Theodicy Soteriology, Hermeneutics

SOTERIOLOGY : M. M. NINAN
The whole of these acts, both concerning the commencementand the progress of sin, I
consider distinctly in reference to the act itself,and to the anomy or transgression of the law, a
course which, according tomy judgment, is necessary and useful.
3. Lastly, with respect to theEND and COMPLETION of sin, I attributeto divine providence
either punishment through severity, or remission throughgrace; which are occupied about sin,
in reference to its being sin and toits being a transgression, of the law.
But I most solicitously avoid two causes of offense thatGod be not proposed as the author of
sin, and that its liberty be not takenaway from the human will. These are two points which, if
any one knows howto avoid, he will think upon no act which I will not in that case most
gladlyallow to be ascribed to the providence of God, provided a just regard behad to the
divine pre-eminence.
But I have given a most ample explanation of these mysentiments, in the theses which were
twice publicly disputed on the samesubject in the university. On this account, therefore, I
declare that I ammuch surprised, and not without good reason, at my being aspersed with
thiscalumny that l hold corrupt opinions respecting the providence of God. Ifit be allowable to
indulge in conjecture, I think this slander had its originin the fact of my denying that, with
respect to the decree of God, Adamnecessarily sinned an assertion which I yet constantly
deny, and think itone that ought not to be tolerated, unless the word "necessarily" be
receivedin the acceptation of "infallibly," as it is by some persons; though thischange does
not agree with the etymology of the two words; for, necessityis an affection of being, but
infallibility is an affection of the mind.Yet I easily endure the use of the first of these words,
provided those twoinconveniences to which I have recently alluded be faithfully avoided.
3. DIVINE PREDESTINATION
With respect to the article of predestination, my sentimentsupon it are the following: It is an
eternal and gracious decree of God inChrist, by which he determines to justify and adopt
believers, and to endowthem with life eternal, but to condemn unbelievers, and impenitent
persons;as I have explained in the theses on the same subject, which were publiclydisputed,
and in which, no one found any thing to be reprehended as falseor unsound. Only it was the
opinion of some persons that those theses didnot contain all the things which belong to this
decree; nay, that thepredestination about which there is the greatest controversy at this
time,is not the subject of investigation in those theses. This indeed I confess;for I considered
it the best course to discuss that decree of predestinationwhich is the foundation of
Christianity, of our salvation, and of the assuranceof salvation, and upon which the apostle
treats in the eighth and ninth chaptersof the epistle to the Romans, and in the first chapter of
that to theEphesians-But such a decree as I have there described is not that by whichGod
83