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THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD
FOREWORD TO THE FIRST EDITION
By Arthur W. Pink
In
the following pages an attempt has been made to examine anew in the light
of God’s Word some of the profoundest questions which can engage the human
mind. Others have grappled with these mighty problems in days gone by and
from their labors we are the gainers. While making no claim for
originality the writer, nevertheless, has endeavored to examine and deal
with his subject from an entirely independent viewpoint. We have studied
diligently the writings of such men as Augustine and Acquinas, Calvin and
Melancthon, Jonathan Edwards and Ralph Erskine, Andrew Fuller and Robert
Haldane.* And sad it is to think that these eminent and honored names are
almost entirely unknown to the present generation. Though, of course, we do
not endorse all their conclusions, yet we gladly acknowledge our deep
indebtedness to their works. We have purposely refrained from quoting freely
from these deeply taught theologians, because we desired that the faith of
our readers should stand not in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
For this reason we have quoted
freely from the Scriptures and have sought to furnish proof-texts for every statement we have advanced.
It would be foolish for us to expect
that this work will meet with general approval. The trend of modern theology—if
theology it can be called—is ever toward the deification of the creature
rather than the glorification of the Creator, and the leaven of present-day
Rationalism is rapidly permeating the whole of Christendom. The malevolent
effects of Darwinianism are more far reaching than most are aware. Many of
those among our religious leaders who are still regarded as orthodox would,
we fear, be found to be very heterodox if they were weighed in the balances
of the Sanctuary. Even those who are clear, intellectually, upon other
truth, are rarely sound in doctrine. Few, very few, today, really
believe in the complete ruin and total depravity of man. Those
who speak of man’s "free will," and insist upon his inherent
power to either accept or reject the Saviour, do but voice their ignorance
of the real condition of Adam’s fallen children. And if there are few who
believe that, so far as he is concerned, the condition of the sinner
is entirely hopeless, there are fewer still who really believe in the absolute Sovereignty of God.
In addition to the widespread effects
of unscriptural teaching, we also have to reckon with the deplorable superficiality of the present generation. To announce that a certain book is a treatise
on doctrine is quite sufficient to prejudice against it the great bulk of
church-members and most of our preachers as well. The craving today is for
something light and spicy, and few have patience, still less desire, to
examine carefully that which would make a demand both upon their
hearts and their mental powers. We remember, also, ‘how that it is
becoming increasingly difficult in these strenuous days for those who are desirous of studying the deeper things of God to find the time which
such study requires. Yet, it is still true that "Where there’s a
will, there’s a way," and in spite of the discouraging features
referred to, we believe there is even now a godly remnant who will take
pleasure in giving this little work a careful consideration, and such will,
we trust, find in it "Meat in due season."
We do not forget the words of one long
since passed away, namely, that "Denunciation is the last resort of a
defeated opponent." To dismiss this book with the contemptuous epithet—"Hyper-Calvinism"!
will not be worthy of notice. For controversy we have no taste, and we shall
not accept any challenge to enter the lists against those who might desire
to debate the truths discussed in these pages. So far as our personal
reputation is concerned, that we leave our Lord to take care of, and unto
Him we would now commit this volume and whatever fruit it may bear, praying
Him to use it for the enlightening of His own dear people (insofar as it is
in accord with His Holy Word) and to pardon the writer for and preserve the
reader from the injurious effects of any false teaching that may have crept
into it. If the joy and comfort which have come to the author while penning
these pages are shared by those who may scan them, then we shall be devoutly
thankful to the One whose grace alone enables us to discern spiritual
things.
June 1918.
ARTHUR W. PINK.
*Among those who have dealt most helpfully
with the subject of God’s Sovereignty in recent years we mention Dr. Rice,
J. B. Moody, and Bishop, from whose writings we have also received
instruction.
FOREWORD TO THE SECOND EDITION
It is now two years
since the first edition of this work was presented to the Christian public.
Its reception has been far more favorable than the author had expected. Many
have notified him of the help and blessing received from a perusal of his
attempts to expound what is admittedly a difficult subject. For every word
of appreciation we return hearty thanks to Him in Whose light we alone
"see light." A few have condemned the book in unqualified terms,
and these we commend to God and to the Word of His grace, remembering that
it is written, "a man can receive nothing, except it be given him from
heaven" (John 3:27). Others have sent us friendly criticisms and these
have been weighed carefully, and we trust that, in consequence, this revised
edition will be unto those who are members of the household of faith more
profitable than the former one.
One word of explanation
seems to be called for. A number of respected brethren in Christ feel that
our treatment of the Sovereignty of God was too extreme and one-sided. It
has been pointed out that a fundamental requirement in expounding the Word
of God is the need of preserving the balance of Truth. With this we
are in hearty accord. Two things are beyond dispute: God is sovereign, and
man is a responsible creature. But in this book we are treating of the
Sovereignty of God, and while the responsibility of man is readily owned,
yet, we do not pause on every page to insist on it; instead, we have
sought to stress that side of the Truth which in these days is almost
universally neglected. Probably 95 per cent. of the religious literature of
the day is devoted to a setting forth of the duties and obligations of men.
The fact is that those who undertake to expound the Responsibility of man
are the very ones who have lost ‘the balance of Truth’ by
ignoring, very largely, the Sovereignty of God. It is perfectly right to
insist on the responsibility of man, but what of God ?—has He no
claims, no rights! A hundred such works as this are needed, ten thousand
sermons would have to be preached throughout the land on this subject, if
the ‘balance of Truth’ is to be regained. The ‘balance of Truth’ has
been lost, lost through a disproportionate emphasis being thrown on the
human side, to the minimizing, if not the exclusion, of the Divine side. We
grant that this book is one-sided, for it only pretends to deal with
one side of the Truth, and that is, the neglected side, the Divine side.
Furthermore, the question might be raised: Which is the more to be deplored—an
over emphasizing of the human side and an insufficient emphasis on the
Divine side, or, an over emphasizing of the Divine side and an insufficient
emphasis on the human side? Surely, if we err at all it is on the right
side. Surely, there is far more danger of making too much of man and too
little of God, than there is of making too much of God and too little of
man. Yea, the question might well be asked, Can we press God’s claims
too far? Can we be too extreme in insisting upon the absoluteness and
universality of the Sovereignty of God?
It is with profound
thankfulness to God that, after a further two years diligent study of Holy
Writ, with the earnest desire to discover what almighty God has been pleased
to reveal to His children on this subject, we are able to testify that we
see no reason for making any retractions from what we wrote before, and
while we have re-arranged the material of this work, the substance and
doctrine of it remains unchanged. May the One Who condescended to bless the
first edition of this work be pleased to own even more widely this revision.
1921 Swengel, Pa.
ARTHUR W. PINK
FOREWORD TO THE THIRD EDITION
That a third edition of
this work is now called for, is a cause of fervent praise to God. As the
darkness deepens and the pretentions of men are taking on an ever-increasing
blatancy, the need becomes greater for the claims of God to be emphasized.
As the twentieth century Babel of religious tongues is bewildering so many,
the duty of God’s servants to point to the one sure anchorage for the
heart, is the more apparent. Nothing is so tranquilizing and so stabilizing
as the assurance that the Lord Himself is on the Throne of the universe,
"working all things after the counsel of His own will".
The Holy Spirit has
told us that there are in the Scriptures "some things hard to be
understood", but mark it is "hard" not "impossible"!
A patient waiting on the Lord, a diligent comparison of scripture with
scripture, often issues in a fuller apprehension of that which before was
obscure to us. During the last ten years it has pleased God to grant us
further light on certain parts of His Word, and this we have sought to use
in improving our expositions of different passages. But it is with unfeigned
thanksgiving that we find it unnecessary to either change or modify any doctrine contained in the former editions. Yea, as time goes by, we realize (by
Divine grace) with ever-increasing force, the truth, the importance, and the
value of the Sovereignty of God as it pertains to every branch of our lives.
Our hearts have been
made to rejoice again and again by unsolicited letters which have come to
hand from every quarter of the earth, telling of help and blessing received
from the former editions of this work. One Christian friend was so stirred
by reading it and so impressed by its testimony, that a check was sent to be
used in sending free copies to missionaries in fifty foreign countries,
"that its glorious message may encircle the globe"; numbers of
whom have written us to say how much they have been strengthened in their
fight with the powers of darkness. To God alone belongs all the
glory. May He deign to use this third edition to the honour of His own great
Name, and to the feeding of His scattered and starved sheep.
1929 Morton’s Gap, Kentucky.
ARTHUR W. PINK
FOREWORD TO THE FOURTH EDITION
It is with profound praise to God
"most high" that another edition of this valuable and helpful book
is now called for. Though its teaching runs directly counter to much that is
being promulgated on every hand today, yet we are happy to be able to say
that its circulation is increasing to the strengthening of the faith,
comfort and hope of an increasing number of God’s elect. We commit this
new edition to Him whom we "delight to honour," praying that He
may be pleased to bless its circulation to the enlightening of many more of
His own, to the "praise of the glory of His grace," and a clearer
apprehension of the majesty of God and His Sovereign mercy.
1949 I. C. Herendeen
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