Session #017 is devoted to the second half of Chapter 11, The True Christian’s Faith and Experience and continues the discussion on the doctrine of election and reprobation.
At the time of the early Quakers, John Calvin’s teachings were very influential (and still today). Calvin taught that before each person was born, God had already predestined who would be condemned to damnation, and who would be saved. Quaker writers vehemently disagreed with this teaching. We find this response from Robert Barclay in Propositions V and VI as noted in Dean Freiday’s 1967 modern translation, Barclay’s Apology in Modern English:
“We [Friends]. have rejected the horrible and blasphemous doctrine of predestination whereby God is supposed to have consigned the greater part of mankind to eternal damnation without any consideration of whether they have been disobedient or sinned. This is supposed to have been done so that his justice may lay hold of them, yet it is claimed that he has withheld all grace from them by which they could obtain salvation.”
Through the power of God, through the washing of regeneration (or new birth) the reprobate is transplanted out of the old and into the new seed, out of the reprobate state into the chosen and elected state. They can enjoy God’s salvation and partake of His lovingkindness. For God has not predestined any part of mankind to everlasting condemnation, or that just so many people will be saved and all the rest damned [as Calvin asserted]. This doctrine is accursed and contrary to the gospel of peace and reconciliation.
All these blind guides who minister this kind of doctrine would come to an end if people were not as ignorant and as blind as they themselves are. If there were such a fixed decree from all eternity, then it is altogether vain for people to hire such ministers when they can never bring one more soul to salvation who is not already decreed to be saved. These ministers preach a doctrine of devils in the world, the effect of which is to lead some to dissolute despair or others to an imaginary security.
This doctrine makes void Christ’s coming as a light into the world, or his sending apostles and ministers out to persuade people to be reconciled to God. In vain is all the preaching of the grace of God which brings salvation, in vain the manifestation of the spirit that is given to everyone to profit with. In vain are the testimonies of God’s universal love to all mankind.
God’s love extends to all, and his arm is stretched out to all. His scepter of salvation is held forth to all. His desire is that all come to the knowledge of His truth and be saved. This is the testimony of God and of righteous men born of the incorruptible seed. This is the word of truth to all.
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