If I were not a Calvinist, I think I should have no more hope of success in preaching to men, than to horses or cows
Topic: Calvinism, effectual calling
“If I had a proper call, I would undertake to prove, that to exhort and deal plainly with sinners, to stir them up to flee from the wrath to come, and to lay hold of eternal life, is an attempt not reconcilable to sober reason upon any other grounds than those doctrines which we are called Calvinists for holding; and that all the absurdities which are charged upon us, as consequences of what we teach, are indeed truly chargeable upon those who differ from us in these points. . . . As to myself, if I were not a Calvinist, I think I should have no more hope of success in preaching to men, than to horses or cows.”
John Newton, to Rev. Thomas Jones (October 20, 1767)
To view more Nuggets of Newton, go here.
Tags: Calvinism, Effectual Calling
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October 4, 2007 at 6:27 am
Well said, Newton.
October 4, 2007 at 9:14 am
I think it’s only appropriate for Amazing Grace and Let us Love and Sing and Wonder to only be sung in Calvinist churches. Any other option may split the church.
October 4, 2007 at 8:04 pm
And to think that the songs of this “Hyper Calvinist” are still found in the Baptist Hymnal… are still sung in Baptist Churches… Can this be true?
Seeing as our SBC Leadership is continuously calling on Calvinistic Pastors to “lay all their cards on the table” (confess to being a Calvinist) when talking to a pulpit committee… I think it only proper that all future Baptist Hymnals come with a warning label.
Warning – The Surgeon General (take you pick of SBC Leadership from Timmy’s previous post and insert name here) has determined that the singing of these songs may cause serious harm to the health of your Baptist Church!
Grace to all,
Greg Alford
October 4, 2007 at 10:12 pm
Amen! A very timely and encouraging quote to share.
October 8, 2007 at 7:56 am
Cows. Or the blogsphere — very similar.