the works of john gill vol2 SAMPLE

The Cause of God and Truth
could never be supposed. But for God to require all men to love, fear,
and obey him, and to signify that these things are approved of by him,
are no contradictions to any decree of his, to leave some men to
themselves, to the freedom of their own wills, or to any determination
of his, to punish them who do not love, fear, and obey him.
2. It is certain, that all men, in a state of nature, are in an incapacity
to love, fear, and obey God; the carnal mind is so far from loving, that
it is enmity against God; there is neither any fear of God in the heart,
or before the eyes of an unregenerate man; nor is he subject to the law
of God, or obedient to it; neither, indeed, can he be, without the grace
of God 23 .
Now this incapacity arises from sin, and the corruption of nature;
and therefore, as it no way lessens men’s obligations to love, fear, and
obey God, nor weakens his authority to require these things, so it is
not to be ascribed to the decree of reprobation. Could it be thought
that such a decree puts men into an incapacity to love, fear, and obey
God; it would be apparently contrary to his moral perfections, and
unworthy of him.
But reprobation does not, in any view of it, render men incapable of
these things; for, consider the objects of preterition either as fallen or
unfallen creatures; if as unfallen, it finds and leaves them so, without
putting them in an incapacity, or supposing them in an incapacity to
love, fear, and obey God; and therefore neither finds nor leaves them
in such an incapacity; if as fallen creatures, it finds them in this
incapacity; and seeing this is owing to themselves, it cannot be contrary
to his moral perfections to leave them in it, or to determine to leave
them in it.
3. Let it be observed, that it is the grace of God only that can remove
this incapacity, or make men capable of loving, fearing, and obeying
him. We love God, because he first loved us; love is a fruit of the Spirit,
and the produce of his grace. An heart to fear the Lord, is a part of the
23 Rom. 8:7, 3:17.
22