Did God Ordain Evil (Sin) To Enter the World?

Keep silence, all created things,
And wait your Maker's nod;
My soul stands trembling while she sings
The honors of her God.

Not Gabriel asks the reason why,
Or God the reason gives;
Nor dares the fav'rite angel pry
Between the folded leaves.

Isaac Watts

We sometimes hear people say that there are contradictions in the Holy Scriptures, thus they would question the Holy Ghosts' Power and God's faithfulness in the Divine preservation of the Scriptures, and His Purpose in giving His written word to and for His people.

"...All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works... 2 Tim 3:16.

"...Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost..." 2 Pet 1:20-21.

The same power that was able to move (and did move) the Prophets and Apostles to write the Scriptures, is also able to (and does) preserve them through God's purpose. This is not to endorse the accuracy of every "version" of the Scriptures that abound and that are in existence, especially in our times; yet the Holy Ghost is The Main Teacher, And leads God's Children into all truth:

"...But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you..." John 14:26.

And... Wisdom is justified of her children... Matt 11:19, Luke 7:35.

The Epistle of James is, to my mind, one of the least understood and therefore misrepresented portions of the Bible; Especially the parts where he deals with the subject of "faith and works". Religionists and moralists are so hung up on the notion that they have a power within themselves (that is, within their flesh - for anything that is left to the idea that man can work any goodness in the sight of God without God's Spirit working in him, "both to will, and to do of God's Own good pleasure and purpose, embraces this principle.) The 'works' of the flesh embrace all of the depraved principles of the natural, carnal mind of mankind. All the thoughts and actions of the flesh proceed from this principle, and is summarized in these statements by Paul and John:

"....Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he he know them, because they are spiritually discerned..." 1 Cor 2:13-14.

"...Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world..." 1 John 2:15-16.

That which causes us to trust in man, even ourselves, our own works and efforts in the business of salvation "is not of God, but is of the spirit and philosophy of the depraved mind of fallen and condemned flesh: in which Paul says "dwells no good thing", and explains how there is no good (or spiritual deliverance) in this attitude because of the flesh's inherent depravity - "..For to will is present with me" - as it is with every regenerated child of God - but still, this depravity (inability to perform) manifests itself in their desires and motions, - "..But how to perform, I find not.." Rom 7.

Man by fallen nature is a vain and boastful creature, and this principle will manifest itself when they are in (or walk in the flesh, or after these principles) Those who think and affirm that they "can perform" - at their option (which terms they give as ' accountability and responsibility'), though mistakenly. There is a considerable difference between being accountable and being responsible (to God.) All things in Heaven and earth are ACCOUNTABLE to God, because they must respond to His Sovereign Power and Will, since He is Omnipotent and nothing is able to resist His Will. Paul brings the common query of the human mind (when it is confronted with these propositions) to view on this point: "...Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will
have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? - Paul then replies with the only answer that the Holy Ghost will furnish, which of course is The Eternal Truth of God, though universally opposed by the carnal mind:
"...Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonour?..."
Notice that Paul makes no attempt to consider the sophistication of human wisdom or the logic of the common sentiments of nature here, but boldly asserts this profound truth:

"... What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?..." Rom 9:22-24.

Most of the old writers, including the reformers, held to the view of predestination being that determinate counsel of God's Will in bringing to pass 'such ends by such and such means"; therefore in this view of predestination they did not exclude the "means". Now, by any mode of reasoning, they could not conceivably have excluded the "means" or the "ends" without the other. Many people seem to have a terrible time with the doctrine that is known by many as "The absolute predestination of all things that come to pass", being afraid, It seems, that the doctrine would necessarily charge The Almighty with the defect of unrighteousness, for (they say) that this concept makes God the Author of sin in the creature. That is, if God in eternity had determined all the acts of angels, devils and men, then He, and not they would be held accountable (chargeable) for their transgressions against His Law. It seems to my mind that the Apostle Paul framed the same objection of the natural mind of man to this doctrine in this way: " (and we should seek to be conformed to the word of God in all things, not just that which suits our preconceived ideas, or is the rhetoric of the party platform, which we find necessary to pay homage to, lest "we be cast out of the synagogue" for nonconformity.)

"...Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?..."

Many who accept the first sentence of this statement, find it convenient to avoid the second part, or they attempt to explain it away with sophistry as to take all of the parallel and concordant meaning out of the verse. To my mind, God has just as much authority to harden the heart of a creature, as He does to "show mercy" on them. The Bible would certainly be a jargon of inconsistency if were otherwise. God's Divine prerogative in "showing mercy" on the undeserved is in harmony with "enduring the vessels of wrath, fitted to destruction" Ver 22. Some, whom call themselves 'Calvinists' and some who do not care to be basically identified as Calvinists, because of their rejection of some things that Calvin taught on predestination, etc., accept the former, but reject the last sentence with seeming horror. The writer will go on record to say, that to my mind, Calvin wasn't too clear on some points of predestination either; especially when he talks about his "offers" of this and that.

When God placed Moses in the cleft or hollow of the rock, and passed by and showed Moses His glory, here is what he showed him:

"...The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation..."

According to the "standard" or "morally and religiously correct " position in all shades of Arminianism, God would be unjust (or unfair, as they say) to charge the children and grandchildren with the sins of the fathers. But here it is. - Some try to escape with the puerile argument that this was spoken God to those who were still under the Law Dispensation; but this is not much of an answer, because the primary reason for their objection is that God would be unfair in dealing in such a way with His creatures. God has the authority to transfer the judgment for sin and transgression to another. In fact, He is the only Being that has this authority. If not, then His people are in big trouble, because He transferred not only the guilt and consequence of His people's sin to Christ, but He actually transferred sin itself. This is explicitly stated in Isa. 53:6. ".

"...All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all..."

"...Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed..." 1 Pet 2:24.

Our sins were actually imputed, charged, and placed on Him, And as the typical scapegoat, He suffered without the camp.

Many claim to believe in "original sin", or of Man's race becoming hereditarily sinful because of the transference of the transgression state of our earthly father Adam to all his posterity. Why do we commit sin? Is it not because we are sinful through our father Adam, and a corrupt tree and a polluted fountain, and cannot bring forth anything except bad fruit and poisonous water in the sight of God. "There is none that doeth good, no, not one." "Why callest thou me good; There is none good, save God". "In me, that is my flesh, dwells no good thing". "We are all as an unclean thing". "My comeliness was turned into corruption." Then, can we do anything except sin? Everything in nature brings forth fruit exactly and in accordance with it's nature. What else does Christ mean when He says that a corrupt or worthless tree cannot produce good fruit; He says, make the tree good, and the fruit will be good. Good luck to those who are now making the attempt to turn the old tree into a new one by diligently working on it, because Lady Luck is all the help that they will ever get. Christ is the good tree and the pure fountain within us. He is our water of Life, and In Him our fruit is found. We are therefore, not debtors to the flesh to seek our Life there, for our soul owes it all to Christ and His Spirit. Christ first visited me in His Own Time, and in His Own way, and I rejoiced in His presence in my soul, but it took a long time to realize that my old nature had not changed, and that I was , and still am a helpless sinner. What are the differences in the principles stated above and the principles of the doctrine of original sin? - Little or none as I can see.

As far as when God made the proclamation doesn't change anything as far as making, (or not making) God unjust; If God (in concept) would be unjust now, under the New Covenant, or Gospel Dispensation, "..In enduring the vessels of wrath, (only fit, or made fit) to destruction", then He would have been unfair (to the children) under the Mosaical economy also. God has changed the dispensations of time according to His sovereign will, but He Himself hasn't changed one iota. Jesus said that all the sins (crimes) of the fathers of the Jewish nation in their killing and murdering the prophets of ancient and the then present times would be required (in a way of judgment, vengeance and retribution on that present generation. This was totally fulfilled, and finally culminated in the total destruction and annihilation of their nation by the Roman General, Titus Vespasian, the Son of the Emperor, in about 70 A.D. Again, how could the "children" be held "accountable", though not "responsible",( because they were not able to respond to the charge ) for the crimes of the fathers - according to the "standard" of human reason? This truth demonstrates that God's Wisdom, Power and Authority in judgment is infinitely higher than man's conception of it, and transcends the Law that He has placed man under, For the Almighty is not amenable to any law, except the counsel of His Own Will, if that might be called a law.

"... (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand..." Rom 9:11. - Is in accordance with this same principle, even though it may go against the grain of mere human sentiment.

"...O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen..." Rom 11:33-36.

"... For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Cor 2:16.

Now observe that the Apostle did not say that " who has known the mind of the Scriptures", or the mind of those things that God has been pleased to reveal to us, But "Who hath known the Mind of the Lord" Himself. Jesus thanked His Father that He had hidden the knowledge of God from the wise and prudent, and gave no other reason but that "it seemed good in His sight. (John 17)

"..All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.Matt..." 11:27.

"...All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him..." Luke 10:22.

A repudiation of these Scriptural principles (according to my view,) plainly denies the Sovereign Power of God, Who always fulfills all His Will and counsel, and there can be nothing effectively against it, though there may be seemingly, in the nature of opposition and to man's comprehension and limited knowledge. ("...Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye." Acts 7:51.) I will only give a few Scriptures to prove this, but there are vastly more.

"... Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. ".The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Psa 33:11. ".There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand..." Prov 19:21.

"...There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD..."

Those who are ignorant of and feel opposed to this truth as taught in The Scriptures and in the saint's spiritual faculties, have really been given little to rejoice in of the power and majesty of God, to much consider, or to marvel at His superlative and transcending Power, as Jesus replied to the Sadducees: "...And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? (Mark 12:24.) - Whether they are able to render any RESPONSIBILITY or not! (responsible means able to respond) It also means being charged with the care of, or required to conform to certain rules by law) God's children are not responsible for their own righteousness, or for going about to constantly establish it in their minds and through their actions; this is what a mere legalists and self-righteous religionist is continually seeking to do:

"...For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God..." - Neither were they able to, for as it was written of the unbelieving Jews: "..They could not believe, for God had given them the spirit of slumber, etc.,..."... For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth..." Rom 10.

"... For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men:.." Matt 23:5.

"...It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man..." Psa 118:8.
"...Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD..." Jer 17:5.

"...Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh..." Phil 3:2-3.

"...Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is..." Jer 17:6-7.

Those who receive abundance of life in Christ are seeking, hungering, and thirsting after a righteousness that they do not have in their flesh, but are constantly receiving it through their Life in Christ. They are dead (inactive, not able to perform, powerless) in the flesh, but alive (active, empowered, able to perform through the Spirit)

"... Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom 6:11.

...Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory..." Col 3:3-4.

"... And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God..." Rom 8:10-14.

Some would seek to take the "raising up" above out of it's context. Sorry, I can't wholly agree with them, for it is part of this same subject: (a present experience of fleshly depravity;) And why would Paul change horses in the middle of the stream? Nonetheless, if we extend the" raising up" beyond this present life, it doesn't do any harm to the essence of his meaning, for the quickened elect are still just as dead in the experience of their depraved, (spiritually) inactive flesh as their physical body will be in the literal graveyard.

Many whom claim to be followers and believers in Christ to this day are still badly infected with the doctrine that Paul found necessary to expose and show the foolishness of when writing His epistle to the Galatians. Evidently, these were not unregenerate people, but some of many that Paul had at one time preached the truth to, but had now departed from the profession of salvation by grace to the doctrines of salvation by men's works and their own righteousness. Observe how he presents this. ". This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?." Gal 3:3. - As some today, they admitted (and some probably zealously contended for, as they are doing now, (and to that extent, I rejoice in) ) that God began with them, and that they had not begun with God. They had not fallen from Grace (which no child of God can do), but had fallen from the profession of the doctrine of it. Still they fall in grace - not out of it - God permits and I will say, purposes His children to fall from the doctrine of the truth, but grace shall never fall from them.

"... It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself..." 2 Tim 2:11-13.

In reality, spiritually speaking, these children have never been converted from their own confidence and trust in their flesh and human abilities. It pleased God to furnish us with some prime examples of this in the Scriptures, both Old and New: Peter displayed this vanity of poor human nature in the face of Jesus' words:

"...And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat, But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me..." Luke 22:31-34.

At this time, Peter still stood in need of a conversion from the vain confidence of his own fleshly abilities to a trust in the power, and sovereign Will and Word of Christ; But when we read the Epistle of Peter, we find that he indeed had been converted from this error through his flesh being stultified and killed at the rebuke and power of Christ through the failure of his zealous nature (which then manifested itself as being fleshly and satanic), and thereby delivered from the error of his ways when his faith endured as seeing Him Who was invisible to his fleshly faculties:

"...Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." 1 Pet 1:3-5.

- Well could Peter say from this seemingly negative experience, that God's children must be "kept by the power of God", for of and by ourselves we would quickly fall away through weakness, as Peter by experience had well learned.

Many times, the will of God and our (human) will are at variance (as far as our feelings are concerned); Even the human nature of Christ, as man was tempted through His Holy Flesh to say, ". Let this cup pass from me." But His divinity immediately replies, ". Not my will,> but thine be done.", . And though He were a son. Yet He learned obedience through the things that He suffered." He must endure this experience according to the Will of God. The world of fallen nature champions the so-called "freewill" of man, and has even set it up as a God, and is their sacred cow, to which they worship, pay homage to and give adoration:

"...Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men; Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in WILL WORSHIP, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh..." Col 2:22-23.

How many religious houses have even set their placards and inscriptions over their arches and on their lawns that say "FREE WILL" - this or that organization. The vain nature of spiritually depraved mankind loves to boast and glory in their fancied abilities to serve God at their own option and charges. Multitudes of Deists flourish in philosophy , politics and religion - Those who believe in a "watch maker" God; That is a god that created the world, and wound it up at the beginning like a watch, but has left it pretty much to "run down" on the 'stored' energy through it's own momentum and inertia. Even many of those that admit - and some of them will zealously contend that God begins the work of salvation in His people according to His Sovereign Will and pleasure, and that there is a fixed time for the work of regeneration (by the Sole Power and Prerogative of The Spirit) to take place in their hearts, irrespective of any means that they or other agents may perform, still will maintain and revert to the Deistic position of human nature that although God in His sovereignty begins the work, they still have a free-will option to carry on this work in their own souls, (or reject it just as they may please.) Now I must say, that I have not so learned Christ. Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson were two Thomases that were rank Deists. Few people realize that Tom Paine (The author of the famous RIGHTS OF MAN, first published during the times of the French and American revolutions,) was also a famous blasphemer of the Holy Scriptures. Paine was an intelligent, though carnal man, not afraid to challenge the sovereignty of an earthly king (whom God in His sovereignty appoints) - or to challenge The Sovereignty of our Heavenly King. If this is a surprise to anyone, maybe it will set some of them off on some historical research. This idea (Deism in any form) has no logical sense for encouragement for the child of God to wholly trust in Christ for salvation, both in time and eternity, but has an opposite tendency as long as they are left under the power of this spirit, because they still carry about a body of sin and death, spiritually comparing. God is omnipotent, as well as omnicicent. The same God that chose His people to eternal salvation is also able to effectively call His saints to their vocation in time, and does. It is absurd to believe that God would in eternity choose some to a final "destination" beyond this present life, but that the presence of sin in their souls could prevent the accomplishment of their effectual vocation. The doctrine that God chose His people in eternity, but only determined the "destination" of His people to a "place" after this life is trying to argue from the greater to the lesser, instead of the other way around. If God did unconditionally predestine the origin and final destination of His Elect, then it seems that it would be easy enough (I speak as a man) for Him to predetermine, predestine, what happens to them in the space in between. God will bring all that deny His Sovereignty, whether they be a modern Paine or an ancient Nebuchadnezzar, to come and worship at His saint's feet, and to confess that He is God and acknowledge His power in the love and care of His Own whom He has chosen. Many examples of this do we find in the Scriptures.

"...Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.") "... whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: - And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?." Dan 4:34-35. " - "...Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

"...For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God..." Rom 14:11-12.

Saints, angels and men are chosen to their respective places in time and eternity by God - before they had their being. This the Scriptures abundantly teach from beginning to end with consistency. All the Prophets and Apostles were chosen to their respective vocations before they were born:

"...Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations..." Jer 1:5.

"... Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle..." Rom 1:1.

"...To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints..." Rom 1:7.

"... 1 Cor 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God..."1 Cor 1:1.

"... Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints..." 1 Cor 1:2.

"...By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance..." Heb 11:8.

"... And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him..." Mark 3:13.

"... And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him..." Matt 4:19.

"...And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him..." Matt 9:9.

"... And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him..." Mark 2:14.

"...The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. Jesus answered him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these John 1:43-50."

"... And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor..." Luke 6:13-16.

"... I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me..." John 13:18.

"... Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve..." John 6: 70-71.

"... Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you..." John 15:16.

"... If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you..." John 15:19.

"...Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead..." Acts 10:41.

"... But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles..." Acts 9:15.

"... Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth..." Acts 22:13-14.

"... But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood..." Gal 1:15-16.

"...For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence..." 1 Cor 1:26-29.

"... But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ..." 2 Th 2:13-14.

"...No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier..." 2 Tim 2:4.

"...Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?..." James 2:5.

"...And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy..." 1 Pet 2:8-10.

"...These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful..." Rev 17:14.

"...So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen..." Matt 20:16.

"... For many are called, but few are chosen." Matt 22:14.

"... And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days..." Matt 13:20.

"... Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last. Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together..."Isa 48:12-14.

"...Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands..." Job 14:15.

"... And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear..." Isa 65:24.

- I think these will be enough to hold off any objectors and sophisticates for a while; but there are many more scriptures to illustrate that God Sovereignly "...Calls the things that are not, and brings to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.."

Does one think that God and Jesus are fools, because sinful, depraved men are often one? Jesus knew all things (beforehand) that would befall Him, and knew that all things concerning Him must certainly be accomplished, because they were before determined in eternity in the Mind of the Father.

"...The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done." Acts 4:26-28.

"...Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:.." Acts 2:23.

"...Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel..." Psa 2:3-9.

Does any creature know or have any authority about the future except God Himself? Who gives vain man the right to question what God in His sovereignty has done or determined to do in Heaven and earth? Shall they stand here as judges, inspectors and censors, in order to arbitrarily limit His Power, Authority and His appointments. As declared through His revealed Will, (both in the letter of His word and the letter of nature, and in common and spiritual Grace and judgments) - because His Will may not concur with their fleshly and human sentiments? God is infinitely above man; Higher than the Heaven is above the earth, both in the wonders of His natural creation and His spiritual Creation. The gift of Eternal Life is not taken for granted, as if God owes it to us by virtue of our human nature, but is an astounding, wondrous, unspeakable Gift of God: " Who spared not His Own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him freely give us all things." and all the things of Jesus are for the elect's sake. Rom 8:32, Mark 13:20. John 16:14. Isa 55:11.

"...For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." Isa 55:8-11.

Only when we are brought into the realization of this truth, are we able through the Spirit to: ..

"...Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: And we all, whom are wicked by nature, ".. are then able to forsake our (own) way, and we who are all as an unrighteous thing, because of sin, we are delivered from the bondage of corruption, and are enabled to forsake these (wicked) thoughts and ways, and again return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon us; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon..."

When this takes place, we then joyfully find that: "the way of a man is not in himself, it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." Jer 10:23.

How do we then rejoice in Spirit, and again in our experience it is manifest that God still "... knows the thoughts that He thinks toward us, and that they are thoughts of good will and peace in Jesus, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give us an expected end. (Jer 49.) - Then we stand in Hope of the glory of God, "...and rejoice with joy unspeakable, receiving the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls." 1 Pet 1:8-9. - As the Jews in captivity in Babylon were literal types of this experience, when God delivered them from their captivity. (Jer 29:10).

"...Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart..." Jer 29:11.

This is not our work. This not the work of the flesh. This is the work of the Spirit, working in us, both to will, and not only to will, but also working "to do" of God's own good pleasure. ". Our depraved hearts and natural faculties cannot close with these promises; To the flesh, they only stand in the letter of the Law, and are presented to that nature as conditions and threatening demands. Our flesh cannot keep, or even begin to keep these precepts, it has no interest in it, because the promises of life are Holy, that is, they are reserved for the seed to whom the promise of these blessing were to come, not through the flesh, or the works of the conditional law, but according to the good pleasure and love toward us in Christ. The flesh cannot honor the Law, because the flesh is depraved, helpless, selfish and not able to perform a single spiritual work, there being no good (spiritual) thing in it. (Rom 7); As trying to a child of God as it is, this is the will of God, That our Hope and trust might be in Christ. Martin Luther wrote that God has so designed salvation, that we must find ourselves utterly lost through our own efforts and abilities to obtain it, all that we might rejoice to find it all freely given again in Christ. Legal preachers, that is preachers who can preach no more than a "do and live" religion, or for the most part, " a do-it-yourself religion', are far from the joys and from the rest that remains for the people of God in the gospel of Christ; They cannot carry through. The weight of their legalism and power of condemnation that (still) rests on them, will invariably get the best of them before they are through. If they seem to "begin in the Spirit, (and even true believers may seem to rejoice in their "gospel" for a while), - they still seem to always try to get the legal flies of man's vain efforts and merits to share with the glory and merits of Christ, and so spoil the avowed ointment, in that, the last state of these is "worst than the first", while they try to sew the new patch upon the old garment, and vice versa, and put the new wine in the old bottles; And before our very eyes the true proverb is again and again exemplified, "The dog has returned to it's vomit, and the sow that was washed (temporarily), has revealed it's true nature, by again wallowing in the old mire". A "yea and nay" gospel is a poor one at best, if not an utterly deficient gospel , as the Apostle said. (Gal 1:6-7). If preachers destroy the things they once built as fast as they build them, of what benefit are they? Do they not then reveal themselves as condemned legalist transgressors, and appear under the curse of the law? for "Cursed is everyone that continues not in all things of the works of the Law to do them", and "the Law is not of faith", and that which is not of faith is sin, according to Paul. - but when our faith looks to His work, not our work, mind you, then we see ourselves in the perfect law of liberty, and being a doer of the work in Christ, continue in His Word. But all that look to the deeds of the Law (their own works and efforts as such) for justification in the sight of God experimentally remain under the killing letter of the Law.

"...I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ..." Gal 1:6-10.

"...Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever..." Heb 13:7-8.

"...For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works..." 2 Cor 11:13-15.

"... And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong..." 2 Cor 12-10.

What a deliverance it is to know and feel that in Jesus there is ". in a day of salvation He has succored us. That it is He that has I helped us: ".and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them." And that now, since we have heard His sweet voice once more, that in an acceptable time, (His own time, this present time, when ever God, in His time is pleased in His mercy and in this season for it to take place with us), for it is now the (our) day of salvation and deliverance. Isa 49:8-10., Jer 49: Returning to the subject:

"...Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?..." "...Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be..." Rom 9:7.

The objection of the natural mind of man (called by the Apostle, carnal mind) to God's election of a people to Eternal Life and glory, is also an objection to all things that God freely does "according to the counsel of His Own Will" Eph 1. In Rom 9, the Apostle is not limiting the predestination of God merely to the selection of a people to grace and favor, but includes the events of time that embraced (embraces) the calling of His people in time:.." As God cannot be questioned in the Act of Election, He can neither be questioned in any of His Acts. The primary objection to God's Sovereignty is nothing more than arrogance and pride in man, and a human sentiment that is of the earth, earthy, and comes not down from above, except from God's decree, and surely denotes man's fallen state and depravity.

"...But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us..." Luke 19:14.

"...Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?..." Matt 20:15.

Man seems to always accept a little bit of authority and rule over them, but they do not like too much: The humble child of God welcomes the complete control of God and rejoices in His Power; and recognizes His authority and His Right to rule over all things, since He Himself is the Original and Source of them. They rejoice in even being God's "puppet", if necessary.

"...Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God; ".Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation... "Rom 13:1-2.

"...For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him..." Col 1:16.

"...The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created..." Rev 4:10-11.

"... All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made..." John 1:3.

These powers are not (only) the powers that we may conceive to be the just and "good" powers. God surely had a purpose worthy of Himself in ordaining all of the powers of heaven and earth; and also the ordaining of the saints to wrestle with them - Even as He eternally ordained Christ to come into the world and wrestle with these powers of darkness, for it was certainly the purpose of God that He be led of the Spirit (or driven), as Luke has it, into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. How puerile and trite indeed seems the apparent ignorance of, and the apparent complacency to these stated things by the multitudes, as it appears in the mind of the present writer;

But we believe that according to God's foreknowledge and by His appointment, they have been, are now being fulfilled in the times that were before spoken of by the Holy Apostle:

"...For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation..." Jude 1:4.

"...For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. Mark 13:22.

"...Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world... 1 Jn 4:1.

"...This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves..." Tim 3: 1-2.

"...They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us..."

"...For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you..." 1 Cor:

"...And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it..." Col 2:15.

- But suppose there had been no "powers" for the Apostles in particular, and for God's children in general, to wrestle with, or for that matter, for Christ to triumph over? To extend our argument further, suppose that there had been no negatives, no opposition to the righteousness of God, no spiritual darkness, no rulers of the darkness of this world, no spiritual wickedness in high places, in short, none of what we denote "evil" (including sin, which is the worst evil to God's children, because it dwells in them) and vexes them - in the world? Did these things occur by mere accident, (including sin) - or by a fortuitous permutation of random circumstance and events? If then even so, still " The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof, is of the Lord." Prov 16:33. What part of them (if any) did God absolutely determine to come to pass in order for Him to fulfill His determinate counsel, and what part of them did He leave to the blind ladies of fate and chance? - Suppose there had been no fall, no sin, no transgression, then of necessity, there would have been no Savior, no deliverance, no salvation from these things. Is the "negative" (in our apprehension and experience) of the universe a mere happenstance? Did sin and evil just somehow creep into the world, and then God had to "get busy" to remedy the situation? It would seem to be so if we are persuaded and deluded to believe what is nearly universally taught about this subject (or rather purposefully ignored) throughout "Christendom" in our age. Did the adversary, Satan and Lucifer, that old serpent, the devil and accuser of the brethren, just somehow sneak in the back door when God wasn't watching close enough? May the reader pardon the sardonic way of speaking when exposing the oxymoron of contradictions here; - Why is it, that you, vain creature, arrogate to yourself the "right" to choose, be free, etc., and then you would refuse even to barely concede these rights to the God of Heaven, your Sovereign Maker, and the Maker of the Universe?

"...For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God,.. (In Nature and intellect) ..they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own
hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever..." Amen. Rom 1:

"...For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth..." Ver 15.

The calling of the Jews by God included and was connected with the frightful judgments that God sent upon the pagan land of Egypt; although this was justly done to the wicked Egyptians in a way of divine retribution, (as it was done to the Canaanites later), It was still the primary means used in God's counsel and pleasure of manifesting His Power in the earth at that time. God is free and disposed to manifest His Power in any way that pleases Him. Properly speaking, God is the only Being that possesses this authority and prerogative. The natural creation itself clearly demonstrates this before the natural human faculties. Rom 1, (quoted above). Who gives you, vain man, who are nothing to be accounted of in the sight of God, except as you stand in His Own Purpose and good pleasure in Christ, whom have no inherent goodness, righteousness of your own, the right to question or limit the Holy One in His Sovereign Counsel or the performance of His work; God does His will in heaven and earth, the sea and all deep places; what He pleased, that He did there. (Psa 135:6) God is not obligated to give a reason for what He does with His creatures. It is enough that He gives them life, and that in Him they "live and move, and have their being" - ) Because it is not His Will, and He is not obligated to "give them account of any of His ways" , Who "holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it," but the thunder of His power who can understand? Job 26:9,14.), - whether it be to man or any other creature - any reason or account for what He does except as it then pleases Him. Man's arrogance is mild indeed in other matters, until it comes to questioning the Sovereignty of God Almighty.

But many are quick to reply, and will say, "I believe and concede that God fore knew all things, and many will even confess that all things must somehow, even of necessity, transpire in Time, but they will strenuously deny that God has absolutely predestinated ( or pre-determined) the occurrence (and concurrence) of them with the Purpose of God. Some have even admitted the term pre-determined, while rejecting the term, pre-destination, (of the events of time) in an attempt to show a vast difference in the conveyance of the words. - at the same time, admitting that they are synonymous terms with little difference, if any meaning ! !) In his pamphlet, such a writer has introduced into the controversy a new term (in an attempt to distort it's meaning) , which he calls Pre-determination, and his main thrust is to show a "vast" difference in the meaning of the two terms - But he might as well have not continued his argument after page 3, because there he says, and I quote: "The key words, 'determine' and 'destinate,' together with their related forms , are very similar in meaning. In virtually every English dictionary, the two are used to define each other. However, the two words are not exact synonyms, and it is in the difference between the definitions that the truth is found." unquote. This writer has already given a good opinion on the reliability of English dictionaries. In view of this, as he admits that the terms are synonymous (which every fifth grader knows to be true,) then his whole argument is stultified and at an impasse, because whatever 'elusive truth' and subtle distinctions that he is searching for in the 'difference' of meanings could not possibly be of much, if any importance - (especially in this debate), but which is true for all synonymous words, (and they are handy for composing beautiful poetry, in giving interesting nuance, fluidity and variety to language !) When otherwise good and intelligent persons attempt to take this tiger by the tail they invariably end up this way.

"...For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things..." Isa 45:4-7.

"...But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory..." Psa 73:12-

He Will Give Grace And Glory

"...The LORD will give grace and glory." Psa 84:11.

8, 7

Every heir of God's election
Shall of Grace, their portion know;
'Twas because of His selection,
They forever to Him owe;

Now in mercy, now in mercy,
Thou wilt grace and glory show,

Refrain:

Now in mercy, now in mercy,
Thou wilt grace and glory show,

There they stood in God, Paternal,
There, before old Time began;
In the Lamb, in Christ internal;
There Thou laid the wondrous Plan;

There Eternal, there eternal,
Stood before the planets ran.

Refrain:

All their blessings predicated
On the choice He made of them;
And His promise, dedicated,
From this Cause will ever stem;

How consoling! how consoling,
Now to all who rest in Him.

Refrain:

He'll give grace, and He'll give glory,
No good thing will He withhold;
Here He'll lead them till they're hoary,
Till in glory, Him behold;

For He loved them, for He loved them,
And His pow'r will them uphold.

Refrain:

When from earth, their spirits fleeing,
When their souls with God rejoin;
There His glory will be seeing,
In His Body, they as One;

Then forever, then forever,
In His praise they shall conjoin.

Refrain:

Now we stand in awe and wonder
For such Love on us bestowed;
That Thy pow'r did place us under,
Where Thy Grace and Love has flowed;

Praise Eternal, Praise Eternal,
We shall sing in Thine abode.

Praise eternal, Praise eternal,
We shall sing in Thine abode.

*Copyright Jan 2000

O. Allen Bailey

*This material may be freely copied and distributed, but is not to be altered or sold for profit,

in accordance with U.S. and international copyright laws.