In a bit of sarcasm aimed at Free Willies and their charge that the doctrine of election destroys freedom and makes men machines, Nettleton proposes that we “drop the doctrine of decrees.”
It is a doctrine clearly taught in the Scriptures, that a change of heart is absolutely necessary to prepare sinners for heaven. ‘Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ We are also taught that God is the author of this change. ‘Born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.’ But if God cannot operate on the hearts of men without destroying their freedom, then we ought not to pray that God would renew the hearts of sinners. Surely we ought not to pray that God would convert men into machines. However wicked mankind may be, we cannot pray that God would stop them in their career of sin, because He cannot do it without destroying their freedom. When sinners have proud, stubborn, and rebellious hearts, we cannot pray that God would make them humble, submissive, and obedient; because He cannot do it without converting them into machines.
When sinners are invited to Christ, they all, with one consent, begin to make excuse. And Christ declared: ‘Ye will not come to me that ye might have life.’ Sinners, then, are in awful condition. They will not come to Christ, and God cannot make them willing without destroying their freedom. What shall be done? It will be of no use to pray for them. Nor is it proper to pray for them; for surely we ought not to pray that God would do what He is unable to do.
—Bennet Tyler, The Life and Labours of Asahel Nettleton (Banner of Truth, 1975), 201.
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7 Comments:
#1 || 11·09·07··08:36 || Kim Shay
Is it just me or is the text of your quoted passage in white? I can't read past "drop the doctrine of decrees" but I can see the text faintly.
#2 || 11·09·07··18:12 || David Kjos
I think it’s you. It looks OK to me.
#3 || 11·09·08··07:21 || threegirldad
No, it isn't just Kim. I'm seeing the same thing in Firefox 6 and IE 9. The italicized book title is the only part that isn't faint white text (it's sort of maroon-ish).
#4 || 11·09·08··08:12 || threegirldad
After a screen refresh just now, the text looks normal.
#5 || 11·09·08··08:12 || David Kjos
OK, so it’s just you and Kim, then.
#6 || 11·09·08··08:25 || David Kjos
I must confess: you were right. I fixed it. I don't know why it was a problem, but it was, so I removed the offending code.
#7 || 11·09·08··10:25 || Kim Shay
I was able to read it through my Google reader.