost, for none are cle,.tcd to be lost, though many arc elected to he sa,·ccl. Those who are finally lo,;t arc so lost upon prhciplcs of diYine justice. So if the Lord be pleal'cd to at last punish the g-tlilty, who has any ;u;;t right to complain'! l\Iost surely not" the guilty. The Lord's non-election of some puts nothing of evil into them, for they wiliing·ly follow their O\\'n sinful inclinations. If those who rail against the



justice of God were only in some small measure r econciled to His will, they would not dare to so audaciously arraign His sovereign conduct. As God gave a law before the entrance of sin into this world, why do they not arraign Him for giving such a law? since without it there would have been no t r ansgression? And finally, before whom shall they arraign the sovereign and Great J ehoYah? "Why dost thou strive against Him? for He giveth not account of any of His matters."J ob xxxiii. 13. Yet poor, weak and sinful man will so often unhesitatingly dare to arraign the sovereign Creator of the universe and sit in judgment against Him! And while in the blindness and hardness of his unregeneracy,

"A!<'11inst the God '"ho rules the ~>ky,

He fighls with hands uplifted high!"

It should be noted that all the strong defenders of the doctrine of unconditional election were very strong exponents of God's sovereign dominion. And this ca1mot be otherwise, for these doctrinal points cannot be separated. Paul, being inspired, was of course the ablest expounder of them all. But Augustine quite ably defended this doctrine, which it seems that Calvin takes up with more orderly arrangement, and Knox fully agrees with Calvin's defence. Histor y gives Augustine, Calvin and Knox much prominence in shaping the creeds of many denominations. But there has been many who believed these same doctrines just a s ~trongly, and who were far more consistent in •J.,eir practice.

• . ,.e the Revolutionary War three-fourths of

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all American churches were predestinarian in doctrine, but there has been such a falling away from the truth since then, that now it plainly seems that the Primitive Baptists arc left alone to witnesr-; and defend such a vct·y important article of the Christian Religion.

Jt may be argued by some opposers that if God gives any direction whatever to the affairs of this world in a sovereign manner, that man is therefore compelled in a11 his actions like a machine that is run by force, and that man's will is altogether cast aside. While I believe that man's will is free, I do not accept the Arminian conceptions of free will. The will, choice, and desires are practically the same thing. Men act freely in choosing- that which is agreeable with their nature, love and desires. But they do not act thus freely with regard to that which is not 2.greeable, for it is contrary to their real choice. They mny be, and often are, prevented from posse!'=sing things of their choice, but not from willing or desiring them. The Arminian view that the will is self-determining and that man can of himself change his will is el'l'oneous. In natures nig-ht men act freely in committing sin, because they are quile willingly in love with it, but they cannot of themselves change their nature and reverse their wills c:o ac: to hate the things they Jove. They may claim to do so, but it can only be an empty claim, for without the Spirit's gracious work in the heart no one can possibly make a genuine profession of religion . But when the Lord is pleased to take away the hard and stony heart and give a tender


3:! THE SOVEREIGN DOMINION OF GOO

heart of flesh (Ezek. xi. 19; xxxvi. 26), then this regenerated person, under the work of grace, freely loves God and can freely choose to make a real profeg~ion of His service. For no man can of himself reverse his desires, change his heart from nature to grace, and thus prepare himself to worship God. "The preparations of the heart in 1nan, and the :mswer of the tongue, is from the Lord:·-Prov. xvi. 1. Jer. xiii. 23; Matt. xii. 3-1-5; Luke vi. 4.3-5.

"The will of man, though it is free, yet not independently and absolutely so; it is dependent on God, both in its being and acting ; it is subject to His authority and command, and controlable by His power. 'The King's heart (and so every other man's), is in the hand of the Lord; as the rivers of waters, He turneth it" hithersocver He wii i.'Prov. xxi. 1."--Gill, Cause of God and Truth, 1-22.

"We are all sinners by nat.ure; therefore we are all held under the yoke of sin. Now, if the whole man be subject to the dominion of sin, the will, "hich is the principle seat of it, must necessarily be bound "ith the finnest bonds. Nor would there otherwise be any consistency in the assertion of Paul, 'For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasm e.'Phil. ii. 13.''-Calvin's Ins., 1-259. Through the Adam-fall the will of man h :1s b!'come corTuutcrl, weakened, and defiled, together with all his other powers and abilities. Yet even fallen man always accords to himself and exercises the p"rog-ative of choice, and of doir~g· a s he pleases with the things under his control, so fnr as he feels that it


TilE SOVEREIGN DOMINION OF GOD 33

is within the limits of his power. And in his natural state of enmity against God, and unreconciliation to His sovereign will, he will often so unhesitatingly dare to arraign the discriminating conduct of the Lord God of all creation! For in his ignorance and blindness of heart he does not know nor feel his guilty distance from God. Also, many of the Lord's regenerated children no doubt have been taught. to despise, in more or less degree, His sovereign h and.

When first believed the blessed gospel comes as a revelation of heaven's pardoning mercy to the spiritually poor, needy, and contrite-hearted. They alone are given spiritual ears to hear and rejoice in its joyful sound, so they alone are the scriptutal subjects of gospel address. 'For the gospel has no joyful message of free grace, pardon, and Jove to those who do not feel their actual need of the sinne1·'s Friend, and do not hunger and thirst after righteousness. N~ither are God's called ser vants commanded to wipe away tears never shed or comfort hearts never broken. Only to the spiritually poor is the gracious gospel preached. Matt. xi. 5; Luke iv. 18; vii. 22. So the Pharisee's profession of religion is not only empty and vain, but is mockery against the Saviour of sinners. The unregenerate should not profess to be followers of Jesus Christ. What right have those who have never felt the law's condemnation in their hearts as that poot· Publican (Luke xviii. 13), to say or conclude that those who have are dishonest or deceived ?

W. S. CRAIG. Samford University Library

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