• Cf. Council of Trent, sess. vi. ch. xiii. can. 16, 22 (cf. P. Schaff, The Creeds of Christendom, New York, 1877, ii. 103, 113 f., 116) ; CE, artt. ' Grace,' ' Perseverance ' ; J. H. Newman, 'Perseverance in Grace' (Discourses to Mixed Congregations'', London, 1891, p. 124).
t In the forms of * Sublapsarianism ' and ' Subterlapsarianism * (Amyraldisni).
J Cf. Remonstrants' Confession, A.D. 1610 (Schaff, iu. 646 ft.) ; Wesley's yotes on the NT, and certain Sermons.
§ Cf. the Canons of Dort, adopted at the 136th session, a.d. 1618-19 (Acta Synodi Nationatis Dordrechti habitce ami. 1613 et 1610, Dort, 1020; Schaff, iii. 650 ff.).
y Ct. art. Gracb.
PERSEVERANCE
PERSEVERANCE
187
to make gixui men. It is not just, therefore, to minds of the predestinarian tj'pe to char^'e them with 'austerity of logic'* or 'false supernatural- ism,' t as if their doetrine were a simple immeiliate deduction from an absolute idea having no living reference to inner emotion. The great predestina- tionists were 'the most Christian men of their generation ' ;t their theology was the expression of its dominant conception in interpretnig the relation of man to God. They are not ignorant of the .sphere of man's eti'ort : they insist upon it with impressive ' austerity. '§ But to them it is a sphere, concentric with, but smaller than, that of reliance ujion God, in which true religion consists, and in which it does truly consist as an energy, spiritual, eternal, persistent, inspiring indclinite advance in righteousness, and delivering the grow- ing soul from all trembling uncertainties as to resources and equipment, prospects, final goal. This is the absolute datum (not idea) set forth in the predestinarian definitions of electicm and per- severance : it is a datum of soul perception and persuasion induced by the soul's experience of the Power that holds it and guides and guards it, the only adequate equivalent of the profound apostolic intuition : ' in God we live, and move, and have our being' (Ac 17-'). II
1. The religious persnasion. — The religious per- suasion has deep roots ; the only attainments of which it is the inspiration are so high that nothing short of the recesses of richest truth suffice for the soil of their growth — the heavenliest forces known to the apostles. These are : (1) the will of God, (2) the pattern of Christ, (3) the life of the Spirit, (4) the fellowship of faith, (5) the heavenly inheritance.
(1) TJic irill of God is the strongest, as it is the most comprehensive, supiiort of the assurance of salvation ; there can be none more secure or ample. The will of God holds the primacy in ' all creation ' (Ro 11**, etc.). In the natural world it is central ; all the forces of nature are but manifestations or outgoings of the force of will, and of one Avill — that of the Creator. His will is also central in the realm of spiritual life, wherever that is true and progressive ; the higher life of humanity is simply the will of God realizing itself according to its own purpose, not only in spite of the resistance of the countless hostile wills of men, but by means of that resistance, as the will of a perfect righteous- ness. Because of its primacy, there is no reason- able relation to it but that of obedience : there is no hope of successful life except in conformity to it, since it must in the end be done, God having of necessity by His own being to work alwaj's to- wards His own end. There is no other purpose of God for men (Eph l*-") but that which is embraced within His all-wise, all-righteous designs (Ro 12'- ", Gal 1*, Eph 2'", Col P- '», He lO'", 1 P 2'», 1 Ti 2-'). Moreover, a resolute renunciation of man's will in self-surrender to God's has for result the new nature like His, increase in strength, triumph In effort after holiness. It is the mightiest forge of personality (Ro 5'-" 8-- '", Gal 5-'--->^, Eph S'^-'^ 59. 10. 17^ etc.), thereby evidencing that it is of God (Ph 2i», 2 Ti 2'») and His will (1 Ti 2^ He 2*, etc.). We are thus assured that His will is our sanctification (1 Th 4^), a fact of indubitable
• Macaulay'3 phrase ; ct. HUt. 0/ England, ed. LondOD, 1S89, ch. i. p. 4(1. t Cf. CE. art. * Justification.'
I E. Kenan's description of Calvin, Studies of Religious Bistoril, Eng. tr., London, 1893, p. 340.
§ True to their feeiinfr is the familiar saying of St. Ignatius : ' Pray as if all depended on God's doing ; act aa if all depended on your doing' ; of. Wordsworth:
' 'Tis the most ditHcult of tasks to keep Heights which the soul is competent to gain '
(Excursion, iv. 138 f.).
II Cf. Morley's striking reflexions in Oliver CromweU, London, 1904, ch. iii. p. 47 ff.
certitude warrnntird by the Divine proinisex, which are of life (2 Ti 1', 1 .)n 2-") to all men (Ac '«», 2 P 1' 3'-') from a faithful <!od (He 6", 1 Th r)"\ 1 Co I", 2 Th ;t^ He 10-', 1 P 4'", Tit 1-) and ful- tilled in Christ (Ac 13»-'- ^, 2 Co l-"", Ko 15«, Uev 5=), who as the Word liveth in the saved (Ro 1",